With only needing a win to be a playoff team, we failed. I'll be back tomorrow with commentary.
One thing is certain. This defense must be blown up.
#2 jdawg said . . .Some coaches need to be handed their walking papers too.
Fuck being first, I feel last tonight.
December 29, 2008
#3 jdawg said . . .irstfay!
December 29, 2008
#4 jdawg said . . .irdthay!
December 29, 2008
#5 HesterFan23 said . . .hmmm.... I'm not sure what blowing up the D means. I think Ogun is out, but who else? Harris? 54? Roach? Tillman? Vasher? Payne?
The loss of Brown stung, big time.
How to evaluate Turner with the O line and WRs we have?
Orton as well?
Whoever is brought in must be a team leader, because besides Mike Brown and Olin we don't have any.
Maybe we should bring in Mike Brown. He may be the only football player on this team.
December 29, 2008
#6 HesterFan23 said . . .Turner and Babich need to be gone to start with.
After that, I'd like to see us sign a QB that can make plays and be consistent. We need a #2 or #3 WR to go with Hester, another guy for the OL wouldn't hurt, and we need another safety to replace what I think will be the retired Mike Brown.
December 29, 2008
#7 Nick said . . .One a different note, how bad is the AFC West?
December 29, 2008
#8 Ram in S.A. said . . .As many of you that have read my posts before I usually defend the coaching staff of the Bears. This week I have to sadly say we were let down by coaching. Babich lost us this game. Turner didn't do much better, but our defense that was once dominate has become mediocre at best. I really think Lovie Smith's coaching style works well as a head coach. I think he needs to get his coordinators to be more of the "Ditka" type, high intensity and rough around the edges. Rivera struck me as that type. Babich is too passive.
Another thing about Orton, how many of his picks came after the ball was tipped by our own receivers? Receiver is the number one issue right now. Hester has done a good job considering he never in his life has played receiver. The Bears need to make a push for getting Boldin or TJ "Whos-yo-momma." Then draft a high receiver. If we could get a good receiving core then we could judge Orton's ability, but until we get those receivers judgement needs to be put on hold.
December 29, 2008
#9 The Duke said . . .It it now 9:35 pm and we just got back from Houston, what a fucking dissapointment! We as fans are pumped to the tilt, and there we sat watching a lame dick team show up! I belive as a buss. owner, that you got to start at the top, and that means that fuck head GM, what a a job, does this ass hole have something on the McKaskies or what? I can't believe I saw so many missed tackles! Second comes these inept piece of shit coaches, Fire these asses, I never seen in my life such emotionless ass holes. I want to see some fire on the side lines, hence, I am starting the call for freaking BILL COWHER!!!!!!!!! That is the right guy for the job! FUCK I'M PISSED!!!!
December 29, 2008
#10 The Duke said . . .I'm still shaking my head at Lovie's post-game comments and his inability to accept blame or admit his D and D-Cord suck.
Until he does that I have nothing more to say.December 29, 2008
#11 John said . . .I lied. One more thing.
I agree with Jdawg, you can't evaluate Orton with our WR's.
If anything he gets more props for putting points with this mediocre receiving core period. I'd keep him rather than draft yet another Bears developmental project. As far as the D goes it really does have to get blown up. Only problem is Angelo has already blown-up the bank with his rediculous extensions to Urlacher, Harris, Tillman, and Vasher. We're stuck with this overpaid underachieving lot whether we like it or not. so the blow up ain't really possible.December 29, 2008
#12 Nick said . . .Bears S-U-C-K
December 29, 2008
#13 Albert In Tucson said . . .John...you're a p-u-s-s-y.
