The headline today should have been Sign Kyle because yesterday #18 put an entire football team on his back and said, "Come on guys. I got this one." And he did. He had this one. Yesterday was the day Bears fans took the interim tag off the signal caller and ordered their jerseys. Accurate. Poised. Passionate. Unshakable in the shakiest of situations. The kid is the real deal. Say what you want about the 2008 Chicago Bears but the future looks good at QB.
But noooooooo! Our beloved, never-to-blame defense and genius coaching staff did not want yesterday to be about Kyle Orton. Here comes some hot rage on a holiday morning - starting with the first 59 minutes, 49 seconds.
1. There was one over-arching storyline to this game: third and long. Yes Matt Ryan played like a seasoned pro but our secondary looked like it was out to lunch from the opening whistle. That includes Charles Tillman and Mike Brown.
2. You know who I don't need to see cover receivers anymore? Danieal Manning.
3. On one replay Brian Urlacher seemed to wander up to the line of scrimmage, then wander around the secondary while a ball was completed twenty yards down the field. Brian just kept wandering. That pretty much sums it up.
4. Ron Turner. Go to the chapter of your playbook where you keep all the fade routes and tear them out page-by-page. Then burn them, shred them, eat them, whatever. They don't work. They are to offensive coordinators what narrators are to dramatists: an easy way to avoid doing your job.
5. And Ron, if you made Jason McKie the lone back on 3rd and goal from the 1 and then handed him the ball just to piss me off...it worked. I defend Ron Turner an awful lot but yesterday it was apparent early on that we weren't getting any push from the middle of our offensive line.
6. I still can't believe that after getting no push up the middle, Ron Turner calls a Matt Forte leap. You know who did the exact same thing? THE EAGLES AGAINST US TWO WEEKS AGO AND IT DIDN'T FUCKING WORK.
7. The most frustrating ten minutes of my human life: the fumble-recovery-fumble-recovery sequence featuring Tommie "Wedlock" Harris. Wedlock's face on the sideline was the face of a guy who had no business being anywhere near a football field. You are 300 pounds. Lay on the ball.
8. Didn't it seem like Alex Brown and Dusty were the only two guys on the defense that really wanted to play? They were making tackles ten yards up the damn field.
9. Positive Comment Alert: Another solid effort by the entire receiving corps, especially Rash Davis.
10. Today is the kinda day the Sun-Times misses Jay Mariotti. Greg Couch ain't getting it done.
11. Metaphor of the morning: Mike Brown delivers the Bears biggest hit of the day to Roddy White. After he caught a touchdown pass.
12. When did our special teams become a liability? We can't return/cover anything and our punter is mediocre? Really?
And now, ladies and gentlemen, the last eleven seconds of the game...
I am not one to call for the firing of coaches. It's not what I do. But when you squib kick to a team that only needs a field goal to win and then fail to defend the sideline when that is the only place the football can be thrown, someone needs to get fired. Today. Right now. And if Jerry Angelo were to hold a press conference this afternoon and announce that Mr. Smith is going back to Big Sandy, I'd have no problem with that. Stupid, Lovie. Very stupid. Dick Jauron having Jim Miller take four knees stupid. People can say what they want about the Bears playing uninspired all day but with eleven seconds remaining in the game, we had the lead. First it was the fourth quarter. Then it was the last ten minutes. Now it's eleven seconds. How much time does Lovie need exactly?
The truth is that Lovie Smith is not a very good football coach. His defense requires the media to motivate them and his strategy is often suspect-at-best. (Was there a single disguised blitz all game?) Yesterday, with his quarterback and team depending on him, he let them down. "We were not able to start fast and finish strong," coach Lovie Smith said. "What do you say after a tough loss like that? We've been in that situation before." You say, "I'm sorry. I fucking blew it."
But he is right. We have been in that situation before. Half of 2008 thus far.These are the Broken Record Bears. And I'm just not listening anymore.
#2 Rancid said . . .FIRST!
October 13, 2008
#3 Urlacher FTW said . . .I'm just curious before we start lining guys up for the firing squad, and I know that this is a name we don't ever say anything bad about . . . but I need to know. Was the squib kick called by Lovie or Dave? Does Dave have that kind of responsibility? I just need to know before I grab my torch and pitchfork and head for Lovie's house.
October 13, 2008
#4 BearDown1982 said . . .I read the squib was Toub's call; essentially because of injuries the cover team was tired and worried that the previous kick was returned for a near touchdown. The squib itself wouldn't have been as horrid a call if they had protected long and esp the sideline, I mean that same pass in the middle of the field and they don't even have time to call timeout. I hate prevent D but if there was ever a time to rush 2 and drop 9 into coverage that was it. WTF.
October 13, 2008
#5 Jokey said . . .I hate that I agree with you so much. To tell you the truth, I almost half expected them to somehow have enough time to get into field goal range.
1st...the defense. Sure, our corners were hurt. Seems to me that the biggest problem this overpaid defense has is with the front four. In the cover 2, your front four HAS to get pressure. Our guys don't do that plain and simple. Why we didn't blitz the hell out of a rookie quarterback is news to me...you'd think after a team continually beats you on third and long you might want to send some heat. Just a thought.
2nd...the eleven seconds. Why the squib kick? Seriously. I know you just gave up a long return. So what. Our coverage teams are above average...kick the damn ball down the field. Even if they bust a long play to the 50...they wouldn't have had enough time for two more plays and all they have left is a throw to the end zone or a prayer field goal. Instead, lets have Robbie kick a lazy ball right to a Falcon so they can start on the 45...that makes way more sense. I'm so tired of this coaching staff...same shit every game.
3rd...props to Orton and company. Yes, it took them long enough to get going, but they gave us a chance to win the game. I wish we could find a way to get Forte above 100 or close to it though...he is solid, but we need more that 70 yards from him if we want to win I'm thinking.
Lastly...I fear this team is learning ways to lose games. That is not a good sign. We will play more close games this year. I just wish more of the players were as honest as Alex Brown after these tough losses...stop the BS and just own up to the fact that you failed.
October 13, 2008
#6 jeff said . . .I was hoping I'd feel better after reading the posts this morning but I have to agree with Jeff yet again, which unfortunately means the root causes are much deeper than one play someone missed here or there. Now I am seriously depressed. I don't think a perfectly coached team we currently have could win the Superbowl, but I guess I won't find out this year unless Lovie et al can get their shit together fast. Although adaptability has not been a strength of theirs either.
October 13, 2008
#7 Phil from SATX said . . .the upside is that outside the new york giants...there just isnt a great team in the league right now. they have ten games to get better.
October 13, 2008
#8 mikebdot said . . .I already responded yesterday that while the squib kick was unfortunate and clearly, in hindsight, a bad decision, I also said many NFL coaches would have done that.
Haugh provides an even better reason - we had just been burned by what's-his-face for about 80 yards. The reason we had just been burned is because a bunch of our special teams players come from the secondary, that same secondary that is currently decimated. So rather than face that again, he put it on the D to make one play to win the game.
Problem with that scenario was that D was also decimated by secondary's injuries, and they seemingly hadn't stopped one long pass by the inexplicably brilliant Matt Ryan ALL DAY. So it was really pick your poison, and either was deadly.
But this wasn't a bad enough decision to warrant anyone's firing. The new kid, newly hired, blew it. Mike Brown didn't fix anything. Have you noticed that all the people we paid huge bucks to, SAVE LANCE BRIGGS, are now in process of showing us that sometimes paying your own blows up in your face? Tommie, Brian, Devin? Brian clearly on the downside, Mike Brown not near where he used to be, Vasher continually hurt, Devin Hester yet to bust one in 6 games, I agreed with all these decisions but right now it doesn't look too good. Hester will be fine and is starting to contribute as WR, we're still getting great field position (although too consistently not taking advantage of it).
But Urlacher is clearly on his way down, Tommie Harris I'm not sure I even want on the field right now, these were the former top 2 guys on our D.
