2009 Regular Season - Week 1 - Bears vs Pack - 9/13 7pm NBC

[jersey cubs fan]

Is it Sunday yet?

 

somewhere it has to be

[David]

Chicago Bears

It's not all about Jay Cutler in the Windy City this year, you know. If the Bears don't play better pass defense ?- they were 30th last year -? and find a way to generate more pass rush, Cutler might be starring for a team that vaguely resembles his Broncos of the past two seasons. After opening against Aaron Rodgers of Green Bay and drawing Pittsburgh and Ben Roethlisberger in Week 2, we should know plenty early about the state of Chicago's defense.

 

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/don_banks/09/09/pre.regular.season/index.html?eref=T1#ixzz0QdYj1ZJK

 

 

This is the same type of garbage that prompted my semi-rant last night, right down to the comparison to the Broncos defense.

Edited September 9, 2009 by David

[ELCABALLO45]

Is it Sunday yet?

 

somewhere it has to be

 

It sucks we gotta wait till Sunday Night. But its better then Monday Night.

[jersey cubs fan]

Chicago Bears

It's not all about Jay Cutler in the Windy City this year, you know. If the Bears don't play better pass defense ?- they were 30th last year -? and find a way to generate more pass rush, Cutler might be starring for a team that vaguely resembles his Broncos of the past two seasons. After opening against Aaron Rodgers of Green Bay and drawing Pittsburgh and Ben Roethlisberger in Week 2, we should know plenty early about the state of Chicago's defense.

 

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/don_banks/09/09/pre.regular.season/index.html?eref=T1#ixzz0QdYj1ZJK

 

 

This is the same garbage that prompted my semi-rant last night, right down to the comparison to the Broncos defense.

 

Better or worse than the Rick Morrissey "lots of optimism without any realism" column this morning? I just saw the headline on my blackberry and assumed who wrote it and how crappy it was.

[David]

Chicago Bears

It's not all about Jay Cutler in the Windy City this year, you know. If the Bears don't play better pass defense ?- they were 30th last year -? and find a way to generate more pass rush, Cutler might be starring for a team that vaguely resembles his Broncos of the past two seasons. After opening against Aaron Rodgers of Green Bay and drawing Pittsburgh and Ben Roethlisberger in Week 2, we should know plenty early about the state of Chicago's defense.

 

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/don_banks/09/09/pre.regular.season/index.html?eref=T1#ixzz0QdYj1ZJK

 

 

This is the same garbage that prompted my semi-rant last night, right down to the comparison to the Broncos defense.

 

Better or worse than the Rick Morrissey "lots of optimism without any realism" column this morning? I just saw the headline on my blackberry and assumed who wrote it and how crappy it was.

 

 

That Morrissey article is the actual piece that caused me to go off. This snippet just happens to go along those lines as well.

[Mark Priors Calves]

Morrissey has been anti-cutler from the very beginning. He's going to ride that stance into the ground regardless of what the bears or cutler's performance is this year.

[David]

The thing I'm worried about: if we lose at GB, then there's Pitt and a road game in Seattle.

 

An 0-3 start would put a damper on the excitement, most certainly.

 

We got a tough draw to open the season, while the Vikings get to pound the league's dregs to almost certainly shoot out of the gate, and the Packers get the Bungles and the Rams after they play us.

 

 

If we can go 1-2 through that stretch, I'll be content. I'd be glad to be in a position to get to 2-2 for the first quarter of the season with a win against Detroit and go from there (there's that Lovie-speak again).

[David]

Morrissey has been anti-cutler from the very beginning. He's going to ride that stance into the ground regardless of what the bears or cutler's performance is this year.

 

 

He actually had a piece praising Cutler's performance in Denver. I was shocked.

[dew1679666265]

Is it Sunday yet?

 

somewhere it has to be

 

It sucks we gotta wait till Sunday Night. But its better then Monday Night.

 

I'm kind of glad the Titans are playing tomorrow night. I can see them sooner, but I also may be working through the first half of the game.

