Bleacher Bums Forum
General Category => Archives => Topic started by: Pekin on August 09, 2012, 06:58:12 pm
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Yes we do. Unfortunately, they're not just sitting around waiting for a call.
There's a reason that stud LTs get paid more (and are drafted higher) than some QBs and most WRs.
It's time for either Kromer to coach-up Webb into a player whose performance matches his body, or Emery to open up the checkbook and get that guy in here. Doesn't matter to me which route we go as long as we get there, and fast.
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watched the game again the other day. 49ers lt staley took mathews out of that game completely.
we need one of those please.
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having a decent O with a healthy Cutler would have helped us look better against SF.
We didn't have but about 200 yards offense that game.
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hen a defense allows an all-time high in quarterback rushing yards and gives up 45 points, there are bound to be a number of players on that unit who played poorly and would be worthy of a "dud" tag. We came up with two players in particular, while two members of the coaching staff deserve some consideration as well.
Erik Walden: Yesterday, I detailed his complete and utter failure to recognize a zone read play and set the edge; sadly, this wasn't the only time that happened on the day. I can't think of a single positive thing to say about Walden's play this week. Hopefully Nick Perry will be ready to go again at the beginning of next season, because I don't ever want to see that #93 for Green Bay in the starting lineup again.
Tramon Williams: He got beaten like a drum time and again in the first half by Michael Crabtree. For someone who's supposed to be a top-flight cornerback, he played one of his worst games of the season on the biggest stage and repeatedly looked lost in coverage. I am loath to suggest it, but with Sam Shields' very solid season and Casey Hayward's emergence, could Williams lose his starting job next season?
Mike McCarthy: Devin detailed the head coach's problematic playcalling this week, and I can't disagree. The offense never found a rhythm and while some of that may be due to the opponent playing ball-control offense and running the ball with success, I distinctly remember being livid even on the first three and out. After picking up seven yards on first down, McCarthy called two straight throws into the flat rather than running the ball. Then, he all but abandoned the running game in the second half, even when it was a one-score game. McCarthy definitely deserves to take a good portion of the blame for the offense's ineffectiveness, though it isn't entirely his fault.
Dom Capers: It's like Capers didn't know the zone read was coming and didn't prepare for it at all. Plus, his insistence on playing man coverage all game against a dual-threat quarterback certainly won't endear him to any Packers fans this week. The defense looked out-muscled and out-executed by the 49ers' offense, but worst of all they looked unprepared and bland in their attempts to stop San Francisco.
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The rest of the league needs to find a system to beat that weird game plan of the 49ers.
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Kapernick -- as a thrower -- shredded a Bears pass D that most people thought was pretty good at the time. In his first game.
So yeah the kid can fling it. Give him another offseason under Harbaugh as the undisputed #1 and I'm pretty sure DCs will have to worry about his throwing just as much as his running.
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Will probably have to develop as less of a runner as his career moves on. That 1st injury (if he has one) that could slow him down will be telling. He appears to be a good thrower on the move or not (something Vick could not do well in the pocket), so as long as he doesn't lose his technique he should do well.....
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I haven't seen Kaepernick get hit hard yet this season.
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I see some people saying Kapernick can't keep doing all that running or he'll wind up like RGIII.
Those people need to do their research. RGIII is built like a WR. Kap is built like a TE... 6'4 at least and around 230 lbs. Pretty sure he can take a few hits and probably dish some out too.
He's gonna be a tough customer for that Falcons D that laid a huge egg in the 2nd half of their game yesterday. Especially on that fast track in the Georgia Dome.
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Here's the fake handoff up the middle where Kapernick leaves the Pakers defenders shorts on the field. Beautiful fake and run....
http://youtu.be/S9D2ySTAQxM?t=1m13s (http://youtu.be/S9D2ySTAQxM?t=1m13s)
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It was a nice return by Manning but he looks like he's lost a step.
The Danieal Manning we had would have taken that all the way back.
He looked pretty fast going through that hole on the opening KO. I don't think he lost a step. He just caught from behind after running 94 yards.
But the Texans are a good team and will only get better. Defense seemed to wear down as the season went along.
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GOOD!!!
It was almost unfair to have that much talent on one offense.
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Rodgers hinted as much after the game. He won't have a recieving corps like he's had the past couple years again. They were deep and talented. That's done....gone.....
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The Green Bay Packers’ wide receiving corps that has served as Aaron Rodgers’ primary targets since he took over as the starting quarterback in 2008 – Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, James Jones and Jordy Nelson, with Randall Cobb added in the past two years – might have played its last game together on Saturday night in San Francisco.
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From 15-2 to 11-6 is improving?
Last year GB had a terrible defense. This year it was much better by the end of the year.
I predicted at the beginning of the season that the Pack's young defensive players would improve and play much better as the season went on. This happened and they were playing good defense at the end of the season.
They started the season at 2-3 and ended at 11-5.
Except for the freakish 200 yard games by Minn and the 181 running yards by Kaepernick the team had an outstanding season.
Why those freakish things happened I don't know but I think we will stick with Capers.
When the rookies have another year tou will see an even stronger defense in 2013.
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Wow. Danieal Manning is straight beastin on KO returns today.
Over 200 yds on 4 returns.
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He really isn't. Schaub is a system QB.
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I can see why Dennison would want the Bears gig.
Matt Schaub just isn't very good.
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It was a nice return by Manning but he looks like he's lost a step.
The Danieal Manning we had would have taken that all the way back.
He's a lot smarter safety with the Texans than he was with us though. Glad he landed on a quality team and has been able to establish himself as a solid starter there.
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Daneal Mannniing where have I heard that name before? Oh yeah, same place I heard Grahams name before.
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Texans waste a 94-yd Danieal Manning KO return and only get a FG on their first possession...
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Falcons have serious work to do on their D this week or Kaep and the Niners will crush them in their own house next Sunday.
Meanwhile Bears HC candidates are 0-for-3 this weekend (McCoy, Clements, Bevell). Dennison up next?
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I didn't have a problem with them going for it on 4th and 1 instead of the FG in the first half for Seattle. They were aggressive. Carroll went prevent when they got the lead and it killed them.
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Wow... Falcons escape by the hair of their azz.
Two Matty Ice INTs and terrible 2nd half pass D just about did them in.
That one's on Pete Carroll. Should have had 2 FG's in the first half.
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Good god how much plastic surgery has Lesley Visser had anyway?
She looks like something out of a wax museum.
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Wow... Falcons escape by the hair of their azz.
Two Matty Ice INTs and terrible 2nd half pass D just about did them in.
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Abraham being injured hurts ATL on defense too.
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Falcons failing badly in the 2nd half.
Their pass D is just terrible. Can't rush the passer, can't cover, and some of the worst tackling I've ever seen especially by their DBs.
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Really like how the Falcons are taking it to the Seahawks.
Seattle has been running their mouths way too much lately and they had this coming.
Hope the Falcons can keep it up.
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A big difference is that the Bears did not prepare for him as he was only named the starter on Sunday night for the Monday game. The Pack had time to prepare and still couldn't slow him down.
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I don't think the Bears gave up 45 to them either.
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Kapernick made the Packers D look slow and old when he ran the ball.
He made the Bears D look like that too. Although against the Bears he did just as much damage throwing as running.
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The Packers improved this year but not as muc
Good night.
From 15-2 to 11-6 is improving?
TRIPLE ROFLMAO!!!!
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Kapernick made the Packers D look slow and old when he ran the ball. Quite an achievement as they are not old on average....
And what the hell was Raji thinking jumping offsides lined up RIGHT OVER THE BALL to give up an easy 4th down conversion. Lots of defensive soul-searching now for our Packer brethren (or is it anti-brethren ? :D) to the North....
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Saw somebody on a blog saying the Packers should replace Capers with Lovie as DC and switch to a 4-3.
LOL. Bottom line is the Niners have a Top 5 OL which owned the Pack last night. Scheme isnt gonna change that.
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The Packers improved this year but not as muc
Good night.
From 15-2 to 11-6 is improving?
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Great point, I would never have believed the Broncos and Ravens defenses would give up so much in one game. You could see it coming for the Pack because their defense is average, and even the 49ers gave up 31. Those were 3 strong defenses giving up 24+ points... acknowledging the defensive scores in the games
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One thing we saw today is that offense wins games in the playoffs now. Sure you still need defense and special teams but if you have no offense you are done.
Lovie had to go and I am glad emery is looking for an offensive minded coach. It only makes sense. The rules are all in the favor of offense. Why spend most of your assets on defense?
Don't get me wrong we still need a good defense. It is just that offense is more important.
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Good game but not as good as the Ravens/Broncos.
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The Packers improved this year but not as muc
Good night.
See you next season Packy!
Welcome to the also rans !
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The Packers improved this year but not as muc
Good night.
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Just like Lombardi. 49ers win going away.
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KAepernick may outdo Peterson's 200 yard game.
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These announcers seem to have a new mancrush...Kaepernick. Sorry Aaron...the thrill is gone.
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Jamon Wiiliams needs to look over his sholder. His job may be in danger.
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I think that GB would have this game except for Kaepernick NFC beware.
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This game shows how much GB must improve the O-Line.
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Kaepernick's passing accuracy is definitely suspect.
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Sitton out. Oh, oh, sack
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If Kaepernick keeps running that much he WILL eventually have a serious injury.
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Not true.
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Jones - Breakout year. Comes through again.
Breakout year for MLB Brad Jones, too.
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Like the harris kid, he is running strong.
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GB has their RB of the future - Juaun Harris.
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Thpmpson intended to draft Kaepernick before SF drafted him in feront of them.
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Kaepernick is for real.
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Rodgers is little off his game tonight.
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Jeremy Ross dropped the lick-off. I feel sorry for the lid.
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Harris says "kiss my ass" and runs for a TD.
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Did you catch that face nask on Juan Harris where they dragged him to the ground? They dropped a flag and, then picked iu, calling it "incidental contact". What the hell is "incidental contact" Buck and Aikman were both questiobaibg that.
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Bob McGinn, beat writer
Green Bay - The San Francisco 49ers advanced to the NFC divisional playoff game Saturday night at Candlestick Park with the most minimal contribution imaginable from their rookie class.
Their opponent, the Green Bay Packers, might not even have had a winning season without their outstanding crop of rookies.
Once again, the Packers skewed young under the consistent direction of general manager Ted Thompson and prospered because of it.
"You don't keep young people for the sake of keeping young people," Thompson said Wednesday. "But in this day and age, that infusion of youth and having a little edge to them, that sort of thing, I think our veteran players appreciate it.
"I don't think anybody's here that doesn't deserve to be here."
On Saturday night, Green Bay's rookie contingent will include two starters, three situational substitutes and four others on the 53-man roster. Two others are on injured reserve.
Through 17 games, those 11 rookies have combined to play 132 games, including 28 starts.
In contrast, the 49ers' eight rookies have a collective total of 26 games played and no starts.
Other than No. 2 running back LaMichael James (27 carries), No. 3 tight end Garrett Celek (four receptions) and wide receiver A.J. Jenkins, the first-round draft choice who has yet to catch a pass, it's doubtful another 49er rookie will play from scrimmage.
San Francisco clearly was the better team four months ago in beating the Packers, 30-22. Almost unscathed by injury, the 49ers will field the same starting lineup other than at quarterback, where Alex Smith was benched for Colin Kaepernick.
The Packers had to play even more rookies than usual because of a torrent of injuries. Perhaps the fresh blood will help them overhaul San Francisco on Saturday night.
"I think as a group they've all come in and contributed," Thompson said of the team's rookies. "We'll see. But I think it's a capable group, and we look forward to seeing them grow up."
The Packers' first six selections in the April draft were defensive players. The playing time of the top five ranged from 62.5% for cornerback Casey Hayward, who made the all-rookie team, to 19.7% for linebacker Nick Perry, whose season ended after six games because of a wrist injury.
Hayward led rookies in interceptions with six and ranks second to Tramon Williams in passes defensed with 24.
Safety Jerron McMillian has played 51.4% of the time through 17 games, and defensive ends Jerel Worthy (38.5%) and Mike Daniels (21%) have played extensively as well.
Moreover, rookie free agent Dezman Moses has seven starts at outside linebacker and has played 40.3%.
The seven rookies who have played from scrimmage on defense have played 2,670 snaps, or 13.7% of the available defensive plays. Coach Mike McCarthy and defensive coordinator Dom Capers wanted versatile players with speed, and this rookie class provided that.
"They've come in and done what was asked of them," Thompson said. "A couple of them are now on injured reserve. That's the breaks of the game, but they contributed before they got hurt."
Worthy suffered what appeared to be a serious knee injury in Game 14. Safety Sean Richardson, who was starting to be a major factor on special teams at mid-season, suffered a neck injury that ended his season after 11 games.
The Packers began the draft with 12 selections and ended with eight players after Thompson drafted up to take Worthy, Hayward and linebacker Terrell Manning.
"Whether it bears out that I made a mistake on somebody, we'll see," Thompson said. "Obviously, it's a little soon to judge or rate a draft class, but I think over the long haul we've got some pretty good players out of it."
On offense, the group of rookies wasn't doing much until the call went out to Don Barclay at right tackle in Game 13. In all, Barclay has played 387 of the 500 snaps that rookies have played on offense.
Where would the Packers be without Barclay?
"We'd have gotten somebody else playing there," Thompson replied. "The NFL is the next man up. But Don has done a good job."
Barclay has been the stalwart of the class of 21 undrafted rookies signed by the club in 2012. Richardson is down but three others besides Barclay remain on the 53.
"We put a lot of effort into the college free agency stuff," Thompson said. "Our scouts work very hard to find guys that can maybe carve a niche onto the team."
Of the 76 players that Thompson has drafted since 2005, 12 presently are starters, 14 are backups, six are on injured reserve or physically unable to perform, two are on the practice squad and Mason Crosby is the kicker.
Of the 41 other players, 31 spent at least some time on Green Bay's 53-man roster.
When the season ended, 15 of those 41 were on NFL rosters: tackle Breno Giacomini (Seahawks); guards Daryn Colledge (Cardinals), Jamon Meredith (Buccaneers), Caleb Schlauderaff (Jets) and Jason Spitz (Jaguars); quarterback Matt Flynn (Seahawks); running back Brandon Jackson (Browns); fullback Quinn Johnson (Titans).
Defensive ends Lawrence Guy (Colts), Dave Tollefson (Raiders) and Jarius Wynn (Titans); linebacker Brady Poppinga (Cowboys); cornerback Pat Lee (Lions); safety Tyrone Culver (Dolphins); and long snapper Clark Harris (Bengals).
Two players, cornerback Brandon Underwood (Cowboys) and linebacker Ricky Elmore (Redskins), were signed to future contracts for 2013 in the last week.
Of the 24 that are out of football, three were forced to retire prematurely because of neck injuries: wide receiver Terrence Murphy, linebacker Jeremy Thompson and safety Nick Collins. A fourth, defensive end Johnny Jolly, remains under indefinite league suspension, a league spokesman said Wednesday.
Everyone else managed to sign a contract with another team after leaving Green Bay. Everyone, that is, with the exception of defensive tackle Justin Harrell, who never got another chance after Green Bay cut him on July 28, 2011.
"It's an interesting statistic but I don't know if there's any special pride that you take in that," Thompson said, referring to the league-wide interest in his selections other than Harrell.
"I'd rather it be that everyone I ever drafted was still on our team and contributing, but it doesn't work that way. We try to take good football players and hope for the best."
***
TED THOMPSON ON THE ROOKIES
Here is what Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson said this week about his 2012 draft choices and college free agents (round and overall pick in parentheses; Nick Perry and Sean Richards are on injured reserve; B.J. Coleman and Andrew Datko are on practice squad):
(1-28) Nick Perry, OLB, Southern California: "He's got rare strength and power, and the ability to set the edge. It's a shame he got hurt (wrist), but we expect him to make a strong comeback next year. We asked him to do stuff he didn't do in college. Obviously, he is better at some things than others. But physically and ability-wise, he's fine. I think he's going to be a good player for us. As a rookie, you try to bring guys in and let 'em play to their strengths. That's what our staff did. As you grow, you try to augment that."
(2-51) Jerel Worthy, DE, Michigan State: "He's a very energetic player. He has a lot of confidence in his ability. We think he has a bright future. Too bad he got hurt (knee). We'll have to wait and see how that plays itself out. It's unusual that when you come into the pro game you see that you could be better if you did certain things in training. He's a pretty natural football player and will be a good player in our league. He's got a little bit different style. You try to use what they do best. He's got a twitch to him. That will always be one of his strengths."
(2-62) Casey Hayward, CB, Vanderbilt: "We've put him in a lot of different spots. He's had to move around because of injuries. We like what we see. He's kind of a quiet kid but appears to be pretty confident and knows how to play the game. He's had a lot of success, especially from an interception standpoint. I had calls from his coaches at Vanderbilt the minute we picked him saying how pleased we were going to be with him. All that's (born) fruit. He has seemed to be pretty comfortable wherever we've put him."
(4-132) Mike Daniels, DE, Iowa: "He's got a little juice. Pretty natural football player. Not as long and tall as some of our guys but he has done a good job. He had to overcome some injury things coming out of college and has done a good job doing that. I think he's done pretty good (as a base end). He's a natural hands player, which obviously helps quite a bit in there. With exposure and play time, I think he'll continue to improve. He's got a lot of potential there (rushing the passer). There are techniques and nuances those guys have to learn. He's still learning it, but he's a true football player in terms of his attitude and wanting to contribute."
(4-133) Jerron McMillian, S, Maine: "He's got a lot of talent. Physical. Likes to mix it up a little bit. Has contributed on special teams and also played a lot in different packages. I haven't noticed anything from a negative standpoint. We're not huge on small-school guys, but we don't penalize them, either. At the end of the day, you've got to be able to play and look the veterans in the eye, and I think he can do that."
(5-163) Terrell Manning, LB, North Carolina State: "He was a little banged up throughout some of the season. He recently started playing more on the 46 (game-day roster) and does a good job on our special teams. We think he has a future as a linebacker. We liked what we saw in college, and we still like him. I think he's a football guy. Oh yeah, sure (he has starter qualities). He's a pretty active guy."
(7-241) Andrew Datko, T, Florida State: "Absolutely (he has a future). He continues to improve. He has done a good job of working his way through some physical things. I'm no expert on it (his surgical shoulder), but there's a lot of moving parts in a football player's game, especially in the offensive line. He's very professional. He wants to be good. We like his future."
(7-243) B.J. Coleman, QB, Tennessee-Chattanooga: "He's done a good job. He works with our coaches and Aaron (Rodgers) and Graham (Harrell) every day. That kind of exposure is invaluable. The off-season will be big for him. He appears to be a serious football guy in terms of wanting to get better."
(FA) Don Barclay, T-G, West Virginia: "He really likes to play the game. He's not overwhelmed by it. We like him. I think physically he's fine. Technique-wise, I'm sure there are things we need to work with. He's doing fine where he is. The fact we've used him at a lot of different spots is not unusual. We do that with almost all of our young guys and project these guys that we think are going to be on the 53 because you need that flexibility on Sundays."
(FA) Jarrett Boykin, WR, Virginia Tech: "He came in and did everything we asked. He's got a toughness to him. He's a really good pass catcher, and we thought he deserved a spot on the team. He's physical and has good size and catches the ball really well."
(FA) Dezman Moses, OLB, Tulane: "He's got a physical nature to his game, which I think our defensive coaches appreciate. Fits in very well. You wouldn't know he's a rookie. Just comes in and plays. He's a good contributor on special teams. He knows how to play the game. He's got some instincts and feel for the game."
(FA) Sean Richardson, S, Vanderbilt: "All football. Loves the game. Really wants to be a professional football player. We like what we saw. I wouldn't speculate on that (availability for 2013 because of a neck injury). We'll see."
(FA) Greg Van Roten, G, Pennsylvania: "I think he's primarily an interior guy. Got better all the way through . . . the summer. He started out on our practice roster and has worked his way up. (High intelligence) always helps anybody. Physically, he's a capable player in his own right."
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Totally agree!!!
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I think it was both. Hester had poor blocking and ultimately tried to do too much each time he received the ball...
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Blocking was poor no question but Hesters head hasnt been in it either.
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Hester was 10th in the league returning kickoffs but 22nd returning punts. I can't say that the special teams provided much in the way of blocking for Hester but overall he was average.
I don't recall any lost fumbles but he still continued to let a lot of catch-able punts hit the ground.
Who do we have on the team that's better?
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Not clouding my judgment. He sucked as a returner this year too.
If we could get a 3rd rounder for him I'd turn handsprings. With Lovie gone he doesn't want to be here anymore anyway.
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Last week (among all the HC searching), Emery resigned Brittan Golden who's about Hester's size (5'11 185) and Knox's pre-injury speed (4.4). He has experience as a returner and WR. He was an UDFA we had in training camp IIRC.
That tells me Knox, Hester, or both are probably on their way out as this kid presumably could replace both of them as our #1 returner and #4/speed WR.
This signing tells me absolutely nothing. Teams sign half a dozen of these guys a year.
As for Hester I have no qualms with keeping him as our PR/KR but he's the #6 option at WR and they should redo his contract. Most here let their opinion of him as a WR cloud their judgement of him as a returner.
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Re RGIII, no mention of how badly he bunged up his knee. That kid loses a step now, its game over. I also notice none of the fellow players are tweeting to Cutler about what a smart move that was made. Which it was. For what ever reason players around the league simply don't care for Cutler as a person. Period. Equally madding to said players is that Cutler really doesn't care. Good for him. I getting bothered about the inexplicable ints, and whispers about a Jeff George likeness. ugh.
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Maybe RGIII was afraid his colleagues would call him out for being a **** if he came out like they did Jay Cutler
So true....how many guys here kept calling him Quitler?
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I am still holding out hope for Knox but the Bears need to target somebody in the draft (maybe 3rd to 5th round) or at least a quality #2 FA WR like the Vikings were able to do when they signed Jenkins and Simpson and kept winning after Harvin was IRd.
Last week (among all the HC searching), Emery resigned Brittan Golden who's about Hester's size (5'11 185) and Knox's pre-injury speed (4.4). He has experience as a returner and WR. He was an UDFA we had in training camp IIRC.
That tells me Knox, Hester, or both are probably on their way out as this kid presumably could replace both of them as our #1 returner and #4/speed WR.
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Shanahan should've put the backup in late in the second qtr. You can see RGIII was obviously hurt.
Maybe RGIII was afraid his colleagues would call him out for being a pussy if he came out like they did Jay Cutler.
Instead he and Mike let him stay in the game and suck the life out of his team.
(https://bbf.createaforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-snc6%2F282806_482546421792051_1513262756_n.png&hash=2f11cde0242fe8e112e88488ae8aa60d0223c7e7)
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got a lot of posts to review...
With all the talk about OL and TE, not a lot of people have been talking about our lack of a field stretching WR but it is a real hole on this team and I believe Emery recognizes that. The new speed guy will join Marshall, Jeffery and Bennett as our top 4 WRs in 2013.
I am still holding out hope for Knox but the Bears need to target somebody in the draft (maybe 3rd to 5th round) or at least a quality #2 FA WR like the Vikings were able to do when they signed Jenkins and Simpson and kept winning after Harvin was IRd.
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I have been on vacation for more than a week with no access to any media
Now that's a vacation -- old school!
Good on you for unplugging. I don't know many people who could do that for a whole week anymore. Or even just a weekend. Good to have you back.
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I have been on vacation for more than a week with no access to any media so I just logged into the Trib yesterday and saw something about Lovie being a candidate for the Bills job. Wow!
Trying to get up to speed here but this guy from Denver looks to be the best candidate.
It will be interesting to see if the new guy retains any of the old Bear coaches. If Lovie doesn't get a job then I'd assume some would be available. I'm thinking Toubs for sure, not Drake or Tice, maybe some of the defensive coaches.
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We don't know. It has been shaky at best since early December. Shanahan should've put the backup in late in the second qtr. You can see RGIII was obviously hurt.
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Speaking of slippery, what was up with that field for the Redskins game today?
It looked like Soldier Field and that was with 50 degree temps. Maybe if the footing was decent RGIII wouldnt have collapsed his knee.
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LOL.
It's cold and WET in SFO in January.
Ball is slippery.
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LOL.
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The game will probably be more about how Ponder plays. If he plays like he did in GB the Pack will probably win. If he plays like he did in Minn it will be a tough game.
What if he doesnt play at all ?
Oops.
G.B. 24 - Minnie 10
Yer gonna love SFO.
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The game will probably be more about how Ponder plays. If he plays like he did in GB the Pack will probably win. If he plays like he did in Minn it will be a tough game.
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By Tyler Dunne of the Journal Sentinel
Jan. 3, 2013
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Green Bay --- Last week, players inside the Packers locker room maintained the defense needed "11 guys to the ball" to stop Minnesota's Adrian Peterson. Fly to the football. Gang-tackle.
This week, defensive coordinator Dom Capers is stressing discipline.
Throughout Green Bay's 37-34 loss to the Vikings last weekend, Capers says the Packers were overaggressive. Too many players flocked to Peterson. The MVP candidate stayed patient, decisive and rolled to 199 yards on 34 carries.
Green Bay may want to flock to Peterson But Saturday night, it has to be more controlled.
"You have to be very disciplined," Capers said. "If you’re not disciplined in your run fits, he makes you pay. We had an awful lot of good run snaps for a 1- or 2- or 3-yard gain. But when he came out of there, I think our guys had a chance to look and realize you can’t be overaggressive. You can’t let your emotions get the best of you in terms of everybody going to the ball. Sometimes you have to be patient and hold your leverage on the backside.”
The Vikings didn't do anything fancy, Capers added.
Missed tackles plagued the Packers. In so many words, Capers indicated that Peterson's success may be more fundamentals than scheme.
Either way, Green Bay will get a third shot at Peterson at Lambeau Field Saturday night. This time, the Packers are hoping to stay more disciplined in their run fits.
"It’s a matter of you have to (beat) blocks and you have to make tackles," Capers said. "So I don’t think they reinvented the wheel in terms of running the football. It’s a matter of execution. ...You can’t be too over-aggressive and get your nose stuck inside because Adrian’s a rare guy in terms of his ability to stack in there behind and he’s going to go to the open area and he has the speed to out-run you.”
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In the Lovie era, a guy like Finley would have been considered absolutely not worth the trouble. Especially since the TE never got used anyway.
In the new scheme of things at Halas Hall, though, who knows? Emery will never be mistaken for a riverboat g*mbler, but he has shown a willingness to take calculated r*sks (Marshall, Jeffery).
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I liked the thought of Finley, but man, I think he is a big me first type. There is a difference between Brandon Marshall who wants the ball and cheers his team mates up. Never once did he call out Cutler, whether Cutler deserved it or not. It seemed like Finley was chirping the whole year about Rodgers.
Just shut-up Finley...I'd say no. More talent then Winslow Jr, maybe not quite the mouth, but a close second
Finley could be awesome IF he would ever mature.
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I liked the thought of Finley, but man, I think he is a big me first type. There is a difference between Brandon Marshall who wants the ball and cheers his team mates up. Never once did he call out Cutler, whether Cutler deserved it or not. It seemed like Finley was chirping the whole year about Rodgers.
Just shut-up Finley...I'd say no. More talent then Winslow Jr, maybe not quite the mouth, but a close second
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I saw him drop the first pass thrown to him I don't recall any drops by him after that. I believe he was thrown to 4 maybe 5 times at most.
I wish I knew what his role is ... maybe thats for the next HC to figure out.
Just like Hester.
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I saw him drop the first pass thrown to him I don't recall any drops by him after that. I believe he was thrown to 4 maybe 5 times at most.
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IIRC E-Rod had a pretty high drop percentage among the few passes he was thrown.
The kid needs a lot of work, no question. Temple to the NFL is a pretty big jump. He's a decent blocker though so thats a start.
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Speaking of the Detroit game, did Harvey Unga play or was he even active for the game? I dont believe I saw him even if he was active and did play.
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In training camp we kept hearing about how he was making all these plays catching balls downfield as a TE. Then the regular season he was a FB who got thrown to three times all season in the flat. *shrugs*
Maybe part of the reason Lovie is unemployed.
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E-Rod never impressed me either.
