The Bears needed to win at home against the Minnesota Vikings a month ago. They needed to win at home against the Detroit Lions a few weeks ago. They failed on both occasions with an appalling grandeur: not only did they lose but it seemed all fifty-three men on the active roster, the coaching staff, the front-office, the practice squad were eager to stand among the hallowed Soldier Field columns and scream WE ARE NOT A GOOD FOOTBALL TEAM.
I’m relieved the Chicago Bears are playing a good team on the road Sunday. I’m excited that Rex Grossman will resume the starting role amidst one of the more hostile audiences in the National Football League. I feel that way because Sunday will answer THE question: are the Chicago Bears a good football team? Because a good football team – a playoff-caliber football team – a football team that has turned off Shit Street onto Save Our Season Boulevard wins Sunday in Seattle. It doesn’t matter how.
CHICAGO BEARS 16
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 13
Why do I like the Chicago Bears this week?
1. I always like the Chicago Bears.
2. Because I believe in the resurgent defense. Over their last three games, they’ve allowed only two touchdowns and an average of 12.7 points. The Seahawks will attack the Lovie-Deuce underneath all afternoon which will move them down the field but not into the end zone.
3. Because Rex Grossman’s press conference early in the week made me happy. He was mature and loose, actually cracking up a room of writers who’ve taken great joy in carving him up like a Thanksgiving turkey with a joke about blowing his chance for the big contract. Rex has nothing to lose Sunday and everything to gain. Call me crazy but I like my quarterback in that spot.
4. Because I’m hoping the outcome of the successful Raider strategy of kicking to Devin Hester is that teams will continue to kick to Devin Hester. (Acknowledging of course that Hester was a dumb B.A. hold from scoring in Oakland) If they kick to him, he’s going to score this week. To paraphrase the late, great Jim Croce, “You don’t tug on Superman’s cape. You don’t spit into the wind. You don’t pull the mask off the ole’ Lone Ranger and you don’t kick to Devin Hester unless you’re a fucking idiot.�
5. Because from everything I’ve read, the Bears are strongly considering moving Adrian Peterson and Hungry Like the Wolfe onto the field and Cedric Benson into the Curtis Enis Wing of my heart. The next time Benson tries to bounce a run outside will be the first time he’s done so in the navy and burnt.
6. Greg Olsen. I’m just putting him here because I wanted to remind Ron Turner that he’s on the active roster and a tremendous football player. So if you think, Ron, that Greg might be a nice way to make Rex’s life easier – that’d be cool.
As you can see by the Friday column’s Thursday appearance...I’m juiced. Strange as this may sound, a win Sunday and a solid game from Grossman might be the tonic that cures my still-lingering Super Bowl blues. A loss Sunday and I’ll be about as excited for next week’s game against the Broncos as I am for the release of the next Tyler Perry movie.
Bear down. If you want to get a little fired up, watch this.
#2 Pissed Off said . . .1st?
cmon Rex...you have that game in there somewhere.
November 15, 2007
#3 Pissed Off said . . .Ouch....Tyler Perry.
Cant disagree with much of what you said Jeff. With your point total at 16 I am assuming you think we have a lot of stalled drives, and I cant blame you. The home crowd, the defense fired up in the red zone, the lets face it, not so great offense of the Bears. It all equals stalled drives. I just hope we score early. Sure would be nice to put points on the board on the first drive for a change. Whats that like?
Ok I like Rex in this spot Sunday, and now in theory we can say he's got the use of Hester and Olsen which he didnt have early in the year so that should help him be great but Olsen especially is more of a middle of the field, not bombs player whereas Rex is a bomb thrower. With Griese at the helm Olsen may have gotten his best stats cuz Rex is a down the field QB whereas BG is a dink and dunker so I dont know if we're going to get the prodcution we like from the Olsen/Rex combo. Who knows either about Hester, somedays he shows up, somedays he doesnt.
November 15, 2007
#4 Da Coach said . . .But then Dez had his career year last year with Rex so maybe I'm talking out of my ass on this whole Olsen/Rex thing.
November 15, 2007
#5 Unleash the Dragon said . . .It all comes down to this & I am very excited. Only downfall is I will be watching this game with seacock fans so lets hope like PO'd said that we score early and take their fanbase out of it.
Other good news with the schedule this week giants/lions play each other which means we could get back to being 1 game out of WC spot. Am I correct in rooting for the Lions in that game since we still get the chance to play the gmen?
