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

[CubColtPacer]

I know it hasn't worked well most all game, but you have to at least sprinkle in the runs a bit more to help the passing attack. I mean, it wasn't like the Patriots were down 2 scores + and had to abandon the run completely. Even if you're not going to get more than 2 YPC, I think they should have done it more.

 

I could see running a little more but to argue they should have had a balanced offense is hoping for something that is highly unlikely to happen.

A perfect example of this is the Tennessee v Florida game earlier this year.

The Vols were up 10 (I think) at halftime and had no success in the running game at all in the first half. In the second half, they continued to run the ball, trying to run out the clock because they had the lead.

Because we kept running the ball into three and outs and giving the ball right back to Florida, they had the opportunity to come back and win 21-20.

Had we abandoned an obviously pathetic run game that day, we likely beat Florida and the whole season is completely different.

Running the ball when ahead is an excellent strategy, if you can move the ball when running. The Patriots couldn't move it and thus had the correct strategy to focus on passing the ball.

 

I would completely agree. Why do teams usually need to sprinkle in the run? Usually, it's to make teams at least respect it a little bit. The Colts were respecting the run plenty in the second half-which is why they stopped the Patriots cold when they tried to run it with Dillon or Maroney. The Patriots were going to pass the ball until the Colts backed off the run-instead, the Colts never backed off the run.

 

Another good example of this would be a Colts-Packers game a couple of years ago. The Packers kept blitzing on every play. Instead of trying to stay balanced, which wouldn't have worked, the Colts just decided to pass the ball every play. They passed it 22 times in the 1st quarter to 0 runs, for 252 yards and 3 TD's. If the opponent won't back off, they won't back off. The Colts played the run most of the second half-which is why the Patriots had success throwing the ball, and absolutely none running the ball, and there is simply no reason to waste a down just to run a play that the defense is attempting to stop.

[Banedon]

Tankful of Excuses

 

You saw it coming...what a hypocritical hack.

 

ETA: I thought the judge who let him come here was a Packer fan, not a "judge in Bears clothing."

 

When I first saw ATH, I thought Woody Paige was the worst one on there. Now I think he's one of the better ones on there, because he realizes his own ridiculousness.

 

Bill Plachke doesn't.

[da bears]

Tankful of Excuses

 

You saw it coming...what a hypocritical hack.

 

ETA: I thought the judge who let him come here was a Packer fan, not a "judge in Bears clothing."

 

When I first saw ATH, I thought Woody Paige was the worst one on there. Now I think he's one of the better ones on there, because he realizes his own ridiculousness.

 

Bill Plachke doesn't.

 

Around the Horn is the worst show on ESPN. Almost every one of those guys is an idiot whos just there to feed their own egos.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

God, Bill Plaschke is such a stain on sports journalism:

 

Best question of Media Day comes from the Los Angeles Times' Bill Plaschke, who grills Tank Johnson, asking him if he's gone out to nightclubs since he's been in Miami and if he's sorry for what happened.

 

"Sorry to who?" asks Tank.

 

"Sorry to society," says Plaschke.

 

Johnson then turns his back to Plaschke while the reporter says "no seriously" a couple times.

 

The silence and tension last for 30 seconds, as none of the 30 or so reporters around Johnson asks another question, waiting for Johnson to say something.

 

Sorry to society? What? Did Tank kill someone or something? How did the charges against him adversely affect society?

 

Tankful of Excuses

 

You saw it coming...what a hypocritical hack.

 

ETA: I thought the judge who let him come here was a Packer fan, not a "judge in Bears clothing."

 

While I agree with you...Johnson did say some pretty stupid things there.

 

If you watched the interview, you'll see what Plaschke wrote doesn't match up with the questions Tank answered, making him look much, much worse.

 

And ask Bill where he is when USC athletes are accused/suspended due to rape/assault/drug possesion/etc.

[BigSlick]

Tony Corrente will be the referee on Sunday-have to say, I don't know much about him.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs06/news/story?id=2749604

 

I'd just prefer a bunch of reffs that don't nose in and don't make many calls in general. IMO, let the boys play.

