UPDATED: 'Winning ugly' in more ways than one

Look, I didn't see the game. However, I saw that the O-line allowed four sacks and really didn't set the world afire with its rushing attack particularly noteworthy as they couldn't punch it in late against the Brown's granite wall.

Yeah, they had takeaways and that's typically how the Bears win on defense. It also sounds as though there's still no up-the-middle penetration on the D-line. What a sad mess that is...can't wait for the Vikings to make mincemeat of that attack.

My friends, please don't allow yourselves to get too excited about this win against what could well be one of the worst football teams to "grace" the gridiron in recent times. I'm sure the Bears brass will say things like "This is something to build on" and so forth, but I'm not impressed. We've discussed over the years as fans that perhaps the worst place state to be in is the state of mediocrity. Yes, it's actually better to be very bad in a sense as hard as it is to admit. We're just a game over .500 since the Super Bowl after this affair. How much more mediocrity do you want? Mediocrity tends to remain in mediocrity. When people say the NFL stands for Not For Long, what they're really saying is that teams like Cincinnati have a legit chance shortly following outright putrification.

The O-line is horrid and may well eventually lead to the death of one Jay Cutler. If that extremely sad scenario should unfold, how is Caleb Hanie and a few late round draft picks going to get this team turned around?

"We like our O-line...we'll go from there."

I'm seeing now why the Bears let Berrian walk. Boy did the Vikes ever overpay for that guy. He's as soft as a marshmellow.

In fact, his best move is waving his arms and crying to the ref for a pass interference flag.

Lololololololololol.

Good riddance.

nothing's changed...6-10 team...7-9 at best....now, let the beat downs commence

Shaun Rogers finished with 1 tackle and 1 assist; and 16 tossed centers and guards. Unbelievable.

If I'm Turner my offense would be dominated by quick slants, play action, misdirection and getting the ball deep to Hester and Knox at least 4 times. That's why my name is Navarro. Cutler has no time to throw, Forte and the line whiffed on more than a few blocks, and the no huddle may have slowed down their defensive coordinator. We have to be the least creative team in the red zone this side of the west of the Nile.

After watching Favre pretty much assure an advanced ticket to the Pro-Bowl, I'm hoping this offense can turn some type of corner. The wildcard still looks attainable, regardless of what some people think, but there's a reason we start slow and have trouble in the end zone, and it's not just a single solution.

I can't even say a wins a win at this moment, but the 'D' had some moments, bum opponents or not. Cincy scrapped to beat this same squad, so I'll just look for some type of turnaround.

Just as long as it's not Kruetz and company after being steamrolled by the 'D' line!

And on a happier note:

How was YOU'RE day Hitman?

I hear your boy is moving up in the world, from coach abuser to wife beater.

WTG!

Great win. Great coaches always bounce back. Just like Lovie did.
Jay is still not checking down....looking to force things down field.....and then getting sacked. He missed Forte wide open on 3 of the 4 sacks. That is what is missing...check down. We have to get rid of some of these negative Nancy's that call them selves fans. Great
win today....and we can smell the Cardinals falling apart.

I saw the Bears take 4 attempts at punching the ball in from the goal line against the 30th ranked run defense in the NFL.... and not get it in.
That speaks volumes right there.
Orlando Pace looks dead by the way.
I was against the Bears keeping Wolfe on the team but now I think they should give him more carries because he is the only back they have who can get around the corner.
There is nothing open at all running up the middle and they can't keep anyone off of Cutler's back either. Impressive.
If they can't run the ball against the Browns sorry defense in perfect conditions what is in store over the next two months with the opponents and the weather both about to get nasty?
Put in two TEs and have them both block while Forte becomes a receiver because this is clearly not working.
This was a win against a really bad Browns team and nothing more but I am sure that Lovie will spend the week with a snotty smirk on his face while dealing with the media.
I wish they would either press him for real answers or just ignore him altogether.
The Browns have the worst offense in the league but in Lovie’s mind his wonderful Cover-2 saved the day. Only the Rams have scored fewer points than the Browns this season.
The Browns turned the ball over time after time but in Turner’s mind his fantastic play calling racked up 30 points. Only the Rams have given up more points than the Browns this season.
Hey wait! The Bears play the Rams December 6th so we can look forward to that one!

I dream of the Bears cleaning house with this coaching staff yet this never ending middle of the pack routine keeps them believing that they are close and only need one more year to get it right… one more year… one more year…. one more year….

Stuck, or should I say "Positive Patsy,"

You are truly what an owner dreams about having for a fan. Ever positive about your team...ever "it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings"...ever "wait 'til next year" if it doesn't quite pan out. If I were to have the money and desire to buy a team, it would be my hope and prayer that fans such as yourself were following my product at all cost. I'd be able to line my pockets with your money while you continue on merrily ever after regardless of reality. I really wouldn't be held accountable because, after all, a "real fan always supports his team, his management, his ownership regardless." I'd have no worries whatsoever. I could bumble my way through my "craft" as much as I choose.

