Week 3: Bears @ Minnesota - Sunday, Sept. 24th, 12 pm CST

[jjgman21]

We really haven't gotten much from Thomas Jones this year. I'm really surprised Benson didn't even have one carry today. I think we need to use Benson a bit more to see what we have in him.

I'm also surprised Peterson hasn't been getting his one series a game. He averaged over 5 yards a game last year, you'd think he would at least have gotten a taste with how bad Jones was.

 

Jones is completely on my crap list. he left 30-35 yards out on the field today. it's like watching late career Neil Anderson out there. inside runs go to the middle of a defenders chest instead of to the daylight two yards away, outside runs are strung out until he goes out of bounds when he could have had 3-4 cutting upfield. there haven't been alot of holes, but thost that have been there, particularly today, were missed.

 

edit - it was good to see Benson in the middle of the congrats to Grossman after the TD. at least gives the illusion he's involved and not completely ostricized. Hapton's criticism of Benson after the game on WGN was over the top unnecessary.

[Wilson A2000]

Hampton's criticism of Benson or Jones?

[Wilson A2000]

For the Joniak fans out there, here's the ending with the calls from WBBM radio: http://youtube.com/watch?v=RwefACD-wg0

 

I really enjoy the Bears radio guys. Joniak is great.

 

Grossman going DEEEEEEEPPPPPPPPPPP. I love that.

[jjgman21]

Hampton's criticism of Benson or Jones?

 

Benson...spewing the typical 'hasn't proved anything' veteran 'you don't know unless you've played' crap with vicious vitriol about a callers suggestion that Benson be given moreof a shot.

 

I fear that Benson will never gain the favor of this team, and Hampton was doing his part to ensure that. just let the holdout go and see what the guy can do.

[Soriano12]

If Hampton truly thinks that Benson shouldn't be given a chance to prove

he can perform better than Jones, then I think he needs to put down the bottle of booze when watching the Bears play.

[sweetpeteman]

-Robbie Gould has quietly become a very reliable kicker, if he gets tested from 50+ yards out, hopefully he steps up and continues his consistent performance.

 

He really has become a damn good kicker, especially considering that he was picked up like this:

 

CAREER TRANSACTIONS: Entered NFL as an undrafted free agent by New England (4/29/05)... Waived by New England (8/30/05)... Signed to Baltimore practice squad (9/7/05)... Waived by Baltimore (9/27/05)... Signed by Chicago (10/8/05). SIGNED THROUGH 2008

 

He's been a steal, and considering how hard it is to get a good kicker, an amazing find.

 

EDIT: I was reading his bio, and this caught my eye:

 

Walked onto team as a freshman and became the Nittany Lions' regular kicker in the 4th game of the season... Tallied 2nd-most points on squad, 47

 

What a way to make it, walk on to a major college team, go undrafted, bounce from NE to Bal practice team to the Bears to become one of the more reliable kickers in the game

[Soul]

Hampton's criticism of Benson or Jones?

 

Benson...spewing the typical 'hasn't proved anything' veteran 'you don't know unless you've played' crap with vicious vitriol about a callers suggestion that Benson be given moreof a shot.

 

I fear that Benson will never gain the favor of this team, and Hampton was doing his part to ensure that. just let the holdout go and see what the guy can do.

 

What's the deal with Hampton? He's picked against the Bears all 3 games so far this year, now he's spewing crap about players?

 

Put down the bottle, Danimal.

[goonys evil twin]

We really haven't gotten much from Thomas Jones this year. I'm really surprised Benson didn't even have one carry today. I think we need to use Benson a bit more to see what we have in him.

I'm also surprised Peterson hasn't been getting his one series a game. He averaged over 5 yards a game last year, you'd think he would at least have gotten a taste with how bad Jones was.

 

Jones is completely on my crap list. he left 30-35 yards out on the field today. it's like watching late career Neil Anderson out there. inside runs go to the middle of a defenders chest instead of to the daylight two yards away, outside runs are strung out until he goes out of bounds when he could have had 3-4 cutting upfield. there haven't been alot of holes, but thost that have been there, particularly today, were missed.

 

edit - it was good to see Benson in the middle of the congrats to Grossman after the TD. at least gives the illusion he's involved and not completely ostricized. Hapton's criticism of Benson after the game on WGN was over the top unnecessary.

 

I get the feeling the coaching staff wants to go to Benson, but they are kind of saving his legs for a late season run while getting all they can out of Jones now. The coaches wanted to go to Benson before, but the players nearly revolted. So Jones gets his job back and the coaches are daring him to keep it.

 

Hampton is a meat head. I didn't here what you are referencing, but I think I could picture it. I think there's a reason Hampton isn't in coaching (besides the DUIs), and it's because he's still got the veteran player attitude, and not the go with the best guy attitude that NFL coaches need.

[gflore34]

For the Joniak fans out there, here's the ending with the calls from WBBM radio: http://youtube.com/watch?v=RwefACD-wg0

 

 

Great calls from Joniak, did anyone notice Alex Brown knocking Brad Johnson on his ass after the fumble recovery?

[Wilson A2000]

A lot a people don't like Benson because of the extended holdout and because they think of him as weak. The play when he got hurt during training camp looked wimpy. I am not saying he isn't tough, but that one coupled with the rumors that when Benson got injured last season and took much longer to come back that expected have got a few players on the team and some former players a little peeved at him.

[BigbadB]

I'm happy with the win on the road, but I was very disappointed in the running attack this week. Grossman had to throw the ball much more than I hoped. The running attack needs to step up to compliment the passing game.

