Week 5: Bears @ Lions, 12:00 Central time FOX

[UMFan83]

For an offense we all expected to be putrid, the Bears have scored the 6th most points in the NFL.

[minnesotacubsfan]

so, when are teams going to take the safety out of the box? does orton have to throw for 400 yards 16 weeks in a row?

 

seriously, we'd have to play against 8 in the box if orton were in the pro-bowl. poor matt forte.

 

teams are scheming towards Fotre, they believe he is our only weapon until Orton proves them wrong consistently.

[NCCubFan]

For an offense we all expected to be putrid, the Bears have scored the 6th most points in the NFL.

And except for today they've been doing it against real competition.

 

This year is looking like a very pleasant surprise. Maybe last year was an aberration rather than the start of a decline.

[rawaction]

For an offense we all expected to be putrid, the Bears have scored the 6th most points in the NFL.

And except for today they've been doing it against real competition.

 

This year is looking like a very pleasant surprise. Maybe last year was an aberration rather than the start of a decline.

 

Last year was more health related, IMO. I don't think it was necessarily an aberration or that this year is necessarily the norm. The Bears are a severely flawed team. They were flawed when they went to the SuperBowl. The key to teams without the talent of the Cowboys, Pats, Colts, and Chargers is how they overcome or hide those flaws.

 

Still, I don't think the Bears are as good as they have shown in their 3 wins. Detroit is just horrible, and I think they really got motivated for Indy and Philly. I don't know what happened in the 2 losses. But it will be interesting to see the Bears against a more talented, equally motivated team. Two weeks vs. the Vikings may be that game.

[Banedon]

Bears vs Michael Turner should be fun. We haven't had anyone put up big running numbers against us this season...

[Soul]

so, when are teams going to take the safety out of the box? does orton have to throw for 400 yards 16 weeks in a row?

 

seriously, we'd have to play against 8 in the box if orton were in the pro-bowl. poor matt forte.

 

teams are scheming towards Fotre, they believe he is our only weapon until Orton proves them wrong consistently.

 

It'll take more than 5 games. I don't think teams believe Orton is really good yet. They'll make a few adjustments, see if he can handle it. I would imagine you'll see 8 in the box for many more games before teams become convinced. If I was a DC, I'd start throwing more creative and intense blitzes at Orton first.

 

I also think Bear fans should temper their enthusiasm a bit. Not that I think Orton sucks, but remember we saw this sort of thing from Grossman in '06 too. Then teams dialed up the blitzes and it was over.

[UMFan83]

For an offense we all expected to be putrid, the Bears have scored the 6th most points in the NFL.

And except for today they've been doing it against real competition.

 

This year is looking like a very pleasant surprise. Maybe last year was an aberration rather than the start of a decline.

 

I don't know if you can compare last year to think year in terms of offense at least

 

QB: Grossman - Orton

WR: Berrian/Muhammad - Lloyd/Hester?

RB: Benson - Forte

OL - Miller/Brown - Beekman/St. Clair

 

Thats 6 of the 11 offensive players, with only Kreutz, Tait, Garza, McKie, and Clark staying constant.

[minnesotacubsfan]

i feel like the biggest difference between last year and this year is Forte/Benson.

[Banedon]

I also think Bear fans should temper their enthusiasm a bit. Not that I think Orton sucks, but remember we saw this sort of thing from Grossman in '06 too. Then teams dialed up the blitzes and it was over.

 

Hey there Mr. Buzzkill....as a Cub fan...I need this. Don't you take this from me....

 

;)

[Soul]

It's a huge difference. Look at all the things Forte does well as a rookie, and those are many of the same things Benson couldn't/wouldn't do well as a 3rd year back.

[Soul]

I also think Bear fans should temper their enthusiasm a bit. Not that I think Orton sucks, but remember we saw this sort of thing from Grossman in '06 too. Then teams dialed up the blitzes and it was over.

 

Hey there Mr. Buzzkill....as a Cub fan...I need this. Don't you take this from me....

 

;)

 

I can't handle getting up high like I did with the Cubs this year only to be crushed again. I intend to inject as much realism into my attitude as possible. I don't think the Bears are a bad team by any stretch of the imagination, and I admit I thought they would be much worse. But it's going to take a lot more than what I've seen for me to really become excited.

 

Sorry about that Banedon. But the Cubbie scar tissue may affect my Bears attitude, at least until the 2nd half of the season.

[UMFan83]

^^ If people thought the pessimism and realism on the board was bad during the Cubs season, I can only imagine how bad it will be next year after this Cubs collapse

[Soul]

In the case of the Bears, I don't think it can be argued that after 5 games you must be overly excited or else you are a pessimist. 5 games, 3-2 record. This team has a lot to prove. I don't accept that a little realism at this point should be seen as pessimism. It just isn't. If they are 12 games in and 10-2, then that's a different story.

[UMFan83]

In the case of the Bears, I don't think it can be argued that after 5 games you must be overly excited or else you are a pessimist. 5 games, 3-2 record. This team has a lot to prove. I don't accept that a little realism at this point should be seen as pessimism. It just isn't. If they are 12 games in and 10-2, then that's a different story.

