The Chicago Bears Preseason Thread

[SpongeWorthy]

Our yards per attempt numbers are always anemic.

[tfarks]

any semblance of optimism i had for this offense has been thoroughly shattered. another year of defense and special teams only it is. im on the neckbeard bandwagon though, the era of grossman needs to die its miserable death

[Wilson A2000]

Kevin Jones has been cleared to begin practicing.

 

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/huddleup/2008/08/kevin-jones-wil.html

 

also in that link:

 

"Additionally, the Bears defensive line will welcome back Dusty Dvoracek, who has not practiced yet this preseason while sitting out with a strained calf. If healthy, he is expected to compete with Anthony Adams for the starting defensive tackle position."

 

 

good deal.

 

Dusty just seems like the type of guy who can never stay on the field. Hasn't he had 4 completely different injuries in 2 years? Not good.

 

You are right, but man that defense looked great in the first game last year vs. the Chargers with Brown and Dvoracek. But the offensive line in that game was about as good as last night's. Grossman almost got killed numerous times. I really can't blame his poor play on him last night or vs. the Chargers.

[cubweiser03]

I2 made some nice plays yesterday and i like what i saw from Harrison too.

[RynoRules]

The Bears offensive line is the worst in the NFL...bar none. On top of that, I really wish there was a better way to quanitfy oline play because I think they be one of the worst all time in the NFL.

 

It is pretty sad that Angelo, armed with a mid 1st rounder in one of the deepest Oline drafts ever, has created this situation.

 

You can't blame Angelo for Williams' injury. Most teams who saw the same med reports stated they would have also taken him had he been there and had they needed a LT.

 

That said, the O-Line is horrible and this team will therefore likely waste what is likely to be a very good yr from their defense. Angelo tried to get an extra yr out of brown, Miller and Tait at LT and it cost him.

 

Remains to be seen if they will be historically bad, but I doubt that will be the case. In the last several yrs the Texans have fielded some of the worst O-Lines ever. In the 80's and most of the 90's the Bucs - in spite of Paul Gruber - couldn't block anyone. Green Bay's o-lines in the 80's and early 90's were horrendous. The Majik Man ran for his life half the time - not b/c he was so mobile, but b/c his protection broke down all the time. That's just off the top of my head.

 

Uh-huh, and how did those teams do, on the whole?

 

You can definitely blame Angelo for the overall situation on the OLine. Whenever you put yourself in a situation of needing to rely on a rookie or the OLine collapses, then you as a GM have put your team in a very bad position.

 

They're going to be bad on a Epic level. The only difference is, Turner will probably just run the ball to try to cover for their horrendous pass protection skills. If he doesn't you can bet they'll be bad on a Texans-type level. On 3rd and long it's going to be nightmarish because they'll have to throw, they have slow receivers, and they can't pick up blitzes.

 

It's horrible. There's no other way to say it.

 

I think we agree here; not sure why you felt the need to respond as though we did not. The only pass I give Angelo is on the Williams pick as most GM's in need of a LT would have picked him where the Bears did. The rest of the O-Line problems were predictable two to three yrs and Jerry should have been ready for them.

[Handlebar McSkullet]

I haven't been this less optimistic about a bears season since I was a fetus

[Soul]

When it comes time to plan personnel on the offensive side of the ball, Jerry probably throws up his hands and goes golfing.

 

Or maybe he just goes golfing because he doesn't care about offense so he's not interested in improving it.

 

I dunno. How can you let it get this bad? That's what I can't figure out. He's asleep at the wheel, and so are Lovie/Turner.

[Balsa]

any semblance of optimism i had for this offense has been thoroughly shattered. another year of defense and special teams only it is. im on the neckbeard bandwagon though, the era of grossman needs to die its miserable death

It's sad but it's true. Another year of just Gould, Hester, and Urlacher against entire offenses.

 

Our offensive line is just abysmal. And the Seahawks were playing without Kearney!!

 

We'll be lucky to win 5 games.

[Soul]

I'll go ahead and predict 4-12.

 

The defense is going to suffer some injuries like they always do, and that will keep them from being truly great. They would need to have a pristine year to lift the ugly off the rest of the club, and I don't know how realistic it is to expect that.