As P.T. Barnum once said "There is a fool born every minute."

Agree with Gig. Greatest fear is that Cutler is going to get himself killed. After watching the Vikings invade Mr. Roger's neighborhood, the Bears might be featuring Caleb Hanie. Keep the tunnel clear and a warm bed at Northwestern Hospital. And somebody might want to find out what Cutler's blood type is.

Gig,

The quote is actually "There is a sucker born every minute".

Either way you and KTLSS are 1,000,000% correct!!

"Stuck" is apparently drinking the Lovie-JA-McCaskey Kool-Aid. When you call a victory over the Browns "A great win" or suggest that somehow Lovie is a great coach something is terribly wrong with you.......or you are hitting the crack pipe hard.

Today's game illustrates even more vividly what a miserable coaching staff the Bears have. They are going to get Cutler killed, no doubt about it. If he wasn't such a good athlete, he would be in a hospital bed right now. Can anyone even remember a play this year when Cutler had pocket protection and could actually set his feet and step into a throw? Or had a decent play call to work with?

If this staff is not fired he is going to suffer a career-ending injury and it will all be Lovie the Loser and that piece of s__t Ron Turner's fault.

I used to want them fired so a real coach could be hired and make the Team a winner.

I can see now that was very selfish of me.

Now I realize that not only the player's careers but their very health and physical well being depends on that dumb SOB Lovie being fired.

Wake up McCaskey's and fire the entire staff now!!!!

At least you'll save money in player medical expenses!!!

"As P.T. Barnum once said "There is a fool born every minute.""

Actually. I think he said, "There's a sucker born every minute"

But really he meant "Stucker".

Off on a tangent:

So Favre stuck it to his old boss. You've gotta love it. Ted Thompson decided that the main draft pic of his regime deserved to be in the spotlight, and he wasn't going to wait any longer. He used Favre's hesitence to justify the change.

Ted is now learning what a virtue patience can be.

Right or wrong, correct or incorrect, if the Vikings make it to the promised land their GM comes out looking like an idiot. And hoisting the guy who canned you on his own petard is a beautiful thing.

Nothing says "I told you so" like winning a Super Bowl.

VILLY - be careful, you are starting to sound like me!!! Packers are guilty turning the page too quickly and not giving that man his EARNED and DUE respect. My heart goes out to the guy that gives his all and then you spit in his face. Farve EARNED the right to have them carry him off that field. They had a green and gold rocking chair custom designed for him without so much as asking him, and the Vikings did their best to put Rogers in that chair. Vikings were firing off that D-line with such fury - I thought I was watching Brave-Heart! And for me it was glorious come-uppance! I rooted for the VIKINGS and it looks like I have to ride that train in the NFC because the Bears are not going to the playoffs. They are the 3rd best team in our division. Pack is better than us. Bears should have scored 40 - not just because I predicted as much, but because the Browns gave them almost 21 points and they came back with 30. That was the tale of the tape yesterday.

I think you folks are too hard on the Bears.

After all, with the Rams and the Lions still to play, they are guaranteed at least six wins this season.

I had them winning 9 games and now I'm not sure if they are going to make that.

One last thought... as much as a beat down as the Ravens put on the Broncos yesterday, Orton's QB rating was still higher than Cutler's.

Go figure that one out.

Early prediction for Bears-Cardinals:

Weather is sunny: Cardinals 20-Bears 17
Crappy weather: Bears 10-Cardinals 7

Looks like our best offense (again) is to force teams to kick to us.

Way to go, Lovie, Ron, Jerry and the rest of the collective Bears "brain-trust."

Da Bears won but was lousy doing it. But regardless of how terrible another team is, they are still playing professional football. I never ever expect another team just to lay down and get rolled over. Therefore, this past Sunday's game was a hard fought one, considering the butt-whupping given to our team the previous Sunday before this one.

I got a question! Is our elite QB starting to look like the rest of the QB(s) who have played for the Bears over the last twenty years?

I know we gave Orton and Rex a lot of criticism, but be objective and view Cutler's play in contrast to the other two previous QBs. Jay Cutler does not look any better than the other two.

Yes, blame it on the play-calling but he is starting to look like an average QB.

Though Denver lost yesterday, I know Orton has to be one happy QB and Cutler wishes he had shut his mouth and stayed in Denver!

I do not see screen passes, check-downs, quick passes to the sidelines nor over the middle to the supposedly faster tight end Olsen or to either tight end for that matter. If the pass rush is coming full steam, what has happen to the quick out or screen pass to Forte?

