There are certainly a lot of good things to take away from Sunday’s game. Aside from listening to the worst commentator alive in Dan Dierdorf I saw an entertaining tilt. I’m not going to say much about #23 today because there isn’t much to say except that he’s simply amazing. The best return man of all time. I saw Devin Hester light up the Broncos special teams like they have never seen. I also saw Rex Grossman will this team down the field on a “do or die or your seasons over� type of drive amid continued dropped passes and great coverage from two of the league’s best cornerbacks in Dre Bly and Champ Bailey. I think if I were Rex I may have lost my composure at several times during that game. Moose dropped a TD pass and a pass on a key third down, the O-line took points off the board on a pass to Greg Olsen and eventually backed us up to third and 73, Davis dropped another important third down pass, etc. The list goes on. But this is about the win. We beat the Broncos, like we were supposed to, in exciting overtime fashion. I don’t care how it was done but the team pulled through.
Rex had his fair share of blunders on Sunday too including a fumble on a key drive. But this guy looks like a different QB than we saw late last year or even early this year. Is there any doubt that this guy is our QB right now? There shouldn’t be. He is no longer taking as many chances. And as someone said on here last week, I don’t mind the deep pass getting picked off occasionally. We need to try and stretch the field to open the run game up and if the pass is intercepted it’s like a punt.
I was calling for AP along with several others and now that we saw him exclusively I realize that Cedric is the better back. Closed circuit to Lovie, I’m sorry for doubting your decision. The O-line is not creating much for the RBs but Cedric is better for what they are creating. I can’t believe I’m going to say it but I think we are going to miss him if he’s down for too long.
Every week that we win we keep thinking that this team will snap out of its funk and return to 2006 form. Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news but it ain’t gonna happen. We are going to be playing competitive games for the rest of the year. There will be no blowouts, no easy victories. This team needs to keep its nose to the grindstone every second of every play every week. That’s how we are going to win and I’m fine with that. Just win.
I am more than a little excited for next week’s game. Maybe Arhculeta will actually wrap up and tackle someone. Maybe Vasher will play. After seeing the G-men get destroyed by the purple I really think we can handle them. Every week is the playoffs for this team. Every week is do or die. Let’s play!
#2 jeff said . . .I think we need to cut Fred Miller # 69. That guy costs us points every game. He is the best player for the other team. They better keep St. Claire out there instead of Miller's fat @$$.
Grossman looks like a new QB. Moving around/ moving out of the pocket. Also rushing with the ball. Very impressive! Defenses are going to have to adjust there game plan for him which will make it easier on our crappy O Line.
Good Job Rex! Lets see if you can do it again next week. Congrats to AP for taking that bum Benson's place. Give the G-Men hell AP!
November 26, 2007
#3 Pissed Off said . . .1. Michael Strahan is a shell of what he used to be but Fred Miller still won't be able to block him. Something has to change at right tackle.
2. Adam Archuleta's only responsibilty Sunday should be making sure the Bears are hydrated. What was all that bullshit about tackling being his strength?
3. Steve Rosenbloom's blog got it right today: It's not as if Rex Grossman needs more help in killing his NFL career, but somebody needs to explain to the offensive tackles and wide receivers what their jobs are. Block. Catch. Come on.
4. Charles Tillman played an absolutely brilliant game yesterday, saving touchdowns and blocking punts. If this team can finally get Nathan Vasher back on the field, we might be able to see what this secondary is capable of.The Bears now begin preparing for a Giants team that pitched an all-time disaster from the mound yesterday. The season is not dead yet.
ADDENDUM: Cedric Benson reportedly out for the season (ESPN). AP time.
November 26, 2007
#4 Phil from SATX said . . .Maybe it was just me but i thought AP didn't look that great. He's got a lot of fight in him and I'm more than ready to go the distance with him instead of Ced but I though Ced was making some headway the last few weeks.
November 26, 2007
#5 jeff said . . .Hey PO'd, great column! I'd say your best ever. Agreed with all your points, too.
That sucks about CB, and it really calls into question his durability. In 3 seasons he's missed large parts of two of them. Maybe that's the impetus they need to add RB to their list of needs, but I was hoping they could have saved their powder for expensive O-line acquisitions.
I think AP will do a credible job, and we'll see a lot more of Garrett. Let's see.. we're in the 11th game of the season and poor Ron Turner hasn't been able to figure out how to use Mr. Hester on offense save for one late game drive against the Iggles. Same goes for his use of Garrett Wolfe. He alone could kill any offensive skill player's career. Now may be the time to line up Hester at RB - I've wanted to see it all season long and now they're seriously thin at running back. The play I'm waiting for is simply play action to Hester. If that doesn't turn a whole defense into Mr. Freeze I don't know what would. So he works that way, then if no one is open downfield #23 leaks out for the dumpoff. May never happen because the play action would work 100% of the time.