December 29, 2008
#14 Albert In Tucson said . . .Get off Orton, already. If we had told you Saturday that he'd throw for 244 yards with 2 TD passes, no picks and would run for a 3rd TD you'd have BET THE MORTGAGE PAYMENT on the Bears! Orton finished the season with 18 TD passes and 12 picks and 28 yards shy of 3,000 yards. If I'd told you before the season he would do that you'd have done a back flip and said "YIPPEE, we can win with that!" If the Bear receivers only drop HALF as many passes as they did, Orton has 3000+ yards and over 20 TD passes and probably has a QB rating near 90. By the way, the number of Bear QBs with 20 or more TD passes in a season is LESS THAN TEN, and only one of them did it a second time. And no, Jim McMahon is NOTone of them! Orton didn't leave Andre Johnson uncovered for most of the day. Orton didn't fumble to set up a Houston TD & flip the momentum of the game and Orton didn't jump offsides like an ignorant rookie with under 2 minutes to go to give the Texans a 1st and 5 with the Bears looking for a stop to get the ball back for 1 more time! Look around! When the likes of Manning, Romo and Brady get the kind of hit or miss pass protection that Bear QBs routinely get , those guys look like CRAP. Witness Peyton Manning battered out of last year's playoffs, Tony Romo, as soon as December starts, and Tom Brady in last year's Super Bowl when the Giants D-line dominated.
The Bears better play on the offensive AND defensive lines. Everything else improves from there. They need a wide receiver or 2 that opponents need to game plan for. They need coaches that are hired for their skills and schemes, not because they're the head Coach's pals. AND, they need Head Coach whose staffing and personnel decisions are based on who is best for the job,not who his pals are and whose demeanor isn't always somewhere between drowsy and COMATOSE! Other than that, I have no opinion on this matter.
December 29, 2008
#15 Tom...Albert said . . .As bad as the Bears finished, their end PALES in comparions to these LAUGH OUT LOUD situations: 1) Tampa Bay. 9-3 to 9-7 capped with a loss to Raider nation.2) The J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets Jets!From "best team in the AFC " a month ago (Which the educated audience here KNEW was a joke when the mopes on ESPN first said it) to being on the outside looking in at the post season! Brett Favre's last 5 games? Two TD passes and NINE interceptions including a "pick-six" today that was the difference in the game! Time to get out, Brett, you sorry-assed diva. 3) HOW 'BOUT THEM COWBOYS! TOTAL humiliation in Philly! Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of Prima-Donnas, including their ass-wipe owner who wants to turn the NFL into Major League Baseball by killing the salary cap so his Cowboys can become Yankees-West.
December 29, 2008
#16 Z said . . .Not bad. Not bad at all.
Good posts
December 29, 2008
#17 Idonije said . . .And at least we aren't the Broncos. They had a 3 game lead in their Divsion with 3 games to go and gave up 52 points tonight to the now 8-8 Chargers that just stole the Division and their playoff spot away from them. Wow!
Damn I still don't feel any better!
At least we aren't the Rams, Browns, Bengals, Chiefs, Seahawks. Damn is this what is has come to.
At least we aren't the 6-10 Packers or the 0-16 Lions.
Ok I feel a tiny bit better.
December 29, 2008
#18 The Ghost of Halas said . . .How about Alex Brown's comments after the game to stop comparing this years team to the 06 superbowl squad. He said we are not the same people, AND WE DONT HAVE THE SAME ATTITUDE. Really, when you look at it, they are mostly the same people...just minus ron riveira.
December 29, 2008
#19 Albert In Tucson said . . .Hey, fellas. Quit this mopy business. We're Bears fans. Show some pride in the team that is the greatest and most storied in all the National Football League.
This is football, guys. Prepare for next season. I'm already excited for the 2009 Bears.
Not only am I excited for them, but I'm thankful that this team came this far. Most teams in the league did not have a chance of making the playoffs today, and I'm glad that the Bears won three straight games in dramatic fashion to make this a meaningful game, unlike last year in which coasting was done through the month of December. Sure, they had a chance and they blew it. And I hope that every man in that organization feels like a complete jackass because Dallas (who got beat worse than anyone in the State of Pennsylvania since Lee at Gettysburg) and Tampa lost, which would have given the Bears a wildcard berth, but that is no longer here or there.
Sure, changes shall be made. But rational ones. "Blowing up" the defense is a practice of stupidity. I don't even know what that means, but I'm assuming you mean tearing the guts out of the defense and inserting what you percieve to be 'better.' Come on. I would suspect that Bob Babich has coached his final game with this organization. I would also expect that Vasher and Mike Brown have played their final games as Bears, as well.
Hold your heads up high, we were beaten by a damn good team.
Intersting to note about the Dallas game: Philadelphia beat the Cowboys 44-6, nearly tying the greatest loss in Cowboys history. Anybody know who did that? The Chicago Bears gave the franchise the worst loss in Cowboys history on November 17, 1985, with a score of 44-0.
