Week 7 Vikings @ Bears Noon CST FOX

[UMFan83]

Glad we get a week to rest up. I still feel like the Lions will beat us in some stupid way, but if Orlovsky keeps playing as poorly as he has I'm not sure what we can fear.

 

Titans scare me, (Obviously a 6-0 team should scare anyone) but they exacerbate our issues on offense and defense. They got a mad good running game, and their defensive line is fantastic and our mashed up offensive line wont be able to handle them.

 

He had a pretty decent second half yesterday (Orlovsky)

[jersey cubs fan]

The problem with drafting offensive is that Angelo has proved that he misses way more than he hits when he goes for offensive players in the early rounds.

 

Olsen and Forte in the last couple years. Jury is still out on Chris Williams. Maybe Angelo's getting better?

 

I wouldn't trust Angelo to make the right decision on a first round skill position player, but I do trust him on the offensive line and finding talented offensive players after the first.

 

Do you not consider TE a skill position? Or you think the Olsen pick was lucky?

 

I don't really think of it as skill position, QB/RB/WR is what I'm talking about. I think he was lucky that Olsen fell to him. And I think of that spot in the draft (31) more like I think of 2nd round picks than top 15-20 type selections. At 31 you aren't tying up an insane amount bonus money into one guy and a bust doesn't hurt as much.

[BigbadB]

Yep. Offensive Line is still going to be the top priority in the draft next year.

 

Orton and Forte locking up their positions will be a huge plus going into next year. Forte clearly has the capability of being a 1000+ yard RB, but he needs guys to open holes for him.

 

Imagine how good Orton might be with 2 quality threats at receiver.

 

I agree with Goony that there really isn't anywhere for Grossman to go next year. No matter where he goes, he'll be a back up. Might as well back up in a system where you already know all the plays. But, if he leaves, not many will shed a tear.

 

Reading through this gamethread, I had a tough time figuring out who everyone was rooting for. A lot of names being thrown around (Bowman) that I have to look up on football-reference. Weird.

 

Frustrating day of football for me. I decided to stay home to watch games yesterday. The morning game was Chargers/Bills. Of course, the power was out for that game, so I got Pitt/Cincy instead. No other morning games. The two afternoon games were Lions/Houston and Oakland/NYJ.

 

Pathetic.

[jersey cubs fan]

Glad we get a week to rest up. I still feel like the Lions will beat us in some stupid way, but if Orlovsky keeps playing as poorly as he has I'm not sure what we can fear.

 

Titans scare me, (Obviously a 6-0 team should scare anyone) but they exacerbate our issues on offense and defense. They got a mad good running game, and their defensive line is fantastic and our mashed up offensive line wont be able to handle them.

 

He had a pretty decent second half yesterday (Orlovsky)

 

The only concern I have with the Lions game is if they look past Detroit, which, with this team, is entirely possible. The bye week will help with health, but it may also cause them to start thinking about Tennessee. I think they can afford to go 1-1 the next two games, heading into GB with a 5-4 record, even though I would obviously prefer a 6-3 record and a guarantee of nothing less than a share of first place. The Packers play at Tenn and at Minnesota after this bye week.

[Banedon]

I don't really think of it as skill position, QB/RB/WR is what I'm talking about. I think he was lucky that Olsen fell to him. And I think of that spot in the draft (31) more like I think of 2nd round picks than top 15-20 type selections. At 31 you aren't tying up an insane amount bonus money into one guy and a bust doesn't hurt as much.

 

If we take TE out of the equation, you're really only talking about Benson and Grossman then? And Grossman was a #22 pick...not much ahead of where Olsen was picked, though he is a QB...

[UMFan83]

Looking at the Bears/Packers schedules the rest of the way, their schedule in terms of opponents is exactly the same except for one game, the Bears play the Rams, while the Packers still have to play Carolina. But in terms of H/R, the Bears have 5 more home games, while the Packers have 4 left. Schedule favors the Bears but not by a ton.

[jersey cubs fan]

I don't really think of it as skill position, QB/RB/WR is what I'm talking about. I think he was lucky that Olsen fell to him. And I think of that spot in the draft (31) more like I think of 2nd round picks than top 15-20 type selections. At 31 you aren't tying up an insane amount bonus money into one guy and a bust doesn't hurt as much.

