34 may be a revered number in Chicago, but today it made me vomit in my mouth. The Chicago Bears defense, the same defense that carried us to a Super Bowl berth last year, just gave up 34 points to the Minnesota Vikings. I know Adrian Peterson is going to the hall of fame, but where was Brian Urlacher? Where was form tackling? Where was the rush from the front 4? Where was pride and effort?
I don't care about the comeback...it was like picking up the hot girl at the bar only to get cock-blocked at the last minute...Ryan Flippin' Longwell. Some things to take away in the positive...Devin Hester...he is simply unbelievable. I love watching him play and everytime he touches the ball, I'm wondering what he can do with it. It's like watching a big hitter in baseball...he could go yard at any time. Greg Olsen, our first round pick, looks like he is starting to find his groove on the field....I think he looks really sharp and should be a force the rest of this year.
The take home message from this game is that the Bears are now 2-4 and in DEAD LAST PLACE in the NFC North...the reported worst division in professional tackle football. I'm not saying throw in the towel, but I'm saying bookmark Mel Kiper Jr's draft class page and start dreaming of Andre Woodson in Chicago Blue.
#2 Jimbo said . . .Timing is everything in the NFL, and this team just can't seem to put all 3 phases together at once. At least we saw Benson running well, Berrian catching the deep ball, and Hester being Hester. The team had opportunities to get ahead early, force Tarvaris to make plays and put the game away - but it just didn't happen. The inability to create takeaways and stop the run eventually cost the Bears the game. Gotta give the kid (AD) credit, but the chicago defense just looked terrible.
October 14, 2007
#3 Dick Stockton said . . .Blah.
October 14, 2007
#4 VikingFan said . . .I have no business commentating ANY sport WHATSOEVER. Somebody fucking shoot me already.
October 14, 2007
#5 #34 Forever said . . .Bears suck...it's that simple...you guys got away with an easy ass patty cake schedule last year...not so anymore Baby Vikings are back...maybe not all the way this year but Adrian Peterson will change this division..MARK MY WORDS...the Bears window has officially been SHUT...good riddance
October 14, 2007
#6 Al in WI said . . .AP twice a year for how many more years? If that QB gets it together, look out for Purple. Maybe not this year, but...
October 14, 2007
#7 Jimbo said . . .Lovie Smith should have his ass in a sling with the Chicago media right now. My God!
The minnesota vikings have the worst passing game in the nfl, and one good player, and you sit and play cover two the entire game and get gashed. That was arrogant coaching by Smith and Babich, it reminded me of the Carolina playoff game when they refused to double Steve Smith.
Disgusting.
Absolutely inexcusable, and then of course there is the effort of some players such as McGowan, Archuletta, ect.
Pack in the bus this team is done.October 14, 2007
#8 Viva said . . ."I'm not saying throw in the towel, but I'm saying bookmark Mel Kiper Jr's draft class page and start dreaming of Andre Woodson in Chicago Blue."
Is it time to go down this road?
I'm ready. It was a nice run, but we can't expect to win with this offense. Let's be honest. Is Griese a Super Bowl QB? No. Is Benson the kind of running back we can build an offense around? Nope. At least we have a solid receiver we can always count on... wait a second, no we don't. Berrian isn't ready for primetime. Olsen is going to be good, but tight ends don't lead teams to titles.
And yeah, I saw the game and true, our defense didn't show up. No doubt we have some issues on that side of the ball. But damn. How many times have they bailed us out? How many times have our S-Teams, i.e., Hester, bailed us out? They have to bail us out because our offense can't accomplish squat.
Someone hit reset on our offense. There is absolutely zero to hang a hat on on offense.
October 14, 2007
#9 Pissed Off said . . .The Good: Devin Hester, and Viks +5 won me some dough.
The Bad: Adrian Peterson twice a year for what will seem like forever.
The Ugly: We got beat by a lesser team at home.
