Week 8: Bears vs San Francisco - Sunday, Oct. 29th, 12 pm CT

[TruffleShuffle]

I hope the next two weeks are spent on teaching Cedric Benson run blocking because he sure as heck needs to be getting more touches than Thomas Jones.

 

I don't need to see Benson run blocking at all.

 

Oops, pass blocking.

 

put him at fullback

[goonys evil twin]

Like I said, they haven't focused much on it this year, and I believe it was a combo of putting so much effort into developing Grossman and partially out of arrogance.

 

This is a Dustyesque rationalization of a negative statistic.

 

No it isn't. They ran well last year. Have the same people + a healthy Benson. Have focused most of their offense on the passing game. Dusty has nothing to do with it.

 

So they're really not trying that hard to gain yardage when they hand the ball off?

 

No, they just aren't putting any sort of emphasis on the running game. Last year they would repeatedly go to the run, even when the opposition knew they'd run. Occasionally, they'd be stuffed for no gain, but they'd keep at it and rack up yards. This year, if they don't gain 10 yards on a run play, the next play is a deep pass. They averaged 40 more yards per game and a full yard more per rush, and that was against stacked boxes last year. They are clearly capable of running the ball well. I suspect they will as the season goes on.

[Soul]

Like I said, they haven't focused much on it this year, and I believe it was a combo of putting so much effort into developing Grossman and partially out of arrogance.

 

This is a Dustyesque rationalization of a negative statistic.

 

No it isn't. They ran well last year. Have the same people + a healthy Benson. Have focused most of their offense on the passing game. Dusty has nothing to do with it.

 

So they're really not trying that hard to gain yardage when they hand the ball off?

 

No, they just aren't putting any sort of emphasis on the running game. Last year they would repeatedly go to the run, even when the opposition knew they'd run. Occasionally, they'd be stuffed for no gain, but they'd keep at it and rack up yards. This year, if they don't gain 10 yards on a run play, the next play is a deep pass. They averaged 40 more yards per game and a full yard more per rush, and that was against stacked boxes last year. They are clearly capable of running the ball well. I suspect they will as the season goes on.

 

Didn't they have 150 yards rushing against the Bills? And a pretty good amount the game before too?

 

It's true they don't seem to be running the ball as well this year, but it's not a total collapse. And last night was just being down by 20 points----teams generally must throw when they're down, though they don't have to throw all long passes into double coverage like we did.

[Chocolate Milk]

Like I said, they haven't focused much on it this year, and I believe it was a combo of putting so much effort into developing Grossman and partially out of arrogance.

 

This is a Dustyesque rationalization of a negative statistic.

 

No it isn't. They ran well last year. Have the same people + a healthy Benson. Have focused most of their offense on the passing game. Dusty has nothing to do with it.

 

So they're really not trying that hard to gain yardage when they hand the ball off?

 

No, they just aren't putting any sort of emphasis on the running game. Last year they would repeatedly go to the run, even when the opposition knew they'd run. Occasionally, they'd be stuffed for no gain, but they'd keep at it and rack up yards. This year, if they don't gain 10 yards on a run play, the next play is a deep pass. They averaged 40 more yards per game and a full yard more per rush, and that was against stacked boxes last year. They are clearly capable of running the ball well. I suspect they will as the season goes on.

 

Didn't they have 150 yards rushing against the Bills? And a pretty good amount the game before too?

 

It's true they don't seem to be running the ball as well this year, but it's not a total collapse. And last night was just being down by 20 points----teams generally must throw when they're down, though they don't have to throw all long passes into double coverage like we did.

 

The issue is, if the Bears do not attempt to run the ball, then the play action fake becomes useless. The Bears have been very successful with the play action this year. They kept running it, late into last night, and it was pointless. Interestingly enough, when you only run the ball 13 times, the play action loses it's effectiveness.

[Soul]

Like I said, they haven't focused much on it this year, and I believe it was a combo of putting so much effort into developing Grossman and partially out of arrogance.

 

This is a Dustyesque rationalization of a negative statistic.

 

No it isn't. They ran well last year. Have the same people + a healthy Benson. Have focused most of their offense on the passing game. Dusty has nothing to do with it.

 

So they're really not trying that hard to gain yardage when they hand the ball off?

 

No, they just aren't putting any sort of emphasis on the running game. Last year they would repeatedly go to the run, even when the opposition knew they'd run. Occasionally, they'd be stuffed for no gain, but they'd keep at it and rack up yards. This year, if they don't gain 10 yards on a run play, the next play is a deep pass. They averaged 40 more yards per game and a full yard more per rush, and that was against stacked boxes last year. They are clearly capable of running the ball well. I suspect they will as the season goes on.

