For those of you with the turkey carving responsibilities on Thanksgiving this Thursday, you may want to take notice of the form of Matt Hasselbeck. 30-44 for 337 and a pair of TD passes, and one more that should have been = a carved up Bears defense. It's always interesting to watch a Pro Bowl quarterback and how they fair against our once great defense. Some performances, I'll admit, make me dream of having that QB on our team...and Matt "My sister in law is really hot" Hasselbeck delivered one of those performances.
What does 4-6 mean? Mathematically it means we are up against it. Realistically it means this season ended in coffee country before we sit down to eat our own Turkey dinners and crossing off a Bears playoff berth on your Christmas want list.
I will still cheer for them to win as many games as possible out of these last 6, but it looks like we're staring 7-9 or worse in the face...so, some positives:
We stayed relatively close to a good team in a hostile environment. B-Twice is a different player with Rex, and it's good to see that he is a viable option at WR. Greg Olsen grabbed 7 balls and will be a premier TE by the end of the year. Yeah, that's all I have...
~JB
#2 tommy said . . .It was good to see Rex play well considering the O line and RT play callimg. That 4th and 1 call had to be the highlight dumb for the season = trying to pull a guard and handoff 4 yds behind the line. IDIOT
November 19, 2007
#3 Al in WI said . . .Can we spirit Rivera back somehow? Would begging help?
November 19, 2007
#4 Jimbo said . . .This game came down the following three failures:
1. Special Teams were horific! Seattle had excellent field position all game long. And we started from inside our own 10 too often. That kick off out of bounds with a min to go in the 1st half really cost us. We really couldn't cover kicks at all.
2. Defense. I'm sorry 30 points is too much to give up, the picked the wrong time to have a horrible game. McBride was exposed, and Tilman was bad early and often. Mike Holmgren destroyed Babich and Smith all night.
3. Offensive Line. Fred Miller fucking sucks. Grossman was running for his life, and there was no where to run. Questions remain about Benson and AP but there were no holes. 4th and 1 stuffing was play of the game.November 19, 2007
#5 ron - not a rex hater - but not a Griese lover said . . .The Bears are now officially on the draft clock.
November 19, 2007
#6 Rancid said . . .My thoughts...
Our oline is hanging us out to dry...Olin was on his back 2 or 3 yds in the backfield on the 4th and1.
Fred miller is a door man.
We cant pick up blocks up the middle with worth a damn.
Recievers.
Double B made a catch from HELL. way to go.Moose stepped up and made some plays. Go baby
Greg Olsen should be on the field ANY TIME YOU SEE Gilmore. I am sick of that... Let him block, that way they arent looking for the F'n run when he is not on, and the pass when he is....
Defense? No outside containment,
linbackers looks slow, not sure if we need a better big man in the middle or what but there is a lot of side to side from them, and not much downhill meeting the RB at the line.Adam Arch is pissing me off. He missed that guy right in the hole. got juked out of his jock BAD. Look if you cant cover the pass, you better make that hit.
Our D Line isnt bad. But it ISNT great. Tommie is good but not at 100%
Coaching.
Turner is a dufus. Bring number 23 out and run the reverse the first play... JESUS. how about letting the guy do a series and give up on the F'n reverse. I would love to see the stat on that... how many yards negative we are on that play.Up the middle 4th and 1. Not predictable at all...
Stop going into prevent. Good QBs pick us apart, can we jump a route? WTF.
Special teams coaching not much better. Bad coverage on a few, and WTF is that kick to the weak side...
I am sick and tired of hearing about execution, age, etc. If you look at the Pats they take cast offs, and old men, and craft to their strengths...
We find shit we cant do, and try it over and over and over...
damn
November 19, 2007
#7 Arnie said . . .Put me in a room with RT and a loaded gun right now and I'm going to jail. 10 times out of 10. This guy has put us in a spot where we have no clue what we really have on offense. I hate this man with all my being.
November 19, 2007
#8 Viva said . . .I have no idea what you guys are talking about but the4th quarter ol' Rexie had great protection and he sucked. I tivo'ed the game and a lot of the time he had almost 5 seconds, And he blew it. The game plan was built around Rexie not making mistakes... Not the Bears winning the game. Game bplan was built to say Rexie didn't loose the game. but againg he coughed the ball up whne we needed it most.
