Bears at Vikings: 3:15 on Fox

[Careless]

Peterson is averaging almost 5 yards a carry and is 3rd in the NFL in rushing yards with 999. He's also 2nd in the NFL in rushing TDs with 11. I'd say he's definitely doing more than just doing his job.

His YPC by game, in order: 7.2, 6.1, 4.5, 2.2, 4.5, 6.5, 3.8, 3.9, 7.4, 3.4, 3.4. He's doing this with one of the top few pass offenses in the league for a team that has been in the lead for almost all of the time in almost every game. He's good, but he's not "win games by himeslf- Barry Sanders" good, at least not the large majority of the time.

 

Maybe not this year, but that is because the Vikes are throwing the ball a lot more. But I am confident that Peterson could take over any game whenever he wants to.

I'm not certain as to how low YPC numbers can be the result of infrequent runs. Infrequent runs should raise YPC numbers

[hawkeyecub]

Adrian hasn't been as good this year. He's missing things and that's noticeable when Chester is always getting positive yards and running with a better tempo right now. But Forte just doesn't look good at all this year even when there is room. I would rather have Taylor right now.

But it is sooooooooo much easier to replace a RB than an entire bad, old offensive line. Even without a 1/2 round pick next year the Bears might be able to find a decent one. The Bears could blow all of their picks over the next two years trying to get 5 new offensive linemen and still not get a good group.

 

Certainly. I just don't think Forte would be close to Adrian's production if he were in the Vikings backfield. The o-line has done a good job in pass protection but in the run game they're living more off their reputation than production this year. Adrian isn't playing up to the standard he created though.

[17 Seconds]

AD is averaging more YPC than last season. It's not his fault they are throwing way more

[Careless]

AD is averaging more YPC than last season. It's not his fault they are throwing way more

So if you replace a bad QB with one of the best three in the NFL and the RB has a slight increase in YPC (from 4.8 to 4.9)... What's the conclusion? They're throwing way more and he increased his YPC by 2% from his career low

[gflore34]

I believe Angelo is dense and/or stupid enough to target WR's with whatever remaining picks they have and leave the OL to FA - which has worked out so well with Pace.

[NCCubFan]

Bears blow. Smith and Turner MUST be fired, even though it means eating Smith's salary for next year. And Angelo MUST be fired as well for throwing away the #2 pick after already trading away the #1 pick for Cutler. This team is a trainwreck and heads MUST roll.

[UMFan83]

It would be really hilarious if Angelo was fired less than a year after trading for Jay Cutler and being the toast of the town. I've never seen a GM treated so well in this town than after Angelo made that trade. People on sports radio were sucking up to him left and right.

[Banedon]

Angelo isn't going anywhere...really. He's got 4 years left on his deal....there's no chance that the McCaskey's just eat that. Maybe a year on Smith, but I just don't see it with Angelo.

 

FWIW, as much as we all bagged on Hillenmeyer when the season started, he was the best player on the field yesterday for the Bears...they'd be even worse without him.

[hawkeyecub]

AD is averaging more YPC than last season. It's not his fault they are throwing way more

So if you replace a bad QB with one of the best three in the NFL and the RB has a slight increase in YPC (from 4.8 to 4.9)... What's the conclusion? They're throwing way more and he increased his YPC by 2% from his career low

 

The blocking has been worse and teams are still stacking the front just as much as they did last year. How many times do I need to tell you this for you to stop ignoring it? I've seen every snap of every game.

 

Most of the reason Favre has been so brilliant and thrown only 3 INT's is because he never has to throw into a crowd. Teams are still often bringing 8 up and playing man on the outside.

[Soul]

Angelo isn't going anywhere...really. He's got 4 years left on his deal....there's no chance that the McCaskey's just eat that. Maybe a year on Smith, but I just don't see it with Angelo.

 

Not the fans' fault the McCaskeys spent their money in the wrong place. They wanted to own an NFL team. Now deal with the problems.