October 14, 2007
#10 Portuguese_Bear said . . .I cant even formulate an opinion right now. I dont know what to say, offensively, defensively. only special teams, check that only Devin Hester looked good today, oh and that guy that wears #28 for the Queens.
As I've said I'm supersticious and if you want this team to go to the playoffs you might as well book me for the post game blog the rest of the year, I'm 2-0, just kidding JB, Midway.
October 14, 2007
#11 GHS said . . .Devin Hester deserve a better time! We are to small to this great guy!
October 14, 2007
#12 Shady McBears Fan said . . .The bears are the best team in the NFC north.. it may not seem like it, but they beat the so called "unstopable" packers and got beat by one player on the horrible purple team...... the bears defense is the bears defense and they will be back to win the divsion and do work in the playoffs.............. 3 words .............BEAR DOWN CHICAGO!!!!!
October 14, 2007
#13 VikingFan said . . .The Vikings certainly look like they're getting better, perhaps they won't be the perennial proverbial doormat of the NFC anymore. How many completions did T Jax have again? 9?
Anybody else have a problem with the Bears defense helping the Vikings players get up off the ground today? Personally it annoys me when the Bears D is getting run all over and they're lifting up the Viking RBs. It's pretty obvious to me that the cowboy's loss was crippling, resulting in add'l injuries (part of the game, right?) to the defense, while #8 and the offense decided to crap the bed that night.
The Chicago Bears have had a tough season so far. So what if there's some truth to that damn 'superbowl loser hangover' theory. The Bears have always done best playing with a chip on their shoulder, saying it's "us against them" "we're the underdog? ok." role.
But reality bites. And the Bears are sitting ugly at 2-4. It's getting a little late to be saying it's still early, there's plenty of time. The Bears need to start recovering players from injury soon, and they need start recovering their identity that made them NFC Champions. The offense is seems to be playing better, but it's still a crapshoot each week with inconsistent player performances.
For the Bears to have any shot at the playoffs this year, the Chicago defense will need to reach a level that they discovered last year, the level that created takeaways and forced mistakes. Bottom line is, they have to make the big plays that eventually determine the outcome of the game. I just hope the organization, coaches and players (and fans) have it in 'em to pull it out.
October 14, 2007
#14 Windy City Packer Fan said . . .You guys had your prime time and blew it...LOL...the Bears are NFC North Bottom dwellers and always have been...no one has ever taken them seriously..even last years "super bowl" team...and that pathetic loss to the panthers...it's all but over...well at least sucking and being in last place is something you all are used to...HAHA
October 14, 2007
#15 Bill said . . .GHS, the Bears will be at the top of the division by 11/11 at the earliest.
The 5 turnovers by the Pack are what is giving you 2 wins.
Still think you can pull it off?
Lots of PBR being consumed today.
BEAR DOWN!
October 14, 2007
#16 Bill said . . .The Vikes could be a force; and then they coudl be a one trick pony for years and years. My money is on the latter. (That means the last one - for Viking fans.)
The Bears coaching staff is horrible in games like these. AP is a phenom, but even with what, 300 yards rushing and 4 TOs we coudl have won?? I would feel like crap if I was a Viking fan.
Remember - if the Bears suck, then you nearly lost to a team that sucks. How can that make you feel good. Unless you're stupid.
Hey big money man Urlacher - anytime you want to start playing football this year is fine by me!
Defensive game plan was HORRIBLE!
Offense played well enough to win IF THE DEFENSE SHOWED UP.
We're reduced to taking joy in watching the teams that beat us lose later in the season. And lose they will. If the Vikings fans think they out played us, they don't know football. Once player kicked our ass big time, and we were too weak to overcome that.
Though I will say their QB did a great job managing the game. Even his bad throws (and there were many) were not in danger of being intercepted.
By the way - just so I'm clear on this: Our defense now officially SUCKS! The one good half we had in GB maybe was a fluke. We give up points by the dozens and yards by the hundreds. The defense SUCKS! PERIOD!
This is the worst I've felt after a Bear loss in a long time.