November 15, 2007
#6 mikebdot said . . .Rex makes me giddy like a little school girl.
November 15, 2007
#7 DTB said . . .I thought Ayanbadejo was called for the hold? Didn't get a chance to see the replay (if they even showed one), but I'm pretty sure Moose's only penalty was a BS call for block in the back when Gilmore caught a PA pass to get a first and goal at the 1 or 2. Moose's face was in front of the guy's shoulder pad and his left hand was on his freakin' chest. That is NOT a block in the back, even if his right hand was on his back.
November 15, 2007
#8 23=rsandberg=mjordan=dhester said . . .PO'? What happened? I am generally in agreement with what you say but I've lost a little faith in you with that last post. Besides the 60 yard Rex-plosion up the sidelines, the ball he throws best is the 15-20 yard seam. That screams Olson all day long. Rex may not dink and dunk but I would almost bet that Olson's receptions come in much larger chunks. And Hester, some days he shows up and somedays he doesn't? Devin's presence is there every Sunday. If you dont see it, you are much a much less educated Bears fan than I have given you credit for in the past.
November 15, 2007
#9 23=rsandberg=mjordan=dhester said . . .Im I the only one noticing aslong we keep wining everything else is going our way so far....
xample #1 all the potential wild-card teams lost week last
xample#2 were playing a team coming off a monday nite game,there has 2 be sum kind of advantage 4us considering they dont have the same time 2 prepare & practice as they would on a sun{day} game,logic points 2 rest & health mainly
xample#3 If we can pull of this win & the thought of teams playing in a short wk consider sum kind of weakness then will be having the same advantage against denver next wk@ home{they play monday nite dis wk} not considering we've played like shit @home lately.......... just staying positive guys
P.S. the division is lost,thats a given,on the other hand detroit has a brutal schedule left,so since they swept us,i truly beleive we will finish with a better record 2 earn that wild card,oh yes it will be wildNovember 15, 2007
#10 jdawg said . . .Im I the only one noticing aslong we keep wining everything else is going our way so far....
xample #1 all the potential wild-card teams lost week last
xample#2 were playing a team coming off a monday nite game,there has 2 be sum kind of advantage 4us considering they dont have the same time 2 prepare & practice as they would on a sun{day} game,logic points 2 rest & health mainly
xample#3 If we can pull of this win & the thought of teams playing in a short wk consider sum kind of weakness then will be having the same advantage against denver next wk@ home{they play monday nite dis wk} not considering we've played like shit @home lately.......... just staying positive guys
P.S. the division is lost,thats a given,on the other hand detroit has a brutal schedule left,so since they swept us,i truly beleive we will finish with a better record 2 earn that wild card,oh yes it will be wild finishNovember 15, 2007
#11 Pissed Off said . . .Actually Rex's worst throws, at least those that stick out in my mind, are the short slants. Also, whenever he throws a quick out to a reciever that's stopped five yards off the line of scrimage I have to get my girlfriend to pull the couch cushion out of my ass with a pair of vice grips (we're engaged). The ints way down the field don't bother me as much since a turnover there is almost like a punt (minus a run-back).
Anyway, let's hope he remembers to check down to his safety valves (including the ones in his cleats). Benson actually made a couple of good pass plays against Oakland -- one where he pulled out a first down when it looked like there was no way in hell he was going to make it.
Remember, Rex dinked and dunked all over the Chargers and Chiefs. His bone-headed plays against the Chiefs were a pass over the shallow middle and that keystone kops screen pass he threw to Wolfe. I swear to god that thing went higher than it did long.
Let's hope the SEX CANNON is not shooting blanks!
November 15, 2007
#12 WCPF said . . .No shittin' da coach but my best friend and best man at my wedding is a seacock fan. It was especially great to watch the games last year with him. He gets so overconfident with his team and talks so much shit about so many things that all of our friends of which are vikings fans and ones a niner fan who were sick of it all dressed up in Bears gear (I always have plenty on hand to clothe a small country) to watch the playoff game with us. Man was he pissed but I think it humbled him a bit. Priceless.
My general take is not to worry about the Lions. They have one tough schedule coming up for the remainder of the year and I think they may only win 2 more games this year. If we are a contender we will pass them and the tiebreaker etc, wont mean anything.
For this week, I am with post #5.
