It’s difficult in the internet age to take a step back from a single game performance and see it as just a single game performance. Last week Kyle Orton handled the offense well. This week he stinks. Last week Ron Turner called the offense with pitch-perfection. This week he needs to be fired. It’s all silly fodder for sites like these and talk-radio blowhards to digest while the actual football team moves on to the next week. But since the day-to-day debate keeps me in business, I’ll keep my complaints to a minimum and instead interject a little old-fashioned hold-your-horses.
The Bears have opened with what is inarguably the most difficult two-game stretch of their season and if you ask me, this was the perfect way to gauge the 2008 version of the club. Should they be 2-0? Absolutely. But considering the doomsday prognostications rampant in the Chicago press and on the lips of fans this summer, the Bears have promisingly shown they're more-than-capable of returning to the 2006 formula which put this team four quarters away from winning a world championship. They’ve also shown that the fatal flaws of XLI have not been extinguished; simply delayed.
And one thing to remember about the NFL: the team in September is rarely the team in the postseason. Look no further than last season’s Patriots and Giants. Look at us in 2006. As the Bears enter the second part of their seven-part season, here’s what I’ll be watching the next two weeks in front of the home Soldier Field crowd on both sides of the ball.
Offense:
The Rise of Matt Forte
The first viable young offensive star to be drafted by the Chicago Bears since Neal Anderson, Forte has electrified a thought-to-be dormant rush attack. If the team is to make a significant postseason run, it’s going to be on Forte’s young shoulders and its imperative that Lovie keep some tread off by continuing to hand the ball to Kevin Jones.
A Receiver on the Other Side
If it’s going to be Devin Hester, I wonder when. Otherwise the Bears need to find a way to get 100 catches out of the combination of Marty Booker, Rash Davis and whoever the hell else they lineup opposite Lloyd.
Greg Olsen’s Ball Protection
Don’t fumble. Anymore. Ever.
Kyle Orton’s Interception/Touchdown Ratio
Maybe it is due to defensive errors but we’re not going to start looking for reasons why our quarterback isn’t throwing interceptions. Orton hasn’t scared either opponent with his arm but looking at the second half against the Panthers, it’s become evident that defensive backs seem to know where he’s throwing the ball. He looks most confident when he’s not sitting in the pocket, surveying the field but instead operating the short-passing Ron Turner offense in a dink-and-dunk fashion.
John St. Clair
Dwight Freeney and Julius Peppers to open the season and he’s held his own, even dropping Peppers to the turf. If this continues the question may be whether or not the Bears want to risk their all-important continuity on the line by replacing him with Chris Williams when he’s fully healed.
Defense:
Charles Tillman, Adewale Ogunleye
Along with Forte, they’ve been the two best players on the team over the first two weeks.
Run Defense
They’ve played three great halves. But Jonathan Stewart over-powered all eleven guys and re-awoke the tackling and stamina issues of 2007.
Kevin Payne’s Development
He looked great in the first half against the Panthers, primarily against the run. But you can bet that teams will attack him through the air as the season goes on a la Delhomme-to-King. That starts Sunday with Jon Gruden but it’ll be full stride with Andy Reid. The starting safety spot has been a crap turnstile for the past few years. Payne can solidify it in the next few weeks.
Mike Brown’s Health
So far, so good.
We're just not going to let David Haugh get away with it all season. And by "it" I mean bullshit. His column about Brian Griese contains the line: "Griese became an NFL survivor only after he developed into a downfield passer." Now I understand there's nothing to write about on Tuesdays but this statement simply holds no fact. Griese's best year as a down field passer was his best year as a football player: 2000. Averaged 8 yards per play (highest in his career). 19 TDs to 4 INTS. The notion that his development of the deep ball has strengthened his journeyman status is simply a fabrication used to support a misguided thesis.
As for "Griese keeps getting jobs"? He got booted out of Denver because he kept "falling in the driveway." Lasted five games in Miami. Couldn't keep the job here. Only Jon Gruden seems to know what to do with him. Jon Gruden won a Super Bowl with Brad Johnson and made Rich Gannon a Pro Bowler. Griese keeps getting jobs for the same reason Vinny Testaverde can't take a winter with his kids on Long Island: the quarterback situation in the NFL is abysmal. Let's not make this guy out to be some lesson for kids everywhere.
#2 animal said . . .Way to focus on the positive!!!
(FIRST)September 16, 2008
#3 animal said . . .Way to focus on the positive!!!
(FIRST)September 16, 2008
#4 Luke said . . .first.
Great analysis Jeff. I agree with most of your assessment.
Im ecstatic about Forte, and St. Clair is still waiting for his apology from the asshole media.
