Week 6: Bears at Falcons, noon central on Fox

[Soul]

 

I also find it interesting that it *seemed* like we started moving the ball in the 2nd half when Kyle started calling audibles. Yes, I'm going there -- Kyle calls plays better than Turner.

 

the game wasn't on here so i had to follow on-line, but this was a big point made on the post-game show on comcast. they seemed to imply that the offense was much better when Kyle was calling plays at the line and certainly implied, without outright saying, that he called better plays than Turner. of course this wouldn't surprise me, but i'd like to hear everyone's opinion on that.

 

My initial opinion is that Turner sucks and should be replaced. Just being honest.

 

But......to try to be fair, Turner doesn't know what the defensive alignment will be when he calls the play from the sidelines, and he's also at least partially responsible for training Kyle to be able to make those calls at the line. So, I guess it's good preparation as well. I'm just glad to finally have a QB who is making these play calls. I would have to go back to the tape to confirm it, but I really don't think Rex was doing it (or at the very least, not doing it very well), and I don't recall many of our other QBs faring well with audibles either.

[kujay]

Has anyone seen Tommie Harris lately? Just askin...

 

Yeah he recovered that fumble and then randomly fumbled the ball again while trying to get up.

 

I don't mean to rehash this, but I will. I didn't actually hear an explanation. He tried to down himself, or thought he did, but nobody blew the whistle? Is that the explanation? Just a tough break.

[jersey cubs fan]

If Matt Ryan could start every possession on 3rd and 11 and throw off his heals, he'll win every game.

 

11 freaking seconds, are you kidding me?

[Soul]

If Matt Ryan could start every possession on 3rd and 11 and throw off his heals, he'll win every game.

 

11 freaking seconds, are you kidding me?

 

I know. It's really hard to be on the wrong end of one of those. I almost wish Kyle hadn't done what he did to give me hope before being blown away.

 

Almost.

[BigbadB]

If Matt Ryan could start every possession on 3rd and 11 and throw off his heals, he'll win every game.

 

11 freaking seconds, are you kidding me?

 

It should be illegal to generate a ridiculous amount of excitement followed so closely by a ridiculous amount of depression.

[UMFan83]

If Matt Ryan could start every possession on 3rd and 11 and throw off his heals, he'll win every game.

 

11 freaking seconds, are you kidding me?

 

It was the equivalent of taking the lead in the top of the 9th only to have your closer blow it in the bottom.

[UMFan83]

If Matt Ryan could start every possession on 3rd and 11 and throw off his heals, he'll win every game.

 

11 freaking seconds, are you kidding me?

 

It should be illegal to generate a ridiculous amount of excitement followed so closely by a ridiculous amount of depression.

 

So being a Cubs fan should be illegal?

[UMFan83]

Has anyone seen Tommie Harris lately? Just askin...

 

Yeah he recovered that fumble and then randomly fumbled the ball again while trying to get up.

 

I don't mean to rehash this, but I will. I didn't actually hear an explanation. He tried to down himself, or thought he did, but nobody blew the whistle? Is that the explanation? Just a tough break.

 

He said he tried to get up to run with the ball and the ball just wedged between him and the ground and sorta popped out.

[BigbadB]

If Matt Ryan could start every possession on 3rd and 11 and throw off his heals, he'll win every game.

 

11 freaking seconds, are you kidding me?

 

It should be illegal to generate a ridiculous amount of excitement followed so closely by a ridiculous amount of depression.

 

So being a Cubs fan should be illegal?

 

I suppose so.

[BigbadB]

It's a sad day when you can't trust your special teams to hold the return to less than 30 return yards.

 

The squib kick was a horrible idea. Did Lovie honestly believe that his special teams unit would give up back to back 70+ yard returns?

 

If they did, then they don't deserve to win. But, essentially, he never gave them an opportunity to make that stand, so this loss hangs over Lovie.

[UMFan83]

It's a sad day when you can't trust your special teams to hold the return to less than 30 return yards.

 

The squib kick was a horrible idea. Did Lovie honestly believe that his special teams unit would give up back to back 70+ yard returns?

 

If they did, then they don't deserve to win. But, essentially, he never gave them an opportunity to make that stand, so this loss hangs over Lovie.

 

That's a good call. We need to have a serious discussion about our special teams. The past 3 years we had the best Special Teams unit in the league. According to Football Outsiders, I think the 2006 squad had the 2nd best special teams unit in the past 15 years based on their ratings. Now, its still somehow in the top half of the league, but its not the same at all. For a team that can't make many errors like the Bears, good special teams play is a must.

