Super Bowl XLI: Bears vs. Colts, Sun 2/4, 5:30 pm CT

[Fro]

Last night as I was too excited to go to sleep.. I started thinking.. What separates Dusty Baker and Lovie Smith? Both are laid-back managers, and are not really aggressive. Only one is really successful. Why is that?

 

So which is it? Is it better to be a laid-back manager, or an aggressive one that yells all the time?

 

Does it depend on the players the manager is suited for?

 

And now I think about what may happen to Piniella.. Good or bad.

 

I think either style coach can have success. Coaching isn't about yelling at or being buddy-buddy with players, it's about getting the most out of players, and either style can do that. The differences between Lovie and Dusty (other than talent level of the team) are so great. Lovie has shown no reluctance to bench players while they are not performing, yet knows when to stick by a guy (Grossman). Lovie's team plays hard. Lovie's team doesn't make many fundamental mistakes. Lovie puts guys in position to have success. Dusty was a disaster.

 

I assume Lovie is more aggressive outside of the game, like practice

& all. While Dusty is nowhere.

 

I assume at least a couple, if not several of the Bears assistant coaches are fiery and the type to ream people out.

 

As far as the running games go, the Chiefs and Ravens didn't run it as much because all their runs were getting stuffed at the line, plus they had fallen behind the Colts by more than a TD.

 

The Bears will have to be unpredictable on offense to keep the Colts from just rushing at the RB like he was Grossman on a passing down.

[Sammy Sofa]

Lovie seems laid back emotionally, but it seems "intellectually" he's very precise and dedicated to running the Bears and how he keeps the team disciplined. Dusty seemed so laissez faire in all regards...emotions, team discipline, lineups, game events. Lovie seems in control...Dusty just seemed not to care.

[Soul]

Lovie's definitely on top of it when it comes to player performance and discipline. He grades every player's performance on an objective scale every week and has shown a willingness to replace starters who don't grade out. Obviously he gave Rex more rope than most, but others such as Mike Green and Chris Harris found their starting jobs on the chopping block pretty quick once there was a better option.

 

People will point to Benson/TJ as an example of Lovie just sticking with the veteran, but to be honest there was nothing in TJ's performance that indicated he wasn't getting the job done. And man, did his faith in TJ pay off big time once the playoffs started. Wow.

[CubColtPacer]

Last night as I was too excited to go to sleep.. I started thinking.. What separates Dusty Baker and Lovie Smith? Both are laid-back managers, and are not really aggressive. Only one is really

 

successful. Why is that?

 

So which is it? Is it better to be a laid-back manager, or an aggressive one that yells all the time?

 

Does it depend on the players the manager is suited for?

 

And now I think about what may happen to Piniella.. Good or bad.

 

I think either style coach can have success. Coaching isn't about yelling at or being buddy-buddy with players, it's about getting the most out of players, and either style can do that. The differences between Lovie and Dusty (other than talent level of the team) are so great. Lovie has shown no reluctance to bench players while they are not performing, yet knows when to stick by a guy (Grossman). Lovie's team plays hard. Lovie's team doesn't make many fundamental mistakes. Lovie puts guys in position to have success. Dusty was a disaster.

 

I assume Lovie is more aggressive outside of the game, like practice

& all. While Dusty is nowhere.

 

I assume at least a couple, if not several of the Bears assistant coaches are fiery and the type to ream people out.

 

As far as the running games go, the Chiefs and Ravens didn't run it as much because all their runs were getting stuffed at the line, plus they had fallen behind the Colts by more than a TD.

 

The Bears will have to be unpredictable on offense to keep the Colts from just rushing at the RB like he was Grossman on a passing down.

 

That's exactly right. Teams like KC didn't have a very small number of rushing attempts because they abandoned the run too soon, but rather because it was going nowhere. Remember, they didn't get a first down until the 3rd quarter, so it's not like they had many plays. Let's look at their first few possessions of the game:

 

1st possession

1st down-LJ for 0

2nd down-LJ for 2

3rd down-Green pass incomplete

Seems right here? They tried to run it down the Colts throat, and on 3rd and 8 they were forced to pass.

2nd possession

1st down-Pass to Gonzlalez for 4

2nd down-LJ for 1

3rd and 5-Pass incomplete

You can question their first down pass, but it gained more yardage than any of their 3 runs have so far, and 3rd and 5 it seemed like they had to pass.

3rd possession

1st down-LJ for 0

2nd down-LJ for 5

3rd and 5-Sack and fumble, recovered by KC

Same thing here-they tried running it twice, and still were in a non 3rd and short type situation, and the passing down went for the sack. A draw might have worked once or twice against the Colts like the Patriots game, but it won't work all day in this type of situation.

