Because I know you all love your jobs, I figured I'd make it easy on you today. Thanks to Ron C who sent me YouTubing, I found a fella named Roy's video from all five camp practices. They're extensive. They're detailed. They're tough to discover at 2:30 in the morning. Roy - I believe - runs a thing called the Sports Fans Network.
Day One 7/23: Video
Day Two 7/24: Video
Day Three 7/25: Video
Day Four 7/26: Video
Day Five 7/27: Video
A couple things are clear from watching these videos:
1. Matt Forte is going to be as big a threat catching the football as he is running it.
2. Devin Hester is going to be this team's premiere offensive weapon.
3. Kyle Orton is a liability every time he throws the ball towards the sideline.
4. Rex Grossman is going to be the starting quarterback if he just stops fumbling snaps. (See: the end of Day 4)
ADDENDUM 2:12 PM: Sports Illustrated has posted their Bears camp postcard by a fella named Adam "Don't Call Me Dave" Duerson. A couple things about this. (1) You can't write a column about the Hester holdout and post it two days after the fact. (2) I can't take a football journalist seriously who writes the sentence, "Come late August when I'm drafting my fantasy team, I'll have very few Bears players on my draftable list." For once and for all, can we separate the fantasy football shit from the actual football shit? (3) How did the local writers not cover this:
The Bears know what's coming in 2008: No one with any sense will punt or kick directly to Hester. (Note: the Broncos aren't on the schedule.) So when Hester lined up in pads to return live punts for the first time on Sunday, the crowd got a fistful of disappointment as Brad Maynard sent eight straight punts away from Hester. Maynard hung 'em high, he pinned 'em against the sideline -- but not a single one was returnable. You could see the frustration building in Hester's eyes. It could be a long season for the Windy City Flyer.Once again, Dave Toub and company are doing a nice job coaching the special teams, preparing Hester for a lot of frustration in the kick return game.
#2 RandomName said . . .And #5. Rashied is a pimp
July 28, 2008
#3 RandomName said . . .I wonder if any bears players post comments here...*looking above*.
Anyways awesome I cant wait to watch a video.
July 28, 2008
#4 Z said . . .OK after first two videos Rashied is good.
Wolfe is just as impressive as ever.
July 28, 2008
#5 Shady said . . .If the front office does no other signings this offseason, even without any more guards I have to give them an A. Wow they locked everyone up. Impressive. Now shoot for that high A/ A+ JA. 1 or 2 guards, a 3rd string QB and maybe if a decent cast off WR from a team with way to many gets cut. Arizona, Giants ??
July 28, 2008
#6 Phil from SATX said . . .Man, I wish my company didn't have this website blocked...Then again maybe it's a good thing.
Anyone else notice Beverly Hass on the last post?
July 28, 2008
#7 Phil from SATX said . . .Random, although Max gave a little background on the last thread, he's a student in Hawaii that has been showing much Rash love since back in 2006. He's the unofficial head of the Rashied fan club, and it looks like he may be rewarded for his perseverence and loyalty this year - since Rash has been the focus of the most consistently positive things said about any one guy during this camp. In addition to Rash, Max loves sunsets, walks on the beach and walk-in-coolers full of Natty Lite.
Can't wait to see those videos, thanks Jeff, Ron C and Roy. Won't happen at work, be looking forward to watching tonight.
Early this morning I watched NFL Network rerun of our Super Bowl. As I was watching, I realized some things that I hated about it -
1) F'ing Miami Stadium (or whatever the abomination was called) COST US THAT GAME. Why oh why did the NFL ever agree to host a game in a city with an open stadium where there was a good chance of receiving rain? In any other Super Bowl stadium in modern history, we would have been dry, and I believe we would have won that game. Rain meant slippery balls which meant there went our chances with Rex.
2) Ron Turner was up to his now-usual tricks - after Thomas Jones was lighting it up, he puts in Cedric who immediately fumbles. After the fumble, to prove he was still backing his player (and still an idiot), he puts him back in again and Ced is taken out with an (injury?). Had he rode the horse that was getting him where he needed to go, could have been a different outcome. We saw this happen throughout 2007 with Turner.
3) While I saw #46, Chris Harris, making a good early play, he also contributed to much of the running back carnage in that game, and D. Manning was part of it too. So to me it's still okay they dumped him, and now have demoted Manning.
