PRAYING TO ST. CLAIR
Mike Mulligan in the Sun-Times and half the Chicago beat writers seem to believe that John Tait should move back to left tackle due to the Chris Williams injury. The article is full of pointless conjecture from Mully and lots of contrary informaton from the coach. In the Sun-Times? Shocking. My thoughts on this:
1. If John St. Clair has been performing well at left tackle throughout training camp, hasn't he earned the starting job? Who declared that rookies automatically start due to a large signing bonus. (O-line coach Harry Hiestand - moronically called "beleaguered" in the article - echoes this sentiment.)
2. If the Bears believe Chris Williams is going to come back by mid-season and be effective, it's incredibly smart to leave John Tait on the right side. Offensive lines thrive on continuity, repetition and unity. Why change two positions when you can only change one? Then again, that's logical.
REX TO START SATURDAY NIGHT
Contrary to Roy's opinion, even Larry Mayer on DaSite (very pro-Rex) hesitates to give #8 any advantage in the quarterback battle. What does Rex need to do Saturday night? Exactly what he says: “I’d love to get a couple touchdowns right away and get into a rhythm, move the chains and be efficient." If Rex doesn't end the competition Saturday night, I have a feeling he won't see a snap in Indianapolis on the 7th.
MOOSE AND TANK
Today's rant is about Muhsin Muhammad and Tank Johnson, both of whom have taken shots at their former employers in the last few days. (For specifics, click on their names)
Moose said that Chicago is where receivers go to die. That may be true. But apparently it is also where receivers go to collect thirteen million dollars a year to drop a third of the balls thrown their way. Thirteen million dollars = death? Kill me now. Muhsin Muhammad was paid to be a number one receiver and was consistently out-played by Bernard Berrian and out-hustled by Rash Davis. I was planning to go back and paste all of the comments from fans upset when he left the organization but apparently my unicorn at them. Keep talking, Moose. Let's see what those numbers looks like in Carolina weeks one and two with Steve Smith suspended. Prick.
And ah, Tank Johnson. Chicago didn't support your degenerate lifestyle enough? Didn't give you enough chances? Should the fans have pooled their money together to buy you several gun racks so that at least you could take your semi-automatics off the floor, where they lay casually beside small children? Or are you mad that you were cut due to Jerry Angelo's rigid "Full Inning" policy, i.e. nine strikes, you're out. I spent many-a-column defending you and hoping for recovery. Wasted energy. You're a scumbag. You're a loser. And if it makes you feel better to insult a man whose only crime has been to throw some ill-advised passes and fumble a few snaps, then so be it. I'll take a hundred Rex Grossmans on this roster before a single Tank Johnson. You're right where you belong.
#2 Tenacious D said . . .I would like to see Rex get into a nice rthymn come Saturday night and seal the job just so the team can have closure and unite behind behind one guy as it gets closer to week 1.
As for Moose and Tank you got it right Jeff both are scumbags and the team is way better off without those two a$$faces. Their comments only make themselves look dumber then they actually appear.
August 12, 2008
#3 jeff said . . .I'm with you Jeff. Flipping Tait & St. Clair at this point makes no sense. Why disrupt two more spots on the line? We will be better off in the running game by leaving Tait on the right. I like the sound of a power running game to the right behind Tait & Garza.
That being said, it does scare the crap out of me to think of St. Clair being the only obstacle to keep Freeney from breaking Kyle/Rex in half from the blind side in Indy. We will have to give John some help from the tight end or running back on passing downs alot this season.
I am concerned about our depth at all positions across on the 0-line. One injury at either tackle spot and we get Cody Balogh or Kirk Barton? I sure hope Jerry is looking for T and G help.
August 12, 2008
#4 Pissed Off said . . .two words tenacious d. and to the bears. max. protect.
August 12, 2008
#5 Adam said . . .Tell me I'm wrong but the first showing of the Bears/Seahawks game is at noon on Sunday (when games are supposed to be played) on NFLN. Is it possible we'll know who the annointed starter is before us fans get to watch that game? Is it on live locally in Chicago? If so I envy you all and would love to take a flight to Chicago to watch the game on TV, how hardcore is that. I suppose while I'm on the plane I might as well just go to Seattle and see it. Anyway I wonder if Lovie will announce it at his post game press conference? I just dont know but I'm all riled up over this time thing.