There is work to do, but they have given us optimism and hope when some predicted nothing but doom and gloom.September 16, 2008
#5 Luke said . . .I love the Chi-Town Bears!!!!!!!!!
September 16, 2008
#6 Joseph said . . .And have faith in them as well.
Make the right decisions fellas.Don't let people like us tell you how to play football.
Get us to XLIII and let's fuck shit up(for the other team, obviously).
September 16, 2008
#7 Z said . . .I can't even watch this Monday Night Game! Is anybody watching this? Ron Turner...are you watching this?
Thats how you run an offense! RT, copy down everything you see from these two teams and use it on Sunday! What do you have to lose?
Keep playing conservative and watch your playoff hopes go down the drain! Play aggressive and hey...mybe you will keep your job at the end of the year.
September 16, 2008
#8 Viva said . . .Jeff the calming voice of reason.
Yes things are going a lot better than I had hoped they would after the last preseason game. I have a lot more confidence in the Bears and their potential to make the playoffs than I did a few weeks ago. When it became known Williams would be out a long time, I got real nervous and down and angry. I am way more hopeful we should be in every game and kick several teams ass.
What pisses me off so much is that we are bitching about the same few problems again and again. RT, QB, S, tackling, penalties and having WR's step up and catch the ball.
When so many are playing above expectations of what most of us thought they would, how did JA not make dramatic improvements in at least a few of those areas. Signing our own counts for a lot but St. Clair, Beekman, Booker, Lloyd, Davis, Bradley and all the other WR's, Jones, Forte, the Mannings, McGowan, Payne. These were all question marks. We are very fortunate that many of them have stepped up so much. Shit I was even worried about how much #23 was going to be expected to carry the O and whether we might be thin at DT.
Things are going well but I don't think we should let JA or the coaches feet off the fire too soon.
1-1 on the road against these two teams is good but the NFL is very unforgiving of wasted opportunities and 1 game is a really big deal when so few teams make the playoffs by such thin margins.
I really think 9-5 or 10-4 the rest of the way can happen.
Go Bears!!!!
September 16, 2008
#9 Al In WI said . . .Offense
I concur, with the addition of Josh Beekman, who has also exceeded expectations.
Defense
Also concur, with a shout out to DD and Marcus Harrison. (This draft looks solid)
Coaching Staff - focusing solely on the positive, I think Babich and Taub have done very well.
September 16, 2008
#10 NY Bears Fan said . . .I would have to agree that looking at the schedule at the begining of the season most of us would have been happy with 1-1 to start the season. That still doesn't excuse yesterday's blown opportunity.
I love the comparison to Neal Anderson for Forte. If he is somewhere in-between Anderson and Anthony Thomas the Bears have the steal of the draft. As it is, he's almost there already.
I thought I'd pass along an interesting blog from Hub Arkush. In it he defends Turner and takes some real negative shots at the Bears personel that I don't always agree with. But he also offers some solid inside takes worth considering. Especially when looking at Orton's play during crunch time. Notably that factoring in the intentional grounding call he was 1 for 6 for -4 yards the last two drives. And over all he was 4-12 for 12 yards in the fourth quarter.
http://www.670thescore.com/Bears-Blog/2942927September 16, 2008
#11 jeff said . . .The touch that McNabb and Romo are putting on the balls down the field is pretty amazing. The pass right before half to Witten down the middle was right on the money as well as several other bombs during the game. The Bears need to be able to capitalize on down field passing. Until they can teams will stack the box and make us throw it.
September 16, 2008
#12 Brian in Sec 430 Row 25 said . . .this is the worst secondary play i've seen in years.
September 16, 2008
#13 Brian in Sec 430 Row 25 said . . .We need to open up the passing game a bit. I am not suggesting we will look like Dallas or Denver just because we want too but I do think we have potential to go down the field this year that we did not have last year. The reason is simple, Matt Forte is demanding attention from LB's and Safeties. Play action with Cedric Benson was useless, but with Forte averging 4+yds per carry, the safities and LB's have to at least pause for a moment...that is when Brandon Lloyd sneaks past em and makes a big play. The problem is that Kyle seems too look short first, and long never. One other advantage of throwing deep is the possibility of a pass interference penalty....the zebras seem to be flag happy this year, might as well take advantage of it.
One other thing...someone mentioned it last week.....does Kyle have a "tell"? On passing plays you can see the linebackers signaling to eachother that it is a pass before the snap....there is something there that needs to be fixed.
The best way to explain KO's performance in the 2nd half is that he took a game we should have won and turned it into a loss.....when the fuck am I going to get a QB that turns a loss into a win?