Heads high, lads!
December 29, 2008
#20 Z said . . .D'OH! Shame on me, Z. How could I leave out that 4 game SWAN DIVE by the Denver Stinkos, er, Broncos! Also, I stand corrected. Brett Favre launched THREE interceptions today, not just a measly two. Yay, a hat trick! Brings his season total to 22 to lead the league by a WIDE margin. Nobody else even threw 20! You go out just like the Grinch, Brett: "STINK! STANK!STUNK!" (My apologies, Dr. Seuss).
December 29, 2008
#21 Anonymous said . . .The Division I could see happening. We needed a team to win that had nothing to play for (and they still came so close), but for Tampa's D to give up 31 to Oakland in Tampa and lose and for the Cowboys to have their worst loss in 20 years and that SB expected team to not make the playoffs and the team with the tie and the 9-6-1 record to make it. Seriously WTF?!! A 9-6-1 team makes it in the NFC and an 11-5 team doesn't in the AFC. Ha! The Patriots, Cowboys, Packers and Favre are not in the playoffs either.
What a crazy year?
At least Favre choked for us one more time. By not making the playoffs with the Jets, the Packers trade is for a 3rd round pick now instead of a 2nd round pick.
Bears Win!!
December 29, 2008
#22 Max said . . .Lovie must go. Cut him a check and send him on his way Virginia.
December 29, 2008
#23 shonbear said . . .FUCK!!!!! DAMN IT! EVERYTHING WENT OUR WAY FOR THE FREAKING WILD CARD! AND WE CHOKED.
Not only did we choke but we ate it. We stood there and did absolutely nothing. We put up no god damn fight the entire second half. WHERE WAS THE PASSION? where was the effort? The sense of urgency? The players were using phones to look up the Viking score in the fourth quarter WHEN WE WERE FUCKING LOSING!
AND WHAT WAS THE DEFENSE DOING? HOW!? EXCUSE ME, but there is a guy named ANDRE FUCKING JOHNSON who has been the best single god damn receiver in the entire league and he burned us. DESTROYED US! Every time i looked he was wide open.
DAMN IT DAMN IT DAMN IT DAMN IT! WHY? Lovie, you are fucking useless. Almost as useless as your 2 coordinators. The offense wasnt great, but dear lord our defense. . . I our defense. I have nothin else to say. it was brutal. This season was brutal. It might take me a week or two before I can come back and discuss this season.
Bear down. Especially now. I havent lost the faith, but i need recovery time.
December 29, 2008
#24 Z- Long Division Version- Bears Synopsis said . . .So if we had won, we would have faced the Vikings in Phly's stead? Now I would like to see an inspired phly team put them in their place.
Go Chicago Cardinals!
Looks like it will probably be the Ginats against the panters in the NFC Championship game. Watch, Moose will be in another Super Bowl.
The most interesting story line would be the Cardinals vs the Chargers, how would that be the 9-7 team vs the 8-8 team in the big dance?
Miami vs Atlanta?
Pittsburg vs Phly?
Oh yea, how about the Giants vs the Colts, that's what the ESPN talking heads will be vying for.
Is April here yet?
Jeff, start planning the training camp invasion with video!
Honestly, I'm just trying to distract myself right now from thinking about the most uninspiring crap I've seen in awhile. These players really just don't seem to care.
Is anything going to actually happen this off season, last off season in free agency we were let down hard and the regular season showed it.
I could keep my head up and say, wow our Bears out performed what we all thought, sure, but knowing what our vets are really capable of vs what they showed and seeing some glimmer (at times) of goodness in Kyle, Forte, Devin, Manning, Olsen and St Clair I really am taking it hard. We were right there, yet we weren't really.
Still Down Bear.
December 29, 2008
#25 Albert In Tucson said . . .Man I thought we had such a nasty D to start the year. Pro Bowlers all over the place. What happened to those guys? I know we have more talent than 29th in the league or whatever we ended up.
Some of that has to fall on the D Coordinator. There will be plenty of them available and more head coaches to be fired soon. To me that is priority #1. Get a guy that can get the most out of whatever is left on this D next year. Our money is stuck there so we have to become dominant again.