August 12, 2008
#6 Al In WI said . . .I hope St. Clair gets a chance to prove himself. If he works out, then great. If not, we have a long season ahead of us...
August 12, 2008
#7 jeff said . . .To say that I loath Moose would be an understatement. He was a bust from his first game here when he dropped 2 or 3 passes. I just love that several news outlets in Chicago have now printed stories about how much of a douche bag Moose was behind the scenes. Some of this info had to be available before now. My personal favorite was when he stormed Halas Hall to demand his check on tuesday because that is when Panthers are paid, but the Bears are paid on thursday. It shows where is focus was. Trash.
August 12, 2008
#8 Phil from SATX said . . .yeah POd...al preseason games are on in their local markets. the bears third preseason game - next thursday - is on national television.
August 12, 2008
#9 Shady said . . .That's a great column Jeff. Totally agree with your sentiment, and I respect that you get that about Grossman even if you've lost faith in him as a future QB for us.
I do get pissed that the Cowboys just continue to collect all the poor and wretched high talent-low character guys and work on "rehabilitating" them. It worked with TO, but then again he was just a prima donna and not a thug. Good luck on Tank and Pacman, I wish them nothing but misery and failure. And a pox on the whole organization.
Love the "Full Inning" moniker.
What the hell has Rex Grossman ever done to Tank Johnson or Moose "Not the Prophet, Just the A-hole" Muhammed?
Glad that those guys are no longer Chicago Bears.
August 12, 2008
#10 Cedric Benson said . . .I'm still trying to wrap my mind around a team with 100 Rex Grossmans... jesus.
August 12, 2008
#11 The person who considers flying to Chicago to watch a PRESEASON GAME ON TV said . . .Tank and Moose were overpaid, overrated, loafed at practice, squandered their chances, and never fit in with teammates. They have no credibility and should just shut up.
Oh, wait, that was me.
August 13, 2008
#12 The Solution said . . .really needs a life.
August 13, 2008
#13 Reply to Shady said . . .- Leave Tait on the right side
- Call every running play to the right
- Call every pass play with a roll rightNo left guard? No left tackle? No problem.
That's how we do things in Chi-town
August 13, 2008
#14 Indy Bears Fan said . . .100 Rex Grossmans would make for hillarious traning camp. Rex throws the interception, Rex misses the tackle, but Rex fumbles the interception, Rex can't recover the fumble, etc.
August 13, 2008
#15 Bear Down Bacon said . . .You won't get to see it live, but if you aren't in the market, the NFL network is replying all the preseason games. I recorded the Bears first one it was on at 12 AM the Friday morning after. The second one will be on Sunday at 1 PM EST. Here is a link to their television schedule for all the preseason games.
http://www.nfl.com/nflnetwork/story?id=09000d5d809476d7&template=with-video&confirm=true
It's not live, but at least it's something.
August 13, 2008
#16 Phillip in NYC - er - france said . . .I can't believe everything that was said in this article. Just because your names Tank doesn't mean you need all that ammunition. Maybe that Tank should shoot a Moose.
I live in WI and watch all the games that I can't see on TV on the website stoogetv.com just click the channels button in the upper right hand corner and then the Chicago Bears vs. So and so in the channels box. The link shows up about an hour b4 game time. Yes they even show pre-season games. (you need a fast connection)
August 13, 2008
#17 The Duke said . . .w00t, I can watch the game Sunday night then! Yes!!!
Also, Jeff do you have a twitter feed?
August 13, 2008
#18 zisk said . . .Totally off topic but can someone please tell me why the Bears let JT O'Sullivan leave their system after a stellar year in NFL Europe. He's about to steal the starting job in San Fran and we didn't even give him a chance???
August 13, 2008
#19 Bears24 said . . .I just wanted to throw out some belated comments on the packers bengals game. First off their O-line looked awful and that was against the bengals. I'd love to see them against the bears or vikings. Rogers absorbed a lot of contact and it seemed the runner always got first contact at the line of scrimmage. Also while rogers was very accurate he never hit anyone in the open field. Every single pass I saw the only yards made after the catch were because of missed tackles, same thing with the ground game too. If Cincinnati could tackle they wouldn't have had any big plays. I'm optimistic about a lot of injuries.
August 13, 2008
#20 Pissed Off said . . .The K.C. game is on today at 4p.m. for those of you who haven't seen it, the Seattle game is on Sunday at 1p.m., the S.F. game will not be on NFLN, and the Cle. game is on 8/31 at 4p.m......hillarious call-out on that fat bastard Tank
August 13, 2008
#21 mikebdot said . . .Hey Al, #6, its the NFL, you'd think there pretty "with it", havent they heard of direct deposit?
