The Bears the rest of the seaon (1 Viewer)

[twistd]

I was extremely disappointed with the way the Bears played last night. And I am worried for the rest of the season. I think this is probably an 8-8 team. IF they get some breaks they could be 10-6, if they don't they could be 6-10. But long term there are a number of things that I am very concerned about.

1. I don't think Forte looks any different than he did last year, but there are no holes for him to run through. He is getting hit at the line, or in the backfield regularly. I think the offensive line has played very poorly. There are three new starters, Pace, Williams, and Omiyale. None of them is playing very well. Omiyale had a couple of crucial penalties. Pace had that unforgivable false start on 4th and 1, and that was coming off a time out. The play that troubled me the most was late in the fourth quarter Atlanta sacked Cutler. But the problem was Atlanta only rushed four, and all four hit Cutler. They had kept Forte in to block. So the Bears had six blockers, against four rushing linemen, and you can't even get one of those guys blocked. I had hoped with time that this line would gel. I don't think that is going to happen. Kreutz, a former Pro Bowler, is really an average player now. Pace has been okay, but probably below average. Omiyale was a free agent signing, and so far that looks like a mistake. Williams could develop, but I have seen nothing very good out of him either. The plans are to eventually move him to left tackle, but he is barely adequate at right tackle now. This line is worse than the line was last year. And they have had no injuries. You don't win games when you consistently can't control the line of scrimmage.

2.The defensive line has played good at times, but last night they couldn't get any pressure on the QB. They tried all kinds of blitzes, and couldn't get any pressure at all. They did a good job of bottling up the run, but they allowed Ryan all day to throw. They have a lot of high-priced players on this defense that are not playing up to their salaries. Tommie Harris has 7 tackles, and 1 sack. You rarely hear his name called. But he signed a huge contract. Nathan Vasher is being paid very well and he has been demoted to nickle back. And they seem to make big mistakes in crucial situations. But this defense sinks or swims with the play of the defensive line. And when they are not getting it done this defense struggles. They are healthy on the defensive line and can't get it done.

3. You don't win in this league unless you can control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. The Bears are terrible on the offensive line, and about average on the defensive side of the ball. Now you have traded away your first two picks in the draft for next year. Where is this help going to come from? Does anyone think that the offensive line is going to get better? I am very concerned for the rest of the season, and the future. On the offensive line you may have to replace at least Pace and Omiyale, and find an eventual replacement for Kreutz. I don't know if Garza has played okay, but the results would say that he hasn't. Bear fans, what are your thoughts?

 

[shredhead]

I sure am glad the Broncos have the Bears first pick next season. Maybe trading their first instead of the Bears first wasn't as stupid as we once beleived.

 

[mlball77]

You make some great points... problem one for this season is the run-blocking. It's been horrible. Forte has nowhere to go in most cases and is often hit in the backfield. Problem two for the current season is the play of the DBs (and to a lesser extent LBs). Tillman is a decent CB, but most of the remaining DBs that see some PT are below average players, imo. And the loss of Urlacher has hurt in many ways. - I actually think the D-line has been one of the few bright spots this year (along with Knox and Bennett).

With a mediocre D overall and a run game that is horrible... it is all on Cutler to win games. While I am not thrilled about this, at least it is not Grossman or Orton being asked to win games for the Bears.

 

[Arsenal of Doom]

What the heck happened to Tommie Harris? Is it just the cumulative effect of the injuries over the years? I've followed him since college and have never seen him as ineffective as he is right now. The quickness and explosion just doesn't seem to be there, which leaves him as just an undersized DT.

 

[Balco]

Was Forte really that good running the ball last year? I thought his average was like 3.9. Could be wrong though.

Cutler makes some boneheaded decisions with the ball. I have only seen the Falcon and Packers games so maybe I just saw him at his worst?

 

[mbuehner]

They lost to a playoff caliber team on the road by a touchdown, and played with them right until the last minute of the game. There are maybe 3 or 4 teams in the league you would expect to win handily on the road vs a good team, and clearly the Bears aren't one of them (neither are the Giants apparently).

The Bears have some alarming weaknesses I agree, and worse the cupboard is about empty at several positions, so any more injuries will be devastating. That being said, they have had a pretty brutal schedule and to be 3-2 with 2 road loses isn't terrible. Now they get to play Cinci on the road, and Cleveland, and AZ at home. Those are 3 very winnable games and if the bears are 6-2 after that stretch, things looks quite a bit different. Considering they get to play the Vikings twice yet, the Bears are still certainly in contention if they take care of business with the lesser teams of the league. It will probably be the games at SF and Baltimore that make the difference in the season. If they can snatch both of those and split with Minnesota and GB, they should make the playoffs. Most teams figure on splitting your road games and taking care of business at home, the Bears are still positioned to do just that. Whether they can really hang with Minnesota is the real question, because obviously if they can't going to the playoffs is a moot point, they'll just lose in the playoffs.

