Well I haven't been so worthless to start the 2008 season. This is what I wrote last week:
Note on Kyle Orton (not that I don't know what it'll lead to): I was as upset as anybody with his inability to strike downfield against Carolina but I’m not willing to throw him to the dogs just yet. Overall Jake Delhomme made one more throw than he did Sunday and that's a seasoned veteran. Let's give the kid time to develop.
YOUR 2008 CHICAGO BEARS -3 over Tampa Bay
I haven’t been impressed with the Bucs on either side of the ball in the early goings (though admittedly I saw only fragments of their second game).
Offensively, especially without Joey Galloway, the Bucs will not be able to take the Bears corners deep and shouldn’t try. Look for Gruden and Griese to go after the center of the defense (the hole in the Lovie Deuce) and try to exploit mismatches with Smith and Gilmore against Hunter and Payne. If that's covered, Griese will be forced to stay in the pocket longer than he wants. Sacks. Interceptions. You know. Griese.
The Bucs defense hasn’t allowed a hundred yard rusher through two weeks but that doesn’t mean they’ve been dominant against the run - actually ranking 15th currently and allowing over a hundred yards a game (20 more than the Bears). Matt Forte makes his debut in front of the home fans and expect it to be a good one.
Quick points:
-----John St. Clair won't have an easy time with Gaines Adams (currently battling a rib injury) but it'll certainly be a step down from Freeney and Peppers.
-----Devin Hester expects to play and Jon Gruden expects to avoid him at all costs.
-----Last week’s wrong prediction was that Forte would gain more yards in the air than on the ground. This week’s: two sacks from Alex Brown against left tackle Donald Penn and a forced fumble.
-----Kyle Orton’s line: 19-28, 188 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT
This might not be a must-win in the conventional sense but a loss at home to Brian Griese Sunday would all-but take the air out of the 2008 season balloon - especially with the Eagles coming to town in primetime the following week. The Bears must play angry on the defensive side of the ball and aggressive on the offensive side. While a lot of media types expect the Bears offense to scale it back, I expect the opposite. Orton won't develop as a downfield passer unless he's given ample opportunities to pass downfield. I say take shots early and often.
Bears 24, Bucs 10
And after a 6-1-1 start to the season (I go by the line I put on the site), I attack the rest of the third week with vigor. Only Josie Woods newbie Zach is has made it through to the postseason with a 4-0 in the first week.
Cleveland +2 over BALTIMORE (won't let their season end)
Carolina +3.5 over MINNESOTA (won't lose to a guy named Gus)
DENVER -5.5 over New Orleans (won't take their foot off the gas)
Note on Josie Woods: Tremendous crowd on Sunday for the Panthers game. Hope the trend continues.
#2 BRIANsong said . . .I'm ready, I'm ready Bring it on!
September 18, 2008
#3 BRIANsong said . . .The Bucs looked terrible on offense after putting up a quick 24 on the Falcons. I live in Atlanta and had the luxury of seeing the game. I can't see the Bears allowing this team in the endzone.
Bears -3
Colts -whatever
Giants -whatever
Chargers -whateverSeptember 18, 2008
#4 animal said . . .Sorry. That should have been 17.
September 18, 2008
#5 Jimbo said . . .DAMN. I just wrote a rant about the lack of respect for St. Clair and it didn't post.
September 18, 2008
#6 Urlacher FTW said . . .I think the Bucks are about to walk into a buzz saw. The bears D is for real, and the offense will bounce back this week at home vs. a much weaker defense than we have faced all season.
Orton 15-25, 190 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT. Forte blows up 140 yards, 2 TD (hopefully ron turner has learned to run the ball with his best offense player, espically on 3/4th and short). Desmond Clark better catch some passes.
Bears 27, Bucks 9
In other action:
Carolina over MINNY
Detroit over SF
GIANTS over CincyAside: Matt Forte is the man. He is the best running back we have seen in chicago in a long time. He should have had 100+ yards and a TD last week... but we wanted to hand to McKie and drew a couple stupid holding calls.
