Wondering about a player, a past game or another issue involving the Bears? Senior writer Larry Mayer answers a variety of questions from fans on ChicagoBears.com.
Do you think we could see Tarik Cohen lined up wide or in a four-receiver set? It seems like the Bears could utilize both him and Jordan Howard on the field at the same time.
Jonathan F.
Texas
Tarik Cohen certainly possesses a lot of versatility due to a unique skillset that includes tremendous speed and quickness, and I know that offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains is determined to create favorable mismatches for the rookie running back. With that in mind, the Bears could line up Cohen all over the field: in the backfield, split out wide or in the slot. They even put him at quarterback in the Wildcat formation in the season opener against the Falcons and he handed the ball off to Jordan Howard, who ran for a 4-yard touchdown. Moving forward, it will be interesting to see how Loggains employs Howard and Cohen, who have the potential to become a dangerous 1-2 punch.
Do you think the Bears have an advantage since they have played a regular season game and the Buccaneers have not?
Dan J.
Oak Ridge, Tennessee
I think it would be more of an advantage for the Buccaneers if the scenario was reversed because the Bears have a ton of new players at key positions—most notably quarterback and in the secondary—and they would need some time to gel on both sides of the ball. But the Buccaneers have most of their key players returning on offense and defense, so I don't think they are at that much of a disadvantage because their opener was postponed due to Hurricane Irma.
What kind of first game did Gale Sayers have as a Bears rookie?
Scot C.
The Hall of Fame running back generated 97 all-purpose yards in his NFL debut on Sept. 19, 1965. In a 52-24 loss to the 49ers in San Francisco, Sayers rushed for 44 yards on 12 carries, caught three passes for 26 yards and returned two punts for 27 yards. Sayers did slightly better in the rematch against the 49ers 12 weeks later, tying an NFL record by scoring six touchdowns while producing 336 all-purpose yards, rushing for 113 yards on nine carries, catching two passes for 89 yards and returning five punts for 134 yards in a 61-20 victory at Wrigley Field.