 

The offense might give up more points in turnovers than it scores. The defense might outscore them in many games.

 

ST's can't make up for this mess. Hester can't run back enough kicks to cover for this.

 

We have no clue how to evaluate, develop, and deploy offensive talent. It's an organizational deficiency, and boy does it ever show on the football field.

 

It's embarrasing to be a Bear fan right now when the offense is on the field.

[rawaction]

I don't think the team is going to be as bad as everyone else seems to think. The offense could very well be as bad as any in recent history, though. Looks like it's Orton's job to lose right now. The Bears are going to have to get rid of the ball fast in the air. As for the running game, I feel bad for Matt Forte. He looks like an extremely talented kid. But he isn't going to be able to do much if the Bears can't get people out of the box defensively.

 

On the defensive and special teams side, they are still good enough to win some games. I don't expect the Arizona game level of being able to win a lot of games literally alone, but they are good enough to carry the offense. Devin Hester is amazing, but when Earl Bennett is returning punts with the 2nd team return unit, the scheme is masterful. The Bears will have the ability to win much needed field position battles. If healthy, this is still the same defense won 25 games in 2 years. The LBs haven't lost anything (assuming Briggs remembers how to tackle when it counts). We saw the difference Vasher makes when he came back late last year. McGowan will be the best safety the Bears have had next to Mike Brown in his era. The DL should get back to doing damage with Harris healthier, Ogunleye and Brown playing at 2006 levels again and Anderson back as a situational player.

[Magnetic Curses]

I don't think the team is going to be as bad as everyone else seems to think. The offense could very well be as bad as any in recent history, though. Looks like it's Orton's job to lose right now. The Bears are going to have to get rid of the ball fast in the air. As for the running game, I feel bad for Matt Forte. He looks like an extremely talented kid. But he isn't going to be able to do much if the Bears can't get people out of the box defensively.

 

On the defensive and special teams side, they are still good enough to win some games. I don't expect the Arizona game level of being able to win a lot of games literally alone, but they are good enough to carry the offense. Devin Hester is amazing, but when Earl Bennett is returning punts with the 2nd team return unit, the scheme is masterful. The Bears will have the ability to win much needed field position battles. If healthy, this is still the same defense won 25 games in 2 years. The LBs haven't lost anything (assuming Briggs remembers how to tackle when it counts). We saw the difference Vasher makes when he came back late last year. McGowan will be the best safety the Bears have had next to Mike Brown in his era. The DL should get back to doing damage with Harris healthier, Ogunleye and Brown playing at 2006 levels again and Anderson back as a situational player.

 

i think that we should go to the shotgun and run the no-huddle. it will help cover up our deficiencies on the offensive line and allow orton an extra second to get rid of the ball.

 

i've been a staunch opponent of the "magic shotgun" in the past, but it looks like our only chance. orton has run this before and has done so effectively, i don't see why it's not worth a shot. if the offense is as bad as advertised, and we're doing nothing to compensate or change, then turner needs to go.

[minnesotacubsfan]

I don't think the team is going to be as bad as everyone else seems to think. The offense could very well be as bad as any in recent history, though. Looks like it's Orton's job to lose right now. The Bears are going to have to get rid of the ball fast in the air. As for the running game, I feel bad for Matt Forte. He looks like an extremely talented kid. But he isn't going to be able to do much if the Bears can't get people out of the box defensively.

 

On the defensive and special teams side, they are still good enough to win some games. I don't expect the Arizona game level of being able to win a lot of games literally alone, but they are good enough to carry the offense. Devin Hester is amazing, but when Earl Bennett is returning punts with the 2nd team return unit, the scheme is masterful. The Bears will have the ability to win much needed field position battles. If healthy, this is still the same defense won 25 games in 2 years. The LBs haven't lost anything (assuming Briggs remembers how to tackle when it counts). We saw the difference Vasher makes when he came back late last year. McGowan will be the best safety the Bears have had next to Mike Brown in his era. The DL should get back to doing damage with Harris healthier, Ogunleye and Brown playing at 2006 levels again and Anderson back as a situational player.

