1. So the hot topic in the Chicago press and blogosphere is Nathan Vasher losing his starting job to Corey Graham. I don't see this as much of a story. With the way the Bears play defense, I think it'll be a rare sight to see less than three corners on the field at one time. Graham is an infinitely better tackler than Nate but Nate has proven to have a knack for the finding the football.
2. The biggest defensive flaw this team has is the lack of a consistent pass rush. Is there a solution? I think so. Move Lance Briggs to the middle and start using Brian Urlacher to pressure from the edge. Urlacher's primary virtue is his speed and he could give tackles fits around the league. Tom Waddle agreed with me often on his radio show this week.
3. I'm headed down to New Orleans for Halloween so there will be a roster of people manning the site, including Phil from SATX. I'll be back for the Lions game next weekend. If you're going to be in New Orleans next week, let me know.
4. If anybody has tickets they don't plan to use or are looking to sell for the December 11th, Thursday night home game against the Saints, let me know. I'll be in Chicago that week and I want em.
5. You know what's most impressive about Kyle Orton? He developed that early rapport with Brandon Lloyd and didn't miss a beat after his injury.
6. If Ron Turner didn't make a couple bad short yardage calls this season, he'd be the front-runner for assistant of the year in the NFL. Just look at the statistics.
7. Giants at Steelers will make me - atleast for three hours - forget the Bears are on a bye. I think these are the two best teams in football.
I'll pop in over the weekend if something exciting comes up. Otherwise, enjoy the weekend off and let's hope the team gets healthy in the next nine days.
#2 Pankster in Nc said . . .First!
October 24, 2008
#3 mikebdot said . . .have fun over the weekend Bear Nation headin to Charlotte to hopefully watch warner eat up panther defense
Bear Down America!!!Bye The Way FUCK YOU BABICH PATCH!!!!!!!!
October 24, 2008
#4 mikebdot said . . .I predict the Steelers get destroyed...due to a large number of sacks given up and the Giants actually capitalizing on them. Big Ben is probably my vote for "most overrated player in the league". Right next to Eli Manning.
October 24, 2008
#5 Max said . . .Confirmed:
Just having Devin Hester on the field as a threat has helped the Bears, who rank fifth in the NFL with their average drive following kickoffs starting at their own 29.3-yard line. Chicago led the league in that category last season, beginning on average at its own 33.7-yard line.
October 24, 2008
#6 Zew said . . .I thought that you couldnt lose your starting job due to injury? Just thought i would ask. In any case, I say Vasher is still starter. Graham has played well, but Vasher is still a Ballhawk and look at how much better our D plays when he is in.
Remember last year? The four games in which Vasher played our defense looked insanely better. The 12 games he missed, our D was obviously weaker.
Regardless, now im not sure what the heck im supposed to do this weekend? Penn St vs Ohio St but Sunday is going to be weird. . . I know we need this bye week to heal and all, but man I hate bye weeks. Its like i have no direction.
Enjoy the vacation Jeff
October 24, 2008
#7 FORTE IZ BEAST said . . .What happened to the Bear's pass rush? Wally has been unusually healthy but quiet. Brown is playing the run well, but can't seem to get the corner anymore. Anderson was supposed to be the 2nd coming and he hasn't done squat. The pressure has been either coming from up the middle or from LB's and DB's. The TB game was ridiculous. If we can't find a way to get outside pressure on opposing QB's with the front 4 I'm afaid to say we will be one and done come playoff time.
October 24, 2008
#8 FORTE IZ BEAST said . . .Babich and Lovie need to pull there heads out of their asses...They need realize that what they been doing hasnt been working..GET THE JOB DONE!
October 24, 2008
#9 bobby said . . .Babich and Lovie need to pull there heads out of their asses...They need realize that what they been doing hasnt been working..GET THE JOB DONE!
October 24, 2008
#10 Chitown Larry said . . .babich needs to let the corners start pressing recievers and not giving them 4 yard cushions. it is fucking killing us. we need to step it up or all of what the offense is doing will have no effect on us
October 25, 2008
#11 Chitown Larry said . . .got 3 tix for the thurs night game....lower level corner ends....will sell for face value....half price for your tix
October 25, 2008
#12 Chitown Larry said . . .got 3 tix for the thurs night game....lower level corner ends....will sell for face value....half price for your tix
October 25, 2008
#13 Chitown Larry said . . .got 3 tix for the thurs night game....lower level corner ends....will sell for face value....half price for your tix
October 25, 2008
#14 jeff said . . .got 3 tix for the thurs night game....lower level corner ends....will sell for face value....half price for your tix
October 25, 2008
#15 animal said . . .email me at hughesreviews@aol.com
October 25, 2008
#16 Hey Animal said . . .huh. well...