I am okay with yesterday's win. The Browns may be a terrible team, but it is still a NFL professional team and I don't expect any team to lay down and get beat to a pulp.

That was the problem I had with last week's lost!! People two weeks in a row, the offense has basically stunk. The defense played well yesterday. But when the defense was off its game against the Bengals last week, OUR OFFENSE SUCKED TERRIBLY, like it did yesterday.

Our so-called elite QB is NOT looking ELITE playing with the Chicago Bears. Blame coaching, play calling, management, too much candy the day after Halloween, or Cutler trying to do too much on his own, but he is starting to look very average out there.

I'm having a great day, Villano...thanks for askin

But here is the main thing regarding the G.B./Minn. game.

After looking pitiful in the 1st half and getting sacked SIX times, Rodgers and the G.B. offensive co-ordinator solved the Vikings pressure and blitzes well enough in the 2nd half to put up 257 yards passing and THREE TOUCHDOWN PASSES.

Anyone who watched it, saw Rodgers get an all-out blitz from both sides in identical fashion in which Cutler got sacked, but get it the pass away in plenty of time to a guy named Havner, who hardly ever gets on the field, for the 2 yard TD.

Bears should petition the league to simply take 2 losses from the upcoming Viking games rather than risk Jared Allen killing Cutler.

Bears O line and receievers are worst in league...simple. Kreutz gets worse every game.

Looking like 8-8 at best.

Seedy sez: "One last thought... as much as a beat down as the Ravens put on the Broncos yesterday, Orton's QB rating was still higher than Cutler's."

Here's the way I see it: While Orton may lack the physical skills that Cutler possesses, he more than makes up for it by being extremely intelligent.

He's smart with the ball, never rattles, and most importantly, he knows when to fold 'em. He has the type of composure on the field that Rex could only dream about, and why the coaching braintrust was unable to figure this out is beyond me.

Nevertheless, if Cutler were still in Denver, he'd also be riding high right now. He punched his own ticket to a locale where quarterbacks and wide receivers have come to perish since the days of the leather helmet.

Ron the Embalmer, and Lovie the Undertaker will assure that his career rests in peace.

Thoughts on the game:

- The Browns are bad
- Actually, the Browns are REALLY bad, especially on offense
- We still can't run block effectively
- We still can't pass protect consistently
- 20 of the 30 Bears points came off turnovers
- The Browns are much worse than I thought possible
- The Bears have no offensive or defensive identity at all, they just throw stuff at the wall and see what sticks

I predicted a Bears win 23-19 and was looking good on the Bears side until Peanut did his magic.......or should I say Derek Anderson did HIS magic.....

Where I was WAY off was overestimating the Browns offensive capabilities. They ran a little but Anderson reminded me of Grossman in the second half of 2006. I could just hear Lovie saying, "Derek is our quarterback" in a ghostly tone.....

Well, now the real pain starts. I predicted the Bears to be 4-3 at this point before they really start getting hammered - beginning with the Cardinals next Sunday.

My remaining predictions (from the original 9/8/09 post) go like this:

vs. Arizona Cardinals = Loss
at San Francisco 49ers = Loss
vs. Philadelphia Eagles = Loss
at Minnesota Vikings = Loss
vs. St. Louis Rams = Win
vs. Green Bay Packers = Loss
at Baltimore Ravens = Loss
vs. Minnesota Vikings = Loss
at Detroit Lions = Loss

That's 5-11...assuming my 49ers and Lions(away) losses, which is probably overly pessimistic. If you toss those back into the win column, 7-9 at best.

Given what I have seen so far, I will stick with what I originally predicted.....

Come on, Tim... this is the BEARS football team we are talking about.

They only play their high draft picks or extraordinarily expensive free agents (ie, players like Archuleta, Omiyale, Harris).

They don't play people who hustle, play hard, complete assignments and are productive members of the team (ie, players like Havner).

I mean, whatever happened to using Kellen Davis in the red zone?

By Tim on November 2, 2009 1:04 PM

But here is the main thing regarding the G.B./Minn. game.
Anyone who watched it, saw Rodgers get an all-out blitz from both sides in identical fashion in which Cutler got sacked, but get it the pass away in plenty of time to a guy named Havner.

Tim, that is what I am talking about!!! I am NOT upset with Cutler, but why is he not releasing the ball quicker?

You know the defense is coming hard, but you holding on to the ball, looking for the Big Gain! Forget that, dink and dump until the defense is not on full blast. Take what they give you and when guessing right with the all out blitz coming then maybe try for the home run toss for a touchdown. MAYBE!

We are not slowing down defenses with quick hitters and allowing the receivers to make a play and get first downs or break a tackle for a long gain.