 

Didn't they have 150 yards rushing against the Bills? And a pretty good amount the game before too?

 

It's true they don't seem to be running the ball as well this year, but it's not a total collapse. And last night was just being down by 20 points----teams generally must throw when they're down, though they don't have to throw all long passes into double coverage like we did.

 

The issue is, if the Bears do not attempt to run the ball, then the play action fake becomes useless. The Bears have been very successful with the play action this year. They kept running it, late into last night, and it was pointless. Interestingly enough, when you only run the ball 13 times, the play action loses it's effectiveness.

 

If you're talking about last night, then yes. But for the entire year, we have had some success running the ball.

[Balsa]

Okay. I've picked up a trend. Whenever I predict a blowout, it's a heart-attack, shoestring, last minute win. Whenever I predict a close game, it's a blowout.

 

In that spirit.

 

Bears 24

49ers 17

[CubmanPi]

Truf, I'd normally agree with your on HFA being overrated, but with this particular Bears team, I don't think they can win a road playoff game unless the D pitches a shutout.

You never know, the D could play offense and hit a couple homeruns themselves. Call me crazy, but mix in a Hester return with all that, and it's possible they could go on the road and put up a few TDs with no offense whatsoever.

[Omar]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1h71vEQtCM

 

Warning: Use of profanity.

 

Ahahahaha.

[UMFan83]

I'm surprised they're not considering making the Bears/Pats game a Sunday night game.

 

I read that they already tabbed Philly @ Indy for that game.

[TruffleShuffle]

I'm surprised they're not considering making the Bears/Pats game a Sunday night game.

 

I read that they already tabbed Philly @ Indy for that game.

 

Both very good games... I'd like to see both.

[UMFan83]

I'm surprised they're not considering making the Bears/Pats game a Sunday night game.

 

I read that they already tabbed Philly @ Indy for that game.

 

Both very good games... I'd like to see both.

 

I'll be at the Bears/Pats game, and then flying back to Chicago that night, so I don't think I'll catch the Philly/Indy game.

[TruffleShuffle]

I'm surprised they're not considering making the Bears/Pats game a Sunday night game.

 

I read that they already tabbed Philly @ Indy for that game.

 

Both very good games... I'd like to see both.

 

I'll be at the Bears/Pats game, and then flying back to Chicago that night, so I don't think I'll catch the Philly/Indy game.

 

Well, Indy will win, but it would be entertaining to watch those two offenses go at each other.

[goonys evil twin]

I'm surprised they're not considering making the Bears/Pats game a Sunday night game.

 

I read that they already tabbed Philly @ Indy for that game.

 

Nice. I was a little concerned I'd miss the Bears game if that was at night. I'll be in the air.

[Chocolate Milk]

Brown injured again. Worse than I thought.

 

http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=2552

[goonys evil twin]

Brown injured again. Worse than I thought.

 

http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=2552

 

Surgery? Time to move on. Good thing they drafted DB's, but they are going to need more.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Torn ligament in his foot? Crap.

 

Just be back by the playoffs.

[Chocolate Milk]

Looks like it's Chris Harris to SS, if he's healthy. Not terrible as I think Harris' skill set fits better into SS than FS.

 

Is McGowan off the PUP list yet? Or is he on IR?

[Chocolate Milk]

It did look like Brown had lost a step this year. Did anyone else notice this? Other than the scoop and score, he's been pretty quiet this year.

[UMFan83]

Sad as it is to say, if he doesn't return this season, that fumble return might be his last big memory with the Bears

[Mark Priors Calves]

please no Todd Johnson.

[gflore34]

Mike Brown the Mark Prior/Kerry Wood of the Bears however, unlike the Cubs, I don't believe his loss will cripple the Bears.

[MustangMike]

Brown injured again. Worse than I thought.

 

http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=2552

 

Surgery? Time to move on. Good thing they drafted DB's, but they are going to need more.

 

The man is snakebitten! You think its time to cut ties with Brown...they seem to really depend on his leadership. Although it doesn't matter much if he doesn't play. I wonder if peanut can play saftey. I don't trust Johnson to cover but he brings the wood. Chris Harris makes bad decisions, don't know much about McGowan.

[Banedon]

More defense in the draft I guess.

[goonys evil twin]

Just started listening to WSCR online, and there has been some interesting talk about all the Rex bashing in Chicago, and why that is happening.

[UMFan83]

Just started listening to WSCR online, and there has been some interesting talk about all the Rex bashing in Chicago, and why that is happening.

 

Care to elaborate? I just turned it on and caught the last minute of the Angelo talk