Why is Ron Turner so in love with the McKie as sole back, hand it to him, no subterfuge, no nothing? You do that when you have the early 90's Dallas Cowboy offensive line - they know it's coming and they can't stop it. Folks, this ain't the Cowboys offensive line. And I haven't lost any of my love for our boy Matty, but clearly he needs to get some experience on leaping - doomed from the get-go. Ron Turner has been way more good than not-good all season long, I just don't know why he screws it up when the pressure's on by losing all the creativity he was formerly showing.
And yes, McKie sucks. He just does - he's not nearly strong enough. It's not a lack of want-to on his part, he's a good guy and clearly liked by the team - he's just not good enough.
Our tight ends are starting to look really good, but I totally agree with Jeff on the fade route - it's not Kyle's strength to throw a perfect "touch" ball to put it where G-Reg can go up to get it while the corner can't - just wasted plays - there's many better ones that seem to be working.
Hey, it's not a totally bad holiday (this banker's sitting at home today! Hah!) - Cowboys lost even when the fucking refs tried to hand the game to them - YES!!!! And the Longhorns are #1!!! (anyone see that game? great even if you had no dog in the hunt)
3-3 not good enough though. Major issues with needing bodies on secondary - FOUR GUYS OUT! Don't know if they'll be back, but you can hardly blame them when they're playing brand new guys - well I guess you can blame them for releasing Ricky Manning Jr. - but this defensive effort had a lot to do with injury, I think. No excuses, though, MAN UP and get ready to beat down a Nordic team that we're better than.
GO BEARS!
October 13, 2008
#9 JAB said . . .Wow, you've accomplished what I thought was impossible, Jeff. You made me feel better about that game. I mean, I feel like a new man.
Happy Monday.
You know what is fucked up? If we went 5-5 to finish the season and all five victories were against our division foes, we would probably win the division.
October 13, 2008
#10 JAB said . . .What a depression filled Monday. I know there is much blame to go around but I don't think the offense should take any of it. I am sick of this defense giving up long yardage on 3rd and long, I'm sick of Nate "the vaginal secretion" Vasher always being hurt and I'm sick of seeing Tommie "I make bastard children" Harris bringing the defense down a notch when he's in. I know the goal-line collapse was big but KO gave the team a chance to win and the defense blew it again. How many times do we have to see the same ending over and over. Lets change the end to this movie to a win dammit. I don't know if I can keep feeling great about a team one week to going back and thinking there's no hope. This roller coaster of a season is giving me chest pains.
October 13, 2008
#11 Phil from SATX said . . .Somebody talk me down off this ledge.
October 13, 2008
#12 JAB said . . .If you're looking for upside, the biggest one is...
IT'S EARLY! 10 games to go, more at home than away, and we're still tied for division lead! If we beat the losers in our division, it's all there, plus plenty of time to get better and go on a roll, just like last year's Giants.
I don't know why we couldn't get pressure on Ryan - if we can't do that against the better quarterbacks, we will lose when it counts. On balance, I like what Babich has done so far this year, but yesterday it wasn't working - 6 for 6 on 3rd and 9 or longer - that's failure, unfortunately.
Back to work Babich! Tommie fall on those fumbles - that one looked like you had money on the game, and it wasn't on the Bears! Ogunleye - where are you dude? Wake up!
I think Hunter had a good game. Dusty is great. Mike Brown - stop being afraid to hit - right now you are slightly better than average at best. Let it all hang out!
Kyle's the new king. Keep it up dude, keep getting better, Ron stop swallowing your playbook when the going gets tough.
They'll be okay - time for a defensive back signing?
October 13, 2008
#13 JAB said . . .Thanks Phil, I walked away from the ledge but I have the feeling I'll be back soon.
October 13, 2008
#14 Willie from chicago said . . .Thanks Phil, I walked away from the ledge but I have the feeling I'll be back soon.
October 13, 2008
#15 Viva said . . .Guys, didn't the pass before the field goal seem to take longer than 6 seconda. I saw the replay and the clock wouldnt start until about a second or twoafter the ball was snapped.
October 13, 2008
#16 Viva said . . .Here are three decisions that cost us the game:
1. With 36 seconds left in the first half Lovie decided to take the path of least resistance into the locker room down 9-3. (We take a knee) I guess we should have been happy only down by 6??? What, were we waiting them out???
2. Down by two scores, and facing a 4th and goal to go from the 1 Lovie went for it. When time is as valuable as points, you take the points and save the time.
3. With eleven ticks left on the clock, and the need to pin your opponent deep, you squib kick and forfiet an opportunity to do that which you need to do.
I wish M. Brown would have dragged Jenkins back into the field as opposed to knocking him out of bounds....We couldn't hold a lead for 11 seconds.
Orton looked great down the stretch.
October 13, 2008
#17 Albert in Tucson said . . .More to your point, Jeff. I concur. Lovie peaked as a Defensive Coordinator in St Louis, but lacks the decision making ability to perform this job.
Anyone trying to pawn the decision to squib kick off on Taub, be advised, Lovie has veto power. (And if Lovie didn't know what that decision was before they ran the play, then he should be fired for dereliction.)
I want Singletary.
October 13, 2008
#18 BearDown1982 said . . .Tampa Bay game, revisited. Enemy running game is COMPLETELY shut down but the inability to put any kind of pressure on the opposing QB ultimatly leads to defeat. I hate to say it, but as much as they need Mike Brown's brain on the field, he looks a step slow now.
Specials teams/ Can you say Brendan Ayanbejo? Ouch.October 13, 2008
#19 Chitillidie said . . .All arguing about the squib kick aside...did anyone else think it was a terrible kick by Gould? It just seemed like a lazy, dead kick right to a Falcon. Maybe he was worried that he might get too much on it and it would fly out of bounds...but that was a pretty crappy kick. My grandma could have fielded it.
October 13, 2008
#20 Ronaldo said . . .A few thoughts:
1. Clock operator started the clock about 3 steps after Norwood caught the last kickoff. If the clock operator does their job, the game is over when Jenkins goes out of bounds.
2. Squib kick = we don't trust our coverage units. For christ sakes, put Briggs/Payne out the coverage team in situations like that if you don't like your personel. Squib kicks usually are returned to the 30-40. This call made no sense. Robbie is not good at them either.
3. 3 points in the 1st half wins the game. Defensive blundering aside.
4. Mike Brown catches the INT in the first half = points. They sent a huge blitz on that play. Why didn't Babich send more blitzes after its early success? It's not like our corners were stopping those tall wide receivers.
5. Fullback runs up the gut make sense...if your O-line is getting push up the middle. We got zero push all day. Against less than stellar D tackles. Stupid, stupid football. Those are Pee-wee plays, and the whole league knows exactly where the ball is going on 3rd and 1.I think we win this division. But we're not going to be able to hang w/the Giants, etc. Disappointing.
October 13, 2008
#21 Ronaldo said . . .Most of the people on this blog would have blitzed the be-jeezus out of a rookie QB. It's clear that our front 4 are not effective to run the cover 2 (save Alex Brown and Dusty the Run-Stopper). I can't quite understand why Babich wouldn't have mixed in a couple more zone blitzes to confuse the rook. I can only remember Briggs coming on 1 blitz. Briggs seems to be our most effective blitzing LB (or just most-effective LB). Bring him more often.
There is no way on earth that the squib kick should have been called without Lovie involved. That is not a decision that you allow to be delegated. Phil, I saw Haugh's column this morning, but that's a weak argument. Take emotions out of it, what are the percentages of a kick-returner running one back 60 yards to set up FG position? Play the percentages.
I've never been the one to call for firing coaches, but it's pretty clear that almost halfway through the 2008 season, this team displays a disturbing trend for giving games away. It may be time for a new voice in the locker room. Angelo has all the information he needs for determining the future of this franchise. That being said, I don't see Angelo walking Lovie down the plank this early in the season. We'll have to ride this wave of mediocrity at least until Sept. 2009.
Our pass defense is our achilles heal. Clearly, the rest of the league is aware of this.