DTB I dont care what you think bud, I dont need anyones approval. I'm on cloud nine this week and am in no mood to care. I would argue Rex hits more the 20-30 yard seam (like the pass to Moose last week) and than doesnt scream Olsen as much as it does WR. Though we havent had the chance to see Rex work with Olsen really yet so I'm not sure, but did you read my post #3? Also see #10. And regarding Devin I'm talking more production-wise on offense. Yeah he's always a factor on returns but if you look at stats and numbers somedays Hester does zero on offense. People have to account for him but production wise he hasnt done much on offense, duh.
November 15, 2007
#13 Al in WI said . . .PO'd
Purpose of the article is not to pound my chest about BF and the Pack; scroll down to the bottom part of the article and look at it from the QB perspective and the progression they need to go through from the time they break the huddle to when they throw the ball.
My point is that QB's in today's NFL need to be able to process sometimes as many as 5 reads in about a 20 second time frame.
QBs coming out of college are not throwing in the same style of offensive systems or seeing the same coverages that they see in the NFL. If a QB is going to have success at this level, beyond the physical tools they need, a committment to understanding the game and a quality coach(es) are crucial to their success.
November 15, 2007
#14 said . . .As much as I want to scream blowout Rex-Anointment, I do agree this will be a close game.
I'm thinking the Bears will come out firing and take a lead. Seattle will close the gap, and the Bears will take the game late.
Bears 20
Seattle 13
November 15, 2007
#15 Max said . . .test
November 15, 2007
#16 Peanut Tillman & Jelly said . . .not predicting yet, just saying that
THE A.P. TRAIN IS COMING THROUGH!
November 16, 2007
#17 Viva said . . .Scoring by quarter:
1st
Bears 0
Seahawks 72nd
Bears 3
Seahawks 3Halftime score:
Bears 3
Seahawks 103rd
Bears 7
Seahawks 34th
Bears 10
Seahawks 7End of regulation:
Bears 20
Seahawks 20Overtime
Bears 7
Seahawks 0Final Score:
Bears 27
Seahawks 20November 16, 2007
#18 Viva said . . .Jeff - Thanks for the motovation -
One euphomism the Bears must change from here on out:
"We get off the bus running the football," needs to be replaced with, "we get off the bus, walk into the locker room, and let the other fucking team worry about what we are going to do."
We have challenged every team out there to stop our running game and they have. We have been our own worst enemy. The warfighting principle that applies most is Surprise. Nobody likes surprises. Nobody likes to be kicked in the balls when they are defending their jaw.
Ron Turner it is now time for you to BEAR DOWN.
Bears - 34
Seachicks - 9November 16, 2007
#19 Ted in IA said . . .PO'd ... I think Rex and Rashied Davis had a good thing going over the middle of the field last year, and I think that is where Rex will look for GO, in 2 tight sets...
November 16, 2007
#20 Shady McBears Fan said . . .I don't know what you were watching, Mikebdot, but Moose was all over the guy's back on that Gilmore catch. I have watched it on TV many times.
I am as unbiased as any Completely-navy-and-burnt-orange fanatic can be, but.. Come On...P.S., it was Ayanbadejo that lost us Hester's fab return.
November 16, 2007
#21 Bill said . . .The play action to Gilmore was actually a great call by Turner, even though Moose was flagged on the play. All of the raiders lineman and linebackers bit on the PA fake and Gilmore was completely uncovered heading towards the sideline. RT Fred Miller couldn't hold his man for more than about a couple seconds before Griese lofted a nice pass to TE Gilmore, and then Moose- you know the rest.
In my opinion Miller also cost RB Wolfe's only shot that game. He completely whiffed on blocking the OLB, the only man who could have stopped Wolfe before at least 5 yards on another mis-direction play call. I'd bet the offense is averaging 2 or 3 negative plays per game. Chalk it up to the O-Line, Benson and terribly obvious and slightly telegraphed play calls.
We just have to see some sort of consistency from this offense. It doesn't necessarily have to be right away but at some point, this Chicago offense will HAVE to break the Seattle defense.
On a lighter note:
Viva, I'd say nobody likes to be kicked in the balls PERIOD.
If you've seen those Fat Head commercials on TV there is a new one that is a little different but pretty funny too. While promoting the Brian Urlacher Fat Head, they show an actual Grizzly bear in a Brian Urlacher jersey growling at people and breathing fire! I think the over sized stickers look retah-ded, but the commercial was hilaarious.
November 16, 2007
#22 RandomName said . . .Peanut - you can't score 7 points in OT because they skip the PAT (since it's sudden death, the game is over as soon as the ball crosses the goal line.)
