Full Court Press

Shall we see who has the Bigger Peter..son???

I swear, the Bears are the worst coached team I have seen in a while. They are at their 2 yard line, and they decide to take the power back out(AP) and put in the scatback.......a place where you need a power runner, they put in a small cut back runner. What's worse is that they try to run up the middle, which everyone knows you can't run up the middle against the Vikings. This begs the question, why would you want your small back to run up the middle, as that is power back territory. Why not run him to the outside where he can get space which suits his running style? It just doesn't make any damn sense.

Beginning to understand the reluctance to start Orton................

Good call Roman. Buy a lottery ticket.

Orton hasn't changed much to me, still throwing at feet, and off target, c'mon, gotta hit Mc Kie. Hope he gets better by the end of the game. Looks like a fuzzy haired John Quinn.

Liked the Kennedy pickup, will fit well I hope.

oh boy, Kyle doesn't look the answer (to anything)

granted, first game.. tough environment..

need more games/data before making any lasting judgments.

but I'm not impressed.

as bad everyone says Rexie is, he's still head and shoulders above this crowd.

Is it me or has Ron Turner run like 37 screen passes this game?!

Is it me or has Ron Turner run like 37 screen passes this game?!

These refs have been paid off tonight! First they call roughing the passer when Jackson barely had one foot outta bounds. Then they refuse to call holding against the Vikings. And then to cap things off, they call intentional grounding when like 15 players were near the ball!

Roman, in all seriousness the Bear's demise is absolutely complete tonight. The future is completely clear. As long as Lovie Smith is the Head Coach and Ron Turner is the Offensive Coordinator this Team is doomed to failure. There is no point at all in continuing the season or frankly keeping the franchise in the league with those two idiots on the coaching staff. They are so bad they make Bob Babich look like a competent coach. As I write this, the Bears just threw the ball on 4th and 1 and missed , what a shock. They are the laughing stock of the league. The Vikings have turned the ball over 4 times and they're still in the game. The Bear's defense has risen up and stopped Adrian Peterson repeatedly only to have the offense go 3 and out every time. Vasher has given the Team a lift. However, even with that the Defense is giving up yards with the miserable "Lovie" 2 Defense that Lovie and Babich insist on using. The Team as a whole is horrible. I can just see Lovie and Ron "Stomach" Turner devising the Offensive Game Plan. "Well we'll throw a lot of screens,short passes, 3 yard outs and safe passes. That way there is no chance we will stretch the field and we will help the Vikings stop the run and make absolutely sure that we will not score enough points to win." Lovie and Turner suck so bad there are no real words to describe them. You can't even tell Kyle Orton is good or bad with what he has to work with. They are so bad that the Jaws, Tirico and Kornheiser are making jokes all game about how bad they are. On TV the Bears just tried another screen and missed, now they tried the screen AGAIN and Wolfe got tackled for a loss. This after they actually gained some yards by throwing down the middle to Berrian and Olsen. Now they call a timeout, I bet Turner wants to try the screen again. This is so bad that it's not even fun writing sarcastic comments about how bad they are. They have become the worst Team in Pro Football, not because of injuries, not because of a lack of talent, not because of a Super Bowl Jinx but because of Lovie Smith, Ron Turner and Bob Babich. Now with 6 minutes left the Defense is worn out and Peterson is starting to get openings. I'm disgusted and sick and tired of watching this disaster. Am I off base or just stating the obvious? Anybody with me?

oRTON couldnt Manage a Wendy's nightime drive up window!!!

Turner's play calling was horrible.

No running game.

Orton doesn't look to have improved that much.

We can't seem to get the ball to Hester or Wolfe in space or to our tightends.

Wasted a pretty good defensive effort.

2008 doesn't look too promising given how many changes we will have to make just to be a competitive team again.

Was it just me or did Olin Kreutz seem to be constantly pushed into our backfield on just about every play?

Uggg-leee.

when you can't move the ball don't expect the calls

Great effort by the defense tonight. Urlacher played a fantastic game tonight. Wow do we miss Vasher. Ron Turner will probably take the heat again tonight but ultimately this team continues to get lots of penalties the ultimate was the 4th an 1 and 12 men in the huddle. The touchdown by Ferguson was again dropping back in that stupid zone Cover no one defense. Great coaches win these games we don't have good coaching. the Vikes will be one and done in the playoffs. Thanks for not giving up in front of the country.

The Bears have to re-sign Grossman. Let him compete against whomever else they want to bring in, but they cannot let him go. Turner on the other hand...I'll buy his one way train ticket out of town.

How bad was John Shoop now that we know how bad Ron Turner is?

The offensive linemen should get the ball as they know how to avoid defenders.

Do the Bears think it's open field tickling or tackling?

