Week 6: Bears at Falcons, noon central on Fox

[jersey cubs fan]

I can't see the Bears losing to Matt Ryan. Our defense is too good for that.

 

I think people are overlooking the fact that Atlanta has played 5 games, only 2 against good defenses, and lost big both of those times. 2 of their wins are against 2 of the worst teams in football, and the 3rd win is against a GB team that's 23rd in the league in points allowed. Atlanta has not played well against a good defense yet. The Bears lost to the same 2 teams Atlanta lost to, but the Bears should have won both of those games and only barely lost in the end. I don't see Atlanta's offense doing much against the Bears, no matter how many points they put on Detroit, KC and GB. And their defense is mediocre, certainly no better than Tampa, Philly or Carolina's.

[UMFan83]

Have we determined if the Bears defense is good yet? I thought the Football Outsiders people were saying it was mediocre at best.

[jersey cubs fan]

Have we determined if the Bears defense is good yet? I thought the Football Outsiders people were saying it was mediocre at best.

 

Given what I've seen, I would have to say it's at least on par with Carolina and Tampa, two teams that shut down Atlanta. They held their own against Philly as well. I don't think they are dominant, or close to best in the league. But I'd say they are top 10, and mediocre would be a horrible description. Football outsiders doesn't really know much until the season is nearing completion.

[bukie]

Have we determined if the Bears defense is good yet? I thought the Football Outsiders people were saying it was mediocre at best.

 

Last week it was rated 9th overall, above average in both pass and run defense (slightly higher in run D). As opponent adjustments come in, the rating will look better, as the teams they've played have ended up better than projected (aside from the Colts). It'll probably be better in this week's ratings, also.

[RedFlash]

I can't see the Bears losing to Matt Ryan. Our defense is too good for that.

 

I think people are overlooking the fact that Atlanta has played 5 games, only 2 against good defenses, and lost big both of those times. 2 of their wins are against 2 of the worst teams in football, and the 3rd win is against a GB team that's 23rd in the league in points allowed. Atlanta has not played well against a good defense yet. The Bears lost to the same 2 teams Atlanta lost to, but the Bears should have won both of those games and only barely lost in the end. I don't see Atlanta's offense doing much against the Bears, no matter how many points they put on Detroit, KC and GB. And their defense is mediocre, certainly no better than Tampa, Philly or Carolina's.

 

I don't disagree with what you say, jersey, but we all can see the ATL is playing better football this yr---couldn't get much worse, I agree---then last yr. And the game is in Atlanta. With that said, if you can go into Indy and win at their place there isn't a place the bears can't win at. But the Bears should and will pressure Matt Ryan into making rookie mistakes, but I also believe Ryan will show why Atlanta tab him as Vick's replacement. So I could see ATL winning this game. But moving on from Vick is one thing, but getting rid of the problem child, DeAngelo Hall was a move that reakky helped them. This guy was as much of a headache as Vick was.

 

But I will say something like 23-14 type game will be the final.

[Magnetic Curses]

maybe i'm just feeling good after the last couple of weeks, but i think that the bears are going to win this game going away. i think ryan throws 3 picks, i can even see him failing to finish the game. he's not the right qb to beat the bears at this point in his career.

 

bears win 38-3.

[cubweiser03]

Detroit, KC and GB are near the bottom on rushing yards allowed. Tampa and Carolina are around 100 ypg and thats about what Atlanta got against them. The Bears after five games ave 74 yards per game against the run. The wont completely stop them but Atlanta isnt going to run roughshot on this defense and get their 180ypg average unless the Bears meltdown and give up some really big run plays. The Bears wont be nickeled and dimed by the falcons run, they need some 30-40+ yard runs against the Bears to make some noise. Eliminate the long runs and that leaves Matt Ryan beating this defense, i like those odds.

[rawaction]

Detroit, KC and GB are near the bottom on rushing yards allowed. Tampa and Carolina are around 100 ypg and thats about what Atlanta got against them. The Bears after five games ave 74 yards per game against the run. The wont completely stop them but Atlanta isnt going to run roughshot on this defense and get their 180ypg average unless the Bears meltdown and give up some really big run plays. The Bears wont be nickeled and dimed by the falcons run, they need some 30-40+ yard runs against the Bears to make some noise. Eliminate the long runs and that leaves Matt Ryan beating this defense, i like those odds.