I just read that Cedric is happy Grossman is starting. I can see why (the threat of a deep ball may keep the extra DB out of the box) but I think it's kind of poor team spirit to essentially throw Griese under the bus when Benson himself shoudl be benched.
November 16, 2007
#23 jdawg said . . .Anyone but Cedric.
Ever wondered how anyone on the team could run the ball, I mean Any other position on our bears team?What if... a Tommie Harris perhaps?
Anyway as long as he's a bear and as long as i cant control whether he's benched or not I'll be rooting strongly for Benson. He's pretty good for a 40 year old.
but I think Peterson should start.
November 16, 2007
#24 Rancid said . . .a side note
Did anyone catch that clip, shown during the game, of Ulracher doing a pre-game stretch when Culpepper snuck up behind him and slapped him on the back? The look on 54's face was priceless, then he saw it was Culpepper and broke into a broad grin. It was pretty funny.
November 16, 2007
#25 Northside Superfan said . . .This game will be about our defense and whether the recent ressurection is for real. I honestly think our offense will struggle to be consistent and extend drives. Our offense will always struggle as long we have RT calling the shots and the current Oline trying to keep up. I see us scoring mostly field goals, getting a defensive TD, and escaping with a low-scoring win, not unlike last week. This defense needs to step up and be the dominant phase of the Chicago Bears this week.
November 16, 2007
#26 Al in WI said . . .Bears 23
Seahawks 21Hester: 1 Return TD
Rex 2 TDs, 1 INTs. 1 big TD to BB, 1 to Olsen to take the lead in the 4th quarter.Also, somewhere in this game Garrett Wolfe will have a big gain, probably on a screen or a dump-off pass.
Hasselbeck will throw 2 TD passes and 2 INTs.
The other Seahawks TD will come on a Rex interception, which will be the one flaw in an anotherwise excellent game for him.
Long story short, there will be some real tough moments, but we will win this game.
November 16, 2007
#27 jeff said . . .Off topic: Anyone know a place to score some reasonably priced tickets for the Bears-Giants game? I'm looking to stay in the same zip code of face value if possible.
November 16, 2007
#28 Phil from SATX said . . .you're walking a tight rope with that game. bears win this week and that ticket price is going up. bears lose and you'll be able to get it for nothing.
November 16, 2007
#29 jeff said . . .Also LOVED that Fathead commercial. The flames took it over the top, into the sublime.
Who cares what Cedric Bustsen says? To paraphrase our blog, he has lost the last semblance of credibility.
Who could have ever imagined I would be excited about seeing Rex Grossman in a game again this season after seeing him in the first 3? But I am, I am.
Interesting commentary by Chris Landry on the radio about Philip Rivers and the 49'ers. People are starting to call him a bust, maybe out of football in a few years, after a great year last year. The analysis was talking about what happens when you take a young quarterback who's had some success, couple him with a bad offensive line, weak running game and receivers who can't get off of press coverage and you have a quarterback who looks very different and has an awful season and looks like he shouldn't even be playing. Even though he didn't bring it up, all I'm thinking is where have I seen that before. That discussion could be had word for word about the Bears. The only difference is we do have some receiving studs in our TEs that our hapless and horrific O Cord. can't figure out how to use. But Philip Rivers turned into Rex Grossman this year (and Rex of early last year turned into Philip Rivers of this year - at least early, hopefully not now).
Many have said it, it's more and more apparent, but it's very difficult to judge any QB on the Bears this year given the line play coupled with sub-par runners and receivers. If RT would only do a little bit to try and help everyone...
Bears 31 Seahawks 21
Go Bears!
November 16, 2007
#30 Phil from SATX said . . .thinking more about sunday's game and so much of it is going to rely on protecting rex. ron turner can not come into this ballgame with a game plan of running on first and second downs and forcing the bears into obvious passing downs. the seahawks pass rush is pretty darn good and turner has to neutralize it by spreading the defense out and putting the ball on the perimeter on early downs and establish the rush game off of that. otherwise, rex will get sacked 5+ times sunday.
November 16, 2007
#31 Pissed Off....and confused said . . .Jeff, you know it, I know it, but does that a-hole know it? Because you're absolutely right. If we're running on first and second down to start the game, we'll already be in a hole, and likely game over.
He needs to start with a blitzkrieg. BLITZKRIEG!
November 16, 2007
#32 Phil from SATX said . . .Phil are you talking about Phillip Rivers who plays for the San Diego Chargers or are you talking about Alex Smith who plays for the 49ers????
