(Apologies in advance, this isn't Jeff its the Reverend. It’s been a couple years since I’ve posted but with Jeff somewhere outside Atlanta I said I’d put something up.)
I got Sunday Ticket beginning last year to cut down on my bar tab at Josie's but only end up watching it when the Bears aren’t playing. And after seven hours of the Red Zone channel it’s clear that while the Bears may have had the week off there were plenty of former Bears having big days.
Mark Bradley – The most recent ex-Bear and his new team almost upset the Dungaree poster boy and Mark had 5 catches, 42 yards and a very nice touchdown catch. Maybe it’s the Meadowlands, where in 2006 he had one of his best games in a Bears uniform, or maybe he just needed a real QB…like Tyler Thigpen.
Mike Singletary – The Samurai may have lost his head coaching debut but he did it in true Chicago Bears’ style with a post-game press conference destined for a Coors Light commercial not to mention his pulling of another ex-Bear, J.T. O’Sullivan who was doing his best Jonathan Quinn and his sending underperforming TE Vernon Davis to the showers. Mike’s wasting no time changing the atmosphere in that locker room. Some pundits have been critical of the Davis thing but it sounds like this is probably a long time coming and one only needs to look at Detroit to see where basing playing time on draft status gets you. Mike’s performance on Sunday has already inspired a remake of Bad to the Bone but personally I still prefer his eponymous song by The Interociter.
Moose Muhammad – Another big day from the petulant former Bear. His drop in the end zone was almost identical to the one he had against the Packers last year in Week 16. I was screaming at Jeff that he should have been cut then and found it enormously cathartic to see him doing it for someone else now. Post game media all sounded shocked that “Moose” dropped a ball. They clearly haven’t seen him play since his league leading ‘04 season. Since then the only number higher than his drops is the number of times he’s thrown quarterbacks under the bus.
Justin Gage – Not to be outdone, Gage dropped two while I was watching yesterday.
Bernard Berrian – Speaking of drops, the $7 million a year man didn’t have one this week. Probably cause he didn’t play.
And finally, even though it was the bye, Brian Urlacher managed to get his first score of the season as he was last seen Saturday night escorting a lovely young lady into a Vegas nightclub. Now normally as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone or affect their play I don’t care what NFL players do off the field. But with the decline in his play this year you’d think he’d maybe rest up and watch some film. And the last girl he brought back from Vegas was Paris Hilton. (Credit to Max and his legion of Scandinavian informants for this scoop.)
Congrats to all of them.
Only five days from the return of the Bears, bar tabs and Jeff on the blog. And hopefully your 2008 Chicago Bears will be monopolizing the Red Zone channel I won’t be watching this Sunday.
(UPDATE: Add Ronny Rivera to the list of ex-Bears having exciting weeks. He just got bumped up to Chargers’ DC)
#2 Bearman on the Sangamon said . . .First!
Why Not?
At least #54 is hitting something if it he can't hit the opposing team.
October 29, 2008
#3 NY Bears Fan said . . .Amen Z. Amen, brother.
October 29, 2008
#4 jdawg said . . .I haven't watched the RZC much before this weekend but did it all day Sunday as well. It sure as hell beats flipping channels. The DirecTV receivers are slow and clunky when flipping around. I think in years past it was not in HD if I remember right. On that same note the commentator that talks while switching between games is a tool. I became annoyed with him quickly.
October 29, 2008
#5 willie from chicago said . . .third!
October 29, 2008
#6 Z said . . .Does anyone know if there is a NFL sunday ticket on Dish Network?
October 29, 2008
#7 Albert In Tucson said . . .Willie I believe Direct TV has exclusive rights until 2010. Bastards. I hate their programming packages and one year had their most basic package and still paid for cable. Monopolies are bad.
October 29, 2008
#8 said . . .Mea culpa. I bagged on Ron Rivera a couple days ago,forgetting that, at the time, he was only Linebackers Coach and not DQ in San Diego. Ted Cotrell's sudden departure has now given Rivera a chance to show his stuff. Sorry Ron. My bad.
October 29, 2008
#9 jdawg said . . .hillenmeyer out. I would have once been excited to see Jamaar Williams, but somehow a dude named Roach has passed him on the depth chart.
hmmm.
October 29, 2008
#10 jdawg said . . .4th!
ooops... 9th!
October 29, 2008
#11 Max said . . .all the buzz has been about the D-line lately. But I've also heard and read that the safeties are sitting 20-25 yards deep, so when the opposing QB wants to throw he takes a 3 step drop and hits a 7-9 yard gain. I don't think LT lined up behind Reggie White could generate pressure on a 3-step drop.
We've got to jam the receivers on the line and get more physical.
Now, maybe Lovie-ich was hesitant to do this against the Vikes with our Starting CBs out but it almost cost us the game.
October 29, 2008
#12 jdawg said . . .Lovie-ich. I like that. Lovich isnt bad either. God our defense has been miserable. Fuck the Lions. Get some Brian
October 29, 2008
#13 PANKSTER IN DA CAROLINAS said . . .you know, I wouldn't say our D has been miserable but it has picked the wrong moments to suck.