Due to our coaching staff's inability to maximize our personnel, instead of a commanding divisional lead, we're locked in a death grip for the lead, possibly fighting for a wild card spot.
October 13, 2008
#22 Joseph said . . .Most of the people on this blog would have blitzed the be-jeezus out of a rookie QB. It's clear that our front 4 are not effective to run the cover 2 (save Alex Brown and Dusty the Run-Stopper). I can't quite understand why Babich wouldn't have mixed in a couple more zone blitzes to confuse the rook. I can only remember Briggs coming on 1 blitz. Briggs seems to be our most effective blitzing LB (or just most-effective LB). Bring him more often.
There is no way on earth that the squib kick should have been called without Lovie involved. That is not a decision that you allow to be delegated. Phil, I saw Haugh's column this morning, but that's a weak argument. Take emotions out of it, what are the percentages of a kick-returner running one back 60 yards to set up FG position? Play the percentages.
I've never been the one to call for firing coaches, but it's pretty clear that almost halfway through the 2008 season, this team displays a disturbing trend for giving games away. It may be time for a new voice in the locker room. Angelo has all the information he needs for determining the future of this franchise. That being said, I don't see Angelo walking Lovie down the plank this early in the season. We'll have to ride this wave of mediocrity at least until Sept. 2009.
Our pass defense is our achilles heal. Clearly, the rest of the league is aware of this.
Due to our coaching staff's inability to maximize our personnel, instead of a commanding divisional lead, we're locked in a death grip for the lead, possibly fighting for a wild card spot.
October 13, 2008
#23 Pankster In NC said . . .Which coach should be fired first?
Larry, Curly, or Moe?
October 13, 2008
#24 AK said . . .I am Fucking sick! Lovie needs to man up to this fuck up! The bears and angelo need to get on waiver wire get us some secondary help ASAP!!!deadline is tomorrow and is anybody out there who can cover??Stop peterson/taylor and dont let grandpa ferrotte see shit!!!BEAR DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 13, 2008
#25 pankster said . . .You know what doesn't work? Handing it off to your fullback on 3rd and 1. It has FAILED on several occasions. I closed my eyes and knew that they were handing it off to McKie.
October 13, 2008
#26 pankster said . . .FIRE LOVIE, BABICH and romo out 4 weeks cowgirls going down like us!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 13, 2008
#27 Thoughts? said . . .FIRE LOVIE, BABICH and romo out 4 weeks cowgirls going down like us!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 13, 2008
#28 Crown said . . .Last night in the late posts I said bump the WR's hard at the line. Gives more time to rush and less time for them to get far enough down field. AND play close cover not the soft Cover Who? The only thing that a prevent defense does is prevent a win.
Thoughts?
October 13, 2008
#29 mikebdot said . . .Does anyone know if you can challenge a play based on when the play clock starts and stops? If the play clock really didn't start for three seconds after Ryan snapped the ball, then why didn't some one up stairs realize that and tell L. Smith. I am done calling him Lovie anymore. I don't get a warm feeling when I think of him, rather I get the feeling that his aloof ass is detached from the game and his players, and is two steps behind the opposing coach. I get the feeling like he will mismanage the game in some way to lose it for us in the end. I get the feeling like he has no faith in the team he is throwing out there and their ability to succeed (look how suprised he was when Orton threw that TD during our last drive). I get the feeling like his 2 second delayed reaction to everything will continue to hurt us as far as when to challenge a play or call a timeout. He is no longer the humble and soft spoken defensive guru that first came to us. He no longer exudes that quiet confidence that a fan could get behind and believe in. I do not trust L. Smith anymore.
October 13, 2008
#30 Z said . . .The refs wanted the Falcons to win this game. Make no mistake.
There were so many missed/bs calls it really makes me sick.
These are just from memory:
1. Garza called for a hold. The guy FELL DOWN. It makes the game really frustrating to watch when the ONLY time a ref calls a hold is if the jersey is being pulled or a defensive player falls to the floor. Most of the time a defensive lineman falls to the floor is because he's a big fat fucking oaf. I like how "fucking" isn't listed as misspelled by my auto-spell check.
2. When the defender lined up offsides and it turns out there were offsetting penalties, when they showed the replay there were two other fouls in the same exact area. Since they threw the flag on the CB that lined up offsides, they were obviously watching him put his hands on Marty Booker's face-mask. Then, the player next to him held the other receiver in the slot. There was clearly jersey, and since that's the only time they call a holding penalty, one would think they would call that one too.
3. Corey Graham getting called for illegal contact, but then gave up the first down anyway, so that one was a moot issue anyway. Still, he didn't touch the defender...at all...let alone illegally.
4. Greg Olsen in the end zone. The defender went towards the ref as though he was mugged. On the replay it was clear he grabbed Olsen. This happened on another play with a different receiver.
5. The TD pass from Ryan to whoever it was. The guy clearly pushed off on Hamilton. Why is it ok for receivers to push off to get to the outside? You can touch each other to feel where the players are, but you can't push off.
6. The huge return that set up the missed field goal? Remember that one? There was a fucking block in the back. But, alas, the guy didn't fall down, so I guess there isn't a penalty.
7. Just a note, but I was unaware of the rule that if a defender is involved in a penalty against him and he is hurt no time-out is charged. That was a very interesting play. I couldn't fucking believe the announcers claiming that it appeared to be incidental contact. Tillman got fucking tackled. What kind of stupid are those announcers? Oh, that's right, I forgot about that brother-in-law thing.
The amount of time the challenges took was a joke.
As for bad coaching, I completely agree. McKie getting the ball is a joke. I'm all for using two backs that can carry the ball, but McKie fucking sucks. He cannot move anyone. That's what a fullback is paid to do. Move people.
I'm going to count the number of times Olin Kreutz is standing alone with nobody around him after a play is over the next game and I'll post the number. He and Garza make me a sad panda. I might go back and watch the game again, but that might be too painful. Though, I could just fast forward through our defense generating, what, a single punt? One which Hester fair caught with 5 yards between him and two defenders running way too fast to make a move on him after juke #1?
October 13, 2008
#31 BearDown1982 said . . .These are the longest 2 posts ever. Be warned. It is my therapy so I don't break things or go mad or both.
What a bizzaro football season. So now we can always pretty much stop the run and almost never stop the pass huh?
I would say our hope for making the playoffs is going to be squarely on this D waking itself up and motivating itself instead of phoning it in on the way to the bank to pick up those massive paychecks.
Why the D? Well the QB continues to improve and show a resiliency and feel that I have not seen for most of my life in CHI. That alone is reason for continued hope. (Rex was either hot or not and rarely if ever showed poise in the face of adversity during games. He should not be mentioned again this year by anyone as long as KO is healty IMHO.) Forte does all the little things and the WR's are improving.
Our O-line can't use the word push in a sentence or tell you its country of origin. When playing above expectations means your just pretty bad instead of really bad like we thought you would be because we didn't do enough to improve that area the last 2 years, that is a crappy way to run a business. Hopefully Williams is ready to get his feet wet in an NFL game really soon cause if we can't run maybe a few more seconds will help us with the pass. Our FB needs to be cut right now.
As should all coaches except Toub. If that was his call, it's the 1st big mistake I can remember. He has some credit built up anyway. And Lovie still should be imposing his will whenever necessary, especially in crunch time.
Stoic works when crazy shit is happening that shouldn't be that is out of your control, not when it is lack of effort, discipline and execution that is dooming you. That is exactly the time to get pissed and in someone's face. Guess it's a little hard to do when your own lack of effort, discipline and execution is the main problem. The team will reflect it's coaches and specifically it's head coach.
They can not adjust when the game plan is not working. No push from the O-line all day? Why not tele-prompt a FB up the middle play on the 1 yard line from the jumbotron. Ever heard of a fake. The QB is hot and it's not like u have 2 TE's that can catch the ball extremely well. Oh wait..... Or just give it to Forte twice. How many times do we have to beg? Shoudn't McKie be able to get some push without the ball if he can't with it? Isn't that his job? #22 seems to be able to get 1 or 2 yards even when they aren't there often.
