Mac and Spiegs on WSCR-AM 670 The Scores The McNeil and Spiegel Show posed their question of the day to me during my weekly Thursday visit at 10 a.m.: What would be your biggest surprise of the 2012 Bears season so far?
A few possibilities: The play of the defensive line, the work of safeties Chris Conte and Major Wright. I threw in the specific level of play from Charles Tillman (he was very good last year, but this?). I should have thought of Tim Jennings, whose pass defense work has been exceptional.
I did agree with Matt on the safeties. Conte and Wright have taken individual and collective steps up and Id have to guess that the Bears werent expecting quite this much or they wouldnt have invested another third-round draft choice on a safety (Brandon Hardin).
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Obviously the Carolina Panthers are on the topics list and none of us could find a way to pick Ron Riveras troubled team to beat the Bears. If there is an NFL surprise, I suggested it would have to be the falloff of Cam Newtons play. What I saw of him last year was a bigger RGIII and its surprising to see that level of talent struggle the way it has.
Danny wondered when the wave of feel-good around the Bears might take a tumble and my pick for that is in Tennessee. I have the Bears at 6-2 after the first half, beating Carolina but losing in Nashville. The Titans are better than they showed through five games and Chris Johnson is looking like the back he used to be, Difficult game.
Well check in again next Thursday at 10 a.m.