November 19, 2007
#9 ron - not a rex hater - but not a Griese lover said . . .Ron Turner is a step up from John Shoop, but when you are in the basement of the Sears Tower you have a long way to go.
He had a great game plan for 2 series of football, and then he shit the bed.
There was no long term strategy to wear that team down. This man can not think past his predictability, and he is a fool.He needs to be benched. Lovie must take the headset away from him, have him stand on the sidlelines without any input, and watch someone else do his job.
November 19, 2007
#10 Viva said . . .Arnie - Ever play ball? if a QB has 5 seconds and DOESNT THROUGH its because his recievers have not separated. End of story. Now on TV (with your Tivo) they zoom in on the QB. if they pan out you would see the recievers covered.
I go to each home game, and believe me, these guys arent getting separation. Now I am not a grossman lover, but your statement about how the game plan was to make sure grossman didnt loose? WTF are you talking about, he went deep, had the play action running, and had 37 pass plays... How is that setting it up not to loose.
Oh and if you have it on tivo, go back to the pass plays in the 4th qtr and some in the third. They went to max protect and keept like 7 guys in blocking a bunch of time cuz we were getting ass stomped by the smallest blitz and on the right side of the o line every time.
November 19, 2007
#11 ron - not a rex hater - but not a Griese lover said . . .Rex Grossman did not loose this game for us, and any attempt to lay the blame at his feet will only demonstrate your ignorance.
November 19, 2007
#12 Mike said . . .sorry should have been "THROW"... I was so pissed at those comments I was typing better faster than thinking
November 19, 2007
#13 tommy said . . .The Bears showed today that the problems with this team run a lot deeper than an inept offense. The defense is a middle of the road NFL defense. It has been ever since the playoffs last year.
Grossman looked average today. He wasn't helped by an offensive line that is absolutely terrible. What is Fred Miller doing out there? Couldn't the Bears pluck a guy from the Arena League who could do a better job at right tackle?
Pissed me off big time to see Cedric Benson yawning on the sidelines during the 2nd half. He is suck a fucking lazy ass piece of shit. He literally took his big signing bonus and retired right then and there. He got his big payday and that's it. He doesn't give a rat's ass and would rather be somewhere else on Sundays. I hate that piece of shit.
November 19, 2007
#14 Mike said . . .Rancid....I haven't seen a single post that doesn't agree with you. If he isn't gone by year end or (we all wish) sooner, we know the problem is above him - without naming names.
November 19, 2007
#15 Al in WI said . . .The Bears showed today that the problems with this team run a lot deeper than an inept offense. The defense is a middle of the road NFL defense. It has been ever since the playoffs last year.
Grossman looked average today. He wasn't helped by an offensive line that is absolutely terrible. What is Fred Miller doing out there? Couldn't the Bears pluck a guy from the Arena League who could do a better job at right tackle?
Pissed me off big time to see Cedric Benson yawning on the sidelines during the 2nd half. He is suck a fucking lazy ass piece of shit. He literally took his big signing bonus and retired right then and there. He got his big payday and that's it. He doesn't give a rat's ass and would rather be somewhere else on Sundays. I hate that piece of shit.
November 19, 2007
#16 Derek said . . .It's hard to judge a lot of the skill players behind this offensive line. Our quarterback get's no protection at all, as mentioned we even went to a 7 man line and seattle was still busting through it. And the running game is atrocious. The Bears finally gave the masses what they've wanted and gave Peterson significant time. But to what end? He averaged something like 2.5 yards a carry too. I think we have our answer, the issue with the offense is the line.
November 19, 2007
#17 Viva said . . .Fox announcers (who were horrible Seattle homers) stat of the game that sums up the season. Bear corners have 2 picks on the year. 2. This team can't make the game changing plays on D with weak safties and the injuries at corner.
Goulds kickoffs are rough as well. Every one is towards the sideline and short. I love him on FG but he needs work kicking off or someone needs to be brought in to take over that duty.
November 19, 2007
#18 Mike said . . .We are 2-5 in games that we went into the half tied or winning.
Our coaching staff has been abused by thinking men on the opposing sideline all year long, and what really sucks - ever since that game in Arizona last year every offense worth a shit has dinked and dunked on us like clockwork, and we still do not have an answer.