As far as D players, it is quicker to count the players in the secondary worth keeping then the ones that need to be replaced. I like the move Urlacher outside or to Safety idea. Maybe he can keep up if he doesn't have to run straight backward off the line every play. Fuck it, trade him if we have to and it pains me to say that. The guys that came on the D-Line late in the year are maybe best to go with and trade some of the others that weren't getting it done while they still have some value to us.
Our defense seemed to play only when they wanted to. Even when they needed a sense of urgency, it was usually missing. Colossal disappointment.
Offense. Hmmm. Matt Forte. Thank the football gods for him. I do. He has made me so close to forgetting a very horrible trade but not forgiving our front office for it (and remember improving any other part of our O will just make him better).
TE's looking good. Olsen looks like he may develop into a TD machine and Clark has been up and down this year but I still believe in him. And the big guy is really big and we'll hopefully see what he's got.
Our entire WR group had 12 catches for 150 yards and 1 TD today which is a monster game and improvement for them. Andre Johnson had 10 catches for 148 yards and 2 TD's. Hmmm we need a #1 WR so, so bad. Hester had 6 catches 85 yards and he is obviously still in early development. If we get a #1 and take some pressure off of him I think he can do some very good things for us. Maybe sign Lloyd on the cheap. Booker and Davis should be gone.
O-line? What is Williams capable of? Everyone is now 2 years older than the SB run. We have to get Forte some blocking and fast. It will make the whole offense so much more effective and then maybe if we are going to be stuck with RT for awhile we can do his start grinding the clock, ball control shit with a 1 point lead half way through the 1st Quarter. The FB's should be moved to water boy duties and we should bulk up AP and see how he does or get a real one if RT insists on not only playing one but making them an integral part of the offense regardless of whether their skill level warrants such a move. (Saw Jakob Hester for the Chargers tonight and that is what a FB is supposed to do. Bowling ball and dragging people with him for positive yards).
And QB. I'll take Orton all day over Rex and 22/37 for 244 yards and 2 TD's 0 INT's and rushing for a TD is awesome but I always feel that no D is worried about us airing it out accurately and that hinders the whole O. The QB position is improved and I don't feel it is a luxury we can afford to improve it more right now unless something falls into our laps. It is also hard to judge anything on the O with the deficiencies that we have but I still think we have to be able to find better than RT. Maybe Lovie can't handle 2 new Coordinators so if I had to pick, lets start with Babich being replaced.
ST up and down. Maynard was. Do we have to leave Hester in on punts just to not insult him? Is that a stupid game to have to play? Lets get him some better blockers and hope for the best. Was Brendan A. that damn important or is a contract filled with WR bonuses to blame?
Lovie and Angelo, half the time I am grateful for what you have accomplished and half the time I feel like you should definintely be canned.
Guess its time to start thinking about the draft.
December 29, 2008
#26 Albert In Tucson said . . .In other news... CONGRATULATIONS to Bill Belicheat and his Patriots on being the first NFL team to ever go 11 and 5 and MISS THE PLAYOFFS! Just like O.J. found out, Bill, JUSTICE DELAYED IS not necessarily JUSTICE DENIED. In other words, what goes around, comes around so you can take your "Great coaching job after losing Tom Brady" and choke on it, you lying, cheating S.O.B! Once again, other than that, I have no opinion on this matter.
December 29, 2008
#27 Urlacher FTW said . . ."When you're 9-7, you're close, you don't need any overhaul." - Lovie Smith, 12/28/09. Oh My GAWD!Right , Lovie. And the Hindenburg was close too, just before it exploded and burned! Insanity defined is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result as in "Our scheme is good".
December 29, 2008
#28 Paytonrules said . . .I am assuming jeff means the scheme, ideaology, and coordinator of the D needs to be blown up. I would agree. Talent-wise we can't even evaluate our talent. It makes no sense to pay these guys what we pay them and then use schemes that require no talent, no playmaking ability, these guys are givin a gap and told to watch it; it's just a frustrating wait and see what they can do to us D. So to try and offset the passiveness, he blitzes a lot except he seems to have ineffective blitzes (by design or by blitzer). I am done watching this crap. We have to have a true FS who can stay healthy and force things underneath, we have to have a D-line that can get pressure within 4 seconds consistently and stop the run, then we can evaluate our corners and linebackers, until then with no help over the top and giving QBs 6-7 seconds, yah there is going to be someone open.