Wow!! Am I the only Bear fan who remains optimistic? They won by 24 points , which is what I predicted, but neither team scored as high as I thought they would. I predicted 41-17. Certainly Cleveland is pretty weak, but they do have some high-powered defensive players. The loss to the Bengals was an aberration, but I prefer to think that was rock bottom and that from here on out the Bears will be the traditional "monsters of the midway."The offensive line should get better as Williams matures and Pace picks up his personal pace. Protection is all Cutler needs to be unbeatable.If he had had as much as Favre had against Green Bay,the Bears would have won by fifty.The Bears need to do what the Packers did the second half--make adjustments.The Packers came out and looked like a different team the second half and almost pulled it out. Can't the Bears do the same?

Seedy:

As long as it is the head coach's job to play the GM's top draft picks at the expense of players who actually deserve to be on the field, this will never change.

didn't know I was so respected, everyone has to comment on my positivity. Another way I am blessed. Proud to be a Bears fan, and proud not to own A Kia..........what did I come back here for?....Oh yeah....... Boy, the Raiders are terrible.

GOOOOOOOOOOO BEARRRRRRRRS
GOOOOOOOOOOO CUBBBIESSSSS
GOOOOOOOOOOOO REXXXXXXXXXXXX

I have debated on whether or not to bother commenting on this thread and have decided I had to make one more comment. Lovie and Turner are clueless. The only thing that got the bears to the SB the last time was Rivera's defense and Devin Hester's kick returns. Lovie sux and Turner blows it's that simple. Keith don't even attempt to read anything racial in any of that because I don't care if Lovie was made of gold it would turn out to be fools gold. One thing I have really noticed in the games I have watched is that Lovie has the same clueless look on his face when things start to fall apart as Juron has on his face, no expresion whatso ever. Kinda like Vinny Barbarino always had... duh what? Damn I'm glad basketball season finally started and i didn't pay for the NFL ticket.

Here is the only math that matters.

NO is suppose to be the best team in the league.

Atlanta almost beat them last night. We almost beat Atlanta and should have.

Bears even with no offensive line and no defense are still one of the most competitive teams in the league.

Thank god we have a real QB.

Orton was totally exposed and exploited last week as the weak noodle arm he really is. He will never be able to come from behind and beat you.

In Cutler we Trust!

PM

Old, slow offensive tackles do not get better as the season progresses; they get slower and older as the bumps and bruises and aches and pains multiply.

Also, the Bears are about to finish the easy half of their season. The last eight games feature a much more difficult group of teams to beat.

Pace will not get better against the likes of the Eagles, the Vikings, the Ravens, the 49ers and the Packers.

Cutler is going to hear "look out" from his blind side a lot during the second half of the season.

Ok Stu, it's time for a little bit of your professional insight.

I've been listening on the radio, (The Score & ESPN) and it's obvious that show hosts and reporters alike are fed up with Lovies complete unwillingness to interact with the media or answer even the most inconsequential of questions. It's like talking to a sofa.

The thing that perplexes me is why would any sane person subject themselves to such blithering nonsense on an almost daily basis?

I'm sure you're going to say, "It's their job to interview Lovie Smith, and attend his press conferences" but does not a single one of you have the nerve to say "Enough is enough" and just ignore him?

With his total unwillingness to communicate on a meaningful level, he makes fools out of all of you, who keep crawling back again and again to hear the same earful of nothing. If you guys would get together and boycott his appearances management would be forced to have a word with him. But as long as you dutifully record and repeat the drivel that comes out of his mouth, they have no reason to step in and give Lovie his much needed attitude adjustment.

I listen almost daily to this carping about Smith, but the same people who complain about his demeanor are first in line for the next helping of crap that he serves up.

Grow some stones. Turn off the mic, and walk away. And let him know it, in no uncertain terms. Go talk to the other coaches and players, and leave Smith standing there by himself. Shame him in front of the national media, who will gladly report that the locals want nothing to do with their head coach. He makes all of you look like fools. Return the favor.

Is it that hard for everyone in your profession to do their jobs without the 30 seconds of canned nothing that you get from Smith?

Enlighten me.
Stu responds: Villano, you raise some good points. Lovie is a master at saying nothing. But as far as media boycotts, you touched on the key point when you asked whether a "single one" of us would have the nerve. That lone reporter would find himself off the Bears beat in a hurry. If every reporter agreed to boycott it would one thing, but you can't get a group of sportswriters to even agree on where to go for lunch. So forget anything like that. Fact is, bland though Lovie may be, it's often what he doesn't say that is more newsworthy than what he does.

Anon, did you ever begin to think that our receivers may not have been open, or out of their routes, so Cutlet has just decided to take the sack or run out of it instead of throwing the pick.

nice to see most of you are coming around...you would be all the better for it...

Peter King won't get ya anywhere, lmao....Hi, I'm Hitman

but to my detractors...all you can do is..