[Soul]

The thing I'm worried about: if we lose at GB, then there's Pitt and a road game in Seattle.

 

An 0-3 start would put a damper on the excitement, most certainly.

 

We got a tough draw to open the season, while the Vikings get to pound the league's dregs to almost certainly shoot out of the gate, and the Packers get the Bungles and the Rams after they play us.

 

 

If we can go 1-2 through that stretch, I'll be content. I'd be glad to be in a position to get to 2-2 for the first quarter of the season with a win against Detroit and go from there (there's that Lovie-speak again).

 

Me too. :beg:

[Banedon]

The thing I'm worried about: if we lose at GB, then there's Pitt and a road game in Seattle.

 

An 0-3 start would put a damper on the excitement, most certainly.

 

We got a tough draw to open the season, while the Vikings get to pound the league's dregs to almost certainly shoot out of the gate, and the Packers get the Bungles and the Rams after they play us.

 

 

If we can go 1-2 through that stretch, I'll be content. I'd be glad to be in a position to get to 2-2 for the first quarter of the season with a win against Detroit and go from there (there's that Lovie-speak again).

 

Me too. :beg:

 

Screw that noise. 4-0.

[David]

If we manage to go 2-1 or 3-0 though, we're gonna be in a great spot.

[hawkeyecub]

I got into the FO stuff a couple years ago and was a big believer. I still like to read the articles and analysis but haven't been able to fully buy in to the numbers. There are just so many things that go completely against what I see with my own eyes and I know that probably sounds like a baseball fan in the '80s replying to Bill James stuff.

 

If the numbers agreed with all of your perceptions, there'd be no need for the numbers! ;)

 

Right. I just don't trust their formulas for determining value yet.

 

Case in point, running back performance last year: http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/rb

 

Heh...fair enough. I like their defensive stats better than the their offensive ones generally.

 

I mean seriously. Sammy Morris was 8th in total value and 5th in value per play. LaRon McClain 10th and 11th, Patron was 13th, Mewelde Moore was 14th and 6th, Fred Jackson is top 20, washed up Deuce is top 20, washed up Edge was 21st per play.

 

Meanwhile, Adrian is 17th and 22nd, MJD is 18th, Frank Gore is 25 and 29, Steven Jackson is 26 and 31, Barber is 30 and 35 behind Edge and barely in front of Dunn. Matt Forte is 38th.

[bukie]

If we manage to go 2-1 or 3-0 though, we're gonna be in a great spot.

2-1 or 3-0 and I'm feeling really good about my bold predictions. :)

[jersey cubs fan]

Morrissey has been anti-cutler from the very beginning. He's going to ride that stance into the ground regardless of what the bears or cutler's performance is this year.

 

 

He actually had a piece praising Cutler's performance in Denver. I was shocked.

 

He's hedging his bets. I've seen him a couple times basically just try and be the devil's advocate saying people are too optimistic, even though Cutler is good.

[David]

Morrissey has been anti-cutler from the very beginning. He's going to ride that stance into the ground regardless of what the bears or cutler's performance is this year.

 

 

He actually had a piece praising Cutler's performance in Denver. I was shocked.

 

He's hedging his bets. I've seen him a couple times basically just try and be the devil's advocate saying people are too optimistic, even though Cutler is good.

 

 

Yea, I saw him do that a few times on Chicago Tribune Live and on some Tribune YouTube clip.

[rawaction]

The thing I'm worried about: if we lose at GB, then there's Pitt and a road game in Seattle.

 

An 0-3 start would put a damper on the excitement, most certainly.

 

We got a tough draw to open the season, while the Vikings get to pound the league's dregs to almost certainly shoot out of the gate, and the Packers get the Bungles and the Rams after they play us.

 

 

If we can go 1-2 through that stretch, I'll be content. I'd be glad to be in a position to get to 2-2 for the first quarter of the season with a win against Detroit and go from there (there's that Lovie-speak again).

 

Bears will go 2-1 in their first 3 games. Not sure who they will lose to, but they won't go 0-3.

