SpaceCowboy
Footballguy

Is the new cool word?Considering five of six NFC playoff teams weren't in the 'offs the year before, I wouldn't get TOO excited if I were the Bears.
Hey I'm with you Spacecowboy. Only I'm excitied for the Skins.I'm hoping we can land Moulds, or Wayne.Looks like hopefully our long quarterback drought may have finally ended. I think this team was outmatched today, but some bright spots that I take with it
1. Playoff experience for all the players. And good playoff experience. Berrian, Grossman, Peterson, T. Jones, etc, etc. all did great and the offense should be better out of the gates next year.
2. This team will be back next year. I like their chances, and I think this was just a step in the right direction. Like the Bengals, they are not building an overnight champion.
3. The weaknesses of the defense were revealed. Depth. We have plenty of draft picks this year, and hopefully free agents will want to come to Chicago knowing that there's a good chance of going to the playoffs.
4. We don't have to spend the yearly 2nd-3rd round pick on a qb/rb. I think Orton and Grossman are fine and obviously the trio at rb is solid.
OFFSEASON GOALS FOR DA BEARS
1. Get Cedric Benson and Mark Bradley healthy and acclimated to the offense.
2. Build better depth and improve on the 2nd and 3rd stringers that they have now
3. Hope Matt Millen stays in Detroit
Anything else, fellow Bears fans? Instead of the cautiously optimistic attitude towards next year, I am overflowing with optimism. How about you guys?
They play the Bucs in Chicago and at the Giants.I think the Vikings with the 2nd place schedule might have it tougher with the Panthers in Minny and at the Redskins.What's the status of Thomas Jones?
What does there first-place schedule look like? Oviousl you've got the other three struggling teams in the NFC North, but who else?
What will happen with DC Rivera? He was the hottest head-coach candidate before yesterday but now what?
Yes, it was only because opposing defenses triple-teamed Keary Colbert that he led the league in receiving last yearThey need upgrades at:
WR (Muhammed is a #2WR)
Maybe Muhammed's success in Carolina had something to do with coaching and the QB, but he was clearly not a #1WR this year. He had countless drops and failed to make plays in the passing game all year. Sure he was the bears best WR, but that is not saying much.Plus it's not out of the realm to say that an aging WR can actually get worse, is it? Just because he had a great year, doesn't mean he's a #1 WR every year, do you get what I mean?Yes, it was only because opposing defenses triple-teamed Keary Colbert that he led the league in receiving last yearThey need upgrades at:
WR (Muhammed is a #2WR)Muhammed is fine, the trouble is that Gage and Des Clark didn't scare anyone. There is promise if Berrian and Bradley stay healthy and continue to develop, but they do need to upgrade at TE.
Studies show that if you lose key players to injury, it's not going to matter what side of the ball it is, your team is most likely going to struggle.IF the Bears remain healthy, they will have a very good defense.Studies have shown that defense is more inconsistant from year-to-year than offense. Therefore, a team with a DOMINANT defense and a horrible offense is more likely to finish the next season with an average defense and a horrible offense than it is to finish with a dominant defense and an average offense.
Don't believe me? Want to know who the Bears most resemble to me? The 2004 Buffalo Bills. Best defense in the league, mediocre offense, just missed the playoffs... and then this season simply fell apart.
A team on the decline ? They're one of the younger teams in the league, and have every starter but Hillenmeyer locked up (and he's restricted).The Carolina game showed they weren't as good as advertised against the pass so that needs to be addressed.The Bears look like a team on decline. The Cats showed how to beat them.
Da Bears are stuck with a below average QB, corners who can't cover one guy?
The way Minnesota played the second half, and with Pepper back, and if the Vikes add a Big RB (White) in the draft the Bears with be a wild card at best![]()
Moose clearly had a down season, partly because of the QB play, but also because he caught a case of the drops.Next season, we'll see if he can bounce back with a more effective thrower in Grossman, but the age issue is going to be there.Maybe Muhammed's success in Carolina had something to do with coaching and the QB, but he was clearly not a #1WR this year. He had countless drops and failed to make plays in the passing game all year. Sure he was the bears best WR, but that is not saying much.Plus it's not out of the realm to say that an aging WR can actually get worse, is it? Just because he had a great year, doesn't mean he's a #1 WR every year, do you get what I mean?Yes, it was only because opposing defenses triple-teamed Keary Colbert that he led the league in receiving last yearThey need upgrades at:
WR (Muhammed is a #2WR)Muhammed is fine, the trouble is that Gage and Des Clark didn't scare anyone. There is promise if Berrian and Bradley stay healthy and continue to develop, but they do need to upgrade at TE.
WR - agree that I would like to sign a veteran #2 WR, but also have a lot of faith in Mark Bradley (coming back from knee surgery) and Bernard Berrian. I don't think they will sign a high impact player....TE - this could be the first pick (or CB)I really like the Bears chances in 2006 BUT they still need to improve.
They need upgrades at:
WR (Muhammed is a #2WR)
TE (you serious Clark, draft Pope)
CB (Tillman proved he's not a #1 CB and Azumah is a FA I beleive)
S (I'm not sold on Harris and Brown seems to be hurt alot).
They need to get some depth at OL. The defensive front 7 should be solid, although they will have to find an OLB (Hillenmeyer).