September 16, 2008
#14 said . . .We need to open up the passing game a bit. I am not suggesting we will look like Dallas or Denver just because we want too but I do think we have potential to go down the field this year that we did not have last year. The reason is simple, Matt Forte is demanding attention from LB's and Safeties. Play action with Cedric Benson was useless, but with Forte averging 4+yds per carry, the safities and LB's have to at least pause for a moment...that is when Brandon Lloyd sneaks past em and makes a big play. The problem is that Kyle seems too look short first, and long never. One other advantage of throwing deep is the possibility of a pass interference penalty....the zebras seem to be flag happy this year, might as well take advantage of it.
One other thing...someone mentioned it last week.....does Kyle have a "tell"? On passing plays you can see the linebackers signaling to eachother that it is a pass before the snap....there is something there that needs to be fixed.
The best way to explain KO's performance in the 2nd half is that he took a game we should have won and turned it into a loss.....when the fuck am I going to get a QB that turns a loss into a win?
September 16, 2008
#15 Crown said . . .We need to open up the passing game a bit. I am not suggesting we will look like Dallas or Denver just because we want too but I do think we have potential to go down the field this year that we did not have last year. The reason is simple, Matt Forte is demanding attention from LB's and Safeties. Play action with Cedric Benson was useless, but with Forte averging 4+yds per carry, the safities and LB's have to at least pause for a moment...that is when Brandon Lloyd sneaks past em and makes a big play. The problem is that Kyle seems too look short first, and long never. One other advantage of throwing deep is the possibility of a pass interference penalty....the zebras seem to be flag happy this year, might as well take advantage of it.
One other thing...someone mentioned it last week.....does Kyle have a "tell"? On passing plays you can see the linebackers signaling to eachother that it is a pass before the snap....there is something there that needs to be fixed.
The best way to explain KO's performance in the 2nd half is that he took a game we should have won and turned it into a loss.....when the fuck am I going to get a QB that turns a loss into a win?
September 16, 2008
#16 Brian in Sec 430 Row 25 said . . .More positive points:
1) Marcus Harrison's motor he showed week one
2) DD healthy and playing solid in the trenches
3) The developing relationship between KO and Lloyd
4) Israel Idonije's play and freak athleticism
5) Beekman
6) Briggs hitting and playing hard even though he just got paid
September 16, 2008
#17 Joist said . . .sorry guys...using my wife's mac and it basically sucks....that was Da Bears Blog version of fumbling twice in one game.
Oh..here is my wife now "I am sure Brian has never done that before and I am sure he will never do it again"
September 16, 2008
#18 wherestommie? said . . .I missed the game because I had to work, and from everybody's comments it sounds like it's a good thing that I did.
My guess is that the reason they won't open up the passing game is because they simply can't afford to have Orton throw INTs. As long as he keeps throwing up these "14-25, 140 yds, 0 TD, 0 INT" lines, he's not going anywhere. All will hail him as a "game manager", and the onus will fall to the D and ST to win the game. If he starts having Rex Games, and his confidence wavers, everybody's fucked and the Bears management will look like retards for choosing the Rex with no arm.
Man I wish the Eagles had retardified and traded McNabb. How good would he look in a Bears uniform right now?
September 16, 2008
#19 Luke said . . .just HAD to mention brownie. now i'm paranoid.
September 16, 2008
#20 Phil from SATX said . . .I'm just glad we probably won't be seeing any posts titled, "Quest for the #1 Draft Pick"
Let's win some football games.
We should be able to put a hurtin' on Mr. Griese if we can shut down the run early.
But KO, this is a type of D that WILL create turnovers on stupid throws and will take advantage of your inaccuracy. Watch out. It should be a helluva football game.
Prediction: Griese sacked 4 times with two picks. One to Tillman, one to #30.
September 16, 2008
#21 It's Reality Calling on Line 1 said . . .Kyle needs to fully participate in his own improvement. Can he do it? I wondered the same thing about Rex, and ultimately Rex let me down in this category. These guys aren't the same people, although they happen to be coached by the same people.
We'll have to see. Kyle's inching up to having a similar number of games under center as Rex. Very interesting commentary about Romo last night - he obviously has improved himself - that quick slow quick stuff - he's obviously brought it to his game, because he wasn't playing that way so much in his first year.
I do think there has been some hyperbole here about the throws Kyle can or cannot make. Saying he can't complete a pass over 10 yards is ridiculous. I also disagree with the fact that you absolutely, positively have to be able to complete long balls in order to win. Didn't Indy beat us in the Superbowl without long passes (I realize Manning is fully capable of completing one, and no I'm not comparing Kyle with Peyton).
But you do have to complete medium range passes, and it is these that RT seems to have a great deal of difficulty in drawing up. And you also have to keep the D off balance in run and pass. Why RT was able to do that for 3 halves and not for the last half is beyond me - I do believe the man does choke under pressure. Maybe it's scripted vs. non-scripted. I don't know.
