Bears game 1: Sunday Sep. 12 vs DET on Fox

[jersey cubs fan]

Well here we go again on the Lovie train. Bears are favored by 6 in their week 1 matchup against the Lions despite a pathetic preseason. That's a lot of points, the third most among week 1 games. I do not feel at all comfortable giving those points, just like I do not feel at all comfortable counting on the Bears making the playoffs this year. There's no excuse to come up short this year, three full seasons removed from their super bowl run with plenty of money made available to acquire talent.

[Butterscup1679666578]

oh god dont lose

[Old Style]

oh god dont lose

this

[soapy]

I'll be in Vegas and I'd like to bet on the Bears but six points doesn't make me feel good about it.

 

ETA: Boy, aren't we beaming with optimism!

[sneakypower]

this is the most excited i've ever been for a Lions team

 

i'm getting all emotionally invested in bubble guys like Paul Pratt, Landon Cohen, DeDe Dorsey. the game last night was must-see viewing in the sneaky household, for crying out loud

 

it's really pretty sad

[Soul]

The Lions are more scary than usual because even if they don't turn out to be much after 16 games are played, the excitement they have due to acquisitions and the whole year 2 of Stafford thing could translate into week 1 difficulty for the Bears.

 

Also of note -- Lovie teams usually start off looking flat and unprepared.

[jersey cubs fan]

The Lions are more scary than usual because even if they don't turn out to be much after 16 games are played, the excitement they have due to acquisitions and the whole year 2 of Stafford thing could translate into week 1 difficulty for the Bears.

 

Also of note -- Lovie teams usually start off looking flat and unprepared.

 

They've lost their fair share of openers, but they responsed well to Indy and GB when they were a decent team. If they lose it's probably because they aren't good, not because they aren't prepared for the opener (although part of the reason they aren't good is because they aren't prepared as well as the good teams).

[rawaction]

Because it's in Chicago and Week 1, I am going with the Bears. But no way in hell, would I bet with those 6 points though.

 

Detroit's defense is still pretty bad. The D-line should be much improved, but I think Williams can handle VandenBosch and then you double Suh and help out Omiyale if necessary. Then you get to their back 7, who are lackluster at best. So, I hope the Bears offense can get on track.

[sneakypower]

Avril's looked awesome in the preseason, i think you'll see him in the backfield a bunch. the whole DL play should be really strong

 

the back seven's pretty gnarly though, which isn't helped at all right now by nagging ailments to Levy, Delmas and Wade's club hand

[UMFan83]

I'm not buyin the Lions love. I hear it every year, and every year its a new acquisition or two that is going to make the Lions turn the corner. I do like a lot of their additions they've made but I'm thinking 5-11 looks good for them.

[Soul]

True. I think the coaching change has yet to sort itself out yet though, and could prove to be a difference from all the other years the Lions were supposed to be better but weren't.

 

Then again, "better" for the Lions would be like 6-10.

[SpongeWorthy]

Does the lack of preseason playing time for Cutler who needs to learn a supposedly new, complex offense strike you as the behavior of a head coach who is afraid of losing his job?

[Guest]

Tim Shaw and Al Afalava were cut today. Surprised to see Shaw go.

[UMFan83]

Tim Shaw and Al Afalava were cut today. Surprised to see Shaw go.

 

Im surprised to see both go. Especially with how bad special teams was in the case of Shaw. Cutting Awfulava shows how bad our safeties were last year.

[rawaction]

I'll be upset if Bullocks makes the team over Afalava. Not that Afalava is that good or anything, just that we know Bullocks sucks and has for years. Afalava at least showed some flashes and is a few years younger. Only need Harris, Manning, Wright, and Steltz anyway. Scott on PS can play if necessary.

[JonJayCutler]

Man, this organization soured on Afalava fast. They were saying during the last preseason broadcast how he showed up to camp overweight which isn't good for any DB, so that might have had something to do with it.

 

Yes, please beat the Lions. If we lose, we have the Cowboys, Packers, Giants, and Panthers following, three of which are road games. We could easily be 0-5.

[rawaction]

Jarron Gilbert and Juaquin Iglesias both cut. Along with Josh Beekman. No other big surprises, except the high number of DBs being kept. Looks like 6 CBs and 5 safeties may make the team. And both Bell and Wolfe look to be on the team.

[Guest]

I'm not sure why they are cutting Iglesias so soon.

 

Kudos on the solid drafting by Angelo though.

[rawaction]

I'm not sure why they are cutting Iglesias so soon.

 

Kudos on the solid drafting by Angelo though.

 

The Bears traded their 2009 2nd round pick for a 3rd (Gilbert) and a 4th (Melton). While Melton made the team, he and Gilbert have played about 9 plays combined in the NFL. Just for reference, these are the players who are starting for other teams at positions of need for the Bears, that were available at the point the Bears traded from in the 2nd.

 

Max Unger- RG Seattle

Muhammad Massaquoi- WR Cleveland

Phil Loadholt- RT Minnesota

Andy Levitre- LG Buffalo

Sebastian Vollmer- RT New England

Sean Smith- CB Miami

[JonJayCutler]

Jarron Gilbert and Juaquin Iglesias both cut. Along with Josh Beekman. No other big surprises, except the high number of DBs being kept. Looks like 6 CBs and 5 safeties may make the team. And both Bell and Wolfe look to be on the team.

 

To get literally nothing out of two 3rd-round picks chosen in the same year is pretty sad. And so far, we haven't gotten anything out of our two 4th-rounders from last year either (Melton, DJ Moore). We did get Knox in the 5th and Lance Louis in the 7th, but it's still about as bad of a draft as you can have.

 

I'm pretty sure none of Gilbert, Iglesias, or Beekman are practice squad eligible. Way to go Angelo. No reason to have both Bell and Wolfe on the team either.

[Wilson A2000]

Jerry prided himself in picking up decent players late in the draft. We all know he has been terrible in the early rounds, and it seems that he isn't good in the late rounds either.

[Guest]

Wasn't Beekman the back up center?

 

I suppose they took Rashied Davis over Iglesias due to Davis' special teams play.

 

Did Ihwu make the team? I was particularly impressed with him during the preseason.

[Soul]

Wasn't Beekman the back up center?

 

I suppose they took Rashied Davis over Iglesias due to Davis' special teams play.

 

Did Ihwu make the team? I was particularly impressed with him during the preseason.

Garza is apparently backup center now--I certainly hope we don't find ourselves needing to test that one out.

 

Shaw was cut due to Iwuh's solid play.

 

The cutting of Iglesias and Gilbert are damning, final proof of our need for new personnel management, though I strongly feel that glaring fact has been evident for quite some time.

 

We badly, badly need new direction and management for our football team. That's the obvious truth, and it's not going to go away until we get that change.

[JonJayCutler]

I guess Iglesias was eligible for the practice squad.

 

http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=7037

[Wilson A2000]

The Tribune said the Bears "may have lost their quarterback of the future." What? Anyway, Cincinnati picked up LeFevour. But seriously, what is Dan Pompei thinking?