Watch for former NFL veteran Matt Bowen's breakdown of the Bears game shortly after the game's over, and you can send questions to Matt here.
Matt will answer questions periodically.
Matt spent seven seasons in the NFL as a safety and is a former Glenbard West star. He has a journalism degree from Iowa and provides the type of insight and commentary that only a former player can provide.
Was it prudent to let go of Thomas Jones last year?
Why should the Bears keep Grossman?
Matt responds: I think he was let go because of money issues, and that's it. It is obvious he is a special talent, but C. Benson is a top five pick with a big bankroll. Angelo can't allow this guy to split carries with the amount of money he is making, and the same goes for every other high profile position on the field. Unfortunately, money, and not talent, wins out in this league.
As far as keeping Grossman, the verdict is out on this one. If he can lead this team back to the playoffs, and win a game or two in January, then there is no reason not to bring him back. If not, Angelo will be all over the draft and free agency looking for a replacement.
Hey Matt.I wanna know why Lovie Smith insists on dropping Linebackers into coverage when they cant stop the run? I know they run the cover-2 but you need to establish a defence first and that means stopping the run first!Thats how they won last season they stuffed the run and got tons of interceptions cause offenses were forced to throw!!
Matt responds: This is the downfall of the Tampa 2 defense. Brian Urlacher has to drop tp get to the deep middle of the field, and it is also a 7 man front, instead of an 8 man front with a safety in the box. Great teams can stop the run in Cover 2, which the Bears did all of last season.
First, it seems like Daniel Manning as taken a step back in his development, why do you think that is?
Second, why are the Bears struggling to run the ball, minus the Seattle game, is it the players? The coaches? Or both?
i would like to know if the bears still have a chance on making it to the post season?
Hi, Matt,
Have followed your career with admiration (my son also played at Glenbard West).Glad to see your insights here.
One thing that I do not understand is why the Bear corners always play that "outside technique". They line up on the receiver's outside shoulder and are giving them the inside slant every time.
Why wouldn't they take away the inside and force the receiver toward the sideline?
I assume that NFL players know what they are doing, so maybe there is something I'm missing. Can you explain?
Thanks, and keep up the great work.
Rick
Matt responds: This is a staple of Lovie's Cover 2 scheme. Corners align on the outside shoulder of receivers and funnel everything to the free safety. The coaches will live with a completion caught inside the corner, but there is no room for error if they are beaten outside. It also helps when Mike Brown is playing center field for the Bears D. There wouldn't be as many completions with Mike at free safety.
SHOULD WE BE ASKING RHETORICAL QUESTIONS?
Why Cant we line up Hester at Running Back?
like NO does with Reggie Bush
Matt, what's the extent of Ced's injury? That cart is a bad sign - or good, depending on what you think of him.
Bculz, you know that Hester would not make a good RB. He doesn't like too much contact. That's what makes him a great returner. He runs out of bounds too much to be a back. If he can't hit that homerun he gives up on the play. How many times have you seen him run out of bounds when there is nothing to gain? You can't have a back like that. He has to want to make something happen. He moves better in space. A RB gets a lot of hits and I love the guy but he doesn't respond well to being hit.
Matt, aren't the commentators bad or what? I saw grass fly up on the non-catch. Dierdorf always misses plays and tries to give his own analysis instead of what is on the field.
The real question, on the long pass that Arch was covering, why was he playing the outside cover technique(or to cover the behind), was it man? Or was he really expecting safety help on a tight end?
Thanks for all your insights Matt. How would you describe Hester's speed and return ability? Do you think he's just that much faster than everyone else, is it vision of where to run to, or what is it that makes him so good at running back kicks?
When they were showing replays of his runbacks it looked like they were showing them in fast-motion because his legs were kind of blurry. But I think it was in regular speed replays because the other players looked like normal speed.
Does it look as phenomonal to former players as it does to regular fans?
Thanks Will R.Don....maybe you shoulda been the expert on this baby!
Also..i just want to clarify for the record, that my crack about rhetorical questions was aimed solely at KLSS, and not Matt.
OF COURSE LETTING GO TJ, LOOKING BACK, WAS A BAD MOVE, BUT AT THE TIME IT MADE SENSE. NEXT QUESTION.
LOL...feel free to breakdown Archuletta's game...why is he being exposed, if ya will, here in Chicago....as opposed to his days in St Louis...
Where do I have to go to become an NFL expert, Notre Dame?
NFL Expert: In this league, it's all about money; money, and fancy chocolates, and Lamborghinis, and kicking the ball out of the other player's hand when he goes to pick it up.
Did you see that Youtube/story about the Dentist in Phoenix who took his Lamborghini out and did 212mph and set the speed record?
They took it off Youtube and now are trying to arrest him...
uh oh!