Week 2 - Chicago Bears vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 3:15 PM CBS

[jersey cubs fan]

It's not a bad thought but its one of those plays where you better make damn sure that you're going to get it in on time. Hawk was well off the field by the time of the snap.

 

Not a bad thought? It most certainly is a bad thought. The long snapper has no business counting bodies on the field. His job is to snap the ball to the kicker. Period.

 

Any coach that gives a long snapper the power of decision making like a fake punt on their own 26 yard line should be fired immediately.

 

Hmm, I think your conviction has swayed me on this topic. It was a dumb thought, especially in that situation.

 

He is a team captain, and specifically captain on special teams plays, and he did make the call, so you can be pretty damn positive that hte coach gave him the power of decision making there. And no, his job is not just to snap the ball.

[Guest]

He is a team captain, and specifically captain on special teams plays, and he did make the call, so you can be pretty damn positive that hte coach gave him the power of decision making there. And no, his job is not just to snap the ball.

 

No, it's not his only job. He needs to block and tackle as well. But, getting the ball into the punter's hands is his main objective. I can't think of a worse choice of position player on special teams to be calling audibles besides the punter.

 

Are you really defending that play?

[jersey cubs fan]

He is a team captain, and specifically captain on special teams plays, and he did make the call, so you can be pretty damn positive that hte coach gave him the power of decision making there. And no, his job is not just to snap the ball.

 

No, it's not his only job. He needs to block and tackle as well. But, getting the ball into the punter's hands is his main objective. I can't think of a worse choice of position player on special teams to be calling audibles besides the punter.

 

Are you really defending that play?

 

I'm defending the rationale of allowing him to make that call. He's been the best in the business. He doesn't just run out there and put his head between his legs. He stands and looks at how the opposition is lined up. There are several worse options, including every other lineman and the gunners. The people who need to think on a punt are the long snapper, the up man and the punter, and given that the long snapper is a captain, obviously he has the authority to make some decisions out there.

[Banedon]

It was a brain fart at a huge moment in the game. It happens. It's really, really rare for our special teams to cost us a game. In fact, they've won more than their share the last several years. I'm willing to forgive that one. Our offensive woes are far more concerning than Mannelly's mistake.

[Guest]

It was a brain fart at a huge moment in the game. It happens. It's really, really rare for our special teams to cost us a game. In fact, they've won more than their share the last several years. I'm willing to forgive that one. Our offensive woes are far more concerning than Mannelly's mistake.

 

I don't blame Mannelly for what he did. I blame the coaching for giving him the authority to make that call. I wasn't nearly as alarmed with the offense as I was pissed at the coaching staff. The game plan on offense was pathetic.

[jersey cubs fan]

It was a brain fart at a huge moment in the game. It happens. It's really, really rare for our special teams to cost us a game. In fact, they've won more than their share the last several years. I'm willing to forgive that one. Our offensive woes are far more concerning than Mannelly's mistake.

 

I don't blame Mannelly for what he did. I blame the coaching for giving him the authority to make that call. I wasn't nearly as alarmed with the offense as I was pissed at the coaching staff. The game plan on offense was pathetic.

 

So was the blocking.

 

 

But why are you pissed at the coaching staff for allowing the captain to make such a play?

[Guest]

It was a brain fart at a huge moment in the game. It happens. It's really, really rare for our special teams to cost us a game. In fact, they've won more than their share the last several years. I'm willing to forgive that one. Our offensive woes are far more concerning than Mannelly's mistake.

 

I don't blame Mannelly for what he did. I blame the coaching for giving him the authority to make that call. I wasn't nearly as alarmed with the offense as I was pissed at the coaching staff. The game plan on offense was pathetic.

 

So was the blocking.

 

 

But why are you pissed at the coaching staff for allowing the captain to make such a play?

 

That's not a play that should be happening at your own 26 yard line. The defense deserves much better than to turn the ball over there. I'm not opposed to a gamble play on occasion, but not so deep in your own territory.

 

Not only did the play not work, it allowed the other team to score easily. Then, it cost the team a time out later in the game, which put even more burden on Cutler to make something happen.

 

The offensive line sucked. But, from a coaching standpoint for offense and special teams, it was an embarrassment.

[jersey cubs fan]

That's not a play that should be happening at your own 26 yard line. The defense deserves much better than to turn the ball over there. I'm not opposed to a gamble play on occasion, but not so deep in your own territory.

 

Not only did the play not work, it allowed the other team to score easily. Then, it cost the team a time out later in the game, which put even more burden on Cutler to make something happen.

 

Okay, so it was a bad decision at the time by Mannelly. But why was it a bad decision by the coaches to allow him to make such a call? Again, he is the captain out there. It's not like they said, "Hey Pat, remember if you want to call a fake go right ahead", right before he ran out there and then he did. He's the captain, it's part of the job, and it should be part of the job. He made a bad decision.

[Soul]

It was a brain fart at a huge moment in the game. It happens. It's really, really rare for our special teams to cost us a game. In fact, they've won more than their share the last several years. I'm willing to forgive that one. Our offensive woes are far more concerning than Mannelly's mistake.

 

I don't blame Mannelly for what he did. I blame the coaching for giving him the authority to make that call. I wasn't nearly as alarmed with the offense as I was pissed at the coaching staff. The game plan on offense was pathetic.

 

So was the blocking.

 

 

But why are you pissed at the coaching staff for allowing the captain to make such a play?

 

That's not a play that should be happening at your own 26 yard line. The defense deserves much better than to turn the ball over there. I'm not opposed to a gamble play on occasion, but not so deep in your own territory.

 

Not only did the play not work, it allowed the other team to score easily. Then, it cost the team a time out later in the game, which put even more burden on Cutler to make something happen.