 

You make the calls when you have to, you throw the holding penalties when you have to, etc. But please, for the most part, keep the flag in the pocket.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070131/capt.fljr10401311542.super_bowl_bears_football_fljr104.jpg

 

The Mannings:

 

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070131/capt.fljr10601311549.super_bowl_bears_football_fljr106.jpg

[soccer10k]

God, Bill Plaschke is such a stain on sports journalism:

 

Best question of Media Day comes from the Los Angeles Times' Bill Plaschke, who grills Tank Johnson, asking him if he's gone out to nightclubs since he's been in Miami and if he's sorry for what happened.

 

"Sorry to who?" asks Tank.

 

"Sorry to society," says Plaschke.

 

Johnson then turns his back to Plaschke while the reporter says "no seriously" a couple times.

 

The silence and tension last for 30 seconds, as none of the 30 or so reporters around Johnson asks another question, waiting for Johnson to say something.

 

Sorry to society? What? Did Tank kill someone or something? How did the charges against him adversely affect society?

 

Tankful of Excuses

 

You saw it coming...what a hypocritical hack.

 

ETA: I thought the judge who let him come here was a Packer fan, not a "judge in Bears clothing."

 

While I agree with you...Johnson did say some pretty stupid things there.

 

If you watched the interview, you'll see what Plaschke wrote doesn't match up with the questions Tank answered, making him look much, much worse.

 

And ask Bill where he is when USC athletes are accused/suspended due to rape/assault/drug possesion/etc.

 

"Of course I would say that. I've never felt racism in my life before, but now … I look at it like, is this because I'm a certain thing?", "I'm young, I'm black, I have tattoos, I'm easy to stereotype. I don't look like you, I don't walk like you, I don't talk like you." - Tank Johnson

 

While I agree with you (Raisin) for the most part on the stupidity of Plaschke, these two quotes by Tank are just ludicrous.

[BigSlick]

God, Bill Plaschke is such a stain on sports journalism:

 

Best question of Media Day comes from the Los Angeles Times' Bill Plaschke, who grills Tank Johnson, asking him if he's gone out to nightclubs since he's been in Miami and if he's sorry for what happened.

 

"Sorry to who?" asks Tank.

 

"Sorry to society," says Plaschke.

 

Johnson then turns his back to Plaschke while the reporter says "no seriously" a couple times.

 

The silence and tension last for 30 seconds, as none of the 30 or so reporters around Johnson asks another question, waiting for Johnson to say something.

 

Sorry to society? What? Did Tank kill someone or something? How did the charges against him adversely affect society?

 

Tankful of Excuses

 

You saw it coming...what a hypocritical hack.

 

ETA: I thought the judge who let him come here was a Packer fan, not a "judge in Bears clothing."

 

While I agree with you...Johnson did say some pretty stupid things there.

 

If you watched the interview, you'll see what Plaschke wrote doesn't match up with the questions Tank answered, making him look much, much worse.

 

And ask Bill where he is when USC athletes are accused/suspended due to rape/assault/drug possesion/etc.

 

"Of course I would say that. I've never felt racism in my life before, but now … I look at it like, is this because I'm a certain thing?", "I'm young, I'm black, I have tattoos, I'm easy to stereotype. I don't look like you, I don't walk like you, I don't talk like you." - Tank Johnson

 

While I agree with you (Raisin) for the most part on the stupidity of Plaschke, these two quotes by Tank are just ludicrous.

 

WHATEVER, JESUS

 

God can we stop talking Tank? He's a pretty average footballer. ENOUGH WITH HIM.

 

JESUS.

[David]

http://www.superbowl.com/news/story/9964283

 

Phil Simms piece comparing himself vs. Elway in Super Bowl XXI to Rex vs. Peyton this year.

 

EDIT - One parallel he fails to recognize... Wasn't Simms's career derailed early on by some major injuries for a couple of years until he was finally able to stay healthy (and, IIRC, pretty much avoid major injury the rest of his career)?

[David]

http://www.superbowl.com/news/story/9964252

 

Vic Carucci piece warning the Colts and fans not to underestimate the Bears' passing attack, which is "better than advertised."

[Banedon]

Billy Joel will be singing the national anthemon Sunday.

