You know wanna know how much of successful drafting is based on luck? Mike Mulligan actually did some real journalism in today's Sun-Times:
In fact, Hester nearly went earlier. The Tennessee Titans had him on the phone and told him they were going to take him at No. 45 before changing fields and selecting USC running back LenDale White. If the Bears hadn't taken him at No. 57, he'd have fallen no more than four picks because the Broncos were going to take him at No. 61, a source said this week. Instead, they took tight end Tony Scheffler -- who caught a touchdown pass between his knees Sunday against the Bears.Oddly enough the Bears wouldn't have even been in the market for Hester if their first option -- signing local product Antwaan Randle El in free agency -- hadn't blown up when the Washington Redskins stepped in and made a big-money offer. Toub chuckles at the idea now, conceding ''there is no way we'd have drafted Devin'' if Randle El signed in free agency.
So the Skunk is a Bear and we have the Tennessee Titans and Dan Snyder's greed to thank.
3. Muhsin Muhammad
Go back and look at the replay of the illegal contact call on 4th and 10. Moose should have caught the damn ball. the Bears lead the league in drops and 13 Million Moose is a big reason why.
2. Adam Archuleta
There's a football term for AA: shit.
1. Fred Miller
It is very rarely to see a player get old on the football field but the bears have no choice but to put John St. Clair at right tackle this weekend. If they don't, Michael Strahan will dominate the first quarter.
#2 jeff said . . .Hester is a Chicago Bear, highly valuable.
Talk of trade has come up and although highly interesting in conversation I definitely say NO!
November 28, 2007
#3 RandomName said . . .devin hester is not getting traded. although its going to be very interesting to see what he gets paid. there is no precedent for a player of this ability.
November 28, 2007
#4 DTB said . . .Ok 10 touchdowns not includeing a missed fieldgoal return, a superbowl return, and an actual receiving touchdown in under 30 games.
Ok after not letting go of this topic(like i should) and brainstorming on it a little more I've come to the final decision.
Not only would it be dumb to trade him it would be the dumbest move in sports trading history. I'd probably stop watching all bears games from that point on.
Teach him some routes, give him his check.
nuff said.November 28, 2007
#5 Phil from SATX said . . .RandomName-Talk of trade? Please elaborate...
November 28, 2007
#6 jeff said . . .Jeff, I think if you do a Bear House you are duty bound to include a Bear Palace (or some such shit) for the top 3 Bears. Let's keep it balanced and Bearimistic.
I can't improve on your Bear House list. You are exactly right and I echo the derision of jdawg and Al in the last thread about Moose. There is no excuse for arrogance and repeated evidence that you hold everyone else accountable for every bad thing they do but have no accountability for your failures. And that's Moose in a nutshell.
My choice for the Solid Gold Bear Den honorees:
1) Devin Hester. Every day, all the time. (in the words of Don Henley)
2) PNut Tillman. Absolutely unbelievable one man effort, really deserves equal billing with Devin, if you can imagine that.
3) Adrian Peterson. Spoke about him earlier, he completely clarified to everyone why we love him, why we hate Ced.
Honorable mention: Mark Anderson - anyone notice what a great game he had, and against the run no less? Vast improvements from him.
Rex Grossman - sure he did some silly bad throws, a few turnovers, but did he come through at the end for us? He sure did! Great job, Rex, keep improving, I want you back. What perfect touch on the first down play to Des Clark in OT. And a perfect throw to Berrian when it had to be had. This guy can really do lots of different kinds of throws. He's got skills. (I wonder how he is at bow hunting or computer hacking).
Last honorable mention: Offensive line. Way to try really hard in the 4th quarter, more than you've been doing. Kudos. Probably the first time there was something good to say about you all season.November 28, 2007
#7 Phil from SATX said . . .phil, what does adewale ogunleye have to do to make your list? the man is having a pro bowl season - adding two sacks to make his total nine for the season. if you asked the bears players and coaches to pick their defensive mvp, no way they dont choose ogunleye.
November 28, 2007
#8 Midway Monster said . . .Jeff, that's cool - but if you mean MVP for that game, there's no way they don't pick Tillman. Also, I think you're overselling on Wale as a Pro Bowler this year - there have been various times in this one win one loss rinse repeat season when we have been calling him out and calling him overrated and overpaid. Agree that he is coming on strong of late, and honestly still haven't gotten to watch the game intently enough and without interruption to be able to see how good he was.