 

The offensive line sucked. But, from a coaching standpoint for offense and special teams, it was an embarrassment.

 

Do you think the Bears are the only team in the league that allows a team captain to do a situational audible? What about when a QB audibles into a stupid play that results in a pick 6? Maybe the OC shouldn't allow QB audibles, either.

 

If it had worked, you'd be calling it brilliant, and Mannelly is the perfect guy to give the responsibility because of his veteran knowledge. He screwed up, after years & years of flawless play. I nearly threw my couch across the room too, but it's over now and we still had plenty of chances to win after that play.

[Banedon]

Apparently the Pats are looking at Derrick Brooks now.

[Soul]

I feel like if we were really going to sign him, it would have been done.

 

Sapp was on 670 this morning saying anyone who thinks Brooks can't play is insane. FWIW.

[YearofDaCubs]

I feel like if we were really going to sign him, it would have been done.

 

Sapp was on 670 this morning saying anyone who thinks Brooks can't play is insane. FWIW.

That's nothing more than a friend and former teammate trying to help him out by saying the right things.

[jersey cubs fan]

I feel like if we were really going to sign him, it would have been done.

 

Sapp was on 670 this morning saying anyone who thinks Brooks can't play is insane. FWIW.

That's nothing more than a friend and former teammate trying to help him out by saying the right things.

 

Plus Warren Sapp is insane.

[Soul]

I feel like if we were really going to sign him, it would have been done.

 

Sapp was on 670 this morning saying anyone who thinks Brooks can't play is insane. FWIW.

That's nothing more than a friend and former teammate trying to help him out by saying the right things.

 

Plus Warren Sapp is insane.

 

I did say FWIW.

[Flames24Rulz]

Adam_Schefter: This just in: veteran linebacker Derrick Brooks signed -- with ESPN2's First Take as an NFL Analyst. Our roster gets bigger + better. Again.

[kujay]

Adam_Schefter: This just in: veteran linebacker Derrick Brooks signed -- with ESPN2's First Take as an NFL Analyst. Our roster gets bigger + better. Again.

 

Good move.

[YearofDaCubs]

Adam_Schefter: This just in: veteran linebacker Derrick Brooks signed -- with ESPN2's First Take as an NFL Analyst. Our roster gets bigger + better. Again.

 

Good move.

For ESPN2?

[Banedon]

Cutler with the power of positive thinking....

 

http://blogs.suntimes.com/bears/2009/09/jay_cutler_unplugged_the_qb_in.html#more

 

Do you have to balance expectations for the receivers knowing they are young and inexperienced?

 

"We're young. That's no excuse, though. They know what to do. We practice it all week. We go over it. They know exactly what they're doing, and I thought they did a great job on Sunday for us. We'll continue to get better and better with those guys and I'll get better too."

 

I know you have to say it Jay, but the receivers did not do a great job.

[chuckywang]

He is a team captain, and specifically captain on special teams plays, and he did make the call, so you can be pretty damn positive that hte coach gave him the power of decision making there. And no, his job is not just to snap the ball.

 

No, it's not his only job. He needs to block and tackle as well. But, getting the ball into the punter's hands is his main objective. I can't think of a worse choice of position player on special teams to be calling audibles besides the punter.

 

Are you really defending that play?

 

I'm defending the rationale of allowing him to make that call. He's been the best in the business. He doesn't just run out there and put his head between his legs. He stands and looks at how the opposition is lined up. There are several worse options, including every other lineman and the gunners. The people who need to think on a punt are the long snapper, the up man and the punter, and given that the long snapper is a captain, obviously he has the authority to make some decisions out there.

 

Agreed ... the dude went to Duke. Obviously he's smart enough to read the opposition.

[Guest]

Adam_Schefter: This just in: veteran linebacker Derrick Brooks signed -- with ESPN2's First Take as an NFL Analyst. Our roster gets bigger + better. Again.

 

Good move.

For ESPN2?

 

For those of us who don't twitter, please explain who Derrick Brooks signed with.

[imb]

Adam_Schefter: This just in: veteran linebacker Derrick Brooks signed -- with ESPN2's First Take as an NFL Analyst. Our roster gets bigger + better. Again.

 

Good move.

For ESPN2?

 

For those of us who don't twitter, please explain who Derrick Brooks signed with.

 

ok, i don't know how to say this without being rude, but you're either joking or you can't read

[inari]

It's sure seems that's saying he's becoming an analyst for EPSN, not that he signed with a team.

[Soul]

Cutler with the power of positive thinking....

 

http://blogs.suntimes.com/bears/2009/09/jay_cutler_unplugged_the_qb_in.html#more

 

Do you have to balance expectations for the receivers knowing they are young and inexperienced?

 

"We're young. That's no excuse, though. They know what to do. We practice it all week. We go over it. They know exactly what they're doing, and I thought they did a great job on Sunday for us. We'll continue to get better and better with those guys and I'll get better too."

 

I know you have to say it Jay, but the receivers did not do a great job.

Can't wait to hear some reporter try to twist that into another example of jay's selfishness and immaturity

[ELCABALLO45]

Adam_Schefter: This just in: veteran linebacker Derrick Brooks signed -- with ESPN2's First Take as an NFL Analyst. Our roster gets bigger + better. Again.

 

Good move.

For ESPN2?

 

For those of us who don't twitter, please explain who Derrick Brooks signed with.

 

ok, i don't know how to say this without being rude, but you're either joking or you can't read

 

Haha. Yeah IMB! is kinda right here.

 

Derrick Brooks signed -- with ESPN2's First Take as an NFL Analyst

 

ESPN signed him.

[Guest]

That's what I thought it said, but the part that says "our roster gets bigger and better" kind of throws me.

 

Especially considering teams are in such dire need of a LB that they are mentioning him by name as a possible replacement.