Focus on the Raiders...and while you're at it...things that happened in Tom Cable's life 20 years ago...and I bet you're a big Maury Povich/Jerry Springer fan....

I've been in those situations (everyone has), but I'm proud to say people went to the hospital...they got what they deserved

good news, tho.... I just freed up mega hours never watching ESPN again ..and besides...Skip Bayless reminds me of some of you...erp

Anyway...thanks to those who are starting to repeat everything I've said for years....

or should I say you're welcome?

6-10/7-9 at best...

And the Bears wearing Orange while honoring Walter Payton....made me want to puke....but Angelo has that effect on people who actually know what's going on..

Time will certainly tell whether or not early predictions will materialize or uneqivocally fail, but stuckinwisconsin and I remain unflappingly optimistic. My excuse is that I'm originally from the Chicago area and remember the likes of those George Halas teams that pounded everybody even when the Bears lost. I suspect stuck...simply has been so inundated by cheesehead mentality that he has to avidly support any team that can defeat the Packers. Even so, he is not a negative thinker who thinks the season is shot when over half remains. Come on, men (and ladies ), get behind the team and boost their morale.

Don't look now but the injury bug is hitting the teams next on the Bears schedule, we get Philly at home after a 10 day rest and I wonder how the Vikes will survive without AD and Brett; their injury clocks are running.

Anything can happen in the next month, and the season is far from over.

Do we have a uniform to fit Turner!!!

Villano is absolutely right.
It is all about Jerry's kids being on the field whether they deserve to be there or not.
That is how they went through that stupid "Rex is our QB" thing.
Jerry traded down from the 4th pick in that draft to take Michael Haynes and Grossman.
Haynes was an immediate bust so he had to have his other first round pick pan out.
In stead of trying to move up and take Carson palmer he went bargain and ended up with two stiffs instead of one great or even good player.
Look at who was passed up in that draft to get Haynes and Grossman.
Kevin Williams
Terrell Suggs
Marcus Trufant
Jordan Gross
Troy Polamalu
Dallas Clark
Larry Johnson
Nnamdi Asomugha
Anquan Boldin
Osi Umenyiora
Jason Witten
All of them Pro-Bowl players and none of them on Jerry Angelo’s radar.

I don't really know where else to put this plug for WRD, but it seems only fitting that it be in the most recent Bears thread which is clearly his main sports interest.

I believe "William" is having his surgery today (Nov. 3) and I just want to wish him well. I think he's a good guy and a valued addition to FCP.

Wow, Hitman, did you see Culzie's post... and his "math"?

Sounds like someone has had all his toys stolen and still doesn't even know it.

The next time the Bears or Cutler beat the likes of the Cowboys, the Patriots and the Chargers in consecutive weeks, it will be their first. Then you can talk, Culzie.

Like I've said for the last four years: Kyle ain't pretty, he just wins, baby.

Until Cutler's career record reaches the .500 mark, please limit the comparisons.

Gig sez: "I believe "William" is having his surgery today (Nov. 3) and I just want to wish him well. I think he's a good guy and a valued addition to FCP."

I'll second that.

Stu sez: "That lone reporter would find himself off the Bears beat in a hurry."

And thus earn the respect and admiration of every sports fan in the entire city.

He might even get his own blog.

As Big Doug likes to say, "Here's the deal":

One of you ... somebody, needs to stand up and call, "Bulls#it!".
And do it to his face, with the cameras rolling and the mics live.

What a bunch of sheep you are. I listen to all the carping on the radio, and read about it in the newspapers, but when the lights go on and it's showtime, it's, "Excuse me Lovie, but why did you throw that challenge flag. I'll hang up and wait for my BS, non-answer."

Gig, thanks for the info on WRD, good luck William.

As far as the Bears...WOW!! There are some haters in here.
4-3 at the halfway mark with my man Kurt, how many fumbles can Brown get out of you? My guys from Frisco who will be exposed by the end of this weekend...you know what? Nevermind, here's my take. That game was a practice, they have some players who need to grow up really quick, for them to make a difference(coaches as well.)
My man Seedy, I know you did not call this the hard part of the schedule:

Week 1: at GB
Week 2: Pitt
Week 3: at Sea
Week 4: Det
Week 6: At Atl
Week 7: At Cincy
Week 8: Clev.

Cincy beat Baltimore, Pitt beat Minn, GB is 4-3 only 2 gimmes really there, Det and Clev.
there was no easy part to this schedule, who acutally thought they would be 4-3 at this point. And the loss to Cincy was just what was needed for their collective humps, and some of our fans' humps too.
We know who the real fans are, and those who still love the mirage of the 85 Bears. Go Bears, and next time you start a player because of his draft status(Olsen), try to at least make his blocking average. Same for Williams, cut Garza, and put Kreutz in the coaches booth, his playing days are numbered.

