I'm going to be looking for improvement or development in the following areas - starting Sunday against the Vikings - if the Bears are to make a legitimate Super Bowl run.
1. THE RONS
The biggest problem that seems to have emerged from the opening season blowouts is that both coordinators have rested on the laurels of their systems. The deep ball has stopped being effective and the defensive line has stopped getting to the quarterback. It's time for The Rons to experiment with a now solid class of receivers and some interesting blitz packages.
2. NATHAN VASHER IN ISOLATION
Vasher's ballhawking of 2005 seems as real today as the chupacabra. Teams have learned to throw away from Peanut Tillman (My Favorite Bear and currently having a Pro Bowl season) and go directly at Vash. Vash is looking at matchups with Ms. Terry Glenn and Deion Branch in the postseason.
3. REX GROSSMAN'S DECISION MAKING
Look at his three worst throws of the season: Antoine Winfield, Jason Taylor, Every Throw in the Arizona game. Those are not the problems of Bears' quarterbacks past (namely they just sucked). Those are the problems of a good quarterback growing up. Let's see the next five games mirror the first five: smart decisions and big plays.
4. PROTECT THE PERIMETER
One of the reasons Des Clark has not been as involved in the offense is he's had to stay on the line to protect on passing downs. Both tackles have been shaky in the passing game and they'll have some nice tests the next two weeks. Giving Grossman time is the difference between a rushed throw off his back foot and a stepped through rocket to Muhsin for 13 and a first down. The better John and Freddy play, the more risks Ronny T can take by releasing Des over the middle and opening up the field.
The next five weeks are about winning, of course, but they're really about getting better. These guys can line up bicep-to-bicep with any team in the conference and on Soldier Field...in front of people like us...they can beat anybody you send at them. The next five weeks are when we find out of if they're ready to be the class of the conference and quite possibly the entire league. In the next five weeks we'll know if they're ready to put a city on their back and claim their place among its windy heroes. In the next five weeks they'll prepare to stand among kings.
And I'll buy the t-shirt.
#2 paytonrules said . . .It occurred to me, and maybe its been mentioned before, that the game hasn't slowed down for Rex yet. You hear this mentioned from successful QB's -- that they've gotten used to the speed of NFL defenses and the game has "slowed down" for them.
Rex is in an odd position as far as evaluating where he should be: he's in his fourth year yet he's only started 16 (?) games. Two of those four years he was hobbled with injuries below the waist and couldn't practice much.
My hope is his problems stem from game speed and getting overexcited, both of which should be lessened the more he plays. Next to last years' playoff game against Carolina this past game against the Pats might well have been the biggest game yet of his career -- going against one of the premier teams in the NFL and a future HOF QB. Being that jacked up possibly affected his accuracy.
Anyway, I'll be curious to see if in the next 5 games Rex starts letting the game come to him, settle in an make smarter decisions and more accurate throws -- in other words calm the fuck down.
this is my longest Haiku yet.
jb
November 29, 2006
#3 District Selectman said . . .Good column but I think you're missing something in the blitz packages.
Starting around the time of the Dolphins game I noticed that Rivera is already sending more blitzers, but he's running into problems in the running game because the backs are cutting back and finding that the linebacker that should be there has already blitzed into the backfield.
Tommie Harris, Tank Johnson, Walleye - these are supposed to be elite players but have been invisible lately. The Bears need to find the reason they are struggling.
November 29, 2006
#4 paytonrules said . . .Great read. I agree with PR that we need to find the d-line again. I don't buy the argument that they're doubling Tommie, because NE was sending the TE out a whole bunch. I guess I haven't paid close enough attention, but with that much talent and depth across the whole line, doubling one guy shouldn't make any difference.
Also, I'm not so sure that Rex is making bad decisions. At least on Sunday, he was making good decisions, but really bad throws. I think he got into some bad habits when the team was rolling, and he didn't really have any incentive to correct them. Remember that TD he threw (49ers I think?) when he nearly got sacked, threw it off his back foot into double coverage but snuck it in there? Shit like that will get you thinking you're a hotshot gunslinger. I wonder if some of these mechanical problems, like throwing off the back foot and chucking it rather than following through, are some sort of attempt to protect himself when he's under pressure.