 

Part of the reason those teams are near the bottom in run D is because they've played Atlanta. Don't discount ATL's run game because of the defenses they have played. Granted, it has a lot to do with it, but Atlanta has year-in and year-out been one of the top running teams. A lot of it had to do with Vick, but Jerious Norwood had a couple seasons of the highest YPC. Dunn had several good seasons there. Hell, Jamal Anderson was a star in Atlanta at one time. There have been a lot of coaching changes there, but the Falcons have always run the ball well for whatever reason.

[Soul]

maybe i'm just feeling good after the last couple of weeks, but i think that the bears are going to win this game going away. i think ryan throws 3 picks, i can even see him failing to finish the game. he's not the right qb to beat the bears at this point in his career.

 

bears win 38-3.

I think this, and then I think back to what Leinart did to us in '06. He wasn't supposed to be able to beat our D either. The biggest problem I see is, with a young guy like Ryan there's not much game film you can go to in order to really understand his tendencies. Small sample size could = incorrect assumptions. That's when you can get beat by one of these young guys.

 

So we'll see. It should be an interesting game, and it's a great chance for the Bears to really start building momentum. Don't blow it, boys.

[jersey cubs fan]

Monday September 22, 2008 12:27PM

6. I think this is what I didn't like about Week 3:

e. Back to the drawing board at quarterback, Bears.

 

Monday October 6, 2008 2:36PM

3. I think this is what I liked about Week 5:

h. Kyle Orton looks more and more like the answer for Chicago, at least temporarily.

[Soul]

Monday September 22, 2008 12:27PM

6. I think this is what I didn't like about Week 3:

e. Back to the drawing board at quarterback, Bears.

 

Monday October 6, 2008 2:36PM

3. I think this is what I liked about Week 5:

h. Kyle Orton looks more and more like the answer for Chicago, at least temporarily.

 

 

Well at least he isn't stubbornly refusing to acknowledge Kyle's been playing better. That's a fairly stark contrast to '06. I can't remember when King finally started to realize we were a good team that year, but I seem to recall it was pretty late -- like not until we won a playoff game late.

[Banedon]

Monday September 22, 2008 12:27PM

6. I think this is what I didn't like about Week 3:

e. Back to the drawing board at quarterback, Bears.

 

Monday October 6, 2008 2:36PM

3. I think this is what I liked about Week 5:

h. Kyle Orton looks more and more like the answer for Chicago, at least temporarily.

 

You should have emailed him with that. I think he'd actually address that in the Tuesday mailbag.

[jersey cubs fan]

Monday September 22, 2008 12:27PM

6. I think this is what I didn't like about Week 3:

e. Back to the drawing board at quarterback, Bears.

 

Monday October 6, 2008 2:36PM

3. I think this is what I liked about Week 5:

h. Kyle Orton looks more and more like the answer for Chicago, at least temporarily.

 

 

Well at least he isn't stubbornly refusing to acknowledge Kyle's been playing better. That's a fairly stark contrast to '06. I can't remember when King finally started to realize we were a good team that year, but I seem to recall it was pretty late -- like not until we won a playoff game late.

 

He was definitely one of the "you can't win a postseason game with Rex" guys. I didn't post that to highlight that he finally came around on Kyle, rather, I was pointing out how absurd it was to write, "back to the drawing board". Really, that's what you got out of the first three weeks of the season? Everybody gave up on Orton based on his rookie year stats, and assumed he would be the same QB he was in 2005. I don't know if he's the longterm answer. I don't know if he's the answer for the rest of 2008. But don't tell me back to the drawing board after a week 3, especially about two paragraphs after admitting it was drops and fumbles by the tight ends that really screwed the Bears, as well as a defensive letdown.

[Soul]

Him & Gene W. Two real winners who like to bag on the Bears.

[bukie]

According to this weeks Defensive-adjusted Value Over Average (DVOA) stats, the Bears are now better than only two teams on punt returns: Pittsburgh and Dallas.

[gflore34]

It probably more the Lions ineptness than Orton, but, he did look good and much improved from week 1. Imagine that a Bear quarterback improving with each week, have we ever seen such a thing?

[Soul]

Grossman was actually much better than Kyle over the first 5 games of '06. But somehow I have hope Kyle will be able to sustain better. I don't get the sense that teams will be able to rattle him just by blitzing. They might get to him, but Kyle.....I don't know....he seems more oblivious to pressure than Rex. Actually he seems more oblivious to the world in general :mrgreen:

 

I think that's a good thing.