So what's your Top 3 list anyway?
November 28, 2007
#9 jeff said . . .what ever happened to the Da Bears Blog "game ball"? (yeah I know, a subpar season is what happened). Maybe we revive that.
-- Midway --
2 Bear Games Next week - Man, Life is Good!November 28, 2007
#10 jeff said . . .(3) grossman. if the receivers catch the ball, he had a 300 yard plus game sunday and they would have won easily in regulation. (2) ogunleye/tillman. they carried the defense, basically eliminating half of a passing game. (1) skunk. i hope we're all enjoying this because he's a once in a lifetime player.
November 28, 2007
#11 Al in WI said . . .good call midway. i vow to return the gameball to mainpage should the bears win sunday. i think we all know that devin hester won this weeks.
November 28, 2007
#12 Phil from SATX said . . .I like this "Bear House," feature. I pretty much have to agree with it.
I do have to say, I thought Urlacher played well this Sunday. I know he got that penalty, but I liked that he was pissed off and showed some emotion.November 28, 2007
#13 RandomName said . . .Good call Al, I thought about him, he looks like he is returning to form.
And not to remark on my own remarks, but remember when we were thinking up Hester theme songs? Life in the Fast Lane would actually be a very good for him, considering the title and the "Every day, all the time..."
How about it, Soldier Field audio staff? You listening out there? Could be PRETTY PRETTY cool! (using some Larry David inflection)
November 28, 2007
#14 Phil from SATX said . . .#4 DTB said . . .
RandomName-Talk of trade? Please elaborate...
No I'm sorry, not rumors of trade so much as radio conversational pieces of trade talk... either 670AM the score or 1000AM espn.I apologize if I startled anyone but all morning l ong as I listen to the sports stations on AM I heard the conversation being batted around.
The points being his lack of field time vs his big play ability. Also the issue of him getting as much money as someone who stays on the field 75% of the time which I agree doesn't seem to fit quite right.
but nonetheless I don't think the bears organization would trade him, especially if he continues to perform at his level.
RN
November 28, 2007
#15 DTB said . . .Forget offense, he changes games and if Bears had consistent offense and defense, he could propel us into the Super Bowl (which he actually already did last year, and spotted us 7 in the blink of an eye in that one). Yes he deserves all the money in the world.
And I do sometimes think about the fact that by working him in on offense, we're really endangering and greatly upping the risk of injury to the greatest returner of all time - and who knows if one serious injury could forever rob him of his magic - a la the kid in Rookie of the Year. What if we let the offense fend for itself, and preserved DH so he could be great for 8-10 years? Giving us field position and/or scores in every single game? Isn't that enough for the guy?
Then I think about what he could do for us on offense with a real offensive coordinator...
November 28, 2007
#16 Phil from SATX said . . .Q. Which Chicago Bears defender absolutely owns the New York Giants?
Hint- He's not a starter.
November 28, 2007
#17 Al in WI said . . .Alex Brown?
Sorry, Who is Alex Brown?
I'll take Giant Killers for $600, Alex.
November 28, 2007
#18 DTB said . . .Alex Brown. What do I win?
November 28, 2007
#19 Da Coach said . . .You win the satisfaction of being second and third on the week 13 Alex Brown bandwagon. The game ball against the Gothams for the third straight year. Sweet!
November 28, 2007
#20 jeff said . . .I would really love to have had Grossman @ QB in those Detroit games, I have a feeling we would be 1 game over 500 at this point in the season.
Anyhow a win this week and I really believe the Bears go 5-0 in this stretch. We catch the Skins in a complete tailspan (prayers for the family & friends of taylor) revenge game in Minny, the Pack @ home & dome team Saints outside to close the season. 10-6 gets us into the dance & who knows who ends up going home with who once your in.
November 28, 2007
#21 Shady McBears Fan said . . .by the way, all he new york papers are writing about devin hester. two columns in the new york post today - one on coughlin kicking and one quoting feagles directly. this has to be the first time a kick returner has hhad this kind of impact on football gameplanning.