Like when you are getting no pressure on the rookie QB from your front 4 and your secondary is not getting it done. Blitz. Blitz. Blitz. Are you leaving your secondary vulnerable? Yes but they are already not getting it done. Instead of giving them too much time to throw and a bad secondary, at least you take 1 of those 2 weaknesses and disadvantages away.
And the squib. Same philosophy. There are 2 parts to the equation. Distance from the FG spot and time on the clock. You win either of these and game over. So instead of kicking it far and making them have to have a good return to equal where the squib gave it to them anyway (and taking off more time) and only a great return making for a worse position, which hopefully your cover squad can handle once. (And yes every good tackler and player should be out on ST if you are short-handed and/or tired. WTF? It is only for all the marbles and maybe the division and the playoffs. Each game in the NFL is so damn important.) you squib and give them more yards and time automatically. (Plus Gould doesn't kick those well. He really doesn't do kickoffs very well at all. How about we cut the FB and have a guy that can kick 75 yards everytime off a T for a touchback?)
So we squib and they only need 1 pretty long pass to get in range and now have the extra time to maybe kick a FG if they make the play. With your secondary being your Achilles heal all day, this is the 1 time to rush only 2 or 3 and drop some more people back. Everybody for all I care. Let him take 15 seconds back there to throw. As long as when he does that game clock says zero on it. Then the big pass means nothing. It's end zone or bust. No penalty. Game over. Bears win. You never give the opponent part of what they need to win without making them earn it. Do not play to just not lose. Ever.
October 13, 2008
#32 Anytime said . . .In regards to the clock debate...
During one of the Bears plays on their final drive...I remember the radio guys wondering why one of our plays had only run of one second...so it seems like we may have benefitted from a crappy job by whoever was running the clock as well. Plus, the officials are supposed to keep an eye on this stuff.
Either way, pathetic end to the game...no spin needed.
October 13, 2008
#33 Urlacher FTW said . . .Still so depressed. Don't even feel like talking, listening, or even thinking about it. For the first time in 5 years I drove to work with no radio on. I simply lied down after that game in a pool of misery and tears. There is no excuse for that performance. A team that had 6-0 in their grasp is 3-3. That is not just the players. That is coaching. Somebody has to be made and example out of. Somebody has got to go.
October 13, 2008
#34 Z said . . .For all the KO doubter's left here is a QB comparison through week 6:
% Yards Avg TD INT Rating Player
61.6 1,386 7 8 4 87.6 Orton
63.2 1,302 7.2 8 5 86.8 Manning
66.7 1,259 6.9 4 4 84.5 Gerrard
63.6 76 6.9 0 0 83.9 Brady
66.7 487 6.2 3 2 85.8 GarciaNow some people will say Brady was out in week one, yup ask NE if they pay him any less; so still valid numbers through week 6 as toughness counts in my book; look at Brett. Garcia hasn't had as many games but still, see previous sentence. And Manning has had 1 less game but still Kyle doesn't exactly have Marvin and Reggie to throw to now does he. The point here is that pre 08 we would have taken any of those QBs in a second; but after 6 weeks Orton has outperformed them all for one reason or another and with the exception of Gerrard, they are last year's Pro Bowl QBs. What kind of value are we getting at QB!
I see a positive here, if it was our Offense struggling; I'd would be more depressed because, well, it is always our offense; yah every year. But I see a lot of light at the end of the tunnel for this O, the D; well they simply have to follw my 2 step method for success:
A.) Grab ahold of your head.
B.) Pull hard until it is completely out of your ass.So we are tied for the division lead with 5 division games ahead and all we need to get going is for our D to get motivated and finish more than 2 games this season. I feel pretty good about the chances of that happening.
October 13, 2008
#35 zisk said . . .Round 2
It seems that we are so used to our coaches sucking that when they even have a decent half we are so elated that we sing their praises. Or most of a game is played well but they choke hard with the game on the line that we cut them slack. I fear we have come to expect bad so often we then tolerate mediocre or sometimes praise pretty good. Not gonna get er done.
There is penty of talent on the D to be dominant even with the secondary problems. Blitz until they get better or healthier or until the front 4 creates the pressure on their own. Shit blitz then too. The secondary is already getting beat and the front 4 ain't doing it. Disrupt the play. Make the QB hear footsteps. Throw off his timing. Create a TO. Maybe even score as a D. Let them loose Babich. This is not working often enough.
No coach will get fired this year in-season so what can we hope for? I guess we need some secondary help. I didn't like the Harris trade and the Manning Jr. cut seemed like a waste. Shit I was pissed we let Tank go but that one worked out OK. When 1 injury will leave you thin and vulnerable at a position, don't thin yourself out further. Glad the WR's are playing well but that same thought crossed my mind with cutting Booker and getting nothing for a former 2nd round pick. He is healthy now and it is the coaches job to go to the mat to make the personalities mesh and just get the best talent on the field and make it perform well as a team. I don't know what Booker had, but I should. If he kicks ass down the road I will be rightfully pissed.
Should we trade Tommy? Should we trade picks for Lito Sheppard? Any other teams have too many in the secondary? If we were legitimately rebuilding on O and just plain sucked this year, I think I could deal. This is killing me. The O is steppping up and the D and ST are killing us. WTF? WTF? WTF?
I'll take Ditka as coach. Singletary as Def. Coach and shit let KO audible all game. Seemed to work pretty good. Or a drunk monkey with darts on O etc. etc.
And oh yeah bump the receivers on the last play at the line and run with them, that extra 1 or 2 seconds ends the game and again makes it an endzone or bust play. How many things can we do to avoid an unearned victory?
Sad Pandas indeed this monday that we celebrate Columbus finding the Bahamas most likely and subsequently leading to our good old USA.
Season not nearly over. Still tied for the NFC North lead. Regroup. Do a testicle check and BEAR the FUCK DOWN!!!
October 13, 2008
#36 Crown said . . .The biggest thing this d fence needs is an elite pass rushing D-end. As is we are only getting pressure when we send a blitz, which babich only feels safe doing when we have our stud corners out there. its either blitz and leave the wide receivers alone with hamilton graham and manning or don't blitz and wait for them to get separation from the aforementioned three. Look for DEs angelo the secondary will get healthy and the youngsters will get better but ogun's best days are behind him. I still like him but I'd like him better if he was able to take some plays on the bench.
I'm going back to bed dueces everyoneOctober 13, 2008
#37 zmac said . . .Does anyone know whether we could have challenged the time clock not starting for 3 seconds after Ryan snapped it on his last throw? Is that a challengable play?
October 13, 2008
#38 jdawg said . . .The squib was a horrid call. You cant defend it as being even a marginally good idea. When the opposing team can WIN with a FG, there is NO circumstance where you squib kick. Who cares that they ran it back to the 20 last time? Make them earned the good field position again. Dont GIVE them the 45.
The defense was bad against the pass all day, but you know what? They killed the run and were VERY good in the red zone as usual.
The offense had their probelms as well. They couldnt stay on the field longer than 60 seconds most the game, but you know what they constructed a beautiful game winning drive and left just 11 seconds on the clock. Orton finally made the plays I wanted to see him make.
This loss goes on the coaches. Their play calling at the goal line and not just taking the field goal was stupid and the squib was even more stupid.
October 13, 2008
#39 zmac said . . .well -- I quie watching when the Falcons were at the 20 and getting ready to go up by two scores near the end of the game. I'm glad I didn't turn the TV on and took my new dog for a walk instead.
Get the Rolaids ready. This season is going to look like that episode of All in the Family when Edith is going through menopause.
My dog is sleeping next to me as I write this. She just farted but I still love her.
I feel the same way about the Bears.
October 13, 2008
#40 Ronaldo said . . .#14: If you watch the replay, he was also out of bounds before the clock stopped so I think it ended up fair.