November 16, 2007
#33 Pissed Off said . . .There I fucking go again. You're right -
Alex Smith. Find/replace all. Thanks for the help.
November 16, 2007
#34 Pissed Off said . . .Great video Jeff, man I love watching Rex when he's on his game. It just looks good, so much better than any Qb thats been under center for so so long. I hope this team and O-line is so fired up that Rex has all day to throw, if he does he will disect the Hawks secondary, not to mention there will be holes for Ced if he can manage to find a way to actually hit them. Man I cant wait. Now if we lose this game with a lackluster effort.......you know what I'm not even going to go there and I dont want to have to, I want it to be Sunday.
November 16, 2007
#35 Phil from SATX said . . .That why I was confused. Phillip Rivers did have a great year last year (22TDs, 9INTs, and a rating of 92) and is somewhat struggling this year, maybe he's not I dont know I guess but the team isnt as good as last year evidenced by their record.
Now you called Alex Smiths year last year great? I would say far from it, he had 16 TDs, 16INTs and a rating of 74 for the season. Thats in no way should be classified as great but I get your point. And this year he's having it rough. Last year Frank Gore was really good, this year he sucks. This year though they signed Darrell Jackson who was a stud for years in Seattle and he cant do squat. I dont know if its Alex or a combo of things including bad O-line and subpar performance all around but I'll lean with the latter, much alike the situation with Rex this year.
November 16, 2007
#36 Rancid said . . .Bottom line seems to be don't draft a quarterback with high first round pick unless you have at a minimum a great offensive line. Alex Smith, David Carr, Rex Grossman - all are being discussed this year as possibly being out of football in a few years - where would they be if they had a good line to protect them and create holes to make a good running game? Yet how many teams who are drafting high have great o lines?
Job #1 for the Bears this off-season - Fire Ron Turner.
Job #2 - Build a new offensive line. (it's the foundation of Cowboy's success this year, that's for sure - and their most important cast-off from the Bears is not Tank Johnson but one Marc Columbo, it turns out)
Job #3 - Everything else.
November 16, 2007
#37 Phil from SATX said . . .Phil,
my list is a slightly different.1. Fire RT
2. Take out a contract for someone to kill RT so just in case we ever are foolish enough to hire him again we can't.
3. O-line
4. everything else
November 16, 2007
#38 jdawg said . . .Wouldn't you guys give up a few seasons of sexy skill position picks for building a DOMINANT O-line to make the Bears proud again? Last year, in our Super Bowl run, we focused on the single biggest difference between 2006 team and the 1985 team being at quarterback. That may have been the most obvious difference, but the real biggest difference was the O-line, which by the end of last year was already a shadow of its former self and on the decline.
Keith Van Horne, Tom Thayer, Jay Hilgenberg, Mark Bortz, Jimbo Covert - THAT was an Oline.
Let's get it back again - that's got to be our rallying cry this off-season. Teams with dominant offensive lines win.
November 16, 2007
#39 Pissed Off said . . .yes -- the O-line.
I say sign a stud LT, move Tait back to right, sign a stud left guard (unless RB comes back with a bionic shoulder). This will give us an )-line of Tait, stud guard, Olin, Brown and/or Metcalf and stud tackle.
In my opinion this would: 1) improve the running game; 2) improve the passing game; 3) improve ToP which would; 4) improve the D.
Remember, the Redskins won the SB with fucking Mark Rypien behind the hogs.
And also remember, we've basically got a redshirt 2007 defensive draft coming back next year, plus Brown and Dusty.
I might need shades.
November 16, 2007
#40 Al in WI said . . .Thats just it with this damn team though, we always look at us on paper and we're like "damn, we're gonna kick some ass" then Mike Brown breaks something running out of the tunnel in week one. Not to mention Vash seems to be out significant time each year now, thats a staple, and peanut too. Then some others get hurt and it all goes from there. Yes having an O-line would help but that stud guard and tackle would get hurt and we're back to sqaure one.
November 16, 2007
#41 Shady McBears Fan said . . .The absolute best case senario for the Bears is to have Metcalf and Grossman play well enough the final 7 weeks of the season to be brought back as starters next season.