[UMFan83]

The thing I'm worried about: if we lose at GB, then there's Pitt and a road game in Seattle.

 

An 0-3 start would put a damper on the excitement, most certainly.

 

We got a tough draw to open the season, while the Vikings get to pound the league's dregs to almost certainly shoot out of the gate, and the Packers get the Bungles and the Rams after they play us.

 

 

If we can go 1-2 through that stretch, I'll be content. I'd be glad to be in a position to get to 2-2 for the first quarter of the season with a win against Detroit and go from there (there's that Lovie-speak again).

 

Damn this sounds like last year with @ Indy, @ Car, vs. TB to start the year. We were saying just win 1...and while we did win just the 1, it was against the hardest team of the 3, and we completely blew the other 2 games, so 2-1 or 3-0 should have been the result. Together, those 3 games look imposing, but if you just break them down 1 by 1 you will realize it's not all that bad. Do we have a decent chance of beating GB? I'd say it's somewhere around 50/50, how about at home vs. Pittsburgh? Probably 45/55, in Seattle? 55/45. So the chances of winning just 1 are pretty good, and winning 2 of them is probably a 50/50 chance or better.

[Banedon]

Lovie Smith: "We're an afterthought except for in Chicago."

 

Looks like Lovie is gonna go the "underdog"/"no respect" route for motivation this season.

[cbbryan]

Lovie Smith: "We're an afterthought except for in Chicago."

 

Looks like Lovie is gonna go the "underdog"/"no respect" route for motivation this season.

 

 

Whatever works.

[UMFan83]

Can anyone with ESPN Insider post some excerpts from their Scouts, Inc. Bears/Packers game preview, specifically their final conclusion/prediction. My Insider account just ran out.

[imb]

Can anyone with ESPN Insider post some excerpts from their Scouts, Inc. Bears/Packers game preview, specifically their final conclusion/prediction. My Insider account just ran out.

 

1. Chicago needs to show balance on offense: With the acquisition of talented QB Jay Cutler, the Bears' offense needs to establish itself as a balanced attack. Cutler can make all the throws as well as improvise effectively when plays break down. Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner can expand the playbook.

 

2. Expect the Bears to spread the ball around: Look for a good dose of Matt Forte in the running game, but also expect the Bears to toss the ball around to their perimeter targets as well as their talented tight ends.

 

3. Expect the Bears to be aggressive with their defensive game plan: Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers had an impressive preseason, so we should look for Bears coach Lovie Smith to pressure him with a variety of blitzes and stunts. Look for corner and safety blitzes as well as some zone pressure packages up front to get the ball out of Rodgers' hand quickly.

 

4. Expect designed plays for Devin Hester: Hester is arguably the most explosive playmaker on Chicago's roster. The Bears will try to get him the ball in a variety of ways. Hester's route-running has improved dramatically, and Cutler can get him the ball much better than the Bears' previous signal-callers. Hester will likely be called on to run the ball on reverses. He'll also be used on bubble screens to get him in space versus the Packers' defense.

 

5. Matchup to watch -- Cutler vs. the Packers' secondary: Cutler has all the tools and weapons to put up big numbers versus the Packers. Green Bay has a talented secondary with two 12-year veterans defending on the perimeter as well as very capable safeties in the middle. This should be a great battle of wills as the Bears are not likely to be conservative in their play calling while new Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers will be ready with a few wrinkles of his own.

 

6. Look for Green Bay to run early: As talented as Rodgers is, we should look for Packers coach Mike McCarthy to establish the Packers' ground game early in the contest. McCarthy doesn't want to be one-dimensional with the pass. We will likely to see a good mixture of Ryan Grant, Brandon Jackson and DeShawn Wynn in this matchup.

 

7. Look for an aggressive approach from the Packers' defense: Capers was brought in to bring a more aggressive style to Green Bay's new 3-4 scheme: The Packers have talented linebackers, and the 3-4 scheme lends itself to more stunts, twists and zone-blitz pressure.