What I do know is I witnessed two real offensive coordinators last night. How about some of the Philly formations? Looks like it comes from another planet compared to the stuff we're trotting out there. I also witnessed utter secondary failure, apparently both these teams' weaknesses. Also poor kick coverage.
Give Kyle a chance here, let him show he's better than his former teammate next game. The schedule's shaping up to be harder than it first looked (surprise surprise) but if the team keeps playing hard like this, and if RT gets a freaking clue, we're going to be in all of these ball games at a minimum and hoping winning a bunch of them.
I'll say it again - next one's on RT.
September 16, 2008
#22 Joseph said . . .For the imbeciles on this website who want Ron Turner to start copying the Eagles/Cowboys offensive playbook, the reason that the Cowboys and the Eagles can run the offenses they do is because they have the personnel to do it. McNabb has had roughly 5 seconds to throw the ball against one of the toughest D lines in the league. As good as the Bears O line has (over-)played, they can't afford either Orton or Rex that much time in the pocket.
The reason Romo can chuck it down the field is because he has either Barber or Felix looking to break off 10-15 yards down to draw in the LBs. Forte's impressed us all so far, but I think we can all agree that he's no Marion Barber or Westbrook...yet.
As well as Brandon Lloyd has played, I think we can all agree he's no TO. He's never going to require a CB and a safety tuned in to his every move.
Yelling at Turner to just throw his game plan in the air and start chucking it down the field just because the Eagles and the Cowboys are doing it is assenine. Stop being so dense. Turner is working with what he has: a stud rookie RB, a makeshift (and over-achieving line), band-aid WRs (no TO to draw safety help), and QBs who either can't throw the deep pass or fumble every 4th snap from center then trip over their feet running backwards from the pocket.
Changing the QB (Al in WI) is not going to change any of this, stop obsessing about it.
That being said, I highly doubt that Ron Turner is the first in line at the annual Mensa convention.
September 16, 2008
#23 jdawg said . . .So # 21...your o.k with Orton throwing for 150 yards a game and 0 touchdowns? Well i'm not! The next thing your gonna say is...well he has zero interceptions. This is true but we won't compete in this league with those #'s!
O.K so we don't have T.O...who do the Eagles have?!! Desean Jackson...a rookie! Who else? Besides T.O who do the Cowboys have? Witten. Dez Clark and Olsen are just as good!
I like what we have at WR. We have guys with good hands and speed...most of the time! Lloyd, Davis, HESTER, Bradly, Booker, C'mon these guys all have talent!
September 16, 2008
#24 Pissed Off said . . .My hope is Orton improves. To me, and I could be wrong, he changed too many plays at the line against the Panthers. They seemed to know what play he was changing to.
Also, he seemed to get too jumpy in the 2nd half.
Fingers crossed -- maybe the game starts to slow down for him. Let's give him a little time to improve.
September 16, 2008
#25 jdawg said . . .Whoever this idiot is : I Don't Let a little Thing like Numbers Get in the Way....from last post. You said Rex had 3 TDs and 5INTs....well apparently you do let stats get in the way you dumbass....he had 1 INT so if you're going to try and post stuff get your facts straight. Debating is not a problem but if you dont know shit dont say anything. And just watch the games, dont just point out stats for your info.
Jeff, good addendum there. There is officially nothing to write about on Tuesdays I guess.
Good response to Brain, Joist. There is no way we can open up the pass game and its not like they didnt try. Orton was 1-9 on passes over 15 yards. It just isnt goint to work. If Orton is the QB we need to have short passes and try to keep intermediate stuff open with a good run game. This offense is just teetering.....it could succeed (14-17 pts per game if thats succeeding) in the right situation or it could be....well....last week. Either way the D or ST needs to score once per week and create turnovers so we have a short field.
And jdawg...yeah...lets just keep our fingers crossed. Thats the best game plan we have right now?...fucking sad.
September 16, 2008
#26 Phil from SATX said . . .I prefer my fingers crossed that Orton improves as opposed to the alternate.
September 16, 2008
#27 Crown said . . .Not that it helps, but... I was impressed like never before watching Marion Barber last night. They kept calling him a beast, which is the right word, but somehow still understates how beastly he is. The dude is a low-center of gravity vicious animal out there. Kudos to Cowboys for recognizing which RB to pay the big bucks to, and also in paying more big bucks to another in the form of a 1st rounder - F. Jones looks really good too.
I also had no idea the Eagles could trot out that kind of offense - made me feel pretty inadequate when I was comparing our offense to theirs... until I remembered that the game is about balance, and not just about explosive offenses. If we can rely on the continuation of our running game, we have balance.
