Jay Cutler was pressured by a Falcons defense that shut down the Bears' run game.
Yes, the Bears let one get away. The conventional wisdom entering Sunday night's game in Atlanta was that Jay Cutler would have to have a huge passing night and it would take a high-scoring effort for Lovie Smith's charges to prevail in a raucous Georgia Dome.
As it turns out, the defense more than held its own against Matt Ryan & Co., but Cutler could have used a little help from his friends. The running game was non-existent, a fumble and two Cutler interceptions short-circuited drives and nine penalties further gummed up the works. And yet, just like on an earlier Sunday night in Green Bay, the Bears were still in the game in the final minute before failing on fourth-and-six from the Falcons' 10.
Cutler was pressured all night by the Falcons' blitz, but still managed to go 27-for-43 for 300 yards with two TDs and two picks. He hit Johnny Knox on a pretty 23-yard TD toss in the first quarter, and Greg Olsen showed signs that he is ready to break out with a 41-yard reception on a beautifully thrown Cutler pass that set up his 2-yard TD catch to tie the score at 14 with 6:14 remaining.
But with the Bears presenting no running threat, the Falcons' defense was able to focus on stopping the pass. Only 83 yards rushing on 23 carries, a mere 23 on 15 carries by Matt Forte. What has become of the once-promising Forte? The low point of his young career came late in the third quarter: successive fumbles with the Bears perched on the Falcons' 1-yard line. After he recovered his first flub, the Bears went right back to him and he lost the ball again, with Atlanta recovering to keep the Bears off the board and preserve a 14-7 lead.
Too many miscues: In four trips into the red zone, they lost the ball twice and managed only seven points.
OK, so the Bears let one get away. But they were three-point underdogs, and this wasn't a game they were "supposed" to win. So far, the Bears have fared about as expected: Losses in tough road tests at Green Bay and Atlanta; wins at home against the Steelers and Lions, plus a victory at Seattle with the Seahawks minus their starting quarterback.
So what's your biggest concern coming out of this game? Is it the running game? The offensive line? Poor play-calling? Cutler's interceptions? Defensive issues? And how confident are you that the Bears can correct the problems before next Sunday's kickoff in Cincinnati?
Tommy says "Can we officially do away with the notion Kreutz is a top flight center? Every time we run the ball he gets pushed back 3 yards"
TOMMY!!! I've been saying that about Kreutz for two-and-a-half seasons now! He's running on reputation alone! Thank you!
Lovie Smith says "The Bears come off the bus running." Really Lovie? It looks more to me like the Bears are stumbling on the bus steps and falling flat on their faces. WE HAVE NO RUN BLOCKING! Get Frank Omiyale out of there! He is a poor excuse for a guard. Find someone to replace the obviously aging Pace during the offseason. Replace Olin "I'm a Hall of Famer and untouchable because, by golly, my reputation and tough talk blinds Bears management and fans" Kreutz. Keep Garza and hopefully Chris Williams will be able to replace Pace on the left side next year and we can find someone on the right. Oh, by the way, Matt Forte is not the only reason we can't run the ball, but he is not showing me that he has any ability whatsoever to overcome a bad run blocking line. We can't get one stinking yard on the ground when we need it! "Old school" says teams like that aren't good enough to win. Oh, by the way, while Jay Cutler became a gunslinger last night, he kind of had to sling the ball because of this pathetic running game. It's a wonder he almost pulled it off regardless!
Nice job also by the the special teams to allow a 63-yard return immediately after tying the game...timely! 12 men on the field? Stupid!
Nick Roach cost the Bears at least one drive and a touchdown with an inexperienced play call and totally blown coverage on Tony Gonzalez.
Our defensive tackles have no penetration whatsoever. I think it's safe to say that Tommy Harris will never be Tommy Harris again.
Stu, you're also right about the tackling. It seems guys have it in their mind to "strip first, leave the tackling to professionals."