 

8. Expect second-team tight end Jermichael Finley to have a big role: The Packers seem to have found another potent target in Finley. He had an excellent preseason, showing the ability to stretch the field as well as refined route-running, and will be a tough matchup for the Bears' linebackers.

 

9. Look for big plays from the Packers' defense: The new-look Green Bay defense was more active than any other defense in the preseason. The Bears won't be conservative, which plays into the Packers' favor.

 

10. Matchup to watch -- Packers WR Greg Jennings vs. Bears CB Nathan Vasher: The Packers will likely try to exploit the Bears' secondary with Jennings, Green Bay's most explosive receiver. Vasher will likely to draw the assignment of covering Jennings. Even though Jennings didn't see much action in the preseason, McCarthy will call his number a lot in this contest.

 

They pick the Bears to win, 24-23.

[Flames24Rulz]

Raji's out for Sunday but he wasn't really slated to play a whole bunch anyway. It does hurt our line depth, though.

[UMFan83]

Can anyone with ESPN Insider post some excerpts from their Scouts, Inc. Bears/Packers game preview, specifically their final conclusion/prediction. My Insider account just ran out.

 

1. Chicago needs to show balance on offense: With the acquisition of talented QB Jay Cutler, the Bears' offense needs to establish itself as a balanced attack. Cutler can make all the throws as well as improvise effectively when plays break down. Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner can expand the playbook.

 

2. Expect the Bears to spread the ball around: Look for a good dose of Matt Forte in the running game, but also expect the Bears to toss the ball around to their perimeter targets as well as their talented tight ends.

 

3. Expect the Bears to be aggressive with their defensive game plan: Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers had an impressive preseason, so we should look for Bears coach Lovie Smith to pressure him with a variety of blitzes and stunts. Look for corner and safety blitzes as well as some zone pressure packages up front to get the ball out of Rodgers' hand quickly.

 

4. Expect designed plays for Devin Hester: Hester is arguably the most explosive playmaker on Chicago's roster. The Bears will try to get him the ball in a variety of ways. Hester's route-running has improved dramatically, and Cutler can get him the ball much better than the Bears' previous signal-callers. Hester will likely be called on to run the ball on reverses. He'll also be used on bubble screens to get him in space versus the Packers' defense.

 

5. Matchup to watch -- Cutler vs. the Packers' secondary: Cutler has all the tools and weapons to put up big numbers versus the Packers. Green Bay has a talented secondary with two 12-year veterans defending on the perimeter as well as very capable safeties in the middle. This should be a great battle of wills as the Bears are not likely to be conservative in their play calling while new Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers will be ready with a few wrinkles of his own.

 

6. Look for Green Bay to run early: As talented as Rodgers is, we should look for Packers coach Mike McCarthy to establish the Packers' ground game early in the contest. McCarthy doesn't want to be one-dimensional with the pass. We will likely to see a good mixture of Ryan Grant, Brandon Jackson and DeShawn Wynn in this matchup.

 

7. Look for an aggressive approach from the Packers' defense: Capers was brought in to bring a more aggressive style to Green Bay's new 3-4 scheme: The Packers have talented linebackers, and the 3-4 scheme lends itself to more stunts, twists and zone-blitz pressure.

 

8. Expect second-team tight end Jermichael Finley to have a big role: The Packers seem to have found another potent target in Finley. He had an excellent preseason, showing the ability to stretch the field as well as refined route-running, and will be a tough matchup for the Bears' linebackers.

 

9. Look for big plays from the Packers' defense: The new-look Green Bay defense was more active than any other defense in the preseason. The Bears won't be conservative, which plays into the Packers' favor.

 

10. Matchup to watch -- Packers WR Greg Jennings vs. Bears CB Nathan Vasher: The Packers will likely try to exploit the Bears' secondary with Jennings, Green Bay's most explosive receiver. Vasher will likely to draw the assignment of covering Jennings. Even though Jennings didn't see much action in the preseason, McCarthy will call his number a lot in this contest.

 

They pick the Bears to win, 24-23.

 

Thanks, I appreciate that.

[Soul]

I'm going 24-23 Bears as well. In a fantastic game.