 

If we take TE out of the equation, you're really only talking about Benson and Grossman then? And Grossman was a #22 pick...not much ahead of where Olsen was picked, though he is a QB...

 

Yes, I'm basing this off Grossman and Benson primarily, I disagreed with both picks when they were made. But I still don't trust him on skill position players QB/WR/RB in general. And therefore I don't want him picking those positions in the first round, when busts are more painful because of cap implications. Even though 22 isn't much ahead of where Olsen was selected, 9 spots earlier is fairly significant when it comes to guaranteed money. Plus, a QB is an even bigger gamble because that one position so greatly affects the entire team. A QB at 22 is not all that comparable with a TE at 31.

[rawaction]

Yeah, I go OL in the 09 draft, unless there is a real good pass rushing DE (which there are a lot of in this draft), DT, or safety (again a lot of talent in this area of the draft). I'd be pretty tempted to go OL again in the 2nd, but more inclined to get the best defensive player available. The Bears could really use help at all positions on the D at this point. QB would be my 3rd round pick. Like Goony said, Orton/Hanie/Rookie isn't bad. I don't see the need for a veteran backup unless you have the talent of a team like Dallas. And I don't see the point in paying a lot of money for a backup when you have cheap production there as it is.

[jersey cubs fan]

Looking at the Bears/Packers schedules the rest of the way, their schedule in terms of opponents is exactly the same except for one game, the Bears play the Rams, while the Packers still have to play Carolina. But in terms of H/R, the Bears have 5 more home games, while the Packers have 4 left. Schedule favors the Bears but not by a ton.

 

Yeah, I think there's a fairly significant difference between GB going to Tennessee, Jacksonville and New Orleans while the Bears face them at home. Hopefully that proves to be a 1 game swing in the Bears favor. I don't really think there's a huge difference between facing Houston home or away, especially late in the season when it won't mean anything to them. GB does face Detroit at home that weekend which should be a sure win, but if the Bears have a 1 game lead by then they should be able to lock in the divison with a win at the Texans. Right now I see the Bears winning the Detroit game, one of the Packers games, at the Rams and at Houston. They should be able to beat New Orleans at home, which would give them 9 wins. Then it's a matter of taking one of the tough AFC south home games, or the other Packers game or the next Minnesota game. 11 wins is still on the table, but I see them losing 3 more unless the defense completely turns it around.

[Magnetic Curses]

Going into this season I thought certain that Orton would be bad to average as Bears positioned themselves to draft a QB in '09.

 

I still think the Bears need to draft a QB in the 1st half of the 09 draft, though. Maybe not 1st or 2nd round like we all suspected, but definitely by the 3rd. Grossman will likely be gone, and Hanie isn't a legit #2.

as far as drafting another qb to fill the backup spot, i think that's unwarranted. i don't want to have to depend upon a rookie in any way if orton goes down. there will be plenty of veterans available before next season.

 

At this point I'd be leaning heavily on drafting offensive line in the first again, unless a defensive playmaker slips to them. I definitely want a QB drafted, they should draft one at least every other year, but I'd be fine with waiting until Day 2 (which I believe is now rounds 3-7). Grossman might be gone, but I'm not sure how much demand there will be for his services elsewhere, and the Bears seem to like him and want him around. He still might play at some point this year, showing his value as a backup. If he left, however, I wouldn't have a problem going Orton, Hanie, Rookie in the depth chart. I don't see the point in going after mediocre veterans. Let potential future starters serve as backups.

 

i'm fine with having a rookie 3rd string, but i think there should be a veteran ready to step in and play if the starter goes down. i'm not comfortable depending upon a first-year player on a playoff-caliber team.

 

the year after that, the rookie third-stringer will be ready to move up to 2nd-string. i think orton's development was handled well, even if it wasn't meant to be. unlike grossman, he had time to sit back and learn.

[jersey cubs fan]

i'm fine with having a rookie 3rd string, but i think there should be a veteran ready to step in and play if the starter goes down. i'm not comfortable depending upon a first-year player on a playoff-caliber team.

 

the year after that, the rookie third-stringer will be ready to move up to 2nd-string. i think orton's development was handled well, even if it wasn't meant to be. unlike grossman, he had time to sit back and learn.