4th possession (from the 9 after the INT by Law)

1st down-LJ for 6

2nd down-LJ for 1

3rd down-this is where Green trips and loses 3-it's hard to tell how their play would have worked from the 2 because it never started-they were moderately successful running the ball on those two plays, but might have not gotten in with another run.

 

This sort of pattern continues mostly throughout. Even in the 4th quarter, the Chiefs are still mixing in the run with the pass, but the run is not working at all, so they are starting to pass more and more. With less than 6 minutes to go, they finally have to abandon the run, and Green gets sacked 3 times on the drive with Mathis stripping the ball from Green on the last one (which is 2 forced fumbles by Mathis already just in the playoffs with the Baltimore game the next week). The teams didn't abandon the run on any drive-they just couldn't run the ball several times on any drive (which is what is needed to get to 30 carries) because every time teams would run the ball more than once or twice, they would find themselves in a 3rd and long situation. Will that happen with the Bears? I'm not sure. I feel like the same pattern will develop to that of the NE game though. Jones/Benson will break some 20 yard runs, and will then get stopped for little gain on the next run, which will mean that at some point Grossman will simply have to beat the Colts on the slants and crossing routes, and probably not the deep ball consistently.

[goonys evil twin]

Baseball and football are so completely different that it doesn't make sense to question what is the best style to have to succeed at either. Baker was aggressive in all the wrong ways, wanting guys to swing early and swing often, wanting guys to "make something happen" on the basepathers, which usually just means running into outs. Lovie talks laid-back, but he preaches an extremely aggressive style of defense, one in which it's not good enough to just fall on a fumble when you can try and pick it up and score. He doesn't settle for the big fat guys slowing things down in the middle, he likes 'em small and fast.

[Soriano12]

I assume at least a couple, if not several of the Bears assistant coaches are fiery and the type to ream people out.

 

 

 

I was at training camp a few years back and some borderline WR(crap I can't remember his name) was screwing up in WR drills, and the WR Coach Darly Drake just went off on the guy big time. I mean he really reamed his arse, I was standing like 20 feet away. It was pretty funny to be honest...Edell Shepherd...I think thats who it was.

[Chris]

Go Colts!

[Soul]

I assume at least a couple, if not several of the Bears assistant coaches are fiery and the type to ream people out.

 

 

 

I was at training camp a few years back and some borderline WR(crap I can't remember his name) was screwing up in WR drills, and the WR Coach Darly Drake just went off on the guy big time. I mean he really reamed his arse, I was standing like 20 feet away. It was pretty funny to be honest...Edell Shepherd...I think thats who it was.

 

Drake's a firebrand. I've seen him lay into people too---he's also quick to call out good performances. I'm of the belief he's done a good job with talent that wasn't very polished going into the season.

 

The Bears do get alot of rah-rah from certain players as well, such as Kreutz, Mike Brown, Tillman...

[Banedon]

Tank gets to go to the Super Bowl.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs06/news/story?id=2740088

[CubColtPacer]

Tank gets to go to the Super Bowl.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs06/news/story?id=2740088

 

I actually was reading on my Colts board, and was just coming here to post this-shame on me for thinking I could get a scoop on the Bears before a Bears fan :D .

[Banedon]

Tank gets to go to the Super Bowl.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs06/news/story?id=2740088

 

I actually was reading on my Colts board, and was just coming here to post this-shame on me for thinking I could get a scoop on the Bears before a Bears fan :D .

 

Respect my authoritay! :D

[CP_414]

Tank gets to go to the Super Bowl.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs06/news/story?id=2740088

 

Good News!

[CubColtPacer]

Tank gets to go to the Super Bowl.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs06/news/story?id=2740088

 

I actually was reading on my Colts board, and was just coming here to post this-shame on me for thinking I could get a scoop on the Bears before a Bears fan :D .

 

Respect my authoritay! :D

 

Hopefully the Colts can get their own good news soon, and the Nick Harper ankle injury is a basketball sprain and not a high ankle sprain. He has been so good this season flying under the radar-no team wants to throw at him much.

 

An interesting stat BTW is that the Colts have not allowed a 100 yard receiver all season. It doesn't mean much for the game, but I love those little tidbits.

[CP_414]

Tank gets to go to the Super Bowl.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs06/news/story?id=2740088

 

I actually was reading on my Colts board, and was just coming here to post this-shame on me for thinking I could get a scoop on the Bears before a Bears fan :D .