As it stands right now, the Bears need the following:
1. Starting Quarterback
2. Top Running Back
3. #1 Wide Reciever
4. Offensive Tackle
5. At Least One Guard
The odds of picking up all 5 in one offseason are pretty slim. But if Rex can be the answer, and Metcalf is a good player the list becomes more managable. That's what I'm hoping for.November 17, 2007
#42 Viva said . . .Angelo & Co. have proven to Chicago Bear fans that they cannot accurately evaluate offensive talent in the draft nearly as well as they can defensive talent. Like you pointed out Al, there are several positions that must be re-evaluated on the offensive side of the ball.
Instead of drafting offense, I would prefer it if Angelo continued using the draft to bolster the defense (a staple of Chicago Bears football) while using the free-agent market (http://footballsfuture.com/freeagents.html) to piece together an effective offense. Re-signing Berrian and perhaps bringing in a guy like RB Michael Turner or OT Alan Faneca via FA would help the offense immensely.
Although I think there are some quality offensive prospects in the 2008 draft (http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/top64.php?draftyear=2008) the Bears should use their 1st round pick on what they evaluate best, defense. At this point I just don't trust Angelo and his scouts to roll the dice on another guy like Grossman or Benson with their precious early round picks. Drafting anything on offense (other than a 'sure thing' OT) would be a mistake in my eyes.
November 17, 2007
#43 Midway Monster said . . .Shady -
If you think back to when Angelo inherited this team we had a great center and nothing else on O. He then spent the first draft finding guys for a Terry Shea offense. I think he has made some great decisions in free agency in terms of the offense (Tait, R. Brown, T. Jones, Moose, F. Miller, Des Clark, R. Gould)...our offense has steadily gotten better since he has been here, with the exception of this year, which is not over.
The problem with the draft is that it can not determine who will loose their passion and desire to play after they get paid. That is why you bail out of those high picks. It is literally rolling dice. There is not 1 team who has not been burned in the NFL. Typically, you know the 3-7th round guys will play, because they cannot retire on thier first contract. Cedric Benson was a STUD @ Texas, and now he plays without the intangible necessities (intensity, passion, desire) that make people great, but nobody can predict.
I do agree that we need to replenish our Offensive depth via free agency, and who knows, maybe Hester, Berrian, Bradley, Benson, Beekman, Olsen, and The Sex Cannon will blossom.
I can not wait for this game!!!!!
November 17, 2007
#44 Midway Monster said . . .were gonna win
-- Midway --
November 17, 2007
#45 jdawg said . . .B R E A K I N G
N E W SBirds Shaun Alexander not playing Sunday. Not sure this is all that good news since he has been having a crappie season to date.
-- Midway --
November 17, 2007
#46 Shady McBears Fan said . . .Hey Al in WI, your list is upside down.
If we can get two O-lineman (left tackle and guard) in FA that are good, if not studs, that will have a trickle-down effect on the entire team. Better pass protection, better holes, better ToP and a fresher D.
I agree, JA is a wizard with the D drafts and very stinky with the O drafts. In my opinion he should stick to what he does best, draft D and sign FA O players, unless a stud falls in his lap (see Olsen, Greg).
Anyway, man, I watched last years game 4 against Seattle and Harris was a monster! Its too bad he's go a bum knee.
Note to self: sneak up on Columbo and go Tanya Harding on his ass (make that knee).
November 17, 2007
#47 Midway Monster said . . .So I was driving along highway 41 north earlier today and saw a bird in the middle road. Experience tells me these creatures move at the sight or sound of a moving vehicle, but not this bird, he wanted to play a little game of chicken. Right before I reached the bird it began to take-off, but it was too late. The bird flew right into my windshield and I saw a look of fear in the bird's eyes. The same fear I presume bird Matt Hasselbeck with show in his eyes when he sees Lance Briggs bearing down on his ass.
November 17, 2007
#48 Viva said . . .Shady - too funny!
-- Midway --
November 17, 2007
#49 Pissed Off said . . .Has anyone else noticed that the Sun Times writers are all dissing the Bears. I think it stems from the actions taken by the Bears staff who asked all members of the media to leave before practice started on Wednesday (the day Grossman was named as the starter). The only exception was Carlos Zambrano, and Brad Briggs decribed him, not as a Chicago Cub, but as a "Tribune Company employee."
November 18, 2007
#50 JB said . . .Gameday MAN, I'm getting fired up, just wanted to check in. I look forward to reading the column tonight after a Bears W.
November 18, 2007
#51 Megan said . . .Jeff...excellent column today. I echo your sentiments exactly. I like your prediction and I think it will be close because Seattle is a good to above average football team in a stadium that is worth at least the typical 3 points if not 7.
