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Wondering about a player, a past game or another issue involving the Bears? Senior writer Larry Mayer answers a variety of e-mail questions from fans every day on ChicagoBears.com.
What a great win to open the season! I noticed the Bears chose to wear their classic white on white road uniform (my favorite) not seen since 2006. Will we be seeing more of it and what other combinations can we expect to see this year?
Don H.
Telluride, Colorado
I like the white jersey/white pants combination as well. It reminds me of the late 1970s when Walter Payton was running behind Noah Jackson and Revie Sorey, James Scott was catching passes from Mike Phipps and Doug Plank was terrorizing receivers over the middle. It hasn’t been set in stone, but I’m pretty sure that we’ll keep seeing the same combination on the road. Since I receive a lot of questions about uniforms, here’s what else I know: The Bears will wear their navy jerseys and white pants this weekend in Carolina. The home team gets to choose which jersey it will wear and the Panthers have decided to don their white jerseys for their first three home games, presumably because dark jerseys attract heat. The Bears will also wear their navy jerseys Sept. 21 against the Buccaneers at Soldier Field, not the white jerseys they’ve worn for the past two home openers. Finally, the Bears will wear their orange jerseys Oct. 19 versus the Vikings at Soldier Field.
What is the Bears’ record when they rush for over 100 yards since Lovie Smith became coach?
Vito
Mount Prospect, Illinois
Since Lovie Smith became coach in 2004, the Bears are 28-12 when rushing for at least 100 yards, 17-7 when rushing for at least 125 yards and 8-3 when rushing for at least 150 yards. They compiled 183 yards on the ground Sunday night at Indianapolis, which tied for the second most in Smith’s tenure. The Bears ran for 187 yards in a win over the Lions on Sept. 18, 2005 at Soldier Field and 183 yards in a victory over the Saints on Nov. 6, 2005 in Baton Rouge, La.
It was stated that the Bears played nickel defense throughout much of the game with the Colts. Can you explain the risk/reward factor of that strategy and if the Bears may continue to use that defense against other teams?
Thomas R.
Portland, Oregon
It’s all about matching up with the offense. Teams generally go to the nickel defense when there are three or more wide receivers on the field. The Bears stayed in their nickel virtually the entire game against the Colts even when there weren’t three wide receivers in the game because they consider tight end Dallas Clark more of a pass-catching threat than an inline blocker. As far as the risk, you’re down one linebacker in the nickel defense (the Bears replace Hunter Hillenmeyer) and thus more susceptible to giving up a big running play. But with an extra defensive back, you’re obviously able to cover more ground in the secondary and are better prepared to defend against the pass.
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