Question for the masses - Why is the misdirection fake followed by a pitch in the opposite direction so devastating against our D? Over and over and over again. Realize we're 10 against 11 but still... Is it because we're the most overcommitting D ever? Better work on that for next week, Babich.
Cut #69! Do it today! Cut #20! Ship em both out on the same "can't run, can't stop the run" bus!
November 26, 2007
#6 T said . . .by the way, the best mariotti column in a long, long time today. very positive about hester. we should all check it out.
November 26, 2007
#7 Anonymous said . . .Sorry P. O'd. Can't warm up to CB as "the better back" although he did look hopeful in his last 2 games. He can't catch anything but a cold. AP caught 5 yesterday without a drop. Let's see how AP runs for the next several games.
Did I hear it right that Andre Hall was let go by the Bears during camp? If so way to scout talent Bears Brainlesstrust.
November 26, 2007
#8 Al in WI said . . .PO, good write up. I agree: 07 is nothing but competitive games. We need to fight each week fromhere on out!
As of Dierdorf- was he out of it or what! He thought people were boo-ing when they were really chanting 'Mooooose". ::geeze:: figure the man would do his homeowrk huh.
I have a personal vested interest in beating the Gothams this week. I have a ton of NY friends who still remember the 108-yard missed FG return from last year (which I've been rubbing in their faces ever since). A win this year would mean Midway gets to pour it on in 2008.
This one hits home for me... I want this one fellas... I want a win.
-- Midway --
November 26, 2007
#9 Jimbo said . . .In less I'm mistaken, I believe all of our wins have been come from behind victories except the KC game. For whatever reason, we just can't seem to pull a game together where we play well in all three phases. If it happens again this Sunday, I'll take it. One game at a time guys, one game at a time.
If Benson is out for the year, I'd like to see what PJ Pope can do. He looked real good in preseason last year.November 26, 2007
#10 Shady McBears Fan said . . .Our problem with RBs is the same with QBs. If you've got two, you don't have one.
AP, CB, whatever. We beat a solid Denver team and held court. I feel good at home against the G-men. After Eli's performance, Vasher has got to be feeling healthy and ready to play.
Also, here's to Rex and his composure down the stretch. Great touch pass to DC. Some team is going to offer him a decent contract this offseason, and I think he deserves it. I think our future lies elsewhere, but what do I know. I was stoked about AA, especially since we picked him up for "cheap."
Go Bears. Damn that was a great win!
November 26, 2007
#11 mike said . . .If the Bears are going to make any kind of playoff push this year, Lovie and Bob need to shore up their struggling defense. One play in particular has killed the Bears D all season: the slant. I'm tired of watching teams convert on 3rd downs with an easy inside slant, the corners need to take away the easy inside play and force their receivers to the outside. That damn pitch/ QB option play also killed the Bears defense. They were caught over pursuing and got burnt more than a couple times yesterday. Never again Lovie, that was just embarrassing.
Watching the Pats-Eagles game last night showed me how pressure can disrupt an entire offense, even the best QB in the league is not immune to in your face pressure. Eli Manning made some terrible decisions under pressure last Sunday, tossing 3 picks returned for TDs and one that resulted in a Vikings offensive score. I'd like to see Lovie and Bob BLITZ THE HELL OUT OF ELI MANNING WITH ARCHULETTA. The guy can't cover, can't make tackle in the open field, so why not send him after the QB more often? I'd rather see him up at the line, because everyone knows he cannot make a play more than 5 yards past the line of scrimmage. The secondary, specifically the safety position, is the biggest weakness of the entire team,. And yes, that includes the offensive line. How sad is that? We miss you Nate.
I keep hoping to see more creative play-calling from Turner, but have been disappointed every week. This Sunday, however, I think Turner throws in a few gadget plays at the Giants because Cedric Benson is injured. Sure the offense will continue to have their 2-3 yards and a cloud of dust, but hopefully the increased use of a certain Garrett Wolfe will force Turner to be creative in how he inserts Wolfe into the offense. If we see Wolfe run every play between the tackles, I'll officially join the 'Fire Ronald McDonald Turner' bandwagon. But I'm not sure if there's an open seat left. NO MORE DROPPED BALLS. PERIOD. This unit cannot afford to give away downs like they did last week.