I've changed my mind regarding St. Clair, somone mentioned that he should stay on the left side if they eventually plan to use Williams this season to keep continuity and chemisty and I agree, leave him and Tait where they are.
I hope your right Bacon, I might just check that link out. Live TV feed on the internet huh? Thanks, now I dont have to fly to Chicago, actually driving would be easier.
August 13, 2008
#22 Phil from SATX said . . .Phil: You just increased violence in the middle east. Way to go!
The Duke: When you're hankering for J.T. fucking O'Sullivan, you know you're suffering from some serious head trauma. The fact that O'Sullivan is getting a shot is not a testament to how good he is, make no mistake, it's a testament to how shitty Alex Smith really is. Not to mention how big of a tool Martz is. He's become a laughing-stock. His offense won't work without a quick release QB and hall of fame receivers. You could probably say that about any OC though...
Anyone interested in picking up a disenchanted Joe Horn? He's pretty much the same amount of "dick" as Moose, which sucks, but still, I wouldn't mind it...
August 13, 2008
#23 Phil from SATX said . . .Some comments from the rags this am -
Interior linemen situation looking like it might be pretty dang good - DD is coming back and will have to unseat Anthony Adams as starter, as good as Adams has been. The new Marcus Harrison is sounding good too, and you got Izzy. They're saying Harrison has the talent to more than effectively fill the role of Tank.
A comment is also made suggesting that it's a possibility that Bazuin may not make the team! What a draft bust of disastrous proportions that would be. What a waste of a pick. I understand that it was made with the idea that Alex Brown would likely not be around, but they clearly whiffed and whiffed big on that one.
Brandon McG will be sitting out next game - Kevin Payne gets the start. They sure were high on him last year - interesting to see if he can have any of the same level of impact McGowan did in our first pre-s game.
How about Miami just releasing Feely? After he set a Miami record last year? They couldn't get some team to give them something for him? He should be renamed Freeby. Some team's going to be really happy. What stupidity.
August 13, 2008
#24 animal said . . .I got one more. Am I wrong to want the following situation to play out?
Brett Favre immediately makes the Jets MUCH better, they make the playoffs, get to the Super Bowl... and LOSE TO THE CHICAGO BEARS!
Why is this such a great scenario?
1) It makes everyone who lives in Green Bay's heads EXPLODE. That place will be like Chernobyl the day after. And here's where it's great - Brett has ANY success - any at all - and Rodgers falters - you are talking about mass revolt up there. It WILL be UGLY (one Packer's ugly is another Bear's beautiful)
2) By making the Super Bowl, it costs our division rival the maximum draft pick - which they will need in order to draft ANOTHER QB - Gentlemen, start your carousels!
3) We beat Bretty - AGAIN - in the BIGGEST GAME EVER!
What's not to like, Bear fans?
August 13, 2008
#25 jeremy34 said . . .Hey, I've flown to Chi to see a preseason game. Better than seeing no game.
August 13, 2008
#26 Da Coach said . . .Trade for Captain Kurt Warner please. Captain Kurt Warner please.
August 13, 2008
#27 Phil from SATX said . . .Please do not bring Kurt Warner here to Chicago, behind this type of offensive line it would get ugly real quick. Not only can Kurt not get out of his own way but he struggles to even hold onto the ball when he is forced to move around.
August 13, 2008
#28 jeff said . . .Just out of curiousity, what's happening with Pennington? Jeff, for some reason I thought you liked Pennington, yet you immediately threw out a thread on No for Pennington.
I still believe we need a credible 3rd QB, not that it should be Pennington, but maybe it's time to have another Pennington discussion, being that it's relevant?
August 13, 2008
#29 jeff said . . .signed with the dolphins. like him a lot as a player but he's wrong for the bears now being that he'd be unable to exploit our best weapon down the field...hester.
August 13, 2008
#30 Pissed Off said . . .who are these Boers & Bernstein guys on The Score? god, this radio station is a flat-out disaster.
August 13, 2008
#31 Shady said . . .Day 21 Highlights
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJZzjPqJhwE
No commentary up yet, awaiting Roys opinion.
August 13, 2008
#32 shonbear said . . .Phil I think you've got it backwards. The better Favre and the Jets perform, the higher the draft pick the Packers GET.