October 14, 2007
#17 GHS said . . .By the way, Viking fan. You said the Vikings are back.
Back from WHERE?? I dont' recall you contending for anything since the 70s.
October 14, 2007
#18 Packer Backer said . . .Windy city chesse head?
Grow up
you cant do it both!
and to the vikings fan, yeh good luck you get one player who can run the ball and your a fan again. randy moss made you guys fan, just like peterson, fucking band wagon jokers..... come to chicaga we are the real fans and we are the only team that can bring the NFC north back to respectable ................................. once again BEAR DOWN!October 14, 2007
#19 GHS said . . .Let me give you a tip on picking on the Vikings. Up here, we call them the Vi-Queens. Try it. You get a kick out of it after awhile.
October 14, 2007
#20 Packer Backer said . . .Thanks for the vi-queens tip but we here in Chicaga call bret the interception record setter...... against da bears............. one more time
BEAR DOWN CHICAGO!October 14, 2007
#21 Touche said . . .And up here we call him 3 time MVP, Super Bowl Champion, all time winningest quarterback.
October 14, 2007
#22 Jimbo said . . .Well done.
October 14, 2007
#23 GHS said . . .Jeff... please set up a template comment that looks something like the following...
"_______________ played well enough to win IF THE ____________ SHOWED UP."
That way, we can just fill in "offense" and "defense" and we don't need to waste energy typing.
Might also add a template that says," Damn we suck, but Hester is amazing."
Or we can just copy and paste previous chapters of the blog. They're all starting to sound the same.
Bears.
October 14, 2007
#24 GHS said . . .and emmit smith passed WALTOR PAYTON for alltime most rushing yards so you play in the league long enough you get lucky....... stop hanging on some senior citizen you know that the bears own the midwest football secne.................. ps devon hester will t-bag you
October 14, 2007
#25 JB said . . .CHEESE HEADS SUCK
October 14, 2007
#26 JL said . . .did I seriously just read the "patty cake schedule" argument on here...do I need to remind you that the schedule is set and that the Bears played a 1st place schedule last year (& this year)? the reason their opp winning percentage was so low was because they had to play the vikings and lions twice...are you that thick? I knew vikings fans were dumb, but ignorant?
anyways, seriously guys, it's pretty bleak. the one thing you can't do in this league is lose in your own division. they need to get on a serious roll to have a chance...7-3 the rest of the way just to sneak in.
October 14, 2007
#27 GHS said . . .During the first game of this season vs. the Chargers my Redskins buddies turned to me after the first blown coverage by the new #20 on our team and said, "Get ready to stare and yell at Archuleta's back all year long."
They weren't kidding. Archuleta is fuckin' awful in coverage. On the TD to Williamson, Tillman did what he's supposed to do - hand the WR off to the safety - only ours is a fuckin' deadbeat. Maybe he doesn't get the system since he's new - OH WAIT - he did this with Lovie back in St. Louis, right?
Oh and Brendon McGowan - after nearly giving up the game-tying TD last week to Donald Driver it's nice to see you can't tackle. Look, Adrian Peterson is good - but he's not THAT good.
Safeties were the reason Steve Smith thrashed us 2 years ago. Safeties were the reason we started giving up huge chunks of yards in the second half of last season. Safeties were the reason Reggie Wayne was on an island in the Superbowl playing sandlot football, completely negating Hester's brilliance. And safeties are the reason we're headed to 8-8 and irrelevance this year.
Lovie must have noticed that we gave up 100 yds to AP in the first half, didn't he? NICE FUCKIN HALFTIME ADJUSTMENT!
Pathetic.
October 14, 2007
#28 Midway Monster said . . .Real fans dont dog their own team....... ever! we may not have the best team in the world and i agree archuletta was a bust... but chicaga fans are the best in the world BEAR DOWN!
October 14, 2007
#29 Rancid said . . .This is gonna be a tough hole to get out of. I have no answers. Them damn purple-nurples came into our house with a sub-par team and won. Disgusting.