[bukie]

Grossman was actually much better than Kyle over the first 5 games of '06. But somehow I have hope Kyle will be able to sustain better. I don't get the sense that teams will be able to rattle him just by blitzing. They might get to him, but Kyle.....I don't know....he seems more oblivious to pressure than Rex. Actually he seems more oblivious to the world in general :mrgreen:

 

I think that's a good thing.

 

I'd say the opposite. I think Orton can detect the pressure a lot better than Rex, and sets up the blocking scheme to handle it.

[jersey cubs fan]

Grossman was actually much better than Kyle over the first 5 games of '06. But somehow I have hope Kyle will be able to sustain better. I don't get the sense that teams will be able to rattle him just by blitzing. They might get to him, but Kyle.....I don't know....he seems more oblivious to pressure than Rex. Actually he seems more oblivious to the world in general :mrgreen:

 

I think that's a good thing.

 

I'd say the opposite. I think Orton can detect the pressure a lot better than Rex, and sets up the blocking scheme to handle it.

 

That's the key. Grossman was at his best picking apart defenses that sent 4 pass rushers. Once teams saw he could be rattled, they messed with him, and he never adjusted. Orton has been ducking and diving away from pass rushers in every game.

[Soul]

Grossman was actually much better than Kyle over the first 5 games of '06. But somehow I have hope Kyle will be able to sustain better. I don't get the sense that teams will be able to rattle him just by blitzing. They might get to him, but Kyle.....I don't know....he seems more oblivious to pressure than Rex. Actually he seems more oblivious to the world in general :mrgreen:

 

I think that's a good thing.

 

I'd say the opposite. I think Orton can detect the pressure a lot better than Rex, and sets up the blocking scheme to handle it.

 

That's the key. Grossman was at his best picking apart defenses that sent 4 pass rushers. Once teams saw he could be rattled, they messed with him, and he never adjusted. Orton has been ducking and diving away from pass rushers in every game.

It kind of confuses me, because you're right, but I distinctly remember Grossman avoiding the rush in his first games as a Bear. After that Minny injury he stopped moving around. I don't understand why, if you are rattled by the rush and you are trying to avoid injury, that your solution would be to become a statue in the pocket. Doesn't make sense to me.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Grossman's scouting report coming out of college gave him good/high marks on his pocket awareness (dont have time to look it up) and avoiding the blitz, but the NFL has changed that. the Minny injury was propbaly the biggest reason, if I can speculate.

[jersey cubs fan]

Grossman's scouting report coming out of college gave him good/high marks on his pocket awareness (dont have time to look it up) and avoiding the blitz, but the NFL has changed that. the Minny injury was propbaly the biggest reason, if I can speculate.

 

If it was an injury, my guess it was the STL preseason game, when he got hurt in the pocket, rather than MINN, when he got hurt running down field.

[Soul]

Grossman's scouting report coming out of college gave him good/high marks on his pocket awareness (dont have time to look it up) and avoiding the blitz, but the NFL has changed that. the Minny injury was propbaly the biggest reason, if I can speculate.

 

His solution doesn't make much sense. "I got injured, so now I'll try being a stationary target." That's what bugs me.

[UMFan83]

Grossman's scouting report coming out of college gave him good/high marks on his pocket awareness (dont have time to look it up) and avoiding the blitz, but the NFL has changed that. the Minny injury was propbaly the biggest reason, if I can speculate.

 

I don't know if this makes sense, but its possible he had good pocket awareness because his linemen were not as big in college. I think Grossman's size definitely has an effect on his ability. But I'm not a football scouting expert at all, so I could be very wrong.

[jersey cubs fan]

Grossman's scouting report coming out of college gave him good/high marks on his pocket awareness (dont have time to look it up) and avoiding the blitz, but the NFL has changed that. the Minny injury was propbaly the biggest reason, if I can speculate.

 

His solution doesn't make much sense. "I got injured, so now I'll try being a stationary target." That's what bugs me.

 

It's not necessarily a conscious decision to stand still, in fact, it most likely is not. Pocket presence is a tricky thing. You can't look at the lineman and just play keep away, you have to sense how much time before you step up or to the side, it can be subtle. And if you've been spooked by multiple leg injuries, it can affect your timing. Plus, there's the difference between having confidence in Forte and no confidence in Benson, the RB plays a big part in pass protection. Also, Rex had Fred Miller whiffing every play. Tait is a better RT than him, and JSC is probably at least similar to Tait on the left side.