2009 Chicago Bears Preseason Thread - A new era begins

[Magnetic Curses]

SI articles are obviously gospel.

 

Especially when the guy has never made it on the field.

 

Why am I even remotely within the realm of defending Caleb Hanie? I don't like Caleb Hanie.

 

and you'd be justified in your dislike.

[Flames24Rulz]

Wasn't there some sort of article recently that ranked our backup QB last in the NFL? Of course backups aren't supposed to be good, but Hanie has done nothing to prove he can handle being an NFL quarterback.

 

Lets say we're 9-4 and Cutler goes down. Assuming we need to win two of the last three to get in the playoffs, it would be nice to have a QB that could at least manage the game and win the games we need to. I'm not so sure Hanie can do that.

 

Not a lot of backup QB's can do that.

 

Let me ask you this. How many good starting QB's are in the league? I'm talking about being legitimately good, too. The answer is definitely not over 20 and probably closer to the 15 mark. There's plenty of teams in the league that have a problem finding a good starting quarterback. Since there is such a need for the QB position in the league, you're not going to find yourself a very good backup (most of the time). For every Charlie Batch out there, who was in a perfect system in Pittsburgh, I can give you your Matt Flynn's, Caleb Hanie's, and Mark Brunell's of the world.

 

You can't worry about your backup QB too much because almost every team in the league is out of luck if their starter gets hurt.

[Magnetic Curses]

 

You can't worry about your backup QB too much because almost every team in the league is out of luck if their starter gets hurt.

 

that's not true at all. i remember a year in which the backup had to start the season for us, was bad, but not bad enough to matter all that much and we made the playoffs.

 

last year the titans' qb went straight insane, the backup came in, was just above average and not only led them to the playoffs, but made the pro-bowl.

 

sometimes the backups just have to be competent, or even just below competent.

[Careless]

 

You can't worry about your backup QB too much because almost every team in the league is out of luck if their starter gets hurt.

 

that's not true at all. i remember a year in which the backup had to start the season for us, was bad, but not bad enough to matter all that much and we made the playoffs.

 

last year the titans' qb went straight insane, the backup came in, was just above average and not only led them to the playoffs, but made the pro-bowl.

 

sometimes the backups just have to be competent, or even just below competent.

"almost every team is out of luck"

"sometimes the backups"

 

yeah, these are not contradictory statements. I don't know what "argument by agreeing" is in Latin, but this is it. Hanie could turn out to be Brady II. I'll bet against it.

[Magnetic Curses]

 

You can't worry about your backup QB too much because almost every team in the league is out of luck if their starter gets hurt.

 

that's not true at all. i remember a year in which the backup had to start the season for us, was bad, but not bad enough to matter all that much and we made the playoffs.

 

last year the titans' qb went straight insane, the backup came in, was just above average and not only led them to the playoffs, but made the pro-bowl.

 

sometimes the backups just have to be competent, or even just below competent.

"almost every team is out of luck"

"sometimes the backups"

 

yeah, these are not contradictory statements. I don't know what "argument by agreeing" is in Latin, but this is it. Hanie could turn out to be Brady II. I'll bet against it.

 

i guess i didn't make my argument clear. most teams don't suffer significant injuries to their starting quarterbacks, so it's impossible to know for certain if almost every team in the league would be out of luck. i'm just pointing out that it has happened, and recently. also, not every team in the league is close to being a playoff team, so it would appear that it's not totally uncommon for a backup qb to play an important role in a playoff run.

 

if the team is built around a qb, then the sky will come crashing down, if the team is built around the defense, then it probably won't.

[David]

the 05 bears managed to make the playoffs because that defense was incredible and the schedule was fairly easy... kyle orton didn't play well (and that's no knock on him, he was a rookie, but there was nothing very good about what he did while playing football)

[JonJayCutler]

Wasn't there some sort of article recently that ranked our backup QB last in the NFL? Of course backups aren't supposed to be good, but Hanie has done nothing to prove he can handle being an NFL quarterback.

 

Lets say we're 9-4 and Cutler goes down. Assuming we need to win two of the last three to get in the playoffs, it would be nice to have a QB that could at least manage the game and win the games we need to. I'm not so sure Hanie can do that.

 

Not a lot of backup QB's can do that.