-- Midway --
(Spending the night at Coos Bay Oregon, vacation sucks tonight)
October 14, 2007
#30 Mike said . . .Before Viking fans get excited, let me remind you of something. You are not the first team in the NFC North to be a shitty team with a fantastic running back. I think AP might be the new Barry Sanders. He has a lot to prove before he earns that though. The problem is, the rest of his team sucks. The Lions will forever be remembered as a shitty team with a world class running back. That's your future.
Just curious as I was following the game on the net without the benefit of television coverage. I noticed that our TEs combined for 8 catches. Anyone who could watch the game remember if any of them came against Sharper?
October 14, 2007
#31 jdawg said . . .Adrian Peterson is this league's next great running back.
Lets face it, the Bear defense is overrated.
October 14, 2007
#32 Al in WI said . . .queue Don Merideth.
Hey Jeff, I'm back to liking Woodson, but I didn't think we'd be in a position to draft him until today. Still, that kid has a wierd-ass throwing delivery. I'm not saying its bad, but it just looks like he's throwing in slo-motion, and then the ball leaves his hand like it was shot out of a cannon.
He's big and strong and can scramble. And he's as cool as a cucumber.
October 14, 2007
#33 Jim Bob said . . .Before people come with the "offense played well enough" crap. Stop yourself. Griese 3 turnovers again. If you're scoring at home that makes 7 in 3 games. Totally unacceptable, and if not for the prevent defense at the end of the game his head would be on the choping block right now. He's supposed to be a competent game manager-he's not.
Benson 18 for 65 yards and no tds. Not good either, though this was one of his better games. (what does that say?)
While the offense wasn't as responcible for losing this game as some others over the years they're not getting the job done either. You can't turn it over 4 times and expect to win.October 15, 2007
#34 Big Earl said . . .I hope Cedric Benson was taking notes because Adrian Peterson(a rookie) was doing a tutorial today.
What a bust! My sister runs better than him.
Brian Griese played a pretty good game but let's be honest he's not taking us to the BIG DANCE this year.
October 15, 2007
#35 Big Earl said . . .The Bears defense is a joke. Steve Smith and Carolina, Peyton Manning and Indianapolis, and now what's been happening this season. Adewale Ogunleye is stealing a paycheck. Adam Archueleta is the worst safety in professional football. Daniel Manning can't tackle (or at least push Adrian Peterson OUT OF BOUNDS!!!).
Brian Griese's passes? Oh good Lord. Wounded ducks!
6-10.
October 15, 2007
#36 Big Earl said . . .The Bears defense is a joke. Steve Smith and Carolina, Peyton Manning and Indianapolis, and now what's been happening this season. Adewale Ogunleye is stealing a paycheck. Adam Archueleta is the worst safety in professional football. Daniel Manning can't tackle (or at least push Adrian Peterson OUT OF BOUNDS!!!).
Brian Griese's passes? Oh good Lord. Wounded ducks!
6-10.
October 15, 2007
#37 Shady McBears Fan said . . .The Bears defense is a joke. Steve Smith and Carolina, Peyton Manning and Indianapolis, and now what's been happening this season. Adewale Ogunleye is stealing a paycheck. Adam Archueleta is the worst safety in professional football. Daniel Manning can't tackle (or at least push Adrian Peterson OUT OF BOUNDS!!!).
Brian Griese's passes? Oh good Lord. Wounded ducks!
6-10.
October 15, 2007
#38 Al in WI said . . .Jim Bob, Big Earl? Rednecks. Don't you have some cousins you should go fuck?
October 15, 2007
#39 Johnny from Indy said . . .I'm not interested in drafting another qaurterback and either living through his growing pains or watching another morose old vet with a weak arm play the role of transitional starter.