October 13, 2008
#41 Bill said . . .Crown, you can't challenge inside of 2minutes, only referee can. Presumably, the refs looked at that on the replay when they reviewed the catch.
October 13, 2008
#42 zmac said . . .Wow - I must be the only guy on here that is not near-suicidal over this game. Shocked and disappointed, but I see more good than bad.
First - we earned all our points on offense this time. Can't say enough about Hester becoming a real receiver and Orton continuing his very much for real ascent into a solid QB.
Play calling was very good overall. Not near the goal line, but I actually trust Turner enough to believe he will learn from that.
Elam's miss was as close to luck as you get. And the offense actually took advantage of it.
Now the defense. Tommie embarassed himself yesterday. So did Urlacher. We'll see if they care enough to respond. Same with Babich - does he have the guts to bench them if it keeps up?
The secondary was hurt - it had ripples all the way down. The squib was NECESSARY in my mind. I expected them to do that. I hoped Gould coudl have done it better.
Sometimes the other teams make good plays too. Ryan is a great QB. Funny how when we make good plays, it's because we're good. When the other team makes good plays, it's because we're bad.
Eleven seconds was long enough for what happened to happen. If in fact the clock didn't start on time, then that's an issue Lovie should bring up with the league. He owes it to the team.
But the pass play was a good read by a good QB against an inexpereinced back (Hamilton) that misplayed the situation. Yet I blame Babich, becuase he should have set a line and said to the team "anything short of this - LET THEM CATCH IT and tackle fast. NO COMPLETIONS past this point. But that's easy to say now.
It was a great game - the kind we used to lose far before the last second. A lot of good things are ahead of us.
October 13, 2008
#43 animal said . . .#31: How did we benefit with that? If the clock runs, maybe Kyle throws the TD pass with 3 seconds left?
October 13, 2008
#44 Decatur Staleys # 7 said . . .Ill sum up these long posts:
we are an 8-8 football team. So, 3-3 is right on track. Ugh.October 13, 2008
#45 Ronaldo said . . .Chicago D this what you have created this week
Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta. Big, big game against a very good Chicago defense -- in fact, the league's best third-down defense. On third downs, he completed nine of 12 for 135 yards. That's good. This is better.
With the Falcons needing about 25 yards to attempt a game-winning field goal with six seconds left, Ryan threw a perfect 26-yard strike at the left sideline to Michael Jenkins, and Jenkins held on while crashing out of bounds. One second left. Jason Elam's 48-yard field goal won it.
Folks, we may be seeing the game's next great quarterback growing up before our very eyes. To complete 22-of-30 for 301 yards, one TD and no interceptions against a defense that hounds the quarterback as well as Chicago does is a tremendous feat for a quarterback in his sixth pro game
Now your the punchline to other people jokes,You made a rookie look like the 2nd coming of Montana.
Don't let Gus become Unitas this week.October 13, 2008
#46 Z said . . .If there's anything last year's Super Bowl taught us is that any QB, especially rookie QBs, will have trouble in unyielding pressure. This means pressure withthe front 4, pressure with LB blitzes, pressure with CB blitzes. But Babich seems to not have watched that game.
October 13, 2008
#47 Ronaldo said . . .How about trade for Oakland CB, Nnamdi Asomugha, he is a bad ass but an expensive one
October 13, 2008
#48 Albert in Tucson said . . .You know, for those that sympathize with the squib kick decision, I would argue that if we kicked a normal kick-off and the guy runs it back, then the other team deserved to win that game. It's that simple. If he's able to run the gauntlet and score 6 on a kick-off, you tip your hat to them, shake their hand, and walk off the field. But to give them the ball at their 40 and ask them to only move it only 20-30 yards, when their QB has been doing it all day, is inexcusable.
And what idiotic D coordinator runs a frackin' cover 2 in that situation? Jesus man, when you're D's been shredded by a rookie QB who knows that you're running a cover 2, he knows exactly where to throw the ball.
I tip my hat to the optimists out there on this blog. It's too cloudy out there today for me. Granted, I appreciate the positives and am quite thrilled with our QB and RB play, but if there's anyone that legitimately thinks we can cohesively make our offense and defense gel together a string of well-played games, well then you haven't witnessed the Lovie era in Chicago Bears history (outside of 2005).
October 13, 2008
#49 Bearman on the Sangamon said . . .Whoa! I just saw a milk carton with Brian Uhrlacher's picture on it!
October 13, 2008
#50 Urlacher FTW said . . .The Squib of Doom!
I keep hearing people saying, "Yeah, well any NFL coach would have done that...because the last kickoff they got burned for an 80 yard return."
Gimme a break! How many times have the Bears special teams been burned like that in the last three years? I can't remember that EVER happening. I have a hard time believing that Lovie Smith lost confidence in his specials teams unit after that one bad return against a very speedy return man.
Especially going back to 2006 and all the "Rex is our quarterback" shit. That guy would throw pick sixes all season long and Smith never lost confidence.
Cedric 'The Entertainer' Benson created his own patented running style (take handoff, fall down) last season and yet remained the starter until he was thankfully injured, and remained on the damn team until his off-field activities caught up with him.
The point is, if Coach Smith did, then he shouldn't have lost confidence in the best special teams unit in the NFL. That is a LAME excuse for a bad call. Maybe it would not be so bad if the very next play Babich blew the game.
Honestly, there is only one place on the entire field Ryan could go with the ball...he went there and Mike Brown blew it.
Speaking of that, what is with all these amazing Pro Bowl quality players on defense suddenly sucking more nuts than a Hawaiian hooker when the Pacific fleet is at anchor? Mike Brown is worn out and it is upsetting that such a promising NFL career ended with injuries...but I don't care if he is a Chicago Bear anymore. Tommie Harris is a coward using his religion to hide behind while playing like a dipshit. A. Brown, Ogunleye, and Idonije are kicking ass, and so is Dvoracek, but there is NO pass rush most of the time...Danieal Manning will soon join his cousin as an ex-Bear, I think...unless he remembers how to cover. Briggs is doing what is expected of him. But where is Urlacher? He's had a lot of good things going this season, but vanished and like Jeff said, just wondered aimlessly around the field yesterday. Kevin Payne is an excellent hitter and tackler and is mobile coming up to stop the run, but I don't like him in coverage at all.
If Tillman is out for an extended period of time, bye bye secondary. Bye bye defense. Bye bye 2008.
October 13, 2008
#51 Joseph said . . .Overall I think time keeping is pretty jacked up throughout. I see 2 or 3 plays every game where I don't know why the clock is stopped for a while, stops, or keeps running. In the bears game Olsen took a short pass out of bounds moving forward the whole time and the clock continued to run... ? There was another play for Atlanta where the back caught a ball for an apparant first down and the whole time Atlanta huddled the clock was stopped, then it started running just before the snap. I always assume it's delay from field to the TV station but I'm not so sure.
October 13, 2008
#52 Crown said . . .Every week it's something new with this team! First it's Orton then it's the D next it's Olsen then back to the D. Now it's the coaching staff. WTF is going on?
This team needs a screamer for a head coach! When I was a kid if I did something bad I would get yelled at until my superman underware turned brown. And if I did it again then I got the belt! Problem is Lovie is the type that will make you go to time-out or send you to your room and take away your Nintendo for the night.
We need someone who will scream and fucking break shit until they get it right! And won't repeat it!! God dammit this is Chicago...the toughest blue collar city in the world and we don't take no shit from nobody! Get tough Lovie!
Something needs to change...anyone would be an improvement over this staff. I don't care that Lovie led us to the Superbowl in '06...if you remember it was the Defense that got us there and the leader of that defense is in San Diego now!
Shake shit up Angelo or you will be the one to go!
October 13, 2008
#53 Urlacher FTW said . . .Tommie Harris should be benched. Idonije and Adams have out performed him all year and deserve to play over him. He is not the best three technique defensive tackle in the league and is one of the most overrated players in the league. I have not heard his name being brought up for a positive play one time this year. I knew Urlacher was going to play older this year and that his talent was waning. That is why I am OK with him. He is still an above average middle LB, but he just doesn't have the closing speed he used to. He still has good instincts, but yesterday he did not get to the ball well at all.