Jay Cutler threw two bad picks, but he is a bona fide, big time QB, the likes of which the Bears haven't seen on their side of the ball in like forever. He makes throws and plays (how 'bout that thirty yard Bobby Douglass-like run?) that only a handful can. I'd prefer to fault his O-line and putrid running game and have them take the major flack on this one. Oh, the Bears might be able to run a little against a poor run defense, but that's seemingly what it would take. That's not a team that "comes off the bus running."
They looked like a friggin' high school team out there with their mistakes, miscues, mismanagement, bad play calling, and so forth, on both sides of the ball and special teams. That performance was embarrassing. Two weeks to prepare and they look like that...that's just unforgivable.
Terrible play calling on both sides of the ball.
They looked like a real Lovie coached team out there.
Tampa Two ... Tampa Two ... Tampa Blew!
The only way Cutler signs an extention with the Bears is if they agree in writing to fire Turner.
The Bears, as like many teams this year, have won their share of games they probably should have lost, but the fact that they outplayed Atlanta in almost every area is encouraging.
Omiyale has to go! If there was one total negative I got from this game it was the play of our left guard. He did NOTHING to warrant a spot on our offensive line.
Turnovers, blown opportunities, missed assignments, stupid penalties. All part of the game. Roach showed his inexperience throughout much of the game, but he's learning on the run.
I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say our offensive blocking schemes, along with the antiquated playbook, may need some adjustment. How is it that almost every offensive player to leave here excels??? Jay Cutler has to work with almost pinpoint accuracy on most plays because they're just not very creative (eg. SCREEN PASSES).
I'm not too disappointed because we didn't get our straps handed to us like most experts suggested, and the 'O' and 'D' played well enough to win. With all the mishaps (untimely penalties, TO's, special teams lapse) we were in the game.
I'm beginning to think Cutler doesn't like Sunday night too much, but considering the success rate of past QB's in Chicago with the Turner and Chooch system, I'll be happy to put all my eggs in Jays' basket.
I saw more positives than negatives, and those subtractors can be remedied.
Go Bears!!!
I'm sorry but my conscience is killin' me.
Ron Turner is the biggest piece of manure in the NFL.!.!.!
I'm sorry but my conscience is killin' me.
Ron Turner is the biggest piece of manure in the NFL.!.!.!
Same failing goal line formation game after game, year after year, first, second, third try, after first, second, third try.
WTF!
I suspected this for a long time. Its our line. Our division is going to stay as it is right now. Bears are the 3rd best team in this division. Our QB is our best asset and we have no protection for him or our running game. Look at our backs - every one of them hurt or underacheiving. And then we have a goofy offensive coordinator and a conservative coach running a conservative defense with one of our best players out. Next year gentlemen. Next year when we are able to get some protection for Cutler. As he goes...we go. And my greatest fear might be realized if Cutler gets hurt. We are one game against Minnesota away from him getting killed and then the season will be over.
Time to forgive Benson and Orton and anyone else who underacheived behind our line - including the receivers. That line might have cost us a Superbowl.
run game and kickoff coverage concern me most
It's only troubling from the standpoint that the Bears had a lot of time to plan for this game, yet they couldn't execute when it counted.
Yes, they played Atlanta tough and on the road, but last year's QB took us on a long drive that resulted in the Bears taking the lead -- also on the road -- before Lovie gave the game back to Atlanta.
If Jay walks on water, as has been suggested on this blog over and over again, then he needs to elevate his game -- and the team's -- in the red zone.
Didn't happen.
That said, it was great to see Olsen finally emerge. Now the Bears need to make him a larger part of their O.
Btw, Forte is looking dazed and confused. Sophomore slump or something else?
not troubling at all. The Bears are better than I thought they were-espec on defense....the offense still is not running smoothly....they need to make people repsect the passing game so they can run....why is forte worse than I thought he was? Garret wolf looked better...dang. Why is Cutler looking like Griese in the redzone?? Because the inexp wr's are pulling up on their routes....no more INTS? Get TO....I rather have him drop a few than to set our qb up for failure.