I hated that I had to stay up late, only to watch the Cowboys win. But as somebody said on the radio today, that win signified nothing to real Cowboy fans, they always start fast and finish ugly. We also learned something else about Romo - he may have small hands too. Seems to lose the ball a lot, and does silly things when under severe pressure. But again, he seems to have the ability to improve in the offseason.
I continually have to explain to my wife why I hate the Cowboys so much - she thinks it's bad form to hate them so much when we are surrounded by Cowboys fans, and thinks that I'm just being mean-spirited for fun. The truth is, I've hated them ever since Jerrah got rid of Johnson and embraced the Michael Irvin pimp-style and the whole character thing that came from that. And now I hate them worse, for having no scruples about taking every talented player that every other team disciplines and thus loading their team. I don't care whether they behave or not once they come to Dallas - I care that no one holds them to a character standard that other cities require. Guess what - that's Dallas. Big on flash, big on cash, big on artificially buxom second wives and broken families, not much on character.
The Eagles, on the other hand, are hard not to like (maybe not their fans but their team).
If we get out of that game with a win I'll be very proud of our boys.
Jeff, nice cut on Haugh, didn't need to read the article, your commentary was enough. How anyone could promote Griese after seeing the ups and downs he gave us due to his too-weak arm is beyond me. If anyone knows why you'd never want to go there again, it's Bear fans who lived through the debacle that was 2007.
September 16, 2008
#28 Oaktown34luv said . . .Let KO play and develop. Give him the playing time Rex has had and do not judge him by his rookie year. We have had 2 of our toughest games on the road to start the season. 1-1 ain't bad. Who would have thunk it after our pre-season. I blame the fact that Orton had an option to change that 3 and 1 at the end of a game to a pass on Ron Turner. Turner's ineptness falls directly on Lovie. There should have been no way that Orton (nor any other QB on this team) should have been given that leeway at such a critical spot. This situation should have been practiced thoroughly in the off-season. Pissed Off has a super man tattoo on his arm with the #8 in the middle of it. You must be related to Grossman because you don't even seem happy when we win as long as Rex is not playing. You seem more adamant about proving your point that Rex is better than getting back to the playoffs and superbowl. That is why I attack you, because you are Rex's sister and not a real Bears fan. And, because you are wrong. Hanie should be number two.
September 16, 2008
#29 animal said . . .It appears evident that opposing defenses have a 'book' on Rex . Blitz Rex and the pressure will cause him to do bad things, (sack, fumble, INT, etc.). For some reason opposing defenses have not tried to blitz Kyle as often as they blitz Rex even though the O-line is still the same. I haven't seen Kyle burn a blitz for a big gain on a regular basis, therefore causing the opposing DC to reconsider blitzing him. So I wonder why Kyle gets a pass on the blitzing? I think it’s Rex's reputation around the league (that he panics under pressure), that is causing the extra blitzing, not Kyle’s ability to handle the blitz. We should stick with Kyle in spite of his other shortcomings, because Kyle, so far at least, has some measure of 'respect' from the other team's DC’s thus preventing jailbreaks from being called against our over achieving O-line all the time.
September 16, 2008
#30 PANKSTER LOYAL LIFELONG BEARS FAN IN NC said . . .Is anyone else frustrated at seeing how awesome Eddie Royal has been for the Broncos, while our young WR is inactive? I know that has more to do with Cutler and the offense than the talent, but still...
Speaking of which- the idea that we could simply be more like Dallas or Philly is stupid. We don't have the QB or the weapons they do, not by a long shot. They can do those things, Denver also, because they have top-flight QBs who can sling it all over the field and big-time weapons like TO, Westbrook, etc. The closest we came was Rex, but with the slinging came the turnovers... he was not on that level.
I actually think the approach we take is pretty fitting to the talent we have. I would love to see Olsen, Hester and Lloyd (any one of them or combo) develop into similar big-time weapons. If so maybe we could open it up, or maybe Kyle would still be too limited.September 16, 2008
#31 animal said . . .WAS AT THE GAME SUNDAY AND BELIEVE ME BANK OF AMERICA WAS QUIET AS HELL FOR 3 QUARTERS AND THE AMOUNT OF BEARS FANS I SEEN WAS CRAZY!!!BUT WHAT I WANNA SAY IS THIS RT AND LOVIE NEED TO BURY ANY OPPONENT THAT WE HAVE DOWN ESPECIALLY ON THE DAMN ROAD IN THE DAMN 95 DEGREE HEAT,PAID MY DEBTS TO THESE REDNECKS NOW LETS RING GREISE'S NECK ON SUNDAY BEAR DOWN CHICAGO BEAR BEAR DOWN!!!!