November 28, 2007
#22 Anonymous said . . .I'd trade Devin Hester for Walter Payton, but only if Green Bay agreed to take Ronald Turner.
November 28, 2007
#23 Midway Monster said . . .by the way, jay mariotti said on Around the Horn that Devin hester is under appreciated nationally. sure they give him his 30 sec highlight reel (I get the chills every time i hear joniak's voice watching the return) but they are not fully comprehending what this guy is accomplishing. i think jeff mentioned it earlier, but jay said he's the closest thing to michael jordan he's seen in a long time.
November 28, 2007
#24 Shady said . . .Chances are Feagles will kick away from Hester. I cannot see anyone kicking to him directly after last week. Which is why I think the Bears ought to try and block punts. The punt return team could be awesomely disruptive.
-- Midway --
November 28, 2007
#25 RandomName said . . .Midway, I wonder if Dave Toub is thinking the same thing because it definitely makes sense. I suppose the trick would be to pick the right side to rush (based on what direction Feagles is angling the ball) and catch the Giants out of max protection. I love #23.
Now how do we get Hester involved in the offense?
Kinda hard to get anybody involved with this O-Line. But, Devin could be used as a decoy early in the game to set up another big play guy, and then give him the ball later in the game once the play isn't so obvious. Let's be creative here.
Fuck it. Line him up in the backfield, then the defense won't know what the hell to expect... If only he could pass... Maybe he can... Pull some McFadden type of play. Nah, not with this O-Line. It's tough to coordinate with this line, this running back and these receivers. Any ideas?
November 28, 2007
#26 Al in WI said . . .Is there a Vegas site which has odd for Hester in returning punts/kickoffs, or do they do only guesstimate that "silly" stuff for the Superbowl?
November 28, 2007
#27 Big Rob said . . .According to the Tribune Blog Nathan Vasher practiced today making it likely he'll make his return Sunday at Soilder Field.
November 29, 2007
#28 Shady McBears Fan said . . .RandomName- you can set up an account on bodog.com and bet on pretty much anything that has to do with football. They even have an up to the second gamecenter where you can bet on plays as they happen. So the answer to you question is Yes. Go there set up an account and try your luck. With as predictable as this offense has been at times you prolly have a chance to make some loot. I have a bad habit of getting drunk while watching and making a lot of stupid bets.... Good Luck... GO BEARS!!
November 29, 2007
#29 RandomName said . . .That is FANTASTIC news for this defense. Not only does that make the CB position much stronger, but it take some of the pressure off of the safeties as well. The Bears need the INTERCEPTOR back on the field if they plan on going streaking.
Between the Giants and the Bears, the two defensive units have some of the best pass rushers in the league. The game will be a battle of defensive fronts, and who can get to the QB most often and force the turnovers. The rushing attack of both teams is quite limited, the receivers have big play ability, but are overall pretty average, and both young quarterbacks have struggled to find consistency. It's pretty clear that Sunday will be a battle between two strong defensive fronts. I worry for our O-Line.
The "X-Factor" IMO is Garrett Wolfe. With the loss of Cedric Benson, Wolfe is likely to see a few more touches this week. Because the front four of the Giants is so active, it would be wise to take advantage of that fact much like the Broncos did to the Bears last week. Like the Bears, the Giants defense has great speed and can move quickly as a unit. Mixing in a few mis-direction plays (screens, draws etc.) might give the speedy Garrett Wolfe an opportunity to make some HUGE plays in space. He is a player with a specific skill set that the Bears have yet to exploit, and this game would be a great opportunity to witness those skills.
November 29, 2007
#30 Midway Monster said . . .Thanks Big Rob for the bodog info.
Anyone interested in using Hester or Garrett Wolfe like this on offense?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=GCsmUFvZDcI
This vid is of Josh Cribbs doing his thing. FastForward to the play at 1:40 to see a really good play. The quarterback pitches out to Cribbs as he does his road runner impression behind the line and picks up the first down.
Creativity is needed for this offense. a reverse here or there seems to work very good in college, and that draw play the broncos used on us with Cutler to Hall is all up for grabs in this league.