Well, a lot of my concerns over the team going into this game came to fruition for the most part, but I was dissapointed most with all the mistakes that happened coming off of a bye with 2 weeks to prepare for this team. Just no excuse. The coaching was horrible, everything. I'm not going to single out Lovie Smith anymore until the end of the season because I don't feel like getting into it again with the Lovie supporters always giving him a pass about career regular season records, but most of other assistant guys should be part of the blame as well down to Turner, Toub, Marinelli, etc. Matt Forte - are you hurt or what? Say something because if you ask me, he's not running the same as he did last year. Yes, I understand the O-Line is horrible right now, but regardless, Forte is still not running like last season and the 2 consecutive goal line fumbles are just not acceptable.
I've always said before that it starts in the trenches when it comes to football, the defensive line and the offensive line. I already had my concerns on the def. line and now it makes sense why the Bears acquired Gaines Adams to help out. It seems to me that the Bears themselves know that they have issues on the defensive line as a whole. And then the offensive line ... oh my, I didn't expect it to be this bad. I keep hearing work-in-progress, work-in-progress... well, you know what, we're done with Week 6 already and now it's time to put up or shut up. Enough with Omiyale, get Beekman in there more. Orlando Pace messed up in that final offensive play of the game for sure, but I thought he did alright for the most part against Abraham. If there's anywhere that the Bears must address from here on out, it's the Line on both sides of the ball.
Go Bears
That loss was as frustrating as can be.
Constant mental mistakes. Zero running game. Bad offensive play calling, yet the Bears were still in it till the end! I think that speaks volumes as to how resilient this team is.
I thought the defense played an overall terrific game. Matty Ice was supposed to be able to tear the Bears secondary a new one. It was only on a few plays where I felt that the D broke down.
On the Roddy White touchdown, what was Lovie thinking? He calls the plays, so he should have had his defense prepared with enough corners on White's side.
On Gonzo' touchdown, I thought that Roach just got schooled by a veteran hall of fame tight end. Maybe Urlacher would have been in better position, but I still have faith in the rook' to learn from this game and continue to improve.
What was inexcusable (outside of the not having enough corners on the side of the play) was the late game return which set up the touchdown. Last year, it was a terrible squib kick which did us in, this year its a return. What's up with that? Bears should always have the best special teams on the field.
I don't know where to start on the offense. The line is getting murdered. Cutler is constantly having to throw while back-peddling, no wonder he threw some pics. No running game. Just a mess. Which lineman's fault is it? Hard to tell, the general consensus is that its Frank Omiyale's fault. Perhaps its time to go with Beekman? Some sort of change has to be made, cause right now the offense is tough to watch when you can't score in the red zone.
How troubling you ask?
Enough for me to talk trash and holler, "Hey Lovie, what happened to game management? How come you didn't play it safe and just kicked the field goals when in the Red Zone?" My Bad! You got a Pro Bowl quarterback and he is starting to look like that other loser you started ahead of me. What's is that guy's name? Is he still in the league? Oh yeah, Mental Midget!
DENVER BRONCOS BABY!! It ain't called Mile High up here for nothing. Hey Bear fans what you think of your PRO-BOWL QB now?
SUCKERS!!
Denver by ten points tonight. Bank on it!
Thoughts on the game:
- The vast majority of NFL games are close games - bad teams lose close games, good teams win close games.
- the Falcons kicker didn't miss any FG's, so we had no chance really.....
- Cutler is who I thought he was: he will get you a couple touchdowns a game, and he will throw a couple of picks a game that jump start the other team...so he is a wash as far as game impact
- Lovie cannot adjust on defense within the game. It only took the Falcons two series to realize that the Bears defense can't adjust on the fly and they went no huddle and marched up and down the field. If they had continued that in the second half, they would have scored on every possession.
- The offensive line cannot run block or consistently pass protect and there are no "adjustments" that can be made, other than getting a new offensive line.
- Omiyale is a joke of a guard....he gets no push on running plays and is constantly beaten on pass plays. But he is getting the Grossman treatment by Lovie - keeping his job regardless of the lack of production on the field. This is the typical MO for Lovie. Another poor talent evaluation job by Angelo and Lovie.