 

Let me ask you this. How many good starting QB's are in the league? I'm talking about being legitimately good, too. The answer is definitely not over 20 and probably closer to the 15 mark. There's plenty of teams in the league that have a problem finding a good starting quarterback. Since there is such a need for the QB position in the league, you're not going to find yourself a very good backup (most of the time). For every Charlie Batch out there, who was in a perfect system in Pittsburgh, I can give you your Matt Flynn's, Caleb Hanie's, and Mark Brunell's of the world.

 

You can't worry about your backup QB too much because almost every team in the league is out of luck if their starter gets hurt.

 

Even backup QBs who aren't good are capable of coming in and leading a team to a win. The Bears had this with Grossman last year and Griese the years before. I just don't have that confidence with Hanie. Thats all I'm saying. Hopefully Cutler stays healthy and we don't have to worry about it.

[Splendid_Splinter]

cutler has no chance because we have no idea how to block a gimmicky 3-4 scheme

I missed this comment earlier, but I have two questions.

 

1. What, in your mind, make the 3-4 defense a "gimmicky" scheme?

2. Do you feel that the Tampa 2 defense is also a "gimmicky" scheme? If you don't consider it a gimmick, please explain why.

[Banedon]

I'm hoping Pace is just having a hard time blocking a little butt plug like Dumervil and will handle the traditionally sized DEs better. He did well against the Giants last week.

 

I hope you're right, but I could see other teams seeing that Pace is having issues with a small guy and line up a LB or something on him...

[Banedon]

There's a number of positions that I'd rather pick someone off the scrap heap to upgrade depth on other than QB. For QB it's Cutler or nothing, IMO.

[soapy]

Finally had a chance to see a game last night. My man-love for Jay is at an all-time high.

 

And just as big (bigger), seeing the big pieces avoid injury was great.

[Soul]

I'm hoping Pace is just having a hard time blocking a little butt plug like Dumervil and will handle the traditionally sized DEs better. He did well against the Giants last week.

 

I hope you're right, but I could see other teams seeing that Pace is having issues with a small guy and line up a LB or something on him...

 

He looked better in the later drives. It could be a concern, but the Bears were giving help to St. Clair on a bunch of plays last year. Giving Pace some help on a few plays, if the situation calls for it, would still be an improvement.

[Banedon]

I'm hoping Pace is just having a hard time blocking a little butt plug like Dumervil and will handle the traditionally sized DEs better. He did well against the Giants last week.

 

I hope you're right, but I could see other teams seeing that Pace is having issues with a small guy and line up a LB or something on him...

 

He looked better in the later drives. It could be a concern, but the Bears were giving help to St. Clair on a bunch of plays last year. Giving Pace some help on a few plays, if the situation calls for it, would still be an improvement.

 

Yeah....it was just one game, and a preseason one at that. I'm not overly concerned yet.

[Magnetic Curses]

cutler has no chance because we have no idea how to block a gimmicky 3-4 scheme

I missed this comment earlier, but I have two questions.

 

1. What, in your mind, make the 3-4 defense a "gimmicky" scheme?

2. Do you feel that the Tampa 2 defense is also a "gimmicky" scheme? If you don't consider it a gimmick, please explain why.

 

i only consider it a gimmicky scheme because the packers run it, of course. but don't worry, they'll get their dismantling soon.

 

and the tampa-2 is about as conventional as defenses get.

[Magnetic Curses]

the 05 bears managed to make the playoffs because that defense was incredible and the schedule was fairly easy... kyle orton didn't play well (and that's no knock on him, he was a rookie, but there was nothing very good about what he did while playing football)

 

i'm not saying he was good at all, just that the starting qb went down and it wasn't the end of the world.

[Banedon]

Jay Cutler: Couch Slouch missed the memo on Cutler, the one that talks about him having the strongest arm since David (yeah, that David, who not only slew Goliath with a powerful slingshot but did it off his back foot) and being a "difference maker" and having bottled ice water in his veins and being, quite possibly, one of the top five QBs in the league.

 

No, the Jay Cutler I know had a 17-20 record in three years with the Broncos and an 11-34 record in four years at Vanderbilt. Then again, he was 26-1 his final two years in high school, which means the city of Chicago should be excited about him if he's enrolling at Northside College Prep. Otherwise, we're looking at a 28-54 record since 2001 and a fella who always talks a good game but always walks into the losers' locker room.