 

What is it about the special teams that has made it worse? Is it because Ayanbadejo left? Is it because Hester is running around on offense and returning kicks? Is it just natural because Special Teams is made up of your backup players, and not enough thought is put into choosing personnel that can maximize special teams play? Dave Toub was highly regarded as the best ST coach in the league, its time for him to prove it.

[kujay]

Has anyone seen Tommie Harris lately? Just askin...

 

Yeah he recovered that fumble and then randomly fumbled the ball again while trying to get up.

 

I don't mean to rehash this, but I will. I didn't actually hear an explanation. He tried to down himself, or thought he did, but nobody blew the whistle? Is that the explanation? Just a tough break.

 

He said he tried to get up to run with the ball and the ball just wedged between him and the ground and sorta popped out.

 

Got it. It looked like he threw it aside. Either way, like I said, just a tough break in a game full of them.

 

Game was full of crappy secondary play too though.

[BigbadB]

Game was full of crappy secondary play too though.

 

That's not surprising considering you had 2nd string corners playing every down, and 3rd string nickel and dimes playing in passing situations.

[bukie]

Between the Bears and Illini losing in excruciating fashion, it's almost as if someone is actively trying to get me to care about sports less.

[Cynosure]

Between the Bears and Illini losing in excruciating fashion, it's almost as if someone is actively trying to get me to care about sports less.

 

Hopefully you aren't a Blackhawks fan so far, then. And hopefully you're not a Bulls fan for the next few months... Chicago sucks this winter :(

[MPC]

Between the Bears and Illini losing in excruciating fashion, it's almost as if someone is actively trying to get me to care about sports less.

 

at least you still have the cubs postseason run!

[UMFan83]

Between the Bears and Illini losing in excruciating fashion, it's almost as if someone is actively trying to get me to care about sports less.

 

Hopefully you aren't a Blackhawks fan so far, then. And hopefully you're not a Bulls fan for the next few months... Chicago sucks this winter :(

 

And last winter.

 

The last Chicago sports playoff win was in May of 07 by the Bulls (I don't count the White Sox since none of us care about them)

Edited October 13, 2008 by UMFan83

[Banedon]

That's a good call. We need to have a serious discussion about our special teams. The past 3 years we had the best Special Teams unit in the league. According to Football Outsiders, I think the 2006 squad had the 2nd best special teams unit in the past 15 years based on their ratings. Now, its still somehow in the top half of the league, but its not the same at all. For a team that can't make many errors like the Bears, good special teams play is a must.

 

What is it about the special teams that has made it worse? Is it because Ayanbadejo left? Is it because Hester is running around on offense and returning kicks? Is it just natural because Special Teams is made up of your backup players, and not enough thought is put into choosing personnel that can maximize special teams play? Dave Toub was highly regarded as the best ST coach in the league, its time for him to prove it.

 

People say that Hester isn't the same because he's focusing of offense...yadda yadda.

 

I think Hester isn't the same because he's not getting the same gaps to run through. I think Ayanbedjo was a much bigger loss than anyone realizes. This ST is just not the same...I don't know if one player makes that much of a difference, but so far, it appears it does.

[UMFan83]

The other thing that sucks about this loss is that it makes it a lot harder to get a first round bye if somehow we got it together and were in contention for one.

 

Assuming the NFC West won't have a bye and assuming the winner of the NFC East will get a bye, that leaves the North and South battling for a bye. The Bears have already lost to 3 of the 4 NFC South teams, ensuring if we tie any of them for a bye, we won't get it.

[kujay]

The other thing that sucks about this loss is that it makes it a lot harder to get a first round bye if somehow we got it together and were in contention for one.

 

Assuming the NFC West won't have a bye and assuming the winner of the NFC East will get a bye, that leaves the North and South battling for a bye. The Bears have already lost to 3 of the 4 NFC South teams, ensuring if we tie any of them for a bye, we won't get it.

 

And we really need a bye, because my wedding is on Wild Card Saturday.

 

I have about an equal split of Bears and Packers fans coming to the wedding. Both are whining. Naturally, I didn't pick the date. I would have been cognizant of such things.