Cutler was brought in to add an extra dimension to this team, and he has done that (with plenty of room for improvement). The whole point is now the defense doesnt NEED to be dominant, the ST dont NEED to score points to win. The running game is worrisome, but tends to improve as the season wears on and particularly if Cutler is playing well. I think if this team can limit turnovers and manage to run the ball down the stretch, they are as dangerous as anybody. That doesn't mean they are an elite team, but they make for a fine 2nd tier contender that can get hot in the playoffs, and there are lots of recent examples of champions that do that.

 

[Sweetness_34]

Bears lost this game themselves. They outplayed the Falcons on O and D but made bone head after bone head mental mistakes that cost them the game. 3 turnovers in the red zone; kick off return coverage; not falling on the loose ball and trying to score a TD instead, penalties on crucial downs etc....the only thing I am really concerned about is the run game. Not sure if it is the OL or Forte or both but that needs to take off for them to win when it gets cold in Chicago and elsewhere. Cutler looks as good as advertised though. He made some incredible plays that no other QB except Brady or Manning can make IMHO. Tough road loss but hopefully they learn from this. Schedule gets a little easier with the Bengals and Browns coming up....hopefully they learn and get going here.

 

[mlball77]

Was Forte really that good running the ball last year? I thought his average was like 3.9. Could be wrong though.Cutler makes some boneheaded decisions with the ball. I have only seen the Falcon and Packers games so maybe I just saw him at his worst?

Forte was effective running the ball last year, not dominant at all, imo. This year, the running game has been completely ineffective.As for Cutler, it seems to me he has been very up and down. And he is prone to some boneheaded decisions… but he also makes a lot of great plays. The GB game was atrocious for him and he wasn’t great last night either. I think he has been better in the other games.Re Tommie Harris (earlier poster): I agree, he seems to be a total non-factor right now. It’s sad… he was a difference maker a few years ago.

 

[twistd]

Was Forte really that good running the ball last year? I thought his average was like 3.9. Could be wrong though.Cutler makes some boneheaded decisions with the ball. I have only seen the Falcon and Packers games so maybe I just saw him at his worst?

Cutler is a little like Farve in that he makes mistakes sometimes because he has too much confidence in his arm. However, you without question, saw his two worst games. He has played really well in the other three games. But someone's earlier comment is right on the money, he is being asked to win games because of the ineptitude of the defense and the running game. If Orton was still the Bears QB they would be 1-4 right now. Orton wouldn't have been able to come from behind in the Steelers game or the Seawhawks game. So you take the good with the bad.

 

[Sonny Lubick Blowup Doll]

Forte was a sham to begin with...

 

[mlball77]

They lost to a playoff caliber team on the road by a touchdown, and played with them right until the last minute of the game. There are maybe 3 or 4 teams in the league you would expect to win handily on the road vs a good team, and clearly the Bears aren't one of them (neither are the Giants apparently). The Bears have some alarming weaknesses I agree, and worse the cupboard is about empty at several positions, so any more injuries will be devastating. That being said, they have had a pretty brutal schedule and to be 3-2 with 2 road loses isn't terrible. Now they get to play Cinci on the road, and Cleveland, and AZ at home. Those are 3 very winnable games and if the bears are 6-2 after that stretch, things looks quite a bit different. Considering they get to play the Vikings twice yet, the Bears are still certainly in contention if they take care of business with the lesser teams of the league. It will probably be the games at SF and Baltimore that make the difference in the season. If they can snatch both of those and split with Minnesota and GB, they should make the playoffs. Most teams figure on splitting your road games and taking care of business at home, the Bears are still positioned to do just that. Whether they can really hang with Minnesota is the real question, because obviously if they can't going to the playoffs is a moot point, they'll just lose in the playoffs.Cutler was brought in to add an extra dimension to this team, and he has done that (with plenty of room for improvement). The whole point is now the defense doesnt NEED to be dominant, the ST dont NEED to score points to win. The running game is worrisome, but tends to improve as the season wears on and particularly if Cutler is playing well. I think if this team can limit turnovers and manage to run the ball down the stretch, they are as dangerous as anybody. That doesn't mean they are an elite team, but they make for a fine 2nd tier contender that can get hot in the playoffs, and there are lots of recent examples of champions that do that.