November 29, 2007
#31 rain said . . .Shady:
If I were Lovie, I wouldn't try to 'get Hester' in the offense- I'd retool the offense around Hester. Nonetheless, it obvious his role in the NFL is as a returner. Man, I need to take the time and go dig up Sayers numbers so I can put em side by side.
-- Midway --
Destroy GothamNovember 29, 2007
#32 Shady said . . .Not so sure I understand this GROIN injury of Vasher's. How long does the healing take. Dag. Will he play again this season?
November 29, 2007
#33 Shady said . . .RN, from that video I'd say Cribbs has some serious talent, but Hester is head and shoulders above him right now. Hester has that ability to make incredible cuts at top speed and then hit some RIDICULOUS gear and go leaping over kickers and racing into tunnels.
That being said, Cleveland has found a creative way (from the clip you posted) to involve Cribbs into the offense, something Chicago has yet to do effectively (if you don't count the bomb in the MIN game). If Cribbs can be an effective weapon on offense for the Browns, than Devin can be a spectacular offensive weapon for the Bears as well. I believe he just needs the right opportunity at the right time.
Midway, I'm a bit confused when you say Lovie should build an offense around Hester, and then say that it's obvious his role in the NFL is kick returner. I agree Hester is a natural kick returner and will probably never we a #1 wide receiver, but keep in mind this is his first attempt at the learning the WR position. Although Hester's receiving instincts may not be as strong as his return instincts, his speed and ability to make people miss are obvious weapons this offense MUST incorporate. It might take a season or two to learn how to run routes at an expert level, but it is certainly worth getting the ball in Hester's hands on offense 5-10 times per game. Sooner or later, he's going to make something special happen for this stagnant offense.
November 29, 2007
#34 Bill said . . .Hub Arkush from profootballweekly.com and 670 the score gives some great perspective on what the Bears should look for in the draft, not surprisingly: Offense.
http://www.670thescore.com/The-Hub-Arkush-Bears-Blog/941025
OT, RB, or WR are the positions Hub thinks the Bears should focus on with the 1st and 2nd pick. I've always worried however, that Angelo & co. have trouble evaluating offensive talent and selecting a defensive player would be a pick more likely to pay off.
November 29, 2007
#35 Phil from SATX said . . .I trust Taub will think of some xreative things. Well, not creative per se but counter moves to the directional punting - like rushing ten and forcing the ounter to hurry his kick. If he's aiming out of bounds and rushes the kick, it's more likely to be a shank. If he's not aiming out of bounds, then it wil be short and Hest may be able to take it in anyway.
Maybe we'll even see a Sean Lanfdetta like whiff (from the Giants playooff game in the '85 season.)
November 29, 2007
#36 Rancid said . . .Dave Toub is (unfortunately) the only coach on this team I really trust right now. And this should be a perfect game for the offense to really score some points early in the game because there is just no doubt about the fact that we're going to operating from the 40 plus throughout this game.
I hope, hope hope that this is the game RT commits to a fast, quick striking offense. I think he has called his best games when the Bears have opportunities early because it encourages him to be aggressive. HERE is the point where his utter predictability all season long can completely fool the Giants who will be, like all other teams facing the Bears this year, stacknig the box and expecting a run every first down. Kind of like how he called a mostly crappy game all game long against the Broncos just so he could set up Des Clark, right? (you know how I feel about that)
I think this game is going to continue a turnaround for the offensive line, hoping sans Fred Miller. As long as they don't have to run block exactly when the team is expecting it, I think early success at protecting Rex will translate to a lead and later effective pounding by AP, who I am convinced that this line is fired up about blocking for.
A lead and later TOP control will really help the D. Speaking of the D, PLEASE let Vash come back! And be at least 80%. That is going to make SO much difference, it's hard for us to even remember what the D looked like with 2 stud playmakers at the corners. And Tillman, after last game, looks like he wants to make a end of season rush to the Pro Bowl - as does Wale, who Jeff is right, had a great game.
I'm thinking that repeated bite on the misdirection is easily fixed for this game, just as I am convinced that film study from the Giants will make it somewhat of a staple for them. The D will be ready for it. If the weak side doesn't bite but maintains their lanes, we'll see more of the awesome Mark Anderson play we saw at the end of that game.
3 phases, all coming together, all well coached? It could happen!