Let's just buy Boldin, draft a FS and then try to get a big RT to replace Tait. I think we would be in manageable shape then. Oh and Babich needs to go.December 29, 2008
#29 Phil from SATX said . . .We need a #2 or #3 WR to go with Hester
No we need a #1 and a #2 to go with Hester. Anquan Boldin would be nice.
Plus a stud defensive end. This defense would be completely different with Jared Allen, not that he's available.
Plus about 12 offensive linemen. Probably a QB. Yuck.
December 29, 2008
#30 BearDown1982 said . . .Here comes a long post, and a negative one, beware.
Best analysis of this mediocre, potentially delusional team comes from Greg Couch of the Sun-Times -
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/couch/1352522,cst-spt-greg29.article
Bear fans, we are in real danger here. If the drumbeats of discontent are not heard by the McCaskeys, we are in real danger of seeing a complete repeat of Seasons 4 and 5 of the Lovie regime next year. I appreciate the local coverage, they are beginning their part, and we need to do ours as well.
When we have time for some sober appraisal and review of this past season, Lovie's statement that "we are close" will appear even more ludicrous. Greg Couch came close when he mentioned "winning 9 games by coincidence." Rick Morrissey was closer:
"They're 9-7 for a reason, but for the life of me, I can't figure out what that reason is. They look like a sub-.500 team. Maybe it's grade inflation. I know what the record says, but I also know what I saw this season."
The truth is that the Bears only looked this good because of 3 teams on the schedule that provided four of our nine wins - the historically awful Lions, the possibly-worse-than-the-Lions St. Louis Rams, and the Jaguars. Two other wins came against also not-real-good teams in the Vikings and Packers.
This is a below average team in the NFL and the statistics on our squads will bear this out. And Lovie Smith says "we're close?" CLOSE???????
While there are many personnel needs on this team going into next year, by far the most important need is new coaching, ALL AROUND. Focus is already beginning on Babitch - what I fear is that he will be the straw man, the scapegoat of this season. That will unfortunately mean that we are consigned to more years of the same - because Lovie is the man behind the D. And it will also cause us to ignore the other major coaching change needed - at offensive coordinator.
Lovie says he doesn't know why this Bears team has consistently started fast offensively only to consistently bog down later. He says he'll need to figure that out. Lovie, I'll help you - no need to study the game film!
Ron Turner is good enough at game planning to be able to script out the classic 10-15 scripted plays that people like Mike Shanahan is so famous for. Once the script is complete, Ron Turner reveals himself for what he is - possibly the worst in-game playcaller in the league. I don't even blame him for it anymore - it's not his fault he's bad - I blame those who do not recognize what's going on. Tops in the league in points scored in first possessions - that's a good going-in game plan using players who are good enough to execute stuff they prepared for. Failure in the rest of the game goes on Turner, and the play calls.
So we need a new offensive coordinator, and a new defensive coordinator - why stop there? If Cowher isn't the guy for us (sure wish he would be), I propose going back the formula that won us our only Superbowl - an "offensive guru" type head coach paired with an outstanding defensive coordinator.
If this all sounds like Candyland dreams, I will tell you how convinced I am that should there not be a head coaching change for next year, I am, right now, 100% convinced that hope for next year will be futile, regardless of any personnel moves that are made between then and now. I am convinced that we cannot win with Turner's O, and I am convinced that we cannot with with Lovie (and Bob's) D. I am always optimistic with respect to the Bears, and I will be supporting them next year regardless of what happens, but please remind me next year of my words here if a wholesale coaching change is not made.
Virginia, don't be fooled by the misleading and downright false words and optimism of the Big Sandian!
WE ARE NOT CLOSE!!!
AND A COACH WHO SAYS SUCH MISLEADING AND DOWNRIGHT FALSE WORDS IS NOT THE MAN TO LEAD US BACK TO GREATNESS!!!!
December 29, 2008
#31 Willie from Chicago said . . .Honestly, Lovie's D did what it is supposed to. We led the league in take aways and that is his number one goal. However, we aren't good enough at everything else and it is far too easy for any offense to move the ball up and down the field on us.