I still think the Bears are a playoff contender… a mediocre D + solid return game + Cutler - a quality run game = a decent shot at making the playoffs. In my view, if you replaced Cutler with Orton in that equation they would not be a legit playoff contender. So I agree, the addition of Cutler takes a lot of pressure of the D to be dominant this season. I am not as optimistic that the running game will get going this year, but if you are right and it does, the offense will be extremely productive.

 

[mbuehner]

Cutler's QB rating is 86.9, which is middle of the pack (14th of QBs over 100 attempts). He's also made some huge plays with his legs, which is a new dimension for the Bears entirely. This is definitely a guy that could go either way- he certainly has the talent to be a top QB in this league (if he gets some WR help anyway), but if he continues to turn the ball over this much he's going to struggle to win consistently enough to establish his team as top tier. Two of the picks he threw last night were just inexplicably awful, they were basically punts to the free safety and he hit him right in the chest. He also missed Hester at least twice completely uncovered. I'm not sure what the story is on that, but i'll take the muffed sideline play if he'll just cut out the unforced ints.

 

[twistd]

The Bears have some alarming weaknesses I agree, and worse the cupboard is about empty at several positions, so any more injuries will be devastating. That being said, they have had a pretty brutal schedule and to be 3-2 with 2 road loses isn't terrible. Now they get to play Cinci on the road, and Cleveland, and AZ at home. Those are 3 very winnable games and if the bears are 6-2 after that stretch, things looks quite a bit different.

I don't agree about either the Bengals or the Cardinals. These are winnable games, but let us not discount the Bengals or the Cardinals. The Cardinals crushed the Seahawks. This was the Seahawks with Hasselbeck, in Seattle. The Bears required a last minute comeback to get past Seattle, and Seneca Wallace was the starter. The Bengals are 4-2, and a fluke play away from being 5-1. These aren't your same Bengals. I think the Bears would do well to come out of these games 2-1.

 

[jonessed]

It's kind of interesting to see Chicago fans who are used to such a dominant defense put so much blame on their defense. They aren't what they used to be, but they did pretty damn good last night given the situation. If you want to point the finger point it at your offense and your special teams who couldn't seem to get their #### together all game. Three turnovers, goalline fumbles, big returns, stupid penalties, etc.

And Cutler is Cutler. He turned the ball over a lot with Denver and he is going to turn the ball over a lot with Chicago. You have a Favre wannabe now. That means you take the good with the bad.

 

[twistd]

Was Forte really that good running the ball last year? I thought his average was like 3.9. Could be wrong though.Cutler makes some boneheaded decisions with the ball. I have only seen the Falcon and Packers games so maybe I just saw him at his worst?

Forte was effective running the ball last year, not dominant at all, imo. This year, the running game has been completely ineffective.As for Cutler, it seems to me he has been very up and down. And he is prone to some boneheaded decisions… but he also makes a lot of great plays. The GB game was atrocious for him and he wasn’t great last night either. I think he has been better in the other games.Re Tommie Harris (earlier poster): I agree, he seems to be a total non-factor right now. It’s sad… he was a difference maker a few years ago.

I think with Forte, you are right, he wasn't dominant. But how many back are? He is a very good all around back. He has good vision, and lateral quickness. He doesn't have ADP speed, but he is alright. He can block. He has good hands. How many dominant backs are there in the league? ADP, perhaps MJD, although he has struggled this year when his line struggled. LT once was, not anymore. There aren't many backs like that.

 

[Buffaloes]

And Cutler is Cutler. He turned the ball over a lot with Denver and he is going to turn the ball over a lot with Chicago. You have a Favre wannabe now. That means you take the good with the bad.

Pretty much. Rooting for Cutler is maddening. At times, he will look like the best player on the field and then he goes and throws an INT in the red zone that takes points off the board. This was his MO in Denver. To his credit, he is being asked to do more than any QB should right now. His OL looks really bad. Hius WRs are subpar and he's getting no help from the running game. Fortunately, he's a mobile guy who can make plays on the run. But I think the Bears look like headed for an 8-8 finish right now.

 

[mbuehner]

It's kind of interesting to see Chicago fans who are used to such a dominant defense put so much blame on their defense. They aren't what they used to be, but they did pretty damn good last night given the situation.

Agree 100%. Especially given the fact that they have guys playing linebacker that should be confined to special teams. You hold a team with an o-line that good and the weapons they have to 21 points on the road and you're doing fine. Realistically they just weren't going to shut down the Falcons, so they needed to score more than 21 points to win. That shouldn't surprise anyone, and indeed they brought Cutler in precisely to give them a chance when winning 13-10 isn't an option. In this case he didn't deliver, but on the other hand I don't the turnovers really handed points to the Falcons either. Most of them were essentially punts anyway, which is what you would have seen with Orton or Grossman at the helm anyway. They just didn't execute and outscore the Falcons, thats what killed the Bears. Defense played as well as you could expect.