4) Rex did blow the game with that horrible pass to the sideline, which our old friend Moose exacerbated horribly by not making enough of an effort to ensure that guy was out of bounds. But frankly, it was the INT that killed it for us.
5) Maybe if it hadn't been RAINING AT THE SUPER BOWL he wouldn't have thrown that pass. Maybe he wouldn't have had to because we'd have been ahead. And in fairness, maybe a lack of rain would have helped Indy in equal or more fashion.
6) Final comment - the thing that struck me most was how close we were in that game. Against the Indianapolis Colts, one of the two elite squads in the NFL. With our rookie QB (yes he was a rookie), half of our running attack gone, a patched together secondary, we were still RIGHT THERE.
Now, a year and a half removed, we're on the eve of a new season and most of the guys who got us tothat Super Bowl are still there. Maybe not so much on offense, with new running backs and receivers. But the framework is all still there.
I have high hopes for this coming year. High.
July 28, 2008
#8 Decatur Staleys #7 said . . .shady, I responded to her on the last thread, wasn't sure if she would follow through to this one - I think that may have been one of the first real contacts (albeit indirectly) with an actual player on here - at least that we know about. I feel bad for that kid.
July 28, 2008
#9 Phillip L said . . .THank You for Videos,Nice to see what being written about the Bears.
Keep them coming if possible!
July 28, 2008
#10 Pissed Off said . . .Jeff, couldn't agree more about Forte. Freakin' sweet. Could a Forte/Hester combo be in the works for Running/Passing combo?
Also, I really, really, really wish those videos were higher quality. Fucking youtube, man, they compress everything and it looks awful.
Is it football time yet?
July 28, 2008
#11 jeff said . . .Great videos, fun to watch. Have more confidence now that my boy Rex will be the opening day starter and that he will be like post-benching Rex was all year. I love seeing Bradley in the mix and catching so many balls. I really hope he's our #1 WR.
Also super happy that the Hester deal got done. Great structure on the deal from what I've heard. I still think he should have waited another year especially if he becomes a stud WR but oh well. He'll be happy for all year this year at least and that cant hurt.
July 28, 2008
#12 Phil from SATX said . . .max is more than legitimate. he's one of our core members.
July 28, 2008
#13 Taylor said . . .PO'd, so Bradley's catching a bunch of balls? How come we're not hearing that in the reporting? I'm really hoping he's an answer this year.
For those that have watched this (I haven't) - what stands out for you IN CONTRAST to what's been reported so far? Like the example above?
Do you see evidence there for Haugh's belief that Kyle is really really accurate?
I'm wondering how are the safeties looking and about the new tackle. Also, any Dan Bazuin sightings?
July 28, 2008
#14 jeff said . . .I only watched 2 of the videos, but I liked what I saw from Rex. He stepped up in the pocket and scrambled on at least 2 occasions.
What Haugh said about Kyle being accurate, is it possible he was being sarcastic?July 28, 2008
#15 Rob C said . . .phil, this is why i'll be attending camp next summer. just watching the video it is clear we're not getting very in-depth reporting.
July 28, 2008
#16 Phil from SATX said . . .just a reminder, it is football season time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzo9oXiNrXY
July 28, 2008
#17 Phillip L said . . .Taylor, I certainly considered that, but unfortunately I believe he's serious - the reason being that he has mentioned Orton's accuracy on two separate occasions.
Sometimes Haugh likes being a contrarian - not in the obvious cartoonish style of Mariotti but in a serious way - which makes it more disturbing - like last year when he took pains to support Ron Turner as being a good coordinator and also gave his own reasons supporting some of Turner's more outlandish moves and comments - like sitting Benson in favor of Peterson when Benson was finally getting something done, stuff like that.
I think Orton is a pet project of Haugh's - he seems determined to reinvent him as an accurate QB, just by repeatedly saying those words. I think what he is referring to is Orton apparently has an ability to zip a ball into a tight spot when needed. I guess that's in the world of accuracy, but since accuracy is really about consistency, I think he's using the word incorrectly because Kyle IS NOT CONSISTENT in his passing.
July 28, 2008
#18 Smitty said . . .Perhaps Ron Turner can try the A-11 offense?
Found this on Kottke, and it looks rather crazy. So maybe he'd try it.
July 28, 2008
#19 Phil from SATX said . . .Rex is always, and will always be a training camp all-star. He looks great in practice because he has a great arm and good mechanics.