All the talent in the world can not overcome shitty leadership. See San Diego.
November 19, 2007
#19 Mike said . . .The problem is the Bears really don't have "all the talent in the world." Quite the opposite in fact. The Bears are lost at quarterback, running back and the offensive line. And the wide receiver corps is one of the sorriest groups in the NFL. We also need to stop fooling ourselves about this defense. There no longer is anything "dominant" about it. Instead this is a very average defense that can be methodically picked apart by any semi-decent offense. What does it all spell? The need for a signficant rebuilding job on all fronts.
November 19, 2007
#20 Bill said . . .The problem is the Bears really don't have "all the talent in the world." Quite the opposite in fact. The Bears are lost at quarterback, running back and the offensive line. And the wide receiver corps is one of the sorriest groups in the NFL. We also need to stop fooling ourselves about this defense. There no longer is anything "dominant" about it. Instead this is a very average defense that can be methodically picked apart by any semi-decent offense. What does it all spell? The need for a signficant rebuilding job on all fronts.
November 19, 2007
#21 Midway Monster said . . .We are not a good team. In many phases. Rex was not the problem today at all. Rex did all he coudl with a very bad OL and very bad play calling.
The D used to help us out. They are no help whatsoever. Period. They give up long drives. big plays, 3rd down conversions, and many more points than they used to. We are capable of scoring 21-27 points with this crap OL and play calling (thansk to field postions form Hester) but we can't recover from a D that can't get of fthe field. How many punts did Seattle have? 4 or 5 at most.
Yeah - the fumble hurt us and it was a dumb play. But to be fair, it was the only dumb play; beats the hell out of Griese's 3-4 INT games.
Still - the season is over ( and was a while ago). I suspect Rex will keep playing until we lose the 8th game.
Babich was overmatched. Did anyone hear the TV announcers say Holgrem beleived the plays they had woudl be fine as long as the players caught the ball? He KNEW he had the Bears D before opening kickoff.
Babich takes out Hunter and Seattle runs. Puts him bacjk in and they pass.
Is Vasher out for the year? I'm really getting sick of these guys (except Tommie Harris, who shoudn't be playing maybe) not being able to come back from injury. The word was he coudl have played the game BEFORE the bye week, and two games after he's still out.
I now officially do not like Lovie Smith as a coach. For as quiet as he is, he's an arrogent SOB with nothing to back it up with.
And we'll get one of those mid round 1st rounders that Angelo is so good at screwing up.
My fill in the blank was "I'm curuous" about the 2nd half. No more.
November 19, 2007
#22 Bill said . . .Dear Lovie: While there still is a mathematical possibility, while there is an inkling of a chance, while the odds are not at absolute zero, so long as there is a dim ray of light – I am still behind you. I still am going to stand up arm-locked with you. I'll be there as we look into the night, spit in its eye and ignorantly stand dedicated to a victory next week.
-- Midway --
(a.k.a with ya till the end)++++++++++++++++++++++++++
November 19, 2007
#23 Mike said . . .Midway - Lovie is not a good coach. I'm as loyal of a Bear fan as there is, but I am nt blind to the truth.
He will be fired in two years (after the 2009 season.)
November 19, 2007
#24 AfroCelt said . . .I'm not a coaching staff apologist by any stretch, but somebody explain to me how Bob Babich and Ron Turner lost this ballgame? And where does anybody on this board have the NFL insight and coaching acumen to utter the assessment "bad playcalling" 34 times a game??? Turner is a problem, but the bigger problem is a woeful QB, RB and offensive line situation and a sorry wide receiver group. Babich MAY be a problem, but again the bigger problem is that there are exposed talent holes on this defense to include at defensive end, linebacker (Hillenmeyer) and the safety position (absolutely brutal). Oh, and in case anybody cares to notice the face of the defense, Mr. Brian Urlacher, has played like a shadow of his former self the likely result of age, a permanent arthritic condition in his back, and the fact that he is no doubt distracted by the litany of paternity and child support suits he faces.
November 19, 2007
#25 Midway Monster said . . .Is there such a thing as an optimistic pessimist?