Gig, thanks for the info on WRD, good luck William.

As far as the Bears...WOW!! There are some haters in here.
4-3 at the halfway mark with my man Kurt, how many fumbles can Brown get out of you? My guys from Frisco who will be exposed by the end of this weekend...you know what? Nevermind, here's my take. That game was a practice, they have some players who need to grow up really quick, for them to make a difference(coaches as well.)
My man Seedy, I know you did not call this the hard part of the schedule:

Week 1: at GB
Week 2: Pitt
Week 3: at Sea
Week 4: Det
Week 6: At Atl
Week 7: At Cincy
Week 8: Clev.

Cincy beat Baltimore, Pitt beat Minn, GB is 4-3 only 2 gimmes really there, Det and Clev.
there was no easy part to this schedule, who acutally thought they would be 4-3 at this point. And the loss to Cincy was just what was needed for their collective humps, and some of our fans' humps too.
We know who the real fans are, and those who still love the mirage of the 85 Bears. Go Bears, and next time you start a player because of his draft status(Olsen), try to at least make his blocking average. Same for Williams, cut Garza, and put Kreutz in the coaches booth, his playing days are numbered.

Seedy, you act like I didnt watch Orton throw lame duck passes and laser beam guided underthrows and reach back ankle grabers for the last couple years.

You act like Orton has gone through some sort of mothman metamorphesis.

DUDE...ORTON SUCKS. GET OVER IT.

DENVER MAY BE A FERRARI OF AN OLINE, BUT HE IS A DUI WAITING TO HAPPEN.

oh...William is having Surgery?...here's to hoping he brought his favorite GI Joe or whatever favorite Action Man he has...and enjoyed the he## out of the Morphine....

Hopefully, he has Steve Austin...cuz he can look thru the back of this head...all morphed up...Nurses all big and really close...Good Times

And Seedy....Culzie just needs to rent that limo and take that pic for me...

The Boneless Chickens win by 20 at Soldier

I heard that you are leaving Stu.
Will this forum go on?
Stu responds: Hey Phil ... As I mentioned in my "Update," I'm hopeful someone will pick up the ball and run with it soon. Thanks to you and everyone else who has made FCP such a fun experience for Roman and me.

Villano, you do know that radio 'hosts' are there for entertainment purposes only right? They only speak in order to get ratings. You can't possibly be that naive. They are fans like you and I. Relax, enjoy our bears. No superbowl this year? It's coming. The Bears
have a great back up tackle in Schafer-who can run block AND pass block...which is rare. Olimayle is out of position. They are both very good. I really wanted this year to be the year...but it just won't happen.....but trust me....it is coming....in a more dominant
fashion than the 85 Bears.....it's coming. I was a 'hater' of Forte when they drafted him, and I believed last year was a fluke......he IS
good.....it's coming. I used to get so riled up about the Bears that it practically destroyed my life...so I quit them in '92.....Wannstedt was a douche bag.......I slowly started to watch them again when they got Erik Kramer (watch some of his old games-he was so under rated)- a great QB in my book......I have learned to enjoy the Bears, that is what they are there for..you guys (and girls-that means you Hitman), shouldn't get so riled up
over the fact that they can't meet your vision of a perfect team...in one season. I get taunted by packer fans every day.....yet I am no where near as close to going postal as I was in '92. If you don't enjoy them now...then you will miss all the growing...your anger will over shadow the Kramer's, the Holdman's,the Flannigans, that were pretty special during there tenure. This time it is for real. We have Cutler. There is no way
they are going to let his greatness rot. It just takes time.

Lovie is a GREAT coach.
The Bears are going to be Great!

You just gotta hang in there. I have had season tickets for the
last 12 years...and I have no regrets....despite all the failures. I am so excited about the future....the Bears are in Very good hands. Lovie is one of the Best Coaches the Bears have ever had.

hope e-thing went well WRD.

Yep I prayed for William. I hope to hear from him soon.

But the big Story is Stu! Stu go ahead and tell us man. I hope we will hear from you still. Don't hear at all from Roman.

Chuck --

If you go by 2009 current records, the first half of the season is the easy half. The record of the collective opponents is under .500 (e.g., 25-31). The current records of the teams they face in the second half is 32-27.

Btw, I have the Bears going 5-3 the first half and 4-4 the second half (9-7 overall and missing the playoffs).

There are a lot of folks on this blog -- and I mean a lot -- who had the Bears going better than 4-3 at this point.

Man, the crowing of these same folks after the 3-1 "finish" to the first quarter of the season was deafening. They aren't so loud now.

