Bleah. That's about all I can say about the Bears' performance Sunday. Their offense was lethargic at best, tragic at its worst. I was going to blog last week about how the Bears offense saved the day with the best two-minute drill I've ever seen. I was going to talk about how Brian Griese could be one of the saviors of the season (along with Charles Tillman). But the Bears have (once again) erased all the good feelings from a miracle come-from-behind-win by losing the following week.
Some quick-hit thoughts:
1. If you take a look at his career stats, Brian Griese is a very efficient QB who consistently throws TD passes week after week. Unless he is facing a withering pass rush! Case in point: The Eagles sacked him ONCE, and barely got near him all game, and he torched them for 300+ yards, no picks, and a last minute game-winning drive. The Lions sacked Griese twice, and slapped him around with constant pressure, and he threw for just over 200 yards and four picks.
2. How is it that the O-Line can keep the blitz-happy Eagles off the QB, but they make the Lions look like a defensive powerhouse?
3. Lovie, please bench John Tait now. He got his butt handed to him all game Sunday. It's just painful to watch.
4. The Bears are NOT a running team! Sorry Lovie, I don't know what you're smoking when you say that to the media, but I want some. Real running teams can still top 100 yards when opponents put eight men in the box.
5. Cedric Benson cannot take over a game for the Bears. I've heard all kinds of crazy excuses for this kid, but he just can't play football in the NFL. He can't catch, he can't block, he can't cleanly catch a pitch, and he can't make something out of nothing.
6. The funniest excuse I've heard on CB's behalf is that it takes twenty carries before he works up a lather. Well that may have worked in college ball, but if you don't get your head out of your arse until the twenty-first carry of the game in the NFL, you're NOT GOING TO GET ANY MORE CARRIES BECAUSE YOUR TEAM IS GOING TO BE PASSING WHEN THEY FIND THEMSELVES BEHIND 16-0! Duh.
7. It's official. Mark Bradley is a bust. Did you see that effort in the end zone on the interception Griese threw? Me neither. The Bears should dump him and replace him with Mike Hass. At least they'll get more effort out of Hass.
8. Something is terribly wrong with the way the Bears evaluate offensive talent. If you look at their draft record since the 2000 draft, you'll see that they've drafted twenty-eight offensive players. Only eleven of them are still on the team, and only two (three if you count Greg Olsen) are starters.
9. How many starters have they drafted on the O-Line since the 2000 draft? One if you count Marc Colombo, who starts at right tackle for the Dallas Cowboys.
10. If we only count players drafted in the first three rounds, memorable offensive draft busts for the Bears include: Dez White, David Terrell, Anthony Thomas, Mike Gandy, Marc Colombo, Rex Grossman, Bernard Berrian (the jury may still be out), Cedric Benson, and Mark Bradley. If ONE player at each position (WR, RB, QB, OL) hit as a decent starter for the Bears, they would be sitting pretty on offense right now.
11. How stupid is it to designate Devin Hester as your #3 wide receiver when he doesn't know the entire offense? How much damage could the Bears passing game be inflicting if they had a true slot receiver a la Wes Welker or Mike Furrey?
12. I am not going to bash the Defense this week because they only gave up sixteen points. (That's good enough to win, folks.) Although when Trumane McBride and Daniel Manning are your number-one tacklers for ANY game, you're having problems.
13. If the D-Line can't get it done against a passing team, you need to blitz a bit more, Lovie. You can't let a QB like John Kitna beat you because he has all day in the pocket to find a receiver. Geez.
14. That last comment wasn't bashing the defense. I was bashing the coaches. The D-Line should be running more stunts while being supported with more LB blitzes. The straight-up pass-rushing isn't bringing consistent pressure.
15. Lovie, it's hard to make the playoffs when your team can't string back-to-back victories together. Do the math. The best your team will finish is 8-8, I don't care HOW you break up the season.
16. Here's another dig on the coaches: Did the Bears look like they were playing like their season was on the line, or like they just wanted to get to the bye week? I'll let you make the call...
Cintia Dicker
Cheney Larschied
NFL Fans: Week 11
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They broke my 2-team parlay Pete, i picked them and the Steelers to cover.Your thoughts on the Bear's making the Lion's look like a defensive powerhouse is dead on.That is never a good thing.LOL
Harry Callahan
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Great passion in your blog as always Sneaky, just too bad the passion is all in the department of the negative, but at least you are not a fan who runs and hides when things do wrong, but miraculously reappear with joyous blogs after each win(like some people).
Cassidy's House:…
Whatsittoya, NO
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I *so* wanted to blog last week when we were all feeling good about the season again, but alas, life interfered. ;)
Sneaky Pete
Rochelle, IL
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I just wish the Bears' coaching staff and front office showed as much passion as some of their fans do... Everyone seems to be "mailing it in" this season.
:'(
Sneaky Pete
Rochelle, IL
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We needed you last night, Cass, while we were all debating the debacle in NE.
Chappy...you know "it" as LarryB; I named "it" after Chappaquidick (DON'T ask!!)...went so far this morning, as to call for Joe Gibbs to APOLOGIZE for last night!!! He...oops, I mean "it"...took it down later, and offered his OWN "mea culpa". Hey, miracles DO happen...
Forgive me if I'm not my usual self now, but I'm disgusted by it all.