[Banedon]

Urlacher watching the Bears..."This sucks"

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ms-morningrush113009&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

 

“Look, I love Jay, and I understand he’s a great player who can take us a long way, and I still have faith in him,” Urlacher said. “But I hate the way our identity has changed. We used to establish the run and wear teams down and try not to make mistakes, and we’d rely on our defense to keep us in the game and make big plays to put us in position to win. Kyle Orton might not be the flashiest quarterback, but the guy is a winner, and that formula worked for us. I hate to say it, but that’s the truth.”

 

Sorry Brian, that defense isn't around anymore.

 

He’s as blown away by Favre’s play as anyone. “He’s the MVP, right?” Urlacher said. “He’s got to be. That [expletive] is unreal, man. Sixty years old and doing all that [expletive]? It’s crazy.”

 

hahahaha

 

Good article though...actually shows Urlacher with a bit of personality.

[Soul]

That's a really good article. Lots of interesting stuff in there.

[jersey cubs fan]

Angelo isn't going anywhere...really. He's got 4 years left on his deal....there's no chance that the McCaskey's just eat that. Maybe a year on Smith, but I just don't see it with Angelo.

 

FWIW, as much as we all bagged on Hillenmeyer when the season started, he was the best player on the field yesterday for the Bears...they'd be even worse without him.

 

Angelo can be retained in a scouting capacity, sort of like Ed Lynch but with a more respectable position. Angelo should be in charge of the draft, and since they don't have first or second rounders, that's all the best. But they can bring in a new coach and give him personel power over Angelo if they want. If Angelo doesn't like, he can quit and lose his contract.

 

Angelo needs to be held accountable for the decline in talent, but much of that decline is related to the post Super Bowl increase in Lovie's influence on personel decisions. Lovie was given way too much power after that failed run. Angelo has given Lovie and his coaches some talented players that the staff completely failed to use properly.

 

Can somebody explain why Lovie was dressed like the game was played in freezing rain? And when did the Metrodome become the Mall of America Field?

 

Oh, and Hillenmeyer was not good. He got around on some run plays but was horrible on pass coverage, in part because Lovie's uncreative defensive effort demands Hunter stands on the line every single freaking snap. But Hunter is nothing out there.

[jersey cubs fan]

Angelo isn't going anywhere...really. He's got 4 years left on his deal....there's no chance that the McCaskey's just eat that. Maybe a year on Smith, but I just don't see it with Angelo.

 

Not the fans' fault the McCaskeys spent their money in the wrong place. They wanted to own an NFL team. Now deal with the problems.

 

You realize they inherited the team from Halas a couple decades ago right? It's not like they just went out and bought them.

[Soul]

Angelo isn't going anywhere...really. He's got 4 years left on his deal....there's no chance that the McCaskey's just eat that. Maybe a year on Smith, but I just don't see it with Angelo.

 

Not the fans' fault the McCaskeys spent their money in the wrong place. They wanted to own an NFL team. Now deal with the problems.

 

You realize they inherited the team from Halas a couple decades ago right? It's not like they just went out and bought them.

 

Hey, if they can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen. They could sell at any time.

 

My point stands. They want to own an NFL team? Deal with the problems. Don't come to me, the fan, and say "I don't want to have to eat money so you should just keep giving us cash for a bad team."

[jersey cubs fan]

Angelo isn't going anywhere...really. He's got 4 years left on his deal....there's no chance that the McCaskey's just eat that. Maybe a year on Smith, but I just don't see it with Angelo.

 

Not the fans' fault the McCaskeys spent their money in the wrong place. They wanted to own an NFL team. Now deal with the problems.

 

You realize they inherited the team from Halas a couple decades ago right? It's not like they just went out and bought them.

 

Hey, if they can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen. They could sell at any time.