Have the Bears become the Oakland Raiders East with their undisciplined play and off-the-field problems?

Lions, Cardinals, Eagles and Bears are eliminated, oh my!

A sign of a good offensive scheme is when any quarterback can come in and be successful. But, in Ron Turner's offense things got progressively worst with each quarterback.

Was he really considered for a head coaching job after last year?

If he was still at Illinois, they would have dropped to Division III.

The Brothers Turner are the biggest con artists in the NFL.

ADIOS RON!

The offensive linemen should get the ball as they know how to avoid defenders.
Posted by: Walter Brzeski | December 17, 2007 11:00 PM

-HA! Good one Walter!

Man ESPN has to be the worst Network to ever broadcast an NFL game-and they don't even have Joe Buck to blame. What was that stupid spoof of a spoof as the intro. Ricky Bobby's sidekick will never be credible as a 'front man'. I think his Ballad proved that.
Boy, Orton had neither an accurate or strong arm. Of course, before we start talking about 'being rusty', we should compare him to Collins of the skins. It just looked Like Kyle didn't care.
Like he did not want to be a member of the Bears anymore. Rex looked more agile bouncing around on the sidelines with his injury,then he does on the field when he is healthy. I am still a Gross man though. Even though he was dead to me at one point.

Hey Julie, I think I found a picture of you. http://chicagoist.com/attachments/chicago_benjy/2007_12_sports_neckbeard_ar.jpg

BTW, your arm hair is showing.

Orton just does not have it. I realize he has not played but he looks exactly like the same QB from three years ago. The fourth and one overthrow of a simple pass was horrible matched only by his throwing to Berrian's outside should while Berrian was wide open on a post pattern. Please spend some money on the offensive line. We have been pushed around all year. don't waste money on a new running back or a QB (unless McNabb is available) Just get us a power blocking line and decent safties as well as a dependable d tackle to go with Harris and we are right back.

DA Bears can stick a fork in 07! Turner has gotta go ! The call that cost the game was 4th & less than one.. Orton goes play action? Turner is a idiot period! Extremely bad offense. Rex was enjoying it thou acting like a ninth grader on sideline! congrats to Vikngs but DA Bears pretty much beat themselves again.Big changes must be made in off season .

You truly can't get a good read on any of our offensive players with this playcalling. That's not to say they are any good, Grossman, Benson, Orton, etc...but with playcalling like Turner gives they stand no chance.

We are so far behind the 8-ball that we are now 3-4 years behind the other teams.

Turner has to go....what has he done? Even in the SB year...the offense sucked. We got to the SB in spite of the offense. If Lovie won't let him go, then Lovie too needs to go.

HO! HO! HO! Maybe it's time for Lovie and Angelo to stand under the mistletoe and kiss the Bear's offense goodbye!

BEAR FANS: WHAT YOU ARE NOW WITNESSING WITH THE BEARS IS WHAT WE WERE SAYING ABOUT THE VIKINGS FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS.VIKES HAD THE RIGHT STUFF BUT WERE UNDERACHIEVING, AND THE VIKES FANS CALLED FOR THE BALDING HEAD OF THEIR COACH. BUT THE PATIENCE HAS PAID OFF WITH A GREAT RUNNING GAME AND A TOUGH RUN DEFENSE. TAVARIS JACKSON MIGHT NOT WIN THAT FIRST PLAYOFF GAME, BUT THE TEAM HAS A GREAT FUTURE, UNLIKE THE BEARS. VIKES COULD USE THAT BEARS FREE AGENT WIDE RECEIVER (WITHOUT THE AGENT).

For the life of me I couldn't understand not calling timeout and giving Devin Hester a chance to tie the game up. If I was a reporter after the game I would ask one simple question with a followup:

"Coach Smith, do you play to win the game?"

"Then why didn't you call timeout at the end to have a punt return with 15 seconds left with the most dangerous return man of all time back to take it?"

"Should you be fired for that?"

YES HE SHOULD!!

I'm with sonnyblack you know lovie smith is not a good coach he just came in and got a good defensive team but couldn't get an offensive guy that new how to run the offense. Ron turner is not the guy for the job he to busy looking cute in the press box.Thats the only coordinator I've seen that sits in the press box and he sucks.The offensive line false starts all game every game and this happens every week I mean what do they practice during the week.The Bears are terrible.In my eyes I like orton,I mean he's better than grossman.If you watched the game,he just made one bad throw and that was the pass out of the backfield,but orton moves around the pockey better than grossman and he threw the ball away when he had a chance to,and I'm tired of listening about managing a football game, that's what they been preaching every since lovie smith came to this team.They need to cut their losses with Turner and bring in a guy like Steve mariucci or veteran coordinator that's already in the NFL and not an unsuccessful college coach who couldn't take Illinois to a bowl. I would stick with orton He's not perfect but he will turn into a good quarterback, with the right coordinator. I'm hoping the bears lose the rest of their games so they could get a least the 8th pick in the draft and hopefully Mcfadden drop that far so they can cut ties with sorry Runningback Cedrick Benson.If not draft a linemen or linebacker because Lance Briggs is leaving with out a doubt now that he's having family problems.I just hope Angelo is smart enough to realize that the bears really need a makeover.But I still believe they can compete in the NFC north next year as long as they get the right pieces, because this division is terrible and you have seen that tonight the way this game was played.The bears had achance to blow the vikings out in their stadium but again they need a coordinator that knows how to call plays on offense and that will teach the offesive line how to stop jumping offsides and how to block.