The Bears need to look into Kyle Boller or Derek Anderson at quarterback next season. They are young enough to develope and yet experienced enough that it should be a long process with either of them.October 15, 2007
#40 Pissed Off said . . .Grossman goes 1 - 2, with losses against San Diego and Dallas, two pretty good teams. Griese goes 1 - 2 with losses to Detroit, and Minn. two not so good teams. He had three turnovers in each loss, that cost us points. How long is Lovie going to put up with this crap from a so so qb?
October 15, 2007
#41 Pissed Off said . . .I would like to add that I could have made the pass to Berrian when Winfield fell down and also on the 20+yard pickup to Dez the defender Greenway fell down too. The pass to Hester any NFL Qb can make, it was all Hester, all speed. Bottom line Rex and the team lost to the Boys and SD in 3 games. Two good ass teams. Griese and the team has lost to the Fucking shitty Lions and Vikings, embarassing. I think at the very least we can all acknowledge that the QB IS NOT the only problem on this team and therefore since Rex is the superior talent and was rightfully the starter at the beginning of the year he should be put back in. Griese had his 3 games just like Rex did now go to Orton or back to Rex.
This defense embarrased Bear fans everywhere today. I'm not even hating on Griese, he played OK, way too many pass plays, but we had to while getting our ass kicked. Be back in the morning, by then I'm sure there will be 298 posts but I will talk to you all tomorrow morn.
October 15, 2007
#42 Decatur Staleys #7 said . . .Anyone else realize that some people have been lurking here for months or years and only come out of the woodwork to talk smack when the Bears are down? Good thing we kept all the idiots quiet last year at least. To all those: I'm sorry our team has been significantly better than your favorite team for the last few years, now the tables are turning.
October 15, 2007
#43 Jimbo said . . .To the Viking fans that come here to post something.(your fans must be really boring to talk to)Kudo to AP an the rest of the guys who got off the bus with him.
But to come here an claim that we're over rated is dumb.We've been on top of the division for 3 yrs.While you been looking up.And I wouldn't run out a get those playoff tickets just yet either.
And remember the reason you got AP was because your team is shitty,An you got 35 million in salary cap an the best WR you could find was a guy we cut.October 15, 2007
#44 Decatur Staleys #7 said . . .Mariotti' has a new one up for those who can stomach him.
October 15, 2007
#45 Morse the Norse Man said . . .Hey Angelo if you happen to be reading this site.I think the "special"RB you were talking about got on a bus an left Soldier Field today.
It sounds like Ced is playing himself back into the role he had last year:2nd string RBP.S call Corey Dillion I sure he's not busy.
October 15, 2007
#46 Nicole is miserable in this blue city said . . .Knock knock. Pissed Off, you there? I accepted your invitation two days ago?
I'm here? Where are you?
We came in purple. We came with viking helmets. Flavor Flav was there to.
And we won.
October 15, 2007
#47 Shady McBears Fan said . . .I'm aching. Colts fans are making it even worse!
Johnny: How much do you hate Indy fans?
October 15, 2007
#48 Al in WI said . . .I was at Indiana University last year during the Superbowl and I couldn't tell you annoying those fuckers are. Personally, I think they're up there on the shit list with the fucking vikings and packers fans.
October 15, 2007
#49 Decatur Staleys #7 said . . .Po'd, I hear you all the way on Griese. He's been given a much better chance to succeed too as he has had Olsen all 3 games, gotten to use the shotgun in situations other than third and long, gotten to see Bradley on the field, and played two horrible pass defenses.
I don't really care that he's had some td passes in garbage either so his rating is better.October 15, 2007
#50 Griese Fan said . . .Hey everybody at least we're not Dolphin fans(0-6)
Maybe that can make some sleep better tonight.
An Nicole tell the Dolt fan, there rooting for a guy with a haircut of a 5 yr old.October 15, 2007
#51 Coxy said . . .Brian Griese brings qualities to the offense that it hasn't seen in a long time...he's smart, mature, a scholar of the game, a quality person the players respect, and possesses a much better arm than he's given credit for. If the offensive line blocked better and if we had a running back that the opposing defenses cared about (does anyone really expect CB to break a run?..he runs like he's waiting to be tackled), our passing game would be far more explosive. Had the defense played better, and had we a running back of any real explosive quality, this game would have been very winnable.