 

i think that we should go to the shotgun and run the no-huddle. it will help cover up our deficiencies on the offensive line and allow orton an extra second to get rid of the ball.

 

i've been a staunch opponent of the "magic shotgun" in the past, but it looks like our only chance. orton has run this before and has done so effectively, i don't see why it's not worth a shot. if the offense is as bad as advertised, and we're doing nothing to compensate or change, then turner needs to go.

 

Turner needed to go 3 years ago.

[cubweiser03]

If there is an offense that is in need of experimenting with the spread offense to hide the deficiency of their Oline in the NFL its the Chicago Bears. However, Ron Turner is not the man. And if this offense is going to be so crappy in protecting the Qb im actually leaning towards Orton now because he can at least move within the pocket to buy some time.

 

I like Matt Forte too, hes got talent. He would be better served with a better line but he is already an upgrade over Benson.

 

This defense is better than the 2005 Bears team and that team made the playoffs with the rookie Orton. Im not putting money that they will make the playoffs this year but i think they will be closer to making it than not.

[Soul]

Just out of curiosity, how do you figure this Bears defense being better than the 05 unit?

[rawaction]

Just out of curiosity, how do you figure this Bears defense being better than the 05 unit?

 

Briggs, Harris, Vasher, and McGowan (over Chris Harris) are better.

Urlacher, Tillman, Ogunleye, and Alex Brown are at least as good.

Mike Brown, the other DT (vs. Tank or Ian Scott), and Hillenmeyer are probably slightly worse.

The backups (D. Manning, Idonije, Williams, Payne, Anderson) are better than the 05 backups which included Azumah, Mike Green, Todd Johnson, Boone, and Michael Haynes among others.

 

I don't think it's a stretch to see this defense being better than the 05 version.

[UMFan83]

Just out of curiosity, how do you figure this Bears defense being better than the 05 unit?

 

Briggs, Harris, Vasher, and McGowan (over Chris Harris) are better.

Urlacher, Tillman, Ogunleye, and Alex Brown are at least as good.

Mike Brown, the other DT (vs. Tank or Ian Scott), and Hillenmeyer are probably slightly worse.

The backups (D. Manning, Idonije, Williams, Payne, Anderson) are better than the 05 backups which included Azumah, Mike Green, Todd Johnson, Boone, and Michael Haynes among others.

 

I don't think it's a stretch to see this defense being better than the 05 version.

 

05-08

Briggs=Briggs

Urlacher>Urlacher

Hillenmeyer=Hillenmeyer

Ogunleye=Ogunleye

Alex Brown>Alex Brown

Tommie Harris

Tank Johnson>Dusty Dvorchek

Mike Brown>Mike Brown

Chris Harris=McGowan

Vasher=Vasher

Tillman=Tillman

 

Secondary depth

Line depth>Line depth

 

Just my opinion...it could be close to '05 levels, but then again people change as they get older, schemes change or quickly get outdated by opponent adjustments, etc.

[Soul]

Just out of curiosity, how do you figure this Bears defense being better than the 05 unit?

 

Briggs, Harris, Vasher, and McGowan (over Chris Harris) are better.

Urlacher, Tillman, Ogunleye, and Alex Brown are at least as good.

Mike Brown, the other DT (vs. Tank or Ian Scott), and Hillenmeyer are probably slightly worse.

The backups (D. Manning, Idonije, Williams, Payne, Anderson) are better than the 05 backups which included Azumah, Mike Green, Todd Johnson, Boone, and Michael Haynes among others.

 

I don't think it's a stretch to see this defense being better than the 05 version.

Many of the players you mentioned are now older, with much more mileage on the tires, than they had in '05. I think there are alot of assumptions here that might not pan out.

[cubweiser03]

Vasher>Vasher05. 05 Vasher was the year he began to play more on the outside and was full time starter. Look at the 06 for proof of his continual improvement.

Anderson>>>Haynes. Hell Bazuin might be better than Haynes.

Dline depth=/>Dline05. Ian Scott started and Tank was more of 3rd down(he should of played more). I like Adams more than Scott and Boone was terrible in this scheme. Harrison and Dusty are much better suited for this defense than Scott and Boone.

