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

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm not criticizing the Giants because I'm a Bears fan, not a Giants fan. If the Giants want to shoot themselves in the foot we should welcome that. I'd rather it be the Packers but at least they're an NFC team.

 

In fact if the rest of the teams in the NFL want to be boobs about personnel and business decisions I'd welcome that too.

 

But the fact is the Bears are right there with almost everybody else except for Washington and Dallas. The NFL has 2 giants, a few scrubs and everybody else. The idea that the Bears are a poorly run business is simply not a story. It's pointless nonsense meant to sell magazines and get pageviews.

[Soul]

Well, the point with the Giants being brought up is that you'll never see an article like this generated from the NY-dominated media regarding their beloved team, even though it can easily be argued they share many of the same qualities as the Bears.

 

It's way easier to fire off something ultra-negative about a city 1,500 miles to the West than dirty up your own back yard.

[Jon]

The Bears are going to be wearing their previously unveiled throwback uniforms on 9/27 vs. Green Bay and 11/14 vs. Minnesota.

[jersey cubs fan]

Simmons hates the Bears and is laughing at this line. I agree with his thoughts on this line. 6.5 is pretty nuts.

I do not get it.

[jersey cubs fan]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/don_banks/09/08/week.1.3/index.html

 

Don Banks does not like the Bears.

 

29

Pre-camp: 26

Chicago Bears

Not all 0-4 preseasons are created equal, of course. I'm not worried in the least about the Colts. They always lose in August. But the Bears were a calamity in going winless, and I'm afraid it portends the last-place season to come in Chicago.

[UMFan83]

I'm pouring through this schedule and I just cannot see better than a 6-10 season with this schedule. It's too tough.

 

In order to win 8 games and finish .500, they need AT A MINIMUM 3 wins to come from these teams

 

@ Dallas

vs. Green Bay

@ NY Giants

@ Carolina

vs. Minnesota

@ Miami

vs. Philadelphia

vs. New England

@ Minnesota

vs. NYJ

@ Green Bay

 

And that's if they go 5-0 against Det, @ Det, vs. Sea, vs. Was, @ Buf

 

3 of the first 4 games and all of the last 4 games are extremely difficult, making it very hard to start out or finish strong. Basically if you want to be a believer for the playoffs, you need to hope the Bears play .500 ball in the first 4 and last 4 games, and dominate the middle 8 where the teams are a big easier.

 

Of course some of the teams we think will be good might not be (Giants, Panthers, Dolphins, Eagles, Patriots, Jets). By the end of the year, the schedule could look crazy easy, and/or the Bears could turn out to be very good. But it looks quite daunting sitting here in the eve of Week 1.

[sneakypower]

Simmons hates the Bears and is laughing at this line. I agree with his thoughts on this line. 6.5 is pretty nuts.

I do not get it.

it might be a reaction to the unclear statuses of Delmas and Levy, maybe our two most important players on the back seven; after them it's a skeleton crew as it stands

 

i have a lot of faith in Schwartz & co., and the talent they've accrued for the defense, but i don't think it'll fully gel for a few more weeks, so Cutler should have a pretty easy time with our secondary especially if those two guys can't play or are hindered

[Soul]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/don_banks/09/08/week.1.3/index.html

 

Don Banks does not like the Bears.

 

29

Pre-camp: 26

Chicago Bears

Not all 0-4 preseasons are created equal, of course. I'm not worried in the least about the Colts. They always lose in August. But the Bears were a calamity in going winless, and I'm afraid it portends the last-place season to come in Chicago.

 

I'm alarmed at the apparent lack of preparation as well. Even with the changes, I expected to see a more cohesive unit than that. It's not like they started practicing last week. They've been at it since OTAs, months ago.

[Wilson A2000]

Is the depth chart out yet?

[jersey cubs fan]

they have one listed on their website

[Wilson A2000]

they have one listed on their website

 

Any chance Major Wright could be a SS? Wright and Harris seem to be the best tandem or safeties talent wise.