He is a shoe in for 100 yards and 1TD per game. Even against 8 man fronts.
September 18, 2008
#7 Anytime said . . .Colts -5.5 over Jags
49ers -4 over Lions
Bears -3 over Bucs
Cardinals +3 over SkinsI saw some comparisons of Forte to Westbrook, lets hope Matt is much healthier, I think Westbrook has only completed 1 out of 5 seasons without injury. Doesn't matter how good you are if your hurt a lot. I love watching this kid run, he has a way of sliding off a tackler to the side while still maintaing forward momentum, it's really slick. I will be looking for Lloyd to have a breakout game, he is really the only wideout to show any relationship with Orton in the regular season. As good as the D has played Urlacher hasn't had a monster game yet either so I will pick him to lead the D to a great day at Soldier Field.
September 18, 2008
#8 Phil from SATX said . . .fuck moose!
September 18, 2008
#9 Rancid said . . .Bears -3
Carolina + 3 1/2
Dallas - 3
Jets + 9I keep hoping that Forte won't get worse - then it dawns on me that he should actually get better with experience. Can you imagine this kid getting better? He could turn out to be the steal of the draft. Although frankly Jonathon Stewart looked great, Felix Jones looked real good too, haven't seen Mendenhall yet, is he playing? Who else was taken ahead of Forte?
Let's go over our kick and punt returners, if Hester can't play. Rashied Davis, Danieal Manning, Nate Vasher, Garrett Wolfe, let's not forget Earl Bennett returned a punt for a touchdown in preseason. We have a LOT of potential returners. That's why Hester being there or not isn't very important right now to measure our team's potential explosiveness against Bucs. Galloway out probably hurts them a lot more than Hester being out hurts us.
I want 3 INTs in this game, all from our old friend BG. He's done it before if I recall. Time for a game where it helps us. Is it true that he won the job over a healthy Garcia? That can't be right.
Time to put on a massive rush, and for the corners to be sneaky, bait some throws. Griese is clever but not mobile, and he'll trust his brain to give him a quick decision which will be a not-good-enough one. Should be plenty of turnovers. Kyle's 150-0-0 game that PO'd hates should be plenty enough in this one given the turnovers we're getting from the other side.
And I'll pick my own prediction on Kyle - let's go 210 -1-0, and a pretty high rating - say high 80's?
GO BEARS!
September 18, 2008
#10 Phil from SATX said . . .I just can't get into picking other games, it must not be my style. But it's fun reading all of yours. I'm hoping the bump from the home opener is going push this one over the top. I would like us to win big. I want the D/ST to score a couple times. I am not looking for KO to have a big game. A completion percentage of 60% and 200 yards is fine. I don't even think he needs to throw a TD pass. This is familiar territory for long time Bears fans. Games in Chicago should be won on the ground. It used to be true. Lovie maintained it still was for the past few years, even though it really wasn't. Even with TJ we didn't play that way. Now we look like that sort of team again. Push the ball on the ground, pass enough to keep 'em honest and pick up 3rd and longs, and then demoralize them on the defensive end. It'd be cool to have a QB throw for 400 yards and 3 scores, but I'm more than comfortable to win games with Forte chewing up yards on the ground, KO doing what's asked of him, and the defense kicking the snot out of the other team.
In a side note, if RT goes to McKie on the goal line again, I'm gonna be pissed. Forte is the star of this offense, he's good enough to run them in and he should be. I was ok with the first one since I thought it was a smart play as they were probably looking for Forte to have the carry. I was annoyed on the second one and just assumed it was Ron's brilliant "Well it worked in the exact same situation last time" line of playcalling. You've been warned RT, you do it again and I cut your brake lines.
September 18, 2008
#11 jdawg said . . .Don't you think there should be a million guys who could do what Jason McKie does, but do it better? It's not a hard job, maybe one of the easiest out there - just be a good blocker and every once in a while, be handed the ball and be strong enough with quick enough feet to get a few yards. Have good enough hands to catch about 10 balls a season.