I agree that the o-line has as much to prove as any group on the squad. I think they've been at least as inconsistent as Rex, but being the line they never get the credit for good play or the blame for bad play.
November 29, 2006
#5 John said . . .It's worth noting too - in order to give credit where credit is due - NE used a lot of shotgun and Tom Brady is exceptional at moving around in the pocket. It was really quite impressive.
I hope we kill him in the Super Bowl.
November 29, 2006
#6 Pat said . . .Gosh- after I saw Grossman rubbing his bruised hand on sunday I was hoping, no...praying that it was broken...this guy will lose in the playoffs...I repeat..You all can put this on the record...We WILL lose in the playoffs with Rex Grossman Starting. It's sad, I know, but it is true..Defenses drool in delight before facing him cause he is basically going to give up at least, AT LEAST, two interceptions a game..
Superbowl prediction:
Saints 17 Chargers 35
November 29, 2006
#7 Marvin E. Frisbie said . . .I want to hear more about this "Rex Grossman" character. There doesn't seem to be much out there about him this week.
November 29, 2006
#8 jeff said . . .Wonder why the Bears lost and the Pats won? Simple: The Pats had their Quarterback on the field, and the Bears had their Quarterback on the Bench. If a quarterback can't come through in adversity, he is not a quarterback. Rex doesn't come through in adversity. If he doesn't mature, he will be out of the NFL in a few years. I hope I'm wrong. I want the Bears to win. I want Chicago to win. I guess we will have to wait for the Cubs to do so. The White Sox did their part, so; Bears; step up to the plate and put a Quarterback on the field. Rex can get his learner permit on the bench. Marvin E. Frisbie, Chicago.
November 29, 2006
#9 Still can't understand how this guy is in the league said . . .i'm seriously considering blocking comments that involve benching grossman. forget sunday. they are fucking 9-2. i didn't expect a super bowl this year and neither did any of you. they're a year ahead as far as i'm concerned and i'm willing to watch him develop to win even more in the future.
November 30, 2006
#10 Max said . . .HA HA the Raider's got Shoop
Raiders name Shoop offensive coordinator
ALAMEDA, Calif.  The Oakland Raiders replaced offensive coordinator Tom Walsh on Tuesday, promoting tight ends coach John Shoop to take charge of the team’s struggling offense.
Coach Art Shell said earlier in the season that he does not like changing his coaching staff during the season, but the move was made anyway with five games left.
Shell called it a ‘‘difficult decision’’ that had to be made for the good of the team.He really meant it was a "difficult decision" because Shoop "sucks ass as an offensive coordinator as much as this other dude does".
November 30, 2006
#11 Still said . . .I have been on the Grossman bandwagon since he came in last year against the Falcons and won that game for us. I havent wavered and while he hasnt been what you would call. . . well, good, at times this season, that doesnt mean he isnt going to improve.
Griese is a quick fix with no gurantee of winning. Grossman is the future. He has learned on the sideline for 3 years. He doenst need to sit and watch anymore. If we bench him now, we might be kissing him goodbye cause he has one more year after this one left on his contract with the Bears. I would like to resign him once he gets his mechanics down.
I wish Rex was playing better but i remain confident that he will improve given a little time. And i certainly do not wanna risk screwing up the next several years for a risk like puttin in Griese. Dont get me wrong, Griese is a capable QB and if injuries (knock on wood) required him to step in, I would still believe he is a better QB than anyone of the past 15 guys who played the position for us. (although I still have a special place in my heart for Jim Miller. Just sucks he could hurt himself by stretching wrong in the mornings). But I still believe in Grossman. Give him a little more time.
Or just wait to watch him carve up the Vikes. RASHIED IS GETTING A TD THIS WEEK
And I applaud the Raiders for making the change at offensive coordinator. . . this late in the season. If they had made the move to Shoop, say 5 games ago, they wouldnt have won a single game all year. I knew Al Davis hadnt lost his touch
November 30, 2006
#12 Berry Happy said . . .Ok, 9 beers in I realize that my earlier comment was a complete non sequitur to the original post.
1. Rons: try a rollout. This is sexy Rex. He is mobile - a little. Stick with the 4 man rush. Teach Tommy a new technique. He'l be fine.