November 29, 2007
#37 Phil from SATX said . . .1. I love the Bear house feature and I like who's in it.
2. Hester will never be traded.
3. I think this week special teams play tells us a ton about Toub. I think the man is great right now like everyone else here but we weren't so happy with him after the SB last year. He had no answer when Indy stopped kicking to Hester. I hope that there will be some great special teams stuff this week. Whether it is taking advantage of short kicks or getting a block or two, we need to own special teams regardless of whether they kick to Hester.
4. I hate the fact that I don't want to talk draft at this point in the season but I get all giddy thinking about any improvement to our O line.
November 29, 2007
#38 Decatur Staley # 7 said . . .The steady diet this year of teams kicking away from Hester has really shown up in the coaching. The guys on the return teams seem to be much more ready for anything, and Toub is doing a good job of putting playmakers like Davis and now Wolfe in front of Hester.
One comment on Toub individually and on the rest of our coaches. Re: Toub, we do have to remember that the situation of Devin Hester is basically unprecedented in modern football, at least to this extent. So this guy has been a Special Teams coach for a long time (I presume) and he has always operated under a certain MO. NOW he has to throw some of that traditional thinking out of the window and figure out how best to exploit this situation. I know to us it doesn't sound that hard, but I think this guy has had to learn on the job a little. And I think he's doing a better and better job of it.
And that's my secondary comment about Lovie coaches. I want to give them the benefit of the doubt and say they do decently at on the job training and improvement (excluding RT who seems to be a REALLY slow learner). The bad news is they may not have been that experienced to begin with and thus need the OTJ training (a la Babich).
This has been a strange team and strange and difficult circumstances this year. Veteran coaches may have been hard pressed to manage everything well this year. Our coaches are not "veteran" coaches and seem to have been playing catchup for much of the year.
Maybe it's all coming together now at the right time, with every coach solving some issues with their respective squads. Maybe we can go on a run and make the playoffs.
First, of course, we have to win 2 IN A ROW FOR THE FIRST DAMN TIME THIS SEASON!
I think are players are up for it. I hope the coaches are up TO it.
November 29, 2007
#39 mikebdot said . . .Sorry I've been MIA.I've been traveling for the last couple of weeks.
I'm a "Fire Ron Turner"card member all season.But I been thinking.Would Lovie make a change at the end of the season,an fire RT?
I think he not going to make that change based on the fact that RT has been getting a 21.34 AVG per game in scoring,working with this below average Offenseive Line,Sub Par WR corp,An plodding RB.As fans we all feel his game plans are laughable at best.But to average that,When in turn he had the luxury of a shutdown D last season.Makes me feel RT isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
Just a random thought
November 29, 2007
#40 Phil from SATX said . . .Decatur: RT has the luxury of the best returner in the league routinely giving our team points and our offense GREAT field position. The thing that is sorely lacking from last season is a huge number of turnovers, which is the only reason he appeared mildly competent last season.
RT is awful, regardless of the points per game. Shoot, even 20.1 PPG is 18th in the league. We're 23rd in yards/game at 300 even. 26th in yards/play at 4.6. Our 3rd down percentage is 36%, good for 26th as well. We are 29th in time of possession. We have the most fumbles in the league (27).
We ARE NOT even a MILDLY good offense. I pray to Halas that there is some offensive coordinator out there itching for the chance to come in here and put his system into place to use the talent on the field with a much better idea of how to use Olsen, Hester, and Wolfe, specifically.
I wonder what our average field position rank is...anyone know where I might find that stat?
November 29, 2007
#41 Z said . . .Thank you Mikeb, I was about to waste some time on a search of how many of those points the offense legitimately earned, you proved the point better. Very well said.
You never know what's going to happen at Halas Hall, but there's no way Angelo and Lovie don't look at those same stats when evaluating RT's performance this year. And RT really has very little excuse - although the line has deteriorated, the offense has benefited from virtually no injuries all season long. He is going to blame the "sudden" aging of the offensive line, but he has shown the complete absence of coordinating skill in terms of how to work around the line's problems.
Both O and D represented huge dropoffs this year but D has a very reasonable excuse in injuries while O has nowhere to hide.
The Bears better get this right night year. (Are we as bad at selecting OCs as we are at selecting QBs and RBs? RT, Terry Shea, John Shoop? Is there a connection between the two? Hmmmm...)