I just don't know what McKie does that makes him a starter-quality fullback. I'd think this is a position that you could easily convert unused defensive guys into too. McKie did do a few good things in that game prior to getting stuffed on a must-have 4th and 1 - and honestly at least half the blame on that one goes to RT for re-calling a play he had used in a predictable situation. But still, McKie should have done whatever it took to get that yard.
He's just not good enough, and maybe they'll back off on their plans to use him more this season - something that sounded cockamamie from the get-go.
September 18, 2008
#12 jeff said . . .a few words about McKie:
the FB is only in on about 35% of the snaps
He's a dependable receiver out of the backfield
Orton changed the call to go to McKie on 4th down
K. Davis wiffed on his block which resulted in the failed 4th down attempt.
September 18, 2008
#13 jdawg said . . .orton didn't change to mckie on 4th down. he changed to the pass on 3rd down.
September 18, 2008
#14 jeff said . . .my bad -- I thought he audibled on that one also.
I guess my point is that McKie is not my biggest concern on offense -- its the receivers.
September 18, 2008
#15 Phil from SATX said . . .i dont get this year's sudden "we hate mckie" vibe from the fans. i like mckie. i think he's been good in the run game so far and makes nice plays in the receiving game.
i think he's overused in short yardage but that's not his fault.
September 18, 2008
#16 Urlacher FTW said . . .Well it isn't this year, it started last year, when we gave him his share of grief for poor blocking, along with Olin, Benson, Garza, Fred and others. MikeB can chime in here, I believe he has spoken to this before. I think McKie is a steady performer but his highs ain't very high - and I think this is a position which we could greatly benefit from improving, especially our team. We talked about this a lot during draft time, when we were eyeing Jacob Hester among others. In fact we talked about it before last year's draft too, when you (Jeff) were championing Brian Leonard.
I'm sure the Bears' position on McKie is one of "if it ain't broke don't fix it" but given our commitment to the run game, I'm still surprised they think he's good enough.
September 18, 2008
#17 jdawg said . . .I think receivers are their biggest problem also. Not just the lack of a true "number 1" but the fact they don't seem to want to put in a consistent guy. To me they should have had 2 definate starters at wide-out decided after PreSeason. It is hurting the team that KO doesn't have a guy in there every down that he knows the timing of. Who is the Eagles no.1? I don't know the guy but I bet he is in there every play so that McNabb can get his timing down. To me they should pick 2 guys to be in every snap and rotate the Commitee at the slot.
Jeff, how does the IR thing work, now that McGowan is gone for the season can't they stick him on IR and bring someone up off the practice squad? Like Rideau, is it just me or did that guy not do anything but catch every pass that was thrown to him.
September 18, 2008
#18 jeff said . . .agree
My list of concerns, in order of concern, is:
1) WRs
2) Field position (one of the reasons we faded in the 2nd half against Car.
3) big plays in the passing game.This doesn't included injuries.
September 18, 2008
#19 Phil from SATX said . . .yeah FTW, it opens a roster spot but i can't imagine them not bringing in another defensive back. though i'm with you...maybe not this week...but in the weeks that come i'm starting to the young receivers on the field with brandon lloyd.
i say this understanding i'm being unfair to marty booker...who deserved about a 70 yard touchdown catch.
September 18, 2008
#20 jimbo said . . .Speaking of big receiver plays downfield - one of the easiest big plays to complete is a tight end fly down the middle of the field where you hit him about 25-35 yards downfield. It's like the first station in a skeet shoot - you don't have to lead, you pretty much aim right at them. Vince Young made a living on this low-skill-required throw to his tight end David Thomas. I just don't know why our offense isn't more geared to our tight ends.
These guys are set up to provide us with big plays - you don't have to complete a 50 yard throw to a streaking wideout. I'd take some 30 yard chunks - those are field position changers.
Speaking of field position, the adjustment I am most confident of seeing in the next game is the elimination of block-in-the-back penalties. I'm sure Dave Toub has made that a highlight of this week. It's hard to avoid one of those throughout an entire game, but my bet is we won't see more than one.