 

My point stands. They want to own an NFL team? Deal with the problems. Don't come to me, the fan, and say "I don't want to have to eat money so you should just keep giving us cash for a bad team."

 

They're not coming to you.

[Soul]

Angelo isn't going anywhere...really. He's got 4 years left on his deal....there's no chance that the McCaskey's just eat that. Maybe a year on Smith, but I just don't see it with Angelo.

 

Not the fans' fault the McCaskeys spent their money in the wrong place. They wanted to own an NFL team. Now deal with the problems.

 

You realize they inherited the team from Halas a couple decades ago right? It's not like they just went out and bought them.

 

Hey, if they can't take the heat, stay out of the kitchen. They could sell at any time.

 

My point stands. They want to own an NFL team? Deal with the problems. Don't come to me, the fan, and say "I don't want to have to eat money so you should just keep giving us cash for a bad team."

 

They're not coming to you.

 

Sure they are. If they let the team languish under bad leadership, that's on them. That's the McCaskeys saying to you: "keep giving us money while we suck."

[jersey cubs fan]

Sure they are. If they let the team languish under bad leadership, that's on them. That's the McCaskeys saying to you: "keep giving us money while we suck."

 

Are you a season ticket holder and or sponsor of the team? If not, you aren't giving them any money. And they aren't asking you to give them money. They aren't coming to you about anything. The meltdown is in the process of happening, a little more than a month ago this was a team with relatively high hopes with few signs that they would truly suck. We don't know what's going to happen. Instead of going with the knee jerk reaction of "ownership is out to screw the fan" try being a little reasonable. Ownership got into this situation because of undue pressure to extend Angelo and Smith a couple years ago when they would have been much better off being a little more cheap and seeing if those two guys could sustain their success and/or build an all-around team (instead of a defense, first, second and always team).

 

The fact is it was probably always going to take a 10 loss team to get any turnover in management. 7, 8 and 9 win seasons were just good enough to offer up hope that they were close to reestablishing their role among the contenders. But that's out the window now. They will be very lucky to win 7 games this year. They will only favored to win 2 more games, and even those games are no sure thing, especially the last game of the year in Detroit.

 

Nobody thought they would make a Lovie/Jerry change when everybody thought they'd still win 8 games. But that's not even realistic anymore. A month ago half the media was offering up the "2nd winningest coach in the NFC since 2005" defense for Lovie. But where is that now? Change could be coming.

[Banedon]

Can somebody explain why Lovie was dressed like the game was played in freezing rain? And when did the Metrodome become the Mall of America Field?

 

Oh, and Hillenmeyer was not good. He got around on some run plays but was horrible on pass coverage, in part because Lovie's uncreative defensive effort demands Hunter stands on the line every single freaking snap. But Hunter is nothing out there.

 

lol...Urlacher was making fun of Lovie in that article for wearing a jacket too....

 

I disagree still about Hillenmeyer. He did exactly what he was supposed to do according to the scheme that Lovie had drawn up. I'm specifically thinking about a play right up the middle...I think it was to Harvin...where Hillenmeyer was there and the ball just got by his outstretched hand...

 

Like you said, Lovie keeps making the linebackers play from the line of scrimmage, which is just killing in the middle of the field. But I still think Hillenmeyer has been an admirable fill-in. He's no Urlacher, but I think he's still been valuable to this team this year. I think he's the best middle linebacker on the roster...though I suppose that's not saying a lot.

[jersey cubs fan]

Can somebody explain why Lovie was dressed like the game was played in freezing rain? And when did the Metrodome become the Mall of America Field?

 

Oh, and Hillenmeyer was not good. He got around on some run plays but was horrible on pass coverage, in part because Lovie's uncreative defensive effort demands Hunter stands on the line every single freaking snap. But Hunter is nothing out there.

 

lol...Urlacher was making fun of Lovie in that article for wearing a jacket too....