Terry Boers and Dan Bernstein are a couple of knuckleheads on 670. They like to talk shit about coaches and players with a snotty attitude like they're fucking know-it-alls. Occasionally, they throw in some good Bears info from Zach Zaidman and Hub Arkush.
August 13, 2008
#33 Jimbo said . . .I know, last night I listened to their interview with Tommie Harris. They were completely unprofessional and it seemed to me that he was clearly irritated. Sure these guys are radio guys and they are supposed to be funny, but in this case their attempt at "funny" was just insulting towards Tommie and the team. One of the main points I can't get is like Tommie said, not only for them, but for all fans (especially the Rexler's out there). Be positive.
August 13, 2008
#34 Shady said . . .This offseason has been extremely negitive, with both the national and local media. I can understand the frustration, because our D is so stacked and our O looks so miserable on paper... but thats why you play the games. At the end of the 2005 season we knew our D was awesome but our O was weak... i dont think anyone gave us much of a chance to go the super bowl before the first few games of 2006. Then, last year everyone had us pegged as a minimum 12 win team.
I firmly believe last year was a down year. call it the "superbowl hangover" or whatever you want, but it was clear that injuries were a major problem starting in the second half of the SD game! Week 1 we lose Brown and DD. By Week 5 we lost Vasher, Tillman, Tommie, Briggs, Ruben Brown, Payne, AA, and shit i cant even remember who else... for various amouts of time. #54 was banged up. It was sort of a disaster. By the last month of the season our guys started geting guys back , and this team looked pretty good again.
Expectations are low this season, and thats when this team does its best. I think we are gonna sneak up on a banged up Indy. Fuckin-A. Go Bears. I hope the NFL tonight guys and all the "experts" choke and die.
August 14, 2008
#35 johnny el paso said . . .I would agree this team plays much better when flying under the radar and with something to prove. Hopefully that chip on their shoulder will motivate the line enough to block for Forte Wolfe and Jones, and motivate Rex or Kyle enough to become a legitimate #1. All the defense needs for motivation is the hope that this offense can hold up their light end of the bargain.
August 14, 2008
#36 johnny el paso said . . .what the bears need is to pick up a qb that we let go last season. we need someone who is not afraid to run when the offensive line breaks down. Troy Smith would be a good qb. He's young, he's got speed and is not afraid to run with the ball. this offense needs a running qb who can make things happen.
August 14, 2008
#37 johnny el paso said . . .what the bears need is to pick up a qb that we let go last season. we need someone who is not afraid to run when the offensive line breaks down. Troy Smith would be a good qb. He's young, he's got speed and is not afraid to run with the ball. this offense needs a running qb who can make things happen.
August 14, 2008
#38 Phil from SATX said . . .what the bears need is to pick up a qb that we let go last season. we need someone who is not afraid to run when the offensive line breaks down. Troy Smith would be a good qb. He's young, he's got speed and is not afraid to run with the ball. this offense needs a running qb who can make things happen.
August 14, 2008
#39 Pissed Off said . . .Uh Shady, you're right, I'm a boob. Oh well, then I don't want the Jets in the SB after all. Just want Brett to significantly outplay Rodgers, have the Pack totally suck, and then have Favre do his end of season shtick all over again, this time for an unforgiving NY crowd.
Maybe he can work his way right out of the Hall of Fame with his shenanigans!
Really liked Jimbo's comments. That is the take to go into this year with. We were destined to fail last year with a decimated D - we couldn't be who we thought we were - and it just rippled across the whole team, the whole organization.
Stay at least modestly healthy on D, everything else will fall into place. And it may just be that St. Clair on left and Tait on right turns out to be a major upgrade from Tait on left and Fred Miller on right. Remember that left guard is supposed to be the easiest line position, and Garza will hopefully be improved with Tait next to him instead of Drop Dead Fred. No, we're not going to have the best line in football or anything, but it still is possible to have a major upgrade from last year (without adding any players! sounds like wishful thinking, I know - but we do know there's such a thing as addition by subtraction).
A lot will be riding on Matt Forte's shoulders, but he looks like he can handle that. And now we have Jones playing, and Garrett looks ready to handle a heavier load too.
