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I wonder if anything will come of all the obvious mistakes and miscues the coaching staff made during the season. Alot of this has been said during the season by various people (including yourself) and you know the front office HAS to be aware of it all. I mean c'mon, look how quickly and hard the mighty have fallen. Excellent blog Pete, and there is still alot of potential in your Bears. They can be such a scary team. I just wish they were scarier during the season.

#1 - They're the Bears...that's reason enough
#2 - Uhhh, can there really be any reason aside from #1?

#3 - SneakyPete not voting for me in my WAS v SEA Throwdown
#4 - The rule of opposites: When the Packers are up, the Bears are down.

Damn! I knew Peterson was better than Benson in both ability to actually run the ball, and statistically. But I didn't realize just how much better he is. I mean, good God! Nine hundred and thirty yards in just five games. While our running game needs to be improved substantially (we finished 30th in yards rushing,) Peterson should be looked at much more closely in the upcoming offseason.

There is another aspect that should be taken into account: injuries. Our defense had been decimated this past season. Mike Brown, Dusty Dvoracek, Nathan Vasher, and Tommie Harris among others have all been out for either several games, or the entire season, as was the case with Dusty. When you lose guys like them, your defense will really take a hit, as it was in our case this year.

That said, it does not excuse the fact that a lot of the Bears looked lost out there, or rather didn't care what happened. Berrian didn't fight for the ball in the endzone, and close to the endzone, which led to disheartening interceptions. Berrian just stood there like a bump on a log. Both Greise and Orton have suffered as a result of Berrian not playing with heart. Frankly, that did not impress me at all.

Pete you said a mouth fell. I couldn't believe all the facts that i was reading in your blog. Thats what makes the team better is competition. We still have the window . But it is closing fast. Great Blog Pete

#3 - SneakyPete not voting for me in my WAS v SEA Throwdown
#4 - The rule of opposites: When the Packers are up, the Bears are down.

PackBrew42 #4 Rests @ Home | 01/03/08

Green bay is up...but the bears still got the best of them this year...kinda contradicting huh???

But in the overall scheme of things the bears never really evaluate players when they need to be evaluated...they wait and wait till there in another situations like this...hence a few years back they went 11-5 then a few years of rebuild rebuild and then bam...back at square one with players needing the boot and players needing to still play...

Anyways...we beat green bay twice this season...its not a loss at all for the season...i would rather beat green bay 2 times than anything...well not the super bowl but its a great feeling knowing farve fell to the bears...

Man, Alex Brown was definitely playing like a man possesed the last couple of games...wait...the Bears D looked awesome those last couple of games....hmmmm....

And yeah, Benson should just be kicked to the curb...he's done....what a waste of a pick.

IMHO the reason Benson was starting was because of his big fat contract and hype. Giving him the big fat contract was their first mistake. Look on the bright side, Jamal Charles is coming out early ;>) Of course I would avoid him with a 20 foot pole, he has bust material written all over him.

Great blog.

"IMHO the reason Benson was starting was because of his big fat contract and hype."

Very true. And the reason he shouldn't havebeen playing is because of his "big fat arse." Maybe if he shed a few pounds, he would be able to outrun Archuleta. Did anyone hear his response when someone asked him if the Bears should maybe bring in another back for competition. He said that it would be a waste of time. I can't help but not like his attitude. Ever since they drafted him, he's been crying because he wasn't the starter. Then he gets handed the job, with no competition, and stinks. He seems like he's just half-trying and picking up a paycheck. I wish they would just get rid of him, but it's another case of "Jerry Angelo's baby and we have to see what we've got." I've seen enough!

And WOW! Harris forced 8 fumbles!! I didn't realize that. For a defense that relies on the take aways, there's really nothing else that I need to say about the Archuleta/Harris situation.

Tracey: I hear you. The Bears were the "Anti-Patriots" in 2007. Where the Patsies made mind-boggling personnel moves to bolster their team, the Bears made mind-boggling moves to destroy their team.

PackBrew: You need to talk to Cassidy's House. She invites me to her TDs all the time. And I only vote for *her* about half the time... You can invite me to participate, but you can't tell me how to vote, man. That's just un-American! :P

cubs/bears: Keep in mind that Peterson caught a lot of balls and got some carries while spelling Benson when Benson was the annointed starter. He didn't gain ALL those yards in 5 weeks. Injuries aren't an excuse. Look at the Patriots. They lost half their O-line and hardly missed a step. Yes, Berrian is overrated and he will most likely be overpaid by another team next season.

Dre: Thanks for reading, man!

Steveo: Beating Green Bay twice was about the only thing Lovie and his staff did right this season. ;)

Josh: How much do you want to bet Angelo forces Lovie and Turner to give his prized draft pick (CB) "one last chance to prove himself?"

i: I think you're right on both counts.