Edited September 8, 2010 by Wilson A2000

[rawaction]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/don_banks/09/08/week.1.3/index.html

 

Don Banks does not like the Bears.

 

29

Pre-camp: 26

Chicago Bears

Not all 0-4 preseasons are created equal, of course. I'm not worried in the least about the Colts. They always lose in August. But the Bears were a calamity in going winless, and I'm afraid it portends the last-place season to come in Chicago.

 

I'm alarmed at the apparent lack of preparation as well. Even with the changes, I expected to see a more cohesive unit than that. It's not like they started practicing last week. They've been at it since OTAs, months ago.

 

I kinda buy Cutler and Martz's explanations that the playcalling was very vanilla and that there was no gameplanning for specific teams and situations. I understand that the Cowboys have "done it before" and have a familiar offense, but they are getting a free pass for being worse offensively this summer than the Bears were.

 

I guess we'll wait and see. And even if we see a great passing offense Week 1, it's still vs. Detroit who may be lacking in the back 7.

[Guest]

How many snaps did Forte get this preseason? I guess he should be pretty fresh.

[SpongeWorthy]

they have one listed on their website

 

Any chance Major Wright could be a SS? Wright and Harris seem to be the best tandem or safeties talent wise.

 

I think he could be. He loves to hit in run support. I think Harris at SS and Major at FS makes the most sense at the moment if Wright can get up to speed coming off the injury.

 

Also on this http://www.chicagobears.com/team/depthchart.asp it says Kellen Davis is the backup TE while Manumaleuna and Dez are the fullbacks. That's kinda weird isn't it?

[Guest]

they have one listed on their website

 

Any chance Major Wright could be a SS? Wright and Harris seem to be the best tandem or safeties talent wise.

 

I think he could be. He loves to hit in run support. I think Harris at SS and Major at FS makes the most sense at the moment if Wright can get up to speed coming off the injury.

 

Also on this http://www.chicagobears.com/team/depthchart.asp it says Kellen Davis is the backup TE while Manumaleuna and Dez are the fullbacks. That's kinda weird isn't it?

 

Not all that weird. Both set up as H backs during preseason games, and I kind of prefer that added protection for Cutler.

[SpongeWorthy]

Are we never gonna use a leading full back? Clark seems kind of tall to line up as FB in an I formation and Manumaleuna is probably too big to be a traditional lead blocker.

[Wilson A2000]

they have one listed on their website

 

Any chance Major Wright could be a SS? Wright and Harris seem to be the best tandem or safeties talent wise.

 

I think he could be. He loves to hit in run support. I think Harris at SS and Major at FS makes the most sense at the moment if Wright can get up to speed coming off the injury.

 

Also on this http://www.chicagobears.com/team/depthchart.asp it says Kellen Davis is the backup TE while Manumaleuna and Dez are the fullbacks. That's kinda weird isn't it?

 

Is there any chance Harris and Wright are the starting safeties vs the Lions week 1?

[SpongeWorthy]

I doubt it. Getting hurt in the first preseason game probably killed those chances. But he'll still see the field and I bet he's starting within a month or so.

[Wilson A2000]

I doubt it. Getting hurt in the first preseason game probably killed those chances. But he'll still see the field and I bet he's starting within a month or so.

 

I'd put him in right away. Manning is a nickel at best. Lovie keeps him in there because he is his little pet and wanted him on the team in the first place. Manning is just bad.

[Guest]

they have one listed on their website

 

Any chance Major Wright could be a SS? Wright and Harris seem to be the best tandem or safeties talent wise.

 

I think he could be. He loves to hit in run support. I think Harris at SS and Major at FS makes the most sense at the moment if Wright can get up to speed coming off the injury.

 

Also on this http://www.chicagobears.com/team/depthchart.asp it says Kellen Davis is the backup TE while Manumaleuna and Dez are the fullbacks. That's kinda weird isn't it?

Probably because the Bears didn't want to be the only team in the NFL to keep four freaking tight ends on the roster.