October 13, 2008
#54 sean said . . .I just checked out the NFL rulebook for timing and this was in it:
"When, in the judgment of the Referee, the level of crowd noise prevents the offense from hearing its signals, he can institute a series of procedures which can result in a loss of team time outs or a five-yard penalty against the defensive team. "
OMG, penalty for excessive crowd noise, the ref that throws that flag is bound to get lynched.
October 13, 2008
#55 Bill said . . .It's a lame excuse, but if you watch the replay, the clock on the kickoff didn't start for 1.5-2 seconds. No question about it. The Ryan to Jenkins hook up some how only took 5 seconds. That was legit.
The Bears MO was clearly to stop Turner, which they did. Force Ryan to beat them which he did. After the first half there didn't seem to be adjustments made to jostle Ryan. Why did the Bears abandon what they had done so well all season? When the Bears did blitz they seemed to always get picked up. The Falcons O-line was tremendous when it came to pass protection.
I really thought the Bears didn't deserve the win considering the last second heroics, them seemingly getting torched the first half, and the missed chip shot, but the bears converted more 3rd downs, were close to equal in time of possession and total yards. A tough loss to swallow but it was made a little easier by all the other upsets in the league and the last minute lead changes.October 13, 2008
#56 Joseph said . . .Correct me if I'm wrong, but the clock on a kickoff doesn't start until someone touches the ball. I didn't record the game - but it doesn't seem implausible for the kickoff to have taken five seconds (though that must have been an awfully quick clock stoppage when tackled.
As to the pass play, I can see it being only 5 seconds. Again, a very good job of recognition by a rookie.
I think the Falcons are a good team. I think the Bears are too.
The mroe I think of it, the more I'm willing to bench Tommie Harris for his dumb play.
October 13, 2008
#57 Lynn said . . .Did I miss something or did the League suspend someone on the Bears for substance abuse! I just heard that on the radio in my car! I think it was Metcalf but not sure cause I had to take a call.
Anybody else hear this?
October 13, 2008
#58 Lynn said . . .Lovie needs to go and so does our horrible asst. coaches. I normally just blame Lovie, but this was a total coaching staff failure. I am SICK of that damn Cover 2 and the damn Jam it up the middle run plays. How the hell can we NOT sack a rookie and NOT sack Griese on 63 attempts? We need an entire overhaul of the coaching staff. We aren't going to do squat this season and the idiots that are paying are the ones with their seats in the seats!
October 13, 2008
#59 Lynn said . . .Lovie needs to go and so does our horrible asst. coaches. I normally just blame Lovie, but this was a total coaching staff failure. I am SICK of that damn Cover 2 and the damn Jam it up the middle run plays. How the hell can we NOT sack a rookie and NOT sack Griese on 63 attempts? We need an entire overhaul of the coaching staff. We aren't going to do squat this season and the idiots that are paying are the ones with their seats in the seats!
October 13, 2008
#60 Al In WI said . . .Lovie needs to go and so does our horrible asst. coaches. I normally just blame Lovie, but this was a total coaching staff failure. I am SICK of that damn Cover 2 and the damn Jam it up the middle run plays. How the hell can we NOT sack a rookie and NOT sack Griese on 63 attempts? We need an entire overhaul of the coaching staff. We aren't going to do squat this season and the idiots that are paying are the ones with their seats in the seats!
These are the mornings that I would START WITH MARIOTTI and usually agree with him. You're right, Couch isn't the guy for the job.
October 13, 2008
#61 Phil from SATX said . . .I couldn't agree more about the sentiment to fire Smith. I know that yesterday I jumped on Babich because I'm resigned to the fact that we're stuck with Smith for a while yet. But at the end of the day Smith is the real issue here. His team has now blown 6 fourth quarter leads in it's last 7 losses.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, last season when Smith got his contract extension and cleaned house, he said "trust me." Since that point this team has practically unraveled. What qualified Babich to be the DC other than his status as Lovie's BFF? Nothing. Nothing at all....October 13, 2008
#62 HesterFan23 said . . .The weirdest thing on today's posts is that I agree with about 100% of them, even when they're contrary. Not sure how, but it's happening. Every single writer today is making sense to me. I will agree that the squib sucked, but I'll also agree that Dave Toub has built up credit for a bad decision. Babich I think lost it under the pressure - there must be some way to ensure that a sideline catch doesn't get made. But things were happening fast, and who knows, he might have been celebrating prematurely himself.
Viva said it but now I finally saw it, not using your timeouts at the end of the first half was inexcusable. He wasn't running out the clock... he was calling passes and seeing if they worked but still not stopping the clock. That was BUSH fucking LEAGUE. With Orton working as well under pressure as he does, that could have easily turned into 3 - we had 3 freaking timeouts! That was inexcusable.
The late clock was maybe 1/2 second to 1 second, and Zmac had it right, it also didn't stop on time. The real issue was giving the ball to them on the 45 and allowing the only pass that could have worked.
Decatur is right when he talks about what we witnessed in Matt Ryan - I honestly think we were looking at the next Brady/Manning in the league. For once there was a QB that was worth the #3 pick (and the two teams picking in front are going to look like complete dumbasses eventually). I could not believe this kid's perfect throws, and his unflappable nature, FOR A ROOKIE! The Falcons could be the Steelers of a few years ago.
RT needs to do some intense studying on goal line offense. Have you ever noticed that subterfuge, OF ANY LEVEL, ANY KIND, always seems to work on the goal line? Even the most basic - play action, QB rollout to a wide open RB, RE or FB? It works EVERY TIME! What doesn't work is a completely telegraphed handoff to the guy coming up the middle. It's the only play the defense has to, MUST prepare to stop. It's the reason why we beat the Eagles in the goal line stand. USE SUBTERFUGE, IDIOT!
Z, I real all of both your posts and agreed with virtually everything you said. I know you meant Bradley when you were saying Booker. Great analysis on the blitzing - there was nothing to lose because the secondary was eating it anyway.
Mikeb, loved Sad Pandas. Could be a great band name.
Jdawg, ya did it again. Retaining the crown of funniest poster except when Rancid strikes on occasion.
Agree with Crown about Tommie. I believed that last year when he was creating his havoc, half the time it was because he was offsides without being called. Remember when they were timing their rushes, a little too good? This guy hasn't just read his own press clippings, he eats them for breakfast lunch and dinner. Right now he looks like the 3rd, maybe 4th best interior lineman. Maybe he's hurt - but then again he's always hurt. Plus two weeks ago he was saying the weirdest shit in the world, like he was on drugs or something - all that 3rd person crap. Sit his ass til it stokes a fire under him.
Agree that we are one all-world pass rusher away from being a great defense right now. Ogun ain't doing it - Alex Brown is, but he can't do it alone.
Agree with whoever mentioned the Briggs blitz, which led to an incredibly lame Mike Brown interception attempt which would have changed the game and which should have been a relatively easy INT - why didn't Babich keep sending Briggs after that?
Six games in - when do you think Urlacher will make his presence felt? Will it happen? Right now he's solid but nothing great.
In short, I agree with everyone. Kudos to the well-rounded posting today!
October 13, 2008
#63 HesterFan23 said . . .First, who would have thought KO would be the highlight this far? Awesome. That one word has been his season after six games.
As for Lovie. You are an idiot. Kick the fricken ball deep. I'll give up the TD return before that type of loss.
It is very unlikely that he returns it, and if he tries to and doesn't get it, GAME OVER. Don't squib it, and if you do, do it down to the 10.
We should be 6-0, 8 points are keeping us from that. When you lose this many close games, I'm sorry to say, but it comes down to coaching.
October 13, 2008
#64 animal said . . .Oh, one more thing...
The cover two just isn't working. Everytime we hear them talk about it during a game, it's after a 20-yard completion.