Budz: Benson's attitude has been horrible since he signed with the Bears, and yeah aren't the Bears stupid for letting Harris go? 8 forced fumbles is a CAREER for a lot of guys and he did that in one season... :'(

I'd love to see Orton as a starter next season..., they should let go of Grossman and Arch..., still not sure why they signed Arch but, they should have kept Harris somehow! Defense, on most nights, wins games and the Bears need that back, the whole 'Monsters of the Midway' defense that shook offenses everywhere! And Peterson oughta start next year..., they shouldn't gotten rid of Jones so easily!

The only thing I would point out is the difference in play between this year and last year with Alex Brown. I'm willing to bet that losing his starting job was a hugely motivating factor for Brown, which he didn't seem to have much of last year. I also think he put pressure on Wale, which made him play better. Say what you will about Brown and Anderson's natural ability, but he played MUCH better this year in his limited role than he did last year as a starter when you take into account playing time.

Second, TJ didn't have nearly the terrible O-line as Benson. I don't think Benson's very good, either. He looks like he's running in waste-high water. I think TJ is overrated as a runner, though. I like about every other aspect of his game, which I'd say is quite a bit better than Benson. We'll never know how well he would have done.

All Orton does is WIN! Play him! Draft a RB, MENDENHAULL! The kid can come in as a rookie and is already better than Benson in all aspects of the position. Start Alex Brown, draft a safety, and a couple o-lineman. Patt Briggs on the butt and say great job man were gonna miss you, use that money for a free agent lineman, Faneca! Everyone thought it was the end of the world when Rosey Colvin left, anyone really missed him the last 4 years? Jamar Williams will be fine, pick up a #1 reciever! Do these things and we will be right back in the thick of things, great blog as always Pete.

Fair enough...but if I can't tell you how to vote, can I at least tell you who to root for?

You'd probably look good in green & gold.

Kev: I agree with most of what you're saying, but a competent offense would've made the defense look a whole lot better this season. I think offense should be the focus this offseason.

D C: Thanks for reading! :) I have to disagree with you on Alex Brown, though. Check out this link: http://www.fftoolbox.com/football/nfl_statistics.cfm?player_pos=DL

Brown was ranked #16 as a DE (and the best end on the Bears) in 2006 based on his stats. He had a very solid year and did not deserve to be benched without ANY COMPETITION. That was my point. If he had lost his starting role because of head-to-head competition with Anderson during the offseason, then he wouldn't have had anything to gripe about and neither would I... ;) But you are correct about TJ, we'll never know what he could've done on the Bears. But you have to admit his numbers were good against 8-in-the-box all year on the Jets.

Z: I agree with you about Orton and *maybe* Mendenhall.

I just voted in a poll on the Bears website. The question: Which free agent-to-be would you most like to see the Bears re-sign? The choices are: Brendon Ayanbadejo, Bernard Berrian, Lance Briggs, Rex Grossman. My answer: Ayanbedejo. My reason? Check back soon because I'm blogging about free agents next... ;)

Fair enough...but if I can't tell you how to vote, can I at least tell you who to root for?

You'd probably look good in green & gold.

PackBrew42 #4 Rests @ Home | 01/04/08

Blasphemy! I almost reported you for an offensive comment! :P

Kev316, Archuleta was signed because Smith thought all that was needed was for Arculeta to return to a Cover 2 system that he became familiar with in St. Louis, where Smith was a coach. At the time, it seemed like it was a good idea. After all, Washington doesn't use a Cover 2 scheme. So he was brought back into the fold, with Smith using his familiar Tampa 2. But Archuleta just plain sucked. Smith couldn't have known that at the time. He took a gamble and lost. Arch needs to go, though.

Z_Aug, we don't even know if Medenhall will enter the Draft. He just may choose to stay for his final season at Illinois.

That said, if he DOES enter the Draft, with McFadden gone (he's a top 10 pick,) I think we should snatch him up before any else does. The guy is a stud, rushing 1,681 yards with 17 touchdowns on 262 attempts, (for an average of 6.4 yards,) 318 receiving yards on 34 rec. (a 9.4 yard average,) and two receiving touchdowns. He had no fumbles this year, nor his other two seasons w/ the Illini. So his grand total for 2007 is: 1,999 yards, 19 touchdowns, and no fumbles. If he enters the Draft this year, he'll be taken before his 21st birthday. He's young, knows how to make cuts and take advantage of holes, and can give opposing defenses nightmares. Oh, yes. I'd LOVE to see him in a Bears uniform.

I'd like to see Kyle Orton given a shot next season as the starter. As for Grossman, either stick him in the two spot behind Orton or dump him. The OL is the MAIN issue offensively. It's old and didnt make any holes for the rungame, nor did it do a great job at pass protection. Revamp that line and the backs should be able to make plays. And while I'm on the back, GET RID OF THAT BUM NAMED CEDRIC BENSON.

The defense just needs to be healthy, and maybe starting Alex Brown at DE along with not having Archuleta at the S spot would help too.

You are exactly right Sneak. The Bears need to earn their positions not just be handed them without competition based on "name" recognition.