October 15, 2007
#52 Jimbo said . . .How is this an argument about our QB? Was I watching the same game? Griese played fine. I think we scored enough points to beat on offense with a junior varsity QB, and fucking receivers who cannot catch the ball (we should know, we got rid of those scrubs).
If you know the opposing team has one weapon, a running game, and you cannot do anything about it, then we're in trouble. Front 4 sucked, Urlacher sucked, McGowan is an abortion, Archuleta cant cover anything.
Apparently you can never be too deep at safety as Jerry and Lovie thought we were when they traded Chris Harris.
October 15, 2007
#53 Bill said . . .I'm with Al and PO'ed. I called for Griese, but he's clearly not the answer. He's just as mistake prone as Grossman, except he's alot older.
We don't have a QB. Period.
October 15, 2007
#54 Northside Superfan said . . .Come on - we're so brainwashed here.
QB is NOT the problem. The DEFENSE is. PERIOD. Look at the point totals. Look at the YARDAGE. This is not even an AVERAGE defense. It just isn't. THAT'S the problem.
We're very used to saying the defense is great - if only we had a QB. It simply isn't so. We gave up WAY too many yards today. And despite that - we almost came back.
Packer fan - here's the simple truth about your 3 time MVP: since the late sizties, the Bears and the Packers have both played in 2 Super Bowls, each team winning one.
A lot of good your 3 time MVP did when it counted. We did as well with McMahon and Grossman.
October 15, 2007
#55 JL said . . .There's just something missing. The defense has most of the same players who were there last year, but there's some kind of hunger, some kind of spark, that they just can't seem to find.
Remember the dominating performances last year? Against Arizona, when we needed points and couldn't get them, our defense became our offense, too. In the NFL title game, they crushed the #1 offense and made them look like a high school team.
This year? They are still a good D--they shut down LT and Larry Johnson, but when they needed to make something happen, no one stepped up. No one was hungry enough to make that big game changing play. All of Adrian Peterson's performance could have been balanced out by some turnovers--we didn't get them.
I don't fault the offense or Griese. Benson's performance was a little bit encourage. Obviously Hester is amazing and Olsen is definitely the real deal.
But this is not a hungry team, at least not right now, and probably not this season unless they can pull off a miracle.
The only good news is that I think if we resign Briggs and Harris and upgrade the O-line, we don't need to rebuild. I think this team can be salvaged. But the offseason is a long, long way away.
That fucking sucked.
October 15, 2007
#56 Al in WI said . . .Arch Deluxe blows. No closing speed. No size. Can't tackle. Can't cover.
Why did we let Todd Johnson walk? Because he hit too hard? Because we thought Mike Brown would actually stay healthy all year?
Archie needs a seat on the bench but the fatal loyalist Lovie won't have the balls to do it.
Westbrook next week anyone?
October 15, 2007
#57 Viva said . . .Bill, you are right about people not wanting to blame the defense. I wouldn't argue that. Trouble is the defense blew against Dallas, and guess who took the blame? Grossman. Just as in the Super Bowl last year when Indy had 200 yards rushing.
The offense scored 24 points in this game which looks great. But again, they scored 14 of that total against a prevent defense in the final 3 mins of the game. And Griese's ints were killer, the second one in the middle of 4 guys was complete bullshit. So combining that with the fact that he personally threw the Lion game away it's time for him to go.October 15, 2007
#58 Scott said . . .I miss Mike Brown, like Manning and McGowan misses tackles.