September 18, 2008
#21 BearsTransplatn said . . .after 2 weeks I think our passing game has been pretty limited and uncreative. I few nice passes to TE's in game 1, but overall too predictable. I agree we don't need 60 yard bombs every half but we run too many screens and 3 yard slants. We need to start attacking the middle of the field. It would really open up the run game. Maybe this week we will see it against the Tampa 2 defense.
September 18, 2008
#22 jeff said . . .Know your league. Thank you all for dismissing my opinion w/o checking any facts. From practice and the sideline during games, players learn the line calls, audibles, tendencies, and the line stances (defense blitzes when D-tackles are in the 3-point stance, etc.) on the opposite side of the ball . Teams w/in the division will sign somewhat inferior players who they don't expect to play much, to fill roster spots, for scouting purposes in reality. This is from 2007-2008 ONLY:
Quinn Gray: Jags to Texans. He sucks.
Benson: Bears to Lions. Ditto.
Chris Brown: Titans to Texans. Career backup.
Warrick Dunn: Falcons to Bucs. Washed up.
Kevin Jones: Lions to Bears. Injury questions.
Sam Aiken: Bills to Pats. Ugh.
Bernard Berrian: Bears to Vikes. A good move by the Vikes.
Isaac Bruce: Rams to 49ers. A has-been.
Bryant Johnson: Cards to 49ers. Excellent pick-up.
Sean Ryan: Jets to Dolphins. Vomit.
Jeff Faine: Saints to Bucs. Exception, a great center.
Casey Weigman: Chiefs to Broncos. Spew.
Jake Scott: Colts to Titans. Not very good.
Jeremy Newberry: Raiders to Chargers. Raiders. Enough said.Steve Fifita: Fins to Pats. Who?
Kindal Moorehead: Panthers to Falcons. Fat, and washed up.
Chris Cooper: Cardinals to Seahawks. Never-was.
Andre Frazier: Bengas to Steelers. Ridiculous.
Matt McCoy: Saints to Bucs. Terrible.
Dan Morgan: Panthers to Saints. He gets a concussion when you look at him funny.Not a whole lot of talent there... though I do see a few seasoned veterans (though many will get hurt or won't make much of an impact. *AHEM* Dan Morgan *Ahem*). And why else in the world would the Steelers sign a Bengals LINEBACKER? Cincinnatti is where linebackers go to drive drunk, vomit out of car windows, get suspended, and get their cervical vertebrae broken.
September 18, 2008
#23 jeff said . . .now transplant (and by the way, the "know your league" thing is pompous and pointless) - go to all those games and find me wins/losses. then show me that the signing of these players has any discernible outcome on the games. when you can't...because this was written about a few years ago and swiftly rejected...stop talking.
as for the assessment above, it's wrong. why? because you discount the ability of these players to CHOOSE THEIR OWN DESTINATIONS. like faine. like kevin jones. like bryant johnson. like chris brown. these players had other options. faine received several offers. jones chose the bears, not knowing the quality of forte...etc.
make your points, fine. but when make them under the guise that you know more than everybody else, i'm going to respond.
September 18, 2008
#24 Phil from SATX said . . .here's a fun fact from foxsports.
Chicago QB Kyle Orton has won eight starts in a row at home and is 9-1 in games played at Soldier Field.
September 18, 2008
#25 zmac said . . .Not to mention the fact that merely listing players who trade within their respective divisions and using that as "proof" that teams do this primarily to learn about their rivals is spurious correlation. (MikeB, this'll be the second time I'm calling you today - maybe I need to use the magic conch)
There are 31 possible teams a player can move to besides his own. Three of those are within his division, so if that list above is more than 10% of the moving players in 2007, you may have at least the beginning of a point. Did 190 players move last year? Not sure. But we know the Vikings didn't overpay Berrian because of his knowledge of the Bears, they did it because he was the "premier" free agent WR last year. Other teams, not in our division, were in the bidding as well. We also know we didn't take Kevin Jones because of how much he knew about the Lions - we needed a veteran running back, and he was the best thing out there, damaged or not. They got a new OC in there anyway - how much could he give?