September 16, 2008
#32 Pissed Off said . . .PHIL- I have Barber on my fantasy team. I sat him due to the rib injury and the emergence of Jones. Bad idea. That dude is awesome, and I that is the last time I sit him. I had a terrible fantasy week, including leaving Rivers on my bench for the shootout with Denver, starting Cassell instead... kick me please. Im now 0-2. My wife joined the league this year and is 2-0.
Also Phil, thanks for explaining why I hate the CokeBoys with a passion.
I realize I repeated the points in post #21.
#22- who else do the Eagles have? Uh... Brian Westbrook is the 2nd or 3rd best all around back in the league.September 16, 2008
#33 animal said . . .Crown, terrific commentary. I'm glad we have someone as astute and knowledgable as you to post here. Touche. Did you write that out in crayon yourself before your mommy posted it for you. Telling me I'm wrong is strictly your opinion.....and from what I've seen...its not a credible one anyway.
I want this team to get to the playoffs and with Orton, it's highly unlikely, but possible. However with him against good playoff teams, we'll be ousted in the first round, we need someone under center who has the capability to throw more than 5 yards downfield accurately. Do you think we would have won ANY playoff games in 2006 (VS Seacocks especially) with Orton...NO WAY IN HELL. And I dont know why you dis me for liking Rex....your farther to the extreme with your constant humping of Orton...way more than my belief in Rex. Are you his sister? And this whole situation has nothing to do with Rex. He's just the guy on the bench next in line. And it takes a true FWF like you to say that Hanie should be our #2 at this point in his career and our season. You have zero credibility to me based on that statement. This is about Kyle sucking and not being able to get it done. Consistently completing 50% of your passes with NO TDS and NO INTS wont win you a super bowl and thats what I'm interested in. You can have your regular season but if you get into the playoffs you're going to be sorry Ortons your QB. Keep him in there, you'll have some decent moments and some shitty ones. At this point there isnt one aspect of his game to hang your hat on. At least the alternative offers SOMETHING.
September 16, 2008
#34 RandomName said . . .OK, one more thing and Ill go away.
Matt "The Future" Forte has 215 yards rushing, averaging 4.7 ypc.
You can stop pinching yourself, that is real.
Will KO throw a TD pass this week? Im putting odds on a KO to McKie TD on the goal line. It seems the talk about making McKie a bigger part of the offense wasn't bullshit after all.
We moved to #15 in the power rankings. Good reality check "There's no shame in losing at Carolina on a 100-degree day. The Bears' defense, at least, is for real."
That's ESPN being easier on our boys then some fans around here.
September 16, 2008
#35 Joseph said . . .ok we lost, but the good news is we dont have that idiot Desean jackson on the team . HAHAHAHA
this turns out to be twice he celebrated prematurely once in college now the NFL in fact if a Dallas Cowboy picked it up and started running they could possibly have made it pass the 50 yr line with all the celebration going on and i would still be laughing about it right now.
Go bears!
Kyle Orton and Greg Olsen let game2 be a learned lesson and whoever 44 is, stop blocking in the back when devin hester is uninjured and has the ball.
Kyle work on connecting the deep ball better and Greg hold the hell on to the ball.
l8r
September 16, 2008
#36 mikebdot said . . .animal...we have Forte!
This guy in my opinion...can be better that Westbrook! Mybe not as shifty but Forte has that homerun ability everytime he touches the ball!
Westbrook is short and compact Forte is taller but has ball catching skills! So again...who do the Eagles have that the Bears don't?
O.K...O.K the obvious answer is McNabb. But still...I just can't take this offense anymore! Something better change this week or this message board is gonna get lit up after the game!
September 16, 2008
#37 Crown said . . .Ok, I didn't watch the game and all, but why are you all comparing KO to Grossman? Seriously. Why not compare him to, I don't know, the opposition? Delhomme was 12/21 for 128, 0 TDs, and 1 INT.
What the fuck am I missing?
It doesn't take a genius to figure out who to blame here just looking at the numbers. Olsen holds the entire responsibility for the loss.
Anyone know if it was windy? Just wondering...since I know for an absolute fact a hurricane can cause major wind damage 100s of miles away, like when it rips off 1/3 of your tree and makes it land on the power line...
September 16, 2008
#38 mikebdot said . . .PO:
I'm the one with the crayon and mommy?
"However with him against good playoff teams, we'll be ousted in the first round, we need someone under center who has the capability to throw more than five yards down the field accurately."
Coherent analysis and a very well written fragmented and run-on sentence. Someone needs to get you hooked back on your Phonics books.
I predict Kyle has 2 throwing TDs this week and close to two hundred yards.
Orton has completed 60% of his passes and not 50%.