He has the underweight talent of being a FB, and too lightweight to push holes for RB's at that.
I know Halas Hall was thinking he's our Aaron Hernandez TE. He was not in the last offensive scheme.
Maybe with the next HC? But still at 6'2" 239 lbs. I dont know WHAT he is.
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E-Rod never impressed me either.
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Yeah, I'm really interested to see what happens with E-Rod his 2nd year. I'm pretty sure Emery didn't draft him to be a FB so hopefully the new HC/OC can get more out of him than that.
E-Rod and McClellin are both guys where you really wonder if Emery was drafting them for this year and Lovie, or looking further down the line.
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I agree the Bears need to upgrade at TE. But I'd like to see Spaeth have some more opportunities next year. I still remember him as a Gopher catching a lot of passes back in the day. He's got Gronk size without the sheer hops and athleticism. But I think he can still be a decent option (http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-cant-miss-plays/0ap2000000100134/WK-12-Can-t-Miss-Play-Just-enough-Spaeth) in the red zone from time to time. It will be also interesting to see if the new HC keeps ERod at FB or whether he gets more opportunities as well.
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Why would someone elses "underperforming" FA be of any more value than our own underperforming TE's?
In his press conference Emery actually talked about Kellen Davis by name. Said he was a guy who showed a lot of promise 2 years ago but for whatever reason just couldn't put it together this year. He didn't give any indications about Kellen's future with the team but I have to think the new HC is going to have to seriously go to bat for him with Emery if he wants him kept around. I'm sure he's not one of Cutler's favorite people after this season either.
My money says Kellen goes and Spaeth stays.
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OK my bad
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Scheffler went to Western Michigan and was a 2nd round draft pick of the Broncos, a year before they drafted Cutler IIRC.
It was either Cutler's rookie season or 2nd year when he and Scheffler really started clicking.
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Didnt Sheffler go to college at Purdue? Or am I mistaken?
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Why would someone elses "underperforming" FA be of any more value than our own underperforming TE's?
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Scheffler went to school in Michigan so if the Lions do cut him loose at least he could stay reasonably close to home.
And he might be motivated to stick it to the Lions which couldn't hurt for two games out of the year.
I would say though that even if Scheffler gets released, up picking him up is a long shot unless the new HC lobbies for him hard. More likely we wind up with a younger FA who has underperformed elsewhere (Cook, Finley, Bennett), or we pick up a guy early in the draft.
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Sheffler wouldnt be a bad pickup
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Scheffler and Cutler had pretty good chemistry in Denver before McDaniels blew everything up. If we could get him here as a reasonably priced FA that would free up another draft pick for OL. He might be willing to play for less if he likes what he sees happening here and wants to try to recapture the magic with #6.
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I read where there will be significant churn on the Lion's roster and Schefler carries a high price. He is likely going to be released...
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McCoy would be my first choice. I guess Clement would be second, but he does kind of scare me a little.
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I believe McCoy is the best fit as I know it. The qualifications set out by Emery seem to fit McCoy to a "T". Like Emery wanted a Coach to adapt to the existing personnel we have. That seemed to have McCoy written all over it because of his work with Tebow and Orton too.
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Seems they are building him up to be bit more than he is... Clements doesn't even call the plays. This makes me a bit nervous.
Yeah... I like the idea of robbing the Packers of a member of their braintrust. I mean I REALLY like it. But for some reason I'm still feeling McCoy may be the better fit.
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Well the convenient reason for the delay is that the Packers are preparing for a playoff game on a short week. I get that. But I believe the real reason they want to delay the Bears interview with Clements for as long as possible is in hopes that McCoy or someone else gives Emery a deadline to make an offer that falls before he can talk to Clements.
Another reason it would be in the Bears' best interests for the Packers to make an early exit from the playoffs.
But if Clements to Chicago did happen... we could finally answer the question of what the Packers offense would look like with Forte at RB. And we'd know whether Clements made Rodgers or vice versa.
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Seems they are building him up to be bit more than he is. Isn't this his first year as OC? I thought Miami hired their former OC last year as the new Miami HC. Clements doesn't even call the plays. This makes me a bit nervous.
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Yeah they couldnt stop Clements from interviewing, but they may limit when that interview can happen
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By SB Nation NFL News on Jan 2, 2:05p 3
USA TODAY Sports
The Chciago Bears reached out to another offensive-minded head coaching candidate recently, this time from their most hated rivals, the Green Bay Packers.
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The Chicago Bears have been granted permission to interview Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Tom Clements for their head coaching gig, ESPN Wisconsin's Jason Wilde reports. The Bears requested the opportunity to interview Clements on Monday, which the Packers later granted.
This isn't the first time that Chicago has tried to interview Clements, as Windy City Gridiron's Dane Noble notes. A couple years ago, the Packers refused to grant the Bears permission to interview Clements, then Green Bay's quarterbacks coach, for Chicago's offensive coordinator opening, which eventually went to Mike Martz for a short period.
Known for running an aggressive passing offense in Green Bay with the likes of Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers, Clements would provide exactly the kind of coaching style that Chicago seems to desire at this time. After failing to win a championship under the defensive-minded Lovie Smith, most of Chicago's coaching targets appear to favor offense.
The Bears never technically needed to ask the Packers permission to interview Clements, as Kevin McCauley of Acme Packing Company writes, but the team did so anyways out of respect. Assistant coaches can interview for head coaching openings without permission, but they can be blocked from interviewing for other opportunities.
This story originally appeared at SB Nation.
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I think Romo is staying put in Dallas. Jerry will handle him much the same way Emery is handling Cutler... upgrade the surrounding talent, bring in a new offensive scheme and hope that gets him over the top.
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Dont put Romo on your wish list for QB. We dont need that.
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Tony Romo is a "coach killer".
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http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/01/02/jerry-jones-says-changes-are-coming/
Unless these "changes" of which Jones speaks include cutting bait on Tony Romo... in which case Orton could be in the mix for a starting gig in Big D... especially if those "changes" also include the hiring of one Lovie Smith as the 'Boys new HC.
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.....And my guess is Orton would be a very inexpensive hire
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Cutler and Orton... Two midwestern boys slingin the pigskin and rockin some nasty beardage.
Who knows... could happen.
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TYVM. And I am sure Orton would love to be back in Chicago.
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Forgot about Orton, and that McCoy had worked with him too in Denver.
He'd actually be a legit #2 to Cutler whereas Tebow would be more of a gimmick.
Cue up the Orton to Chicago rumors if McCoy gets the Bears gig.
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would be interesting...
Get McCoy
Orton and Tebow :-)
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Emery and the new HC will also have to take a hard look at our backup QB situation.
I think we have one in Josh McCown. I see that they released Blanchard. I hope they re-sign him and try to develop him. He is a winner and you need guys like that. He just needs some seasoning and a good mentor/teacher. I believe McCown has shown he can be a decent backup. I sure wouldnt go invest in another "starting" type backup. That Campbell signing was a total waste. Nor would I invest in a draft pick unless it were say a 4th round for a player like Manuel from Florida State. That dude is tall. He might develop into a decent QB.
Now were we to seriously look into a journeyman QB to bring in and our HC is McCoy I'd consider checking into Kyle Orton. I dont know his contract status.
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we won't trade to a division rival.
I know that's the rule of thumb, but almost all trades anymore involve a player for draft pick(s).
If it's a straight-up player for player deal, could be a different thing because both teams are losing (and gaining) a known quantity.
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we won't trade to a division rival.
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Hester for Scheffler, straight up?
Last I checked the Lions didn't really have a returner or a deep WR threat with Stefan Logan and Titus Young both flaming out this year.
That's a trade that would have a fair chance of backfiring on one or both teams but I'd say the Lions would be bearing more r-isk in that deal than we would.
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Just because Tice played Rodriguez at FB doesnt mean he couldnt be a talented pass catching TE. He just might have been played out of position. Something the Bears O has been very good at over the years. But regardless, we need some more TE talent.
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To me the TE situation seems pretty cut and dried:
- Kellen Davis is a goner.
- We will either sign or draft a big, receiving TE. I would be very very surprised if one of the following are not on our roster next year: Tyler Eifert (ND), Zach Ertz (Stanford), Jared Cook (FA Tennessee) or Jermichael Finley (FA Packers).
- We will keep Matt Spaeth. He's a solid #2 who's not world class as either a blocker or pass catcher but good enough at both to get the job done.
- E-Rod and Kyle Adams will compete for one roster spot and E-Rod will win-out because he is a better blocker and because he was Emery's pick.
That's the way I see things unfolding anyway.
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Scheffler was given a 3 yr extension in 2010 so I think he has one more year.
He is also from Det so he might want to stay there.
he has averaged about 40 catches per year the past 6 yrs.
Most years he has averaged 12+ yds per catch.
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One option I saw floated as a solution at TE if McCoy were hired, would be to see if we could get the TE Scheffler from the Lions since he was Cutler's TE in Denver while McCoy was there.
I don't know Scheffler's contract status... the only way that could happen was if he were an UFA cause no way the Lions would trade him to us. Scheffler is a good (not great) player who has regressed somewhat in Detroit after being considered a rising star at the position in Denver... so it would definitely be a 2nd-tier acquisition, not nearly as sexy as drafting Eifert/Ertz or signing Jared Cook, but it might be a decent bridge solution for a year or two that frees up draft picks and/or FA dollars to help get the OL shored up.
Emery and the new HC will also have to take a hard look at our backup QB situation. IMO Campbell was a major whiff and it wouldn't surprise me to see new #2 and #3 QBs in here next year.
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Yea, he just is not worth that much $$ at all as a mere KR.
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I think Hester is out of here regardless.
I believe he is owed a huge baloon payment... something like $10M... if we keep him next year. You could get two players in here for that (or one kick-a$$ LT).
Hester will be let go and so will Knox (whose playing days are over), and Emery will go hard after a speed WR either in FA or the middle portion of the draft. With all the talk about OL and TE, not a lot of people have been talking about our lack of a field stretching WR but it is a real hole on this team and I believe Emery recognizes that. The new speed guy will join Marshall, Jeffery and Bennett as our top 4 WRs in 2013.
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I can see the right OC using Hester more at WR, but that cant happen till that OLine is fixed so that they dont have to use TEs to help the OTs to block the speed rushers on the outside. You cant go to 3 and 4 WR sets when you have to use extra bodies to block. A smart OC like McCoy will have a plan to fix that.
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I bet a few concussions have changed his approach - you gotta be fearless to be a return guy - you gotta be fearless to play in the NFL - I don't blame him for wanting to spend time with the family after all he has accomplished
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It won't surprise me if the next HC/OC tries to use Hester on O. He is still dynamic but for some reason he just never got it on O. I still think the right OC can put him in a few packages to best utilize his talent.
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Hester never has had huge holes to run through. Nearly everytime you see him break one, it's him shooting between a couple defenders, not flying through some gaping hole. He has lost a step definately. He isn't juking that first guy anymore but trying to run sidelines to get around him. He used to juke the first guy, and then bam right up the gut through a mass of defenders. And whether he admits to it or not, he is mainly upset at not being used at WR anymore. I'm sure he believes his time is up at wideout and that the new regime won't consider him there, rightfully so. We've been saying for years now that he ain't a reciever....
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Owners were discussing eliminating kickoffs entirely - because of the injury percentages
Imagine Hester's value if they take away that
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I jumped off the Hester bandwagon when he stopped scaring people on ST. As already mentioned he is WAY overpaid for KR...and to not even be special at that this season. Jump!
Yep!
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Well those comments make sense, but the timing of his I'm going to retire comments just were a little suspicious.
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Devin Hester✔
@D_Hest23
Let me make myself clear the reason why I feel like retiring has nothing to do with Lovie Smith Getting fired.
1 Jan 13 Reply
Retweet
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Devin Hester✔
@D_Hest23
It's hard to play this game when you're not happy or having fun At what you love to do in life.
I can understand that. He had a bad year. He wasnt productive as a WR nor as a KR/PR. That seems to jive up with what has already been said already
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Agreed Hiber.
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I jumped off the Hester bandwagon when he stopped scaring people on ST. As already mentioned he is WAY overpaid for KR...and to not even be special at that this season. Jump!
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changing the KO starting point doesn't help, I'm sure.
Teams still kick away from him as best they can.
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I think age has caught up with Hester as it does with us all. A WR can lose a step and still be productive. Not so much with a returner. All that dancing around and retreating that in the past may have allowed him to hit a hole and break it now just result in lost yardage. His best days as a kick returner are behind him and he never really made it as a WR.
I can agree with this assessment to a point. But as you've said so many times about Cutler needing this and that, well same goes for Hester. The blocking for him on PR and KO hasn't been there this year. Do you honestly expect anyone else to do better with what he had to work with?
As for receiver hell if Tice had any brains he would use him in the slot. I'm not saying by any means he's an elite receiver but he can be utilized if the Bears had a real OC that can draw plays for him.
I doubt he retires too but if he goes elsewhere I bet he makes a real difference for that team. Hester has done more for the Bears in his career than Cutler has but Cutler gets excuses when he screws up.
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I think age has caught up with Hester as it does with us all. A WR can lose a step and still be productive. Not so much with a returner. All that dancing around and retreating that in the past may have allowed him to hit a hole and break it now just result in lost yardage. His best days as a kick returner are behind him and he never really made it as a WR.
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Why? Sticking ones shoe in ones mouth usually results in the ugly taste of shoe leather. Most of us like Hester the person and respect him as a premier KR but I think I speak for the majority here by saying we dont approve of him as a WR and he is being overpaid as a WR. Now were he to go back to being a fulltime KR with a comensurate salary I would welcome Hester back. Hester was tied to Lovie's backing him as a WR and now thats gone. Retiring is a bad idea. Maybe wherever Lovie lands Hester can manage to hook on. KRs shouldnt be overpaid. If his KR production this year was a reflection of his usage as a WR then he needs to go.
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Boy it's funny to see Bear fans jumping off the Hester ship.
Too funny!!!
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I believe Hester came out early
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Did Hester not get a degree?
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I recall reading an article that Hester was a stay at home playing video games type of guy, and not out in the clubs. He stands a much better chance of having his money if he keeps that lifestyle.
What is the pension these players receive and when does it kick in, at what age? It seems to me that if you burn through your money but make it to the pension you should still live a reasonable life...
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I hope Hester is ok because he seems like he is a really nice guy.
However it is pretty obvious he is not the sharpest knife in the drawer. Hopefully he invested his money wisely and is living with in his means so he can live a very nice lifestyle for the rest of his life. He should be set for life but we so many that spend it and end up broke. I hope he is not one of them.
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Yeah I doubt Hester winds up on ESPN or doing color commentary on one of the networks... and he has certainly peaked in terms of his earning potential as a player.
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Got to admit, I'm a little concerned about where Hester may be 5 years from now. He doesn't strike me as a bad guy down deep, but he's none too bright and it seems pretty obvious he's loved living the life of an NFL star.
I think he has a pretty high likelihood of being one of those ex-players who has a hard time keeping his head above water financially after his playing days are done. Especially if he winds up retiring back down there in his college stomping grounds. Pretty easy to rip though a lot of cash fast in South Florida.
See thats part of the problem. They gave him all this money more than KRs get to be a WR. So he is making WR money and he isnt worth what he is paid and he doesnt want to take a pay cut to go back to being a KR. He is used to making big money and that tends to make you live a lifestyle comensurate with the money you are making. You take that money away and he wont make it. I doubt he is smart enough to have put any away. And he has no job skills to market either
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Well yeah I mean if he has to sell cars or insurance or something but can still pay his bills, no big deal. At that point he's simply come down to earth with the rest of us average middle-class guys.
I'm talking about the kind of deal where an ex-player starts hocking his playing memorabilia or gets deep into gambling or even starts engaging in illegal activity. That's where things start getting a lot darker IMO, and where I'd hate to see Hester wind up.
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I'm not concerned a bit, if he does go through his cash, that's his problem. But I do agree, I could see that happening..
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Got to admit, I'm a little concerned about where Hester may be 5 years from now. He doesn't strike me as a bad guy down deep, but he's none too bright and it seems pretty obvious he's loved living the life of an NFL star.
I think he has a pretty high likelihood of being one of those ex-players who has a hard time keeping his head above water financially after his playing days are done. Especially if he winds up retiring back down there in his college stomping grounds. Pretty easy to rip though a lot of cash fast in South Florida.
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Pfft....greatest running back of all time was and still is Walter Payton.....
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Aaron Rodgers, Adrian Peterson were the stars in a game for the ages
MINNEAPOLIS—Sometimes you have to cut through your despair and be thankful for what you were fortunate enough to witness. In this case, it was a fantastic football game between two teams playing at peak performance.
That’s what I saw. I saw one of the great football games I’ve had the honor and pleasure to cover during the 41 years I’ve spent my Sundays in press boxes.
The Packers and Vikings gave us a masterpiece on Sunday. They gave us nonstop drama that continued through the last play of the game.
All around the league, teams out of contention were going through the motions. Packers and Vikings fans were treated to a game they’ll never forget.
Let’s start with this: We saw two players for the ages.
We witnessed a performance worthy of the league MVP award. Go ahead, give it to him. Please, break from the Peyton Manning humdrum and give the MVP to a man whose performance in 2012 won’t get lost in an avalanche of stats.
What Adrian Peterson did on Sunday is beyond remarkable. He was the ultimate marked man, and he rushed for 199 yards, just nine yards shy of setting the NFL all-time, single-season rushing record. Frankly, once he broke into the open on that 26-yard run that preceded the Vikings’ game-winning field goal, justice would’ve been served if he had taken it the final 11 yards and capped the day with the rushing record, too.
Yeah, I know it hurts to lose. I know how much you hate to lose, especially to the Vikings, but take a break from that for just this once. Let the hate go and allow yourself to feel the love of a game well played. Allow yourself to bask in the glow of something historical. You witnessed greatness.
Hey, Peterson wasn’t the only one out there putting on a show. If you haven’t already thanked Ted Thompson and fate for bringing Aaron Rodgers to Green Bay, this would be a great time to do that.
Rodgers graced us with another magnificent performance on Sunday, throwing for 365 yards, four touchdowns and a 131.8 passer rating. He did all of that, was forced to do all of that by Peterson and the game-long lead the Vikings held, without so much as throwing an interception. He makes it look so easy when, in fact, it’s so difficult.
In the league’s worst press box, I was allowed to sit and watch the league’s two best players. One team had to win and the other one had to lose, and I expect those roles will be reversed this Saturday when Rodgers wins and Peterson loses, but nothing is going to taint my appreciation for and my memory of what I saw at the Metrodome on Sunday.
I saw greatness, and that’s why both teams are hot teams heading into the playoffs. Great players make teams hot and Peterson and Rodgers are on fire.
“He might’ve won the MVP today,” Rodgers said of Peterson. “Hopefully, we can win the playoff game next week.”
In the final analysis, that’s all that matters: Win the next game. It’ll be that way every week for the Packers for, hopefully, the next three weeks. Things change. Don’t get caught up in planning a path to the Super Bowl. Fate will provide the path. Just win the next one.
The only things we know for sure is that the Packers will host the Vikings this Saturday and, should the Packers win that game, they’ll travel to San Francisco in the divisional round. After that, who knows? Maybe the Packers will host the Seahawks in the NFC title game.
Don’t worry about all of that. Enjoy what you have, which is to say another opportunity to watch possibly the greatest running back in the history of the game play on the same field with a quarterback who’s in the process of putting his name on the same pages with the game’s all-time great passers.
We saw something special on Sunday, and we’ll have a chance to see it play out in front of our eyes again on Saturday, between two teams playing their best football, and the two best players in the game.
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yes, I was leaning that way myself
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My money is on the not very bright part.
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Something on NFL network that I just caught the tail end of. Something about Hester complaining that "fake fans" got Lovie fired. Hester apparently is either very emotional and spoke before he thought or he is not very bright.
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Yup. Emery may have asked him to take a pay cut or he may know he will never reach the WR incentives that were placed in his contract.
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Hester had some mojo on Lovie that kept him at wideout. He knows he doesn't have that with the new guy and there's no friggin way on planet Earth a sensible HC would put him there again so he's throwing a bit of a tantrum is what's happening....
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Even if Hester retires, I don't see it sticking. He's obviously having a very hard time processing Lovie's firing today (as I'm sure many of the Bears veterans are), and that may be something that's just an outcome of his in-the-moment frustration than it is his actual intent.
Hester may announce his retirement but I could see that winding up very much like Favre's or Jordan's. Sometime down the line he'll get the urge (and/or need the $) and some team will take a flyer on him even if he's sat out a year. He was a HOF talent in his prime and guys like that tend to get about as many chances for themselves in the league as they want.
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If Hester retires I can see him trying to make a come back in a year or two, when all of his money is gone.
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If Hester is collateral damage to Lovie getting fired it is a small and acceptable price to pay.
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Phil, Hester was great not simply because of the blocking but because he could dodge and weave through the defenders and hit holes full speed and juke and bam, TD. He hasn't been able to do that now for awhile. He tends to be hesitant. Someone said he lacks fire....I would agree. I think off the field stuff has his attention and he knows he probably is gone from here, fired, so he took the smart route (if it's true) and decided to retire. Who would pick him up? He's lost so much that he actually has become a detriment as a returner. I would have said they'd have been better off putting someone else back there to do the job.
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I wonder if that decision had anything to do with the logical thought that Hester wasnt going to be a WR and just a KR? My guess is thats the retirement reasoning. Hester desperately wanted to be a WR and wasnt adequate
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Or maybe the special teams blocking on KO's and PR was terrible. I doubt ANYBODY on the team would've done any better.
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Gotta agree with Pekin. For whatever reason Hester doesn't appear to desire greatness anymore... or maybe his body's just worn down from the last 3-4 wasted years at WR... and now that Lovie's gone I could see him going into even more of a funk.
What's sad is that Hester is only a return or two away from breaking the all time record IIRC. Which would have pretty much made him a shoe-in for Canton. But based on what I saw this year I'm not sure he has 2 more left in him.
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If he does not have the passion for the game then he should retire. He sure showed nothing this season that makes me think he wanted to be out there.
His head was not in it all year.
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Brad Biggs claim Hester is going to retire. That should make the majority of you guys happy.
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Because Lovie needed another 9 years to get the job done, Yapp! Doncha know a thing??! It was 'right around the corner'! We were 'almost there'! The offense 'was just waiting to break out'! C'mon!
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Wow 2 staffs the Bears will be paying for. I am surprised they would do that.
Yep...can we finally put that "cheap McCaskey" label to rest?
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Why would Ditka be p**ssed about Lovie getting fired?
I think he'd be more upset about losing to the Packers the last 5 games straight.
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Of course Ditka is ticked. He was in the same boat and didn't like it, either. You don't produce, you get fired.....plain and simple logic....
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Ditka on Waddle & Silvy...sounds pissed about this.
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remember when the bears had a chance to keep the pack out of the playoffs by beating them the last game of the season in soldier field? the bears half-asssed the game and let the pack into the playoffs.
lovie said, "we'll see them again".
remember?
A few things. That game was played in GB and I don't buy the team was half assed in that game. The Packers needed to win that game or they were out of the playoffs. IF I recall the final score in that game was 10-3. That doesn't sound "half-assed" to me. GB was simply the better team that year and won the Super Bowl.
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Pekin, Think Lovie is going to get fired today? :)
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No way Jose!
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Good decision by Emery....one of his first here. Let's hope it's someone with some credentials, like Gruden or Cowher.
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Wow 2 staffs the Bears will be paying for. I am surprised they would do that.
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Lovie might land a gig quick with another team (Dallas comes to mind) and if they pay him then the bears are only on the hook for the difference.
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A dream come true.
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I'm guessing that unless the new HC is a promotion from within (please God not Tice or Marinelli), that the entire staff will be let go as well.
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I am in shock. I am pinching myself to see if its real or not. I sure didnt expect that after yesterdays win. That also means the Bears will owe Lovie and a new coach next year. That will influence who the Bears hire. Any assistants still under contract for next year too?
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I really hope our veterans are pro's enough to get on board with this and not sabotage whoever the new guy is coming in.
I could see Urlacher being a major problem in that respect but possibly even other core guys like Briggs and Peanut.
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Lovie gone...had to be done....
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I think Bates called plays for Cutler his last year in Denver.
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confirmed by the trib (http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-chicago-bears-fire-coach-lovie-smith-2012,0,1783180.story)
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I kinda expected Bates as OC. Has he ever been OC? I am not aware that he has been. But then again my guess is anybody would be better than Tice at this moment. But if Bates forgets that he has to run the ball to set up the pass and throws the ball 45 times per game we wont win more games. The biggest surprise I saw yesterday was the WR screen to Bennett. When we ran those screens we looked mighty good. Where have those been all year?
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http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000119943/article/lovie-smith-fired-by-chicago-bears
Lovie gone?
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LOVIE FIRED (http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000119943/article/lovie-smith-fired-by-chicago-bears#)
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I don't think you can let Lovie continue on a one year contract. If you decide to keep him he needs at least a one year extension. i would hate that but without it you can't get any decent staff. If Lovie stays only one year then you are stuck with Tice.
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Tice will get canned (or demoted to OL coach), and Bates will be promoted to OC.
Those are the only changes I see happening in the staff this offseason.
Phillips and the McCaskeys will take the onus off the coaches and put it on the new guy (Emery) to find enough talent this offseason to make the current clown cast look at least reasonably capable.
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Very good. I knew this was coming. I will be shocked if they can Lovie. One thing sure I sure hope they dont give Lovie an extension as a pat on the back for his 10-6 record. That would be a disastrous mistake.And if I'm Emery I draft like Lovie is gone next year. My question is what happens to this offensive coaching staff? How many of Lovie's coaching buddies get pink slips?
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I'm sure it will all be handled in typical Bear fashion. Either no plan of making changes (or very little), or just no cohesive plan to speak of.
Yup. For me personally I have several problems with Lovie staying but one of the biggest is that as long as he's here he's going to continue having input on personnel matters. Translation: another year of Lovie very likely means another year of Hester, possibly even another year of Kellen Davis, and another offseason of draft picks and FA money going to D that should really be going to the O.
Emery needs free reign on personnel matters and as long as Lovie is here I just don't see him having that.
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Let's give the Vikings their props.
Their record against the Niners, Texans, and Packers this season: 3-1
Our record against those same teams: 0-4
That right there tells you who the better team was this year. Not saying the Vikings have everything it takes to go deep in the playoffs but they deserve the chance a lot more than we do.
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I'm sure it will all be handled in typical Bear fashion. Either no plan of making changes (or very little), or just no cohesive plan to speak of. There should be a statement from Emery today if they have Lovie's back. But again, this is the Bears we're talking about..
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wibear, excellent analysis there....you're right...
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right now virginia mccasky is listening to her favorite talking heads song: the one where they keep singing, "stop making sense....."
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here's another head slapper for you:
cutler has the same physical tools as rodgers.
same arm strength and accuracy.
same durability taking a hit.
same mobility in the pocket and ability to scramble up field when needed.
the difference is in the way they see/think the game and the plays they try to make.
rodgers takes the short play on the short third down to keep the drive alive. or he'll throw the ball away if nothing is open. he"ll even take th sack rather than risk a turnover.
with 3 guys in the pattern and 2 open, cutler will try a 20 yard pass on third and 2 to the covered guy. killing the drive. punt.
cutler will force the ill advised throw with downs left to work with. interception.
cutler will put the ball up for grabs when a sack will at least maintain possession. interception.
the difference here is coaching not physical tools.
no more lovie.
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remember when the bears had a chance to keep the pack out of the playoffs by beating them the last game of the season in soldier field? the bears half-asssed the game and let the pack into the playoffs.
lovie said, "we'll see them again".
remember?
the pack came back and beat them in soldier in the nfc championship game on their way to a superbowl victory.
now imagine the scenario reversed and its the bears who walk thru lambeau on thier way to the post season and a superbowl while mccarthy says, "we"ll see them again'
mccarthy would be fired.
bears get to a superbowl and lose. lovie fires rivera and replaces him with boob babich.
remember?
lovie promoted tice to offensive coordinator.
tice was a o-line guru.
now the bears biggest problems are the o-line and the offensive play calling.
anyone else think lovie cant evaluate talent?
anyone else think lovie tolerates excuses?
anyone else think lovie has forgotten that beating the packers was his original recipe for success?
anyone else want to keep lovie?
anyone?????