- Kreutz is getting pretty close to Omiyale in terms of lack of performance. The nose tackle (or DT) is regularly in the backfield on running plays.
- Williams (RT) whiffs on about half the plays, so he is better than Omiyale and Kreutz.
- Forte needs at least above average blocking to be productive - he doesn't have it.
- By the way, isn't it strange that we didn't need either Benson or Jones as RB's, who are in the top 5 rushers in the entire NFL this year. Another poor talent evaluation job by Angelo and Lovie.
- Imagine where we'd be if we had signed Brees in 2006....we would have won the SB and be challenging every year. Another poor talent evaluation job by Angelo and Lovie.
- Good thing we don't have to play the Vikings for another month and a half, it puts off the pain for a while. Same goes for the Packers.
- I guess the Bears will really have to pick it up to get to that 13-3 record most fans predicted at the beginning of the season. I'll stick with my 5-11 to 6-10 prediction. The second half of the season is gonna be brutal.
************
Folks, nothing is going to change until Lovie and Angelo are gone. Once you accept that, it is much easier to accept the product on the field.
The outcome was completely expected - only thing somewhat unexpected was the fact that nobody ever tackled Michael Turner last night - he ran over and through them every time and the main reason he went down is that he tripped over a few guys already on the ground.
In your prediction blog at the beginning of the season, I wrote that I expected them to lose this game from the very beginning, as you give a similar reference to in the column noting that they weren't supposed to win this one. I think Atlanta has a very solid offense and that they are solid division contenders in the NFC South. My biggest concern with the Bears is still the play calling.
The defense has been alright, even though they still are not where they need to be at in order to win a championship or even get into the playoffs. The offense, with the exclusion of Matt Forte, has been mediocre but good enough to win games. The protection could definitely get better, but they have all lived past every game.
I've got the Bears winning the next two games versus Cincinnati and Cleveland in my preseason predictions, which I have been right in every one so far. So, my opinion could change in these next two games if they do what they are supposed to. But, I just never have liked Lovie as a play caller. In every game, there has been too many instances where I have looked at my screen and thought to myself "how do you call a play like that in that situation?". The coaching staff really needs to step it up and get some continuity going. While the players, especially Forte, get the bulk of the criticism from the media, I really think the coaching staff has gotten off very easy considering their lack of talent, in my opinion.
At least the Bears don't have Jim Schwartz calling the plays, though. I was dying from laughter watching the Lions game yesterday.
This is for Gig: Dude, don't you sleep? Your comment was longer than the article. Are some expert on coaching? I don't believe so.
concern? A 1-4 team is 3-2....for the moment...Are you all starting to figure out what "Jerry Jumped the Shark" means yet?
Jerry and the Yes Men are about to be Canceled..
Angelo dug himself this hole with his loyalty to his ego (and ego's don't check boxes, either)....Then, "to make up for it"...he got rid of people who 'got him there'...didn't get anything in return for it....Then...to make up for that...He mortgaged the future....Then to "accessorize"....he takes a page from Daniel Snyder's worst selling book, and slams a bunch of people in places (just plug it in...it'll work)....and all of this....Ready?..... that's why Lovie was hired.... (ie..Rex is our QB?)...because he'd tow that crap hole of a company line...
Haven't you ever wondered why X Bears are still in the league "starting" for other teams?...let me answer for you..."There is competition in camp when the Coach and his staff have a pair"
The best players don't play in Chicago...haven't for years....and why I love watching them fail....and Jumping the Shark didn't impress me when Winkler did it....
The Luck is Running Out...
and don't be surprise when Cutler gets carted off....he's taking a beating and there isn't an answer
Bears have two basic problems. (Well, besides the fact that the D-line can't get consistent pressure on QBs.)
-- O-line: can't protect Cutler efficiently and CANNOT open holes between the tackles for Forte. The guy at least needs HALF a hole to run through.