I expect a big day from my man Rex...yes, the driver of the Rex bandwagon is probably even more excited than you Jeff to see the sexy back in the saddle. The B-Twice stock just soared back up to $80 a share...look for 80+ yards and a score on a ball over 40 yards. Look for Greg Olsen to have a big game including not one, but two gainers over 15 yards. Look for Benson to have another average day. Look for this to be a pass happy day...on both sides of the ball. The Seattle running attack has been paltry at best and Hasselbeck has had a very nice year so far.
My prediction (two wins on these this year) for todays game is Seattle 24 Chicago 31 on the strength of 3 passing TD by Sexy, the lead story of next week on PTI.
November 18, 2007
#52 johnny said . . .I am so fired up. That video was so great to watch too, Jeff. I miss TJ. But Wolf, Olsen, and now AP! Let 'er Rip!
Bear Down!
November 18, 2007
#53 Max said . . .the bears are going to win ugly, but a win is a win...everyone just please support our bears.......there our team win or lose, lets just deal with it........GOOOOOOOOO BEARS
November 18, 2007
#54 Rancid said . . .Wow. . . Benson.
thats a man that wants to keep his job. im listening to it, so im not sure how it happened, but damn son.
November 18, 2007
#55 RandomName said . . .StartO - Has Benson been freed?
Go Bears!
November 18, 2007
#56 said . . .OK 10- 0 , Benson looks like he came to play, so far.
November 18, 2007
#57 RandomName said . . ....wow, Hasselbeck is dissecting the Bears secondary pretty badly so far...COME ON D!!!
November 18, 2007
#58 Megan said . . .10-13
Looks like we are falling apart.
November 18, 2007
#59 Max said . . .Hold on to the ball. Nice drive--keep your cool
November 18, 2007
#60 RandomName said . . .A.P. BABY
November 18, 2007
#61 craig said . . .ok we just scored again. we are up.
Adrian Peterson for the carry.you think may Cedric runs better with competition.
November 18, 2007
#62 RandomName said . . .Why, after Benson breaks his two longest runs of the year, was he essentially benched for the remainder of the half?
November 18, 2007
#63 johnny said . . .craig:
Cause he was crap for the rest of the season. Without the changes he wouldn't be motivated, and Adrian Did score.November 18, 2007
#64 johnny said . . .dont understand, cb has 5 carries for 73 yds and they stop feeding him the ball.... how stupid can the offensive coordinator be....figure it out
November 18, 2007
#65 craig said . . .theres no devin hester on offense for rex grossman to have single coverage on a reciever...
November 18, 2007
#66 CARD said . . .RandomName: If it was a question of what he's done during the rest of the year, he wouldn't have broken those two long runs at all. It's not. It's about what he's doing today. If he's playing well, feed him the ball...
It's so frustrating to be a Bears fan when you can't have confidence in the D...
November 18, 2007
#67 johnny said . . .Where is the D?
November 18, 2007
#68 craig said . . .bears need to play some smash mouth football, cb came to play today so feeding him the fucking ball.......use him and abuse him....hes running the ball with balls....take advantage of it
November 18, 2007
#69 HesterFan23 said . . .What an awful 4th and 1 call. Ron Turner is a moron.
November 18, 2007
#70 johnny said . . .I can't even watch the offense. I know what Turner is going to call everytime, and it makes me sick...
November 18, 2007
#71 craig said . . .hester opens up the offense for rex grossman....use hester as a decoy so the offense can open up for grossman
November 18, 2007
#72 Divine Hester said . . .The D is making me cringe more than the O
November 18, 2007
#73 Windy City Packer Fan said . . ....three and out again, way to get your defense tired...frustating after nice field position...now steal the ball, D!!!
November 18, 2007
#74 Bounce said . . .Dear Mrs. McCaskey,
Please resign Rex and extend Ron Turner's contract :)
November 18, 2007
#75 WCPF said . . .GROSSMAN....when you run...PLEASE protect the ball by tucking it in...FUCKER!
November 19, 2007
#76 startO said . . .Like the check before the post.
Bill, maybe we can sit in a tavern and see a game at the same time.
November 19, 2007
#77 RandomName said . . .fred miller fucking sucks
November 19, 2007
#78 craig said . . .well stick a fork in Chicago.
very sad.
November 19, 2007
#79 startO said . . .Ugh... and it all began so promisingly.