October 15, 2007
#59 johnny said . . .After the Cowboy game I told my friends that I'd be happy if we end up 8-8. This team just doesn't have "it" this year. Who knows why or how something like this happens but it does. They've got plenty of talent even with the injuries but they just don't have the mojo this year. I know it's early and I know we still can make a push but we've got Griese at QB, Mike Brown out for the year, questions at DT, WR's dropping the ball...it's all shaping up to be a middling year at best. Breaks my heart but losing a game such as we did today will not surprise me at all the rest of this season. I think we'll win some games that no one thinks we should (Green Bay is an example) but we're going nowhere. That said, I do think Lovie and Angelo will retool and this team will be a force in '08. Yep, I'm thinking of '08 already. I hope I'm wrong.
October 15, 2007
#60 StartOlsen said . . .the defense looks like they have given up for the season. missed tackles, missed assignments. the defense looks pitiful. the offense has improved but we need to start looking for a running back that wants to play. cb is a lazy running back. i was a hard core supporter of cb from his high school days at midland lee to his college days at ut, but he has gotten lazy. he can not catch a ball out of the backfield and he plays with no passion. now the qb situation looks decent. now we need to fix the running game. bench cb and play wolfe and peterson. maybe some pressure on cb will make run the ball harder. i will not give up on my bears and hope no else does. hope lovie smith grows some balls and fixes our running game and our defense. GOOOOOOO BEARS..
October 15, 2007
#61 GP said . . .dont fucking blame any of this on the offense or Greise. period. they did their job. I have nothing on our fucking D. inexplicable.
I have one question- why the HELL dont we get Hester the ball more???October 15, 2007
#62 Max said . . .Genius. Griese throws 7 TDs and 6 INTs, while Grossman throws 1 TD and 6 INTs in the same number of games but somehow Rex is the one who should be starting.
Who gives a shit, actually. Yeah, start Grossman. Jeff is right...we should start thinking about our draft position anyway.
October 15, 2007
#63 Phil from SATX said . . .I am thinking about one thing and one thing only. . . . Philly. It hurts to much to think about the year as a whole. . . Philly this Sunday.
god i hate life.
October 15, 2007
#64 Philo said . . .I had to go into major mood management during this game. I did NOT want to ruin the rest of what would have otherwise been a perfectly good Sunday. Had to deal with the 4th grader crying. At least I know I'm raising a great Bear fan down here in Texas - I'm trying to point out the good things, and he's telling me through his tears - SO WHAT DAD? WE LOST!
Guys, here's the reason we lost, and it's very simple. We have too many bodies out on D, and they're the wrong bodies. Vasher being out changes everything on this D. And to those who warned about Darwin Walker missing the game, they were right. We were too weak inside (even with TH), and with all the shifting on the secondary we are right now not a great defense.
Things will change as soon as we get Vasher back. And to those who worry about Arch not getting benched, he did get benched in the second half, so they will do what they have to do. On the other hand, you can't really blame him for that streaking receiver - Arch is no cover corner by any stretch and that play, if perfectly executed (which it was) would burn any safety. But no, Arch doesn't look real great.
The offense continues to grind its way toward acceptability. I honestly think the only goat on offense from this game is Cedric Benson, and not for his running, which was better than we've seen, but for 3 dropped passes. Now we know that his hands are not the equal of TJ or even AP. There was no excuse for two of those drops, and they killed drives. In general I liked the playcalling, except that we didn't exploit the middle of the field enough.
Adrian Peterson is the real deal - no point in comparing him to CB, or to any other running back that's come out in recent years. He was that way at OU and only injury prevented him from being a Heisman winner and probably going first in the draft. He should have gone first, or at least ahead of Calvin Johnson. Who would you rather have, a great receiver who needs a QB to get him the ball, or this guy? He reminded me in this game of early Terrell Davis. It scares the crap out of me that we're going to see him twice a year - but if we see him with our real defense, I'm not searly as scared, and we win this game.
Get bodies back on defense - it's the key to our season. It IS getting late, but we CAN go on a win streak at any time. It's not too late. Man up, and Bear down.
October 15, 2007
#65 Nicole is miserable in this blue city said . . .Remember the old photo's of Dick Butkus, muddy, growling steam coming out of the ear holes of his helmet. Then along comes Urlacher, who everyone compared to the second coming of Butkus?