It will be interesting to see what happens this offseason.
Lastly, John, go fuck yourself. Stop talking shit about your Vikings who practically choked away the playoffs. A team like yours with a dominating offensive and defensive line shouldn't have to back their way into the playoffs in a division with an 0-16 team...not something to be very proud of. If I was in your shoes, I would not be very pleased. Go Eagles...
December 29, 2008
#32 Urlacher FTW said . . .Guys say what you want, but we improved 2 games from last year. Our team has had ups and downs, we got lucky but also had some bad breaks.
We do need change however. We need a #1 WR, 2-3 solid O-linemen, 2 solid D linemen and some shut down DBs. Kyle Orton is not the reason why we are not in the playoffs, he has been good with no talent around him. If you give this guy some help then he will be at a pro bowl level (maybe not that good). Im not very optomistic for next year, we'll be lucky to get to 9 wins, but Ill still be behind my Bears.
BEAR DOWN 2009!
Yesterday my Dolphins won the AFC East for the first time since 2000, at least one of my teams made the playoffs this year.Go Phins!
December 29, 2008
#33 Truth said . . .I think coaching is definately the problem.
Looking at Dallas, it can't be money that is the problem.. Romo, Barber, Owens, Whitten, Williams, Ware, the Oline. I mean they are the biggest payroll by far and did no better than us, maybe a little worse. Romo yesterday looked much worse than Orton hell worse than bad Grossman. GB blew a ton on Rodgers and he is unimpressive, mediocre numbers with the receivers he has, he is the opposite of clutch, and he can't even throw a spiral.
Here's a question. So Stletz came in to replace Brown during the GB game yah? And was able to keep the receivers in front of him the rest of the game. So... you throw all that away and move a guy from nickel, who hasn't played a snap of safety all year for the most important game of the season. Then you're shocked when the guy blows a read and gets beat for 6 points. That is really what I saw right?
I think it is our whole division, there isn't a good coach in the north period. Look at this crap division, Detroit goes 0-16 so lets take 2 gimme wins away from the rest of the div and take a peek. We are 7-7 , GB is 4-10, and Minn is 8-6 with a gimme win against the NYG who were playing it like a preseason game; and they still barely won. I mean noone really won this division it's just that someone from our div had to go.
This season is so disappointing, at least last year we could point to the QB problems and injuries; this year we just suck.
December 29, 2008
#34 JWILSON said . . .I have been saying for some time now that we will not be competitive until we have a REAL QB and not a game manager, and many of you were stuck on the Orton bandwagon. Name one competitive team that made the playoffs that has a "game manager QB". I think you can now put down the Angelo Kool aid. Also, its time for them to actually SPEND MONEY on a big namer WR. Also, HESTER IS NOT OUR ANSWER AT WR!! Put his ass back on special teams or trade his ass while his stock is high. Manning did just fine this year taking it over. Maclin should be available in time for our draft pick, get it done.
December 29, 2008
#35 46 D said . . .Well, here's my 2 cents. Good season that didn't quit end the way we hoped. A few things need to happen during the off season.
1.) Sign or draft a true #1 receiver and a couple of others. This includes not resigning Llyod, and Davis. and maybe giving Earl Bennet a shot!
2.) Protection for Orton. This includes getting rid of Olin Kreutz, and the other old guys. Their better games are passed them.
3.) Decide now! Keep Orton as the #1 QB or look else where. Don't wait till training camp and a damn coin flip to decide who the starter is! Keep Orton and do the above and he will improve into a great QB.
4.) Do not resign Dusty D. he's too fragile to play in the NFL. Same with Mike Brown. We can't count on him at all. Sign a DT and a FS that we can count on to play every game and make plays.
5.) Lovie Smith needs to restructure his coaching staff. This might need to include replacing Lovie as well. This team needs a coach with a little passion left. Speaking of passion
6.) Does Charles Tillman really want to play? If not find someone who will! I'd bet that Zack Bowman wants another shot!
7.) Sign a good back up for Forte. The Old Peterson is not the answer. And Wolfe may not be it either. Whoever it is, he has to play some downs. Can't sign a guy and never hand him the ball.
I just said some of the same shit the rest of you all are saying. Guess I'm done.