 

[Two Deep]

Bears lost this game themselves. They outplayed the Falcons on O and D but made bone head after bone head mental mistakes that cost them the game. 3 turnovers in the red zone; kick off return coverage; not falling on the loose ball and trying to score a TD instead, penalties on crucial downs etc....the only thing I am really concerned about is the run game. Not sure if it is the OL or Forte or both but that needs to take off for them to win when it gets cold in Chicago and elsewhere. Cutler looks as good as advertised though. He made some incredible plays that no other QB except Brady or Manning can make IMHO. Tough road loss but hopefully they learn from this. Schedule gets a little easier with the Bengals and Browns coming up....hopefully they learn and get going here.

 

[mlball77]

Was Forte really that good running the ball last year? I thought his average was like 3.9. Could be wrong though.Cutler makes some boneheaded decisions with the ball. I have only seen the Falcon and Packers games so maybe I just saw him at his worst?

Forte was effective running the ball last year, not dominant at all, imo. This year, the running game has been completely ineffective.As for Cutler, it seems to me he has been very up and down. And he is prone to some boneheaded decisions… but he also makes a lot of great plays. The GB game was atrocious for him and he wasn’t great last night either. I think he has been better in the other games.Re Tommie Harris (earlier poster): I agree, he seems to be a total non-factor right now. It’s sad… he was a difference maker a few years ago.

I think with Forte, you are right, he wasn't dominant. But how many back are? He is a very good all around back. He has good vision, and lateral quickness. He doesn't have ADP speed, but he is alright. He can block. He has good hands. How many dominant backs are there in the league? ADP, perhaps MJD, although he has struggled this year when his line struggled. LT once was, not anymore. There aren't many backs like that.

Yeah, Forte has a very nice, well rounded skill set. I am reasonably happy with him as the starting RB. I attribute most of his struggles this year to the play of the o-line.

 

[mbuehner]

There are NO holes for Forte (or anybody else) to run through. That goalline deal when he fumbled twice (not Cutler on that one!)- first time, he had to dive from a yard deep in the backfield because his o-line got pushed back, second time he met the entire Falcons defense on the end around. Not a recipe for success.

 

[thatguy]

It's kind of interesting to see Chicago fans who are used to such a dominant defense put so much blame on their defense. They aren't what they used to be, but they did pretty damn good last night given the situation.

Agree 100%. Especially given the fact that they have guys playing linebacker that should be confined to special teams. You hold a team with an o-line that good and the weapons they have to 21 points on the road and you're doing fine. Realistically they just weren't going to shut down the Falcons, so they needed to score more than 21 points to win. That shouldn't surprise anyone, and indeed they brought Cutler in precisely to give them a chance when winning 13-10 isn't an option. In this case he didn't deliver, but on the other hand I don't the turnovers really handed points to the Falcons either. Most of them were essentially punts anyway, which is what you would have seen with Orton or Grossman at the helm anyway. They just didn't execute and outscore the Falcons, thats what killed the Bears. Defense played as well as you could expect.

The Red Zone turnovers were huge (one by Cutler and one by Forte). They didn't lead to Falcon's points, but they led to at least 6 less Chicago points, which is the same thing, and ended up being, perhaps, the difference in the game.

 

[jobarules]

I like Johnny Knox... ALOT. He reminds me of a young Steve Smith

 

[az_prof]

I like Johnny Knox... ALOT. He reminds me of a young Steve Smith

I like both the young WRs, Knox and Bennett. Knox did have a big third down drop on a long pass that was right in his hands but he makes big plays. Bennett has very good hands but needs to find a way to get open in end zone more. The problem with this team is the Defense and the offensive line. Forte is a good back, but not a great back. He isn't going to make plays on his own.

 

[Sweetness_34]

I like Johnny Knox... ALOT. He reminds me of a young Steve Smith

... yes, he is developing really well here. Should be in contention for rookie of the year....at least now that Mark Sanchez has been exposed to be the fraud that he is.

 

[twistd]

I like Johnny Knox... ALOT. He reminds me of a young Steve Smith

What I find interesting is how mature he seems to be. He has picked up the offense very quickly. He seems to be where he is supposed to be most of the time. That is very unusual for a rookie. And although he has tremendous speed, he has shown really good hands. From what I have read he is a very hard worker, and bright, that is why he has done such a good job grasping the offense. As a Bear fan I hope he is like Steve Smith, other than the punching his teammates in the face part.