Priority one this off season is to rebuild the O-Line. I really feel like if we had a kickass o line, the entire offense would just fall into place. No runners? good o line would make AP shine. Griese/Orton/Free Agent having issues? Just buy him some time (and maybe make sure he has arm strength to get the ball to the burners).
I wonder if there are any great offensive lineman this draft? If they don't take an offensvie lineman in the first, i wouldn't be surprised to see the bears trade down...
November 19, 2007
#26 Maude Fricker said . . .Bill - don't matter. I am still behind him.
-- Midway --
November 19, 2007
#27 Viva said . . .Offensive linemen take time to develop. The Bears need to draft an offensive tackle early in the draft. And they definitely need a couple guards as well. Olin Kreutz and John Tait are deteriorating almost as fast as Ruben Brown and Fred Miller did. And Robert Garza is nothing to write home about. Suffice to say, the o-line is an enormous mess. This is what happens when Jerry Angelo neglects the need to routinenly bring in young offensive line prospects to put in the developmental pipeline.
November 19, 2007
#28 tommy said . . .Mike-
You wrote, "and where does anybody on this board have the NFL insight and coaching acumen to utter the assessment "bad playcalling" 34 times a game???" and then went on to describe some of the Bears personell issues. Are you then saying you have "the NFL coaching accumen to utter" your opinion. Correct me if I am wrong, but this board is for Bears fans to express their opinions.
And, by the way, the Bears play calling was sophmoric.
November 19, 2007
#29 BearDown1982 said . . .Mike #23 post. Not sure which Mike you are but to add to Viva's post in case you need some help. A couple of synonyms for sophomoric are "absurd" and "halfwitted" Sorry but RT's play calling fits Viva's description quite nicely - unless you know more than all the other posters on this blog
November 19, 2007
#30 Shady McBears Fan said . . .I wish I was pissed right now, but I'm not. Probably because I'm not surprised by the loss at all. Pretty much the same problems in this game that we've seen most of the season. Our defense is very average and no longer forces turnovers and game changing plays...lack of an identity on offense....plus a terrible offensive line by all accounts.
I do worry that we may be stuck with a bad O-Line for some years now...I hope Angelo has a way to get us out of this mess, but it won't be easy.
I'll try and think of somethink optimistic to post tomorrow, but I got nothing right now.
November 19, 2007
#31 Max said . . .Just finished watching the game on DVR.
1. Grossman played well, he managed the game efficiently and didn't make big mistakes. He did about all he could with what he had. Berrian (who had some VERY nice catches) seems to have a great sense of timing with Rex. They make each other better. Why not try the deep ball a few more times?
2. It was nice to see Benson finally break one off for a TD, but I thought it was curious to limit his touches in favor of A.P. I know they were trying to give Peterson some more touches, but Cedric ran about the best he's ran all year. Why go away from what was working?
3. Did anyone else question why Lovie went for it on 4th and 1 instead of taking the 3 pts, it just didn't seem like the right thing to do. maybe I'm wrong, i dunno. But I know better than to try and pull a guard (Garza) in that situation. Fuck. Where's the logic in that call?
4. This offensive line is not getting the job done. Not even close. Fred Miller is either hiding a serious injury or just playing incredibly poorly. Either way, Fred is a liability on the field, as is Mr...
5. Adam Archuleta. It's pretty obvious he can't handle it by himself back there without Mike Brown. I miss him more and more every game. The defense is also missing Nathan
6. Vasher. I know Trumaine McBride looked impressive against the Raiders, but Vasher is the kind of player who doesn't miss the big tackles. McBride has skill and energy, but I feel he's over-matched against taller, stronger receivers. Nathan Vasher is a play-maker, and defense is missing his outstanding play-making ability.
7. Unless Babich is bringing house, Urlacher is not an effective blitzing linebacker. Brian gets held up in traffic way too easily and is more effective down the middle of the field in coverage. The unit made some plays, but couldn't get off the field on 3rd downs and you have to tip your hat to the opposing QB, he made some great plays and carried his team.
8. Before the season is completely over, I want to see one game of dominating Bears football. The kind of football we witnessed last year, and the kind of football that will give fans hope for next season.
More thoughts to come later...