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We saw what Bennett & Jeffery can do if JCut looks their way.
It can't be Marshall all the time ... thats stupid & one directional.
Bates has to realize we have more then one WR.
I think he finally got it in the Detroit game.
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If the Bears can get some O-line help in the off season the offense will take off. Right now they have to keep so many people in to block that there are very few receivers out in patterns. Plus our TE's are abysmal at catching the ball. Kellen Davis other then our O-line is the biggest problem on the offense.
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It would have helped us a lot more to lose today than it did to win. For any number of reasons.
Hell we didnt even look that good winning.
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So we found out theres more then one WR on the CHICAGO BEARS.
Good info to take into next season.
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I will be rooting for the Vikings and Niners from here on out.
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The one "wild card" is Emery, he was told no touch the coach, for the first year only. He's a new GM that deserves to have his coach. Of course, this is the Bears we're talking about..
I dont see it that way. I believe that the final decision belongs to the board, not Emery. I believe the board rewards Lovie by letting him play out the last year of his contract unless he chooses to resign (dont we wish), but i dont see that option happening. I see Emery putting the clamps on Lovie's hiring of assistants too. Now that might force Lovie to resign. But on the other hand I dont see Lovie resigning and throwing away 5 Million dollars. I also believe the decision, whatever it is, will come quickly, due to the fact that coaches have to be hired and with all the firings expected there will be an open market for all the good ones.
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Lovie needs to go, PERIOD! Fire his azz!!! And take Tice with him!! 5 out of the last 6 years, NO playoffs and lots of losses to the Quack. That's enough right there to get rid of him! He isn't here to win games! He's here to get us in the playoffs, to the Super Bowl and win it!! Who gives a flying flip if he were to win 11 games and not make the playoffs. He did not get his team prepped to the point that after having started 7-1 they could get in the playoffs. 5 of 6 , losing to the Quack....ENOUGH!!!!
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Sorry Packy. I respect you but i hope you get what the Bears got when they lost to the Pack the last game of the season in 2010. No way the Vikes go to the Superbowl
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Sorry that the Pack couldn't get the bye and get the Bears into the playoffs.
How DO you stop Peterson?
I think that the Pack can beat Minn in GB next week-end.
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Lovie needs to go. Period. We can all see it. There is no hope for this team if Emery can't. Why put it off another year?
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Well I was kind of happy with the Bears win. Then the Vikes Win totally ticked me off. But in hind sight, I hope that it is what will get Lovie launched. He so needs to go, no matter what....
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The one "wild card" is Emery, he was told no touch the coach, for the first year only. He's a new GM that deserves to have his coach. Of course, this is the Bears we're talking about..
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Lovie needs to go.... I am the biggest homer and the game was in doubt today no reason. So ticked...............................
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I think Lovie manages to play out the remaining year of his contract but he isnt getting an extension.
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The bears will never go into the next season with Lovie as a lame duck. It is almost never done and the bears won't do it either. They were 10-6, no way do they launch Smith. Because of the late season skid and missing the playoffs again, they will extend Lovie only one year.
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Vikings at Pack next week...I'm hoping for a meteor to hit the stadium...
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I guarantee Lovie will not be fired with a ten win season. They will use the injury excuse and say most ten win teams make the playoffs.
I hope Rodgers strains his vagina in their first playoff game.
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good luck with that. 10 wins says he stays. i think the owners are looking for any reason to keep him, and the 10 wins is it.
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Wow 10 win season and no playoffs...very rare. Couple of close games come to mind. Seattle being #1, we should have won that game.
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Well.....fuuuuuck!!!!!
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stick a fork in the Bears ... and Lovie too
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Now fire Lovie, release Hester and get rid of everyone that needs to be gone. Starting with the boring coaches.
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pack played tough, bears gone.
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ESAD, Fudge Packers
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This is like watching a plane go down. I should just change the channel, but can't.
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you guys been drinking more than I have, and thats saying alot. not gonna happen.
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The Pack's defense is embarrassingly bad.
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yeah, a tie work for me too...
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I can live with a tie. That's what we'll go for.
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I refuse to root for these hog humpin' fools and that arrogant Aaron Rodgers.
The Bears are going to get smoked in SF next week. Why would you want to witness that? they already humiliated themselves after a 7-1 start and a #2 seed lockup in the playoffs.
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A tie works also and makes GB lose the number 2 seed. Let's root for that!
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If the Bears don't make it I see no way Lovie gets fired. If they get there and are embarrassed maybe he gets the axe.
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Why would you root for the Vikings?
I hate the Pack, and I know the Bear will lose badly in the playoffs but I still want them going.
Lovie is not getting fired with todays win wether the Bears make the playoffs or not.
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Come on Vikings
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Hell of a game, and I am forced to say (gag) props to the pack, they aint laying down. Queens just scored again, mathews is out, I think the Bears sit.
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There is a bad call against the Queens that gives the Pack a TD. The runner's knee was down before the goalline and before he tried to reach for the goalline after which he fumbles. They ruled it a Pack TD. Bad
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Go Queens!
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Peterson and Ponder keeping the Queens ahead of the Pack. Queens back up by 10
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If this is the best that the Packers can muster then they aren't going anywhere this year either.
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I think so too. But one and out in the playoffs wont get Lovie an extension
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Can you imagine Jennings, Marshall and Jeffrey as the Bears WR's? Then with Bennett as the 4th. Damn!
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20-17 there is hopw now.
How good would Greg Jennings look in a Bears uniform next year?
Of course only if the Bears get some O-line help as well.
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Coaches do not get fired after 10-6 seasons in the Chicago.
Lovie is safe with that win.
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Lovie ain't goin nowhere. We fans will get to eat it for at least another year. The fault lay with us, the Bear fans for continuing to watch and pay money. Owners don't give a damn because they still get their money. Did I buy tickets to games? no. but I bought the direct ticket for which those clowns get a cut, and all the assorted hats and shirts. Sucker that I am. The Bears are quickly as far as I am concerned being religated to cub status. I'll see ya in the playoffs but until then, not so much.
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20-7 Vikings.
Damn the Packers suck!
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Lovie....the reaper is coming for ya....gonna knock you right off this team!
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Wow the Packers D is absolutely terrible. How did we lose to them twice?
Oh yeah our offense is terrible...
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Pack is making Ponder look like an all-pro
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Two three and outs by the Packers losing 10-0. Those azzclowns are going to lose and knock the Bears out of the playoffs.
One more reason to hate them I guess.
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minny just converted and 3rd and 12. great.
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Nice win. Good to see the Bears on the play-offs.
That knocks NY out. ;-)
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well, at this point minny ain't losing, and they got the ball again.
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Packers will lose.
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What I want to see out of this game is for the Queens to lose and the Quack to get banged up pretty good....not hurt in a bad way, just knock out some of their weapons for a couple games. Like Rodgers....just give him some bad turf toe or a sprained finger on his throwing hand or something just enough to keep em on the sideline >8)
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Thing is, even if they DO address those needs, I have no confidence this staff would know what to do with em once they have them. Would not surprise me in the least if they start the same group of dropouts from this season. If it were I, and I drafted a Olineman high, he would be starting first game out. And I would also make sure there were a FA acquisition on the line. At least two new guys on that line...anything less is criminal ignorance...
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Nah. gotta draft some more dL.
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We all pretty much agree on the fact that the draft next year needs to be Oline and a TE..if they do not address that, forget it...get rid of Emery....
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A good O-line would fix a lot of their problems. As would a decent TE that can block and catch.
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Thank God all my shrieking and wailing was wrong. At least the Bears swept the Lions. Next year? same old, same old I bet.
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This team has far more problems than just the O-line though that's certainly one of them.
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This....just doesn't feel right at all. It's the strangest feeling seeing your team possibly going to the playoffs but knowing they certainly don't deserve it and will get creamed by the first opponent. Even the announcers keep saying it.....the Oline is a main cause of it.
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10-6. I doubt Lovie gets fired.
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Do the Lions fire their idiotic head coach?
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Jay! my man!!
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Forte's run may have sealed a 10-6 season.
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NOW WHAT!??!!
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Bears need a couple first downs here and it's done, but it's the Bears we're talking about here....they keep talking about how they'll go nowhere...we all agree...
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just watch. bears lose and packers win. just watch.
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Thank God he didn't throw the go route that time....maybe the timeout was to go tell Tice forget the go route.....
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good.good.
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Would love to see some data on how often Bears need 2,3,4 yards on 3rd down and have gone to the go route and blown it.....several times I know, probably 6 or more and they've killed drive after drive. Perfect opportunity for a out to Forte to keep things moving. Is is SO completely frustrating to sit and watch.....they have not learned a darned thing....
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Only one first down. Two minutes taken off the clock.
Lions need about 55 yards to win.
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Another one of those dumbfk go routes on 3rd and 4....just plain fricking stupid....Bears deserve to lose this thing and start the rebuilding....idiots....
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Nice play call Tice. Sheeesh......
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I'll settle for first downs. A lot of first downs.
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Offense need a TD period on this drive. No more FG's.
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Gotta admit that was one absolutely ridiculous penalty...what do they expect a safety to do? Sit there and watch the guy make a catch and clap?? Crazy....
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bears starting at the 20 sure. no problemo.
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'Bout time for ole Jay to barf one up.
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Bears should have nearly 40 points instead of these FG's.
Now you need a 7 minute drive or a TD to hold them off.
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this is stupidly horrifying.
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The offense should've taken advantage of the gifts by the defense. Should've had at least 20 more points on the board if the offense put up TD's instead of FG's.
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ONE stupid play and look what happens....had they not hit Stafford, this wouldn't be happening....
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down to the nine. Bears will lose by a missed fg.
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Instead of getting the ball back and killing some clock, Detroit is in scoring position.
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wide open. will lose. will lose.
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Briggs = idiot.
This team is so stupid.
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flag. of course. what else?
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WHAT in the H were the fricking BEARS thinking attacking Stafford as he was going down?!? S T U P I D!!!!!
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FINALLY starting to blitz the backers.....about time...
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After this game, Lovie needs to find his own way out of Detroit. Walking.
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here we go again, the bastards are playing soft.
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Lovie is a moron for declining the penalty.
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A great play on that last drive would have been to play action to Forte, have him scoot out to the cones and bam, TD....use him already!
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pretty sad you have to hope we can hang on with a 9-point lead against the loins!!!
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Yes but if the throw is not perfect and the D player makes a play it goes for a pick 6.
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Looked like Bennett was open on that last play to Marshall going to the corner of the end zone.
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That was a nice drive. Too bad they couldn't get 7. Thanks Davis you fuktard!
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Yea, this team is playoff caliber...... holy smokes....
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Line up for the FG....this is something.....
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Clown boy has one more clank off his hands. loser.
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Hey look, another botched Davis catch! And HEY LOOK! ANOTHER f'd up clock management timeout!.....good golly marie......can we stop the keystone crap now, please???
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why is Kellen Davis still on this team? He blows!!
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Hell of a catch by Bennett.
Davis suckz azz!
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Nice catch....now, line up for the FG guys.....
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now that was a hell of a catch.
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Bears have to get to the 20 at least for a fg. at least.
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One thing I'm seeing, Bears are not blitzing. Now you got a team that is wobbly to begin with in the Loins, why not blitz the kid when they get in those 3rd and whatevers?? I sure as heck would! Give them a reason to give up and head to the offseason!
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Totally agree. I feel like the bears ass is hanging out in the breeze.
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4 Turnovers by the Lions and they have a 6 point lead.
Only a Lovie coached team could pull this off.
LOL.. truer words were never spoken.
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The defense absolutely has to score for this game to be put out of reach.
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Lions still on track to win. You all know it. Bears will turtle and die.
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Here's the deal....you gotta look at this thing in reality.....big IF the Bears make it to the playoffs, you gotta consider giving Tice some help on play calling. The guy is not getting the job done. There's little creativity, they aren't using Forte out of the backfield on passes, one of his strengths, I mean you GOT to consider doing something drastic to get this thing moving! But we all know how Lovie rolls.....one and done.....
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And you called it. Are the Bears every going to get people in positions they're trained for? OC that's a real OC would be nice.
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4 Turnovers by the Lions and they have a 6 point lead.
Only a Lovie coached team could pull this off.
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he woulda been out of bounds even if he grabbed that one .
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FG...how fricking PATHETIC is that!?? And don't count Mare a sure thing....
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Second droppe TD by Marshall today.
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lost 8 yds.
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what do you bet we end up kicking a field goal?
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By turnovers alone, this game should not be close.....O will prob give the thing back...
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Hopefully Tice is the first to go..
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They'll get a FG out of this.
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That's better.
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Tice can go with Lovie dovie and crew.....bye bye....
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That ace number 1 defense better come up with some ace number 1 plays. Note knucklehead Tice: They've figured out what your doing.
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Offense telegraphing what the next play was going to be.
---Tony Siragusa, announcer in today's game.
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For God's sake!
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P a t h e t i c......totally....
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even if we made the playoffs, this putrid offense will ensure one and done...
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Forte gets a couple big runs, Loins tighten down, Bears punt...hmm, where have I seen THIS before....
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Yep.
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It's about time for Jay to give one up isn't it?
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That woeful offense didn't take advantage of the 3 gifts by the defense.
Nice job Tice.
And Cutler needs to quit trying to force the ball into Marshall too much.
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Bets on Bear points scored in the second half? Lovie's ass needs to get fired just for the last two stupid lion drives. period.
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This game is just like the season. 7-1 then miss the playoffs.
Up 20-3 and lose the game. Just watch.
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Hope Lovie's sweating it now.....this keeps up, he gone.....
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next up, lion td.
you called it!
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Lions right back in this thing..
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The change of momentum all started with prevent defense. All these years that idiot has never learned.
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next up, lion td.
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now detroit is running. super. and johnson is catching passes. I'm tellin ya, this is scripted.
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Hester needs to be released.
Instead of the 20, it's at the 2. He can go with that moron Lovie tomorrow morning.
He was ruined by trying to make him a WR. His return game was pure instinct. The dual role screwed with his head.
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D is missing tackles all over the place.....letting a whosit run on em....
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This game is going in the tank for the bears. they all want to go home. they better stop these guys.
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Sigh.....more of the same sh=====
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Hester needs to be released.
Instead of the 20, it's at the 2. He can go with that moron Lovie tomorrow morning.
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Can we all agree Hester sucks anymore? He hasn't done a darned thing nearly all season but go backwards.....
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WTF Hester???
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Almost as if Detroit is trying to help Lovie keep his job..
I was thinking about this this morning. If you were the Lions wouldnt you want to face Lovie twice a year? Same for the Pack and Vikes.
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Bears dominate all first half until statue boy goes into prevent allowing an easy TD.
A real team would have 35 points up in the first half ending any mystery to this game. Now they have a chance.
Please fire Lovie tomorrow morning.
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And they let them right back into the game before the half.
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Its the 21st century. Can't they clone those guys?
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Almost as if Detroit is trying to help Lovie keep his job..
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Jennings is just unreal....he's our Mike Brown, the guy is just all around the ball making plays. Maybe he should be playing safety!
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What the hell happened to Detroit? They're dirty, but they always play hard. now a pick.
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Another TD I pull Cutler in the Second half..
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Some positive things I'm seeing today: Forte running strong and smart, offense involving other guys including TE's and even a fullback, Rodriguez actually doing some decent blocking.
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Crowds chanting 'Let's go Bears!', lol....
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now that right there is a hell of a play.
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Terrible time clock management shows a poorly coached team.....
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Nice effort by Jeffrey for the first there...
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A TE SIGHTING?!?? REALLY??
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Bears....missed tackle....missed tackle.....
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Bear ball!!!!
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That came from 'your 2012 Detroit Lions!'....boy they are really pathetic. Terrible terrible defensive effort there.....thank God...
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an Earl Bennett sighting. Touchdown, Touchdown Bears!!!
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Yow!! Where did THAT come from?
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spoke too soon... 3-0 deficit. That may be enough the way this offense is playing...
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down 3-0. that should be enough.
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lol, there's your '2012 Detroit Lions'......
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there's a brave Bear fan in that crowd...Bears ball!!
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sounds like some people made the trip down I-94. Can't image why. Detroit is not my idea of fun.
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Week 17 and they still have problems with false starts.
Maybe the most boring offense ever created.
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great. lions right down the field.
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great ... clown cars already ... this team is a train wreck
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Keystone cops!
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nobody in the stadium and a false start???
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A timeout already?!? You gotta be kidding me....brother....
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here we go....
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Either way, I hope the Bears win so I can have another meaningful game to watch after it...Vikes/Pack
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That would be real bitter if we won and the vikes won
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My wife asked me today who she should root for Bears or Lions. I always want the Bears to win, but then again a loss would be one step closer to Lovie going, and that is what I think really needs to happen for this team. I can see the Bears win and the Pack loses, ugh. I told her the chances of Lovie getting launched are much greater if the Bears lose today, so I am really going to be good either way. ;)
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I'm of the opinion right now I don't care what happens today. I'll be frustrated if they lose or don't make it in,yea, but at the same time this team just isn't where it needs to be to be competitive. You cannot look at them like last years Giants. We don't have what they had. We aren't going to just 'flip a switch' and bam, there's this Super Bowl quality team. On D it could be possible. On O? Not in this lifetime. Screwed up Oline, recievers and TE's that can't catch balls and a OC that isn't quite sure how to best utilize what he has to begin with. Example: Forte. Everyone and his brother knows Forte is a excellent pass catching back. Does Tice know this? Apparently not. He might put him out as a wideout....a little strange, but this isn't Forte's 'Forte', it's catching the ball out of the backfield and making plays. The TE situation alone would keep us out of the big game. We need a quality TE in the worst way to keep pressure off of Cut and give him a threat down the middle to keep the D honest. Right now the D doesn't have to concern itself with the middle so much. Our Oline has to have help constantly keeping guys off Cut too, so that limits what the O can do. This thing is such a fricking mess right now, we'll probably blow it today anyway....would not surprise me in the least....
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Playoffs. This is the game.
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Durham is an Ed McCaffrey type... 6'6 good not great speed. Very inexperienced, mid round pick by the Seshawks, was Staffords roommate in college.
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That's the same thing I was thinking
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my guess is that they must turn the ball over a lot. but haven't checked into that.
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Loins are great going up and down the field, but not so great when it comes to the red zone. We gotta keep em on that pace...
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Forget the other numbers. What counts is the score.
The ratings aleays ignore one of the most important statistics: turnovers.
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Lions are #2 in yardage which is how NFL ranks teams. But in points they are more middle of the road.
Interestingly on defense Lions are a respectable 13th...in yards but a woeful 29th in total points.
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Detroit has the #2 O in the league? Playing in Detroit... I don't know dawg...
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Forte practiced Friday and is listed as probable. He will start. The questions will be how effective will he be on that bum ankle and how long can he go.
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The Bears D could get a boost if Melton is back but the loss of Conte, as many of you have pointed out, could be huge in slowing down the #2 offense in the league. And to top it off the guy playing safety, Walters, hasn't started an NFL game in his career, probably hasn't even played many snaps as an NFL safety. This kid could make a name for himself...either way he plays.
Bears will need to dress all pass rushers Sunday to keep constant pressure on STafford.
But the Lions don't really have any receivers besides Megatron. They've lost a couple of their #2 receivers and are now starting somebody called Kris Durham. Pettigrew is doubtful. Bears can give Tillman a bunch of help on Megatron and make Durham and TEs Heller and Scheffler beat them. (Kind of like what the Lions game plan will be against us with Marshall).
Offensively, we get a bit of a break in that Nick Fairley is on IR and his backup Hill is out. That will let Garza double team Suh as our other guard gets to go one on one with their 3rd stringer.
Webb should be able to handle VandenBosch and the big matchup will be Scott against Avril. Scott used to be a Lion so he should be familiar with playing in Detroit...but maybe not with the crowd noise.
Again I sound like a broken record when I say that we need someone other than Marshall to get involved in our offense. We need Jeffery, Bennett and Davis to have more than a token catch or two.
And if Forte is good to go he should be able to have a big game running the ball against the Lions. Even bigger if they'd throw to him more.
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"Some" consistency missing? Wow....
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And now the excuse is "all the teams we lost to are playoff caliber teams". Either you're good enough to run with the big dogs or you're not..
It's not an excuse but a fact. The Bears OFFENSE is not playoff caliber. There's just some consistency missing from our offense and its not just the O-line's problems. If the defense does not have a good day its tough for our offense to keep up with teams.
As for Unga, he's on the team...part of the 53 man roster. I don't like that the young DE was cut (I kind of liked him) and yet we have a roster spot for McCown. Are we afraid some team is going to sign an aging 3rd string QB going into the last week of the season? If Cutler gets hurt we should be able to find McCown.
According to the papers Armando Allen hasn't practiced all week - most likely he will be inactive and Unga will dress but I would be surprised if he gets the ball. Kahlil Bell will get Bush's carries assuming Forte can carry the full load.
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Favre threw a lot of balls to the other team too.
Not saying Cutler will ever be half of Favre but it kinda comes with the territory too.
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That's because this team is built around take aways on D for scoring. It's ridiculous that we have to have turnovers and defensive scores to win games. That's smoke and mirror bs. A true quality team will score on offense and stop the other team from doing so on defense. When our D isn't scoring, it's letting good teams score. When our offense isn't scoring, it's simply our offense and I'm not sure Cut will be taking us anywhere. Mentally, I don't think he can get us there. He is too immature and pouty and prone to collapsing when the pressure is on. When the other team says we can rely on Cutler to throw us the ball at least once a game, something is definately wrong there....
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What kind of teams are in the playoffs? The bad ones? You have to beat the good teams sooner or later and the Bears didn't.
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Exactly. If Lovies record against teams w winning records is 19-39 or whatever, how can we ever expect him to be a SuperBowl winner?
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And now the excuse is "all the teams we lost to are playoff caliber teams". Either you're good enough to run with the big dogs or you're not..
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From 7-1 and now hoping for other teams to lose to get in the playoffs for one game.
Big deal. This trash doesn't deserve a playoff spot and I refuse to root for the Packers.
Time to get that good for nothing piece of trash coaching staff and half the team out of Chicago.
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What does our offense do well? Or better phrased, in what games did we look decent and what did we do?
What I have seen is the following.
q Start with establishing the run in the first quarter. Let our offensive line get the butterflies out and be the aggressor and not the catcher.
q Have Cutler start with shorter passes. A little pitch and catch
q Move the pocket and design some waggle into the plays. The one play that comes to mind is the TD to Spaeth against the Vikings where he rolls left and avoids Allen
q Keep up the heavy dose to Marshall, he seems to be the only option that is consistent.
q If the 2 minute drill is effective, run it more frequently. News flash Lovie and Mike, many teams including our chief rival use it frequently and not just in the last two minutes. Break up the rhythm a little.
What I haven’t seen is a lot of Forte in the passing game – I don’t know why
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Article says we cut the DE with the last name that starts with O.
Cheta. OK
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Forte will get his 9 yards to 1000 then probably sit.
I've got a bad feeling about this game. CJ makes his 2000+ yards, but Bears still win, and the Packers choke to the Vikes. Oh. and Lovie keeps his job.....
This franchise is still paying back bad karma for some of Papa Bear's shenanigans I guess.....
Here's hoping I'm WRONG.... :D
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Article says we cut the DE with the last name that starts with O.
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So whose roster spot does Unga get?
Urlacher ?
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So whose roster spot does Unga get?
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Not that they are dirty or anything like that. LOL
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The Lions will be going after Forte's ankle on EVERY play. You can bet on it.
Unga will be active and will likely be in the packages Bush would have played in.
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Yes, I think Conte is going to hurt our chances.
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We could really wind up missing Conte as far as over the top help vs Megatron.
His loss is probably equal to Urlachers... Possibly even more.
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Safety Chris Conte (knee) and linebacker Blake Costanzo (hamstring) are out for Chicago and linebacker Brian Urlacher (hamstring) is doubtful after returning to practice on Friday. Running back Matt Forte (ankle) is probable.
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Unga has to get a 53 man spot before he can be active.
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Why is Unga going to be active? Forte, Bell, Allen, AND Unga?
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It sounds like Unga will be active Sunday.
Maybe we'll finally get to see what he's got, 3 or 4 yrs after the fact.
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That game we dropped against the Vikings looms pretty large now, doesn't it?
But the reason we dropped the game was because they beat us. Guys, we're just not that great of a team, with not so great coaches. There's a reason why we dropped the last bunch of games. As popular as it is to beat up the offense, the D didn't play all that well through the stretch..
I also agree about Detroit playing like a team that's packed it in, it's probably our only hope..
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I agree about Romo, I think he's decent. I think it's a good comparison to Cutler..
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A Seattle/GB rematch in the playoffs would be a fun one, no question.
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As does the Seattle-Green Bay game we were cheering about when the replacement ref made that bad call at the end.
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Lions have looked like a team that's packed it in the last two weeks but I don't think that's the team we'll be seeing Sunday.
That game we dropped against the Vikings looms pretty large now, doesn't it?
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Yup! Nada! Not a d*mn thing anymore
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Agree with you there. Nothing pertaining to the Bears really shocks me anymore.
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I didnt say I expected 2100, I said it wouldnt shock me.
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2,100 would mean a 208-yard day from Megatron.
I don't see that happening unless our entire pass defense just plain doesn't show up.
I do definitely think he'll be out to settle the score with Peanut, though.
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I wouldnt be shocked at 2100 from Megatron. I think the guy has an axe to grind with Tillman and he is going to come to play Sunday with a vengence
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You must not watch many of their games...
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Every time I sit down to watch a Boyz game, or see some hightlights of them, there's always a shot of Romo scrambling around and tossing up a stupid int to cause them to lose another game. It really is a wonder he's still around there....must have some pics of JJ in provocative poses or something...
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I think he'll get the 2K whether we win or lose.
What I could see happening is we've got him bottled up to like 50 yards till late in the 3rd qtr and then he gets behind our safeties for an 80-yard TD.
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I'm having a hard time believing we'll win this game. So with that said, sure, I think it's possible he hits the 2000 against us..
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How many of you think Megatron gets his 2,000-yard season against us? He needs 108.
It's really the only thing the Lions have to play for so I'm thinking he'll get about 25 targets and if that happens it's in the bag.
The only way I don't see it happening is if he gets hurt early and has to sit the rest of the game.
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Okay yapper I'll follow that prediction with
24-13 Lions
Our offense is averaging round 13 ppg the last 5 games and they looked woeful last week. If the defense hadn't scored last week who knows. If the defense scores a couple TD's then the Bears win no doubt. They just can't depend on that offense.
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Like I said, Romo = Cutler. They'll make some amazing plays and have done pretty well covering some serious warts in other areas of the team... but they'll also do things that make their coaches pull their hair out.
And in both cases, even though they sometimes drive their fans nuts, the smart ones know their teams would be far worse off without them.
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Romo is a lot better QB than some of you seem to think...
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No one has come out and predicted a score yet so I'm gonna go with...
Bears 16-13. I think our offense will be pathetic again and Cutler will have another rough day at the hands of the Lions D-Line. The Bears D will score our only TD but they will also give up a TD to Megatron as well as the 2,000-yard receiving record.
Lots of turnovers, lots of penalites, lots of bad football all around -- by both teams. I also hate to say it but I think one of our key players is going to sustain a major injury.
Then the Pack will beat the Vikings and the Bears will limp into the final wild card spot and a first round blowout loss to the Niners.
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There are a lot of similarities between Romo and Cutler. Guys with franchise QB ability who just seem to be lacking whatever "special sauce" it is that makes the great ones great.
Not sure Cutler will get as many years to pull it together in Chicago as Romo has gotten in Big D though.
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lol....I'm seriously surprised they've stuck with Romo for so long....
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Yeah but...
It's Tony Romo in a big game...
This usually turns out bad for the Cowboys.
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No questiion that Witten being healthy is huge for the Cowboys.
Hopefully next year we have someone like him too.
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I think the Skins are gonna beat the Cowboys. Especially if it comes down to RGIII vs Romo having the better game.