 

[mlball77]

I'm wondering how much Gaines Adams gets into the mix at DE the rest of the season. Anyone have a hunch on this? Is he an upgrade over Ogunleye, Brown or Anderson?

Like I stated earlier, I think the d-line has been pretty solid this year. I think LB (other than Briggs) and DB are more of the issues on D for CHI this season. -But as a few posters have mentioned, the defensive unit has been ok overall.

 

[mbuehner]

D-line is good, but i'm concerned this defense might be revealed. If i'm playing the Bears, i run the no huddle like Ryan did to keep the d-line on the field and wear them down- then just keep hitting the short stuff with quick passes so the pass rush can't hurt you. The Bears have some match up nightmares with their current linebacker and DB corp. Gonzo could have caught ten more passes last night. Without Urlacher or even Hillenmayer theyre going to have real trouble with good TEs and RBs.

 

[whitem0nkey]

about the running game the problem is both the O-Line AND Forte.

we all know about how bad the o-line is especially with the run. but Forte is also the problem, he may be beat up from last year, he does not have the same pop when he hits the hole. he looks sluggish and a step slower.

 

[twistd]

I'm wondering how much Gaines Adams gets into the mix at DE the rest of the season. Anyone have a hunch on this? Is he an upgrade over Ogunleye, Brown or Anderson?Like I stated earlier, I think the d-line has been pretty solid this year. I think LB (other than Briggs) and DB are more of the issues on D for CHI this season. -But as a few posters have mentioned, the defensive unit has been ok overall.

I too, am curious about Gaines Adams. I think that Ogunleye is a free agent at the end of the season. This protects them if he walks. But I am more concerned with the defensive tackles. I actually think the LBs have been pretty good, especially with the injuries. The line has been decent against stopping the run. I'm just not happy with the pass rush. The did well against the Packers and the Steelers. Both teams have offensive line problems. Last night they were invisible.

 

[Bankerguy]

I love Knox-and think he is a player. Chicago looks like a team that is close, but won't get it done. Up and down for a 9-7 finish.

 

[NatronIsMean]

I sure am glad the Broncos have the Bears first pick next season. Maybe trading their first instead of the Bears first wasn't as stupid as we once beleived.

As a Bears fan, I wouldn't trade the move for the WORLD. LOVING Cutler. The problem is we paid $6 million to upgrade the oline and it somehow backfired. At the same time, our defensive line isn't what it needs to be. I'm glad we made a move for Gaines Adams. It shows they're trying to fix the problem. We'll see how it works out, but I like this team right now and LOOOOOVE Jay Cutler as our QB. Love it. The line of scrimmage is the problem, no doubt...

 

[NatronIsMean]

Was Forte really that good running the ball last year? I thought his average was like 3.9. Could be wrong though.Cutler makes some boneheaded decisions with the ball. I have only seen the Falcon and Packers games so maybe I just saw him at his worst?

Think about this before you knock Forte's 3.9: - Orton at QB (no need to worry about the deep threat).- No Johnny Knox. No Earl Bennett (at least not this version). - Rookie Olsen.Forte was ALL opponents had to worry about and yet he did well. At some point the book came out on the Bears: 1. Double Olsen2. Stack the box and shadow Forte 3. Let everyone else get single coverageThis is why Hester and Knox will only get better. If they develop *enough*, you will see Forte and Olsen improve in production. Opponents know that Olsen and Forte are clearly the weapons to fear.

 

[Balco]

Was Forte really that good running the ball last year? I thought his average was like 3.9. Could be wrong though.Cutler makes some boneheaded decisions with the ball. I have only seen the Falcon and Packers games so maybe I just saw him at his worst?

Think about this before you knock Forte's 3.9: - Orton at QB (no need to worry about the deep threat).- No Johnny Knox. No Earl Bennett (at least not this version). - Rookie Olsen.Forte was ALL opponents had to worry about and yet he did well. At some point the book came out on the Bears: 1. Double Olsen2. Stack the box and shadow Forte 3. Let everyone else get single coverageThis is why Hester and Knox will only get better. If they develop *enough*, you will see Forte and Olsen improve in production. Opponents know that Olsen and Forte are clearly the weapons to fear.

A good running back performs no matter who the qb is. So I don't buy that argument. I think Forte is a good, not great running back.

 

[ditka311]

There are NO holes for Forte (or anybody else) to run through. That goalline deal when he fumbled twice (not Cutler on that one!)- first time, he had to dive from a yard deep in the backfield because his o-line got pushed back, second time he met the entire Falcons defense on the end around. Not a recipe for success.