 

The problem is that means you either cut Hanie after one year, cut the rookie you just drafted, or go with 4 QBs.

 

I would much rather risk Hanie and a rookie backing up Orton in the short-term than get whatever mediocre improvement you'd have from running Kerry Collins or Gus Frerotte out there.

[BigbadB]

I would much rather risk Hanie and a rookie backing up Orton in the short-term than get whatever mediocre improvement you'd have from running Kerry Collins or Gus Frerotte out there.

 

What, no Brad Johnson love?

:lol:

[Guest]

Yeah, I go OL in the 09 draft, unless there is a real good pass rushing DE (which there are a lot of in this draft), DT, or safety (again a lot of talent in this area of the draft). I'd be pretty tempted to go OL again in the 2nd, but more inclined to get the best defensive player available. The Bears could really use help at all positions on the D at this point. QB would be my 3rd round pick. Like Goony said, Orton/Hanie/Rookie isn't bad. I don't see the need for a veteran backup unless you have the talent of a team like Dallas. And I don't see the point in paying a lot of money for a backup when you have cheap production there as it is.

 

OL

defensive player (preferably a DE)

WR

 

In my mind are the top 3 needs.

 

There is a lot of talent of high end OL talent that will be gone before the Bears pick and I'm afraid that Angelo won't go OL two straight years in the first round even though it's a deep position in the 2009 draft and the biggest need for the Bears. I'll be happy as long as they get an OL in one of the first two rounds.

[rawaction]

Yeah, I go OL in the 09 draft, unless there is a real good pass rushing DE (which there are a lot of in this draft), DT, or safety (again a lot of talent in this area of the draft). I'd be pretty tempted to go OL again in the 2nd, but more inclined to get the best defensive player available. The Bears could really use help at all positions on the D at this point. QB would be my 3rd round pick. Like Goony said, Orton/Hanie/Rookie isn't bad. I don't see the need for a veteran backup unless you have the talent of a team like Dallas. And I don't see the point in paying a lot of money for a backup when you have cheap production there as it is.

 

OL

defensive player (preferably a DE)

WR

 

In my mind are the top 3 needs.

 

There is a lot of talent of high end OL talent that will be gone before the Bears pick and I'm afraid that Angelo won't go OL two straight years in the first round even though it's a deep position in the 2009 draft and the biggest need for the Bears. I'll be happy as long as they get an OL in one of the first two rounds.

 

WR isn't that big of a deal to me. Hester should get better. Davis and Lloyd have shown flashes. Bennett should be better. Booker should be there to provide a veteran if needed. You can go out and get someone via FA, who has talent but has underachieved ala Lloyd.

[jersey cubs fan]

Yeah, I go OL in the 09 draft, unless there is a real good pass rushing DE (which there are a lot of in this draft), DT, or safety (again a lot of talent in this area of the draft). I'd be pretty tempted to go OL again in the 2nd, but more inclined to get the best defensive player available. The Bears could really use help at all positions on the D at this point. QB would be my 3rd round pick. Like Goony said, Orton/Hanie/Rookie isn't bad. I don't see the need for a veteran backup unless you have the talent of a team like Dallas. And I don't see the point in paying a lot of money for a backup when you have cheap production there as it is.

 

OL

defensive player (preferably a DE)

WR

 

In my mind are the top 3 needs.

 

There is a lot of talent of high end OL talent that will be gone before the Bears pick and I'm afraid that Angelo won't go OL two straight years in the first round even though it's a deep position in the 2009 draft and the biggest need for the Bears. I'll be happy as long as they get an OL in one of the first two rounds.

 

WR isn't that big of a deal to me. Hester should get better. Davis and Lloyd have shown flashes. Bennett should be better. Booker should be there to provide a veteran if needed. You can go out and get someone via FA, who has talent but has underachieved ala Lloyd.

 

I agree with you. I'd like to see them keep adding guys, but I'm not concerned with getting one early.

[Banedon]

Having some solid pass-catching TE's helps minimize the WR needs as well.

[rawaction]

Having some solid pass-catching TE's helps minimize the WR needs as well.

 

Exactly. Hester went out yesterday and the Bears didn't miss a beat w/ basically just Booker and Davis as the only WRs. Olsen and Clark gives you 2 more options w/ almost certain matchup problems.