You haven't watched many games of Tony Romo the last month or so. Witten is healthy, Dez Bryant knows the playbook, their O-line has settled down and DeMarco Murray is back. None of those were the case when we played them in Dallas earlier this year.
Neither the Redskins or Cowboys play very good defense - last team with the ball wins.
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And yea, Bears and Vikes lose, Gnats get in....6th spot.
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I think the Skins are gonna beat the Cowboys. Especially if it comes down to RGIII vs Romo having the better game.
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If the Cowboys win, they'll be the 4th seed and the Bears if things go right for them will be the 6th.
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Yup... Giants have definitely suffered from the SuperBowl hangover this year, but they are still a very good team and Coughlin is one of the best HCs in the biz.
Teams like that tend to wind up "lucky"... so wouldn't surprise me in the least if everything broke the Giants way and they wound up with that last spot. Of course, besides getting all that help they still have to beat the Eagles on Sunday (in NY/NJ) but the Iggles are such a mess right now that I don't see that being a real tall order.
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Giants need Bears, Vikings, and Cowboys to lose.
Sounds like the Giants are in if that's the case. :)
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Cowoys get in as division winner if they beat Washington. Giants need Bears, Vikings, and Cowboys to lose.
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I think the Giants would make a better showing in the postseason than either the Vikings or Bears, personally.
They've got more talent and better coaching than either of those teams, and they showed last year they know how to step it up in the playoffs. Can't say that about the Vikings or Bears.
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If the Vikings and Bears both lose, then either the Giants or Cowboys gets in at #6, correct?
If the Bears and Vikings lose then that opens the door for a whole lot of **** to happen.
It is the only way the NYG can make it. They need a win and Minny, Chicago and Dallas to lose.
If Chicago and Minny lose Washington is in regardless of win or loss. The only thing they would be playing for is a higher seed as the NFC East winner.
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And BTW Bush was signed for 4 years
Thanks... I must have been thinking of Campbell.
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If the Vikings and Bears both lose, then either the Giants or Cowboys gets in at #6, correct?
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The only thing I know is Sunday is going to be one long long long ass day watching football drinking and eating!
Early Game Bears - Lions. Then afternoon Peckers & Vikings. Then Deadskins & Cowpokes.
I'm glad I don't have to work on Monday or Tuesday.
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What's most likely to happen is Bears win, Vikes win and are in....just got a feeling this is how it will end up.....
Worst case scenario there... Bears winning 10 games and still missing the playoffs. Just bad enough to waste another season, just good enough to bring back the whole clown crew and their lame schemes for one more year. If we're gonna get bounced anyway, might as well get the benefit of the loss in terms of draft position and next year's scheduling. Really wish the order of the two games was reversed so we'd know if we had anything to play for, but them's the breaks.
I just don't see the Vikings winning though. I think it will be a lot like the first time they played the Pack where they put up a good fight (and may even hold the lead at some point), but can't close the deal. The Packers still have plenty to play for and they won't want Peterson getting the rushing record against them either, especially after people have been dogging their D all year.
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The only truth in that last post and its only a partial truth is that the Bears should have used Bush more in the Houston game after he fumbled early on.
Forte is the starter and the starter is going to get around 70 to 75% of the carries in a game all things being equal. Bush gets maybe one complete series and will get the 3rd and short and goal line carries.
Stats so far this season has Forte with 224 and Busch with 114. I don't think Bush was underutilized during the season (except for in the Houston game).
But I must stay I don't know what the real story was for the Green Bay game where Busch dressed but for some reason or another didn't play and the next day goes on IR. What's up with that?
And BTW Bush was signed for 4 years and as far as I know Unga is still on the PS.
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What's most likely to happen is Bears win, Vikes win and are in....just got a feeling this is how it will end up.....
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Yeah the way the whole Michael Bush thing played out this year has to be considered a major disappointment and IMO, a pretty strong indictment against the coaching staff.
When he was healthy, we didn't utilize him enough and/or mis-used him. Even when Forte was clearly not close to 100% he kept going out there while Bush rode the pine. And then Bush finally winds up on IR at precisely the point we need all hands on deck for the playoff push. I have to think that fumble of his vs the Texans put him in the doghouse cause his reps were slim to none from that point forward.
Pretty sure Emery envisioned getting a lot more mileage out of that acquisition than we wound up getting. I know I did. I don't know if Bush is on a 1- or 2-year deal but if it was a 1-year deal and I were Bush I'm not sure I wouldn't seek greener pastures, vs. re-upping for this clown show. Emery may already know Bush doesn't want back and that's why Unga is getting another look here at the end of the season.
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What really sucks is this year as soon as the ankle starts to get healthy another defensive players rolls his ankle again. Three times this year to the same ankle. Brutal.
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It seems like with Forte what happens is, he gets some sort of injury very early in the season (2nd or 3rd game), and it's not something that puts him out for the year but it definitely hampers him the rest of the way.
Timing is everything. If that injury Forte had in Game 2 against the Packers hadn't happened till the 10th or 11th game, he would have had more than half this season healthy and who knows what kind of numbers he might have by now. Heck we might have even salvaged one or two of those games that went for losses.
To his credit, Forte is a gamer who has likely played through pain many more games in his career than most people know about... but it's still unfortunate we haven't had the benefit of him at 100% more often than we have so far.
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History says we should beat Detroit. They've only beat us once since maybe '07. Detroit will be trying to go out with a bang, something to build on. Plus an opportunity to knock us out of the playoffs. I'm having a hard time convincing myself that we're going to win this weekend.
Talking about injuries, seems as if Forte is always dinged up..
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Yeah, Megatron will be a challenge but he has had big games against a bunch of teams yet the Lions only have 4 wins this season.
So our defense has to work twice as hard because our struggling offense won't be able to take advantage as much as most teams against the Lions weak defense.
As for Hardin, I questioned putting him on season ending IR from the get go. I just didn't understand the new IR rules - may be that the Bears were saving the IR return tag for a starter that was injured mid-way through the season. I don't think they ever used the tag.
I think Hardin is probably more of a project and they figured he needed a red-shirt season...
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Don't know why but I have this gut feeling Megatron is gonna go off on us Sunday.
Peanut had a superhuman game on him the first time we played but it's almost impossible to replicate that twice in one season against a player of Johnson's talent. I guess now that he got the record maybe there's a chance he'd slack off a bit but I don't see him as that kind of player. I also believe Tillman is not as healthy right now as he was the first time we played the Lions this year, on top of which Conte is likely out so we can't rely on deep safety help as much (BTW does anyone else think not putting the "designated to return" IR on Hardin was a REALLY DUMB MOVE? Now we're signing safeties off the street.). If we can't get to Stafford early and often I think it's gonna be a big-stats day for Megatron.
If it comes down to Megatron vs. Marshall then get your popcorn cause it will be fun... but I'm not sure the Bears come out on top in that situation.
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Amen. The whole team should get on Marshalls outlook.
Agree.
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I saw an interview with Russell Wilson and he basically said that because of his height everyone and their brother said he couldnt play QB. And he just wanted to prove them all wrong, and play and play well. This kid has that drive and desire to succeed, no matter what. I wish we had a few more players with that kind of attitude.
Amen. The whole team should get on Marshalls outlook.
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I saw an interview with Russell Wilson and he basically said that because of his height everyone and their brother said he couldnt play QB. And he just wanted to prove them all wrong, and play and play well. This kid has that drive and desire to succeed, no matter what. I wish we had a few more players with that kind of attitude.
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Did that look like a playoff offense to you?
Steve Rosenbloom/Chicago Tribune
7:07 p.m. CST, December 23, 2012
What we learned in Arizona on Sunday was the Chicago Bears are back to beating stiffs and the defense is back to scoring.
I don’t know what the Cardinals do for a living, but playing football isn’t it.
It’s true the Bears could only beat the team in front of them to retain any postseason hope, and they did. But it was hardly a team.
In fact, if the Cardinals were an actual NFL-caliber team, the Bears might’ve been eliminated from the postseason pretty quickly. It was a shame either team had to win this game.
The game plan for the Bears' offense should’ve been simple, especially after quarterback Jay Cutler started heaving the ball all over the yard -- high, wide, and omigod.
The Cardinals led the league in sacks and interceptions, but they couldn’t stop the run, so, again, the game plan should’ve been simple, especially with Matt Forte averaging 8-point-something-ridiculous per carry. It should’ve been Forte, Forte, Forte, ballgame.
But no. The play-calling remained nearly as big a problem as Cutler’s misses. It was as if the offense was trying to set up the punt the way John Shoop used to.
Cutler eventually found a rhythm and found someone other than Brandon Marshall. In trying to redeem a miserable offensive first half with a slick two-minute drill, Cutler hit Alshon Jeffery, Earl Bennett and Forte before finding Marshall wide open in the end zone for a 21-6 halftime lead.
But the Bears needed to show better. A playoff team you can believe in would’ve shown better. A playoff offense, anyway.
The Bears' defense showed up every which way, running out one quarterback and running down another.
The Cardinals started a quarterback who hadn’t thrown a TD pass all season, but Ryan Lindley did throw one to Charles Tillman early in the third quarter.
Tillman’s return was the defense’s second score of the day after Zack Bowman fell on Beanie Wells’ self-inflicted fumble in the end zone to put the Bears ahead 7-0. Tillman’s return also ended Lindley’s awful game, bringing on some guy named Brian Hoyer who had been with the Cardinals for about 30 minutes.
The Bears defense smothered what passes for an Arizona running game and dared Your Name Here to beat them through the air. Good luck getting odds on that bet.
So, if the Bears could get the Cardinals again next week and get them every game in the playoffs, this could be a thing.
But alas, the Bears will have to face a quarterback who might indeed beat them when they get Matthew Stafford in Detroit next Sunday. That means they also get Calvin Johnson -- the record-setting Calvin Johnson.
The Bears' defense can handle it. Or, at least the defense handled it spectacularly well earlier this season.
The bigger question is, can the offense handle anything, even a dumb and dirty Detroit defense?
Starting with Cutler, the offense rarely looked big-time in Arizona. I don’t know who could come away with confidence that this offense is playoff-quality, if the Bears even get that far.
Worse, the Bears lost Forte to an ankle injury on the second play of the second half. He left with 88 yards on 12 carries for a 7.3 average and a score on a short-yardage run. Yes, Matt Forte scored in short yardage.
But when you see that Forte was replaced by Armando Allen and Kahlil Bell, then Forte also left the Bears without the threat of a balanced offense.
Not that the Bears figured out how to make Forte a consistent contributor before this, but at least he was someone opponents had to account for.
Now, though, if Forte can’t go against Detroit, the Bears' playoff hopes would appear to devolve into all Cutler, all the time. When the season began, I would’ve loved that idea. Now, I’m afraid of it.
Cutler started 1-for-11 on Sunday, then hit 10 of 11, then missed on the next three, then, well, you get the idea.
The Bears pay Cutler big money to assume a big responsibility, but he hasn’t delivered with any consistency. The offense hasn’t delivered with any consistency. And that was with Forte.
Maybe Forte will be able to play. Maybe the offense will find a rhythm early. Maybe Cutler will look sharp and decisive from the start.
Maybe, maybe, maybe. After 15 games, you’d think the Bears would’ve given us more than maybe.
Thanks for posting the whole article. It pretty well sums up where they are at this point
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So if the Packers and Bears win next week the Bears are in and go to San Francisco or Seattle.
No thanks. That game would be over before kickoff.
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And man, some of Cut's throws were simply horrendous! I remember one with a deep middle pass to Marshall. Marshall's open but when the ball comes out, the nose is angled down and consequently, the ball hits the dirt twenty feet in front of Marshall. WTH that was all about I don't know.
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Sportser's comments about the Bears 3rd down plays were dead on.
Cutler had plenty of time today but consistently on 3rd and 4 or 5 or 6 throws that 20 yard pass to Marshall along the sideline when he's single covered by Patrick Petersen.
I know the Bears like their chances with Marshall any time he has single coverage but a 20 yard pass is still a 20 yard pass and not a high percentage pass that keeps drives going.
Bears just don't have a short 3rd down passing game that can sustain drives. Yeah, Jeffery had a couple nice plays (only one was a catch) and Bennett had ONE nice catch and the Bears finally decided to get Kellen Davis involved and he had a couple short receptions.
I know the Cardinals are pretty stout against the pass but the Bears O-line held them in check for the most part and the passing game struggled.
Does Tice not have the plays to get the other guys open? Or are the other guys not able to get any separation? Or is Cutler so zeroed in on Marshall that he is ignoring Tice's plays and the other receivers?
Does JCUT even know that Jeffery and Bennett are back?
Maybe once he figures out that he has 3 WR's his targets will change.
If Michael Bush was healthy ... this is where he would make his mark.
And yes ... I would hire Tim Tebow if the price was right for FB/TE.
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None of this is official - maybe the papers will explain it.
The Packers will want to beat the Vikings because they will want to maintain their #2 seed and the 1st round bye and home field that goes along with it. Their only threat to that is the 49ers who are hosting the Cardinals in a late afternoon game. The Packers, unless their game is moved to Sunday night, will not know the outcome of the 49er game which is scheduled for 3:30. Most likely the 49ers will whip the Cards and the Pack will be incented to beat a very good Viking team.
Don't believe the Redskin/Cowboy has any bearing on us anymore. It's basically comes down to the 2 North division games: Packers/Vikings and Bears/Lions.
Winner most likely gets to go to SF...
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Sportser's comments about the Bears 3rd down plays were dead on.
Cutler had plenty of time today but consistently on 3rd and 4 or 5 or 6 throws that 20 yard pass to Marshall along the sideline when he's single covered by Patrick Petersen.
I know the Bears like their chances with Marshall any time he has single coverage but a 20 yard pass is still a 20 yard pass and not a high percentage pass that keeps drives going.
Bears just don't have a short 3rd down passing game that can sustain drives. Yeah, Jeffery had a couple nice plays (only one was a catch) and Bennett had ONE nice catch and the Bears finally decided to get Kellen Davis involved and he had a couple short receptions.
I know the Cardinals are pretty stout against the pass but the Bears O-line held them in check for the most part and the passing game struggled.
Does Tice not have the plays to get the other guys open? Or are the other guys not able to get any separation? Or is Cutler so zeroed in on Marshall that he is ignoring Tice's plays and the other receivers?
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Random thoughts about today's game:
Offensive line looked pretty good against a decent Cardinal front 7. Gave up one sack (1 yard loss) which was more of a coverage sack where Cutler should have just flipped it out of bounds like most QBs do. Both OTs, including Carimi held their own without a lot of help from the TEs and backs.
Someone apparently spoke to Forte about being more patient before slamming into the hole - he had a couple nice runs he bounced outside. Hope the ankle injury is not too bad or we have no chance next week against the Lions.
Defensively, key to their success was the d-line's ability to penetrate. Haven't seen them doing that for quite a while. Bears took advantage of two rookie OTs taken in the mid rounds. Glad to see Jennings out there and hope that Conte's hammy isn't too serious but those kind of injuries usually are.
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Didn't Lovie make a goofy comment about the last game not being that big a deal, their last loss,and that todays game was THE one they needed to win? Well Lovie dovie, guess what pal....that stupid comment may just bite ya in the keister! Win next week and the Queens win, you're out! Guess which game could have saved your butt? Yep, the 'one that didn't matter as much'.....
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Bears collapse is right up there with the worst of em. 7-1 and should have been a shoo-in for the playoffs, to very possibly not even making it in. Remember some jackwad sportsbeat on the Score railing on fans that were calling and saying the Bears wouldn't make it to the playoffs after they were destroyed by the 9ers. The clown was hanging up on them.....bet he ain't hanging up now!!
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Giants are the bigger collapse because they have more talent especially on the offensive side of the ball.
The Bears offense hasnt been underperforming... They simply dont have enough good players and the better teams we have been playing have exposed that. Hopefully Emery will make significant strides on that front this offseason.
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That woeful offense of the Bears will be the reason their season may end next Sunday.
I see that the excuse makers for Cutler have seen the light. Can't blame the OL. Can't blame the WR's.
But the OC sucks still big time. Can't wait to see him launched.
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Bears.
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Bigger collapse thru the season .... NYG's or CHICAGO BEARS ?
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It's the fundamental, entry level stuff that our coaches seem incapable of doing.
Which also describes a lot of the play we see on the field.
A lot of our coaches have worked under pretty capable HCs in the past. Youd think they would have picked at least some of thd basic stuff up.
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The Bears have to be the worst time out, time managing team in the league since Lovie took over. Absolutely pathetic in that regard.
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Yup Pekin. Between our chinese fire drill offense and Lovies challenge we managed to blow all 3 if our first half timeouts well before the final 2 mins. What kind of team does that?
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That challenge today was just braindead.....nothing is right with this team right now, which is why I dread them going to the playoffs.....
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PFT is reporting the Pack Vikings game will now be a 3:25 kickoff.
So even if we win we wont know if it meant anything till that night.
The one good thing though is it will eliminate our players from scoreboard watching in Detroit.
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Lovie never talks to the refs about the officiating. That is stupid. Coaches can influence the refs and he never does. Plus he has to have the worst challenge record of any coach in the league.
Why do the Bears not have a guy watching all replays and letting the coaches know when to challenge? Why do the Bears never quickly snap the ball after a close call goes their way. Hell why can;t the Bears get playcalls in quick enough not to burn time outs?
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Here's what I noticed while watching this game. Both coaches are animated and concerned about what's happening on the field. They don't stand there like a wooden indian showing no emotions. They both are involved in their teams fortunes, whether it's good or bad. There's no indifference...
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Don't think he has a better arm than Rodgers....Rodgers is the best in the game....that sucker can hit anything standing or running with a bullet...
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Wilson just threw his 4th TD on the Niners.
The kid is Rodgers with more speed and a better arm. Scary. And he's handling the game like a 6-yr vet.
So much for needing a 1st rd pick to get a franchise QB.
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Don't know their wideouts but they've got a full stable of em apparently....big, strong and good hands....and a frickin rook QB playing above his head...
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That Seahawks team is showing the entire league that its possible to turn around a bad team quickly IF your HC and personnel chief are both on the same page and are good at their jobs.
They were a disaster before Carroll and the new GM came in but look at them now.
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Seachickens seriously embarrassing the Niners....running right down their throat....
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Think we'll be spared the humility of it all next week....either Detoilet takes us out or the Queens win....if not, oh brother.... Cutler has seriously regressed as a QB. He's malfunctioning and needs new batteries.....
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Meh... Harbaugh can scheme around those losses. Its a coaching/system thing, like GB.
And anyway with our peewee offense 20 points should be enough to put us away.
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Yea the Niners are getting their butts whipped good. They're far from unbeatable....and losing weapons quickly.
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With Vernon Davis concussed and what looks like a serious knee injury for Manningham they will be without some weapons.
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So if we do get in, it looks like we could be heading back to Candlestick to rematch with the Niners.
Yuck. Think I'd rather take my chances against the Pack.
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And before everyone gets all gaga about our resurgent defense I would remind you that the team we beat today was the same team on a 9 game losing streak before beating a Lions team that had packed it. And that the week before that got shellacked by a legit playoff team called the Seahawks.
Nice to see our D doin work today but just sayin, lets keep it real.
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Thanks Phill. People like to down Rosie cause he gets a little snarky at times... but more often than not he's telling it like it is.
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Trib articles require a paid subscription now I guess. In answer to the question posed, it absolutely does not look like a playoff offense to me.
Did that look like a playoff offense to you?
Steve Rosenbloom/Chicago Tribune
7:07 p.m. CST, December 23, 2012
What we learned in Arizona on Sunday was the Chicago Bears are back to beating stiffs and the defense is back to scoring.
I don’t know what the Cardinals do for a living, but playing football isn’t it.
It’s true the Bears could only beat the team in front of them to retain any postseason hope, and they did. But it was hardly a team.
In fact, if the Cardinals were an actual NFL-caliber team, the Bears might’ve been eliminated from the postseason pretty quickly. It was a shame either team had to win this game.
The game plan for the Bears' offense should’ve been simple, especially after quarterback Jay Cutler started heaving the ball all over the yard -- high, wide, and omigod.
The Cardinals led the league in sacks and interceptions, but they couldn’t stop the run, so, again, the game plan should’ve been simple, especially with Matt Forte averaging 8-point-something-ridiculous per carry. It should’ve been Forte, Forte, Forte, ballgame.
But no. The play-calling remained nearly as big a problem as Cutler’s misses. It was as if the offense was trying to set up the punt the way John Shoop used to.
Cutler eventually found a rhythm and found someone other than Brandon Marshall. In trying to redeem a miserable offensive first half with a slick two-minute drill, Cutler hit Alshon Jeffery, Earl Bennett and Forte before finding Marshall wide open in the end zone for a 21-6 halftime lead.
But the Bears needed to show better. A playoff team you can believe in would’ve shown better. A playoff offense, anyway.
The Bears' defense showed up every which way, running out one quarterback and running down another.
The Cardinals started a quarterback who hadn’t thrown a TD pass all season, but Ryan Lindley did throw one to Charles Tillman early in the third quarter.
Tillman’s return was the defense’s second score of the day after Zack Bowman fell on Beanie Wells’ self-inflicted fumble in the end zone to put the Bears ahead 7-0. Tillman’s return also ended Lindley’s awful game, bringing on some guy named Brian Hoyer who had been with the Cardinals for about 30 minutes.
The Bears defense smothered what passes for an Arizona running game and dared Your Name Here to beat them through the air. Good luck getting odds on that bet.
So, if the Bears could get the Cardinals again next week and get them every game in the playoffs, this could be a thing.
But alas, the Bears will have to face a quarterback who might indeed beat them when they get Matthew Stafford in Detroit next Sunday. That means they also get Calvin Johnson -- the record-setting Calvin Johnson.
The Bears' defense can handle it. Or, at least the defense handled it spectacularly well earlier this season.
The bigger question is, can the offense handle anything, even a dumb and dirty Detroit defense?
Starting with Cutler, the offense rarely looked big-time in Arizona. I don’t know who could come away with confidence that this offense is playoff-quality, if the Bears even get that far.
Worse, the Bears lost Forte to an ankle injury on the second play of the second half. He left with 88 yards on 12 carries for a 7.3 average and a score on a short-yardage run. Yes, Matt Forte scored in short yardage.
But when you see that Forte was replaced by Armando Allen and Kahlil Bell, then Forte also left the Bears without the threat of a balanced offense.
Not that the Bears figured out how to make Forte a consistent contributor before this, but at least he was someone opponents had to account for.
Now, though, if Forte can’t go against Detroit, the Bears' playoff hopes would appear to devolve into all Cutler, all the time. When the season began, I would’ve loved that idea. Now, I’m afraid of it.
Cutler started 1-for-11 on Sunday, then hit 10 of 11, then missed on the next three, then, well, you get the idea.
The Bears pay Cutler big money to assume a big responsibility, but he hasn’t delivered with any consistency. The offense hasn’t delivered with any consistency. And that was with Forte.
Maybe Forte will be able to play. Maybe the offense will find a rhythm early. Maybe Cutler will look sharp and decisive from the start.
Maybe, maybe, maybe. After 15 games, you’d think the Bears would’ve given us more than maybe.
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Post the entire article, not the link. Many can't read it unless it's posted here...
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Doesnt look like that Seattle losing twice thing is gonna happen. Theyre doing to the Niners tonight what the Niners did to us.
Seahawks are a damn good team. Still p*ssed we lost to them but they deserve a playoff spot a lot more than we do.
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Did that look like playoff offense?
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/rosenblog/chi-rosenbloom-bears-cardinals-20121223,0,2082271.column (http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/rosenblog/chi-rosenbloom-bears-cardinals-20121223,0,2082271.column)
Trib articles require a paid subscription now I guess. In answer to the question posed, it absolutely does not look like a playoff offense to me.
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Did that look like playoff offense?
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/rosenblog/chi-rosenbloom-bears-cardinals-20121223,0,2082271.column
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I think we also get in if we win next week and Seattle loses tonight and next week.
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Not only did our O only score 14 points, they didn't finish the game well at all. Playcalling and execution after Forte went out was dreadful.
And for all but the last possession of the 1st half our offense had that sluggish, lazy, disinterested and generally "not together" feel we've seen out of them so often this year.
Starting poorly and ending poorly with a little blip of competence in-between isn't how you win in the playoffs. Or in the regular season against decent teams for that matter. The Cardinals are a team you can beat with only one of your units clicking (as was the case today), but there aren't many teams like that in the league and obviously none like that in the postseason.
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Well I kind of liked the Bears win, always a good thing. But I was sort of rooting for the Cards. Fitzgerald is a flat out stud. So the O only scored 14 points, not exactly anything to get excited about.....
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I think that McCarthy learned his lesson about "resting players" in last year's debacle.
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they'll want to get the Bears in as they know they can beat us
Good point. Bears at Lambeau in January is as good as a bye for them.
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Don't forget that not too many weeks ago the Vikings ALMOST upset the Packers -- at full strength -- at Lambeau.
Just sayin.
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Well, if I'm the Pack, I want to knock Peterson the heck out of the playoffs, so I'm gonna play like rabid dogs, not to mention they'll want to get the Bears in as they know they can beat us...thanks LOVIE...but it's true....
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Will the Pack rest key players next week? Or will they go all out to win with nothing to play for just to keep the Bears out?
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Good question. I believe they are both noon starts unless one of them gets changed.
Ideally the Bears wouldn't play till 3:30 so they'd know if they're playing for anything. But we're not gonna get that benefit.
There was even some talk the Packers/Vikings game may be flexed into the Sunday Night slot but I don't know if that will happen. The biggest driver for that would have been Peterson's push for the rushing record but he got dinged in their game today so it's hard to know how that may affect anything.
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Are both games at noon next week?
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Ok...so NEXT week, Bears need to win, and GB needs to beat the Queens and we're in. Doesn't look like it matters who wins the Skins/Dal game IF we have the other two options happen. Just can't see this Bears team in it...that offense is just plain bad and inept. Everything is done if the Queens win....
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If Minny loses next week and the Bears win they're in. Bottom line.
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Bears win next week and Lovie stays because he finished the season on a win streak.
Even if we still miss the playoffs?
We're on the losing end of just about every applicable tiebreaker so we could win next week and still not get in.
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Bears win next week and Lovie stays because he finished the season on a win streak.
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Who told you all the Bears would win...by double digits?
Some of you really thought the Cards would win. LMFAO.
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Did someone pay the network to laud Lovie?....
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Problem is they don't need to go deep on every 3rd down to him. But they need to be ALOT smarter about using him near the endzone. He should be a main target there. But when they could use him effectively, they don't....
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STs get an F-minus today. They were horrific.
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Hester is killing me!
Really? Damn sorry I missed it.
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And THAT my friends is why the Bears don't belong in the playoffs.
Exactly a sequence just like that.
A playoff team jams that turnover up the opponents' azz and goes home.
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'And I tell ya what Lovie and the Chicago Bears will be working on this week'...... blah blah blah, NOTHING is what they'll be 'working on' because if they actually DID work on something it might get the @%^@#@ FIXED!! No satisfaction at all with this win. Nothing's changed, same clown posse nonsense.....
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You mean the big guy that you have been complaining that Cutler concentrates too much on?
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LOLOLOL.
LMFAO.
Nice guy Lovie backs off going for the kill shot and gives up the TD his D busted azz all day to protect.
How Bears is THAT?
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LOL, special teams has just completely shit the bed today...
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Clown shoe posse........
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Hey Urlacher...
D'ya hear all those "terrible" Bears fans that stuck around in Phoenix Stadium to cheer long after the Cardinals faithful went home?
Jackwad.
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Pssst...Bears....THIS would be a GOOD TIME to try to throw one to Marshall. Ya know? The BIG guy with the BRIGHT ORANGE clown shoes??? You really don't need to run run run here, ya know. Marshall is 6'4"....a corner post would work.....helloooooo, anyone home???
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At least they can't go deep here on 3rd and whatever.....
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lol, here go the clown shoes posse.....
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I have to wonder if the reason we never throw slants is cause Cutler doesn't have the touch/accuracy to do it?
Slants are deadly effective IF you have an accurate passer aka Rodgers. But if you get a deflection on one of those it is almost certainly a pick.
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Seriously...you would think it was preseason, and we were trying not to show anything...