This very true but Forte has been pretty ineffective himself. He's not making people miss or he is getting tackled pretty easily on those rare plays he has a hole to run through (or only 2 dlinemen in the backfield).

 

[NatronIsMean]

Was Forte really that good running the ball last year? I thought his average was like 3.9. Could be wrong though.Cutler makes some boneheaded decisions with the ball. I have only seen the Falcon and Packers games so maybe I just saw him at his worst?

Think about this before you knock Forte's 3.9: - Orton at QB (no need to worry about the deep threat).- No Johnny Knox. No Earl Bennett (at least not this version). - Rookie Olsen.Forte was ALL opponents had to worry about and yet he did well. At some point the book came out on the Bears: 1. Double Olsen2. Stack the box and shadow Forte 3. Let everyone else get single coverageThis is why Hester and Knox will only get better. If they develop *enough*, you will see Forte and Olsen improve in production. Opponents know that Olsen and Forte are clearly the weapons to fear.

A good running back performs no matter who the qb is. So I don't buy that argument. I think Forte is a good, not great running back.

You're right. As a Bears fan, he's good, not great. Forte maximizes a good situation to put up really good/great numbers. But in a bad situation, he can't overcome it with talent. As an example, if there's a tiny hole to be had, Forte will find and hit it. If there's no hole, he won't bounce it outside and take off for a gain. He falls forward, catches almost every pass, hits the right hole. But he's not incredibly fast, quick, etc.

 

[Great Justini]

the bears should package up cutler with a one and try to get orton back.

 

[NatronIsMean]

the bears should package up cutler with a one and try to get orton back.

There would be a revolt. No thanks. Orton is who we thought he was. Thank God for the Cutler era.EDIT:And to be fair: Orton won't lose games. He's a solid, risk-averse guy who is horribly inaccurate deep but fairly accurate in short to mid-range. Cutler CAN win a game for a team on occassion. He has the ability to step it up a notch. That's everything to me as a Bears fan. As much as I HATE the loss of the draft picks, it was well worth it.

 

[flapgreen]

hell if i know...

 

[flapgreen]

the bears should package up cutler with a one and try to get orton back.

There would be a revolt. No thanks. Orton is who we thought he was. Thank God for the Cutler era.EDIT:And to be fair: Orton won't lose games. He's a solid, risk-averse guy who is horribly inaccurate deep but fairly accurate in short to mid-range. Cutler CAN win a game for a team on occassion. He has the ability to step it up a notch. That's everything to me as a Bears fan. As much as I HATE the loss of the draft picks, it was well worth it.

Damn right. He marched them right down the field again last night at the end. This is my first experience of anything like this happening with any consistency, and it feels pretty damn good. Too bad, the Oline blows a nut

 

[flapgreen]

There are NO holes for Forte (or anybody else) to run through. That goalline deal when he fumbled twice (not Cutler on that one!)- first time, he had to dive from a yard deep in the backfield because his o-line got pushed back, second time he met the entire Falcons defense on the end around. Not a recipe for success.

This very true but Forte has been pretty ineffective himself. He's not making people miss or he is getting tackled pretty easily on those rare plays he has a hole to run through (or only 2 dlinemen in the backfield).

He's had a lagging HS problem. Give him some time. He didn't all of a sudden start sucking, but it sure looks like our Oline did

 

[flapgreen]

There are NO holes for Forte (or anybody else) to run through. That goalline deal when he fumbled twice (not Cutler on that one!)- first time, he had to dive from a yard deep in the backfield because his o-line got pushed back, second time he met the entire Falcons defense on the end around. Not a recipe for success.

This very true but Forte has been pretty ineffective himself. He's not making people miss or he is getting tackled pretty easily on those rare plays he has a hole to run through (or only 2 dlinemen in the backfield).

lingering HS problem

 

[Your Mom]

The bears o-line is awful. Forte is an average running back. he has to have holes to run through. I know most Rbs need holes to run through. I think Forte is one of the slowest Rbs in the league. You can throw all the 40 times at me and all of that, but watching Forte he seems really slow.

The D looked good for awhile then kind of fell apart. Not sure exactly what the problem is. We all know the D isn't as good as it has been in the past. I am not a big fan of Zach Bowman, would like to see Corey G. in to play a little corner.

 

[flapgreen]

The bears o-line is awful. Forte is an average running back. he has to have holes to run through. I know most Rbs need holes to run through. I think Forte is one of the slowest Rbs in the league. You can throw all the 40 times at me and all of that, but watching Forte he seems really slow.The D looked good for awhile then kind of fell apart. Not sure exactly what the problem is. We all know the D isn't as good as it has been in the past. I am not a big fan of Zach Bowman, would like to see Corey G. in to play a little corner.