 

 

BTW, what are the chances Lloyd and Williams are ready after the bye? I'd imagine Tillman, Manning, and Vasher will be ready barring setbacks.

[Soul]

We need to get some real road grater @ OG, IMO. Start blowing some DTs off the ball to get Forte some running room up the middle.

[Butterscup1679666578]

I hadn't heard anything, but how long is Lloyd supposed to be out?

[Guest]

We need to get some real road grater @ OG, IMO. Start blowing some DTs off the ball to get Forte some running room up the middle.

 

Duke Robinson.

[cubweiser03]

Screw the draft, Super Bowl baby :) . Yes the Bears have flaws but so do the best in then NFC and the Bears have shown they can beat/hang with those teams. SB unlikely(hey why not...see the Tampa Ray Bays), but not out of the realm of possiblity. D needs to step up the pass defense to their capabilities. Does this defense really need Vasher and Tillman that bad, because they sure have slipped without them.

 

At the beginning of the season it was dont screw it up kyle, now he is actually winning games for this team.

[UMFan83]

I just can't believe we are 7 weeks into the season, and you could make a case that the Bears should have won all of them. (notice I said 'SHOULD', not 'COULD')

 

Can you imagine an alternate world where Greg Olsen doesn't fumble twice in Carolina, the Bears D doesnt give up 10 points in 5 mins against TB, and the Bears kick off to the Falcons, and they are sitting there 7-0, with 5 more home games left in the season? We'd be completely ecstatic talking about Super Bowls and whether they can beat the AFC in a down year.

 

I know its crazy to think like this, but around this point you have to consider that its possible to win it all. Likely? No, we are as flawed as any team in the NFC. But this is a year of parity, and right now there is no team in no situation I would not consider the Bears able to win in. If we can squeeze off a 10-6 division crown (which would take a 6-3 finish), we might be able to get lucky and win in the playoffs.

[BigbadB]

This is a weird season. Just as easily as the Bears can beat one of the best teams in football, they can lose to the worst team in football. The parity is beyond anything I've ever seen.

[jersey cubs fan]

This is a weird season. Just as easily as the Bears can beat one of the best teams in football, they can lose to the worst team in football. The parity is beyond anything I've ever seen.

 

Nonsense. They cannot "easily" lose to Detroit. Parity gets thrown around way too much. You've got 4 god awful teams out there, the Lions, Raiders, Chiefs and Bengals are putrid. Seattle is probably right there with them. You've got the Giants, Buffalo and Tennessse that are all practically coasting. A great team losing one game to a mediocre or worse team isn't a sign of parity, it's just one game of a short schedule. Unlike baseball, where almost everybody ends the season with a w% between .350-.650, you are going to have a much wider spread in the NFL, with multiple teams winning 75% of their games and potentially more than one team losing 85% of their games. There is a significant number of good but flawed teams, and the Bears three losses came to teams that fit that exact description. But that doesn't mean there's parity. There is a very real clear distinction between the bad, mediocre, good and great NFL teams.

[mul21]

Yeah, I go OL in the 09 draft, unless there is a real good pass rushing DE (which there are a lot of in this draft), DT, or safety (again a lot of talent in this area of the draft). I'd be pretty tempted to go OL again in the 2nd, but more inclined to get the best defensive player available. The Bears could really use help at all positions on the D at this point. QB would be my 3rd round pick. Like Goony said, Orton/Hanie/Rookie isn't bad. I don't see the need for a veteran backup unless you have the talent of a team like Dallas. And I don't see the point in paying a lot of money for a backup when you have cheap production there as it is.

 

OL

defensive player (preferably a DE)

WR

 

In my mind are the top 3 needs.

 

There is a lot of talent of high end OL talent that will be gone before the Bears pick and I'm afraid that Angelo won't go OL two straight years in the first round even though it's a deep position in the 2009 draft and the biggest need for the Bears. I'll be happy as long as they get an OL in one of the first two rounds.

 

Their biggest need on the OL right now (assuming Williams comes back healthy) is at guard. How often do you really see a guard taken in the 1st round of the draft? Even the guys who end up being great OGs are taken in rounds 2-4. You can get good value there, so unless you're getting another tackle, I see no reason to go OL in round 1.