Mike- Eli still overrated? the boy done won the big one.
Max- yes you CAN lose your starting position because of an injury. That's a myth- it actually happens all the time. I love Vasher too but Graham is a big, physical corner who makes tackles. Vash is perfect for the nickel.
Zew- PLAYOFFS? PLAYOFFS? Let's not start sucking each others' dicks just yet. This is a shaky 4-3 team with an offense that has been overachieving, a D that is underachieving, a couple dipshits for coaches, and a predisposition for losing close games and blowing leads. Ill stick with 8-8.
October 25, 2008
#17 mikebdot said . . .A please would be nice
You feel that sting, big boy, huh? That's pride FUCKIN' with you! You gotta fight through that shit!
Defense you feel that sting yet? You should. Hopefully your pride is fucking with you and you will fight through that Offensive line and get medieval on the QB's ass with a pair of pliers and a blowtorch.Just saying
He started it
October 25, 2008
#18 Viva said . . .animal: So did Troy Aikman and fuck him.
October 25, 2008
#19 mikebdot said . . .The State of our D:
Here are a few thoughts to ponder -
1. Did any of you who watched the preseason (I did online - not a useful tool) see the mug-up D? I can't remember seeing it because I don't think we did. I think Babich Patch held it back to keep Peyton off his game in week 1, and I think it helped confuse him at the line of scrimmage.
2. Why is it that we can apply pressure to certain QB's and leave others unscathed? I believe this to be a lack of play calling and not a lack of talent.
3. How do we mitigate (you can never fully overcome) the loss of 2 very good corners? This also is play calling.I would not be at all surprised to see a new look D heading into the second half of the season. Because we know that we have seen more then one look thus far. I am holding out hope that the failures of our D have been stubborn errors (sticking to a failing game plan too long), and that these errors will be lessoned with the implementation of rekindled desire and reality to make a serious run at and in the playoffs. I can see the Bears in the Meadowlands this January. Animal, I think you are wrong, we are better then 8-8, and only time will tell. If I'm wrong, I'll kiss your ass (figuratively) in another post.
October 25, 2008
#20 And so Mbdot...? said . . .Viva: When no matter what you do (blitz, send only four, play zone, etc.) and you don't sack a QB that throws the ball 67 times, you're fucked. That, to me, implies it has to do with execution and not play calling. Our linebackers are ROUTINELY stood up by running backs. It's sad. The only time our LBs get sacks is when they aren't touched by anyone. That's a talent issue. Do you ever remember them fighting through blocks?
October 25, 2008
#21 enderwiggin said . . .I guess you would rather have Rex than Eli. Right? Not bashing Rex here - still may need him and I would want him to play well if or when we do.
October 25, 2008
#22 mikebdot said . . .oh jeez, here we go again
October 25, 2008
#23 NittyGritty34 said . . .I'd rather the Giants sign Fred fucking Miller and then see how he does.
October 25, 2008
#24 animal said . . .Possible Bye Week Debate Topic:
Should the NFL go to a 18 game regular season with only two preseason games? I so no, and here's why;
1. A longer regular season means a high probability that fewer key players are healthy for the playoffs.
2. The game is great as is, and doesn't need anything to make it better except possilby fewer ridiculous fines.
3. Records. I know the season used to be 14 games long, and before that it was 12 and 11.... But it's been 16 for the majority of the Super Bowl era. I like being able to compare records.
4. See #1. This game is so violent and so physical, it will change seasons and shorten careers.
5. They would probably raise the price of NFL Sunday Ticket, which I have in order to watch my Bears. I live in Idaho and they show fucking Seahawk and Bronco games out here.
Discuss
October 25, 2008
#25 And so Mbdot...? said . . .I'm usually one of the most optimistic, sometimes over-exuberant and unrealistic, guys on here.
I just feel the need to temper some of the excitement and Ill hope like hell every Sunday I'm wrong about 8-8 and our D won't throw away 5 more games this year.
On the "rex" debate...
KO is clearly more consistent, reliable and cool under pressure. I now believe like most of you he is good, and better than Rex.
Now back to the Fred Miller argument- yes. I have numerous times said the difference between Rex and Eli or Romo is talent around you and O-line. Romo is proving that when everyone laughed at me for saying it.