October 13, 2008
#65 big rob said . . .Now Cribbs of the Browns ran out of the Wildcat formation successfully. WHY CANT THEY LET HESTER DO THAT????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
October 14, 2008
#66 animal said . . .My 2 cents
1. Kyle Orton is a good QB with the potential to be a great QB. Kyle was seeing the field great all day. Coming off the bus running with this offense is bullshit!! We need to set the tempo by coming out firing and catching the opposing team off guard. I like that they are defering the kickoff to get the defense on the field first but with what I have seen from Kyle these past few weeks we need to come out firing!! TRUST YOUR QB!! Even without Lloyd on the field Kyle was passing the ball all over the field. Ron Turner needs to pull his head out of his ass and realize that we have weapons on offense and we need to use them.
2. Ron Turner PULL YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR ASS!! You gave us all hope in the Philly game by coming out passing the ball down the field, It worked, Don't Stop!! Dumbass!! Kyle does a great job of reading defenses and he is getting better by the game. Trust him!! You trusted him enough to give him the starting job, trust him now to lead this team. He may not be Payton but he does a damn good job putting the ball where it needs to be and keeping it from where it shouldn't.
3. Defense!! This is supposed to be the foundation of this team. Say what you will but they did a great job of holding Atlanta to all those field goals. The problem with this defense is also trust!! The coaches don't trust the 2nd stringers who have to step up for injuries to do their jobs. They call these vanilla cover 2 plays and expext that to get the job done. TRUST YOUR PLAYERS!! They are on the team for a reason, if you don't think they can run a NFL D than they shouldn't be on the team!!
4. Special Teams, they made 1 mistake by giving up a long return that resulted in 0 pts. TRUST YOUR SPECIAL TEAMS!! With 11 seconds you want the other team to have the longest field possible to have to drive down. Do not squid kick the ball and give them the possibility of any plays like the one that happened yesterday. Worse case scenario that get a long return that takes time off the clock to set up a hail mary pass.
I was at the game yesterday and it makes me sick that we lost the game the was we did. There were so many opprotunities that we left on the field. There was no was that we should have been playing from behind all day.
I could ramble on for days.............
October 14, 2008
#67 The Knight of Ownage said . . .This may sound like over reacting, but this defense needs to rebuild. Our best player on each level- Harris, Urlacher, Brown- are aging and injury prone. Re-build around Izzy, Dusty, Briggs, Jamarr Williams, Corey Graham, Kevin Payne, etc. Younger, healthier guys. Then, of course, add guys to each unit as we have always done.
So how do you all feel about the big trade off? Im talking trading dynamic Kick Returner Hester for solid WR Hester? Is it a toss up? Dissapointment? Because it is clearly a trade. He is CLEARLY not the same returner, but in trade we get what looks to be a decent WR. He clearly makes up for the loss of Berrian in my eyes- he can get just as many catches, and his the speed/big play threat also.
Good trade-off? Bad trade-off? The return game has undeniably been a let down for us.
thoughts??October 14, 2008
#68 Shady said . . .Anyone hear about Terrence Metcalf getting suspended for 4 games for substance abuse? Another addition to the dog house. This dude is dead weight. Hasn't even played a down this season. I'd rather bring back Ruben Brown than have this guy on the team. Brown would be a solid back-up to Beekman. And Metcalf was supposed to have Beekman's job. Another shitty Jerry Angelo draft pick (2002 NFL Draft, Rd. 3, Pk. 93).
October 14, 2008
#69 enderwiggin said . . .I'm surprised people aren't concerned about the Tommie Harris unforced fumble. I mean, have you seen a more pathetic play in your entire life? The Bears paid millions of dollars for a player who can't hold onto the ball, let alone make a tackle. I know I'm being cynical, but that's the way you feel about things after this kind of loss. Tommie Harris still has the ability to make big contributions this year, and I can only hope and pray we see that kind of ability again.
Even though Lovie Smith said he would have kicked it deep if he had to do it again, I still believe the squib was the correct call in that situation. Not only did Norwood return the last Robbie Gould kickoff into FG range, but the Bears had so many injuries in the secondary that they had to use the special teams guys on defense and weren't looking good covering returns. Think about it, if the Bears had kicked it deep and Norwood returned it for the win, we ALL would be on Lovie's back right now for that kind of terrible decision.
IF THE KICK HAD BEEN EXECUTED PROPERLY (key words right there, ahem, Robbie) Atlanta would have had the ball around their 30-35 yard line and would have no choice but to throw for a TD. The kick, however, ended up putting the Falcons around their 45 and gave Ryan the extra option to pass towards the sideline just far enough to put Elam in range, but not too far as to burn out the clock. There were ONLY 2 areas on the field that Ryan could have put the ball in order to win the game for the Falcons, and for whatever reason HAMILTON decided to lose all awareness of what was going on in the game, and let the WR behind him and it cost the Bears the game. I don't blame this on Babich or Lovie, I blame it on the player in this kind of scenario. Get your head in the game!
For me, Ron Turner is having the season of his career. He's putting Orton in positions to make good plays, and he's using creativity in his calls to fool opposing defenses. For whatever reason though, when it comes down to getting one yard in key situations, he loses that subterfuge (to borrow a word from Phil, which i'm pretty sure he just made up) and reverts back to the FB dive with McKie or an obvious run up the gut. I have a feeling Turner doesn't have much of an option in that kind of situation, the Bears still consider themselves a running team, so when they are faced with a must-have short yardage situation, they run the ball because if you call yourself a running football team, or a team that gets off a bus running, then you have to pick up a single yard WHENEVER you want. Maybe the coaches are finding out they don't have the blockers who can get you that yard when everybody knows what's coming.
Every game presents these coaches with more information about their team. Making adjustments to these observations is key in order making the team better each week. If the coaches are able to continue capitalizing on what's successful and scrapping what's not, while thinking of new ways to exploit the talents of these players, then the Bears will be in good shape this season. Next week is going to show how these coaches and players deal with the adversity of several heartbreaking losses this year. I'm hoping they can come through with a big emotional win at home against the Vikes. No doubt the game is going to have serious playoff implications.
October 14, 2008
#70 Ram in S A said . . .playoffs?! PLAYOFFS?!?!
October 14, 2008
#71 NY Bears Fan said . . .Fire the coaching staff, their idiots! Defence is playing like a bunch of old ladies, another fucking 500.00 wasted on the monopoliezed direct tv package.. shit!!!
October 14, 2008
#72 Bearman on the Sangamon said . . .Look around at the NFL right now, there are no dominant teams. Take a look at the Patriots, Giants and Cowboys right now. The season is wide open if the Bears can pull their heads out of their ass and finish games. There are a lot of things positive happening on the offensive side of the ball that none of us really expected coming into the season. They need to win 2 out of the next 3 games and not get themselves in a hole. It then comes down to injuries at the end and getting hot at the right time. I am pretty excited about the season.
October 14, 2008
#73 mark said . . .Come on, Shady! You're so good most of the time!
The Squib of Doom was a horrible call. What's the alternative? Kicking a touchback. Trusting your coverage not to give up two big plays in a row.
There is absolutely no justification for that call. It was stupid and my mouth hung agape for ten minutes because of it.
October 14, 2008
#74 Decatur Staleys # 7 said . . .WE HAVE GREAT PLAYERS..BUT ONE THING OUR COACHES SUCK TURNER SMITH AND BABICH ALL SUCK... WE HAVE A GREAT ROSTER AND OUR COACHES CANT EVEN USE THEM TO THEIR POTENTIAL...WE NEED A WHOLE MAKEOVER IN OUR COACHES..
THATS WHY THE BEARS ARE NOT 6-0 CAUSE OF THE STUPID ASS COACHES!October 14, 2008
#75 jdawg said . . .Metcalf suspended: Guard Terrence Metcalf has been suspended by the NFL for four games for violating the league's policy on anabolic steroids and related substances. Metcalf, who started five games last season and 13 in 2005, is eligible to return for the Nov. 23 game in St. Louis.
I guess this is the end for him in Chicago,one way or another.