The Bears played a good game against a great team. I expected them to make a fool of themselfs, but they didn't. The defense played great, but spent too much time on the field and got worn out. It will be interesting to see what changes are made after the season is over.

Lovie smith sucks and Turner is even worse. Angelo as GM is a nightmare. Two years ago, he did not bring an experience quarterback in case Grossman got ingured and we payed for it with 10 horrible games by Kyle Orton. bears suck.

Maybe Lovie and his crack staff should take a hint from George Costanza(Seinfeld)and do the exact opposite of what they normally do. Because if every instinct of theirs is wrong then the opposite would be right. With out any doubt, the worst, most inept team in NFL. We should check from Ted Phillips down the the water boy to find out who is on the Packers payroll. Because that is the only explanation for some of these decisions that we see. It's time for the Bears to step aside in the spotlight in Chi town until they make a serious attempt to live up to proud tradition Chicago demands. Lets Go HAWKS !!!!!

If the Bears return Turner and Babich next year, this teams future is DOOMED. 2 be honest, Lovie does NOT impress me either but I know the Bears don't have the capacity 2 fire him.

this is all the result of the demoralizing effect of GoodRex/BadRex on a contending team. sure, i blame lovie for keeping Rex in there, but Rex is the Hex for the Bears as long as he is with the team.

Prediction: Gerry Angelo will respond with vigor to this dismal season by signing Ron Turner to a 5 year extension. The mantra from Halas Hall will be- "We're a good team that just needs to start playing up to our potential". Bears fans (myself included) expected to begin a long hibernation. In another stunning move, Gerry Angelo trades away 2 first round picks for an aging, over the hill quarterback. Sweet.

Sad, sad, sad. Matt Ryan anyone? Jake Long?

Decent performance from someone who hadn't played in nearly two years and with virtually no running game.

Weren't the Vikings supposed to feast on Kyle Orton tonight? Why was Orton only sacked once?

Ah, Mr. Orton has developed some new tools, namely pocket presence and mobility. Whereas Grossman and Griese are still classic sitting-duck pocket quarterbacks, Orton appears to have learned how to buy time when the pocket collapses. Best of all, he kept his eyes downfield while scrambling.

Sure, he doesn't have a cannon like Rex does, but Tony Romo doesn't have that strong of an arm, either. We're going to see something special against the Saints, just watch.

The good part about this is that the Bears would not have won the SB anyway this year.

Garza, Metcalf, Miller, Hillenmeyer, Arch, Griese, Turner, and Babich all need to be cut at the end of the season, their positions replaced, and we need to go after a very good to great running back, and left tackle(not in the draft). Lovie Smith is on life support now, and Angelo needs to draft a real franchise RB or trade up for one. Just the money saved from these releases should get us a at least two good players.

Orton may not have played all that well, but I thought he looked the best of the three. Very decent showing for his first GAME in two years. "Gives us the best chance to win", get real Lovie, because if that were the case Toeaina AND Orton possibly should have been out there all along. Do these coaches close their eyes, spin around three times, then pick the players? Defense was awesome, Babich could have called a few SAFETY blitzes though, and our safeties played a decent game. The thing that amazes me most, other than our ENTIRE offensive line being CONSISTENTLY thrown into the backfield, is the design of our plays versus everyone elses. Teams seem to always have at least one man open, whereas we usually need a pinpoint throw. Offensive scheme, cover two, or both? Beats me. Beats Green Bay too. With Vasher back, a revived and proud 'D', and Orton with a game under his belt, we got em' right where we want em'. Bears upset last two victims and roll into 08' ala last years Packers. Hopefully the newest members of our offensive line grow REAL FAST, and Turner gets 'lost' searching for Fosse.

Bears gave that one away I dont care what noone says. That game was in the bag at halftime! I guess thats why they play 4 quarters. But it didnt hurt as much because Bears win by losing from here on out.