Please don't interpret this as a Rex over KO argument- that would be fucking stupid.However, I won't discount the super bowl Eli won. He has earned respect the rest of his career.
October 25, 2008
#26 mikebdot said . . .Dodging the question......I'll try again. So you would rather have Rex than Eli? At one point you flat out said you would.
On #4 & #19 agree with you and I think Hester has a chance of becoming a solid receiver, Screws up some but better crisp routes now and catches with soft hands. Often a nanosecond from breaking loose. Meeds to stay healthy. Originally I thought it was a bad move. Likely was wrong.
October 26, 2008
#27 animal said . . .And so...to answer your question, "yes". Mostly because I fucking hate Eli Manning and wouldn't want to see him in a Bears uniform. The same goes for his brother. Screw that guy. He's a prick.
October 26, 2008
#28 CKbears said . . .would I rather have Eli or Rex?
I would love to see what Rex would do with the weapons Eli has.October 26, 2008
#29 Phil from SATX said . . .mikebdot,
one of the reasons the our linebackers get stood up is because of how obivous we show it. Trust me, as an Olineman in highschool and soon to be college its pretty easy to stand a guy up when you see him coming. any RB can stand a guy up when he gets lower then him. look at forte, he does it all the time.
I think they need to send more corner and saftey blitzes. even bring a guy off the edge like hunter. When you have briggs and urlacher showing in both A gaps its pretty easy to pick up
October 26, 2008
#30 jeff said . . .The D's problems are about execution and playcalling/scheme (I.e. coaching)BOTH. MikeB is right with his conclusion that if a throws 60 + passes and you don't sack him, execution broke down somewhere. But it then becomes up to Patchy to continue to tweak things and adjust on the fly to change what he's doing, to find something that WILL work. This requires being a really good coach, which I have come to the conclusion that Patchy is not. And am I wrong in saying that the jury should also be in about Impassive Face? Does anyone here think that Big Chief has ANY game at all when it comes to heat-of-the-moment game coaching?
This is the same issue that plagued RT last year - how to adapt around less than great players.
October 26, 2008
#31 Phil from SATX said . . .MARK BRADLEY JUST CAUGHT A PASS FOR THE CHIEFS!
October 26, 2008
#32 Ckbears said . . .And by the way, BP clearly has WAY more to work with than RT did last year. Maybe some of his guys aren't as good anymore as we all thought, but there's still a heck of a lot of talent on that side of the ball.
Ck, where you going to play college ball? As a lineman, what would you do to work Williams in to our line? Interested in your thoughts.
October 26, 2008
#33 jeff said . . .I'm going to be playing d3 ball at Concordia Universty in River forest Il.
Any kind of situation that can work up Williams confidence would be key. If it were up to me I would not stick him in a 4th and goal game winning situation. I think he needs to see a couple of offensive series to work him into it, because being on the oline requries alot of thinking.
A changing front can mess you up alot if you havent been getting more then a 70% look in practice. Any sudden change can mess an indivdual or the entire line. In my most recent game I played left tackle for the first time,(normally I play left guard) and I can say that it is one of the most demanding pos on the line short of center. Williams is going to be dealing with some elite talent and needs to be worked in slowly.that was a big rant
October 26, 2008
#34 Crown said . . .MARK BRADLEY
KING OF THE MEADOWLANDS!
TOUCHDOWN!
October 26, 2008
#35 Joseph said . . .The Chief's Mark Bradley just made the sickest TD catch I have seen this year so far. Good job for never giving the kid a shot Bears.
October 26, 2008
#36 jeff said . . .Angelo you shit head!
At least he didn't trade Bradley within the division!
October 26, 2008
#37 Z said . . .nothing to do with angelo.
October 26, 2008
#38 johnnyelpaso said . . .Don't forget kids we didn't even trade him. We released him. We threw a 2nd round pick away that we have no idea his potential and got nothing in return. This on a team with no set bad ass receivers. Our WR's are playing great and Lloyd and #23 have shown the sparks of a #1 and others have played above expectations IMO but we are certainly thin there and getting even thinner is not better.
October 26, 2008
#39 Rancid said . . .Props to CK BEARS.....wish you the best on your college football career....keep up the hard work.....
October 26, 2008
I never have much fun during a bye week, but I had a great time watching Singletary's press conference. He's got a pair. I still wonder if he would have come if we offered him DC instead of BaBitch. I hope he has a great coaching future
October 26, 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.