However, he is still short, he is still slow and still has small hands.
July 28, 2008
#20 Pissed Off said . . .Phillip from NY, I like it! He can line up Kyle and Rex next to each other - and hike it to either according to his goals
1) complete a snap? go to Orton
2) complete a pass? go to Rex
3) do both? direct snap somewhere else(Hester)
July 28, 2008
#21 Pissed Off said . . .I'd agree the reporting is pretty crappy based on what we've seen in the videos. Although these videos are just highlights and not the whole days work either. But based on the videos, the reporting is fairly inaccurate. Rex looks good (he fumbled one total snap in all the videos) and Kyle looks not as good (lots of INTs, about 5 I bet in all the videos to Rex's maybe one?) Bradley catches quite a few in the videos and looks good. Forte is fast. Nothing too great about Lloyd or Booker.
July 28, 2008
#22 jeremy34 said . . .My new favorite site.
July 28, 2008
#23 mikebdot said . . .Awesome videos. Thanks. I actually think Wolfe looked alright. In one instance Forte seemed to dance behind the line and I didn't like it. Was Turner really behind the Wolfe pick? or was that Angelo? Seems Turner really likes Forte from what I read. I can't wait to watch these later, definately tough going back to work after watching some of it.
July 28, 2008
#24 Phillip from NYC said . . .What is exciting to me is that we are practicing screen passes quite a bit. We're running shotgun from time to time. Forte looks quick. McKie looks capable of picking up blitzers. Our TEs look good, including Davis.
But that's all just "looks". Nothing is "clear" to me. Especially that bit about Orton throwing to the sidelines. Actually I don't think I agree with a single thing that seems "clear" to Jeff especially from watching the videos. To each their own though.
July 28, 2008
#25 Prefontaine said . . .Phil from SATX, is it possible to snap it to one QB and then hand off to another? I'm not clear on the rules - because if that's the case, well...
Snap to Orton
Hand-off to Rexy
Hand-off to Gould who kicks it back behind them to a WAY deep Hester
Hester runs it back like he would any other kick return. EXCEPT we initiated it.We could call it the Mariotti Offense, because it's fucked up and makes no sense.
July 28, 2008
#26 Luke said . . .I thought the TE's stood out for me. Olson looked great split out wide, kind of in a Dallas Clark type of role, and Clark and the rookie, the TE looks to be locked and loaded.
Rex obviously looked the best, but editing can do amazing things. I think it's Rex's job to lose. I was impressed with Lloyd. I remember Mr. Alligator Arms when he was playing for SF in a game at Soldier and he wanted no part of going over the middle of the field. Sounds like Booker is on the hot seat and could be the odd man out. Does anyone know how many WR's we carried last year on the 53 man roster vs. how many we currently have in camp??
July 28, 2008
#27 Phil from SATX said . . .You know, throughout this offseason there were many things the team had done that I just thought were incredibly dumb. Someone smack me next time. It seems I now have a lot more confidence in the decisions that were made. In the draft, after they picked Williams I was thinking, 'Okay, good. Now lets trade down for Mendenhall.' That didn't happen and I was pissed. The other running back I had in mind was Jamaal Charles from Texas. That didn't happen. They got Forte. So I immediately got on youtube and other things to check up on this Forte character, because mind you, I don't spend nearly enough time with college ball. And then what I was thinking was 'wow, he did really good with an easy schedule' but I was skeptical as hell. Then Kellen Davis....this pissed me off. A tight end? Seriously? But now I'm kinda liking the kid and wondering why they gave Clark an extension w/ two young able guys to fill the spot.
Needless to say, all the footage I've seen in camp and the last minute dealings of Jerry Angelo have made me happy. And I can't wait to see what this team will do to people and I'm definitely hoping for a BEARtiful upset week 1. With the rest of the schedule, it seems plausible to have a 12-4 team on our hands. Cheers gentlemen. GO BEARS!!
July 28, 2008
#28 Phil from SATX said . . .Re: Jeff's addendum: That is some pretty slick stuff about Hester, not that it's unexpected from the best coach on the roster. What I want to happen in addition to this is total preparation for the squib kickoff. It appeared we weren't as prepared as possible for this in the Super Bowl and it cost us dearly.