 

Respect my authoritay! :D

 

Hopefully the Colts can get their own good news soon, and the Nick Harper ankle injury is a basketball sprain and not a high ankle sprain. He has been so good this season flying under the radar-no team wants to throw at him much.

 

An interesting stat BTW is that the Colts have not allowed a 100 yard receiver all season. It doesn't mean much for the game, but I love those little tidbits.

 

To be fair that could be because they allowed a 100 yard rusher in every game this season, and teams ran on them more than threw.

[David]

All I have to say about this game is....run, run, run, play action. And then run some more.

[Banedon]

All I have to say about this game is....run, run, run, play action. And then run some more.

 

Also be careful blitzing Manning too much...he can make you pay.

[TruffleShuffle]

All I have to say about this game is....run, run, run, play action. And then run some more.

 

If Bears are one-dimensional they will lose. And I don't mean throwing in a play-action pass every 5 runs, I mean they have to throw it about as much as they run.

[Chris]

All I have to say about this game is....run, run, run, play action. And then run some more.

 

Also be careful blitzing Manning too much...he will make you pay.

 

fixed

[Soul]

All I have to say about this game is....run, run, run, play action. And then run some more.

 

Clearly the Bears must establish the run in this game to have a legitimate shot.

[Chris]

All I have to say about this game is....run, run, run, play action.

 

Turnover on downs. :D

[CP_414]

All I have to say about this game is....run, run, run, play action. And then run some more.

 

I'm all for running more than we pass, and I think our play action can be really effective in this game, but Rex is going to have to make some plays too. The Colts have really zoned in on the run the last few weeks, and I think we can take advantage of that in the passing game. A good balance, with a few more runs than passes is the way to attack the Colts now.

[goonys evil twin]

All I have to say about this game is....run, run, run, play action. And then run some more.

 

If Bears are one-dimensional they will lose. And I don't mean throwing in a play-action pass every 5 runs, I mean they have to throw it about as much as they run.

 

I completely disagree with the "as much as you can" talk. That's playing into Indy's hands. They've won in the playoffs when teams' abandoned the run and went to the pass. The Bears need to run it 30+ times. Getting into a shoot-out with Indy is a losing battle.

[David]

All I have to say about this game is....run, run, run, play action. And then run some more.

 

If Bears are one-dimensional they will lose. And I don't mean throwing in a play-action pass every 5 runs, I mean they have to throw it about as much as they run.

 

Of course, I'm exaggerating. I definitely want Rex throwing the ball. Balance on offense is big. But the Bears need to use their 1-2 punch in the run game to attack the Colts' biggest weakness and to keep their offense off the field.

 

 

I'd like to see Rex wind up around 200 yards with a decent completion percentage and no turnovers. If that happens, along with Benson and/or Jones having success, I see the Bears winning. Easier said than done.

[CubColtPacer]

Tank gets to go to the Super Bowl.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs06/news/story?id=2740088

 

I actually was reading on my Colts board, and was just coming here to post this-shame on me for thinking I could get a scoop on the Bears before a Bears fan :D .

 

Respect my authoritay! :D

 

Hopefully the Colts can get their own good news soon, and the Nick Harper ankle injury is a basketball sprain and not a high ankle sprain. He has been so good this season flying under the radar-no team wants to throw at him much.

 

An interesting stat BTW is that the Colts have not allowed a 100 yard receiver all season. It doesn't mean much for the game, but I love those little tidbits.

 

To be fair that could be because they allowed a 100 yard rusher in every game this season, and teams ran on them more than threw.

 

That's true, but not every team did that. Many teams still threw 30 or 35 passes (for example, Brunell threw 37 times, Brady threw 35 in the regular season, 34 more in the playoff game, Palmer threw 28 times, Leftwich threw 28 times, and a couple others threw at least 28 passes in a game), and with some of the great receivers that are in this league one would think that at least one of them would have gotten 100 yards (admittedly also, the Colts avoided some of the teams with great receivers, but they did have some on their schedule as well).

[CubColtPacer]

All I have to say about this game is....run, run, run, play action. And then run some more.

 

I'm all for running more than we pass, and I think our play action can be really effective in this game, but Rex is going to have to make some plays too. The Colts have really zoned in on the run the last few weeks, and I think we can take advantage of that in the passing game. A good balance, with a few more runs than passes is the way to attack the Colts now.

 

I actually think a key for the Bears might be establishing the pass early. No team in the playoffs have really been able to pass consistently in the playoffs, which has allowed the Colts to load up against the run. Some passes early by Grossman might loosen up that Colts defense, because they will be expecting the Bears to try to establish the run early.