Matt Bowen

Twelve minutes. Fifty questions. Go. Another test? That's right, rookie. Sit down and grab a pencil. Weave your way through as many multiple choice questions as you can and turn in the test when the time is up. The Wonderlic exam at the NFL scouting...

The 49ers defense will dial up some pressure when the ball is deep in the red zone. Think of Cover-0 schemes (man coverage with no safety help) versus Aaron Rodgers and the Packers on Saturday night in San Francisco for their NFC divisional playoff game....

On a mild, but damp Christmas Eve day in 2000, our team bus rolled through the streets of New Orleans. The city that was alive the night before was quiet as we pulled up to the Louisiana Superdome. After a 6-0 start with the best offense I ever have...

Packers' wide receiver Randall Cobb was viewed as a creative offense weapon and a top special teams talent when he came out of Kentucky. However, the second-year pro has developed quickly into one of Aaron Rodgers' top options in the passing game this...

With defensive back Charles Woodson returning from injury, the Packers will have opportunities to pressure Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder on Saturday night in their NFC wild-card game. Think of zone blitz schemes that force the young quarterback...

The Redskins and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan will come to the stadium Sunday with a creative game plan to feature the skill sets of rookies Robert Griffin III and Alfred Morris. Focus on the read option, movement passes, the inside zone and play...

The Bears and offensive coordinator Mike Tice will have to work hard Sunday to mix Brandon Marshall's pre-snap alignments versus the Packers' 2-Man coverage. Think of matchups that target the two-deep, man-under defense and provide quarterback Jay...

Another three-and-out? Another stalled drive? Time to run the punt team back onto the field and get ready to play defense again. That’s frustrating from a player’s perspective. You grab your helmet, drop a couple of colorful words under...

I know that the first exhibition game doesn’t mean much to the starters because, as Tribune football columnist Matt Bowen writes, that first game is about basics. Yes. Well. Fine. But not for me. I don’t care about footwork. I want fireworks....

The Bears should expect the ball to go to Calvin Johnson on Sunday when they go against the Lions. Watch for the intermediate to deep route tree with concepts that put stress on the safeties in Cover-2 and test the technique of the underneath defenders....

The Bears offense once again can lean on boot action Sunday at Minnesota and move quarterback Jay Cutler outside of the pocket versus zone coverage. Using the All-22 coaches tape, here is an example of how the Bears rolled the pocket away from defensive...

In a must-win game to keep playoff hope alive Sunday in Detroit, the Bears will have to lean on their offense inside of the red zone to play productive football. Think of vertical concepts that test the Lions secondary with Alshon Jeffery and Brandon...