 

I'm actually optimistic. We are 2 Greg Olsen fumbles and a late game defensive lapse from being 5-0 with wins over the Colts, Panthers, Bucs, Eagles and Lions.

[Cynosure]

God I love Monday mornings in the computer lab updating my Forte-o-meter haha... only 4 days til Blackhawks!

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

I also think Bear fans should temper their enthusiasm a bit. Not that I think Orton sucks, but remember we saw this sort of thing from Grossman in '06 too. Then teams dialed up the blitzes and it was over.

 

I'm not too concerned in that aspect..from what I have seen teams have been blizting Orton just as much as Grossman, the difference being Orton does a much better job of hanging in the pocket and getting rid of the ball.

[Soul]

I also think Bear fans should temper their enthusiasm a bit. Not that I think Orton sucks, but remember we saw this sort of thing from Grossman in '06 too. Then teams dialed up the blitzes and it was over.

 

I'm not too concerned in that aspect..from what I have seen teams have been blizting Orton just as much as Grossman, the difference being Orton does a much better job of hanging in the pocket and getting rid of the ball.

 

He calls protections at the line much better than Grossman. Actually when I think back, I'm not sure if Grossman really called much at the line at all. Orton is way ahead of Rex on this. Hopefully that holds up, as well as Orton's accuracy, which has been much better recently.

[minnesotacubsfan]

while orton may or may not be calling better protection then rex, I dont know, but forte has made a HUGE dif in pass protection

[Soul]

while orton may or may not be calling better protection then rex, I dont know, but forte has made a HUGE dif in pass protection

 

He is, watch him at the line. Rex never stopped and pointed out defenders like Orton does. He's doing that to get the protection right.

 

Forte seems to do everything right. I'm starting to freak out over how good he is, so early too. Please stay healthy.

[YearofDaCubs]

I also think Bear fans should temper their enthusiasm a bit. Not that I think Orton sucks, but remember we saw this sort of thing from Grossman in '06 too. Then teams dialed up the blitzes and it was over.

 

I'm not too concerned in that aspect..from what I have seen teams have been blizting Orton just as much as Grossman, the difference being Orton does a much better job of hanging in the pocket and getting rid of the ball.

Oh yeah no doubt. Orton knows when to step up a bit to avoid the sack and he doesn't panic like Grossman did with pressure around him. I gotta tell you, I've been very pleased with Orton. I think he can actually be an average NFL qb.

[Soul]

I also think Bear fans should temper their enthusiasm a bit. Not that I think Orton sucks, but remember we saw this sort of thing from Grossman in '06 too. Then teams dialed up the blitzes and it was over.

 

I'm not too concerned in that aspect..from what I have seen teams have been blizting Orton just as much as Grossman, the difference being Orton does a much better job of hanging in the pocket and getting rid of the ball.

Oh yeah no doubt. Orton knows when to step up a bit to avoid the sack and he doesn't panic like Grossman did with pressure around him. I gotta tell you, I've been very pleased with Orton. I think he can actually be an average NFL qb.

 

That throw to Sheed down the sideline yesterday was a thing of beauty. I was like, "OMGZ, that's like....an actual NFL QB type throw with great timing and touch and everything!!"

 

Yeah, Orton's been good to watch so far. Hopefully he keeps it up.

[Derwood]

so did Forte look better than he was this week? 15 carries for 36 yards against Detroit doesnt' impress me at all

[Soul]

so did Forte look better than he was this week? 15 carries for 36 yards against Detroit doesnt' impress me at all

 

They limited his carries this week because the Bears were ahead by so much it didn't make sense to play him in the 2nd half much. He's catching the ball well out of the backfield, he's a stud in pass protection, he's near the top of the league in total yards. That's pretty impressive for a non-1st round rookie.

[bukie]

Well, the easy part of the Lions schedule is over now. No, seriously. Their most winnable game from here on out is probably a home game against the Saints.

[cubweiser03]

Well that was the complete and total destruction i was looking for. I swear the only offensive yards Detroit got was when Manning blitzed from the side Roy Williams was on and they threw quick outs and ins to that vacated spot. Millen totally ruined that offense by bringing the run heavy OC. The lions have real solid 4 WRs which also helped hide the Olines play. Now they are dependant on the oline. Whatta cluster.

 

Orton made some really nice throws, missed a couple but he at least made some nice ones down the field this time.

 

Oh and Bookers catch was AMAZING. I jumped out of my seat and yelled 'oh howry' all the way on the other side of the stadium when that happened.

 

My weekly nag of Ron Turner. This was in the first half. 2nd and 1 run up the middle, stuffed. 3rd and 1 run up the middle, no change in personel stuffed. 4th and 1 still no change in personel and they throw a FB pass McKie to the corner? Cmon that was awfull.

 

Im not going to call for a complete domination of the falcons but Matt Ryan is going to be under a lot of pressure to move that offense.