That was a lot of effort given for a bad argument. Who knows? The one you may have been right about may have been Cedric Benson, because I agree that the signing was inexplicable - but if they did that to get at our playbook, they wasted their money, because
a) Cedric wasn't paying attention, and
b) RT telegraphs his playbook to anyone with eyes. I think he may even pay to have it on the back of the Yellow Pages - bumping off that personal injury lawyer. He's probably doing pre-advertising to try to get his next job, next year.
September 18, 2008
#26 mikebdot said . . .RE WR's: Anyone else think Earl Bennet could easily develop into that #1 guy?
September 18, 2008
#27 jeff said . . .I don't like Jason McKie because I can't remember a single play he has been involved in where I said "damn, he executed that really well". He is routinely standing around in the backfield. The fullback's job is to hit a linebacker or move the defensive linemen out of the way as the offensive lineman blocks the linebacker. To be sure, the offensive linemen last season were in the backfield quite a bit as well, but "JMac" (stupid nickname of the month nominee every month, but he can't win because "TMac" is just as stupid) has never moved bodies. That's what fullbacks are paid to do.
He catches the ball most of the time and usually gains positive yards. With this I agree. So, maybe I was rash saying he was the worst FB in all of football. I should have been more specific saying "he's the worst blocking FB in all of football". My apologies. But even when he catches the ball, I still can't remember him knocking over a single defender, even a defensive back would acceptable, but I can't remember that either. He is not powerful in any way, shape or form. That is what a fullback is supposed to be. Full of power. A halfback is half power half speed then?
Whatever, hopefully you understand my beef, Jeff.
September 18, 2008
#28 Crown said . . .good points mikeb. he certainly isn't a dynamo as a blocker. but i had no complaints about him in 2006. i wonder if it has lot to do with the push up front.
September 18, 2008
#29 mikebdot said . . .McKie does not just stand in the backfield. He is a big hitter and good blocker. I have seen him blow up guys when I decide just to watch what he is doing on a particular play. In the last couple years, he has been effective in goal line situations as well. Also, he seems to be a real team guy that everyone likes and respects. Do not blame that 4th and 1 on him. Their D-line collapsed and blew up that play so bad that even Refrigerator Perry wouldn't have been able to get the first down. I do not think Earl Bennett will be any good based on watching his running style during kickoff returns in the preseason. He runs very vertically and does not seem to have any shifty side to side movement ability. I remember him getting jacked on 2 returns during the preseason just because he was going straight forward. He also had some drops in the preseason, which was upsetting for a guy who was supposed to be a sure handed possession receiver.
September 18, 2008
#30 Phillip from NYC said . . .Jeff,
I think the lack of complaints in '06 was because we went to the Super Bowl. These penalties are not a new thing. Our 3rd down percentage would increase dramatically if once in awhile McKie would break a tackle or two and gain an extra yard, as other fullbacks do. That could be said in '06 as well when he had 25 catches and a decent average and all, but I would guess a lot of those catches came on 2nd and 8 or longer. I wonder how many of those catches were 1st down catches. Methinks very few.
As for McKie laying the wood, I'll look out for it again the next few games, but he just seems soft to me. Which is part of the reason our running game was atrocious last season, with two soft backs in the same backfield! I'm pissed I was wrong about Benson and all, but man, what a terrible backfield last season. I will say the same with Olsen right now. He has done nothing to impress me in actual game situations. I was excited when we drafted him, but it seems to be a waste right now. He has been close to breaking big plays, but isn't strong enough in his legs. He has been tripped up by a shoestring tackle by a linebacker at least 5 times that I can remember preventing a 25 yard run after the catch. What were the fumbles all about? Just being careless? I don't care to watch highlights.