Harris>Harris05

Urlacher and Brown probably arent as good as they were, probably not as much difference from Urlacher than from Brown.

Secondary depth>Secondary depth. Azumah was solid in the slot but Thompson was terrible everywhere.

[jersey cubs fan]

The Bears offense is going to do whatever it can to get the #1 draft choice in 2009, the defense is going to go balls out for the 12th pick. This season is shaping up to be a tremendous battle.

 

 

 

Since I'm pretty sure I was the first person to point it out, I don't feel bad repeating the obvious, the offensive line is [expletive] horrible. They were mediocre in 2005 and halfway decent in the first half of 2006. But once teams realized Grossman was going to shred them if they stayed back and that the line could not block them, they've been exposed as slow and old. The fact that the personel people and coaching staff could not or would not see this problem before this past offseason is sad. Their best offensive lineman plays perhaps the least important of the five positions, and he's not that good anymore. This group is a mess. The only real hope is for the team to play with 2 TE on every damn play, and keeping at least one in to block on every pass play.

[jersey cubs fan]

There is very little chance at all that this defense even matches 2005, let alone performs better. Their defensive line is old and slow, they don't have a single impact pass rusher. The past two drafts have been offensive-oriented, and they've turned off the spigot of young talent on defense. Don't kid yourselves.

 

 

If you think this year's defense is going to allow the fewest points in the league, or the 2nd fewest yards, you're drunk.

[UMFan83]

The Bears offense is going to do whatever it can to get the #1 draft choice in 2009, the defense is going to go balls out for the 12th pick. This season is shaping up to be a tremendous battle.

 

 

 

Since I'm pretty sure I was the first person to point it out, I don't feel bad repeating the obvious, the offensive line is ---SOAPDROPPING--- horrible. They were mediocre in 2005 and halfway decent in the first half of 2006. But once teams realized Grossman was going to shred them if they stayed back and that the line could not block them, they've been exposed as slow and old. The fact that the personel people and coaching staff could not or would not see this problem before this past offseason is sad. Their best offensive lineman plays perhaps the least important of the five positions, and he's not that good anymore. This group is a mess. The only real hope is for the team to play with 2 TE on every damn play, and keeping at least one in to block on every pass play.

 

I think everyone realized when the Bears didn't go out and get Faneca in the offseason that the Bears O-line was going to be miserable, even with Chris Williams. Honestly, with a good offensive line the last could of years, its not completely crazy to suggest that Kyle Orton would be on another team and Bears fans would be talking about how amazing it is to have stability at the QB position with Grossman. I'm not saying Grossman would be a star or anything, but he's proven in the past with time to throw he can be solid, if not just under spectacular. I guess you could say that about a lot of QBs though, although Grossman has tools that other QBs do not.

[Soul]

Yeah, the biggest problem with Grossman is he plants his feet and then that's it. Come hell or high water -- hospital room or TD pass -- he's not moving.

 

I wish we had the solid blocking to allow him to do that. I really, really do. But this team? It's not going to work for Rex. Our QB needs to be able to jump all over the place to avoid rushers.

[Banedon]

With Clark, Olsen and Davis, and the state of the receiving core, you have to think the Bears will try a fair number of 2 TE sets this year right?

[UMFan83]

With Clark, Olsen and Davis, and the state of the receiving core, you have to think the Bears will try a fair number of 2 TE sets this year right?

 

I was thinking if the Bears could go innovative and try a 3 TE set.

WR                TE TE OL OL OL OL OL TE

                             QB
                             RB

 

You can only have 2 TEs eligible though right and they have to be specified before the play? So maybe that wouldn't work.

 

I would also consider running a 2 TE set with Olsen lined up at WR on one end with Rashied Davis or even Hester on the other. That would create some interesting matchups.

 

Either way it should be clear that our blocking is going to be historically bad, and innovation is going to be needed to make this offense even slightly competent.

[Wilson A2000]

If Clark is hurt for any length of time, there are problems. I heard on the radio that Olson can't play on any pass blocking plays because he is a terrible blocker. It is going to be hard for him to see many passes thrown his way if when he is in the game you know he is only acting as a receiver.