I hope you are not doing fuzzy/culzie math that suggests because the Steelers beat Minnesota and we beat the Steelers, we can beat the Vikings. The Steelers are a different team than the one the Bears played. For example, Rashard Mendenhall has a much bigger presence in the offense and is making a difference. In fact, in 40 FEWER CARRIES than Forte, he has more rushing yards. Mendenhall also plays well against the better teams in the league. I like Forte, but so far more than half his yards have come against patsies like Detroit and Cleveland. Against the better teams, he has almost been invisible.

Yet, Lovie likes what he sees on offense "and we'll go from there."

By Tim Little on November 3, 2009 6:36 AM

One thing I have really noticed in the games I have watched is that Lovie has the same clueless look on his face when things start to fall apart as Juron has on his face, no expresion whatso ever.

Tim L, I have to agree with you because I am wondering why in the heck he does not get a little angry on the sidelines when his guys are blowing assignments? I understand remaining cool under pressure, but this is ridiculous!

Your defense getting whupped or offense inept scoring touchdowns in the RED ZONE and you standing over ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZing. I do not know what type of adjustments Lovie and Turner are making but I see too much frustration and confusion in the players faces. That only means the coaches are not doing a very good job of changing things up!

Also, I NEVER SEE the QB and the Offensive line huddle together on the sidelines. I don't see the QB talking with the receivers after a three and out to make sure it doesn't happen on the next series of downs.

For some odd reason, I think management and coaches simply thought Cutler was just going to get under the center and toss touchdown after touchdown and that is just not happening.

Something is funky in the Bears' meetings and it do not smell good no matter how good of a face the organization puts on it.

Good luck in new job Stu. Sounds like another full court press blogger has found a place in virtual sports. Won't you be working for one of the Chicago Cubs owners now? Guess you'll have to give them special coverage now.

Besides part timers and radio hosts, is anyone at all left at the Black times?

good luck!

Your last blog was a good one, those jerseys are ugly and they are an afront to all bears fans and to all the former players who were proud to wear the uniforms. Wearing those shirts on the day they honored walter is just another one of Smith's teams us against them p-ant moves. Lovie's a disaster as a motivator and as a coach, and his team isn't exactly earning the respect of Bears' fans.

At least one reporter gets it:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-04-morrissey-bears-nov04,0,6568918.column

I hope this becomes a trend.

.....feels jilted by another man. First Roman, then Stu.

PULLLEEEEZ, Sun-Times, DON'T GIVE US ELLIOTT HARRIS. I'M BEGGING YOU. That geezer's page should be called "Quick T$its" , not Quick Hits. He cares about cleavage, not sports. AND YOU CAN QUOTE ME ON THAT.

good luck Stu! 'Break' a leg.

Damn!

Either this job is a stepping stone to bigger and better things, or it's the kiss of death.

In either case, we can't seem to hang on to an editor.

Good luck Stu.

And Bubba's Mom: If Elliot Harris takes over, I'm out of here too.

Thanks for the well-wishes, everybody. Good to see that Ricky is taking care of you; show him the love. I'll still be reading; let's keep FCP going strong.

How 'bout giving this job to Lovie Smith?

;)

Not sure Elliott knows how to use a computer. He might know how to get to the various cleavage sites, however.

Oh wow, I just saw the update from Stu just now. Man, that's 2 gone already in less than 1 year? So is Ricky full time now?

Good luck, Stu. Thanks for keeping the blog discussions alive. Great job and take care.

Ricky responds: Just fillin' in until they figure out what they're going to do with it.

Stu, gotta tell you I'm going to miss you. I came on just to tell you good luck after my Wonder Twin told me you were leaving. Obviously my surgey was a success because I'm able to come on here and peck away. Whatever they gave me did the job but it's wearing off faster than crap thru a goose so I bid you guys adieu. Thanks for the kind words and I will see you after 3 wins in a row... which might be next year.

All my best, Stu..

Ready?.....Set?

The New York Times-Chicago Edition

Stu, I wish you all the best.

WRD, glad to hear your surgery was a success; hope you're feeling good again soon. Thanks to Gig, Edgar, Bubba's Mom, Villano, Hitman, Stuck, Phil and everyone else who made my brief stint as FCP caretaker so much fun. This is a great online community, keep it going strong ... and Ricky, thanks for picking up the ball, you're a great blogger, keep up the good work!

Good Job Stu...you were a fair and free press kinda guy. I dont think you ever censored me once *which is 1000 x's less than Roman the Nazi book burning fascist..did ;) i kid (sort of).

Ill catch up with you on Facebook Pal!

B

Stu, good luck and best wishes in your new endeavor.

Ricky, I think it's time somebody stick their foot in the FCP revolving door!

Ron Turner should be available soon.

Bears-27 Arizona-16

I think this is where it goes?!?

"Since Smith became coach in 2004, the Bears are 2-7 (.222) when generating no turnovers, 6-18 (.250) with one takeaway, 19-8 (.704) with two and 22-5 (.815) with three or more."

