There is no good time for problems to befall key players but some are worse than others. Like this week, for the Bears’ defense.
The Bears will face the NFL’s top-rated passer and the NFL’s leading rusher with two new defensive backs having a combined 11 career starts. James Burton takes over at cornerback for a confidence-impaired Walt Harris, and Anthony Marshall is being pressed into service because of an arm injury to strong safety Marty Carter.
Their respective positions place them at critical points in the Bears’ hopes of stopping New England. No. 1 receiver Terry Glenn, who caught 90 passes last year as a rookie, is questionable with an ankle injury. Burton prefers tight man-to-man pressure on receivers and must be able to survive one-on-one without a lot of help.
That’s because Marshall will be very busy elsewhere. Carter is among the NFL’s best run-support safeties and Marshall will be asked to provide that against Martin, who has averaged 29 carries in the three Patriots’ wins. But Marshall must also help contain Pro Bowl tight end Ben Coates.
“Anthony Marshall wanted an opportunity,” said coach Dave Wannstedt. “Well, he got it.”
Burton has seen difficult NFL quarterbacks. His first rookie start in 1994 was against Dan Marino. He has since drawn Green Bay’s Brett Favre twice and Detroit’s Scott Mitchell in Mitchell’s record-setting 1995 season.
Bledsoe has thrown TD passes to nine different receivers this season. Burton faced Bledsoe when his Fresno State team played Bledsoe and Washington State. “So I’m no stranger to him, either,” Burton said.