DC Sports Nut: Nats,…
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And I'm confused as to what this has to do with my blog?
Sneaky Pete
Rochelle, IL
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Thanks for reading, DC, if you did in fact read my blog that is... :P
Sneaky Pete
Rochelle, IL
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Debacle because your team got its a88 handed to them? Even though you insisted all week the skins would win and would call anyone names who dared to disagree with you? Newsflash, Freak. Your nothing but a loud mouth as8hole and I dont like your type . In fact, consider this war, b8tch.
Tracy00214-Is back!
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I cant figure out this Bears team. They go from great defense and no offense in the first few weeks, to the terrible and nonexistent defense and a high scoring offense, and now back to having a QB who tosses more INT's than TD's.
This season might be a sign that there are some changes on the horizon. Like revamping the offensive personel type of change. The defense has had its good times, and then bad times filled with injuries.
Mac is the Demon of…
Fort Hood, TX
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Oh and I did read your blog first Pete..sorry..;(
Tracy00214-Is back!
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Mac: I can tell you've been paying attention this season. ;) This is by far the weirdest season I've watched the Bears play...
Tracy: I feel like I've been sitting in a booth at a bar, minding my own business and BAM! A barfight spills over into my lap! If I spill my pitcher of beer, there's going to be Hell to pay... :P
Sneaky Pete
Rochelle, IL
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Pete after sitting a watching this game, I'm not sure if I can watch anymore games the rest of these season.....arrrggghhh
SouthSideHitMan
Total Comments (5101)
Yep, the Beer bong of hope was again a false promise...I will now run naked through the streets...
Please, for the love of all things holy, everyone close your eyes.
Josh
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great insight on the bears offensive draft abilities..they suck..even a blind skunk finds a bug once in a while..these guys would have taken ryan leaf over peyton manning..or maybe drafted curtis enis...oh yeah....
ZaZ
Total Comments (276)
Hitman: I couldn't have said it better myself. Fans are sooooo frustrated. You should've heard this guy on the Score last night. He was so upset when he was talking to Hub, his voice was cracking... And I knew where he was coming from because my inner voice was cracking too. At least I *hope* that was my inner voice...
Josh: Oh God, it's the apocalypse! ;)
Zaz: Yup.
Sneaky Pete
Rochelle, IL
Total Comments (1056)
Man I don't know what is going on with Da Bears. its like watching two different teams from week to week. The Defense was terrible. I can't even get on the radio at work and tell crap about my team. All the guys that pick in the office picks ...like the Bears stink!!! CB is a burst. I say bench his a88 and go with AP. at least he runs with some heart. Skeaky you hit the nail on the head.
We need some one who can evaluate talent. cuz we not getting the right players on the field. I'm sick of Lovie not showing any emotions on the sidelines. It's real frustrating to look at a game with defense dropping INTs. WRs look like they wasn't even trying to catch a ball. Good Blog. You said every thing I was thinking all day in the truck. Thank you! Now I don't have to write about that crap!!!!!
Dre Dilla
Queen Creek, AZ
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Pete , sunday was a good example of why they dont just let average, passionate fans have nfl and mlb teams. If I owned the Bears Angelo would already be gone and after that so-called game yesterday Lovie and his entire staff would be canned, maybe he could land an assistant 's job in dallas since he loves it there so much. What is Ron Turners deal??? Benson was actually running good in the first half and he just quits giving him the ball??? And whats the only defensive change this year? Coordinator. Why would you let Chico go? Because he was getting job interviews every year? Well if thats the case they certainly solved the problem because they promoted a **** to coordinator who no one will want to hire.
Z_Aug:Bow to your…
Somewhere, IL
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Maybe you can take solace in knowing that at least there is still 1 team below you in the NFC North standings.
Sorry Sneaky....watched that game on Sunday myself and ouch....I felt like I was watching one of Brett Favre's bad games.
PackBrew42 is…
Miller Brewery, WI
Total Comments (4060)
Good blog Pete. I disagree with you on two points.. 1. Replace Berrian with Bradley. Get him in the game and let him shake the rust off... I'm willing to give him a chance even though he's responsble for Griese's pick in the endzone... 2. Hester helps our case when he's in at receiver. People are still scared to death of him... I know your point was that we need better talent evaluation but leave him in... Why aren't we willing to get Garrett in the game? And could we possibly replace Archuleta with Rashied Davis? He's played CB before and he's FAST!
jnovakit
Schaumburg , IL
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Thanks for reading everyone.
Z: They stopped handing the ball off to CB because they were down 13 points at half and that's enough of a lead to force the Bears to throw the ball 40-something times. I heard they changed about every position coach on defense as well as Chico. And I'm not a big fan of Chico since the playoff loss to Carolina. That was ALL Rivera.
Pack: I'm watching Brett dismantle the Broncs right now. Why? I just want to see what a real offense looks like...
jnovakit: You could be right about Bradley. I've about had enough of Berrian. He's as maddeningly inconsistent as the rest of the Bears. I think the Bears should start mixing things up anyway. Their season is over. Don't get me wrong about Hester. I like him in the game on 2-minute drills and 3rd down situations. I just don't think he should be the #3 receiver if he isn't very familiar with the offense. And my heart about stopped in the 4th quarter when Hester got crushed between two Lions...
Sneaky Pete
Rochelle, IL
Total Comments (1056)
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