 

I disagree still about Hillenmeyer. He did exactly what he was supposed to do according to the scheme that Lovie had drawn up. I'm specifically thinking about a play right up the middle...I think it was to Harvin...where Hillenmeyer was there and the ball just got by his outstretched hand...

 

Like you said, Lovie keeps making the linebackers play from the line of scrimmage, which is just killing in the middle of the field. But I still think Hillenmeyer has been an admirable fill-in. He's no Urlacher, but I think he's still been valuable to this team this year. I think he's the best middle linebacker on the roster...though I suppose that's not saying a lot.

 

It's been an admirable effort and he is the best healthy MLB on the roster, but that doesn't mean he was good. They had no best player on defense yesterday. They all failed miserably, although Tillman was the closest. Cutler was the best Bear on the field, but he had as little of a chance as ever to do anything.

 

And my lord, Chris Williams is useless. He might be another complete waste of a pick.

[wekse]

this team is fuckin' shitty.

[Soul]

Yeah, I think Hunter may appear to be decent because everything else has completely collapsed around him. I don't think that means he's actually "good" though.

[Banedon]

And my lord, Chris Williams is useless. He might be another complete waste of a pick.

 

Yeah, Brad Biggs is on the Score every morning, and he's the Bears reporter in town that I get the most out of, and he was suggesting this morning that it's time to move him to left tackle and see what you have. The argument is that he's playing out of position on the right, but right is supposed to be easier, so I don't know that he's going to be any better on the left. But at this point, you don't have anything to lose, and you can at least find out if the guy is a bust.

 

How bad does that Gaines Adams trade look right about now?

[Soul]

Sure they are. If they let the team languish under bad leadership, that's on them. That's the McCaskeys saying to you: "keep giving us money while we suck."

 

Are you a season ticket holder and or sponsor of the team? If not, you aren't giving them any money.

 

Not a season ticket holder but I spend money on tickets, and I spend money on this team in other ways, such as merchandise, concessions at the games I go to. I'm not a "big spender" on the Bears but I still contribute.

 

My point is based on what I believe is a near certainty that nothing will be done. If the McCaskeys actually do something, then obviously I was wrong and I will applaud their efforts.

[jersey cubs fan]

Sure they are. If they let the team languish under bad leadership, that's on them. That's the McCaskeys saying to you: "keep giving us money while we suck."

 

Are you a season ticket holder and or sponsor of the team? If not, you aren't giving them any money.

 

Not a season ticket holder but I spend money on tickets, and I spend money on this team in other ways, such as merchandise, concessions at the games I go to. I'm not a "big spender" on the Bears but I still contribute.

 

My point is based on what I believe is a near certainty that nothing will be done. If the McCaskeys actually do something, then obviously I was wrong and I will applaud their efforts.

 

If you spend money on tickets you are probably giving that money to 2nd party vendors, not the Bears. I'll give you the concession angle, but merchandise is split among the league.

 

Anyway, I just don't like how whenever things go wrong fan bases inevitably whine about cheapass ownership tightwads and all that. Spending is not the problem. The Bears spend. And teams like Washington, that spend like mad, are not better off. Chicago pays a head coach and GM relatively handsomely. They make money available for free agents every year, spending money to keep all their bigger players and in short, do not hold back this team from succeeding. If they watch this team fall apart and do nothing about it, yes, they will be screwing the fan. But right now, they are the ones being screwed by a bunch of people they paid handsomely after the Super Bowl run. Lovie, Angelo, Harris, Brown, Ogunleye, Vasher, Kreutz, Pace, Williams, Hester and Cutler are all highly compensated employees struggling mightily in one way shape or form. Forte isn't all that highly compensated, but he's been paid and relied upon and has been worthless.

 

Given the uncertain economy, and the coming labor problems involving the CBA, it would not be unreasonable for ownership to give this same group one last year (since they'll all be getting paid and/or counting against the cap anyway) to fix things, even though I do think it would be the wrong decision.