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Packers won't beat the Vikes...they will be resting players.
The question is, are they willing to rest players if it means giving up the all-time rushing record to Peterson?
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Pack will play to win next week...
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Do we ever throw short routes anymore for first downs? We either run up the middle or throw a bomb.....what happened to slants? RB out of the backfield? TE?? C'mon this is some stupid football....
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Falcons have homefield throughout....
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They are still trying to get homefield advantage aren't they?
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So be it....we get another gift in canning Lovie.....
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Looks like Giants will lose today and the Bears will win.
That means next week with a Bears win and a Vikings loss to the Packers the Bears are in.
Packers won't beat the Vikes...they will be resting players.
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Why do they keep doing this? 3rd downs are horrific! What, like 1 for 10 or some ridiculous deal? Because they keep doing stupid sh@@ like throwing for low percentage deep balls. How about a nice march downfield? We could use a clock eating drive. Don't know if this is on Cut or Tice but it's gotta stop.
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The Cardinals OTs are terrible. Peppers should be dominating them.
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Looks like Giants will lose today and the Bears will win.
That means next week with a Bears win and a Vikings loss to the Packers the Bears are in.
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Do we ever call a slant?
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3rd down play calling sucks...
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ANOTHER DUMB!%@#@# PLAY!!! Need 3, go for !@%@##23 TWENTY~! How fricking STUPID ARE these idiots???
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Where the H has Peppers been?? Would have been real nice had he played the last few games like he is today.
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WHY oh WHY when we need 6 yards do we keep going for 20??? PLEASE get the first down for a change! That is so @^#$@ annoying!!!!!!
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Hester is killing me!
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Damn...Peterson's hand full of jersey, and no call...bad...
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Problem is, the only time our D can score enough to cover for our O is against godawful teams.
When we play playoff caliber clubs our offense has to pull its own weight... and they've proven many time this year they're not capable of doing that.
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Our return teams have just been a disaster today. All year really, but especially cluster-esque today.
Not a banner year for Toub to be sure.
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As I said...
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Or, one team's D is scoring enough points to cover for their crappy offense, and the other team's D isn't.
Totally agree.
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Or, one team's D is scoring enough points to cover for their crappy offense, and the other team's D isn't.
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Biggest difference in this game is that one team is slightly above average, and one team sucks balls.
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That didn't look good with Forte's ankle.
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Biggest difference in the game so far is that we've been able to get our run game going and AZ hasn't.
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So Cutler keeps throwing in front of his WR, like in the dirt. No excuses for him. This is like two bad teams playing each other. And Larry Fitzgerald is a stud, with a rookie QB who shouldnt even be playing in Canada throwing to him....
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Shea McClellin is having a nice game vs. the Cardinals LT. He's getting by him about every other play.
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That sets a great tone for the 2nd half and IIRC we get the ball too.
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That was a hellacious catch by Jeffery.
Nice job by the O to score at the end too. Dodged a huge bullet there with having no timeouts.
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Props to Cutler on that 2 minute drive. Finally!!!!
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He didn't look too bad on that drive...TD
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Well I'll be looking forward to the Cutler excuses. 2 for 12 throwing against the Cards. Not championship caliber.
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I told y'all this would be an ugly game.
Two of the worst offenses in the league right here folks.
And as for the Bears, it looks like at least half the players and most of the coaches haven't woken up yet. Defense and Forte are the only Bears doing anything at all. Offense and STs are sucking out loud.
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1.- Whoever posted the Cards are really bad is correct 2.- Whoever posted the Bears would get meatgrindered in the playoffs is also correct.
3. I'm beginning to think that watching the lord of the rings again ain't a bad idea.
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That's a epic fail challenge....a blind dude could see his knee down, good grief!!!
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I'll be DallasLovieBear thought that was a fumble as well.
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He challenges that? Does anything or anyone function as they are supposed to? Besides collecting gobbets of money I mean.
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Lovie is going to challenge that? Oh that calls for a LOL!!!
This guy should put a red nose at the end of his face and join the circus.
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WTF is he challenging?
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Hester fair catches everything anymore. Horrible.
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F'n Hester needs to fair catch that.
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and there you go...pathetic bafoonerty from the bears. dumbass central.
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Ugh
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Lord of the Rings is on TNT if you'd rather watch that...
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Cutler is starting to enter Rick Mirer territory
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That was about as lame a pass attempt as I've seen....seriously bad.....Marshall was there and he tosses it in the dirt twenty feet in front of him....Cutler sucks...
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Only the Bears would call back to back timeouts and then still not have the play work.
Heads need to be rolling for this sh*t.
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And now another timeout?
W-T-F is going on there on the Bears sidelines?
Inexcusable.
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Sleepwalking Bears O with the obligatory mid-quarter timeout.
That whole offensive braintrust doesn't have one working mind among them most games.
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We get burned badly by GB on a stupid trick play and now everyone wants to try it against us. Why? Because half the friggin time they'd make it! Why? Because this is a poorly coached team that plays like it....
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well, ya gotta love that.
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LOTS of bad quarterbacking on display this game. Both teams QBs pretty much blow.
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This offense is so completely pathetic, it makes ya angry! Paid a small fortune for a average rb, Cutler the 'Saviour' hasn't done jack..the ONLY excellent pickup we made was Marshall. This kid is head and shoulders above the rest. The ball gets near him, 95% of the time it's a reception and more.
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Getting a lot harder for me to be excited about E-Rod the more I see of him.
Not sure what exactly he's supposed to bring to this team besides lead blocking and you don't need to spend a 4th round pick on that.
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when Hester leaves, he can take the rest of this offense with him.
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oh look. a dropped pass by a te/fb, and near interception.
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So tired of Hester's bull$hit. He just needs to go away. He not only lost yards running backwards but he caused Bowman's blocking penalty.
Beginning of the season I never thought I'd say this but I just want him gone. He has become a liability to this team.
He can go be on Dancing with the Stars cause that's all he ever does anymore.
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no, I thought so too. Hester with a dumbass move. great.
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Jeffery has to be going nuts watching Fitzgerald shove Peanut down and not get called for OPI...
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Nice to see Forte off the schnide.
And is it just me or does the footing on that field look a little iffy?
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Cardinals O is looking a lot better than ours...
I want to see us get the running game established this possession. No reason an off-kilter Cutler should be winging it against a Cardinals team whose strength is their pass D.
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Bears appear to be mailing this one in. Hope I'm wrong, but Cutler has all day so far and can't hit the ground with a pass. Cards driving for a score.
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I'm sorry but I'm of the opinion Cutler sucks....I'm about done with him. He doesn't throw it away, takes a sack when he could have run for yards. Keeps trying to force it to Marshall....we aren't going anywhere with this guy....
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Cutler is horrible today.
Need to call some run plays and take it out of his hands for awhile.
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Game awareness fail right there.
That should have been an IMMEDIATE snap of the next ball. Now it's being challenged, and probably will be overturned.
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LOL, Cardinals OL is worse that ours and we can't even get to their QB on 3rd and 6.
Pathetic.
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Fukking Cowboys.
Now it's OT which means I'm gonna miss the Bears kickoff probably.
Leave it to the Aints to blow a game they had in the bag.
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We have to win both AND have GB beat Queens in Queensland next week and a few other things but the key thing is to get in, GB has to beat Queens and we gotta win out....this is so ridiculous considering the Bears were in the drivers seat just a couple weeks ago! They seriously blew it and Lovie should be gone....I'd fire him after this game if he loses.....gone!
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It was nice to see the Vikes spank the Texans. Not sure why, but it was.
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Guess Bears-Cards are such a bad game they aren't even going to cut away from the Boys/Saints game to go to it.....nice.....
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Over in the NFC East it looks like the Cowboys are heading for defeat as well, and the Skins are winning.
For whatever that means to us.
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Going back to the OT situation for the Bears...
I can see Scott, Carimi and Webb all coming into training camp in 2013. But I only see two of those three surviving the final cutdown.
You only need a starting RT and a swing backup and none of those 3 is a legit LT prospect. So whoever comes in last in that 3-horse race is very likely out on the street.
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We're out.....and it's the Bears own fault for playing so crappy lately. Bye bye Lovie!!!!!!
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Vikings just won in Houston, convincingly.
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http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Who-should-Bears-fans-root-for-Sunday/4a5b373e-c5b9-4e02-af15-1cad355802df
1) One Vikings loss and one Giants loss; 2) One Vikings loss and two Seahawks losses; 3) One Giants loss and two Seahawks losses; 4) One Vikings loss, one Redskins loss and one Cowboys loss; 5) Two Seahawks losses, one Redskins loss and one Cowboys loss.
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Vikings and Giants both have to lose once and the Bears win twice to get in. There are other scenarios but that is the most likely to happen.
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If we win today and Minny loses at Houston, are we back in the wild card position or does NY/Wash have the lead on us still if they win?
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Apparently there are some scenarios where we could still get in even with a 9-7 record.
So even a loss today may not close the door as crazy as it may seem. Which would make any coaching changes before the Detroit game extremely unlikely IMO, even if we crap the bed in AZ today.
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The thing that worries me about Carimi is the weight loss. Dropping lbs is ok for chicks, not so much for OL.
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Let's not turn Carimi into Marc Columbo and release him before his best production. I didn't see a lot of him in college, but a 4 year starter at Wisconsin says a lot to me. He wasn't at full strength coming into training camp, hindsight, I wish he had had the surgery immediately after the injury in week 2 of last season.
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I have Dish and am satisfied with it. I wasnt interested in watching the Lions and in fact I wouldnt have watched them had I known they were even playing.
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Dish sucks.
That seemed pretty direct
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Dish sucks.
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Anyone with Dish Network unable to see the Falcons/Lions game? It's on ESPN and it says 'Congratulation' You are connected to satellite at 61.5 degrees!' or some such nonsense....anyone having this problem??
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I really think Carimi is injuried still or at very least was not able to regain strength after the surgery. He does look really small this year as everyone has previously mentioned. Something tells me with another year, he will gain weight and strength and turn out solid at RT. Maybe I am just hoping because its the only scenario that saves our season next year. I do believe we need a C and OG like dallasbear just posted. We also need at least one LB, maybe two as our depth is very weak. We could use a speed WR and a TE. If Carimi does not come through it would add RT to list...too many needs for one offseason IMO. Lets hope he can comeback healthy and stronger.
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Dal,
Who would you keep on OL and let go ?
OT: Scott, Webb, Carimi
OG: Louis Spencer (I'd like to upgrade him in the draft)
C: Garza (I'd like to upgrade him in the draft)
On the bubble: James Brown - need to see more of him. He played poorly against the Pack but that was his first start and it was not at his normal positiion.
Gone: Edwin Williams
I'd like to see Carimi play RT these last 2 games - we know Scott can play.
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Finally, someone talking some sense.
I think Webb and even Carimi should be able to hold the fort on the edge. What has be more concerned is their strength is their MLB blitzing and we have the rookie James Brown in at LG who was having problems last week with the Packer stunts.
Unless the Bears slide over a TE to help out t could mean Forte has to stay back and pass block, which is not good. He needs to be featured almost as much as Marshall.
Another concern for our offense is the Cards may not have to double Marshall, they may just go one on one with Patrick Petersen, which means Jeffery and Bennett have to be targeted. And Bennett might find some openings in the middle if they keep blitzing Washington.
Expect the Bears to run early and often since the Cards are 28th against the run. Hopefully, Tice calls for a few roll outs, screens and draws...but they have to mix it up with some deep ones too. Devin Hester?
This might be a good time to play action our forgotten TEs too. Time for Tice and Cutler to take Kellen Davis out of the doghouse.
Defensively, the Cards with Lindley are horrible...so bad that I am more concerned about our offense giving up points than our defense.
Bears should be able to win this if our O can score 16. Rather than worry about Detroit next week we got to keep track of the Balt/NYG game and Minnesota at Houston.
If the Bears come out flat for this game and lose then I'll be all for starting Blanchard at QB with Allen at HB and basically activating the practice squad. This will have to come down from Emery as the entire staff will be canned and wanting to salvage another 8-8 season at Detroit.
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Here's the deal....IF the Bears come out with any fire and start scoring...yea yea I know, HA HA HA, but listen.....IF by some miracle they find their O and get a couple scores on the board, that's it, game over. We've got to give the Cards a reason to hibernate and quick. We let them hang around, it's curtains for us......
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Bad!
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The thing is, even if we lost tomorrow Lovie would still put all our starters on the field in Detroit cause thats just what he does.
The only way to ensure that wouldnt happen would be to fire him before the Detroit game... But that wont be happening either.
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If Campbell is injured and we do sit Cutler vs the Lions does tha mean Blanchard will be active? It would be nice to see what we have in a meaningless game
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The bottom line for me is, if we are in fact destined to miss the playoffs I would much rather it happen with a loss tomorrow than in Detroit.
That way we could spare our remaining healthy starters and especially Cutler, one games worth of punishment anyway.
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Not looking forward to Carimi playing RT again at all. Especially with Spencer next to him.
But at least Cutler will see it coming.
Best case scenario for tomorrow is no more than 15-18 pass plays the whole game and most of those being short drops and screens.
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As woeful on offense we are I don't see how we win any from here on out.
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I just don't see us winning in Detroit...
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The more decimated I hear we are the less I feel that we will win either of these two roadies.
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I see us winning both games. Never underestimate the ability of the Bears to win just enough to let Lovie keep his job and screw up their draft order status.
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So who wants to bet which quarter we throw our first interception?
The ONLY way I see us winning is if Jennings plays, and the D creates 3 or 4 turnovers, and scoring off at least one of them. I just pray that Cutler doesnt get hurt again.
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Actually feel the Bears will pull a win out of this one (for some strange reason)- maybe a blown ref call or something.
They'll win this one, crow a little about it (like it was a SB) then drop the game against Detroit. It would be totally in character......
The next few years are going to be rough, regardless if they keep Lovie or not.....
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Got a feeling our O is gonna have a very rough day on Sunday.
No power RB and our OL against a blitz happy 3-4 D with big talented guys up front.
Im seeing 4 or 5 sacks, a couple fumbles and a pick-6. You don't need a world class offense to beat the Cards but you need to at least have everyone in sync and right now we're not even close.
The score wont be as lopsided as the Niners game but there maybe plays where we look just as bad.
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Truly, how DISGUSTING is it that this team has failed for THREE years to fix this horrible situation on the Oline? Whoever is the responsible party should be gone if they aren't already and if someone else is following in those inept shoes, THEY should be canned....Lovie, Tice, whoever the clown was that thought they'd be OK should be gone immediately. We don't need fools who don't know what they're doing here. Anyone that knows a thing about football knows you build the Oline and Dline's FIRST and this is the backbone of the team. Everything else feeds off this....QB's can have time to pass, RB's have lanes to run in. What good is it to get the BEST QB you could ever find...and then give him so little time and protection to do anything that that negates his talent.
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Dont have a good feeling about this:
The Bears will try their fifth offensive line combination in five games and their sixth this season Sunday at Arizona against one of the most blitz-happy defenses in the NFL.
Ineffective play and injuries have created a game of musical chairs, and no one has been able to turn off the tunes for the Bears. Gabe Carimi, benched at right tackle after the Nov. 19 loss at San Francisco, is expected to return to that position because Jonathan Scott (hamstring) is questionable and not expected to play.
The Cardinals have 36 sacks, tied for seventh in the league with the Bears and two other teams, and rank fourth with 32 takeaways, largely a result of their pass rush. Even though the Cardinals have produced only 10 sacks in their last six games, the Bears are concerned.
At 5-9, the Cardinals have nothing to lose, and defensive coordinator Ray Horton is expected to be very aggressive as the Bears have surrendered 41 sacks, sixth-most in the league, with Jay Cutler going down 35 times.
"They're blitz-crazy," Bears offensive line coach Tim Holt said. "They already blitz something like 75 percent of the time anyway. If they want to amp it up, how much more are you going to do it?"
Inside linebacker Daryl Washington leads the Cardinals with nine sacks, and he's one of six defenders with at least three. The Cardinals primarily come right at the quarterback, overloading the A gap and attempting to get in the passer's face. The Bears' troubles have come more against elite edge rushers such as Aldon Smith and Clay Matthews.
That doesn't mean this task will be any easier. Undrafted rookie James Brown will be making his second start at left guard. Chris Spencer returns to right guard, where he started 14 games last season. Left tackle J'Marcus Webb played well against the Packers last week but has a pattern of inconsistency.
The pressure is on Carimi to be better as he returns to the edge, where he and Spencer will have to handle talented defensive tackle Darnell Dockett.
"They're the biggest blitz team I've ever seen," Carimi said. "Can they blitz more? I guess you can blitz 100 percent. All out.
"If we just give Jay time, he's deadly. I'm just going to go out there and have more fun with it, not care what people say and do whatever I think is right. I want to go out and play football and not think about it."
The Bears are optimistic after a solid week of practice for Carimi, but the test is on the field.
"I know he is a young guy, but Gabe is a pro and he works extremely hard at it," Holt said. "Gabe is going to try his hardest. We have some different things in there to help him."
The Bears probably will combat the pressure up the middle with a good bit of shotgun. The key is for Cutler — who was sacked four times by the Packers after only three sacks in the previous four games — to get the ball out quickly.
As part of the chess match, the Cardinals probably will look to press wide receiver Brandon Marshall with cornerback Patrick Peterson, talented and physical at 6-foot-1 and 219 pounds.
"You've seen what we're doing," Holt said. "The ball is going to get out. So you might get there, but you (better) cover all our guys."
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I've not been happy with the Oline for three years running now and I probably said it would affect them this year. It HAS to. You cannot keep doing the same stupid thing over and over and expect to get different results.....fail to address the Oline and wow, it MAGICALLY fixed itself!! Doesn't work that way....
Make or break Emery in the draft.
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I've not been happy with the Oline for three years running now and I probably said it would affect them this year. It HAS to. You cannot keep doing the same stupid thing over and over and expect to get different results.....fail to address the Oline and wow, it MAGICALLY fixed itself!! Doesn't work that way....
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The thing is, Carimi did not look that bad early in the season. He had a few WTF games where he gave up a sack to an inferior opponent, or had mental mistakes in going in motion, but it wasn't until the SF game where he was really exposed. And then his last start at guard he got steamrolled and benched.
Can't say that anyone predicted this.
Nobody expected Spencer to have troubles at LG when he was pretty solid last year at RG. Nobody expected Lance Louis to get knocked out for the season.
As for Rachal, we kind of knew he was limited in his pass blocking after the 49ers benched him.
And everybody expected Webb to just fall flat on his face...
Dal,
Who would you keep on OL and let go ?
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The thing is, Carimi did not look that bad early in the season. He had a few WTF games where he gave up a sack to an inferior opponent, or had mental mistakes in going in motion, but it wasn't until the SF game where he was really exposed. And then his last start at guard he got steamrolled and benched.
Can't say that anyone predicted this.
Nobody expected Spencer to have troubles at LG when he was pretty solid last year at RG. Nobody expected Lance Louis to get knocked out for the season.
As for Rachal, we kind of knew he was limited in his pass blocking after the 49ers benched him.
And everybody expected Webb to just fall flat on his face...
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One player whose situation is going to bear close watching this offseason, is Gabe Carimi.
Despite playing much of the season as a starter, he has arguably been the worst O-Lineman on our roster. I've heard some of his defenders say that he is still well removed from being 100% back from his injury/surgery. If that's the case then the coaches' apparent decision to let him play himself back into shape has to be considered a disastrous miscalculation that has not only hindered his physical recovery but completely wrecked his confidence.
In retrospect it may have been much better to handle Carimi they way they did Johnny Knox... put him on the PUP and let him focus this entire season on rehab and strength training rather than push him back out there as a starter when it was clear only a few games in that something was still very wrong with him.
But as it is, the damage is done. Best case scenario is he gets all the way back physically and mentally this coming offseason to be the dominant RT he was drafted to be. But if he's no better at the start of 2013 training camp than he was this season then I think it will be really hard to justify keeping him around.
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Anyone on this board who said during the preseason that our OL could very likely cost us a playoff spot this year, step forward and be recognized. You knew what you were talking about.
I dont know if I said so in so many words but I certainly implied it.
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Injury report for Sunday:
DOUBTFUL - Melton
QUESTIONABLE - Bennett, Jennings, Costanzo, Scott
PROBABLE - Marshall, McClellin, Hayes
We're going to need all the offense we can get in this game. Glad to see Marshall is good to go and hopefully Bennett is good to go too. Surprised that Scott who hasn't practice all week is only questionable.
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Maybe there's some memory lapse here. It was hands off in regards to the coaching staff. This was the last chance for them (coaching staff) to prove they are worthy of new contracts. They were given what they asked for.. Unless Emery does the same thing next draft (after Lovie is gone) I'd say you're full of it..
No need to be a dikkhead Chif.
Every GM is going to take his coach's requests under advisement but in the end the GM is accountable. Did Lovie and Tice scout the players and draw up the draft board for Emery. Emery had plenty of opportunity to review film of 2011 and make his own decisions on draft day.
Personally, I didn't dislike the draft but if it turns out well I guess we can give credit to Lovie and Tice.
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Injury report for Sunday:
DOUBTFUL - Melton
QUESTIONABLE - Bennett, Jennings, Costanzo, Scott
PROBABLE - Marshall, McClellin, Hayes
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The fact that Emery spent the majority of his first draft on defensive players (including 2 of the top 3 picks) should put the lie to any notions that Emery was trying to sabotage Lovie. I see no evidence anywhere that Emery hasn't been dealing with Lovie in good faith right throughout.
I do recall before the draft, Emery making some comments to the effect that he was planning to implement the Patriots system of scouting and draft preparation, but he wasn't going to have time to implement that for the 2012 draft so he was just gonna go with what the Bears already had and switch things up for 2013. So if that's the case our next draft could have a noticeably different look and feel and hopefully some better results than we've grown accustomed to of late... i.e., more players making an impact sooner in their careers, and lasting longer.
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Sure Emery can say that Tice or Lovie didn't want the early focus of the draft to be on O-line, but Emery watched the film of 2011 and built his draft board and still made the decision to ignore O-line with every pick.
And Phillips is going to hold Emery accountable for his decisions. What is Emery to say? Well, Tice told me that we were OK on the O-line so...uh...
Maybe there's some memory lapse here. It was hands off in regards to the coaching staff. This was the last chance for them (coaching staff) to prove they are worthy of new contracts. They were given what they asked for.. Unless Emery does the same thing next draft (after Lovie is gone) I'd say you're full of it..
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Bears might want to consider trading down in this draft
Depends on how high our 1st round pick winds up being. The higher we're picking, the more inclined I'd be to trade down.
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Except that there was an article in PFT a few days ago where Norv Turner said he would consider being "only" an OC for the next team that hires him. Basically taking a demotion to stay in the league.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/19/norv-talks-about-becoming-a-coordinator-again/
So that's not the issue. Whatever happened between the Bears and his brother, though, could be a very big issue unless Emery and the new McCaskey in charge have effected enough culture change in the past year to convince Norv it's a different organization.
It may also be a tough sell to convince at least some long-time Bears fans that bringing another Turner back to run our offense is a good idea.
In any event, we are certainly not going to be the only team in the running for a new OC and while we have some of the pieces in place talent wise, any competent OC candidate already realizes the Bears OL is a 2-year rebuilding project in itself (best case) and that his ability to get things done those first couple of years is going to hinge on how fast the OL develops into a decent unit. First question I ask Emery if I'm interviewing for OC (or HC for that matter) is what he plans to do to get some NFL caliber players on that OL.
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Norv Turner will not be taking a lateral to come to the Bears. It will be a demotion. I wonder how he feels about the Bears considering his brother Ron's experience.
I meant the guys who had a job already as OC for their respective team. I agree wholeheartedly about what you said about Norv too. His brother lead the Bears offense to the Super Bowl and I'm sure he wouldn't take the job even if offered if his brother says nothing but bad things about the organization.
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Norv Turner will not be taking a lateral to come to the Bears. It will be a demotion. I wonder how he feels about the Bears considering his brother Ron's experience.
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You might be able to find a TE in the 2nd round. Bears might want to consider trading down in this draft - we need some players and we have but 5 picks.
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It's just a shame that our OL and TE positions are sucking so bad at the same time.
If the OL was one player away but TE was solid, you draft a Barrett Jones or a Chance Warmack and problem solved. If the OL was solid, then we could take Tyler Eifert and be done with it.
But as it stands, no matter who we pick it's gonna feel like we solved one problem at the expense of the other.
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The guy in Houston, Rick Dennison, worked with Cutler and Marshall in Denver. The Texans offense is a lot like what ours could be if we had a TE and an OL. He'd be a good fit. I also love what Kyle Shanahan has done in Washington.
The problem with those two guys is they're not gonna just pick up and make a lateral move to a Bears team with less talent than their current teams. In fact, I'm pretty sure we wouldn't even get to the interview stage because their current employers would block them. If we want an offensive mind of that caliber on the Bears then the HC title is gonna have to come with it.
One guy who's almost certain to be on the market is Norv Turner and I read an article recently where he seemed to indicate he'd actually be OK with kicking back down to OC once the Chargers let him go (which is all but a done deal). That's a guy who saw plenty of Cutler and Marshall while they were at Denver and while his head coaching credentials are pretty questionable he's still very highly regarded as an OC. It's hard to float his name in connection with the Bears without recalling how things went down with his brother, though. And you wonder how a former HC would take to working under a Bears HC who almost certainly would be younger than him (possibly much younger), and may not have had an NFL HC experience to that point.
And no I'm really not interested in that Chip Kelly guy from Oregon. We've tried college style offenses a couple of times before (John Shoop, Gary Crowton) and they were a big no-go.
That's a nice list of whom you deem "top notch" but don't you think they wouldn't leave their perspective team just to make a lateral move in the same position for another team? They would leave for a head coaching job instead of another OC job in my opinion.
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Anyone on this board who said during the preseason that our OL could very likely cost us a playoff spot this year, step forward and be recognized. You knew what you were talking about.
They have certainly had their struggles, but it's been a team effort. Did the OL give up 2 successive 80+ yard drives against a Seahawks rookie QB? And in the same game did the OL drop a wide open TD pass (Earl Bennett)? The OL in that game did not give up a sack to Cutler. Forte and Busch average over 5 yards a carry. Did the OL lose that game?
In Minnesota, did the OL fall down causing Jay to throw an interception early in the game that helped add to 14-0 defecit in the first 5 minutes? And how about the later INT that Cutler overthrew Marshall that was returned for 6? OL's fault? Forte rushes for 85 yards...and Cutler and Campbell throw 53 times and Bears OL gives up 2 sacks...
In the Packer loss, did the OL give up a key interception right before half that turned a potential 14-7 game to 7-14? Did the OL give up 3 PI penalties...one in the endzone against the Packers? Did the Oline give up 3 TDs to James Jones.
Not saying the OL is holding their own, they are struggling with the losses of 2 or 3 starters, but don't make them the scape goat for our recent losses that have put us in this must win situation.
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A guy that really has to be top of mind with Emery right now is Barrett Jones from Bama.
He's a 6'5 310-lb honor student who has played 4 years against top competition and most importantly, at T, G and C including LT.
Now, you always run the risk of getting a jack of all trades and master of none with a player like that, but when you've got more holes on the OL than you've got draft picks to fill them, the prospect of adding a guy who could be a Day One starter at virtually any position (and provide depth at other spots), has to be appealing.
Here are excepts from Walter Football:
Skill-Set Summary: It is clear that Jones is a versatile athlete. He is an excellent technician. His hand placement and knee bend are picture perfect. There is no doubt that Jones has done a superb job of developing his technique. He has honed it in practice while going up against many future NFL linemen like Courtney Upshaw, Josh Chapman, Jesse Williams and Marcell Dareus.
As a run blocker, Jones has the strength to push defensive linemen around at the point of attack. He is a good drive blocker to be a power-man blocker with the mobility to hit blocks on the second level. Jones could fit as a zone blocker or in a power-man blocking scheme as a pro.
Jones is rock steady in pass protection. He is quick and shuffles his feet with speed rushers while having the powerful base to stand up bull rushers. Jones really did well at left tackle in 2011, and considering the need for the position in the NFL, some teams could consider him to be their blind-side protector.
