lostfan

BTW, Murcie, what scheme can you run if you don't have the players for it? That's a weak argument IMO. Would the Bears not need to get a NT and new OLBs if they switched to a 3-4?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 7, 2010 -> 06:21 PM) If the Bears go into the Patriots game with the same game-plan, letting the opponent hit those 5-10 yard passes and stopping them there, they're going to get eaten alive. The Patriots have come out and said that's their game now without randy Moss; they hit those shorter passes and have become a run after the catch team. If they try to re-do the Packers game earlier this year, they'll get eaten for lunch. They always get eaten alive doing that, but they'll probably be in a nickel formation most of this game because they'll be expecting the Pats to stick with that short passing game.

BTW I'm actually kinda disappointed that McDaniels got fired and didn't stay until next year, I was hoping we could've traded Webb for Clady and a first.

Huge game here coming up. Not so much in terms of the standings or being a do-or-die game, but in terms of the matchups against the Patriots. The Bears aren't New England, they don't blitz and gamble to let Brady burn them, they play mostly zone defenses. Hopefully Marinelli is ready to mix up the coverages a little. Brady will get his, he'll do the 7-12 yard gain thing and exploit the seams like every team tries to do (but better), so the D-line has to be on fire. If that doesn't happen we're f***ed, they can blitz but that comes with a price against this kind of offense. The s***ty turf should slow down Welker and Woodhead a little, but the Bears are a fast defense. They just have to tackle and keep the runners in front of them. The last time the Bears played the Patriots 4 years ago it was an ugly game for both teams, and mostly ugly on the Bears' end because Grossman looked like s***. Obviously Cutler >>> Grossman.

QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Dec 6, 2010 -> 09:38 PM) Agreed. I've loved Lovie Smith as a football coach. Ever since his days with the Rams actually. The Bears' fanbase will never embrace him for being a players' coach. They have one image in their head when it comes to a football coach and that's Ditka. For some stupid reason, Lovie will never live up to that. I remember wanting Lovie to get hired as the Cowboys coach for a long time. I think he's probably the most underrated coach in the league behind Raheem and Reid. Lovie has definitely pissed me off since he's been here from time to time, but yeah I really don't understand Bears fans' fixation on personality for coaches. Ditka was also a miserable failure in his second go-round in the modern NFL and made one of the dumbest personnel moves of all time + 1st and 3rd for Williams. Then you have someone else with that kind of personality and no other apparent coaching skills in Singletary and he's failing badly, too.

Surprised nobody has pointed it out, but Trent Dilfer really is a tool. Not that I am one who cares about "respect" from the national media or anything, but they've lately been warming up to the Bears and letting up on the over-the-top criticism of Cutler, but Dilfer never gives the Bears, and specifically Cutler, credit for anything, ever. His latest statement was to laugh when asked whether the Bears were a legit team and he said the defense is good, but they can't win with Cutler at quarterback. Ummm... first of all did Dilfer forget who he is? Secondly, when Cutler is playing like he is now (which has been often his career, contrary to popular belief, it's not a fluke) Cutler is 10x the QB Dilfer ever was. Keyshawn Johnson actually put him back in his place though, he reminded him that he played on a lot of teams with great defenses. Dilfer said a QB has to make critical 3rd down throws and Johnson said "I think Cutler can make those throws." BTW Dilfer obviously hasn't been paying attention to the Bears offense since the bye because they've been $$ on 3rd down.

Let KC have it or let Seattle have a team back.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 6, 2010 -> 06:38 PM) Actually, I meant your being 2nd to post the firing news...not the firing itself. Anywho. I know, just another reason to gleefully rip on mcdaniels

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Dec 6, 2010 -> 06:29 PM) That's what you get for videotaping 49ers practices when you should have been posting. Running off Jay Cutler and trading Peyton Hillis for no reason.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Dec 6, 2010 -> 06:23 PM) Josh McDaniels has been fired per ESPN. He's already played an active part in exiling that teams top talent, i think the damage he caused will last far beyond this year. f*** you QUOTE (lostfan @ Dec 6, 2010 -> 06:28 PM) Josh McDaniels fired. Thanks for Jay Cutler, Josh.