We should be preparing to be the best team in football at returning a squib kick, because we'll see way more than our share. That may include getting certain personnel on the field that are not normally special teamers, like some of the speed guys. Hands with speed, stack em in the middle. Then you've got the possibility of severe damage to the other team -- when you have guys like Rashied, Wolfe, even a Vasher in the middle of the field getting ready to punish them in delivering a ball in a hurry up to fast guys already placed in forward positions. I recognize that you need guys who can block too, but the concept is be ready for the squibs and make sure the teams get punished for that decision as well.
At some point we'll just get to have the ball at the 40 every time.
July 28, 2008
#29 jeff said . . .Interesting comments about Davis. I know he was drafted to be the blocking TE, and I hate to say this because Des Clark is absolutely one of my favorite Bears, but if Davis turns out to be a steal with really great hands, it does open up a very interesting trade opportunity. I think Clark would be HUGE trade bait - many teams would like to upgrade their tight ends. Would only ever want to do that if it helped us this year, not for the future.
Only reason I'm saying it is because if Davis is really good and was drafted to be John Gilmore, he ain't getting a lot of touches this year. Who knows, maybe Turner will actually grow a creative bone this year and they'll figure out that their best receivers happen to be 3 tight ends - I already know 2 of them are right now.
What is the story on Brandon Lloyd? Why has he sucked so bad early in his career?
July 28, 2008
#30 Al In WI said . . .phil, he didn't suck early in his career. as a matter of a fact, he was a star waiting to happen in san francisco. the guy made circus catches every week, it seemed. he went to dc and disappeared. not the first.
he's a true candidate for a resurgence. the guy can play.
July 28, 2008
#31 jdawg said . . .My prediction still is that Lloyd beats out Bradley for a job and mabey a roster spot.
July 28, 2008
#32 Cylus said . . .I have to slightly disagree on Lloyd. He can make the circus catch, but going across the middle? He no likey. A good test for Lloyd would be to tell him, before the snap, that Mike Brown has been given the green light to take his head off. If his alligator arms don't return then I'll be a believer.
July 28, 2008
#33 animal said . . .From the videos and talking to people who went to camp the race between the qbs does seem pretty close . I'm neutral on the situation myself because we've won games with both qbs. But from what I see and most of what others say the Sex Cannon has the edge. Orton's passes just weren't quite as accurate the receivers had to slow down a lot and reach for his passes more but thats just my opinion. Again we've won with both so heres to hoping the best man wins.
July 28, 2008
#34 Crown Their Ass said . . .Phil, I obsess over that game also. Add this to your list: no Mike Brown, no Tommie Harris. How different would that game have been with one of them, much less both? None of the Bears DTs playing in that game are still on the roster (I think).
July 28, 2008
#35 LLcoolR said . . .Dusty D can barely run. He will be injured before the end of camp.
July 28, 2008
#36 Shady said . . .i liked the videos. i've always wanted to find some of that stuff for training camp. i'm not getting caught up in any hype though. not after last year. i actually made the trip down there for a glimpse at the team last year, and i left feeling certain we had a top 5 offense on our hands. so i dont want to be the pessimist asshole, but lets all remember this is still training camp.
i think i agree with jeff on the orton throws to the sidelines. some of them looked pretty weak, and were not par with rex's accuracy. whoever wins, please just make this training camp stuff transfer to the season. make me lose my cynicism!
BUT, i do have to say forte looks genuinely smooth whenever the ball is getting thrown to him. can anyone remember a single time with benson having to reach high or behind for a pass and making it look effortless? i really like the looks of forte right now. hell, wolfe looks smooth out there too. the screens could definitely work, nice to see them being practiced. i always thought it seemed like our offense was surprised by the very notion of a screen pass last year.
July 28, 2008
Last year we couldn't run a screen play to save our lives, most of the time the pass was incomplete or intercepted. Forte's forte seems to be catching the ball in rhythm out of the backfield, something Benson couldn't quite figure out.
And yes, this is training camp. I too last year felt taken advantage of by reports out of camp that our offense was ready to roll, and having those thoughts quickly evaporate after the first game of the season showed us our line couldn't block, RBs couldn't run, receivers couldn't catch, and our QB couldn't throw.
I suppose I'll have guarded optimism this year: hope for the best, but be prepared for the worst. Cause let's face it, a LOT needs to go right for the offense to play well this year.
July 29, 2008
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