Sept. 11--Adrian Amos' NFL debut on Sunday figures to be as tough as it gets. The Bears' fifth-round rookie safety must try to help contain Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the reigning NFL MVP.
Not only is Amos inexperienced at the pro level, he's new to his position. He converted from cornerback as recently as last season at Penn St., and even that wasn't a full-time change.
"This is my first time really playing safety," Amos said this week. "I did a little bit, but on passing downs I was at nickel or dime (cornerback)."
Amos knows Rodgers will target him. He has spent this week trying to prepare for how effectively Rodgers manipulates safeties to create passing windows.
"He plays with his eyes, plays with your eyes," Amos said. "You just have to be disciplined. It's all about being disciplined."
For an example of how Rodgers used his eyes to capitalize on an opportunity for a big play, let's look at the third of his six first-half touchdown passes against the Bears last November.
On the 73-yard hookup with Jordy Nelson, cornerback Tim Jennings admittedly blew the coverage and allowed Nelson to run uncovered down the right sideline. As you can see in the first picture below, Nelson released behind the defense while Rodgers was still dropping back. Rodgers ensured Nelson remained open by holding safety Brock Vereen in the middle of the field by looking at receiver Randall Cobb, who was pushing down the right seam on an intermediate in-cutting route.
Rodgers kept Vereen in the middle of the field with his eyes, then redirected his attention to the right sideline, where Nelson was streaking wide open. In fairness to Vereen, he might not have been able to get to Nelson even if he started in that direction after the snap--and he expected Jennings to run with Nelson. But Rodgers helped make the Bears pay for blowing the coverage..
From the end zone angle, notice Rodgers looking down the middle of the field during his drop...
...then turning his attention to the outside.
When Amos talked about being disciplined against Rodgers' eye maneuvers, he meant understanding his responsibilities on every defensive call and against each Packers route combination the Bears have studied. Whether he does will help determine how close the Bears keep Sunday's game.
rcampbell@tribpub.com