2. My only bitch with Vasher is tackling. Interceptions are 85% luck. Peanut has proven to be a way better tackler. Nate put a hat on someone.
3. Rex. Rex. Brother, we love you. Isn't that enough. You don't have to prove it. I know you suck cock before we were married. It is ok for you to just let me bone you once a month.
4. Grossman has two clicks and then he has to let if fly. Everyone sucks with that much time. Our o-line needs to multi-tasks. Can't run block only or pass block only. Gotta do both.
They can do this. They can win the SB. They should win the NFC. Tony Romo is not that great. Rex is not that bad. Griese is certainly not better.
9-2 is way better than most of us really thought was possible. Read your posts during the preseason.
I have been waiting for the team to turn on Rex like they did Orton. Moose couldn't wait for Orton to get off the damn field. That hasn't happened. Until they turn on Rex, we shouldn't either.
November 30, 2006
#13 Scott said . . .I would sincerely hope we could start blocking all the "bench Grossman" comments as well. Christ Almighty, it is essentially the kid's first full year in school, and we're asking him to beat out some of the most popular kids around for class president (bad analogy, I'm aware).
Benching Rex would only perpetuate the revolving QB door we've had for years, and be incredibly short-sighted.
"In the early years...[he] struggled to keep his game under control, often making high-risk throws that resulted in many interceptions. Eventually he learned [the] system and became one of the league's top quarterbacks." I don't think the comparisons I've heard of Grossman to a future HOF QB are that off.
Don't get me wrong; I'm certainly not trying to hype Grossman up as the next big thing (kind of like Tony Romo right now), but I do think we should stay patient, even if it means enduring some harrowing moments under center.
November 30, 2006
#14 District Selectman said . . .I second (third?) the ban on the 'bench-Rex' comments. It is his first full year on the field and, as a lifelong Bear fan, I haven't seen this much talent in the QB position in my lifetime. I'll leave that number to conjecture.
Nevertheless, the kid has clearly won seven more games than he's lost and when he's on, he's a joy to watch. Rex is not only the future, he's the present. Trust that RT knows how to coach and that Wade Wilson can get him focused. It's in us as Bear fans to not trust such things but this team and this QB are for real.
Rex will win a SB. Let's hope that we're all supportive/patient enough to let it happen here.
November 30, 2006
#15 District Selectman said . . .Here's Sharper trying to stir the pot after saying his team didn't have anything to play for.
The wall of hate is filling in nicely.
November 30, 2006
#16 Megan said . . ."A quarterback should never talk trash, that's what I think, but that's because I'm a defensive back," Sharper said. "Anytime you do that, a quarterback opens his mouth to me, he's stepping over the line. He's a cocky guy and he's going to say those things. But make sure he's not the guy who kills their season for them. We'll see what happens Sunday."
November 30, 2006
#17 jeff said . . .Jeff,
You have a great way of looking at the team and keying in on the big issues. I have to bow to you and the rest of the regulars, sit back and read.
I really like what John said about the game "slowing down" for Rex. It makes sense. The over-excitable tendancies of Rex will hopefully dissipate allowing for his throws (esp long balls) to improve. (Like DS was saying, he made good decisions but bad throws).
I agree with PR concerncing the invisability of some members of the D. They don't seem to be getting in there and putting true pressure on the QB
I also agree with Jeff regarding the Rons, we need to mix it up a little more, not only in the passing game, but the running game too.
Here's a quote from Tommie Harris regarding Rex/the team:
"Oh man, I love Rex Grossman. Great quarterback. Everybody believes in him. An article came out today out me, about how I am overrated or something or I am not performing. They talk about Rex Grossman but you should talk about Tommie Harris. We're dealing with a lot of stuff with what the critics are saying, but amongst the team we are enjoying ourselves, we're enjoying the success. We're 9-2 and you can't complain."
November 30, 2006
meggles...you're delicious.
November 30, 2006
Here at DaBearsBlog, you are free to kill us or the Bears as you so wish. You are not free, however, to be an asshole. So if you spew racism or ill-meaning foul language (cursing about football is just fine) or anything of that ilk, your comments ain't gonna last long, jerk.