The Chicago Bears unveil a new coaching staff as they look to put their disappointing 2014 season behind them. Chicago lost its last five regular season games last year and a win over AFC challenger Miami in the preseason opener would get the John Fox era started in the right direction.
ODDS
The spread is as close as it gets without being a pick em as the Bears opened as a half-point favorite. Chicago has a lot to prove after suffering through last season while the Fish are viewed by many as a contender in the AFC. The total stands at 37.
QUARTERBACK ROTATION
The Dolphins have been working hard in camp on improving quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s accuracy on deep passes, which has been a glaring weakness in his first three seasons. Expect the Fins to take a few long shots against the Bears during his one or two series. Backup Matt Moore has played sparingly in the past three seasons but showed in 2011 he can deliver if pressed into action. Veteran Josh Freeman is likely to see some action, more as a filler than an audition for the No. 3 role.
Head coach John Fox said his Bears starters will play “about a quarter” in the preseason opener, and that includes quarterback Jay Cutler, who will try once again under a new coaching staff to prove he’s worthy of the big money contract he signed two years ago. Jimmy Clausen, who took over as the team’s starter at the end of last season before suffering a concussion, will backup Cutler. Given Cutler’s enigmatic play and Clausen’s poor start to camp, the Bears might be seeking a veteran backup as camp rolls along.
COACHES' MOTIVATION
The Bears are starting over with new head coach John Fox, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and offensive coordinator Adam Gase. Fangio was in charge of one of the league’s best defenses in San Francisco between 2011 and 2014 and is viewed as a top defensive mind. He runs a base 3-4 defense but isn’t afraid to show multiple looks. However we’re not likely to see much in terms of his scheme as he gets his first chance to mix and match his lineup in a game situation. He has a lot of work to do taking over a defensive unit that allowed a NFC-high 27.6 points per game in 2014.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“Obviously you’re trying to put your guys in position to have some success. But we’re not in full-blown game mode right now. We’re still in training camp, still installing, be it a new staff, putting in new offense, new defense as well as special teams.” – Bears coach John Fox.
POSITION BATTLE TO WATCH
The Bears have four inside linebackers on their roster capable of starting this season. It’s a position battle that will take most of the preseason to work itself out. Shea McClellin, Jon Bostic, Christian Jones and Mason Foster will all get an opportunity against the Dolphins. It will be an adjustment for McClellin, who played defensive end in 2012 and 2013 before moving to outside linebacker last season. He struggled against the pass and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio decided McClellin’s best fit would be inside. If he wants to hang onto one of the two starting jobs, he’ll have to improve his instincts and play recognition.
INJURIES
While Lamar Miller is expected to be the Dolphins starting running back, an injury to fifth-round draft pick Jay Ajayi has the backup job in question. Ajayi is likely to fall further on the depth chart as he continues to sit with a hamstring injury. The severity of the problem has not been revealed, but it certainly doesn’t help the running back, who struggled in camp to begin with.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
This game means a lot more to Chicago than it does to Miami. A win for the new coaching regime would go a long way toward mending the relationship with a fractured fan base. More importantly for the Bears, can the new staff get Jay Cutler to play well or at least look interested in how the team performs?
Chicago 20, Miami 13
The NFL lines for this Thursday contest first surfaced at BookMaker and the Bears were positioned as 0.5-point favorites with a total of 37. Gamble on the game between every commercial break with BookMaker’s live betting feature. Along with an adjusted in-game moneyline, you can wager on what will happen on the next play or how many points will be scored in the next quarter. Live betting is the most exciting way to play!
Access live betting lines from your mobile device or tablet at BookMaker sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneyline odds are all available by clicking here so start betting with BookMaker today! The Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears square off on Thursday, August 13, 2015, at 8 p.m. ET at Soldier Field.