With Jones' versatility, it isn't unreasonable to think that he could start at any of the five positions on the offensive line in the NFL, although it is hard to say what his best position would be right now.
Jones is a hard-working, team-first guy. Not only can his intelligence be seen in learning multiple positions, but he graduated with his degree in accounting in three years with a 4.0 grade-point average. Jones was getting his master's degree during his "junior" season of college football. Off the field, Jones also works with a charity that has prompted him to make multiple trips to Haiti to work with an orphanage.
2013 Draft Expectations: Jones should definitely be a first-round pick. He will have a four-year stack of good tape for NFL evaluators. The million dollar question is what his position will be in the NFL and which one he would fit best. If teams think he can play left tackle he could go in the top 16. If Jones is viewed as a center he could be a top 20 pick, but if he is looked at as a guard he'll probably go in the 20-32 range. As far as talent goes, Jones could be a top 10 pick. It is extremely rare to have an offensive lineman enter the NFL with the capacity to start at all five positions on the line.
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(BTW, completely on board with your thinking that a rookie at LT is NOT what we want to have next year... that LT needs to be a guy who's young and healthy, but has NFL seasoning).
Quality young, seasoned, and healthy LTs just don't become available in the offseason - who do you have in mind?
2) The center position is not a "future" need... it's a next-year need and a pretty urgent one at that. It's not Garza's fault that the Bears decided to move him away from his natural G position but irregardless, he's not getting it done anymore.
I think the Bears could target a 4th or 5th rounder at a center/guard.
Bottom line is that we may be able to put together a decent right side of the line from a healthy Louis and Scott (or maybe Webb moved back to RT). But everything from the center leftward needs rebuilt with new people.
LG looks to be the biggest hole right now (assuming Lance Louis can recover 100% from his ACL and play RG). I'd be all for upgrading Webb with a LT in the 1st or 2nd round, but Webb has been playing very well the last month or so against quality DEs (Matthews, Jared Allen-twice and Chris Clemons).
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Dont even know if Spencer is any good at C, since he never got a chance there with the Bears. But that is what he was before...
It's pretty clear Spencer is out of favor with the Bears. He only plays when they have no other options, and he has NEVER been given a legitimate chance to win the C position away from Garza. Another Angelo OL acquisition who was not as good as advertised, was mis-utilized by the current coaching staff, or all of the above.. Even if there are coaching changes I would be very surprised if he's back next year.
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Funny how having such offensive line problems mushrooms onto everything else.
Anyone on this board who said during the preseason that our OL could very likely cost us a playoff spot this year, step forward and be recognized. You knew what you were talking about.
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Dont even know if Spencer is any good at C, since he never got a chance there with the Bears. But that is what he was before...
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I'ld look at possible trades of our first pick for at LT, go balls out on a FA guard and draft another for future center or guard.
Sounds like a plan, but a couple of things.
1) Gonna take more than just our 1st round pick to get a quality veteran LT. (BTW, completely on board with your thinking that a rookie at LT is NOT what we want to have next year... that LT needs to be a guy who's young and healthy, but has NFL seasoning).
2) The center position is not a "future" need... it's a next-year need and a pretty urgent one at that. It's not Garza's fault that the Bears decided to move him away from his natural G position but irregardless, he's not getting it done anymore.
Bottom line is that we may be able to put together a decent right side of the line from a healthy Louis and Scott (or maybe Webb moved back to RT). But everything from the center leftward needs rebuilt with new people.
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Funny how having such offensive line problems mushrooms onto everything else.
Now coaches can't coach, Forte is no good, the defense can't play.
But I'm not in favor of a rookie OL next year either.
None of this learning curve of rookie linemen not picking up blitzes and getting Cutler killed again.
But then there are a number of other teams looking at who's available as well, Arizona, San Diego, Philly to name a few.
I'ld look at possible trades of our first pick for at LT, go balls out on a FA guard and draft another for future center or guard.
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Tice may have not said "don't draft oline" but that it was not a major need. As new boss when you are stuck with hires not your own you cannot remove (been there myself), you can only take the guy at his word. And when he ****s it up, then you hold him accountable (again, been on both sides of this at various times in my working life multiple times).
Sure Emery can say that Tice or Lovie didn't want the early focus of the draft to be on O-line, but Emery watched the film of 2011 and built his draft board and still made the decision to ignore O-line with every pick.
And Phillips is going to hold Emery accountable for his decisions. What is Emery to say? Well, Tice told me that we were OK on the O-line so...uh...
There was a report earlier in the offseason that Tice was vying to return to the HC ranks. This was his way to step back into the HC discussion by turning around this Bears offense. I think he's a decent Oline coach. Horrible, horrible OCoord (as if that is not currently obvious). Peter Principle in action.....
I'd bet a lot of O-line coaches want to be OCs and a bunch of OCs want to be HCs eventually. The problem with Tice is he didn't have ANY experience calling plays and if you read the recent Trib article the play calling isn't the real problem. The O-line is part of the problem, the lack of a consistent #2 and #3 receiver, a receiving TE and a QB who wants to make the big play at the expense of not getting a first down.
I believe unless a total meltdown, Lovie stays (Not that I want to see that. Nine years is enough). Emery might say "clean house of all the offensive staff" and get a 2 year extension. Lovie might not do that (despite his faults, he is very loyal to his "guys") and quit himself. This would be an Emery setting himself up to a win-win situation again.
Lovie is not really that loyal to his coaches - especially on the offensive side. Ask OShea, Turner, and Martz. Defensively, I think he's had 3 if I'm not mistaken: Rivera, Babich and Marinelli.
At least Toub is still there and who by the way is having a pretty good year despite Hester not getting any TDs.
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The guy in Houston, Rick Dennison, worked with Cutler and Marshall in Denver. The Texans offense is a lot like what ours could be if we had a TE and an OL. He'd be a good fit. I also love what Kyle Shanahan has done in Washington.
The problem with those two guys is they're not gonna just pick up and make a lateral move to a Bears team with less talent than their current teams. In fact, I'm pretty sure we wouldn't even get to the interview stage because their current employers would block them. If we want an offensive mind of that caliber on the Bears then the HC title is gonna have to come with it.
One guy who's almost certain to be on the market is Norv Turner and I read an article recently where he seemed to indicate he'd actually be OK with kicking back down to OC once the Chargers let him go (which is all but a done deal). That's a guy who saw plenty of Cutler and Marshall while they were at Denver and while his head coaching credentials are pretty questionable he's still very highly regarded as an OC. It's hard to float his name in connection with the Bears without recalling how things went down with his brother, though. And you wonder how a former HC would take to working under a Bears HC who almost certainly would be younger than him (possibly much younger), and may not have had an NFL HC experience to that point.
And no I'm really not interested in that Chip Kelly guy from Oregon. We've tried college style offenses a couple of times before (John Shoop, Gary Crowton) and they were a big no-go.
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Irregardless, based on what's been said in the press this week it looks like there's a schism developing in the lockerroom where you've got the new guard of Marshall, Cutler and presumably Emery (who so far has wisely stayed dead silent) on one side and the old guard of Urlacher, Briggs and Lovie on the other. Any way you slice it, that is not a good environment for winning two critical contests on the road, irregardless of how good or bad your opponents may be.
I think at the heart of it is that Cutler has had enough of Lovie and the Bears D has had enough of carrying a pathetic offense and then you throw in the intense media scrutiny triggered by our collapse from 7-1 and it comes to this.
We need to get a HC in here who can put some positive energy back into the culture, get these younger players developed to their full potential and get everyone pulling in the same direction.
I'd like to see a link to this about a lockerroom problem involving Urly/Briggs/Smith against Cutler/Marshall/Emery. I haven't heard or read anything about this.
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Which OC that's out there that you consider "top notch"?
Just curious.
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Please no. Lovie is the WORST at picking OCs and who knows if he'd even be able get anyone to take the gig. If Lovie hires another OC he's likely to be even worse than Tice.
There's not a lot of talent to attract an OC to this offense other than Marshall, Cutler (when he's on) and Forte (when he's healthy)... so pulling a top-notch OC is gonna be tough and that's even if they don't have to report to the wooden indian.
I guess Emery could tell Lovie he needs to fire Tice and promote Bates to OC. Then at least we'd mitigate the risk of Cutler and Marshall checking out completely. But to be honest I'm tired of seeing Lovie's underlings take the fall for him. It's time for change at the top.
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Tice may have not said "don't draft oline" but that it was not a major need. As new boss when you are stuck with hires not your own you cannot remove (been there myself), you can only take the guy at his word. And when he ****s it up, then you hold him accountable (again, been on both sides of this at various times in my working life multiple times).
There was a report earlier in the offseason that Tice was vying to return to the HC ranks. This was his way to step back into the HC discussion by turning around this Bears offense. I think he's a decent Oline coach. Horrible, horrible OCoord (as if that is not currently obvious). Peter Principle in action.....
I believe unless a total meltdown, Lovie stays (Not that I want to see that. Nine years is enough). Emery might say "clean house of all the offensive staff" and get a 2 year extension. Lovie might not do that (despite his faults, he is very loyal to his "guys") and quit himself. This would be an Emery setting himself up to a win-win situation again.
I think that is a sign (he likes setting up win-win situations) of things to come from him as GM, for better or for worse.....
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I still think there was more going on with the Chris Williams thing than just his caliber of play. Smells like a deal where he did or said something to really p*ss off somebody higher-up, or there was just a deep-seated clash of personalities somewhere and Williams came out on the short end. Maybe he wasn't handling his demotion to 2nd string well and was causing problems in the lockerroom... hard to say.
He also was drawing a pretty hefty salary and we know how Emery feels about paying big money to backups.
I haven't followed C. Williams since he was let go so I don't know if he's cracked the starting lineup in St. Louis yet. I know one of the Rams OGs just got put on IR so maybe Williams will wind up in that spot.
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Yeah, I'm sure Tice told Emery not to draft any O-line. Why would he do that? And if he did, why would Emery listen?
One of the biggest mistakes Emery/Tice made was cutting Chris Williams. In 9 starts last year he gave up one sack and had 2 penalties...both false starts. I understand he was going to be a FA but retaining him bought you another year to upgrade the position.
Or was Rachal supposed to be an upgrade? And did Edwin Williams show more potential?
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I'm really not impressed with Emery at all so far.
Give Emery props for the Marshall trade, at least. If we hadn't had #15 this year we may not have won 4 games... and Cutler would have about a dozen more INTs. And I still like the Bush pick-up even though he hasn't played as big of a role this year as I had hoped.
Campbell was a flop, no question. And while our 2012 draft class hasn't exactly turned heads we'll have to give them a couple more years before the definitive verdict is in.
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I think that not addressing the Oline by Emery in the offseason came about because Emery took Tice at his word (he had done some decent work turning a chicken-shit line into at least a shit-line over the last 2 years) that he had his "guys" he could develop. Hence, need to concentrate on making the D younger and getting some more WR help.....
It really is ingenius though. Emery was in a win-win situation. He gave Tice the rope to hang himself (and Lovie). If the O had produced, then the record would be much better (the D even though banged up, played well enough to win if they had at least an AVERAGE offense, the same old story for the whole fucking Lovie era).
As it is, Emery can clean house if the Bears flop. But if they had achieved, then winning is its own momentum builder.....
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Personally, I'm worried we may have traded a F for a D- GM. I'm really not impressed with Emery at all so far. He'd better focus heavily on the Oline this offseason or the fans will be at Halas with torches and pitchforks!!
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Win or lose, I just hope our D plays well enough these last two games that Emery doesn't spend over half our draft picks on defensive guys again.
We need a lot of upgrades on offense this offseason and have only five picks to work with as it currently stands (no 3rd or 7th). Honestly if only one of those picks went to D and that not till the 4th or 5th round it wouldn't bother me at all. Focus on implementing a defense that actually works with the players we've got rather than keep trying to draft defensive Pro Bowlers every year.
I am also hoping to see a lot more first-year impact from Emery's 2013 draft. I'm confident he has us on the right track but the contributions we've gotten from his first draft class have been pretty meager. One article I read yesterday graded the Bears 2012 draft class as a "D+" in terms of 1st-year impact and while I think that may be a bit harsh, I wouldn't go more than about a letter grade higher.
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We've been saying we need offensive linemen for THREE years now......Angie blew it and then EMERY blew it by not addressing it. Maybe, JUST maybe he'll get a clue bell and deal with it in the offseason....good grief, if not?...then there truly are no football brains on this team, anywhere....
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DAL,
You do realize thats smoke being blown up our ass ... right?
The eight weeks of DAA BEARRSE schedule in the second half ...
and the results ?
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Opponents absolve Tice of blame
Offensive coordinator gets pass on Bears woes from foes who cite extenuating circumstances
Dan Pompei On the NFL
9:23 p.m. CST, December 20, 2012
Based on the heat Mike Tice has been feeling, you would think he has been the one who has been giving up the sacks, committing false starts, throwing the interceptions, running the wrong routes and plowing into the backs of blockers.
The Bears offense has a lot wrong with it.
But seeing Tice carries a clipboard rather than a wizard's wand, there hasn't been much the offensive coordinator could do to make it better.
The Tribune asked three opposing coaches who have gone against Tice's offense this year and two front office men about Tice's game planning, play calling and use of personnel. None of them thought he has done poorly.
One defensive coordinator said he would "bet his life" Tice is not the problem with the Bears offense.
"I know Mike Tice is one fine football coach," he said. "Hell, they changed from Mike Martz and said it was his fault, so now they have Mike Tice and now it's his fault. It's easy to tag Mike Tice."
Said one head coach, "I really like the way they try to do things on offense. It just hasn't worked the way they wanted it to."
The offensive coordinator admittedly had two bad games — the road losses to the Packers and 49ers. In both, he didn't help his offensive linemen enough, and against the Packers he was too dependent on the pass. Tice, however, was guilty of having too much confidence in some of his offensive linemen.
Other than that, Tice has been pretty consistent and pretty solid.
The most commonly heard criticism of the Bears offense is it lacks rhythm. And it's true.
But it's difficult to have good rhythm when you are the second worst team in the NFL on first downs. The Bears have gained four or more yards on those just 40 percent of the time. Only the Cardinals, at 39.5, have been worse.
The Bears have run a play that has gone backward 11 percent of the time. Only two teams have had more plays for negative yardage. And that's not including penalties. The Bears offense has been penalized 52 times, fifth most in the NFL.
That's why the offense frequently is in second-and-long and third-and-long, and that's why the offense has no rhythm.
"When you don't do well enough on first downs, it's hard to find a rhythm on second and long," Tice said. "Do you go to get it to third-and-medium, or try to get the first down, or take a shot?"
Negative plays have led to being too reliant on deep balls. According to STATS, 13.1 percent of their pass attempts have been for 21 yards or more. That ranks sixth highest in the NFL.
And Jay Cutler and Jason Campbell have managed to complete only 28.6 percent of those throws.
One defensive assistant said the Bears could benefit from higher-percentage passes. But that's on Cutler as much as Tice because the quarterback often is reluctant to check down.
"Tice must create game plans that allow more passes to be completed with less stress so that Cutler doesn't feel that he has to force the ball into tight coverage," he said. "Great QBs have the confidence to throw into tight windows for the high risk/high reward play but they also need to have enough success to allow them to feel good about taking those shots downfield."
The Bears have neither the offensive linemen nor the receivers to have a dynamic deep passing game.
"Early in the year they had good plans," an NFC front office man said. "They used a rhythm, passing attack and got rid of the ball quickly. But they changed that lately because of their line. It's hard to be flexible when you don't have an offensive line."
The issues with containing edge rushers have led to the Bears keeping Matt Forte in to chip more than Tice prefers, and also have prevented tight ends from running pass routes. All of which has made the passing game more dysfunctional still.
The opponents who were polled noted Brandon Marshall has been the only consistent offensive threat. The head coach said his team knew the ball would be going to Marshall a lot, so he adjusted.
But none of them found the play calling predictable.
"There have not been glaring tendencies that tip you off," the NFC front office man said. "I wouldn't bash their game plans."
The defensive assistant said he would not call the Bears offense predictable, but he said teams can try to take away Marshall and make them play "left-handed," or not to their strengths.
It is true Tice has not been able to get this offense humming.
But nobody could — without pixie dust.
dpompei@tribune.com
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The injury report is encouraging with Bennett, Melton, Jennings as well as Geno Hayes and McClellan looking like they might play Sunday.
The Marshall injury is not good news but if it was that serious he'd be held out not limited. Urlacher and Scott have hammies and they were never marked down as "limited participation".
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This is were the NYG's Rally.
Do DAAA BEARRSSEE have the same mindset ?
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If he isnt 100% that points to a loss against the Cardinals. He is all the offense we have. Mail it in boys. Lovie now has an excuse
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Bears added Marshall to their injury report today. Hamstring.
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Bears will win by double digits. Arizona sucks.
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Green finally gets in a groove and - you guessed it --- he has a concusion. We will be playing with two RBs who were not on the roster until a couple of weeks ago.
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Either one...
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I think Marinelli would get the nod as a one-game interim HC before Tice would. If nothing else, just to keep the defense from checking out completely.
The fact he'd be coaching against the Lions would just make it all the more interesting.
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I would not be one bit surprised if they lose to Ariz that Lovie is launched and Tice is interim for the last game.
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Seen some speculation on the blogs lately that Lovie has already been informed this will be his last season with the Bears... and that's why guys like Urlacher and Briggs are so cranky right now.
It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever for Emery to inform Lovie before the biggest game of the year that he will be relived of his duties.
As for Urlacher and Briggs being cranky - it might be because at 7-1 they were thinking divisional championship possibilities have now disintegrated into a 50/50 chance to make the playoffs as the #6 seed.
Irregardless, based on what's been said in the press this week it looks like there's a schism developing in the lockerroom where you've got the new guard of Marshall, Cutler and presumably Emery (who so far has wisely stayed dead silent) on one side and the old guard of Urlacher, Briggs and Lovie on the other. Any way you slice it, that is not a good environment for winning two critical contests on the road, irregardless of how good or bad your opponents may be.
I think at the heart of it is that Cutler has had enough of Lovie and the Bears D has had enough of carrying a pathetic offense and then you throw in the intense media scrutiny triggered by our collapse from 7-1 and it comes to this.
This sounds like something Rosenbloom would write.
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Losing to the Cardinals (and therefore a guaranteed playoff miss) would certainly make a lot of Bears fans want to see Lovie fired ASAP... like, even before the Detroit game.
But in reality, even if it's a done deal nothing will be announced until after the Bears' last game... whenever that may be.
Irregardless, based on what's been said in the press this week it looks like there's a schism developing in the lockerroom where you've got the new guard of Marshall, Cutler and presumably Emery (who so far has wisely stayed dead silent) on one side and the old guard of Urlacher, Briggs and Lovie on the other. Any way you slice it, that is not a good environment for winning two critical contests on the road, irregardless of how good or bad your opponents may be.
I think at the heart of it is that Cutler has had enough of Lovie and the Bears D has had enough of carrying a pathetic offense and then you throw in the intense media scrutiny triggered by our collapse from 7-1 and it comes to this.
We need to get a HC in here who can put some positive energy back into the culture, get these younger players developed to their full potential and get everyone pulling in the same direction.
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Looks like Phil is on board with launching Lovie....;)
Oh brother.
Me predicting a score doesn't mean I want the guy here or gone. I've said for over a month that it's time for a change. But I guess you missed it.
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Seen some speculation on the blogs lately that Lovie has already been informed this will be his last season with the Bears... and that's why guys like Urlacher and Briggs are so cranky right now.
No way would Halas Hall ever allow something that big to leak before the end of the season... and I haven't seen anything that would come close to credible confirmation, but it would explain a few things if it's true. It would also set up an interesting dynamic for these last two games of the season where the Bears could either wind up playing their azzes off, or completely shutting down.
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Looks like Phil is on board with launching Lovie....;)
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20-13 AZ
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The Lions will certainly be motivated, especially if we're still in the hunt at that point.
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Even if we beat the cards, not sure we can beat the Lions at their place..
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No kidding. It seems like we haven't been able to get more than 2-3 games in a row out of anyone this year.
Thats no excuse though. This is the 2nd time in 3 seasons the Pack got slammed and theyve managed just fine both seasons.
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Whose our strength and conditioning coach ?
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Carimi at RT, oh brother.
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Man I hope Scott can go.
If its Carimi at RT and whoever at RG, Cutler may not last the game.
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By Brad Biggs, Tribune reporter
5:08 p.m. CST, December 19, 2012
Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith said he is “hopeful” cornerback Tim Jennings will be able to play Sunday at Arizona.
The Bears went through a light practice Wednesday at Halas Hall and had only two players missing: middle linebacker Brian Urlacher and right tackle Jonathan Scott, both sidelined by hamstring injuries. Urlacher is not expected to play Sunday and Scott will be replaced by Gabe Carimi if he is unable to recover in time.
Jennings (shoulder), defensive tackle Henry Melton (chest), wide receiver Earl Bennett (concussion), defensive end Shea McClellin (knee) and linebacker Geno Hayes (knee) were all limited in practice. All five were out for Sunday’s loss to the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field.
“Even though we didn’t do a lot today, we were able to run around a little bit,” Smith said. “It was kind of encouraging to see some of the players who have been out. We’ll need everybody this week. We know what’s at stake for this game, having to go on the road. We did have success last time we went out there. That was a long time ago.
“Having a guy come back with eight interceptions and just the type of play that we’ve gotten from (Jennings) would give us all a boost, and not only him. There’s a chance we could get a few guys back that all have impressive numbers, like a Henry Melton and guys like that.”
bmbiggs@tribune.com
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I hope Forte is up to the task.
Forte, Allen and Bell are your RB trio for this week and there's not a power runner in the bunch so if our RBs can't beat the Cardinals with speed our O could be in deep trouble.
In addition to their pass rush (or likely, because of it), I believe the Cardinals also have notched a fair number of INTs this year. So you really don't want to be passing on them a lot if you can help it.
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Cardinals defense is no slouch...11th in the NFL and they can sack the QB...can't stop the run though. And their offense is 32nd...
So expect a lot of Forte left...Forte right...Forte up the middle...
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If thats the case then I hope the Cardinals beat the Bears like they beat the Lions last week.
I have a really hard time seeing a team as bad as the Cardinals notching two blowout wins in a row. And I would like to think the Bears aren't QUITE the hot mess the Lions are (just yet, anyway).
But that doesn't mean the Cardinals still couldn't force us to play uglier than they do, pull out the win and knock out a couple more of our players in the process.
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If thats the case then I hope the Cardinals beat the Bears like they beat the Lions last week. This staff needs to go by whatever means
Amen.
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If thats the case then I hope the Cardinals beat the Bears like they beat the Lions last week. This staff needs to go by whatever means
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We might somehow still get to the dance but if we do, we'll be the team Seattle was 2 years ago where everyone was saying W-T-F are THESE guys doing here?
Did they say that after they upset the favored Saints?
There will be plenty of time to talk about coaching changes and off-season personnel moves but the season isn't over until it's over.
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Lets just rip the bandaide off already, and not prolong the pain and agony. Lovie needs to go. Period. If we get into the playoffs, by whatever means, he isnt going anywhere, and Tice and Marinelli and Babich and Drake and all the rest are coming back again next year. Enough already.
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Our likely 1st round opponent would be the Packers, Niners or Giants. On the road.
The way we've been playing this last month, any of those teams would blow us off the field.
We might somehow still get to the dance but if we do, we'll be the team Seattle was 2 years ago where everyone was saying W-T-F are THESE guys doing here? Or the Chiefs when they made it in but got slaughtered their first game.
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If I truly believed that there was any chance of regime change I would prefer to miss the playoffs this year than sneak in with the last seed. I just have my doubts. Lovie's like a cat with 9 lives.
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I haven't examined all the playoff scenarios so I have to admit I don't know how much help the Bears would need in addition to winning out.
I do know that if we lose Sunday it's season over cause that means 9-7 at best and that's not gonna get an NFC team in the door this year.
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If the Bears can get their hsit together the next couple weeks they have a better than 50/50 chance of making the playoffs. The Giants at Baltimore game is huge this weekend. And so is the Viking/Texans game. If the home teams in those 2 games win it could setup a Bears visit to...
San Francisco - as I think they lose to the Seahawks and Green Bay wins out and gets the 2nd seed.
Personally, I'd prefer a rematch with the Packers - especially if we can get Melton and Jennings back.
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Earl Bennett expected to return to lineup Sunday in Arizona
By Sean Jensen on December 18, 2012 8:36 AM
Brandon Marshall was the only Bears receiver to catch any passes Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.
But one of the team's more dependable options is expected to return Sunday in Arizona.
Barring an unforeseen setback this week, Earl Bennett is expected to play against the Cardinals, according to a league source.
Bennett has missed the last two games after suffering a concussion against the Seattle Seahawks. In that game, he scored a 12-yard touchdown.
Bennett has had a very quiet season. But, like Marshall, he's very trusted by quarterback Jay Cutler.
In five games against the Packers, Bennett has 14 catches for 163 yards.
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Yup. It's not just the Bears roster that needs a makeover, it's the entire culture.
The question is how far the McCaskeys will allow Emery to go in getting that done... because when it comes to the culture the coaches play a bigger part than anyone else in the organization, followed by the star veteran players.
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I think Coaches get burned out (like anyone else), I think Lovie's time has passed..
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Cutler & Marshall are turning on the coaches, Briggs and Urlacher are turning on the fans, Cutler is back on the Chicago media's sh*t-list (not that he ever really got off of it).
What a mess.
Things are a lot easier when you're winning.
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scoop 46 with another Trib paste:
I heard that idea from a hockey coach decades ago during the playoffs, except he phrased it, “Our best players have to be our best players.’’
Same thing, and no matter how you say it, the idea is critical for the Bears this week and the rest of the season, however long the season lasts.
In yet another offensive disaster against the Packers on Sunday, Brandon Marshall scored a touchdown. And that, ladies and gentlemen, concludes the Bears’ list of stars playing like stars last week.
Sure, Jay Cutler threw the ball to Marshall, so you’d think that would count as a star playing like a star.
But no. The Bears’ biggest name came up small. Maybe smallest.
Cutler’s inexplicable throw that was sort of aimed at Devin Hester became the turning point. It was a play that can’t happen but always does happen when Cutler is playing the Packers. The Packers
have said that Cutler will throw them the ball, and he did because he always does.
But Cutler wasn’t alone among big names coming up small, and that’s the problem.
You can argue whether the interception was Cutler’s fault or Hester’s, but you can’t fight the fact that Hester is not a wide receiver, no matter how stupid Lovie Smith wants to look in shoving him out
there. Hester can’t always line up right, can’t read coverage, and couldn’t run good routes if he got a Garmin for Christmas.
But wait. There’s something worse. Hester hasn’t returned a punt or a kickoff for a touchdown in more than a year. The Bears paid Hester a ton of dough to be dangerous somewhere, anywhere. With
the offense nearly the most laughable in the league, the Bears need special teams to score. They do have a special teams touchdown, but should Hester be outscored by Corey Wootton?
Matt Forte looked like a monumental waste of money. Third-and-goal from the 1, fourth-and-goal from the 1, and Forte still hasn’t reached the end zone. Maybe it’s me, but I think you ought to get more
for your $17 million.
Julius Peppers recorded 1 1/2 sacks, but his roughing-the-passer penalty on a third-and-7 incomplete pass felt like a killer in the middle of the fourth quarter. The Packers didn’t score on the drive, but
they ate up another two minutes of an eight-point game.
Charles Tillman forced a fumble, but was beaten for one of three touchdown catches by James Jones.
Lance Briggs was everywhere in leading the Bears in tackles, but he created zero turnovers on a defense that must create at least three of them if the team is going to win, according to Smith.
The Bears made a ton of other mistakes the way they always do against Green Bay and the way they have for the last six weeks.
Roberto Garza’s snap infraction took them out of field-goal range on the first drive. Alshon Jeffery committed enough pass interference penalties to show he’s a slow learner. Blake Costanzo failed to
get off the field in time on a punt return, allowing the Packers to retain possession. Chris Conte committed pass interference in the end zone to set up a Green Bay touchdown one play later.