As far as using Hester as a RB for a play-action pass... Phil I think you might be onto something...Brilliant!
November 26, 2007
#12 RandomName said . . .Devin Hester is half man half cheetah
November 26, 2007
#13 Anonymous said . . .#11 mike said . . .
Devin Hester is half man half cheetahI agree with an animal reference but I lean more toward jackrabbit =].
Minnesota's Adrian Peterson, half horse.
November 26, 2007
#14 Al in WI said . . .Nah, definitely Cheetah. Jackrabbits are quick, but far too small and don't have the top speed an animal like a cheetah has. Hester is actually stronger than a cheetah. So maybe he's like 1/2 Man 1/2 Cheetah and 1/2 _______ ...
November 26, 2007
#15 T said . . .I'm with you Shady, that drive yesterday when Denver used the pitch out to the back 4 or 5 times to march down the field was sickening. The same thing happened last week when Seattle threw 5 or 6 slant patterns in a row to drive down the field. The coaching staff just doesn't do a good job of adjusting in game to what is happening to them on either side of the ball. They usually do a good job a correcting stuff during the week, but are just too slow.
November 26, 2007
#16 Midway Monster said . . .The cover 2 is vulnerable to the quick slant
November 26, 2007
#17 JB said . . .BTW - If you do not get the Bears game by you (or even if you so); just lurk on Da Bears Blog site game time. Shady does a great job with the major play-by-play and pulling you into the game!
Kudos Shady- you rock!
-- Midway --
November 26, 2007
#18 RandomName said . . .Maybe a little far fetched, but in Greek Mythology, there is a creature known as the Teumessian Fox, a gigantic fox destined to never get caught...So maybe Hester is 1/2 Cheetah, 1/2 Man, and 1/2 Teumessian Fox...
November 26, 2007
#19 Cedric Benson said . . .When's the next NFL stars combine?
ya know where they goof off and compete in speed and strength categories.
I'd like to see hester vs anyone else in this league in a straight line footrace.
November 26, 2007
#20 Shady McBears Fan said . . .Don't cry for me baby. I still gots a lot of dat $17 million signing bonus left. My Texas Longhorn pal Ricky Williams called and me and him goin' to smoke some dope to celebrate my being on injured reserve. I took you muthafuckas money and retired on your ass the day I signed my contract. I'm just a sleepy doped up gangsta from the hood.
November 26, 2007
#21 Adam Archuleta said . . .Thanks for the kudos Midway, I get a kick out of sharing game time with other passionate Bears Fans. Unfortunately, I won't be able to post on Da Bears Blog most Sundays. In retail, you're generally working weekends so I won't be able to even WATCH the games live. But I guess that's why God invented DVR.
Devin Hester = 1/2 man 1/2 Cheetah and 1/2 Mythological Fox? . . . I love it
November 26, 2007
#22 Midway Monster said . . .I HATE MYSELF!!!!
November 26, 2007
#23 Midway Monster said . . .I think Hester is more like 1/2 Payton, 1/2 Sayers
-- Midway --
PS - Shady, can't watch the Bears... huh... I say quit.
November 27, 2007
#24 jdawg said . . .In case you missed it: Hester's TD returns (note the plural!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvZIgAxv8HM
-- Midway --
November 27, 2007
#25 Shady said . . .The comment about blitzing 20 is genius. I would run blitz him, pass blitz him, blitz him during warm ups. As a matter of fact, I would blitz him coming off the bus.
November 27, 2007
#26 Max said . . .hahaha that was hilarious!
Lovie Smith:
"Now we all know Rex is our quarterback.And if you keep runnin' the ball, eventually the other team's gonna stop ya.
But now we're coming off the bus blitzing Adam and we'll go from there..."
Midway - You're right, missing Bears games is not acceptable. I should look for greener pastures.
On a side note...
The Bears really need another RB, where are they going to find one?
Or do they go a different route and activate a guy like Mike Hass?
November 27, 2007
#27 Midway Monster said . . .A.P. bandwagon, coming through!!!! (and going strong)
thats all i got for right now. . . still glowing from the ridiculous comeback
November 27, 2007
#28 Shady said . . .http://web.mac.com/weholdthesetruths/iWeb/MidwayMonster/Home.html
-- Midway --
November 27, 2007
#92 Hunter Hillenmeyer and #38 Danielle Manning both made one of the biggest blocks I've ever seen in that play... #1 play according to Da Site.
http://www.chicagobears.com/Top10Plays.asp
November 27, 2007
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