 

He's got 9-7 written all over him -- if he overachieves.

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/norman_chad/08/30/couch.slouch/index.html?eref=T1

 

BTW...this article is by Norman Chad, of WSoP announcer fame.

[Magnetic Curses]

I'm hoping Pace is just having a hard time blocking a little butt plug like Dumervil and will handle the traditionally sized DEs better. He did well against the Giants last week.

 

I hope you're right, but I could see other teams seeing that Pace is having issues with a small guy and line up a LB or something on him...

 

He looked better in the later drives. It could be a concern, but the Bears were giving help to St. Clair on a bunch of plays last year. Giving Pace some help on a few plays, if the situation calls for it, would still be an improvement.

 

Yeah....it was just one game, and a preseason one at that. I'm not overly concerned yet.

 

he doesn't usually see freakshows like the 3-4. he's played in the NFC most of his career, and even HE hasn't faced many schemes that rush midget defensive ends/"outside linebackers" and line up free safeties at the middle linebacker spots and giant fatasses at NT.

[bukie]

Jay Cutler: Couch Slouch missed the memo on Cutler, the one that talks about him having the strongest arm since David (yeah, that David, who not only slew Goliath with a powerful slingshot but did it off his back foot) and being a "difference maker" and having bottled ice water in his veins and being, quite possibly, one of the top five QBs in the league.

 

No, the Jay Cutler I know had a 17-20 record in three years with the Broncos and an 11-34 record in four years at Vanderbilt. Then again, he was 26-1 his final two years in high school, which means the city of Chicago should be excited about him if he's enrolling at Northside College Prep. Otherwise, we're looking at a 28-54 record since 2001 and a fella who always talks a good game but always walks into the losers' locker room.

 

He's got 9-7 written all over him -- if he overachieves.

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/norman_chad/08/30/couch.slouch/index.html?eref=T1

 

BTW...this article is by Norman Chad, of WSoP announcer fame.

I never thought I'd see a more poorly used stat than W-L for pitchers, but here we are.

[Magnetic Curses]

his best friends are dick van patten and mr. kotter, i don't hold his opinion in high regard.

[Soul]

Jay Cutler: Couch Slouch missed the memo on Cutler, the one that talks about him having the strongest arm since David (yeah, that David, who not only slew Goliath with a powerful slingshot but did it off his back foot) and being a "difference maker" and having bottled ice water in his veins and being, quite possibly, one of the top five QBs in the league.

 

No, the Jay Cutler I know had a 17-20 record in three years with the Broncos and an 11-34 record in four years at Vanderbilt. Then again, he was 26-1 his final two years in high school, which means the city of Chicago should be excited about him if he's enrolling at Northside College Prep. Otherwise, we're looking at a 28-54 record since 2001 and a fella who always talks a good game but always walks into the losers' locker room.

 

He's got 9-7 written all over him -- if he overachieves.

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/norman_chad/08/30/couch.slouch/index.html?eref=T1

 

BTW...this article is by Norman Chad, of WSoP announcer fame.

I never thought I'd see a more poorly used stat than W-L for pitchers, but here we are.

 

Indeed.

[YearofDaCubs]

I was glad to see the Bears face off against the Broncos for week 3 of preseason because it was clearly evident how much better Cutler is over Orton. Broncos fan were complaining about the use of only short passes on offense, well, now I guess they will figure out what Orton's limitations are.

[Banedon]

In his gnarly postgame discussion, McDaniels, being juvenile, wouldn't mention Cutler's name and said of the game's atmosphere: "It certainly was more than a six on a scale of 1 to 10," a sarcastic reference to a recent quote comparing fans in Chicago and Denver.

[dew1679666265]

an 11-34 record in four years at Vanderbilt.

 

He's being criticized for having a losing record at Vandy? QB record is a bad stat on its own merits, but especially when you're talking about one of the weakest programs in the SEC. Peyton Manning in his NFL prime probably couldn't have a winning record in his career at Vandy.

[bukie]

I don't know McDaniels personally, of course, but he certainly comes off like kind of a pompous prick in interviews. I don't understand media pundits that put the whole Cutler trade on Cutler being a crybaby.

[JonJayCutler]

I am so tired of hearing about Cutler's record as a starter. Evidentally, if a QB is not good enough to put 50 points on the board every game to outscore what their defense gives up, then they suck. Makes perfect sense.