Josh McDaniels fired. Thanks for Jay Cutler, Josh.

QUOTE (ozzfest @ Dec 6, 2010 -> 12:23 AM) explain Crede's physically done. He just can't do it anymore. Best you can hope for out of him is maybe 2/3 of a season, with some good D, decent slugging on top of a well below average BA and OBP. I don't see him doing anything Morel can't do plus this takes away MLB development time from Morel.

no

QUOTE (iamshack @ Dec 5, 2010 -> 11:38 PM) I dunno if he expected Dixon to come inside instead of outside or what, but yeah, just a weak throw. The Ravens' offense has not lived up to anywhere near the hype this year, considering they added Boldin and Housh... Flacco has a decent stat line though and usually he's no worse than above average (except for one awful game he had this year). But he still seems like one level above "pedestrian" to me.

Watching the end of this Steelers-Ravens game... Flacco has a clean pocket, a guy open on 4th down, and just bounces it off the ground. Flacco is a decent QB but I think he's really overrated.

Worst case scenario there was probably a field goal to tie the game and the Bears would've probably won in OT (Lions offense didn't do anything in the second half, that team can't close out games, they had 3 points off a fumble recovery when the Bears' O-line collapsed immediately). It would've been 2nd and 2 from the 14. The very next pass was a TD, so there's your first down, and it's 1st and goal from the 7 again (at least). So maybe the drive stalls out and they kick a FG (doubtful, Cutler was 10-10), maybe it just takes another play or two to score (probably) or maybe it's a rushing TD and it means Cutler's QB rating is about 93 instead of 117. Whatever.

Getting tired of the postgame writeups that are acting like the Bears got "lucky" again because of that call on Suh and then all the dumbass comments that follow. The Bears got the ball with 5:17 remaining, they picked up a couple first downs and ran out the clock. Forte averaged 5 yards per carry. Cutler had a 100+ QB rating. They dominated TOP and the Lions offense got shut down in the second half (3 points came off a fumble recovery where the Bears O-line predictably collapsed again, other than that nothing.) Yeah they are really lucky the refs gave them 7 yards in a non-first down situation on a drive where they were probably going to score anyway.

QUOTE (MurcieOne @ Dec 5, 2010 -> 04:38 PM) That really applies to every quarterback in the league. Tom Brady might be one of the best 2 or 3 QBs of all time. Just my .02. That being said, I think the Bears have a good chance to win this game at home. On the road, I'd be a little worried. The Bears luckily play their two hardest non-conference games at home this year (Pats, Jets) while getting two mediocre teams (Fins, Bills) on the road. Who cares? Just win baby. Some more than others. Brady is not mobile at all and a lot of the reason he gets the protection he does is because of the blitz recognition (like Manning) but if they can get to him without blitzing he'll fall apart. Yes that is already more true of our defense than it is most others, but if you can beat the Pats OL one on one, it's an uphill battle for Brady. Like I said it's a lot easier to say this than to actually do it.

QUOTE (MexSoxFan#1 @ Dec 5, 2010 -> 04:10 PM) I knew this game was gonna be a dogfight Divisional road games always are. The Lions always play the Bears tough.

Pats' D is very suspect. They need to do much better against Brady and a legit offense. When he has a DL in his face he is nothing special. Easier said than done, though.

You can officially bury the "Jay Cutler has never had a winning season since high school" talking point for good now.

QUOTE (MurcieOne @ Dec 5, 2010 -> 03:23 PM) SUH is a f***ing punk. If he doesn't knock it off he's going to end up with a reputation like James Harrison and have that red X on his back by the refs.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Dec 5, 2010 -> 03:09 PM) What I'm saying is that they at least allowed Cutler to drop back and throw a pass. In no way am I saying this o-line was actually good before this. Fair enough. Yes this is one of the worse performances this season.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Dec 5, 2010 -> 03:02 PM) They were at least serviceable these past 4 games. This is like the Giants game again. They were never serviceable, at all, notice how few long passes Cutler attempts. It only seemed like that because Cutler was compensating for it (with Martz's help). They still can't pass block at all.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Dec 5, 2010 -> 03:00 PM) This is ridiculous, what the hell is going on with this o-line? You say this like you're just now figuring out how terrible they are.