In the end, Rex was decent, but made some bad decisions late (he had Benson on the checkdown on that fumble play), and missed a bunch of must-make throws. O-line was bad. Benson disappeared. Defense was bad most of the game. Archuleta is really awful. Our d-line has been woefully unproductive most of the season. Hester didn't take advantage of his return opportunities...
Just an all-around disappointment.
November 19, 2007
#80 craig said . . .ive pretty much stayed out of the O-line debate, but I see clearly now. they fucking suck. Rex played his ass off, but they couldn't keep guys out of his face.
November 19, 2007
#81 said . . .Oh, and we were thoroughly out-coached. Forgot to mention that.
November 19, 2007
#82 bounce said . . .thanks for the blueballs...
November 19, 2007
#83 johnny said . . .play calling sucks. running game looked good then died. why cant the bears accept that they have not running game..and just pass more than run? why?
November 19, 2007
#84 Divine Hester said . . .theres our season, thanks to the stupid ass calling of the offensive coordinator......
November 19, 2007
#85 AK said . . ....there went the season, way too short...the gamble with an "experienced" o-line backfired badly, biggest reason for this mess of a year...
November 19, 2007
#86 AK said . . .Grossman played fine. The O Line was fucking horrible. Batman could be our starting QB and even he wouldn't be able to make passes because he's be sacked every three plays.
November 19, 2007
#87 Windy City Packer Fan said . . .Grossman played fine. The O Line was fucking horrible. Batman could be our starting QB and even he wouldn't be able to make passes because he'd be sacked every three plays.
November 19, 2007
#88 Windy City Packer Fan said . . .Ron Turner must be a Packer fan. Because who the hell would stop giving the ball to Benson after the first couple of drives?
November 19, 2007
#89 Rancid said . . .Ron Turner must be a Packer fan. Because who the hell would stop giving the ball to Benson after the first couple of drives?
November 19, 2007
#90 johnny said . . .I hate RT
November 19, 2007
#91 bill said . . .ron turner plain and simple sucks.......we should start looking for a offensive coordinator....im sorry, let me rephrase that, we have to find a offensive coordinator........
November 19, 2007
Now that the 07 season is officially over we can reflect on what has a real dissapointment. Where do we begin? Well, first of all if you stand pat in the NFL you will get buried! Quote"We have 20 of 22 starters coming back for 2007." Maybe the league has figured out the quirks of the so-called 20 starters coming back. We have heard about having the youngest team coming back off a super bowl year, [not that this applies to the 07 bears] didn't we here that about the '85 bears, and looked what happened to them. The coaching of this 07 team is getting their rear ends handed to them aren't they. When I first heard about Rivera getting whacked I didn't think it would have a very big impact, but it seems it did. Lovely Smith has really screwed us on that one, plus putting his buddy in his place. [Note: if you hire your buddy in this business you are bound to screw the fans.] Look what happened to Wannestradt. As far as not having a number one running back,[ Bensen makes a fine number two] the bears mismanagement screwed up again [you don't have to have everyone on the team buddies, dare I mention TJ]. Now that we have covered the problem let's fix this now,[ us the fans.] As far as the running game I have just two words: Michael 'The Burner" Turner, he has been LT's backup in San Diego for the past few years and to my recollection he is a free agent after this year, otherwise there is this guy from Arkansas that is supposed to be fast, shifty, and elusive, [if he is available] according to what I have heard. [Check him out if you want to prove me wrong.] Of course the mindset with the so called experts think having a bruising running back is the way to go, [Dare I say Curtis Enis] the way I see it if you can't have a running back that can make his own holes you might as well have Mckie run every play. Now let's get to the real problem, Block!!! It is true that the lineman have really aged in one year. Or after game four of last year when they started getting bad. So what do we do? Go after every big name lineman that is available to replace the ones that aren't getting it done. And by the way, who is that number 69 on the bears anyway,[don't get me started on him] as a veteran he really screwed up against Seattle, it didn't do the team any good when he had two illegal procedures against him,[am I mistaken,or wasn't it the same drive that he got called for them penalties] and later on when he turned into a revolving door and let Seattle's left defensive end stroll right past him to hurry the QB. The fans are the ones that get screwed the worst when the team doesn't get the job done, don't talk to me about the players, or the coaches, [they get payed either way] so we bid ado to 07 and hope the 'braintrust' do the right thing and not sit on their hands when it is time to pull the trigger on a good [or intellegent] move to improve our [the fans] team.
November 19, 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.