December 29, 2008
#36 rehmer said . . .Anybody here that is complaining about Ron Turner needs to get a clue. Scoring 24 points should be enough to win a football game.
Furthermore, there is NO TALENT ON THIS OFFENSE!!!! Even Forte is is not a top ten running back.RT worked with what he was given which is the following:
Poor O-Line
Below Average QB
Worst WR group in NFL (thats a fact)\
Bad FB
Above average rookie RB
Good receiving TE'sWith that and nine wins, RT should be asst. coach of the year.
Trash Babich if you want, but RT did the best with his crappy crew.
December 29, 2008
#37 Urlacher FTW said . . .Urlacher is through. I'm sick of people crticizing everyone but him. He is a jerk and has no game left. If it wasn't for Briggs, we might as well play 7 DB's. If anyone cares to see how bad he is, just watch the last Packer game. I think he had two tackles and one assist.
Oh.... and Lovie stinks as a head coach...period.December 29, 2008
#38 Phil from SATX said . . .Well Truth I can name QBs of teams in the playoffs with numbers worse than Orton.
1. Flacco - Less TDs than KO same INTs
2. Rothlesberger - 1 more TD 2 more INTs
3. Delhomme - 2 less TDs same INTsThen there are several teams with game manager type QBs that depend on running and Defense to win.
1. Atlanta uses Ryan as a game manager and relies on Turner to have big games.
2. Tennessee definately uses Kerry Collins as a game manager and relies on their 2 headed RB and actually they are considered the best team atm with that strategy.
3. Baltimore again uses Flacco as a game manager.
4. Pittsburgh even this year has developed into a team that depends on moving the chains and playing great D to get wins so Id say Big Ben is more of a game manager this year, look at his numbers before you argue.
5. If Tavaris Jackson isn't a game manager I don't know who is, Minnesodah definately relies on AP and the D.
6. Carolina has also become much more dependant on consistent passes and good running to win, again look at Jake's modest numbers.
7. I guess more than Jackson Chad Pennington in Miami is the definition of a game manager QB.So out of 12 teams in the playoffs, over half use a game manager type QB and are much more reliant on their running game, defense, and short consistent throws to win games. And really only this year has Eli developed outside of that box. There are about as many big gun slingin QBs that missed the playoffs as made it really; Favre, Brees, Cutler, Cassell, Brady (yes it's fair he is still on the payroll), Rodgers, Romo, Thigpen even threw over 20 TDs. The QB really doesn't mean a whole lot if you cant keep the other team from scoring every time they want to.
Hester is fine at WR, just not as the #1 guy. He should be a slot guy who can stretch the field when we need it, used like a Wes Welker he is fine. Hester is on special teams.. so...
This team talent-wise is close, we just need a shot in the arm at coaching, a reliable true FS, a pass rushing DE, a Right Tackle, and a #1 WR. If we get that and still struggle then I'd say we need a QB but as Sundays game proved even when we score efficiently, if our D lets the score repeatedly, it doesn't really matter what the name on the back of the QB is.
December 29, 2008
#39 Murph said . . .One additional comment that occurred to me, in further proof of RT's inability to call non-scripted plays - in addition to the majority of scoring being early (with scripted plays), there was also a lot of scoring at the end of halves and games - when Kyle was orchestrating hurry-up drives to catch-up. Those were more based on KYLE'S ability to call plays rather than RT's.
Makes sense to me.
I have no idea whether Mangini is any good, but I'm sure beyond a shadow of a doubt that he'd be a HUGE improvement over RT.
December 29, 2008
Man what is with this dont blame Orton thing here? These receivers are on the same level as we had to go to the super bowl, in fact the tight end is better than we had then. We went tothe Super bowl with the running game in disarray. This year that part of the game was awesome. Youd think Orton has his relatives writing to the blog. The guy cant throw long!!!!!! Never could,never will!! Steve McMichael was better than any of our tackles and he was not paid any where near what T Harris gets. Caleb Hanie? maybe.....hell look at Tony Romo....poor bastard looked like a poormans Rex G.....we have problems here and co-ordiantors are a hughe part. Send Ron to brother Norv....Babich to scrap heap.....and Get Lovie an emotional transplant!!!! Lovie get mad!!!!!!!!!!
December 29, 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.