-- Offensive coordinator. The rumblings over the past few years have finally become fact: Ron Turner is too predictable calling plays. He's calling an offense for a college team, where basic plays can make the difference due to the quality of man-to-man matchups, which is much lower in the NCAA.
As Dan Hampton said last night after the game, Turner is playing checkers while the defenses are playing chess.
It's time for the Bears to contemplate getting a new OC.
I would also seriously consider letting Cutler call his own plays for a quarter just to see what happens. Couldn't be any worse.
People!!!!
Please, please, PLEASE stop with the, "If we only get rid of Turner, everything will be better" mantra....
Some Questions:
When the offensive line caves in whether you call a run or a pass, just what miracle plays do you think the offensive coordinator is supposed to call?
What match-ups are we supposed to "exploit" when the QB is running for his life on passing plays and defensive ends and tackles are running around in OUR backfield on running plays?
Some Answers:
When you draft legitimate professional football players (unlike Angelo) you can actually call effective plays.
When you sign effective free agents (unlike Angelo) you can actually call effective plays.
When you draft (or sign) quality backup players (unlike Angelo) your offense can overcome injuries, and you can actually call effective plays.
When you remove ineffective players from the field (unlike Lovie) you can actually call plays with productive players who don't just keep their jobs because the coach or GM likes to see "their guy" play.
There will be no permanent answers until we have major changes at the top - well above the offensive coordinator level. Although I would welcome a firing of the defensive coordinator....not until after the 2011 season I'm afraid.
After I finished swearing at the TV and calmed down, i have to say that this game was not a disaster. In week 12 it would be, but not now. They indeed are about where they should be. They almost beat a contending team, away, while playing poorly in a couple facets of the game: running and special teams of course. I think how one feels about the team now depends on whether you have confidence in the coaching staff and the players to keep working and fix the problems. I'm guardedly optimistic. Who would have thought that Cutler and the receivers would be carrying the offense? Also, notice how Favre (I hate to bring up his name) is playing with a balanced offense before you get on Cutler. I agree that Kreutz is pretty much over the hill and and I hope Forte can get his confidence back. Lastly, Turner should be able to get an RB into space a couple times a game. He keeps beating their heads against the wall.
The offense the so-called coordinater Turner uses is useless, he would and has failed at every level.Has he ever heard of a play action pass ?..I have no idea what Angelo and the management of the Bear`s are doing anymore...First they let Ron Rivera go, after the "D" took us to the super bowl DESPITE Rex...then they continue to let Ron Turner even in the vicinity of a pro football organization..He failed miserably in college, and HE is calling our plays? Orlando Pace should be a mentor, not a solution to the "O" line...and if Jerry Angelo can`t or wont do the job to get this team back to prominence,I think it`s time for the McCaskey family to either sell, or bring in some one that actually knows talent...
click or paste the link: http://www.chicagobears.com/team/player.asp?player_id=210
Why is this guy not starting on the other side of Johnny Knox? I thought the other Devin was more of a legit receiver than the one we paying all the money to presently. He is listed on the rooster.
At least give the QB some big targets to throw to.
Something smells and it ain't Bear meat!!
We need a middle linebacker with experience and Derrick Brooks is just sitting there. As Mike Ditka use to say and probably still stating, football ain't Rocket Science people.
Hey Bears management GO SIGN DUDE UP!
Roach is good but it takes time to become that ferocious middle linebacker we are used to.
The game was lost before we got to 4th and one and then 4th and six. Lovely was not going for the two point conversion for the win if we scored a touchdown. I know I spelled his name Lovely.
By the way, this friendship crap ain't working between Olsen and Culter on the field. It should transcend into touchdowns or a bunch of first downs at least. THEN BOOM! Throw to Johnny Knox or Hester for Touchdowns or long plays. Wait a minute! Where is the other Devin!?