I''m hoping the acquisition of Gaines really brings a pop to our line. Who knows. Maybe a change of venue and different coaches could change his whole approach. here's wishing

 

[The Kansas Comet]

I know our o-line has been lousy and Forte has had no holes to run through, but that doesn't excuse three fumbles in five games. If he's not going to get any yards, the least he can do is protect the ball.

Not enthused about the situation the Bears are in at the line of scrimmage. Hopefully Marinelli can make Adams worth the pick, but otherwise it won't be easy to rebuild the offensive or defensive lines without selections in the first two rounds (not that I regret giving up the first rounder - Cutler is absolutely worth it). But giving up Adams for a second will hurt if he doesn't pan out. Given how much less a team has to pay a second rounder for the quality of player still available, that is a very valuable commodity to give up.

 

[DoubleG]

the bears should package up cutler with a one and try to get orton back.

Since Johnny Knox was one of Denver draft picks traded back to the Bears, does that mean we have to trade him too?Ummm...no thanks. I'll take Cutler and Knox. Orton has done well - I'm happy for him. But Cutler can do things on the field that Orton simply cannot.

 

[Sabertooth]

I was extremely disappointed with the way the Bears played last night. And I am worried for the rest of the season. I think this is probably an 8-8 team. IF they get some breaks they could be 10-6, if they don't they could be 6-10. But long term there are a number of things that I am very concerned about.1. I don't think Forte looks any different than he did last year, but there are no holes for him to run through. He is getting hit at the line, or in the backfield regularly. I think the offensive line has played very poorly. There are three new starters, Pace, Williams, and Omiyale. None of them is playing very well. Omiyale had a couple of crucial penalties. Pace had that unforgivable false start on 4th and 1, and that was coming off a time out. The play that troubled me the most was late in the fourth quarter Atlanta sacked Cutler. But the problem was Atlanta only rushed four, and all four hit Cutler. They had kept Forte in to block. So the Bears had six blockers, against four rushing linemen, and you can't even get one of those guys blocked. I had hoped with time that this line would gel. I don't think that is going to happen. Kreutz, a former Pro Bowler, is really an average player now. Pace has been okay, but probably below average. Omiyale was a free agent signing, and so far that looks like a mistake. Williams could develop, but I have seen nothing very good out of him either. The plans are to eventually move him to left tackle, but he is barely adequate at right tackle now. This line is worse than the line was last year. And they have had no injuries. You don't win games when you consistently can't control the line of scrimmage. 2.The defensive line has played good at times, but last night they couldn't get any pressure on the QB. They tried all kinds of blitzes, and couldn't get any pressure at all. They did a good job of bottling up the run, but they allowed Ryan all day to throw. They have a lot of high-priced players on this defense that are not playing up to their salaries. Tommie Harris has 7 tackles, and 1 sack. You rarely hear his name called. But he signed a huge contract. Nathan Vasher is being paid very well and he has been demoted to nickle back. And they seem to make big mistakes in crucial situations. But this defense sinks or swims with the play of the defensive line. And when they are not getting it done this defense struggles. They are healthy on the defensive line and can't get it done. 3. You don't win in this league unless you can control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. The Bears are terrible on the offensive line, and about average on the defensive side of the ball. Now you have traded away your first two picks in the draft for next year. Where is this help going to come from? Does anyone think that the offensive line is going to get better? I am very concerned for the rest of the season, and the future. On the offensive line you may have to replace at least Pace and Omiyale, and find an eventual replacement for Kreutz. I don't know if Garza has played okay, but the results would say that he hasn't. Bear fans, what are your thoughts?

I guess I don't know what you were expecting. They upgraded at QB, but in turn lost the heart of their defense. They've taken the best return man in the history of organized football and made him a wide receiver. They are a middle of the pack team. I'm not sure what you thought they were but they are basically doing what most thought they'd do. They are the second or third best team in their division.

 

[Power Monster]

I think the defense is playing well despite the injuries. The STs really let this unit down on the Falcons last possession by giving them great field position. The ST play for the Bears is much better than this. Give the Falcons credit. ST will be fine. They are still giving the Bears a chance at great field position in a lot of games. The red zone melt downs are inexcusable.

Overall- the problems here are a combination of these 3:

1.) The OL. They flat out stink. Pace and Olin are getting very long in the tooth and the stop gaps are not working. This problem will have to be addressed in the off season. Cutler and or Forte are going to get hurt and then it will be a lost season. For now- they need to get it together. That Pace penalty after a TO on 4th down near the goal line was just absolutely pathetic. Hall of fame player yes but that just killed the team's chances at tying the game. Mistakes were abundant for the team but that one was a killer.