November 19, 2007
#32 Phil from SATX said . . .god i wish i was drunk right now
November 19, 2007
#33 mikebdot said . . .Should we start with the positive? I thought Rex was really good. His spidey sense should have told him he was out of time when he was running, but he's been a little out of practice. Believe it or not, now that the Bears seem to officially be in rebuilding time, I actually think the Bears should resign him - keep him, Griese (injury insurance only) and sign the future in the draft.
Our WRs have woken up. That was good.
Our running back was really good for two plays - and then benched, I guess for being too good.
Greg Olsen was really good, when he had a chance to show it.
Devin Hester was really good.
That's it, that's everything.
Rancid, I'll join the posse. The single worst thing about this team is RT. What other idiot would choose to go away from his starting running back in the first game of the year where he really showed you something? What kind of moron?
The kind that hands it to that same bench sitting RB when you need 4th and 1. In a play everyone on the other side knew was coming. Lovie "well if you want to be known as a running football team then you have to be able to make that." Lovie, I am off your bandwagon, for idiotic comments like that and for general lack of leadership and supporting the stupid moves of your underlings. You are not a leader.
I don't know what to say about the D. I know there are several culprits - our safety tandem has morphed into one of the weakest out there, thanks to AA and a not-so-great D. Manning. McBride was not good today, not blaming him, he's a 7th round pick rookie, but I AM blaming Vash, thanks for nothing this season. Like someone said, get your ass out there like Tommie. Of course he might have been clamoring to get out there and our idiot coaches may have been sagely shaking their heads saying, no Nathan, we can handle it without you, McBride is so great we might trade you! Line play was only so-so, LB play only so-so, secondary flat out bad. It's been the case all season - face a better than average QB, get carved up. I really don't know what's going to change things on D, I only know that I wish we had Rivera back. Yet another bad coaching decision by a (sigh) bad coach.
This one really sucked.
November 19, 2007
#34 mikebdot said . . .There is absolutely no excuse for running Benson only 11 times after he had his two best carries of the season in the first two series. And to top it all off, Peterson was placed in the game on the 4th series? Seriously, wtf was Turner thinking? How the hell is he supposed to have a "breakout game" if you don't give him the ball when he's actually playing good football? Peterson is NOT better at pass blocking. I'm sick of that canard. And, no, Mike, yawning on the sideline doesn't indicate anything but a lack of oxygen and jet lag, so save it.
The 4 false start penalties were at the worst times. Two to start series, one on a 2nd and 8, one on a 3rd and 14. It seems like we haven't coverted a 3rd and long since last year against the Giants. And even that was some lucky ass shit.
November 19, 2007
#35 Rancid said . . .*coNverted*
November 19, 2007
#36 Phil from SATX said . . .Mike's in here boys, careful not to step in the bullshit.
November 19, 2007
#37 Midway Monster said . . .Turner has all the rhythm of Navin R. Johnson on a bad day. How many times did we hear it this year from him? "We just couldn't establish a rhythm." You, Ron Turner, are the chief conductor of this awful orchestra, and YOU are the reason we can't develop any rhythm.
How to describe how embarrassing it is as a Bear fan to have the announcers discuss the flaws of bringing Hester in to run a reverse because the defense knows it's coming, and then have it happen right in front of your eyes?
Really embarrassing. Can we promote the Wonderlic genius to O.C. right now and let him call the plays for Rex?
Fred Miller, will anyone in a position of authority in the Bears organization do the right thing and SIT YOUR ASS DOWN? I swear it looked like he had money on the game and had taken the Hawks.
Will someone please take control of this football team?
ARGHHHH!!!!
November 19, 2007
#38 Phil from SATX said . . .To quote John McKay (USC) "We didn't tackle well today but we made up for it by not blocking."
--Midway--
November 19, 2007
I'll add something else - I think Lovie has lost this team. I don't think the O trusts Turner, and I don't think the D trusts Babich. When your players don't trust their coaches to put them in the best position to win, they don't give their best effort - sopmething you need at all times, and particularly later in the season when everyone is playing hurt to some degree.
Most depressing prediction for the rest of the season - look for the D to begin to quit in games, when things aren't going their way. Who should you blame when/if that occurs: Your Chicago Bears coaching staff. They have effectively stripped all semblance of chemistry from this team.
Sorry for the depressing prediction, I feel like Mike.
November 19, 2007
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