An Lovie for once admitted he was wrong about the kick.That a start Lovie, see your faults an correct them as you like to say about the team when they lose.
Our coach may be starting to learn people(cutting dead weight draft picks,Suspending players,cutting player not getting the job done)October 14, 2008
#76 SDWat51 said . . .for those that want to blame Brown:
www.suntimes.com/sports/football/bears/1218690,bowen101308.article
October 14, 2008
#77 Shady said . . .Old news, this is, but nonetheless, I'll blather: Urlacher hasn't been worth the money he held out for since '06. He just does not have the fire - or the steps - anymore. I'm figuring the big holdout was for retirement money, intentionally or not.
To be even more blasphemous, I haven't felt Mike Brow was as good as his press for 3 years, either. Good, but not the legend everyone kept eulogizing him as after every season-ending injury.
Harris isn't even sure why he's on the field, and neither are we.
Hester, once he held out, moved from great to in -development. He's fast, but he'll never, ever be a great wide receiver, he's too short to make the HOF from that position, sorry.
Kyle Orton has always been Bear tough, and I've said it on various boards since he was drafted. He was always going to be a very, very good QB, and he's only going to get better. Believe it. It's always the guys with the more blue collar approach to the game that make lasting impressions on defenses and fans, and Kyle is just getting started.
Kruetz should have been traded before last season. He's just not the man any longer, and hasn't been.
Coaches are a very, very wierd group in the NFL, and ours are no exception. Tell ya what though, I'd rather have Lovie than Childress/Marinelli any day. Of course, that leaves the door wide open to much better alternatives than what we have...
October 14, 2008
#78 Rancid said . . .Bearman,
Do you trust your special teams coverage not to give another big return, or do you trust your defense to get ONE stop? I'll trust the defense every time, especially when the special teams unit was just gashed the play before. Robbie fucked up the squib kick and made the coaches look foolish, but anyway, onto the Vikings...
Fuck Berrian.
October 14, 2008
#79 Phil from SATX said . . .I can't even read it all anymore. I am just in a sullen mood still. I normally return to optimism by now (Tuesday morning). It really doesn't make sense though. There are positives. KO looked fantastic. I'm not just talking about the last drive either. He looked good throwing the ball away when he needed to. He looked good moving around when he needed to. I realized on the last drive that I have gone from prefering Rex preseason to being a complete KO believer. When we had the ball around the 20, down 6 with under 30 seconds left, I thought "all we need is a TD and he's got 4 shots at the end zone. He can do this." The guy has given me confidence. Win this week and we are fine. This going to be the season of parity. Take the weak NFC North title and anything can happen in the playoffs. That happens this week when we kill Btwice and whatever sadsack piece of shit they start at QB. I firmly believe this line can handle AP, and the Minny passing game makes me throw up in my mouth. Some back hard and win the damn game.
October 14, 2008
#80 Viva said . . .Shady, I'm with you on that - in hindsight it can be looked at as a bad move, but it's at least a plausible decision based on the uncertainty of the special teams unit at that time given players playing that weren't seasoned. And it is undoubtedly true that if Gould had kicked deep and another long return had occurred, do you really believe all these posters wouldn't be just as incensed at that stupid move given what had just occurred? No doubt that would happen.
The real problem to me is that I feel too consistently that our coaches struggle very hard just to make okay decisions - their level of competence is low enough that they can't automatically react to typical situations, which leaves them in the dust when the fur is really flying. It's like the RT thing - he's doing really well, using all the playbook, then when the going gets tough he runs it up the middle over and over again. Or he ignores the success of the hurry-up when the standard stuff isn't working.
With Lovie, I just think that behind the Lake Placid face is a brain that may not be capable of moving that fast - and when the game starts moving fast he just hunkers down, like not using his timeouts at the end of the half.
Bottom line, it's not so bad that you'd say we have to win IN SPITE of our coaches, but you would have to say that against the great game day coaching staffs in this league, we're going to lose the coaching matchup every time - so then it will be up to our players to see whether we can pull out the win.
Changing topic, I'm going to go out on a crazy limb here and say
THIS MAY BE THE YEAR THE BEARS CAN WIN A SUPER BOWL
Not because of how great we are, but because of the immense opportunity this year that is staring us in the face. COWBOYS ARE CLOSE TO DONE - and they were my presumptive favorite to win the SB. PATRIOTS ARE DONE. COLTS ARE NOT THE TEAM THEY WERE. THE GIANTS ARE NOT AS GOOD AS THEY APPEAR. SEAHAWKS WENT FROM CONTENDERS TO DISASTERS.
We, on the other hand, are potentially a few players away from being a great team. And the Achilles heel of our past is no longer - we have QB, we have RB. WE NEED A RECEIVER, WE NEED SECONDARY HELP.
Jerry, go make some deals out there, THIS COULD BE THE YEAR.
Sounds crazy, right?
October 14, 2008
#81 Bearman on the Sangamon said . . .Shady,
There is a golden rule every infantry officer learns as a young Lieutenant... TURN THE MAP AROUND.
In my opinion - a squib kick would have been a great decision with 5 or less seconds on the clock because typically time will expire at the end of the play (kickoff). With more then 5 seconds left on the clock you need to pin your opponent as deep as possible. You want your opponent to be forced into a Hail Mary situation, where his only hope is a penalty or a miracle. Lovie, I believe, forfieted the opportunity to do that which he needed to do most in order to win. He could have also ensured that his best athletes were on the kickoff as well.
I do not believe he rehearses decisions like these enough (we use to call it war gaming). His decision making should come easier, and the answers should be at his fingertips, but they are not. This is not his first error in judgment, nor was it his first error in judment in that game.
How do you explain letting time wind down in the 1st half when you have timeouts available and are LOSING, with a QB who appears to excel in that situation?
October 14, 2008
#82 Phil from SATX said . . .No, Shady. Frankly, I don't trust the defense to make that one play. Not after two come-from-ahead losses in Weeks 2 and 3 and after seeing Matt Ryan just cut through them like they were a mediocre high school team. In that instance I go with the number one specials teams unit in the nation.
On to the Vikings. This one's in the history books.
October 14, 2008
#83 Crown said . . .Viva check it out - we were thinking the same thing at the same time - great minds brother!
October 14, 2008
#84 Viva said . . .Shady,
I disagree with you. This is on the head coach for the squib kick. I would rather make them earn the win by having Norwood take it to the house than giving them the game on a silver platter. We gave them the field position to operate. With the squib, we gave Ryan the opportunity to throw that out on the sideline (even though the soft cover two caused the catch) with enough time for the field goal. If we kick it to Norwood and he breaks one and Maynard is the only guy left, I would rather see our punter try to take him down with no time left (which he did earlier in the game) than give them the field position we did with time for two plays. As for the McKie short and goal runs, I blame that on the coaches too. When you have a guy like Forte who always falls forward and is able to get that extra yard even when it is not there, you should give him the ball twice in a row in that situation. That is two games now when they could have given Forte the ball twice on 3rd and 4th down. Or maybe try some play action, I thought that play we gave it to McKie would have been a perfect play action option to Forte or a TE. McKie has proven that he can't get that yard and Kruetz has proven he can't get that push in the middle anymore. Fuck L. Smith for implicitly throwing Toub under the bus during his press conference yesterday regarding the kick at the end. That call should have gone through you dummy and if it didn't then you do not deserve to be a head coach in the NFL. Our coach never looks like he is on top of the game, especially in critical situations. Its like he balls up in a cocoon and doesn't know what to do. This game was first and foremost on the coaches. I agree with everything else you said though.
October 14, 2008
#85 Pankster said . . .Roger that, Phil.
October 14, 2008
Lovie needs to save face FIRE BABICH PATCH and take over the Defenseless Bears and goto the 46 defense what the hell it cant hurt and BLITZ THE SHIT OUT OF EVERY BODY and make those over paid pussies earn their money in a time of crisis football wise and economically wise in the world and for all u guys with the sunday ticket like me I feel ur pain!!!
October 14, 2008
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