What about the 20+ yard throws to Olsen and Dez last week. If Booker wasn't so slow and old balls, he could have made a play on that 30 yard throw. The throw was probably 3 yards too long, but a WR with average speed in this league could have made a play on that ball. Let's also not forget the drops by Davis as well as other receivers.
Should we cut Orton after 2 games?
Stop wearing your over sized Rex jersey as a nighty.I'm the fair weather fan? You want Orton out after arguably our two most difficult games where we fared 1-1? Try some patience on for size.
The alternative offers inconsistency, interceptions, sacks due to being one of the most immobile QBs in the league, and a team that has no confidence in their QB.
September 16, 2008
#39 said . . .Also, looking at the raw data, reason to be optimistic? 6/15 on 3rd down is actually very good for us. 40% is a good number to shoot for.
September 16, 2008
#40 jeff said . . ."Keep him in there, you'll have some decent moments and some shitty ones."
Good stuff.
September 16, 2008
#41 Crown said . . .two things:
1. i won't allow this site to become either anti-crayons or anti-mothers. i happen to be a fan of both.
2. the national media is giving the bears a resounding pass for sunday - most saying that the weather just wore the players down.
September 16, 2008
#42 Luke said . . .Respect Jeff. I really value your analysis. Your commentary is always well-written and relevant. Thank you. I am pro crayons and mothers as well.
September 16, 2008
#43 RandomName said . . .Although I do think Rex would put more points on the board, right now I respect the KO decision at QB and think he will improve. I don't think he's gonna be great but consistency for this team is key. He has some work to do, but he seems to be a very hard worker and hopefully it pays off for him...and us.
I predict next week he will get his first TD throw. We need to attack their rookie CB with Bradley and Lloyd and hope we get LBs on our TEs all day. This is an aggressive but aging D we're gonna be playing so if Hester is in we should attack deep with our TEs scaring their safties underneath. There are so many ways this offense can improve. Let's just hope they know how to do it.
BEAR DOWN, Gentlemen. BEAR DOWN!!
September 16, 2008
#44 jeff said . . .With all due respect Jeff I know you too are seeing the brighter side of things and weather just aint gonna cut it. Weather wasnt what stopped the bears, they did a terrific job anticipating the heat and they showed no visiting team weakness in fatigue as far as i could tell. great job to the hydration staff.
I dont care about the media's kudos, i care about the w-l record. you don't lose games that you're supposed to win.
this is football not baseball 16 vs 160+ games. Every game counts just not the ones at the end.
And I hope LaidBack Lovie Delivers that message across to his players. One mistake is expected but count the penalties and turnovers and add them up and decrease it by 2/3rds
September 16, 2008
#45 Urlacher FTW said . . .random name, that opinion was not mine.
September 16, 2008
#46 Mr.Biggz said . . .Pissed Off.. you do make a valid point, there will come a time when KO is going to have to learn to throw a touch pass down the field, Grossman can throw those like noone else imho. However, most of the play after play intangibles, Grossman lacks - bad footwork, holds the ball poorly, has no "sense" for pressure either pre-snap or feel for it, and makes poor decisions. Also look at attempts per game by anyone of long ball vs short and medium passes. You do need the ability to throw the long ball but you have to have the ability to throw the screen, the dump, and the mid range passes.
As far as pressure not being as bad on Orton, we will see against the Eagles.. Some of it has to do with how different Orton plays, he can throw a screen pass, he normally holds the ball less than 3 secs, he makes pre-snap reads (not saying he should audible so much), he is just a different QB.
All Orton has to do is get timing down and get more touch on his long ball, more likely to develop than everything Grossman lacks. The other day I was just wishing we had Jim Miller back to run this offense, but really if he can get his long ball down maybe we do.September 16, 2008
#47 RandomName said . . .Wassup People.
Alrite Once again Kyle Orton Sucks Dick! He is what he is and its exactly what we all have expected him to be. Thats right, (Game Manager). With the stats he's putting up, he's on a roll to be replaced by REX Grossman baby! I'm hoping he'll learn to throw the deep ball with alittle more accuracy but you can't teach a dog old tricks, and for one Kyle will never learn to throw deep accurately, like I said before he is what he is. I feel disgusted knowing this punk robbed REx Grossman for the starting job. If anyone have seen "Roys" youtube feeds of the pre-season, they know that Orton has been struggling a lot throwing to the sides and deep. RX on the other hand, dammm.. he was impressive and all thought he'll get it, but at the end the fuckers on the Bears Management wanted to give Orton a shot. Well people there you have it, Chuck-Down-Charlie-Orton!
Can't wait to see the Bears crowd boooo him off the field, if he fucks up at home against Tampa Bay.September 16, 2008
#48 Phil from SATX said . . .I wasnt mad at you just the statement itself, And I just wanted to address it.