 

He's also releasing a new single.

[goonys evil twin]

http://www.superbowl.com/news/story/9964252

 

Vic Carucci piece warning the Colts and fans not to underestimate the Bears' passing attack, which is "better than advertised."

 

That can't be true. The Bears are a one dimensional running team stuck in the 1950's that can't score.

[CubmanPi]

http://www.superbowl.com/news/story/9964283

 

Phil Simms piece comparing himself vs. Elway in Super Bowl XXI to Rex vs. Peyton this year.

 

EDIT - One parallel he fails to recognize... Wasn't Simms's career derailed early on by some major injuries for a couple of years until he was finally able to stay healthy (and, IIRC, pretty much avoid major injury the rest of his career)?

I saw the link to that Simms piece on nfl.com and made it a point not to read it. Former-players-turned-analyst who spend too much time talking about themselves are rarely interesting, IMO, and Simms definitely does his share.

[Jon]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2007-01/27664885.jpg

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2007-01/27664892.jpg

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2007-01/27664893.jpg

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2007-01/27664985.jpg

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2007-01/27664986.jpg

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2007-01/27664994.jpg

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2007-01/27664993.jpg

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2007-01/27664995.jpg

[Jon]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2007-01/27665255.jpg

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2007-01/27664519.jpg

[Omar]

Sweet wheels, Thomas Jones.

 

T-minus 97 hours! LESS THAN 100!

[UMFan83]

You guys aren't going to believe this............ it JUST hit me finally that the Bears are in the Super Bowl. One of those pictures posted in this thread I just look at and it hit me. I've been waiting almost 2 weeks for this. Unbelievable.

[Jon]

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070131/capt.cx10701312140.super_bowl_notebook_football_cx107.jpg

[David]

You guys aren't going to believe this............ it JUST hit me finally that the Bears are in the Super Bowl. One of those pictures posted in this thread I just look at and it hit me. I've been waiting almost 2 weeks for this. Unbelievable.

 

Which one?

[jaydee]

i dont get it. tank didnt really do anything terribly wrong, but the media acts like he killed someone. and he probably has a point about race being a factor.....lets not kid ourselves, law enforcement officers treat african americans a lot different than your average white....especially african americans with the "ghetto" image like tank.

[UMFan83]

You guys aren't going to believe this............ it JUST hit me finally that the Bears are in the Super Bowl. One of those pictures posted in this thread I just look at and it hit me. I've been waiting almost 2 weeks for this. Unbelievable.

 

Which one?

 

I think it was the one with the Manning brothers on it.... I dunno why, but seeing the patches on their jerseys, and the smiles on their faces. It just hit me.

[Jon]

I think I had my first sports-related dream last night in which the Bears lost either in the Super Bowl or in the NFC Championship game...to the Eagles. Kinda weird. But I'm pretty sure that's my first one.

 

I don't think it's going to hit me until Saturday evening. Sunday morning and afternoon are going to suuuuuuuuuck.

[Banedon]

I think I had my first sports-related dream last night in which the Bears lost either in the Super Bowl or in the NFC Championship game...to the Eagles. Kinda weird. But I'm pretty sure that's my first one.

 

I don't think it's going to hit me until Saturday evening. Sunday morning and afternoon are going to suuuuuuuuuck.

 

Monday morning is gonna hit pretty hard too if the Bears win...I'm gonna be up all night watching every highlight package known to man...

[CP_414]

Tony Corrente will be the referee on Sunday-have to say, I don't know much about him.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs06/news/story?id=2749604

 

I'd just prefer a bunch of reffs that don't nose in and don't make many calls in general. IMO, let the boys play.

 

You make the calls when you have to, you throw the holding penalties when you have to, etc. But please, for the most part, keep the flag in the pocket.

 

All I know about Tony Corrente is that he loves Mike Holmgren. Holmgren is something like 12-1 in games where Corrente is the ref. You may remember the Packers-Seahawks MNF game this season in the snow. Corrente did that game. I am the furtherest thing from a Packer fan, but I'll admit they were hosed over and over again in that game.

[Omar]

Why have I not yet seen a picture of a brown Bear eating a white horse?