[CubColtPacer]

they have one listed on their website

 

Any chance Major Wright could be a SS? Wright and Harris seem to be the best tandem or safeties talent wise.

 

I think he could be. He loves to hit in run support. I think Harris at SS and Major at FS makes the most sense at the moment if Wright can get up to speed coming off the injury.

 

Also on this http://www.chicagobears.com/team/depthchart.asp it says Kellen Davis is the backup TE while Manumaleuna and Dez are the fullbacks. That's kinda weird isn't it?

Probably because the Bears didn't want to be the only team in the NFL to keep four freaking tight ends on the roster.

 

I'm not sure about anybody else but the Colts have four tight ends. Techically they have 5 listed on the roster but 1 is only the long snapper. But the other 4 will all be used primarily at tight end.

[rawaction]

I doubt it. Getting hurt in the first preseason game probably killed those chances. But he'll still see the field and I bet he's starting within a month or so.

 

I'd put him in right away. Manning is a nickel at best. Lovie keeps him in there because he is his little pet and wanted him on the team in the first place. Manning is just bad.

 

Danieal Manning has played better safety this preseason than Chris Harris. Granted, Harris is playing out of position at FS. But he hasn't tackled or covered well this preseason. Manning hasn't been anything special in coverage, but he has been a solid tackler.

[Wilson A2000]

I doubt it. Getting hurt in the first preseason game probably killed those chances. But he'll still see the field and I bet he's starting within a month or so.

 

I'd put him in right away. Manning is a nickel at best. Lovie keeps him in there because he is his little pet and wanted him on the team in the first place. Manning is just bad.

 

Danieal Manning has played better safety this preseason than Chris Harris. Granted, Harris is playing out of position at FS. But he hasn't tackled or covered well this preseason. Manning hasn't been anything special in coverage, but he has been a solid tackler.

 

Maybe so, but I am pretty confident Harris is a better football player and will demonstrate that week 1. That is unless Harris' ability has really fallen off the last few years. I haven't seen him enough in preseason to make that call (he was terrible against AZ). If Harris is playing out of position, put him back in his regular place and get Wright in at his regular spot.

Edited September 9, 2010 by Wilson A2000

[JonJayCutler]

A ranking of 29th is ridiculous. Barring a huge injury, I don't know how people figure we're going to be worse this year than in 08 and 09. In 08 we made almost made the playoffs with a lot worse of a team (on paper anyway) than this one. Last year we finished 7-9 with 2/3 of our starting LBs out, a QB who led the NFL in INTs, and a RB with a bad knee.

 

Yeah the schedule looks pretty tough, but I like to think of it in three categories:

 

Must wins: Lions, Seahawks, Redskins, @Bills, @Lions. I'm going to say they go 4-1 in these games, with the loss coming at home versus Washington.

 

Tough but winnable games: @Giants, @Panthers, @Dolphins, Eagles, Jets. Not buying the Eagles or Giants yet, and since I'm assuming a loss in the five "easy" games, I'm going to say 3-2 here.

 

All around difficult games: @Cowboys, Packers, Vikings, Patriots, @Vikings, @Packers. I'm saying we split with one of Green Bay or Minnesota and get swept by the other, while splitting the games against Dallas and New England. So, 2-4 here.

 

So that's a 9-7 record and flirting with a wild card. Not unreasonable at all.

[UMFan83]

Writers and sports prognosticators just good off trends. Very rarely do they take chances unless they are purposely trying to be "out there"

 

Right now based on an 0-4 preseason and i guess people observed major issues on the oline as well as a slow adaption of the Martz offense. So right now the vibe around the Bears is negative. More negative than before the preseason. So most people have the Bears somewhere in the 19-24 range in power rankings. Banks is just taking it to the extreme. Peter King had the Bears 32/32 before their 2005 11-5 season, so these predictions have little correlation to the actual season results. The only thing they are good for are retroactively seeing what the general public opinion of a team was before the season started.