We lead the lead in take-aways and are still good against the run.
The Minny game was a little odd. We scored 48 points but were way behind on ToP. Basically the D was on the field a lot; partially because they couldn't defend the pass on 1st and 2nd down, and partially because the O and special teams were so good.
I think Minny's opening drive lasted between 6 and 7 minutes. We came on the field and scored in 3.
Which brings to mind the following thought: let's have the slowest no-huddle offense in the history of the NFL.
October 29, 2008
#14 CKbears said . . .FUCK BABICH PATCH FUCK LOVITCH AND TURNER O NEEDS TO STAY STRONG D NEEDS TO SAY POP AND PULL HEAD OUT OF ASS AND WE NEED TO GO ON A ASS WHIPPIN RAMPAGE TO THE PLAYOFFS!!!!!BEAR DOWN BEAR THE FUCK DOWN AMERICA!!!!!!!!!!!!BY THE WAY DIRECT TV HAS LOCKED UP SUNDAY TICKET TILL 2010 GIVES ME A GOOD REASON TO GO TO BEEF O BRADYS AND CHILL OUT AND LOOK AT HOT YOUNG CHICKS WITH NO BULLSHIT FROM WIFE!!!
October 29, 2008
#15 jdawg said . . .It really bothers me that Jamar is sitting this one out. Diddnt he have somthing like 11 tackles last year when he filled in with Briggs? I understand its the opposite side of the field, but how much does that affect a linebacker?
October 29, 2008
#16 The Knight of Ownage said . . .Roach may be better in coverage. He's a beast on STs.
Hey Pankster... I know interet etiquette states that all caps is yelling, but typographically speaking it just hard to read. The brain identifies words by shapes, not always by letters. When you type in all caps they eye can't easily see the differences in letter shapes.
just a heads up.
October 29, 2008
#17 mikebdot said . . .Pankster: Hilarious!
As a Bears fan in the Dirty South, it's hard to watch game. Anyone know if this game is gonna be on the internet like the Vikes Game? If so, please share.
GO BEARS!
Detroit Lions........ 0
Chicago Bears....... 51Kyle Orton....... 4 TD's, O INT's, 391 yds.
Matt Forte........ 2 TD's, 153 yds. + 1 rec. TD
Kevin Jones...... 89 yds.
Marty Booker, Rash Davis, Brandon Lloyd....... 1 TD a pieceOctober 30, 2008
#18 Peanut FTW said . . .jdawg: That's funny, I got to your comment (#15) and said, "is he talking to Pankster from a previous thread?" I didn't even realize that his post was there.
October 30, 2008
#19 jdawg said . . .jdawg I think the distinction for the slowest no huddle will always go to the Colts. It really is annoying to watch every stinkin play, I'm always like quit fn dancin and run a play already. Thank God most plays Orton will still just check protection and go. I understand the idea behind getting to the best play for what the D is showing but damn it gets old watching the Colts, I hope the Bears don't go that overboard.
CKBears: The Will is a slightly easier position to play, you usually don't have quite as much field to cover, and one less blocker - receiver to contend with. It is most often the Linebacker that is pulled for your Nickel package as well. That being said; I was at the Packers game last year watching JW play his heart out and I would really like to see him get another shot at starting. Regardless of who starts for Hillenmeyer I think they will be pretty limited as it really gives the Bears more of a reason to run mostly Nickel and keep Corey Graham and Vasher in the game.
October 30, 2008
#20 Rancid said . . .my point was to give the D more time off the field. Of course, if the opposing D sucks so much that we can score in 3 minute drives I can't really complain, but our D is not designed to spend 30 minutes on the field. That's one of the main reasons Lovie wants to get off the bus running. Out D, especially up front, it small -- even with the line rotation they need to be off the field at least more than half the time.
October 30, 2008
#21 Rancid said . . .From DaSite:
"In light of Mike Singletary’s well-publicized tirade following his first game as San Francisco 49ers coach last Sunday, a reporter asked Orton how he knows when Smith is angry at him.
“I don’t think he’s really been too angry with me, so I don’t really know, to be honest with you,” Orton said."
Interesting.
October 30, 2008
#22 Willie from chicago said . . .In jeff's absence I say we start a pool as to whether jeff will be able to resist a politically flavored post on 11/4 or 11/5. I've been trying to come up with some odds.
October 30, 2008
#23 Peanut FTW said . . .Z, my Algebra 2 teacher feels the same way about direct Tv. I cant afford their insane prices.
Its a good thing Hillenmeyer picked the Lions game to take a day off. I want him back on the field for the Titans game.
October 30, 2008
#24 jdawg said . . .jdawg: Yah I undestood your point but the Ds time on the field this year is thier own fault. The offense is supposed to score, if they can't score then at least move the ball, and give the opposing O bad field position. Last year most of the time the Offense would turn the ball over or go 3 and out and give thier opponent good field position; that time is the Offense's fault. This year it is much different; the defense is simply not creating plays on first down and even when they do they are allowing 3rd and long conversions consistently. They are getting picked apart and failing to adjust to the opposition's adjustments. They are not creating 3 and outs very often at all and are solely responsible for the amount of time they have to spend out there. Add on the fact that they are really deep defensively and often rotate DLs, WILL, and DBs they should still be able to play better than they are playing; there is simply no excuse for thier poor performance of late save for maybe the depletion of corners by injury.