Orton didn't look that bad, but he didn't seem to have made any progress. I like to watch the demeanor of Rex and Brian on the sidelines and Brian seemed as if he knew he blew it and that this was the end for him and Rex acted giddy like he knew it was the beginning for him. I think we should get rid of Orton and Griese and bring in two STARTING QB's and let REX back them up. I repeat - Rex should have no chance at starting next season unless both STARTERS get hurt. The ONLY reason we keep him is because we can get him for a song and he knows the offense. And I don't care how much experience the new QBs have - time to start fresh at QB. I would prefer a mobile QB and one Veteran. I repeat - only INJURY brings Rex in at 3rd string.

Mommy make it stop!

Did we break the record for the most screen plays in a game?

Top receivers in the game: our AP (8 catches), Hester (4 cathces), Berrian (2)& Moose (2) what the????

Conspiricy I tell you!

Oh and sign Toeaina.

Orton wasn't all that impressive, but I would let him finish out the string. Wrecks got a lot of opptys, even after failing miserably in a number of games. Griese? -- you know what you have in him.

All that said, our offensive game plan needs to change dramatically. You need to throw downfield at least a few times just to let the defense know you can do it. Unfortunately, the Bears/Orton waited until the last play of the game to uncork a long ball.

Can we please diagram three plays each for Hester, Wolfe and Olsen? For Hester and Wolfe, plays that allow them to get the ball with a little space around them? For Olsen, plays that take advantage of his speed anytime a linebacker or strong safety is lined up on him.

Oh, one last thought -- can we get linemen who can block and get them on the field? On one of the screens against the Vikes, the defender (a cornerback!!!!) split a doubleteam block and tackled the receiver. Pathetic.

That performance was just sorry. The Bears offense would have a hard time scoring against pop warner teams. I don't have a clue where the team goes from here? So many areas that need to be fixed...I don't think the team competes for the next 4-5 years.
Just terrible...

Nice to see the reaction of people after one game....same people who believed in Rex for 5 failing years...predictable

Time to give you snippets to ponder...

Kevin O'Connell QB, SDSU

I will enjoy your breakdowns of the draft in the coming months

Hitman:

Why break down the draft? I'm still waiting for the Bermuda Triangle of Angelo/Smith/Turner to illustrate that they have taken one draft choice and developed them into something.

i'm not going to make any excuses for Orton--he missed WAY too many receivers. seeing as i've been his staunchest supporter these past few years, i will admit to being extremely disappointed with his apparent lack of progress as far as accuracy goes--that jason mckie fourth-down throw was infuriating.

hopefully, he's able to pull it together--although i doubt the bears will give him as many chances as they gave Rex. we'll see.

The offense is actually painful to watch. Unfortunately I'm kind of used it though, because our offense has struggled for the last however-many-years (too many). Really, what do we have to do to get a decent quarterback around here? Also, I find it odd that there is so much blame to go around week in and week out, but none of it ever seems to land on Bob Babich. It's obvious to blame the QB, RB and offensive coordinator all the time. Let's face it, offensively we were less-than-stellar last year, and still made it to the Super Bowl. We made it because of our elite defensive play, which has defintely lost a step this year. Urlacher hasn't looked so good as he did last night all season. And clearly we've missed Nate Vasher as well. The season would be salvaged however if we did sweep the Packers. Oh, wait, I seem to remember Roman predicting that somewhere yesterday and I do have philosophy on that. By the way, have you guys noticed that the Bears do the opposite of Roman's predictions every single week?

Anyone else here just fed up?

Orton did not play well, but he needs to finish out the year. It was his first game back and he did play poorly, but one game isn't enough of an audition.

The offensive line was exactly that, OFFENSIVE! Anyone remember Mariotti saying that Kreutz, the perennial pro-bowl center, was not at fault for the fumbled snaps? Well, now there are three QBs this year that had fumbled snaps and ONE CENTER! As Rosenberg said, "DO THE MATH!" And Orton's fumble came on a shotgun snap, in plain sight for everyone to see. The snap was low, hitting Orton on the shin.

Orton did seem to have a little more time to throw on Monday (not that it helped), but the O-line ruined their effort by committing penalty after penalty.

I'm tired...

Headline: Eagles Draft Simpson at MLB

Hitman:

"same people who believed in Rex for 5 failing years"

Rex only played for a year and a half.

"I don't think the team competes for the next 4-5 years."

The Bears will be in the playoffs next year.

Fred Miller shouldn't be here next year.

Can't wait to see Orton's next game.

Bryant:

"They are at their 2 yard line, and they decide to take the power back out(AP) and put in [Wolfe]."

AP is a power running back now? Where have you been all year. Wolfe is more of power back than AP is.

SonnyBlack:

"These refs have been paid off tonight!"

The Bears should've had an offense, period. Bad ref calls or not, the game shoudn't even have been close.