A bad offensive line just got weaker as the Bears have put Ruben Brown on IR. I'm not an expert on offensive line play by any means but from my eyes Brown was having the only standout year on the line. Broadcasters have praised his play on numerous occasions in each of the past three games.
Terry Metcalf will move into the starting guard spot.
I'll be back tomorrow with my forecast for Sunday. The question remains: will I pick against the Bears for the first time in this site's history?
#2 beardown1982 said . . .That's so Bears - having a guy get hurt during the bye week.
I saw jokes about the Bears vs the Bye week - who has the advatage.
I guess the Bears actually DID lose.
November 8, 2007
#3 .Midway Monsters said . . .Wow, I heard him in an interview saying he had to go back to Buffalo to winterize his house.
Hopefully the injury doesn't stem from this...
Just not the Bears year by any means.
November 8, 2007
#4 SLAP said . . .Jeff - You not picking our Bears talk... Do not go there!
-- Midway --
PS - someone slap him!
November 8, 2007
#5 Shady McBears Fan said . . .BAD JEFF. . . but we know your not picking against them
November 9, 2007
#6 Windy City Packer Fan said . . .Well I spent the last 5 minutes trying to spin this story into something remotely positive, and this is all I came up with:
In everything we have expected from this team , only the opposite has been true.
If we expect the running game to suffer from the loss of Ruben Brown, then the opposite must come true.
This might be a bit of George Costanza logic, but hey - it's the best I could do on short notice.
November 9, 2007
#7 Jimbo said . . .AfroCelt, regarding your post from the last topic. Yes, go to the game. It would be well worth your time. And yes, wear your Bears gear. I will be there as well, but in Packers gear. I'd be happy to look out for you; you'll be easier to spot than me. Hell, I'll even buy you a Pabst at halftime.
If the Lambeau experience was just sitting on bleacher seats, no it wouldn't be that great. I know that the Bears games are what they are for some because you do see people setting up the tailgate at 6:00 AM for a 3:15 kickoff. When I go to Lambeau, I park my vehicle at the same house every year. How many other communities will you find people that will let you park on their lawn, then let you into their house so that you can take care of business?
November 9, 2007
#8 Viva said . . .Here's my pick of the week...
Jeff will pick the Bears.
Bet the house, it's a mortal lock.
Go Bears. Just win baby.
November 9, 2007
#9 Joe Flacco 6'6" 230 said . . .was he jerking himself a soda?
November 9, 2007
#10 Scott said . . .Jerry Angelo,
I am the next great quarterback of the Chicago Bears... And make sure to draft James Hardy next year too.
November 9, 2007
#11 Shady McBears Fan said . . .This smacks of organizational misdirection. Ruben's probably been slightly injured for a while and just told the team that he can't do it any more at his age. I'm with y'all in thanking him for his years of service. Now let's move on. There's been a lot of noise on this site about the line completely sucking so let's go with someone else. The running game can't get much worse. I remember that we lost Tommie Harris at about the same point last season and still made a run. Comparing the two, I'd rather be without Ruben than Tommie. We'll miss him but it's a unit that needed a change.
November 9, 2007
#12 said . . .Scott: Al in WI noticed the Rubex Cube had a bad shoulder back in week 2 (post #57)...
http://www.dabearsblog.com/2007/09/the_chief_concerns.php
This also happened to be my 1st significant posting to a thread (long time reader, first time poster) so it holds a special place in my heart.
November 9, 2007
#13 Darren McFadden said . . .A few guys I wouldn't mind seeing in a Chicago Bears uniform in 2008:
1. Matt Ryan QB Boston College
2. Glenn Dorsey DT USC
3. Samuel Baker OT USC
4. James Laurinaitis LB Ohio State
5. Kenny Phillips S Miami
6. James Hardy WR Indiana
or
7. Malcolm Kelly WR OklahomaNovember 9, 2007
#14 Max said . . .Don't forget about me.
November 9, 2007
#15 Nicole is miserable in this blue city said . . .I was "SLAP" and jeff, if you pick against the bears. . . id probably still come to this site and read it daily, but i think id die a little inside.
November 9, 2007
#16 mikebdot said . . .Jeff- don't make us think we're going to have to shun you...