By the way, was that a touchdown Knox caught? I am not questioning the man's abilities but was that a touchdown people? Be objective!
ok i hate that i agree with everyone here RON TURNER IS GARBAGE he need to go to college ball where those schemes have a small chance of winning games ok this guy is atrocious and im sry but Lovie u better pick up the defensive play calling cuz now us bears fans no exactly who to blame when we give up a touchdown in the final 5 min of a game. No more stupid halfback dives for FORTE!!!!!!!!!!!! and Omiyale was a horrible employee to even bring in the first place cut him now!!!!! why would the bears sign Frank Omiyale cuz he started 2 games for the panthers jesus christ why dont we jus hold open tryouts for the bears then so we could have every fat failure try out. The bears will never be able to take it to playoff teams with our coaches so im sorry Jerry Angelo i know it seems like us as Fans are asking for sumthing every year but we could have all the super stars on the team we want but with out good schemes and good coaching they will sck jus like the bears suck this year
John F., you need not be an ex-offensive coordinator or ex-QB to see that the plays are basic, to say the least, and you need not 5 seconds to throw quick slants, deep sidelines or passes to the backs over the middle, of which few or none materialized.
Cutler had time to throw on many a pass, and the line held for a good part of the game, but even so, as you say, the line was ineffective; throw a damn quick slant, or a double screen, or a sprint draw, or a hard cadence, or a no huddle; SOMETHING!
Change the pace, give something to the 'D' to think about, get creative!!!
It's his job to create with what he has, and work to balance against the weeknesses, and enhance the strengths. He's shown no such thinking.
Please, please, please take the blinders off. Yes, the line is having difficulties, but the eyes in the sky are the creator, and he leaves his seeing eye dog at home way too often!!!
I must warn you that this post is quite long but somewhat needed. So read at your own risk. Don't cuss me out after taking the time to read it in it's entirety....I'm going to make it a habit to sleep on these games and to post almost 24 hours after it's over so I can be objective. Ok, almost 24 so here goes: kneejerk reactions as expected. I knew that if we lost that the play calling on both sides would be questioned, Rivera's name would be brought up and the Lovie can't coach statements would come around. Only after a loss does this happen. C'mon, I was mad that Pace fell off-side but do fans know how hard it is to hear the snap count near the endzone? Tackles make the most false starts because they are farthest from the center and QB. No they can't look at the ball. If that was all that was needed then there would never be a snap count. Coach Smith call the plays but it's up to the MLB to get everyone in the proper spot. This guy is only starting his 3rd game as the MLB after starting a few times as an OLB. Why do you think Hillenmeyer is around? He knows from experience. The last time Urlacher was out we didn't win any games because of the inexperience of his back up. At least we've won some this time around and there is still hope. Frank I'malowmanonthetotempole is a very bad guard. Why is he blocking a guy who is being blocked by someone else and letting a guy who is free tackle our guy? He has no football smarts. Maybe his inexperience is showing as a starting guard after being a tackle? I've met him and he seems like a nice guy. And that seems to be his major problem. He's too soft. At least Olin is a bit ornery. Even though he's getting his butt kicked on every down. And special teams. That's what happens when you lose guys who are basically special teamers and make them starters. Or lose one of your best to injury like Peterson was. Something suffers. It's a little of the win some/lose some school. It happens. Now why is it that I haven't seen any clever people mention how Cutler gave the Falcons momentum after both his INTs. Each time the defense came away with a 3 and out and Cutler threw a pass where he shouldn't have. Talk all you want about what the line doesn't do but he had all the time in the world NOT to throw an INT. He was not pressured either time. WRs didn't break off their routes. Hester and Olsen were doubled and tripled both INTs. Give the rest of the team a break. If it was any QB in the past who did that his name would've been mud. Face it: he choked and the rest of the offense knew that he was going to implode again. They were like people with low self-esteem who was going to get dogged again. And I'm not going to blame him for Forte. How can you fumble twice two plays in a row? Does he owe a lot of money to a bookie because he had absolutely no desire to score last night. When I see little Wolfe drag someone( I mean really drag someone) 5 yards on his back trying to get a first down that's the difference to what I haven't seen from Forte. He's hurt but don't want to admit it or can't because we have no else but Wolfe to run the ball. I'm seeing no heart from the guy. Put the blame on the play calling all you want. I saw a guy who everyone says can't play intercept a pass on practically the only play he was out there. Welcome back, Vasher. Coaches aren't killing us. What we have on the field is doing that. When will someone say that Knox has speed but his hands are suspect. Either after a TD or when the ball is in the air. He drops too many passes that WRs are supposed to make. The hard ones, especially. I'm not saying flash in the pan but he is up and down. We're too busy reliving his moments of brilliance to see that he is not a complete WR and we really need one to make a difference. This is a team with a mixture of young and old players and it may be week 6 but they are still coming around and will make mistakes. I hate to single guys out really but I wanted someone to stop blaming the usual supsects. Bye weeks can slow progress as well. we thought we were getting guys back healthy but lost another one, again. Sorry no more long posts from me. I'm trying to stop around the time the little blue bar is stretched. Just had to get this off my chest.