[goonys evil twin]

That was one of the worst officiated games I've seen in a long time. Was that the crew that routinely leads the league in penalties called? The announcers kept with the storyline that it's two divisional opponents knocking the crap out of each other drawing all the penalties, but by the 2nd half, they gave up on the at theory.

[jjgman21]

That was one of the worst officiated games I've seen in a long time. Was that the crew that routinely leads the league in penalties called? The announcers kept with the storyline that it's two divisional opponents knocking the crap out of each other drawing all the penalties, but by the 2nd half, they gave up on the at theory.

 

such fun watching the officiating in my favorite pro team's game the day after watching the officiating in my favorite college team's game. if I had to choose which was worse, I'd have to stick with the BigTen officials from UW - UM.

[David]

That was one of the worst officiated games I've seen in a long time. Was that the crew that routinely leads the league in penalties called? The announcers kept with the storyline that it's two divisional opponents knocking the crap out of each other drawing all the penalties, but by the 2nd half, they gave up on the at theory.

 

I have nothing to add to the discussion, but I just want to point out that this has to be one of the strangest ways I've ever seen somebody mistype the word "that." :shock:

[goonys evil twin]

That was one of the worst officiated games I've seen in a long time. Was that the crew that routinely leads the league in penalties called? The announcers kept with the storyline that it's two divisional opponents knocking the crap out of each other drawing all the penalties, but by the 2nd half, they gave up on the at theory.

 

I have nothing to add to the discussion, but I just want to point out that this has to be one of the strangest ways I've ever seen somebody mistype the word "that." :shock:

 

I'm good like that.

[MustangMike]

That was one of the worst officiated games I've seen in a long time. Was that the crew that routinely leads the league in penalties called? The announcers kept with the storyline that it's two divisional opponents knocking the crap out of each other drawing all the penalties, but by the 2nd half, they gave up on the at theory.

 

That's what football is becoming though, you can't hit eachother anymore. Certain things I get, but I think the QB is given too much protection and I think far too many calls are made on Interference. Although the bears made some dumb mistakes all day sunday...including Olin, what was his problem with the snap???

[Mark Priors Calves]

Honestly, how bad is Cedric Benson at pass blocking? Has he played enough to prove either way that he can pick up a blitzing linebacker? Any Univ. of Texas fans have any insight on his pass blocking while in college? Did he have many opportunities in the pre-season or last year?

 

It seems to me that its become a known fact that Cedric Benson cannot be in when the Bears would possibly be passing it because he can't block. To make a baseball comparison, it sounds like a baseball player's defensive reputation. Many ballplayer develop the reputation as a good defender because of their managers, GM's, media or whatever keep saying their good at defense. After awhile it doesn't matter if they're actually good at defense or not, the reputation is what is held as truth. Benson has been pigeoned holed as a bad blocker, but I'm not convinced that's the truth. How about working on it at practice, or mini-camp, or training camp or whatever. He's only a 2nd year player, he can still learn the skills he'll need to be a successful everyday down back in the NFL.

[jjgman21]

Honestly, how bad is Cedric Benson at pass blocking? Has he played enough to prove either way that he can pick up a blitzing linebacker? Any Univ. of Texas fans have any insight on his pass blocking while in college? Did he have many opportunities in the pre-season or last year?

 

It seems to me that its become a known fact that Cedric Benson cannot be in when the Bears would possibly be passing it because he can't block. To make a baseball comparison, it sounds like a baseball player's defensive reputation. Many ballplayer develop the reputation as a good defender because of their managers, GM's, media or whatever keep saying their good at defense. After awhile it doesn't matter if they're actually good at defense or not, the reputation is what is held as truth. Benson has been pigeoned holed as a bad blocker, but I'm not convinced that's the truth. How about working on it at practice, or mini-camp, or training camp or whatever. He's only a 2nd year player, he can still learn the skills he'll need to be a successful everyday down back in the NFL.

 

Thayer's been using every opportunity to point out that Benson can catch the ball and is a good receiver out of the backfield, so there's a reason right there to put him in on passing downs.

[Soul]

Honestly, how bad is Cedric Benson at pass blocking? Has he played enough to prove either way that he can pick up a blitzing linebacker? Any Univ. of Texas fans have any insight on his pass blocking while in college? Did he have many opportunities in the pre-season or last year?

 

It seems to me that its become a known fact that Cedric Benson cannot be in when the Bears would possibly be passing it because he can't block. To make a baseball comparison, it sounds like a baseball player's defensive reputation. Many ballplayer develop the reputation as a good defender because of their managers, GM's, media or whatever keep saying their good at defense. After awhile it doesn't matter if they're actually good at defense or not, the reputation is what is held as truth. Benson has been pigeoned holed as a bad blocker, but I'm not convinced that's the truth. How about working on it at practice, or mini-camp, or training camp or whatever. He's only a 2nd year player, he can still learn the skills he'll need to be a successful everyday down back in the NFL.

 

Thayer's been using every opportunity to point out that Benson can catch the ball and is a good receiver out of the backfield, so there's a reason right there to put him in on passing downs.

 

Benson's not the first Bear running back to be held short on playing time because of the "poor pass blocker" tag.

 

I believe ATrain stayed off the field for a bit his rookie season for that very reason, too.

 

Trouble is, Benson's been around for over a year now. He should be able to pass block at this point. I don't think pass blocking is a natural ability----it's a learned one. So unless someone can tell me Benson's not putting in the work, then it's on the coaches. Nobody has been willing to say "Benson's not working hard," so I have no choice but to blame the coaches for Benson's lack of playing time due to pass blocking.

[BigbadB]

I wouldn't say he's got a whole year in. He was a hold out and he had a bad wheel.