The Bears obviously can’t live with such stupid football from anyone, but when their stars fail, they’ve flushed millions down the toilet. Those guys get the big money to make big plays. Recently, it has
been a big nothing.
The Bears have no chance if their best players perform like their worst.
There's another one out there about Emery soon to reveal his master plan, but it's mostly fill. Anbody wants its, I'll paste it in. Off for a few days, doing things I normally don't do, like working around
the house and staying sober.
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http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/19/lions-place-nick-fairley-on-injured-reserve/
Well, this should help us a little against the Lions, anyway.
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I haven't looked at the Cardinal/Bear position matchups, but we need to get Jennings, Melton and Bennett back. Injury report should come out today.
I don't know the status of RT Scott. If he's back - does Carimi go back to guard? Spencer should start regardless. Then Edwin Williams is on deck.
The good thing about playing a 3-4 defense is that the guards don't have a DT on top of them.
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Dont miss a couple of Cutler interceptions there too
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I don't think the Bears will phone it in. Even if the players don't give a damm about Lovie's future with the Bears I have to think they're still concerned about their own. Pretty sure Emery will be watching these last two games closely for any evidence of sandbagging and I think our guys know that.
If we lose it will be because of the usual suspects... incompetent coaching, lack of in-game adjustments, bad OL play, too many mistakes/missed opportunities on O and not enough big plays on D.
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Unless the Bears just lay down and phone it in.
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Re the Cardinals... they have a pretty well regarded defense (the recent 58-0 beatdown from the Seahawks notwithstanding) and a very strong DL anchored by DE Calais Campbell and DT Darnell Dockett. I expect those guys to wreak havoc on our guys up front.
Their offense is another story... Larry Fitzgerald at WR and that's IT. Their run game is non-existent, their OL is almost as bad as ours, and their QB situation is a joke. IIRC they have given up 6 or more sacks in at least a least a couple of games this year. Our D should be able to make some hay but I could see another really ugly showing by our offense. BTW the Cardinals run a 3-4 defense (as do the Packers, Niners and Texans), so take that for what it's worth.
This game is interesting in the fact it pits two coaches against each other who are both on the hot seat, but beyond that there's not a lot of draw unless you're a die-hard fan of either team. I think it's going to be a low-scoring, poorly played game by both teams and it could also get pretty chippy because both of these teams have a lot to be frustrated about this year.
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Agreed on the draft pick. And lets so no injuries to key players in the last two games as well.
Yup, that's where we got the double whammy in game 16 last year. Not only did we lose a bunch of draft position with that win against Minny, but Urlacher got hurt and he arguably hasn't been the same since.
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I could see us getting a win this weekend, and then losing to the Lions and missing the playoffs.
In other words we'd have to play Cutler, Forte, Marshall and our remaining healthy defensive studs against Detroit (exposing them to potential injury), and have it wind up going for nothing. That's the worst possible scenario, which means that's probably how it's gonna play out.
If we do back-in to the 6th seed, it likely means a trip to Lambeau for another matchup with the Pack. I have to think the Bears aren't real excited about that prospect. I know I'm certainly not.
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Agreed on the draft pick. And lets so no injuries to key players in the last two games as well.
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I'll take that one step further, I want the highest draft pick we can get which means losing those last 2 games. I dont want a repeat of last year where we won the last game of the season and screwed us out of a better pick. This season is already shot so why be happy for a win? The necessary changes can only happen with a coaching change and better talent. Better talent comes from the draft.
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First goal is to lose enough games to get rid of Lovie. Period. Second goal is to get better talent, especially on the OL. Third goal is to get some coaches who are smart and can utilize the talent they have.
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Don't know enough about the Cards (except the record). I could see us getting a win this weekend, and then losing to the Lions and missing the playoffs.
First goal is to make the playoffs, then to make it to the superbowl, the ultimate goal that each team plays for is winning the Superbowl (not just to get there). I want to see consistent play, consistent coaching, I've seen none of that..
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Didn't they just beat the Loins? Then they can definately take us out at their home. We're such a cluster right now, everyone pointing fingers here, there, at fans. So what if we win anyhow? Two games and lots of help to get in...and then get steamrolled and totally embarrassed on national TV??......uggh....
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Got a feeling this Cardinals game is gonna be fugly.
The Cardinals are bad, but the Bears are so physically and emotionally spent I'm not sure they have enough left to take advantage.
Something like a 13-10 score wouldnt surprise me at all and I'm not even gonna venture a guess who wins cause both teams are a dumpster fire right now.
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Boy if only the Bears were high enough to nab some good talent. Now were we to lose our last two games..........Hmmmmm
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Bama has 3 O-Lineman that could all potentially go in the first round this year.
- Chance Warmack, consensus best OG in the draft
- DJ Fluker, potential Day One starter for someone at RT
- Barrett Jones, possibly the most interesting prospect as he has played T, G and C during his time at Bama. This year he's playing C and he's had a couple pretty rough games there but his versatility alone may increase his value. He's also super smart. Some scouting reports project him to LT, others think his NFL future may be on the inside.
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Really too bad the kid from ND that has given up ONE sack all year at LT ain't coming out....man we could sure as heckfire use him!!
Take heart cause after bowl games they sometimes change their minds. And those Alabama linemen are pretty good too. So be consoled.
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Both of Johnny Football's OTs will be coming out though. One of which is Clay Matthews cousin.
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Really too bad the kid from ND that has given up ONE sack all year at LT ain't coming out....man we could sure as heckfire use him!!
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I loved Big Cat Williams. Big as a house, good feet for his size and didnt back down from anyone. I remember him getting in defenders faces many times after cheap shotting our [mostly dreadful] QBs. They rarely did it twice. Give me 2 or 3 guys like that this offseason and we're rolling.
Wonder what he's doing these days.
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Bears have never been able to draft a top notch offensive tackle since Covert in 1983. They've had decent guys like Brockermeyer, Tait, Fred Miller, Andy Heck but they were all free agents. Even Big Cat was an undrafted FA they converted from DE.
Not much better production drafting guards either.
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Yeah Hatley bombed on all 3 skill positions... McNown, Enis and Terrell. And those werent just underperformers, they were all flat out busts and all taken in the top half of the 1st round.
Those mistakes set this club back years and forced us to reach on guys like Grossman and Benson later.
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Under Hatley we always had a decent O-line but our skill positions were terrible. Now we got the skill players and no O-line. It is frustrating.
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Fix the O-line and the offense will get going. Our current group can't run block or pass block.
Which means nothing works. Angelo killed this team with his inattention to the O-line. I would be fine if the Bears drafted 3 or 4 O-lineman this draft. They need that much help.
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Running the ball for two yards on first down is killing the offense the last couple of years.
Have to get more production on first down.
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Did you see #95 out there on defense in the beginning of the game - I thought he looked pretty good. 3 tackles. He needs to play more if Melton can't go at DT and they need to play Idonijie inside more.
DJ Moore played a lot at nickel back. He played really well as a linebacker near the LOS making plays...tackles...tipped balls...but was beaten like a drum as a DB. Kelvin Hayden also had a rough day. We need Jennings back - may be too late.
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Scott is the best lineman on the team and should be brought back. But I don't know his contract situation and what other teams might be willing to bid for his services and whether the Bears think Carimi will benefit from an offseason of getting stronger/healthier.
Right now he has 6 starts...one sack (the one at Minnesota where he recovered the fumble for 8 yard gain). No penalties....none.
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The one thing in my mind that sets Scott apart from our other OL stiffs is that he seems to give a damn and always has his head in the game.
IIRC yesterday he hustled to recover a fumble which he also did last week in Minnesota. That kind of stuff really stands out among the group of slow-witted, slow-footed slugs loosely called our O-Line.
I also know he has been battling various injuries and still keeps going back out there so he gets toughness points from me as well. I credit a lot of both his hustle and his toughness to coming out of the Pittsburgh Steelers culture where those attributes are the rule and not the exception.
I would say Scott is one of only 2 or 3 keepers among the current group and I hope he gets brought back next year and is given a fair shot to win the RT spot permanently.
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Speaking of the O-line. It was like a Chinese Fire drill. First Carimi gets benched and Spencer comes in, then LG James Brown gets benched and Edwin Williams comes in. Later the RT Scott pulls a hammy and Carimi fills in for him. The only guy that played decently out there was Webb ...who had a solid game against Matthews. But it must have been the sloppy field...yeah, that was it. I should also say Scott played a solid game while he was in there. Tackle play wasn't the problem it was the guards - even Carimi held his own at RT.
Blame for everybody. Offensively, the WR coach should be canned. Jeffery should know the rules...and after the first PI offense should have been talked too. Hester is a fine returner - but should not see the field on offense. Again our receivers stand still facing the QB and when they get a ball thrown there way get drilled or the pass deflected. Did you see any packer receivers run patterns where they just stop and stare at Rodgers?
Forte has to stop closing his eyes and slamming himself into the middle of the line when there is no hole. He's done this before. He's not a power back, there were at least a couple opportunities to bounce it outside and he has the speed to beat most DBs to the corner.
Cutler - it's OK to check the ball down once in a while. And I guess he's totally given up on passing to his TEs. AT least Martz used them well in the red zone - not this year. We have 2 6-7 TEs that we never play action pass to...incredible.
And don't we have any quick slants in our playbook...the opposition uses them frequently to get 5 to 10 yards. So were Forte and Marshall the only Bears who caught passes?
Bottom line...13 points..190 yards...Tice has to be sent packing and if we don't win the last 2...Lovie will be joining him.
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OK. I see it. Its a combination of the Oline failures and the lack of depth at WR.
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What gets to me is that I am not sure when whether it was during preseason or the first several games or exactly when but Cutler was hitting 6-7 different receivers in a game. What happened to that? When you are so predictable going to Marshall it limits the creativity of the offense.
A few things I can point to on that:
1) For significant parts of the season Cutler was without Alshon Jeffery and/or Earl Bennett, including IIRC a short stretch where neither of them was available.
2) Except for few splash plays early in the season Hester has been absolutely worthless as a WR yet the coaches kept putting him out there for reps. It's like playing with 10 guys when he's on the field.
3) Zero production from the TE position at all... in fact, NEGATIVE production in the form of drops, fumbles and INTs caused by tips or mis-run routes.
4) Virtually no protection. I saw a play in the Steelers / Cowboys game yesterday where they put a clock on Big Ben and he had NINE SECONDS on one play to find a guy. Nine seconds! Whereas 2 seconds is a luxury for Cutler.
5) As a result of #4, more receiving options held back to bolster protection meaning less receiving options in the pattern.
Add this all up and Cutler is in situations where he has only one guy he can trust to get open and make the catch, and no time to check down to other options. Given those circumstances I'd be forcing it to Marshall 15 times a game too.
Cutler's reliance on Marshall is not the problem... it's the symptom of several other problems that won't be fixed till we get better O-Linemen, Jeffery works through his growing pains, and we bring in an OC who knows what he's doing and a HC who gives a damn.
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What gets to me is that I am not sure when whether it was during preseason or the first several games or exactly when but Cutler was hitting 6-7 different receivers in a game. What happened to that? When you are so predictable going to Marshall it limits the creativity of the offense.
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I read an interesting article a few weeks ago saying that one reason Cutler's fundamentals are so shaky (and his escapability is so good) is that he had godawful blocking in college too (which BTW would have included one Chris Williams on the OL). Other than his years in Denver he has spent the majority of his football career pulling throws out of his azz cause the protection has NEVER been there for him.
Compare that to guys like Tom Brady and Andrew Luck who have never NOT had great OLs clearing the pocket for them, even back to college days.
That would also explain why Cutler seems so far behind the curve in things like finding the 2nd and 3rd receiving options... he's never had the luxury of time to do that and when he is able to check down to the #3 WR or the TE they fail him more often than not.
Which begs the question of if he can re-invent his style of play and improve his fundamentals if given good protection? In other words, is it too late for him to ever get back to the point he was at in Denver? With this much water under the bridge of his career, hard to say.
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No way do I cut bait on Cutler. The concussions are more the concern that I would have. Get a decent O line, and get a good run game going. Cutler has the arm, I think some of his problem is getting antsy back there (from being knocked around). The int yesterday was a bad throw, if the refs didn't have it in for us, that throw may not even hardly be talked about today. Lovie has got to go, this team has no fire, none!
Phil- If Campbell would've thrown that pick, I wouldn't say a whole lot. Most of us know he's not a good QB (and that's putting mildly). If he was decent, he wouldn't have been cut by the skins and the Raiders..
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Not gonna say it's time to cut bait on Cutler yet. But at the same time I sure wouldn't rush into any contract extension if I were Emery either.
On top of the questions about his fundamentals and decision making, you wonder how many more concussions he can sustain before he's done for good. Even if Emery manages to do a 180 on this O-Line that still doesn't mean there might not be another few shots to his noggin in the future and where does that leave us if all the sudden he's in a Jahvid Best scenario with 3 or 4 years left on a very expensive new deal?
Cutler's got one more year on his current contract. Let's put as much effort into upgrading the offensive personnel this offseason as we've done the last 10 years with the D, see how things are looking with him and the Bears come this time next year and take it from there.
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Well if Emery does decide to dump the coaches I hope he does it the day after our last game and has somebody great already cued up... instead of our SOP which is to wait 3 months till all the good ones have been hired by other teams and we're down to sloppy seconds.
I dont believe he CAN do that without first firing Lovie or getting Lovie's permission and I dont believe Emery can just hire some OL coach or Dcoordinator without his HC's approval. I think Emery's ability to get any coach lined up depends on what he does with Lovie first. I cant believe he can get anybody even talked to if Lovie is still the Bears HC. Nobody wants to work for a lame duck coach. We saw that when Angelo had to take Mike Martz. And I dont believe he got Martz were it not for Martz and Lovie working together in St Louis
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Hate to say it but gonna go out on a limb here and say Cut will never bring us a Championship. I think he's too erratic, too out of control and his technique is terrible and he tends to run into pressure and gets himself hurt too easily. He doesn't play smart football.
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Jay double pumped on that pass so if Hester didn't go where he's supposed to then throw it away.
If Campbell had made that same pass no one would have any mercy on him. I know folks here like Jay and will make excuses for him but I'm not letting him off the hook with that awful INT. He had time to throw and he made a bad pass. Plain and simple.
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Based on Cutlers reaction to that interception it sure seemed like Hester didnt go where Cutler thought he was supposed to. Not making excuses, just saying.
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Well if Emery does decide to dump the coaches I hope he does it the day after our last game and has somebody great already cued up... instead of our SOP which is to wait 3 months till all the good ones have been hired by other teams and we're down to sloppy seconds.
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No coach has ever won a super bowl with two different teams.
We need the next Jim Harbaugh not the latest TV analyst.
I guess none of us have ever seen a game like yesterday, all these calls by one ref.
First Conte and Jones running into the end zone. Jones pushes Conte in the chest and Conte grabs his wrist. Ok not unusual the call goes against the defense.
But the same ref. sees mutual interference on 3 plays and calls on the offense each time.
Then he makes a no call on the fourth play with blatant defensive interference only.
I'm curious how he is evaluated by his superiors this week.
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That's what was so infuriating about that INT Cutler threw yesterday.
It was the ONE play of the entire day where he had decent time to throw, and that's what we got out of it.
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Kind of hard for a QB to be championship caliber with a lousy OC calling the plays and a lousy O-line.
We can agree on that from those 2 aspects BUT how many times have we seen the last 4 years in big games J-Cut throws INT's to kill the team? Too many times to count. The INT yesterday he did have protection but threw an awful pass right to a defender! That's on him period along with holding onto the ball extremely too long sometimes when he drops back to pass. Rodgers has an awful line protecting him as well BUT he makes plays in spite of it. Jay threw for 135 freakin' yards yesterday and he's paid too much to put up those kind of numbers.
We know he struggles against the Packers always since coming here and in the big games he doesn't come through more than he succeeds. A championship QB wouldn't make bad throws at crucial times so much and he does. Hey I like Jay and glad he's a Bear but he has to look at himself in the mirror and try to do better. Be the leader he's paid to be.
I wouldn't surprised if he's not here next year because like Marshall said yesterday EVERYBODY has to be held accountable for their performance on offense and he's right. Marshall is an all-pro period and as some here has said is passionate about his play and I feel Jay needs that same passion at the QB position before he can be deemed a championship caliber QB. I hope J-Cut is here next year and beyond but he has to improve his game as well for not only him but the team to get to the next level.
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Payton played a few games for the Bears too... during the strike season, they signed him as a replacement player.
I have to think it would be a really hard sell to get Payton to come back and work for the McCaskeys again unless Emery has made significant headway in changing the culture at Halas Hall.
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Payton was a quarterback at Naperville Central High School and Eastern Illinois University
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I think Shanahan is from River Grove. Did Sean Payton go to school in IL? I seem to remember he has some connection.
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Carimi in, Carimi out, Carimi moves all about. Pitiful actually.
This is the second game in a row that Scott has dinged himself, left the game and then basically been forced back in when another guy goes down or just can't get it done. The Bears have a practice of only dressing a bare minimum of O-Linemen and that practice has come back to bite them multiple times.
As for Carimi, he is looking more like Columbo every game. He might have been a decent RT for us if he hadn't had that injury. But this year he hasn't looked like a guy that could even make an Arena team. And the pi*ser of it is that just like Chris Williams, Carimi had known health issues coming into the draft and Angelo pulled the trigger anyway.
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The game of musical chairs they were playing with the OL yesterday was almost comical. Carimi in, Carimi out, Carimi moves all about. Pitiful actually.
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Speaking of coaching fails, W-T-F was with the Giants yesterday? The Falcons aren't THAT good.
Talk about not showing up. Very uncharacteristic of a Coughlin team to be that flat and especially late in the season when they're usually gaining steam.
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Apart from Luck, how did the Colts do it so quickly?
They started with the OL and DL and worked their way out. Other than Reggie Wayne the Colts' RBs, WRs and TEs aren't much more than slightly above average and neither are their back 7 but their OL is solid and their DL can get after the QB.
First you get the QB and ASAP after that you get a good OL in front of him to keep him healthy and productive. Fill out the lineup with competent (not world class) skill players first and upgrade those guys a year or two down the line after the OL has gelled and the skill guys can really be maximized.
Angelo got the QB but his OL moves not only didn't improve the situation, but made it worse. And he did nothing about the skill players at all. Emery put the cart before the horse a bit in adding Marshall before fixing the OL but I think he saw an opportunity that wasn't going to come around again and he went for it.... which has turned out to be without question the best move of his short tenure here. If he's as sharp as I think he is, he'll put the lions share of this offseason into a big-time revamp of the OL, upgrading our TE(s) and hopefully bringing in a speedy WR to replace Hester as a legitimate deep complement to Marshall and Jeffery. Give whatever is left over to the D, bring in some new coaching, replace the strength and conditioning staff so we don't have half our starters out of commission by November, and see where that all gets us.
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I kiinda see it that way also. Bears beat the Cardinals and the Lions are licking their chops just to take a shot, legal or illegal with Cutler's head as the pinata'.
The Lions will be in the "just hit the QB" mode, and Gunther Cunningham is a piece of garbage that encourages that. Suh and Fairley eat that up, and the bald guy at end isn't much cleaner.
I agree it is time to change the guard in Chicago, a lot of old wood to clean out. Apart from Luck, how did the Colts do it so quickly?
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My guess is they beat the Cardinals and lose to the Lions.
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I think they should structure the next coach's contract that if after year 3 we haven't done X in the playoffs then you can be fired and they don't have to eat the remaining salary.
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It wouldn't surprise me to beat AZ and DET and get 10 wins and not get in and they keep Lovie.
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No he hasnt... But if we lose next Sunday to the Cardinals I see no reason not to can him before the team goes to Detroit. If they're gonna ruin my Christmas week then Emery can ruin Lovie's too. And it would send a message to the players that their future with the Bears is on the line and they had best man-up. Let Marinelli be HC for the last game and maybe he can fire up these guys enough to at least close out the year with a win against his former team. Although that could cost us dearly in the draft as it did last year.
My guess though is we lose at Detroit no matter who's our HC by then.
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Has Lovie been fired yet?
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I dont know that Sean Payton grew up around Chicago but he did play for the Bears as a replacement player in the strike season.
Unfortunately because of that, he probably has enough insight into the dysfunctions of Halas Hall that he'd never take the job no matter how big the check. And the McCaskeys wouldn't hire him anyway cause he's not a choirboy.
In any event, if Emery is as results driven as he seems to be, this late season collapse has got to have him counting the days till he can swing his axe wide and deep. There aren't a lot of Bears players and even fewer coaches who should be feeling real comfy right now.
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Good for you. You should have taken Oddo with you. The experience would do him good.
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Didn't watch the game. Was at church enjoying a nice, relaxing holiday luncheon and I'm glad I was. Sick and dang tired of losing to the Pakers. Lovie better be fired following the last game is all I gotta say. They won't win the next two. NO accountability, whatsoever. Lovie in lala land. Inexcusable to go 7-1 and then 1-7. Sick of it. Trying very hard to keep it together because I'm just as passionate about this as Marshall is. Glad to see he gets it, VERY glad. He's a definate keeper. Rebuild around him, because this cluster........ needs replaced. Start with Lovie and Tice....
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I would be all for Gruden. We need an offensive minded coach who can get the players fired up. Years of the wooden indian have drained the life from this team.
Hey I'd be Ok with Shanahan, Payton, Gruden or Cowher. The problem is the Bears wouldnt. Now if Lovie plays out the last year of his contract I could see one of those guys getting the nod next year, but not paying Lovie his money next year and a new coach too. Just dont see it. Now maybe they might were Lovie to lose the last two games and finish 8-8. Now were I to pick the coach I'd prefer out of that group it'd be Payton who I believe grew up in the Chicago area.
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Not sure Urlacher would have made that much difference. Our biggest problems were lack of pass coverage on James Jones, terrible OL play and the INT we threw when all we had to do was run out the half. Urlacher wouldnt have helped any of those, really.
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You may be right. That does sound logical. Then, that was a stupid call by the assistant, anyway.
Good thing for the Packers that Matthews was in the lineup and Urlacher was out.
Good point Packy.
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The officiating wasn't the best today? LOL! Seriously?
Look the Bears did not deserve to win this game and didn't but let's not pretend the Refs did not hand the game to the Packers.
Jeffries got called for OPI three times today one of which negated a TD. None of them should have been called and if they were it should have been on both players. The only time he should have been called for OPI it was called on Green Bay and gave the Bears a whole 5 yards. Plus they missed an obvious PI against Green Bay on the play right after they called one on Jeffries that never should have been called.
Seriously the Packers get the most help from any team in the NFL from the refs and it is ridiculous. Early in the game they roughed Cutler and it was an obvious shot to the head and no call plus you could see in the background a D-lineman grabbing a Bears facemask and pushing the head back on the same play. No flag.
Yet Peppers hits Rodgers clean and gets a flag. Not to mention the Packers holding of Peppers evey play for years that has not been called.
Add on to that Matthews and his gay azz move today and Rodgers and his primo donna BS after the play that the receiver only got one foot down and I hate the Packers more then ever. I hope they get destroyed in the playoffs and go on a 64 game losing streak because they deserve it after today.
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You may be right. That does sound logical. Then, that was a stupid call by the assistant, anyway.
Good thing for the Packers that Matthews was in the lineup and Urlacher was out.
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He was chewing azz on the sideline afterwards so I do not think it was his call. Probably one of those things where before the game they tell the players to do it if they get a certain look and it was never called off.
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The officiating wasn't the best, today.
Chicago and GB both need to search for a new LT AGAIN.
Peanut got anogther takeaway today.
GB seems to have finally found a third down RB today (Duan Harris).
GB's running game seems to be better with rookie Dan Barclay in at RT. They even played rookie Van Roten (last OL player on the roster.
What was McCarthe thinking when he called for that lateral on a KO?
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Only if they had played in the nfl. Rah rah types that never played pro would get no respect these days. none.
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And by the way, the Cardinals rolled the Lions by 4 TDs today so anyone who thinks next week's game is in the bag for us might really want to put their reality goggles on already.
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Shanahan would be s TREMENDOUS HC for this team. No way we'd ever outbid Snyder for him though.
Hell I'd even take his kid (the Redskins OC) even though he hasnt been a HC before. What he's done this year with RGIII and a bunch of no-name WRs and RBs is astounding and even if the Skins don't make the playoffs their offense is making a lot of DCs work overtime.
Any college coaches out there anyone would want ?
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Shanahan would be s TREMENDOUS HC for this team. No way we'd ever outbid Snyder for him though.
Hell I'd even take his kid (the Redskins OC) even though he hasnt been a HC before. What he's done this year with RGIII and a bunch of no-name WRs and RBs is astounding and even if the Skins don't make the playoffs their offense is making a lot of DCs work overtime.
Shanahan and Payton both also have a little bit of jacka-ss in them and frankly our entire team needs someone like that to put a little edge on things. Not that I want a Rex Ryan or Jim Schwartz douche but being a NFL HC isnt always about being Citizen of the Year. Marshall said it himself today, accountability is lacking and it's showing up every week on the field. Get someone in here who's gonna LEAD these guys instead of just trying to be their BFF, and that will translate to better focus on the field, players doing their jobs and a confidence that began leaving this team in the Texans game and is now completely gone. Used to be other teams feared the Bears even when we were losing. Now even we're winning we don't scare anyone that much.
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Yeah but the even bigger problem is that for every UFDA or 7th rounder the past few years we've had 1st rounders that aren't that much better. (Carimi, Columbo and Chris Williams). Can't find good O Linemen no matter how high we draft them.
None of these were on Emery's watch. Lets see what he does. Before JCUT wants out of town.
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What I can't comprehend is how Lovie who understands how important pass rush is to stopping an offense can't understand how important offensive linemen are.
I am just disgusted with this team. Two years in a row promising seasons thrown away.
In all honesty my first choice for the new HC is Gruden but would be happy with Shannahan or Peyton also. We need an offensive minded coach that brings intensity and fire to the program. That is what this team needs.
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Yeah but the even bigger problem is that for every UFDA or 7th rounder the past few years we've had 1st rounders that aren't that much better. (Carimi, Columbo and Chris Williams). Can't find good O Linemen no matter how high we draft them.
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Oh come on, James Brown, oh wait, undrafted rookie. Jamarcus Webb, 7th rounder, Garza I think was a 5th rounder. How many scrubs do we line up at one of the most important positions on the team? Not really a glory spot, but without it, well you see what happens. Year after year....Sad, just sad.
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If Emery doesn't draft two O-Linemen in April AND sign the best FA O-Linemen money can buy, then I really don't see things getting that much better next year.
There wasn't a single O-Lineman in a Bears uniform today who looked like he belonged on an NFL roster today. Every single guy on that line, left to right, got blown up multiple times.
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It's also not helping Cutler that Forte hasn't been 100% virtually the entire season and that Michael Bush has fallen off the map the second half of the season due to injuries.
One legit veteran WR... even as good as Marshall... can't make up for a complete lack of pass protection, an ineffective run game and a lack of any other WR or TE who can get open and catch the ball reliably.
And we've known this for how many YEARS now ?
Lets draft DEFENSE in the first three rounds !
It's the only way to go to solve it.
Offensive LINEMEN are overated anyways ... you can always pick them up in F.A. or after the draft.
Why its just a matter of plug -n- play any OFFENSIVE LINEMAN.
Offensive lineman ... God doesnt that term come back to haunt us every year?
How offensive do they have to be before HALAS HALL wises up?
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It's also not helping Cutler that Forte hasn't been 100% virtually the entire season and that Michael Bush has fallen off the map the second half of the season due to injuries.
One legit veteran WR... even as good as Marshall... can't make up for a complete lack of pass protection, an ineffective run game and a lack of any other WR or TE who can get open and catch the ball reliably.
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So when do we get a make up game to make up for this one????
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For a minute I thought we were playing in WI.
I think Cutler would be fine with decent protection and some talented receivers and TE. I wouldnt blame him for being shell shocked, but I think he would be fine. Now can we get all of those pieces, and a decent OC to call a good game...that is the question....
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Lot of people speculating this was a make-up game for the Seahawks game that was supposedly stolen from the Packers earlier this year.
Can't say the thought didn't cross my mind...
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Hard to play QB when your WR's get called for PI when they are being PI with by the DB. All while your O-line is a patchwork mess that was not good when they had all their starters. Just saying...