[UMFan83]

That's a good call. We need to have a serious discussion about our special teams. The past 3 years we had the best Special Teams unit in the league. According to Football Outsiders, I think the 2006 squad had the 2nd best special teams unit in the past 15 years based on their ratings. Now, its still somehow in the top half of the league, but its not the same at all. For a team that can't make many errors like the Bears, good special teams play is a must.

 

What is it about the special teams that has made it worse? Is it because Ayanbadejo left? Is it because Hester is running around on offense and returning kicks? Is it just natural because Special Teams is made up of your backup players, and not enough thought is put into choosing personnel that can maximize special teams play? Dave Toub was highly regarded as the best ST coach in the league, its time for him to prove it.

 

People say that Hester isn't the same because he's focusing of offense...yadda yadda.

 

I think Hester isn't the same because he's not getting the same gaps to run through. I think Ayanbedjo was a much bigger loss than anyone realizes. This ST is just not the same...I don't know if one player makes that much of a difference, but so far, it appears it does.

 

There was a reason he was called the human wedge and made multiple pro bowls as a Special Teamer. Only 1 Special Teams player from each conference makes the Pro Bowl, and Ayanbadejo was named the last 2 years. Thats 1 player out of maybe 200 dedicated Special Teams players from each conference. He was good, and he was so good he was able to stand out amongst 200 people, so he clearly made a difference. He was also one of the Bears captains last year, meaning he obviously had a role on the team beyond his play on the field. Anyway you slice it he was a huge loss.

Edited October 13, 2008 by UMFan83

[jersey cubs fan]

The other thing that sucks about this loss is that it makes it a lot harder to get a first round bye if somehow we got it together and were in contention for one.

 

Assuming the NFC West won't have a bye and assuming the winner of the NFC East will get a bye, that leaves the North and South battling for a bye. The Bears have already lost to 3 of the 4 NFC South teams, ensuring if we tie any of them for a bye, we won't get it.

 

Playing on wild card weekend might be their only chance of actually winning a playoff game. The Bears still play New Orleans at home in December, have 5 games left vs their own division, and a game with STL. They can still go 9-3 against the NFC with wins against two playoff contenders in New Orleans and Philly (plus GB/MIN).

[BigbadB]

The other thing that sucks about this loss is that it makes it a lot harder to get a first round bye if somehow we got it together and were in contention for one.

 

Assuming the NFC West won't have a bye and assuming the winner of the NFC East will get a bye, that leaves the North and South battling for a bye. The Bears have already lost to 3 of the 4 NFC South teams, ensuring if we tie any of them for a bye, we won't get it.

 

Playing on wild card weekend might be their only chance of actually winning a playoff game. The Bears still play New Orleans at home in December, have 5 games left vs their own division, and a game with STL. They can still go 9-3 against the NFC with wins against two playoff contenders in New Orleans and Philly (plus GB/MIN).

 

Is it just me, or has this NFL football season been one of the most unpredictable seasons to date? It's become next to impossible to predict a winner in any game.

[UMFan83]

The other thing that sucks about this loss is that it makes it a lot harder to get a first round bye if somehow we got it together and were in contention for one.

 

Assuming the NFC West won't have a bye and assuming the winner of the NFC East will get a bye, that leaves the North and South battling for a bye. The Bears have already lost to 3 of the 4 NFC South teams, ensuring if we tie any of them for a bye, we won't get it.

 

Playing on wild card weekend might be their only chance of actually winning a playoff game. The Bears still play New Orleans at home in December, have 5 games left vs their own division, and a game with STL. They can still go 9-3 against the NFC with wins against two playoff contenders in New Orleans and Philly (plus GB/MIN).

 

I won't believe we can't win a game until we get blown out of one. Obviously we are far from the most talented team in the conference, but since we've been in every game, against some good teams its hard to say we can't win a divisional playoff game. We've played a pretty tough schedule. 4/6 on the road against teams with a combined record of 18-16 (18-11 if you throw out the Detroit game..which you can't, but they really kill that record with their ineptitude)

[Soul]

Any playoff spot at all would be amazing considering the expectations coming in to the season.

 

I'm not going to revise my expectations for this team. Yes they've played better in some areas, but there are still grave concerns and injuries are once again beginning to eat away at our effectiveness.

 

There isn't a game this team can't win. But there also isn't a game where I have confidence they'll be able to hold a lead, or avoid game-destroying mistakes, or what have you. The team is almost totally a crapshoot from week to week. We could beat a top NFC team one week, and lose to a crappy team the next. There's no way to predict anything with this bunch. It's pretty much like that around the entire league.