November 29, 2007
#42 mikebdot said . . .I think Miller and Archuleta have long-term leases signed for living in The Bear House. Moose may trade places with whoever drops or fumbles more balls for the week but those 2 are sadly locks. How can their play not piss Jeff off?
If The Bear House is only for players, does Ron Turner go in the Bear Outhouse. He peeked his head out a few times last game especially at the end. It's like somebody calls down when the season is on the line each game and says, "Hey Ron u suck and we are going to fire u after the game if u don't do something" and then a few brain cells bang in to eachother and he figures out a few good plays. Rex too until the end (not as bad as RT but not too good) and the O-Line. Play that way from the start, don't be scared. Do what works. Be pass first, go to the shotgun, get Devin in for half a series here and there not 1 play, go for it. Throw to Olsen early. Mix it up. What's the worst that can happen, we'll be down and have to make a dramatic come back. OK! Go down swinging form the beginning. The season is on the line and there is no more room for losses.
Can we hire Ditka as Asst. Head Coach just to yell at people for dropping balls and not blocking well or tackling? Screaming at them that they are screwed if they do it again. Quiet, stoic confidence in the face of adversity is great and all but allowing players to call eveybody else out when u are dropping balls (Moose) is bad mojo. Be a leader and shut up and catch the damn ball!
Still in it. 2 huge games in the next 8 days.
Go Bears!!
November 29, 2007
#43 DTB said . . .Was thinking about all the dropped passes as I read this article from indystar about the Colts having problems catching the ball this year:
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071129/SPORTS03/711290461/1100
In there it mentioned that the Colts have had injury problems and that perhaps it's more difficult to concentrate playing a slightly different position or personnel package.
Perhaps Hester's addition to the offense this season has caused some of our problems with regards to drops. Dallas had the same problem last year moving TO all over the field and he ended up dropping a lot of balls. Same with Seattle. Granted some people just drop passes, but it's the only reason I could think of to explain the drop off of Berrian and Moose. Last season they didn't drop this many passes.
Just a small argument against using Hester on offense more than the actual number 3 receiver (Davis still, right?) Plus the addition of Olsen has caused many more personnel packages.
The problem is, it never seems like any of the packages get any reps, with the exception of Olsen+Clark+Moose+Berrian or only one receiver and McKie/Benson (now AP). The Colts at least have a similar formation every play where it seems we have anything and everything every single game. I think consistency within a drive of personnel, not necessarily formations, would be invaluable. Let 'em get into a flow. It might help our O-line a bit too, since they don't have different TEs/recievers helping them out every single time they run the ball.
November 29, 2007
#44 mikebdot said . . .Want to get Devin more involved? Regular line set-up only with Mannely snapping, Hester 12 yards deep with 3 personal protectors setting a mini wedge. Hmmmm
November 29, 2007
#45 Z said . . .DTB: Mannelly is one of the best players at his position in the league. I wouldn't want him in any more frequently than I want Devin going across the middle...
November 29, 2007
#46 Brian in Sec 430 Row 30 said . . .Almost anything is worth trying to get the ball into #23's hands with even a tiny bit of room to run. Seriously.
November 29, 2007
#47 Brian Sec 430 Row 30 said . . .Just a heads up for you die-hard Bears fans that live in Chicago....
Steve "Mongo" McMichael will be making an appearance on behalf of the winery I work for at Dominicks 1340 S. Canal tonight from 4-6pm. Thought you may want to come by, meet #76, get an autograph and maybe even buy a bottle of Toasted Head Chardonnay, Cabernet or Merlot. Hopefully I will see you there!
November 29, 2007
#48 Bad Credit Car Loans said . . .Just a heads up for you die-hard Bears fans that live in Chicago....
Steve "Mongo" McMichael will be making an appearance on behalf of the winery I work for at Dominicks 1340 S. Canal tonight from 4-6pm. Thought you may want to come by, meet #76, get an autograph and maybe even buy a bottle of Toasted Head Chardonnay, Cabernet or Merlot. Hopefully I will see you there!
November 29, 2007
very good information you write it very clean. I'm very lucky to get
this info from you.
April 27, 2010
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.