2.) Matt Forte is a bust this year. Blame the OL if you will but he is just dialing it in. A change of pace back like Wolfe seems to find room but all of us know that he will take a beating if he starts to get more carries. Angelo rolled the dice on Kevin Jones as a BU but Jones succumbed to yet another major injury that landed him on IR before the season started. In the NFL these days- you MUST have at least 2 solid RBs to be a potential elite team. This is another weak spot that will need to be addressed in the off season. Perhaps a player like Leon Washington will help here. I am not up on the cap stuff but I would love to see a player of his caliber light a fire under Forte.

3.) Cutler is making too many mistakes at crucial times. I kept on thinking that it was time for him to start taking off and running in the ATL game but he may be forcing the ball. The WRs are young, raw but there is talent there and a lot of speed. The Bears have three TEs with very good hands so they have weapons but a careless QB coupled with a lackluster OL is going to spell doom in the long run especially on the road.

I think the team can win enough games to compete for a wild card but the mistakes and the injuries will halt that progression. To be fair- after the first seven weeks of the 2009 campaign the Bears have only seen home twice. Sure they have had the bye week but 2 home games in 7 weeks is tough on NFL teams and they get another road game in Cincy where the Bengals are looking for a bounce back. The Bengals beat the Bears the last time they played and if the defense cannot get pressure on Palmer they will take it on the chin and then we will be looking at holes in the defense as well. Someone mentioned Tommie Harris but I have the feeling that he is done. He cannot come back from his knee injury.

This team needs a road win now and I must say that this game looks to be rather significant to the Bear's season overall. A loss here to an AFC team would not be doom and gloom but a win here is a major inspiration for a team that is on the verge of reeling. Get a win and get some home cooking.

 

[William Munny]

The big question this week is does Beekman go in for Omiyale? Omiyale has been a complete disaster at LG. The guy is a natural tackle and this was an experiment, but enough already, its not going to work out. Beekman, while undersized, is agressive and did a solid job last year.

Its hard to admit because Im a huge fan but Kreutz is done as a dominant center. He gets blown off the line all game long.

What about Kevin Shaffer? I know he was brought in as depth but he has always been a good run blocker.

 

[thatguy]

Glad to see most (if not all) Bears fans still pleased with Cutler and happy to have him. This is looking like one of those trades that ends up working out for both teams - Chicago finally gets a big armed, uber-athletic QB, who can do it all. I completely understand all of the Bears fans gushing over this guy's physical ability, I did the same thing while he as in Denver - he makes at least a handful of plays every game that quite literally make you go "Wow!". It definitely makes it easier to overlook his mistakes. i really think the Bears made this trade to get the fans excited as much as they did it to improve their team, and it has clearly worked, so props to them for making the move. And of course the Bears got a fifth that they used on Johnny Knox, who looks to be legit.

On the flipside, Denver gets rid of a malcontent who seemed primed to sit out, and in return gets some high draft picks (the jury is still out on Ayers, but he is starting to find his way; we'll see what they do with Chicago's '10 first rounder), and Kyle Orton, a QB with none of the physical tools of a Jay Cutler, but perfect for McD's system - smart and safe with the ball, extremely accurate on the short and intermediate routes, and seems pretty unflappable, having led Denver on some very important fourth quarter drives each of the past 3 weeks.

 

[Oh Yes!]

Glad to see most (if not all) Bears fans still pleased with Cutler and happy to have him. This is looking like one of those trades that ends up working out for both teams - Chicago finally gets a big armed, uber-athletic QB, who can do it all. I completely understand all of the Bears fans gushing over this guy's physical ability, I did the same thing while he as in Denver - he makes at least a handful of plays every game that quite literally make you go "Wow!". It definitely makes it easier to overlook his mistakes. i really think the Bears made this trade to get the fans excited as much as they did it to improve their team, and it has clearly worked, so props to them for making the move. And of course the Bears got a fifth that they used on Johnny Knox, who looks to be legit.On the flipside, Denver gets rid of a malcontent who seemed primed to sit out, and in return gets some high draft picks (the jury is still out on Ayers, but he is starting to find his way; we'll see what they do with Chicago's '10 first rounder), and Kyle Orton, a QB with none of the physical tools of a Jay Cutler, but perfect for McD's system - smart and safe with the ball, extremely accurate on the short and intermediate routes, and seems pretty unflappable, having led Denver on some very important fourth quarter drives each of the past 3 weeks.

dont forget about his neck-beard.