November 9, 2007
#17 Phil from SATX said . . .Ruben Brown has probably been our best lineman this year. He keeps moving every single play whereas Tait, Kreutz, and Garza have all literally stopped moving before the whistle has blown. Fred Miller is moving at the end of the play because he can't seem to find the guy he's supposed to be blocking. Regardless though, I really don't think Brown has been playing that great either, which is really sad, because comparatively he's been really good...
When Metcalf goes in there will Garza switch to left guard and Metcalf go into right guard? I doubt that's how they'd do it, but it would put a stronger guard on the left to protect Griese/Grossman's blindside.
I'm just glad it wasn't a tackle because St. Clair is much worse than either of our tackles, which is really really sad.
November 9, 2007
#18 Bill said . . .Here's something weird - I'm already getting kind of excited about next year! I appreciate those who are posting on guys to look for next year. Joe Flacco - could he be the next Tony Romo? (Loving 6' 6", I am!)
And I'm still very interested about the remainder of this year. Maybe Brown's ailing was hurting the line, and Metcalf will be an upgrade. Still want to change the left side of the line, though.
I hope that these guys are really fired up for the Raiders. Everyone on this team has professional pride, and y0u have to think that in particular Lovie, who is having national columns written about him calling him out as a crappy coach - he can't be too happy. Plenty of motivation here to win.
Hey, just realized it's Friday already - where's the picks? And Jeff, that was like a bad promo for sweeps week - "Does Diet Coke cause brain cancer? Find out the shocking news at 10" - no, we all know you well enough to know you're picking DA BEARS!
So am I - I think I was the first and only pick a few days ago - I believe it was 31-13.
Let's roll! Last business day before a Bears win!
GO BEARS!
November 9, 2007
#19 Phil from SATX said . . .Moose said on his show on Comcast that he'd rather have a 100% Metcalf than a 40% Ruben. So Brown was only 40% and playing??
November 9, 2007
#20 mikebdot said . . .I can never keep the lineman straight - I thought Brown was on the right side. If he's been on the left side, than maybe his injury has been the reason the run-blocking has been so bad over there.
He looks like the only non-Kreutz to be a Pro Bowler. I was under the impression John Tait was also one, but apparently he wasn't (if Wiki is to be believed).
I can't believe that Vasher is not going to be out there AGAIN! Come on man! This sucks!
November 9, 2007
#21 Phil from SATX said . . .Phil: here (was) our O-line: Tait - LT, Brown, LG, Kreutz, Garza - RG, Miller - RT. I'm just wondering where they actually put Metcalf. I read he was "beat out" by Garza to start the year so it sounds like he has experience on the right. One would think you would slide Garza left.
I really think a shock to the system is a good thing for this team. It will force the current starters to "play better to take up the slack" and hopefully Metcalf will think "This is my chance to prove myself and show them I should have started instead of Garza".
Oakley is now the other backup lineman. I doubt he'll suit up *knocks on wood for possibility of Garza or Metcalf getting hurt too*.
November 9, 2007
#22 Bill said . . .Mike, I wonder what it would take for Beekman to get some playing time? We're talking about Oakley but Beekman is on the regular roster, and he plays both guard and center (I remember when they drafted him them talking about how versatile he was, and therefore valuable).
What do you think would happen if we stuck TWO new guards in there?
Also, is St. Clair really that bad? Might he be better than Fred Miller at this point (moving Tait over to the right and St. Clair playing left)?
November 9, 2007
#23 Rancid said . . .One line change at a time is probably all they woudl want to do. If Ruben had been able to go, then we'd maybe see a change somewhere else.
November 9, 2007
#24 Northside Superfan said . . .You can't do it Jeff
"Why I don't like the Bears" just can't be posted here. Not by you anyway. If you ever lean that way, just let Mike post a column that Friday and keep your legend intact.
November 9, 2007
#25 mikebdot said . . .First of all Jeff, I didn't see Brown as a standout--not this season, anyway. It seems now like the injury was probably a big part of that, but either way, he won't be on the roster next year.
I say, once again, this is a blessing in disguise. We aren't going to make the playoffs--let's see what Metcalf can do. If he can't do it, put Beekman in there and see what he can do. We need to know what type of offseason changes need to be made on this line. If Metcalf and Beekman are players, its better to know now then find out next year.
November 9, 2007
Phil: In my opinion, yes. But that's from very limited review. He just looked awful in the preseason action I was actually able to see. Whatever though. Just my opinion.
November 9, 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.