Thank goodness that you cant fool everyone all the time. Ron Turner job was being protected all these years by these different trades. Ron Turner could not go where all the ex bears went and succeed. He is the worst OC in the NFL. Until the bears fire him, they are not going to make it 8-8 series.
William, it's very smart to wait almost 24 hours to get an objective handle on things. Granted, my own just-after-the-game passion has dwindled some, but only a little. I'm ready to give the rookie a break at Mike LB for example. I also can forgive the special teams for one bad game. They've been counted upon for ages and have delivered. Also, your points about Cutler's INT's were well taken. No, I only believe that one person ever truly walked on water and he was a different J.C. My point in excusing Jay is that he's got to know that he has no running game and it is rare when he gets safe pockets to throw from like Kyle Orton regularly gets in Denver.
I know Cutler threw bad INT's, but when you factor those facts with the notion that he's better at his position than most of our other players are at theirs, Cutler simply cannot be my focus of frustration. Fix some of those factors and I'll give this J.C. as much grief as anyone.
Nice objective insights nonetheless. Good post.
WTF...play calling? That's what you people are blaming it on? Play calling? Really? What do you know? For all we know,Turner is working on some dynamic,never seen before,unstoppable offense. He is actually.
It's called EXECUTION! If you are going to be typical,the world is out get us us, Chicagoans, then I will be a typical outsider, and say
go feel sorry for yourself and your 'stuck with Lovie and Turner' chip on your shoulder on Briggs' blog. Here, just shut up and cheer.
The Bears are awesome! They are only going to get better. There are no
'moral superbowls', so who cares about 'moral victories'-which is all
you would get,if you got different coaches, and/or different play calls. It don't matter if you can't execute consistently. The Bears are growing, cherish this moment. We are seeing something special develop.
oh...and one more thing.....Boy,the Raiders are terrible.
Keith...
Orton didnt take a team to the SuperBowl...that was Rex!
Orton SUCKED A DING DONG on the sidelines that year.
Still, we went down to Georgia, and we were in it till the end and we held Atlanta's hi powered offense to next to nill for 3 quarters..and basically made the Next Peyton Manning (according to Colinsworth and Co) look like a confused sophmore QB. It wasnt until we started puking the ball up in the red zone that Atlanta caught any wiff of momentum...and then we still had a chance to tie the game in the final minutes.
Since some of us like to deal in shoulda's.
We shoulda won this game 28-14 and been outta there before midnight.
But, our LINE SUCKS. That much is obvious. They were jumping off sides like a buncha F's and Fairys (Revenge of Nerds line).
And...well...i would still say we are top 4 NFC teams and top 8 NFL teams.
I dare you to name 7 teams that are hands down better.
I would say Minn and NYG maybe....are hands down better....and maybe NE and the Colts.
There is no way you can say anyone else in the league would be gaurenteed a win against the Bears.
So the QB who Lovie thought was only good enough for 3rd String behind REX GROSSMAN AND BRIAN GRIESE, two sure Hall of Famers is 6-0 in Denver.
The difference between playing for Denver than playing for Chicago?