A note on QB race - I think that the Bears are going to select a starter based on who they think is more football ready between the two - and that will have to do with more brains than brawn. If Rex looks decisive and intelligent throughout, he'll get it. If he shows more of some of bumbling he showed in the first game, Kyle will get it. I almost hope the line doesn't do so great in the next game so these guys have to perform under a good rush - to succeed under pressure will be the most important indicator for success this year. While I've been in Rex's camp since his return last year, I'm going to consider myself an independent on this issue - if Kyle looks better under pressure, I'm ready to support him. Rex needs to keep making steps forward, show that he's ready to make good decisions. My decision won't be made because of dropped snaps or tripping on Olin's feet, but if he shows panic under pressure, he's not ready to be our QB.
August 14, 2008
#40 Duff Diggler said . . .Here we go again.
August 14, 2008
#41 Pissed Off said . . .Bears24 (and all)....
...the bears/49ers game will be on Fox (ch 50 Direct TV) live 8:00pm est 8/21....
August 14, 2008
#42 Bill said . . .This sucks, I just want more info. There still is no 21st day commentary from Roy and neither newspaper is doing shit for coverage. They just put up some shitty generic story everyday and thats supposed to keep us happy. I cant wait until Sat nights game. I'm gonna check it out on that stoogetv.com that someone mentioned, I hope the feed is good. I wish Lovie would let us know when the damn QB issue will be resolved. Is it going to go thru the 49ers game, is it going to end after the Seattle game, or sometime during a practice. Just inform us huh?
August 14, 2008
#43 shonbear said . . .PO -
I agree, news coverage is horrible. Article today defending the lack of tackling in camp. OK, makes sense - but is THAT all there is to write about?Like we've all heard, if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. I think that may be the issue. There really isn't anything good to say.
August 14, 2008
#44 jeff said . . .Listened to the score again, yea there news is always so negative. Seems like so many of those media guys (local and national) think kyle is the answer or rather that rex is no answer. i cant understand it. There are so few great QBs in the league, yet two guys that have a pretty good win loss record amongst them are so terrible. They think that every QB should be measured by a Dan marino, payton manning, tom brady type measuring stick. Those guys come along rarely n a lifetime and usually were surrounded by great supporting casts or coaches, or weak divisions. Sure our D is most of the reason weve been competetive, but stuff like that could be said by almost any winning superbowl team.
look at New Orleans after the hurricane, those guys were a good tem, but they had something else that inspired them and made that season exciting for them. (glad to say we knocked them off) The redskins had their tragedy and it carried them to the playoffs. the giants pulled a couple close games out of their ass and it inspired them all the way to the superbowl where they pulled the win out of their ass too. The packers pulled a decent season out of their ass on the shoulders of BF blah blah blah. Any and every team has this same possible scenario. Its easier for teams to continue with winning when they start with one which creates the confidence and belief that they are capable of doing it. Our guys know they can do it, they have done it. It breeds more of it. We need to win that Colts game, we needed to win that SD game last year, i know our season would have been much different even with the injury problems.
We are winning that game no matter who is the QB. I just think the win would be so much sweeter with Rex running it. that win is going to be the start of a tidle wave of wins for the bears that will shock all these fuckers off of their pedestals. Then they will all act like they didnt spend the last 6 months to a year saying the bears are losers.
Of course Im placing this on the shoulders of Lovie and turner. Though im mostly ok with lovie (except his arrogance and bullshit vanilla answers and possible lack of control), but Turner might possibly be our biggest enemy. I just want the bears to do good despite him.
August 14, 2008
#45 Jimbo said . . .i promise, boys. i shall remedy the coverage issue next summer.
August 14, 2008
#46 The pessimist said . . .After watching Roy's latest video i am getting more excited about our running game. Did you see Jones run over that linebacker (maybe briggs, couldn't tell). If Jones is ready to go by week 1... our running game could very well be awesome. A 1-2 punch of Jones and Forte could really do some damage. A lack of a running game killed us last year. If we can move the chains on the ground, we can start the play action bombs, passing on 1st down, and really hurt people with the two TE formations.
Not to mention having a solid running game takes pressure off the line, and off the QB. Personally, i think the difference between being a 10ish win team and a 5ish win team will depend alot on how well we run the ball.
Eat up the clock. Tire out THEIR defense. Then play action bomb to hester/bradley on occasion. Score 21-24 pts a game. Kill 'em with D and special teams. Win the division.
August 14, 2008
Get ready for a fun-filled 3-13 season. With the first pick of the 2009 draft, the Chicago Bears select.......
August 15, 2008
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.