September 16, 2008
#49 RandomName said . . .Burnt Sienna was always my favorite Crayola. Perhaps it was a premonition of my later affiliation with the Longhorns.
However, once again, it did NOT have anything to do with the Chicago Bears, who are, simply, navy and ORANGE. (just thought I'd bring it up again since Jeff mentioned crayons)
Hard to imagine that we're being harder on our team than the national media - what a change of condition that is! I think that's definitely a sign that we need to lighten up a little bit. This season has started much better than we could have reason to expect after 2007 and this somewhat tumultuous off-season (tumultuous both in what did happen and what didn't).
It is a certainty that Kyle Orton will be game-planned against, much in the same way Rex was after his initial burst of success in the first several games. It may have already started occurring with Carolina. We'll just have to watch and see whether he can stay one step ahead of the game planning.
Oaktown, there's two elements to game-planning against QBs (I think I know this because John Madden told me) - you try to minimize the situations where they excel and maximize the situations where they blow up. The book on Rex was not just that if you blitz him he'll blow up - it also included if you don't blitz him he'll light you up and you'll lose.
The lack of blitzing on Kyle may have to do with how to maximize his negatives while limiting his positives - if they doubt his accuracy, they may want to give him time to throw while putting the extra men into coverage, thinking that they'll have a chance for a pick. So far it hasn't been working - but what did work was baiting him into audibling. Kyle and Pep have one week to work on that - because the Bucs will be doing the same thing.
I was happy to learn that RT was calling the right plays and Kyle was audibling out of them - that is definitely something that RT can and will fix this week. And before everyone goes crazy killing RT and Lovie for not piling on at the end of the half, remember that there is a game plan for this team for winning - get a lead, win TOP with running game, win the field position game because of special teams, make no mistakes on offense that lead to opponent points, limit the opponents' points with our great D. It IS the right game plan for this team.
For his part, Kyle has been very good at executing that plan. GO pooped his bed which is why we lost. In addition, those 3 blocking in back penalties on returns had a HUGE impact on the game as well, because we're supposed to consistently win the field position game, and we lost it due to three stupid penalties, two unfortunately by B. McGowan (who I still like, but man oh man, FIX THAT SHIT!).
This is maybe part of the price we're paying on changing some personnel on special teams, maybe it was just dumb plays by individuals, but take away mistakes by GO, McGowan and D. Manning and we EASILY win that game. And nothing in that sentence said anything about Orton, therefore he should not be discussed as the reason for the loss.
September 16, 2008
#50 marc said . . .Oh yeah i have a suggestion if our Tight End Olson doesnt keep the ball, I say we put in our rookie Kellen Davis I think he had a great catch or two in the preseason.
I'm a supporter Olson and think he'll do better with tampa
September 16, 2008
#51 Rex to Pissed Off said . . .IM just pissed off that the COACHES were calling plays like PUSSY'S....and GREG OLSEN gave away 10 points...but hey we cant win them all....GO BEARS!!!!
September 16, 2008
#52 Bear Fan In Minnesota said . . .Stop using red lipstick when kissing my ass, it's leaving marks and the wifey will wonder.
Also, I think you've grown out of the boys' size #8 jersey, it might be time to move you up to a Men's M.
Finally, I think it's time for some anger management. I can almost feel YOUR blood pressure through the internets.
ps- Phil I love you, you're one of the sane people here, Crown you're hilarious, Joseph lay off the cool-aid (Forte is nowhere near Westbrook).
September 17, 2008
#53 JP said . . .Any debate in Chicago over the current QB's is a joke. I honestly don't see how anyone can watch two QB's like Romo and McNabb and believe that Chicago can somehow have that type of offense.
Chicago does not have a Pro-Bowl QB on the roster now and it hasn't had one for years. I doubt whether they will ever have one as long as the powers that be are in charge. Players have skill limits. The Bears QB have shown theres. It is what it is and the sooner we get over this debate the better.
September 17, 2008
#54 Rex to Pissed Off said . . .ps...
Ron Turner sucks! And that won't change either.
September 17, 2008
#55 Joseph said . . .Stop using red lipstick when kissing my ass, it's leaving marks and the wifey will wonder.
Also, I think you've grown out of the boys' size #8 jersey, it might be time to move you up to a Men's M.
Finally, I think it's time for some anger management. I can almost feel YOUR blood pressure through the internets.
ps- Phil I love you, you're one of the sane people here, Crown you're hilarious, Joseph lay off the cool-aid (Forte is nowhere near Westbrook).
September 17, 2008
In 2 games in I like what I see! Westbrook only went over a 1000 yard in '06 and '07. 1200 and 1300. His total yards is whats impressive! I think Forte with his hands can easily average 1500 total yards a season! If we can run a screen properly!
September 17, 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.