1, A REAL Head Coach not a weak willed, brainless, no talent, no leadership, no football knowledge or coaching ability like Lovie the loser!
2, A REAL Offensive Coordinator not that pathetic loser, Ron Turner. He sucks so badly that he makes Jim Zorn look like an offensive genius!
Lovie isn't even a capable Defensive Coordinator. What great defense did he ever run? Has he ever seen the no huddle? Thank God he was calling the Defensive Plays otherwise Tony Gonzalez might not have scored a touchdown and the Falcons would not be 4-1. With him calling all the plays Minnesota is a shoo-in to win the NFC North and Green Bay gets the Wild Card Slot. They will be 4-0 vs the Bears.
As I've been saying for years. Lovie and his staff are the problem, not the players.
Until Lovie is gone the Bears will be gone from the Play-offs.
McCaskey, wake up!!! Hire Bill Cowher or Mike Shanahan now or watch your Bears become the Chicago Cubs of the NFL!!!
Sounds like people are starting to get wise about lovie and turners act and about angelo's flimflams.
The bears are starting to look like the old Tampa bay teams, you know the ones that were hopeless losers. Angelo has proven he is incompetent at building through the draft, unless you like gambles on bargain injured players like tommie harris or bradley, and late round wonders that are considered a success if they can get on the field.
Until the owners wake up and realize they are getting embarrassed and hoodwinked there is little hope for improvement.
I picked the bears to go 10-6 or 9-7, they have a really easy schedule. I thought they would maybe tie with green bay but miss the playoffs on tiebreakers. They still might reach that but there is no way this is a playoff winning team, or coaching staff. Two weeks to get ready for atlanta and the bears look like that? And what did lovie have to say for himself? Who knows he is so incapable of explaining or expressing any emotion it is impossible to say. He does look over his head doesn't he?
Angelo should be fired for making Lovie one of the highest paid coaches in the league. Lovie's defense doesn't work and he knows nothing about offense. Good luck with that Bears.
The people of Green Bay thank you for being so tolerant and supportive of this collection of incompetents! Just thank god for Detroit, and they are closing on the bears fast! That game in detroit may be an upset that will make this loss to Atlanta seem like a good effort. Wait and see...
Leonard
I also have the Bears going 9-7 mostly because of concerns about the o-line and the space between Cutler's ears. Neither concern has been alleviated (yet).
Old, slow o-lines do not improve over the course of a season. They get older and slower.
Cutler has played okay, but we have the same record as in 2008 after five games -- and last year our opponents were much tougher thru the first 5 games.
Culzie - DEFENSE took the Bears to the Superbowl. Rex was riding on the SB-EXPRESS with the Offensive line. BTW, I was refering to the O-LINE when I said "that line might have cost us a SB". Rex was goofy too, but if that O-line gives him and Griese some blocking, who knows what might have happened. I'd like to imagine a happy ending for the Bearzs!
Culzie - DEFENSE took the Bears to the Superbowl. Rex was riding on the SB-EXPRESS with the Offensive line. BTW, I was refering to the O-LINE when I said "that line might have cost us a SB". Rex was goofy too, but if that O-line gives him and Griese some blocking, who knows what might have happened. I'd like to imagine a happy ending for the Bearzs!
Obviously, Culzie, you didn't watch the Giants/Saints game. Giants got beat pretty bad. I never have faith in them. They get hurt somewhere on their defensive line every year and get worse by season's end. The Saints have renewed vigor with Sharper at saftey. Same thing with the Broncos and Dawkins. Letting Mike Brown go is still haunting us. Alfalava had fits with Gonzalez that Brown probably wouldn't have. Growing pains in abundance. I can not see why so many people are comparing Orton and Cutler. Either you believe it was a good trade and go about your business or you are feeling a little duped that you held so much faith in Cutler. Maybe blaming everyone but him for his mistakes will alleviate some of that doubt. Orton was a decent QB who won games in a dull and mundane fashion and a lot of people wanted him to be Favre because that's who we hated the most over the years. They say the opposite of love is hate and you guys would love to love someone like the one you hated.