I just copied and pasted this from the Bears website. Obviously, creating turnovers is vital to the Bears defense.

For me, this has always been an issue. Of course, it's fine when they're winning at a nice clip up through the Super Bowl. But, even then, I remember having the sense that "the Bears have to create turnovers today" in order to win. It always made me feel uncomfortable about the outcome of the game.

Here's my point: How can you go into a game "counting on turnovers"? True, you can't exactly count on dominating the line of scrimmage either. However, if your players are dominant scrimmage players, I think the chances that "we will dominate today" are much better than the chances of "we will create turnovers today." Don't get me wrong, turnovers are good if they're in your favor. I'm just saying, "How can you make 'creating turnovers' the basis of what makes you a bona fide football team?" For one thing, a good bit of luck has to come into play. Moreover, the other team definitely has a say in whether you're going to get those turnovers. Finally, often the "turnover makers" are forfeiting tackling or proper coverage in order to create them!

We've gone over Lovie Smith's abilities to coach ad nauseam on this blog. However, I can't recall anyone really talking about how necessary "creating turnovers" is to his scheme. The "cover-2" and "creating turnovers" have been the two main ingredients of his signature as a coach on defense. From Day 1 of his regime, it's never really set well with me because these philosophies are predicated on a lack of aggression (the "cover 2," the soft laying off by the CB's, and "bend-but-don't-break") and a very possible tackling problem while people are trying to strip the ball.

We won 30-6 at Cleveland almost completely because of this type of defense coming through against a horrible football team. By now, I think even fans who don't understand the game have grown tired of winning in this fashion, especially when it's been proven over the years that you can't count on winning in this fashion. We're one game over .500 with the vast likelihood of hovering around .500 by season's end since the their Super Bowl appearance. There appears to be no end in sight to this mediocrity.

Yes, the offense has taken it's rightful beatings from this writer and most everyone else and that will likely continue. I just wanted to bring up an issue that nobody's talking about and really is, I think, a reason why so many of us fans are continually upset with Lovie Smith as our football coach and "defensive guru." It's just not what Bears football should be for one thing. We're the Chicago Bears! We should be the Monsters of the Midway! We should make the other team lose their next game because they're still reeling from the hurt we put on them in their previous affair! Finally, it's still this "How can we count on getting turnovers today?"!

Oh, I'm sure someone's going to say. "Gig, you and others like you just can't get rid of that '85 team." I suppose there's some truth to that, but I still remember a lot of Bears teams that were merely .500 teams when Lovie wasn't coaching that I liked a lot better because of their style. Moreover, it was a style that you could pretty much count on working prior to a given game. I've never really gotten excited about the Bears defense as it's been comprised since Lovie's been head coach. When they do well, it always seems to me like a passive attack had some luck today which doesn't really fuel my car if you know what I mean.

We've got some personnel issues for sure, especially on the O-line. However, in my opinion, the day we play like the Chicago Bears should play along with finally having a franchise QB with people to protect him along with a legit running attack will be the day that I get excited about this team again.

LOL!!!...just see above

Gig..good post.

Your right about a lot of what you said.

Lovie is now on my hotseat however. They are just so dam unimaginative on offense. I feel like the slant pass to Forte was there all day, and we only went to it, like twice.

Are there no O-line studs we can trade for?

Ugggggggg....

But I will say, the Cutler to Olsen combo is scary and if we could get some protection and some real WR's we could be dangerous.

oh..and will someone tell Hester he needs to start returning Kicks again. WTF is up with that...he is not a WR.

Well, looks like the 13-3 evangelists are out.

All those who picked the Bears to finish 12-4 are running for the exits.

There still were a lot picking the Bears to go 11-5 and 10-6. How comfortable are you folks now with those predictions?

I had them going 9-7 and missing the playoffs. I don't think they will achieve even that record.

Weren't the 2009 Bears supposed to be WAY MORE TALENTED than the 2008 edition?

I still get a laugh out of the Tribune's Sports Writers. All five who cover the Bears picked the Bears to win on Sunday.

If only they spent more time reading this blog. Here's my prediction from November 2:

Early prediction for Bears-Cardinals:

Weather is sunny: Cardinals 20-Bears 17
Crappy weather: Bears 10-Cardinals 7

My prediction for Thursday's game:

A big dose of Frank Gore -- Niners 27 - Bears 14

actually, since 2005(Smiths first year with HIS people.), the Bears have the 2nd best record in the NFC. See what happens when you make a valid, uncontestable, fact based post gig? You us way less words, and have not wasted anybody's time.

Cheers to great coaches Like Lovie! Boo's to one year wonders like Ditka! Super boos to all the 85 Bears that won't die or go away.