That probobly turned the game to GB and the zebras favor.
How come WE cant pay off REFS ?
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There's a good amount of this roster that needs to be turned over but the #1 QB position is not one of them.
My biggest concern with Cutler going forward is the possiblility that he's gotten so shell-shocked by the abuse he's taken so far as a Bear that even if we miraculously find a capable OC, put a Top 10 OL in front of him and surround him with a good TE and a couple more good WRs he may already be too far gone to ever fully maximize his potential. We may have already had him for his best years (health and talent wise), and completely wasted them.
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I get your frustration as well. Cutler has moments that make me want to slap the shit out of him. He is no Rodgers but he is the best QB the Bears have had for years.
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I get it, Pekin. Just saying Cutler seems to have exceptionally rough games against the Packers though at least he only threw 1 pick and not 4 this time.
And yeah, I'm still very glad he's a Bear.
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Hard to play QB when your WR's get called for PI when they are being PI with by the DB. All while your O-line is a patchwork mess that was not good when they had all their starters. Just saying...
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I love to see the passion Marshall has. If we had 53 guys with that much passion we would be doing a lot better. And seeing Cutler get upset isnt a problem either. Hester and Jeffery with zero catches, that is criminal.
Yeah the article says Marshall basically had to cut the questioning short cause he started getting so emotional about this loss. One thing that's really got to be gettting to him is that he's being going to bat in public for Alshon and Hester all year long and they've done almost nothing to back up his confidence.
Fact of the matter is that Cutler and Marshall are the linchpins of our future for the next 3-5 years and hopefully Emery understands that and gears his decision making accordingly. In competitiveness and talent they are head and shoulders above anyone else on our offense and at least equal to Peppers, Briggs and Tillman on D. Cutler had another terrible outing in a Packers game and Marshall was pretty much nonexistent other than the TD but make no mistake, the fact those two guys are on our roster is the only thing that makes a 1- or 2-year turnaround of this team even remotely possible. Without them we'd be looking at a 5-year rebuild easily.
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I wouldnt mind seeing a bon fire with the wooden indian at the center.
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I think Forte is gutting out a very bad ankle injury. He hurt it against Green bay and came back to soon then re-injured it. Hard to break tackles if you can not push off of your ankle.
Short yardage running is not his best attribute but he is a better RB then we have seen this year.
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I love to see the passion Marshall has. If we had 53 guys with that much passion we would be doing a lot better. And seeing Cutler get upset isnt a problem either. Hester and Jeffery with zero catches, that is criminal.
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Marshall cares. I hope he is a Bear for a long time.
He is by far our best player on the entire team and it is not even close! Fire Lovie the day the season ends.
I would be all for Gruden. We need an offensive minded coach who can get the players fired up. Years of the wooden indian have drained the life from this team.
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Marshall put it straight out on the line in his postgame presser... he said people aren't being held to task for not doing their jobs. I believe he used the word "accountablity" 2 or 3 times. That's what a lot of us have been seeing a lack of for a long time and it's refreshing to hear a player break ranks, respect the intelligence of the fans and cop to what's really going on rather than just to parrot the company line of BS.
Might get him in hot water with Lovie but if we all get our wish then Lovie will only be Marshall's HC for 2 more games so I would expect us to see more of Marshall speaking his mind if our final 2 games go as poorly as these last two have.
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Not much mention of Forte. Unless he has a wide open hole, the guy gets nothing. It's almost as if his vision is lost. You mean to tell me we can't get in the endzone with a 1st and goal from the 5? I was fine with running it 3 times, I mean come on, we do have an "elite" back, right?
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http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000111891/article/brandon-marshall-gets-emotional-after-latest-bears-loss?campaign=Twitter_atl
At least Marshall gets it...
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and to carry that thought further, will probably be here next year because Virginia won't eat his last year.
Yup. They'll fire Tice as window dressing for the fans and then replace him with some no-name OC who's even worse cause he's the only guy that will take the gig with a lame duck HC.
They did that already..
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Smartest thing we could do is have Cutler and Marshall sit out the rest of the year.
That would help them get a headstart on healing (physically and emotionally) from this disaster of a season, and would also virtually ensure we lose the last two games to get a better draft pick.
I can so easily see Marshall blowing out a knee in the 4th quarter of a Lions game that means absolutely nothing to either team.
Of course, because resting them would be the smart thing, it's something Lovie will never do.
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Wshful, I think we split with the Vikes.
Regardless, they still have the tie breaker over us somehow
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It's pretty simple really. This team has some serious problems with its culture, which was most glaringly on display in the pathetic sequence at the end of the first half and the total lack of effort shown on our final possession of the game.
This is a team that walks and talks tough as long as the breaks are going their way but as soon as things turn on them they completely implode. Emery needs to bring in some coaches who can do a 180 on that culture and teach players how to WIN rather than just barely hang on and hope the other team blows it at the end. He also needs to bring in more players that have enough talent to win their individul matchups more often than not, and with the basic game instincts and intelligence to carry out today's offensive and defensive gameplans capably.
Other than that we're just fine.
I dont know of any coordinators who fit those qualifications. You know the Bears arent going to pay Lovie and Cowher (or name your choice) to coach next year.
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Wshful, I think we split with the Vikes.
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It's pretty simple really. This team has some serious problems with its culture, which was most glaringly on display in the pathetic sequence at the end of the first half and the total lack of effort shown on our final possession of the game.
This is a team that walks and talks tough as long as the breaks are going their way but as soon as things turn on them they completely implode. Emery needs to bring in some coaches who can do a 180 on that culture, ingrain some mental toughness into these players and teach them how to WIN and finish strong rather than just barely hang on and hope the other team blows it at the end. He also needs to bring in more players that have enough talent to win their individul matchups more often than not, and with the basic game instincts and intelligence to carry out today's offensive and defensive gameplans capably.
Other than that we're just fine.
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I kinda expect a loss in the last game of the season to the Lions. I see we are virtually tied with the Vikings at 8-6 and the Vikings have the tie breaker having beat the Bears twice. If the Queens split their 2 remaining games as I expect the Bears will that should seal Lovie's firing. Personally I'd like to see the Bears lose the last two to finish 8-8.
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I am looking forward to Lovie telling eveyrone we will win out and make the playoffs. Um, ok if you say so.
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Well I was sort of happy to see Carimi not in the game, but then he kept going in and out. How messed up is the OL that the guy keeps getting put in and out. Talk about messing with someones head. Just like Daniel Manning and how Lovie kept moving him around. He is playing well for the Texans this year, funny how that works. The WHOLE coaching staff needs to go, and I say including Toub. And if Darryl Drake manages to ever be employed by a NFL team, it is criminal...
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The only question I have right now is, who wants this season to be over more... the Bears players, or their fans?
I'm just glad the last two games are on the road so this fraud of a team can't steal any more of fans' money at Soldier Field this year.
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Packers have won 8 of 9. Bears have lost 5 of 6... There you go Bears fans. Lost 6 in a row to GB.
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Bad calls yes, but you have a lazy head coach who just stands there, a dumb OC coach, Hester is toast, Jay Quitler isn't anything special but a big bi tch, the defense plays hard but they are old.
Too many holes to fix and no one to fix them.
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I agree we got hosed on some calls today but I hope Emery is able to see beyond that and see there were a lot of other problems that had nothing to do with the stripes.
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They played the Lovie press conference when Lovie was hired and said his main objective was to beat the Packers. Well you havent lately Lovie. Time to say you failed. Time to find another gravy train
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And I hope so did every other bear fan. Never seen anything like it.
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For the record I think those offensive interference calls were bunk. I thought the last no-call was defensive interference but wasnt called
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The o-line has been pathetic all season. Can't wait to hear Lovie's post game comments...
I sincerely believe Lovie still doesn't think the OL is a problem.
I'm not sure he thinks anything is a problem.
To be honest I really don't care to hear what anyone associated with the Bears has to say right now and I probably won't until the offseason. My time is more valuable than that. This team is going nowhere but down the rest of the season and Emery has a lot of work to do to get some guys in here who deserve to wear the uniform and some coaches who can out-think their counterparts and pump some positive energy back into this franchise.
The stink of Lovie's culture of mediocrity was all over this team today and they need a thorough hose-down. The last two minutes of both halves today were just downright embarrassing. I've rarely if ever seen any team finish a game -- and a season -- so weakly.
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and to carry that thought further, will probably be here next year because Virginia won't eat his last year.
Yup. They'll fire Tice as window dressing for the fans and then replace him with some no-name OC who's even worse cause he's the only guy that will take the gig with a lame duck HC.
No...they have eaten the final year before. They just weren't going to eat multiple years. Bye bye Lovie.
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Vikings won today so I believe that pushes us down to 3rd in the division.
What an epic crash and burn. Worthy of total regime change and major churning of the roster as well.
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and to carry that thought further, will probably be here next year because Virginia won't eat his last year.
Yup. They'll fire Tice as window dressing for the fans and then replace him with some no-name OC who's even worse cause he's the only guy that will take the gig with a lame duck HC.
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The o-line has been pathetic all season. Can't wait to hear Lovie's post game comments...
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What a woeful offense from the Monsters of the Midway. We have to resign to the fact that our QB isn't a championship caliber QB and our OC can't outcoach John Shoop.
Lovie will be gone after the end of the season and I'm wondering what candidates Emery has on his list.
Kind of hard for a QB to be championship caliber with a lousy OC calling the plays and a lousy O-line.
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and to carry that thought further, will probably be here next year because Virginia won't eat his last year.
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Right now, John Shoop is making Mike Tice look like a Jr High football coach.
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LOL!!!! How about our WR's just suck like the rest of the team that has quit?
This team has quit on themselves. It's a reflection of their lazy POS head coach. From 7-1 to 8-6 and 8-8 to end the season. Lovie is nothing, he's a useless human piece of trash.
Agreed. He needs to go, and if it was tom, it wouldnt be soon enough. I do hope we go 8-8, better draft pick, because right now that is all we have to look forward to.
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What a woeful offense from the Monsters of the Midway. We have to resign to the fact that our QB isn't a championship caliber QB and our OC can't outcoach John Shoop.
Lovie will be gone after the end of the season and I'm wondering what candidates Emery has on his list.
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That last possession looked a lot to me like Cutler giving a big F*ck You to Lovie. Something to the effect of, I'm not gonna get my azz beat up to save your sorry job anymore.
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I also blame our worthless POS of a WR coach for not teaching our WRs how to push off more discreetly.
LOL!!!! How about our WR's just suck like the rest of the team that has quit?
This team has quit on themselves. It's a reflection of their lazy POS head coach. From 7-1 to 8-6 and 8-8 to end the season. Lovie is nothing, he's a useless human piece of trash.
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So that missed PI on Alshon Jeffery? Not that it would have changed the outcome, but come on man. And some of those others were very ticky tacky. But I am actually in good spirits. I loved the scene of Lovies hiring where he says the number one goal is beat the Pack. He is now 1-8 over the last 9 games. Cant wait to hear him say we are exactly where we want to be tom. Um Lovie, you are now in THIRD PLACE in the division....dumb asxssssss
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Not to mention not challenging the game changing 3rd down pass play on the sideline where the Packers receiver did not get two feet in bounds. The wasted time outs that have been here forever. The list goes on and on. It is time for him to be fired.
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How does Lovie not be all over the refs for those terrible calls? Dumb azz!
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What a pathetic effort at the end. I half expected us to give up a sack or penalty in the end zone for a safety yet.
Good god guys, at least go down fighting.
Just a putrid display for our last home game home this season. I hope the Bears fans still there are letting them have it full-bore, and I'm thankful nobody will be freezing their azzes off at Soldiers these last two weeks to see any more of this garbage.
If that last minute didn't show you a team that has quit on the season I've never seen one.
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This Bears team sucks azz and Lovie deserves to be fired.
However this was the most blatant screwing I have ever seen by the refs. Unreal!
The worst part is Lovie can point to it to try and save his job.
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Joe Buck is such an a$$. How do you move the football when you get called for BS pass interference calls on every big play?
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I also blame our worthless POS of a WR coach for not teaching our WRs how to push off more discreetly.
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I blame Lovie!
McCarthy has been in the refs ear and Lovie never even talks to them.
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OK. This is ridiculous. That ref needs to be investigated to see if he was betting on this game!
I have never seen anything like this before.
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Terrible calls and non calls...
Bye bye Lovie!!!
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Wow.
I haven't seen any rookie get raped by the refs like Alshon has been today.
That being said... Emery needs to spend about 80% of his time and the team's resources this offseason on fixing this offense. Holding the Pack to 21 points is about the best you can ask for but our offense was just unspeakably bad today.
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When you're not a good team you don't get the calls.
Still very questionable though.
That being said the refs have been the least of our problems this game.
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and of course, bears screwed on a penalty. fantastic.
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Another terrible call!
That was one step after the throw!
Unreal!
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Hope they can at least sack Rodgers a few more times since he is gimpy now.
Maybe Goulde getting hurt is a good thing. The Bears were able to grab a decent FA Fg kicker and the Packers need one.
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Cutler missed seeing a wide open E-Rod down the sidelines on that throw he tried to force in to Jeffery.
Seems like he has a real hard time seeing more than one WR at a time.
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Still an 8 point game. No way this team scores a TD and a two point coversion. So basicly still a two score game.
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Boy I'm sure glad we paid Forte
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Twice the Bears are given a gift and twice they squander it. This team sucks so hard.
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The offense has just been a total clusterf*ck today. Embarrassing doesn't begin to describe it.
These are mistakes and mis-execution that you'd expect to see in the preseason... not when the playoffs are on the line.
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BEARS BALL!!!
Serves the Packers right for that dumb azz move!
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bear ball!!!!
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Good god our OL can't even run a simple fu*kin screen.
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Tough game for Jeffery. Rooks aren't gonna get the calls but this seems a little extreme.
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That is a terrible call!
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Well let's hope the O-line can hold long enough to try for some more PI calls. It is our only hope...
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oh good another missed fg. alot that'll do
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Bears torched over the middle all day. Cover 2 is cover nothing
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glad to see lovie looks concerned. gives me confidence.
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We badly need some DTs who can push the guys in front of them out of the way.
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We're fukked!
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Rodgers cherry picking now..
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He has an elite bank account though....
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That is why I don't see Forte as an elite back.
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you don't get squat from the refs when gb is playing. ever
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Exactly Keys.
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Playoff teams get a TD when they are given 1st and goal from the 5.
That's all there is to it.
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Wow what a terrible call. I guess that is the make up call for the first one that went our way.
At the very least it should have been offsetting. Shields had quite a fistfull of jersey
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How can you not get a TD there. This team sucks azz!
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So much failure all over this team.
Very depressing.
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Jesus, a fg? why?
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Wow what a terrible call. I guess that is the make up call for the first one that went our way.
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Very creative play calling there Mike
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Finally a PI call goes our way.
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Wow, we got a fumble recovery...
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The Rodgers love fest! Once again, "Lambeau south"..
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Rodgers is the most arrogant QB in the league. That celebration crap he does is bush league.
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That INT before halftime drained all the positive energy out of the Bears. Up to that point we had a shot but they haven't been the same since.
This team is just mentally fragile beyond belief.
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everybodies on the bus going home. flush everybody down the john
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Jeez, even when there's Rodgers INTs there for us to take we're not getting them.
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Doesn't really matter if they do or don't. They are going to miss the play offs more then likely even if they beat the Cardinals and Lions. Which I find highly unlikely how bad they are playing.
All the receivers not named Marshall are not on the same page as Cutler. Plus the D is just bad.
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Bears lost the game on that terrible 4th down effort on D.
No, they lost this game in the last 3 minutes of the 1st half.
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This team has been a clown show ever since the Texans game.
I wouldn't plan at all on us winning in Arizona next week.
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Bears lost the game on that terrible 4th down effort on D.
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Now it will be a three and out or another turn over.
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As soon as there is a little bit of adversity this team folds. Time for Lovie to go.
That's the same thing I see..
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Officially gotten ugly..
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As soon as there is a little bit of adversity this team folds. Time for Lovie to go.
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The season was over a month ago. What were you watching?
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That's the game and the season folks.
Might as well go out and finish your Christmas shopping.
Look for James Jones to be NFC offensive player of the week now.
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2 4th downs our D has given up now.
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Why are all the DB's bailing out on 4th and 6?
Fire Lovie!
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BTW the Vikings are taking it to the Rams, on the road.
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down the drain she goes boys, down the drain
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Bears are being exposed more and more for what they are: a very average team that is terribly coached.
There are a few players (the usual suspects) whose efforts are keeping this from being a complete blowout but Emery has a LOT of work to do in terms of both personnel and coaches this offseason.
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i wonder if the 4th qtr tank will become the 2nd half tank. Everyone gets flushed at that point.
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well. may as well go down in flames swinging.
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Joe Anderson's special teams tackle was a thing of beauty. I am anticipating at least 4 more Packer sacks, and 1-2 interceptions by Jay before he goes out injured again.
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I think Hester ran the wrong route, or at least not where Cutler was expecting him. But still no excuse. DJ Moore is getting torched, and Rodgers should just always look where he is. And with Carimi going back to RT, I think I saw Clay Mathews with an erexshun on the sideline. Just saying, it is going to get super ugly in the second half.
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I have never seen a team have so many inuries on the O-line in one season. I guess that is what happens when they are getting owned game in and game out.
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When it rains it pours on Chicago.
Watch the Packers score their first possession of the half and the route will be on.
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Typical Bears Lovie BS
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just awful. that int was awful. packers getting 7 was awful. moore needs to sit.
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Perfect.
Carimi back at RT and Spencer out of position at RG.
I'm seeing about 4 Packers TDs in the 2nd half and at least 1 more Cutler INT.
And what makes it all the worse is having to hear Joe Buck gloat about it.
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ok, take a knee and leave.
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23 better run a good one back. better
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Moore's just getting torched every time. Inept.
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And this is why Lovie must go.
How many DOZENS of times during Lovie's tenure have we seen exactly a sequence like this in the last two minutes of a half.
Just fuc*king ridiculous and inexcusable.
A team that makes so many mistakes has no business being in the playoffs.
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I'm upset and I'm not on the sideline. Bears will be down 7 at the half because of either hester or cutler. This is game 14. you cant' get it right in game 14?
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Cutler is really upset about something on the sideline.
But like I said, it's impossible for him not to throw at least one pick a game it seems.
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Looked like Hester ran the wrong route
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just neato super. assclown
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I'm as big a Cutler defender as anyone but that was inexusable.
He even had time.
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FUCKING CUTLER!
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I know the Packers' LT isn't much better than Webb but it's nice to see Peppers abusing someone for a change anyway.
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Need a nice return and get some points before half. The Packers get the ball to start the half.
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PEPPERS!!!
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Briggs is bringing the wood today.
Nice to see the Bears playing hard but just beating the Pack up isn't gonna mean much if we don't figure out how to score some more points.
And yeah, it wouldn't surprise me if we go into halftime trailing.
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I am going to be PO if the Packers score before the half.
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Disastrous series.
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We just can't do anything on the left side can we?
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lovie is such a hole. where's the flag?
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Should have chllenged it. His second foot was on top of the Bears players leg so he did not get it down. Lovie should have challenged it.
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Yup. They're not gonna have to test Peanut much today cause it looks like Hayden and Moore will give Rodgers whatever he wants.
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They miss Tim Jennings...
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That was just an amazing play by them on 3rd and 6
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BOOM!
Nice open field hit on the Kick returner.
I want to see Rodgers get hit like that!
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Awesome run after catch...
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One thing that's standing out to me is that other than the left side our our OL (which so far is a tragedy), this is the most physical I've seen the Bears in several weeks. Offense and defense.
It's also good to see Marshall and Forte stepping up as your studs should.
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7-0 Bears!
Come on D feed off of that and make a big play of your own now!
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Marshall wasn't lying when he said he was going to play this game like it was his last!
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Marshall touchdown!!
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ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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YESSS!
Marshall goes Beastmode.
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TD BEARS!!!!!!!!
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see forte lower that shoulder? here! eat this! bang!
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Nice run by Forte and then 15 penalty yards ...
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F*kkin ref missed a head shot on Cutler totally.
Shoulda been 15 extra.
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Fuucking stupid referee. Call that hit on Cutler!
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Packers are all but giving us this game but we don't have the offense to take advantage.
I'm not sure we'll even be able to score a FG today the way the O is playing.
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Wow that kick by Crosby was horrible!
Haha
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They miss the FG!
Come on Bears make them pay for it with a TD.
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gb clown drops a touchdown and gb misses a fg. huh.
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This season just sucks
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love it when the d lets a team convert a 4th down.
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Webb is complete garbage today.
Guys are just getting inside him whenever they want.
Someone revoke that azz-wipe's Twitter account and maybe he'll start working on his game a little more. He's an embarrassment.
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The OL is horrible.
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That was a fast quarter.
Raji is doing big damage against our OL though.
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If that was a hold on Carimi then they better call it the same way against GB.
Nice play call to get 16 of those 20 yards back.
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Best play call of the game yet on that screen.
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You are just never going to get anywhere with this OL.
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Nice pincer sack by Woot and Pep.
Time for the OL to get their heads out of their azzes. We need points right now.
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well! that was better!
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SACKED!!!
Time for GB to punt again.
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bears offense that bad? see the stat since lovies been here? he shouldn't be fired? btw, bear can't stop the massive gb running attack
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Well that was a huge pile of shiit
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I see the Packers are starting to get a bit chippy out there. They are lucky they did not get flagged for it.
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Man our OL got owned on that series.
Our D is keeping us in this but for how long.
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Let's go Bears!!!
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Bears: LB Brian Urlacher, CB Tim Jennings, WR Earl Bennett, DT Henry Melton, LB Geno Hayes, DE Shea McClellin, QB Josh McCown
Those aren't names you want to see on your inactive list when you're looking at a game this important.
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Nice return by Hester
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Pretty decent pressure we're getting today though.
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Nice stop!
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Another stupid fukking play by the Bears
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Now a ST's fu-ckup
Our players heads arent into the game AGAIN and neither are the coaches.
This is ridiculous.
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1....2....3....First Down Pack!
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well, there not.l
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Stupid azz Garza, cost them points
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Why would I bitch? That was a false start on Garza.
Good start by the Bears until Garza screwed up.
Hope the D came to play as well.
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Que the peke beeching about reffing...
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Along with just about everyone on this board..
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Ditka just picked the Packers to win.
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Inactives:
Packers at Bears
Packers: S Charles Woodson, WR Jordy Nelson, DE C.J. Wilson, RB James Starks, LB Terrell Manning, WR Donald Driver, TE D.J. Williams
Bears: LB Brian Urlacher, CB Tim Jennings, WR Earl Bennett, DT Henry Melton, LB Geno Hayes, DE Shea McClellin, QB Josh McCown
Geno Hayes? Really?
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I think the ONLY reason Emery didnt wack Lovie was because he had TWO years on his contract.
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I have heard multiple callers say on the score and the hosts never refute, that "the Bears will never eat the last year of Lovie's contract." Unless I'm remembering wrong, Wannie and Jauron both had a year left when they were axed and I think Jauron may have had two. He was re-upped after 2001 and Smith's first year was 2004.
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Andy Reid could be interesting. He is well respected around the league and change of scenery seems to be a must at this point.
I would prefer that to someone that has been out of coaching for awhile such as Gruden or Cowher.
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4+ sacks 1+ INT, Bears are who we think they are.
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Any predictions on how many times Cutler is sacked today? And by Mathews? Unless he reinjures his hamstring he is probably licking his chops. I still think this is a win win game. We beat the Pack, and a miracle has happened, that is always good. We lose, and it is just another step closer to launching Lovie.
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This thread has become a who's going to coach the Bears next thread, I thought we played the Packers today?
Is Matthews for sure playing and can we stretch him out a little?
Would love to see the Bears start with the running game and stay committed to it. Set up the pass off of play action, and move Cutler around. I think this is going to be a closer game that many expect.
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Andy Reid could be interesting. He is well respected around the league and change of scenery seems to be a must at this point.
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FU FU FUUUCK IT !
GOOOOOOO BEARRSSEE !!!
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After years in the TV booth Cowher is just Joe Gibbs.
Please hire him.
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Correct, Payton can do that. But I cant imagine the Bears signing him unless he decides to work in his hometown on the cheap. I just dont see it happening. Ya never know though, I could be wrong. But if they launch Lovie with that one year remaining they still have to pay him, which means the Bears will be paying for two coaches so I doubt we'll see an expensive coach. Expect some coordinator.
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Ok, Wshfl is crushing my hopes and dreams. And Payton's contract is up and he can go anywhere he wants I think. ;)
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I would expect so.
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Isn't Payton staying in NO?
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Again, I repeat. Expecting a Cowher, Gruden or a Payton is like expecting the McCaskets to send you a check in the mail. I am 99.44% sure of that. Ask yourself was Lovie Smith an experienced head coach when the Bears hired him? Hmmm? No, he was a defensive coordinator. I would expect a bright up and coming coordinator or a college coach and not a retread coach type.
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I would take Sean Peyton as my first option, then Gruden. Cowher as a third option, maybe I need to rethink this...
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This pipe dream of Gruden coming here is not even worth talking about. Unless he's coming here as a OC!
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I really don't see how Gruden has much to bargain over. The guy has no gig right now..
I liked the Sean Peyton idea...
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I think I am going to try and look at this game as a win/win. If the Bears win, highly unlikely, they beat the Pack and that is always a good thing. If they lose, it just brings us closer to getting rid of Lovie and company, also a good thing. I need something to cling to here.
That's the way I see it..
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Isnt Lovie making something like $5 mil/year? How much would Gruden want to come here? I think the question is control over personnel.
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Historically the Bears haven't hired former HC's but I don't think it has to do with not paying top dollar. I'm pretty sure Lovie is getting some decent coin right now and I expect Tice and Marinelli are as well.
I think it is a couple of things...
Former HC either aren't any better than what you have or they want too much control.
The coordinators haven't done enough yet to warrant the control and are usually happy to get a HC gig and are usually cheaper.
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Offensively, I was really hoping Bennett would return. So his being out is disappointing. However, we should get Spencer back at LG which should be an improvement over Edwin Williams, but I think the last GB game was the one where Spencer lost his job to Rachal. Spencer needs to have a good game to be a part of the Bears' next year.
Tice needs to surprise us with something the Packers won't be ready for. He'll have 3 playmakers in Marshall, Forte and Jeffery...hopefully he'll find ways to get them the ball.
Defensively, its all about the pass rush when you play Rodgers. We have 3 healthy DEs, but Okoye will be pressed into action along with Paea and Collins with Melton out.
Nobody expects the Bears to win this one...well almost nobody.
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D-Line depth is looking mighty suspect if Melton and McClellin can't go. Hope the guys who are healthy are ready to play a lot of reps.
GB OL is a bit of a patchwork operation right now but even when Rodgers is under pressure he's been making plays. And the sloppy Soldier Field footing that's helped our OL hold off other teams' pass rush most of the season may also work against our DL in similar fashion.
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And Melton and McClellin are doubtful. So Rodgers will have ALL DAY to dissect the D. It is going to be a very long day on Sunday.
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Friday: Lovie says Cutler's knee is fine.
Sunday: Cutler inactive for Green Bay game.
Just watch.
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Nice:
Bears coach Lovie Smith said Friday there was nothing wrong with quarterback Jay Cutler’s knee, despite reports yesterday that he had a mild sprain of his MCL.
The Bears have listed Cutler as probable (neck and knee) and expect him to play Sunday against the Packers.
“What knee? Believe me, I know there is a guy that reported that there is a problem with the knee, but there is no problem with the knee,” Smith said, via ESPNChicago.com. “Jay is good to go. We are hoping he’ll play the best game he’s ever been able to play.”
Cutler left last week’s game with a neck problem, but he has insisted throughout the week he’s fine.
The Bears will be without cornerback Tim Jennings (shoulder), middle linebacker Brian Urlacher (hamstring) and wide receiver Earl Bennett (concussion).
“We’re a little banged up, but believe me we have enough guys to play this week,” Smith said.
Defensive tackle Henry Melton (chest) and defensive end Shea McClellin (knee) are listed as doubtful, with neither practicing Friday