Kerry Collins missed parts of practice due to a dinged-up ankle, thus leading to Vince Young taking first team reps.

Stephen Tulloch draws inspiration from former Bears linebacker Mike Singletary... perhaps LenDale draws inspiration from Refrigerator Perry?

 AOL Fanhus blogger Matt Snyder takes stock of what may be "The Most Talented Rookie Running Back Class Ever".  And just think: we haven't gotten to see what Rashard Mendenhall can do when healthy.  I think we still got the gem of the lot.

 The Titans signed Ravens, Broncos and Browns cast-off Amon Gordon to the practice squad to replace Mookie Johnson.

 In a related note, Paul Kuharssky sheds some light on how Mookie Johnson ended up on our practice squad, and how he fits in with the Colts... make sure you check-out the hilarious closing comment on Gordon.

 Adam Schefter notes how special Sunday's meeting of Crazy Legs and Matt Forte will be:

They are the only two rookie running backs among the Top 10 rushing leaders -– Forte with 641 rushing yards, Johnson with 715. Only twice in NFL history have rookie running backs that ranked in the Top 10 in rushing with 600 yards apiece actually squared off.

The first time it happened also involved another Chicago running back, Gale Sayers, going against San Francisco’s Ken Willard on Dec. 12, 1965. At the time Sayers had 672 yards, Willard 745.

The other time two rookie running backs in the league’s Top 10 rushers squared off was Dec. 21, 1969, when Washington’s Larry Brown battled Dallas’ Calvin Hill. At the time Brown had 827 rushing yards, Hill 869.

 John Clayton grades the AFC South.

 Albert Haynesworth and Keith Bulluck are of the opinion that the Bears' cameraman is no Christopher Nolan:

"They have the worst sideline view in the history of the NFL," said Bulluck, probably going a little too far back with his timeframe. "It's kind of tough. Normally you have an above view so you can see the formations, you can kind of see the splits of the linemen, you can see a lot of different things. With the tape when you play the Bears and get it from them -- it's not like they do it on purpose, everybody gets the same tape -- but it's definitely hard to differentiate linemen splits, splits of the wide receivers, things that are really key to studying an offense."

The Bears said it's a matter of the location of the camera bay in new Soldier Field, which opened in 2003.

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*2007 Stats

I have little doubt that the Titans will be the better team when these two take the field in November, but traveling to Chicago to take on the Bears in November is never easy.  Looking at the stats above, the Bears defense actually struggled last season.  They did suffer some injuries, but they do not strike fear into teams like they did a couple of years ago. 

The Titans look to establish the run in every game they play, but it will be especially important on what will probably be a cold, windy day in Chicago.  They should be able to have some success on the ground against this team.  Vince Young will probably just be asked to take care of the ball in this one. 

Who knows what the Bears offense will be?  They have announced that Kyle Orton is their starting quarterback.  They are planning on using Devin Hester as a wide receiver and it looks like rookie running back Matt Forte will be there feature back.  The only fire power this team will have will come in the returns of Hester. 

If you have been keeping up with the Breaking Down the Schedule series, you are aware that I have the Titans entering this game at 7-1.  I don't see any reason they won't improve to 8-1 after this game.

Site note: Beginning tomorrow August West will be bringing you the morning linkage.