Still allowing ATL to win in 11 secs and allowing Freerot to pick them apart was ridiculous. I surely hope the bye week rest gets them healthy and motivated for the second half of the season or there won't be any playoffs.October 30, 2008
#25 jeff said . . .I wasn't defending the D, I was just saying that the hurry-up is a double edged sword.
Anyway, yes, the D needs to step up. I'm hoping getting Tillman back and the old Tommie help. Babbich is probably more likely to let Tillman jam the receiver at the line then any other CB on the team.
October 30, 2008
#26 Pankster in NC said . . .how is new orleans legal?
congrats to richmond and atlanta for supplying terrific times.
October 30, 2008
#27 Crown said . . .Yeah J I was yellin My bad, But last sunday without Da Bears and sittin in Charlotte Pissed me off anyway Bear Down America!!!
Go Bears!!!
P.S. Fuck You Babich Patch!!!!!!October 30, 2008
#28 mikebdot said . . .It looks like Hillenmeyer is out and Nick Roach is in at outside linebacker. I'm really excited to see what this kids got because everyone on the team has been talking him up big time. I really like Jamar Williams as a LB, but Roach supposedly jumped over him on the depth chart. We should see what the kids got this week.
October 31, 2008
#29 jdawg said . . .Rancid: I'd bet $100 giving 10:1 odds, easy...maybe more...
The D was good against third down before the Atlanta game. When their corners got hurt, not so much. Imagine that...I'm still befuddled why everyone doesn't understand that losing starting players actually matters. And, somehow it's an "excuse" for the bad play. Fuck that. It's a "reason".
The same thing happened in late '06, until the d-line played their fucking minds out, especially against N.O. The same thing happened last season.
I finally have versus and have been watching hockey in lieu of the bears. It's good times.
October 31, 2008
#30 zisk said . . .I think the D play calling will be more aggressive with our 2 CBs back, expecially Peanut.
Is there any chance of Graham playing nickel?
October 31, 2008
#31 Max said . . .They seem to like a hybrid corner/safety at nickleback so I imagine the nickleback will be the better tackler, who of course is graham. I'd rather have the best player on the field more but that might not be lovies thinking.
October 31, 2008
#32 Hopefully Some Mop Up Time At Least said . . .I think its interesting. There was so much speculation that Briggs wouldnt get signed and that Jamar Williams was ready to step in and take over but now as Hunter is replaced, its Nick Roach. Maybe Roach's covering skills are better or Williams is not big enough to take on some of the blockers that the SLB has to face????
Just throwing ideas out there. Bears are 13 points favorite this week. Lets hope it doesnt go to their heads.
November 1, 2008
#33 Phil from SATX said . . .Chris Williams may be active for Lions game in place of Fred "Turnstile False Start" Miller
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/bears/1254043,CST-SPT-bear01.article
GO BEARS!!!!!!!!!!!November 1, 2008
#34 Bearman on the Sangamon said . . .Mikeb, I really appreciate that comment - I would like to have that as a permanent sticky type deal around here. A simple premise but one we always seem to forget or ignore - myself included.
When starters go down, the unit impacted gets worse.
With the top four corners out against Minny, our D was going to get torched and it did. Not much they or us can do about that simple, immutable fact.
We need to remember that, and cut BP some slack about it.
If we want to pick on something in the D, blast the line - they are healthy yet not getting to the QB.
Regarding Jamar v Roach - I would have to guess this is the uncertain world of picking and developing talent - Roach has simply shown the. coaches that he's better than Jamar. It happens. Combination of him being better than expected and Jamar maybe not as good as initially thought.
November 1, 2008
#35 Z said . . .Does anyone have any idea why the Bears aren't wearing their blue pants this season when they wear the white jersies?
I hate the unicolored NFL uniforms. I like the Super Bowl XX look.
November 1, 2008
#36 enderwiggin said . . .Culpepper agrees to 2 year deal with Detroit. Expected to sign Monday. Are you scared? Would be funny if he beat Minn or GB though.
Pack releases franchise sack leader defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila. Wow how did he get shitty so fast. Cool.
GO BEARS!!!!
BEAR DOWN!!!!
November 2, 2008
#37 Max said . . .Reverend, thanks for the post. Jeff, I know you are on vacation and all, but are we gonna get a fresh gameday post?
Heres to good rushing numbers from 3 or 4 different guys this week
November 2, 2008
#38 Rancid said . . .Oh Dante. . .welcome back to the NFL. . . with the Lions. How is that any better than the Chiefs exactly???
Oh well. Bear Down. I expect the traffic on this site will pick up drastically tomorrow. Lets see a Bears win. Prediction: Bears 34 Lions 24. Closer than expected but still a W
November 2, 2008
You the man jeff! Just seeing how much the site struggles without you here is proof of that. I hope you had a blast and I hope you're back for game day! Bear Down!
November 2, 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.