September 18, 2008
#31 Mike Phipps said . . .FYI:
"Rookie tackle Chris Williams has a helmet on today and appears set for limited participation in pratice. That would be a big step for Williams, who has been sidelined since training camp following back surgery."
http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/huddleup/
September 18, 2008
#32 zisk said . . .McKie probably is interchangeable with about 20 other FBs in the league but he's the guy we have and he knows the system. I don't think he or any other comparable FBs are going to be difference makers. It's not what they're out there to do. Pick up some yardage here and there, block and stand on the sideline are the key job descriptions. We were spoiled by Roland Harper and Matt Suhey back in the day and, in comparison, McKie shouldn't even be in the league. But, unless Lorenzo Neal or Tony Richardson are suddenly available then McKie's probably as good as anyone else.
As for fearless/worthless predictions, I'm with most of you who think Kyle will throw his first TD pass. A swing pass to Forte, maybe?
September 18, 2008
#33 jeff said . . .Anyone else extremely worried about mcgowan's injury? What do we do if mike brown gets injured?
September 18, 2008
#34 BearsTransplant said . . .bmac's been playing corner.
danieal steps in.
September 18, 2008
#35 marc said . . .I didn't say "playbook," in that post did I? Anyways, just trying to explain a dumb signing; but it is the Lions after all. Calvin Johnson is their only good draft pick in about 7 years. God, imagine him in a Bears uniform. He would make even Chad Hutchinson look decent.
I agree on McKie, he's not very good, but you're right, there aren't many good fullbacks anymore. It's a hard position to upgrade. Jacob Hester is the only talented one to come out of college that I recall off of the top of my head, and he's more of a "tweener."
And just to follow the top post for once, I say Bears, Viqueens, New Orleans, Baltimore. Just to be contrary. I hope Griese dies on the field.
September 18, 2008
#36 Crown said . . .I think this game will be somewhat like the Carolina game....A GOOD DEFENSIVE GAME....GO BEARS!
September 19, 2008
#37 Shady said . . .Hester has partially torn cartilage in his ribs. Later on today he tried to say it was just a bruise. I don't think he will play this week and could be out for another 1 or 2 weeks. Torn cartilage does not heal in a week. It's Manning's turn to step up on D and show his return abilities which he displayed in the pre-season. I like the fact that we are 1 and 1 against 2 strong teams and Hester has not done anything yet. I don't want to have to pray that Hester is going to save the day again like I did every week last year. Hopefully, other scoring weapons will emerge while Skunk is out.
September 19, 2008
#38 Joist said . . .On Jason McKie or "Key":
He's a veteran fullback who knows what to do in this scheme, and is most likely a leader on offense either vocally or by example. I'm sure he's cool with the offensive line because he loves hitting people, and I'm sure the other RBs appreciate his blocking leading the way. "Key" could be the Thomas Jones of Fullbacking, for whatever that's worth these days.
Between Gains Adams, a BBQ, and Devin Hester there's a lot of ribs on my mind for this weekend. Of course the Bears organization always keeps their information regarding player injuries close to the ribs, er chest.
If Gains Adams is out this weekend, the Bears would catch a HUGE break. Although John St. Clair has performed WELL above expectations against Freeny and Peppers so far this season, this injury could give St. Clair, the line and Forte a terrific chance to break free on Sunday. If that's the case, I expect the Bears to run very well. In fact, Forte Matte might actually grab 100 yds. by halftime. But what about the second half?
Are Lovie, Bob, Ron and Kyle going to be able to make the proper adjustments at halftime in order to put the team in a good position to FINISH the game with authority? I'll be keeping a close eye on how the Bears perform for 60 mins at home this week. Kyle's statistics fall off dramatically in the 2nd half, especially in the 4th quarter. If Forte forces the Bucs to put 7 or 8 man fronts up on defense, Kyle MUST take advantage of what the defense gives him whether it be up top or underneath.
This Sunday the 2008 Chicago Bears will formally introduce themselves at home in front of the fans at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. Bear down Chicago Bears. Bear Down America.
September 19, 2008
Late to the party.
Bears -3
Falcons -5
Panthers +3.5
Bengals +a million (I think it's 13.5)September 19, 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.