I think that the Bears can win their division next year, mainly because of the weak division opponents, but if they don't make improvements and ride into 2006 with the same team (much like they did in 2002), they are in for a rude awakening...
That team was isn't the top 1/2 of the league in offense or defense, I don't believe, and had journeymen QB's.This team is a lot younger with everyone signed for next season.smells like 2001 all over again to me.
The Bills lost the soul of their defense in Takeo Spikes week 3 and also DT Ron Edwards. If Urlacher gets hurt the same thing will happen to them.Studies show that if you lose key players to injury, it's not going to matter what side of the ball it is, your team is most likely going to struggle.IF the Bears remain healthy, they will have a very good defense.Studies have shown that defense is more inconsistant from year-to-year than offense. Therefore, a team with a DOMINANT defense and a horrible offense is more likely to finish the next season with an average defense and a horrible offense than it is to finish with a dominant defense and an average offense.
Don't believe me? Want to know who the Bears most resemble to me? The 2004 Buffalo Bills. Best defense in the league, mediocre offense, just missed the playoffs... and then this season simply fell apart.
Exactly - injuries are going to dictate the success (or lack of) on a team. If the Bears lose a lot of players to injury, they will struggle. So will just about any other team.The Bills lost the soul of their defense in Takeo Spikes week 3 and also DT Ron Edwards. If Urlacher gets hurt the same thing will happen to them.Studies show that if you lose key players to injury, it's not going to matter what side of the ball it is, your team is most likely going to struggle.IF the Bears remain healthy, they will have a very good defense.Studies have shown that defense is more inconsistant from year-to-year than offense. Therefore, a team with a DOMINANT defense and a horrible offense is more likely to finish the next season with an average defense and a horrible offense than it is to finish with a dominant defense and an average offense.
Don't believe me? Want to know who the Bears most resemble to me? The 2004 Buffalo Bills. Best defense in the league, mediocre offense, just missed the playoffs... and then this season simply fell apart.
Yes, losing a player to injury causes a decline on the team (most of the time- see Bledsoe, Drew Re: Brady, Tom). That's just as true for offense as for defense, but that doesn't stop defense from showing greater year-to-year inconsistancy.Again, dominant defenses are historically LESS LIKELY to remain a dominant defense in year N+1 than dominant offenses are. Likewise, cruddy defenses are MORE LIKELY to improve than cruddy offenses, historically speaking. Defense is just more inconsistant from season to season. History isn't a perfect predictor, so it's possible that the Bears could have a dominant defense again next season, but I would bet money that San Diego is a top-5 offense again next year and Chicago is NOT a top-5 defense.Exactly - injuries are going to dictate the success (or lack of) on a team. If the Bears lose a lot of players to injury, they will struggle. So will just about any other team.The Bills lost the soul of their defense in Takeo Spikes week 3 and also DT Ron Edwards. If Urlacher gets hurt the same thing will happen to them.Studies show that if you lose key players to injury, it's not going to matter what side of the ball it is, your team is most likely going to struggle.IF the Bears remain healthy, they will have a very good defense.Studies have shown that defense is more inconsistant from year-to-year than offense. Therefore, a team with a DOMINANT defense and a horrible offense is more likely to finish the next season with an average defense and a horrible offense than it is to finish with a dominant defense and an average offense.
Don't believe me? Want to know who the Bears most resemble to me? The 2004 Buffalo Bills. Best defense in the league, mediocre offense, just missed the playoffs... and then this season simply fell apart.
link[Lovie] Smith was also impressed with the performance of Robbie Gould. After being signed Oct. 8 to replace veteran Doug Brien, the undrafted rookie free agent made 15 of his final 17 field-goal attempts to finish the season 21 of 27. Gould's 77.8 percent success rate is the best in Bears history among kickers who've tried at least 25 field goals. Jeff Jaeger (75.9) is second, followed by Paul Edinger (75.3).
"I really like what he was able to do," Smith said. "Going into the offseason and going into training camp we didn't know who he was. I thought he came in and gave us a big lift. He's our kicker. An offseason will be good for him also, getting more strength and just being around the guys. But I like what Robbie Gould did for us and we'll build on that."
Ranked #1 in points allowed and 13th in yards allowed.#11 in points scored and #27 in yards gained.That team was isn't the top 1/2 of the league in offense or defense, I don't believe, and had journeymen QB's.This team is a lot younger with everyone signed for next season.smells like 2001 all over again to me.
Different situations.
2 of the main guys on that D were big Ted and Traylor, both aging and hired guns. Plus absolutely no pass rush outside of Rosey Colvin. The ends were Phillip Daniels and Bryan Robinson for gods sake. Thats like playing with 4 tackles. McQuarters was the top corner, need I say more. The safeties were good with a healthy Brown and the beastly Tony Parrish, but besides that, this D is much better, younger and in a better system. On offense, Jim Miller was by no means a qb to look forward to if you will, and Atrain was shell of his rookie self the next year. Ill take Grossman, TJ and Benson anyday.Ranked #1 in points allowed and 13th in yards allowed.#11 in points scored and #27 in yards gained.That team was isn't the top 1/2 of the league in offense or defense, I don't believe, and had journeymen QB's.This team is a lot younger with everyone signed for next season.smells like 2001 all over again to me.
Different situations.