The only grass stains on Urlacher's uniform were on his knee's, I didn't see any of the hype of the second coming. He must have dropped a contact on the field. Lace Briggs on the other hand, GREAT. The Bears better keep him.
Devin Hester- You can watch him on tv but when you see him in person- unbelieveable.
Greise- can throw to the right easily but when throwing left, every pass was behind the receiver.
Olsen- What a load- 6'6 and can really move.
Benson- Either 1-2 yards or 8-11 yard gains to much tippy toe running.
Grossman- doesn't know what to do with himself on the sidelines, kind of sad really
Bears defensive- Got killed on the cut back cross field running
October 15, 2007
#66 Decatur Staleys #7 said . . .Decatur: Nice jab!
I'll try to spread some light on this gloomy Monday morning- I reflect back to last Monday, how good I felt, energized, hopeful. Yeah it's gone.
October 15, 2007
#67 Decatur Staleys #7 said . . .As Hester keeps going,Can we start to mention him in the same breath as Sayer?
What I gleaned off of other websites,I guees the Coaching staff stuck with the same game plan after the half an didn't adjust.I guess that's the difference between good coaching an great coaching.
October 15, 2007
#68 mikebdot said . . .I wonderwhy is he playing if he can't tackle?
Lovie said about AA
“Adam has had a little bit of trouble with his hand,� Smith said. “In the end, we felt like we needed to go with healthy guys that we thought would give us our best group to tackle with.�
Huh?
Just bring on the Iggles for christ sake,i hate life right now.
October 15, 2007
#69 mikebdot said . . .Lowlight of the day. Ricky Manning Jr. having a perfect opportunity to hit AP in the backfield, instead goes to contain Tarvaris? Not only did Tarvaris do NOTHING all game to worry about a pass, the entire line of scrimmage was moved at least 3 yards downfield, so it couldn't have been a pass (otherwise it would be ineligible downfield). So, this means Ricky Manning Jr. was worried that Tarvaris was going to run the ball on a QB keeper. What the fuck is he thinking? And furthermore, why the hell were we in a nickel defense? At all? Like, the entire game? Ricky Manning Jr. had NO BUSINESS being on the field. As much as I dislike Hunter Hillenmeyer, he's another LB to worry about, and VERY GOOD against the run, as opposed to another one of our defensive backs that can't tackle.
This team misses the following injured players a great deal:
Dusty Dvoracek
Darwin Walker
Tommie Harris (cuz he is NOT 100%, there is no way)
Nathan Vasher (to get Daniel Manning back to safety)
Mike Brown (duh, too bad we'll always miss him now)
Adam Archuleta (his hand is on his mind, hopefully...otherwise he just plain sucks)
Kevin Payne (if nothing else than ST play)
Dan Bazuin
Mike OkwoAll these injuries obviously hurt our defense, but it also hurts our special teams because we end up putting scrubs on the field to try to tackle AP. Shit, the defense can't even do it, let alone the scrubs we had to actually suit up.
I've resigned myself to the reality that we're probably not going to make the playoffs. I'm not remotely disappointed in our team's performance. I'm disappointed in the couching up of these players.
Anyone else notice how rain seems to make us play terrible? I don't think it's a coincidence.
Anyone else tired of going for strips rather than just tackling the fucking ball carrier? A strip is nice every so often, but a sound tackle every play would be much better. That's the trade off you get with forcing two fumbles last week, everyone thinks they can be a hero, but the thing about it is, a RB is far less likely to fumble than a receiver because the receiver has to catch the ball, secure the ball, then brace for the defender. When none of your players can get into the backfield the RB can secure the ball very easily.
Trying to strip a running back in the open field is terrible football. I don't care how many fumbles you get, it's bad football and it makes me sick to my stomach.
October 15, 2007
couch = coach. "couching up" could related to all the injuries on defense, but just thought I'd correct myself...
October 15, 2007
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.