Bears game 2: Sunday Sep. 19 at DAL on Fox

[Banedon]

Also, one expected but annoying thing about the coverage of this game is that all the analysis about this game online has not been about how suprising it is that the Bears are 2-0, its all about how the Cowboys are 0-2. Again like I said I'm not at all surprised, so I'm not upset about it, I just wish there was more viewpoints to read about regarding the Bears outside of our local sites.

 

Anyone come across any Bear-friendly articles in the national media and the big 4 (ESPN, SI.com, CBSSports, FoxSports) this morning?

 

Melissa Isaacson had one on ESPN this morning (along with like 3-4 Cowboys articles).

 

Peter King had nary a mention of the game...you'd barely knew it existed, though he has the Bears ranked like number 8. He countered that positive by bashing the O-line in his "things I didn't like" segment.

 

But yeah, very little Bears praise.

 

Isaacson is a national writer now? Or is it one of those espnchicago things?

 

ESPNChicago, but it was linked on ESPN's NFL page as a normal article...

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/columns/story?columnist=isaacson_melissa&id=5594140

[jersey cubs fan]

Was she a Tribune or Sun-Times writer?

[Magnetic Curses]

The running game is not just a Martz thing though, they haven't been able to run for a while. The offensive line started falling apart in the super bowl season and they haven't been able to run since. They have been bottom of the barrel yd/game and yd/carry for three plus years.

 

a lot of teams have been essentially daring us to throw in that time and turner is the most predictable and vanilla coordinator in the history of the game. once cutler beats a few teams with his arm they will start to back off and open up some holes for forte and taylor. this will ultimately make the offense more productive.

 

but even if the running game never fully gets going, it's like you always say, the NFL is a passing league.

[Banedon]

Was she a Tribune or Sun-Times writer?

 

Trib.

[David]

http://www.aww-kittah-aww.com/up/public/171999/cutlerqbrating.JPG

 

Oh, man. Can we just freeze that screen for all time? =D>

 

 

It is nice, but... lol

 

http://home.comcast.net/~davhern2/Grossman.jpg

[Soul]

Oh stop. Leave my fantasies be, David.

[jersey cubs fan]

http://www.aww-kittah-aww.com/up/public/171999/cutlerqbrating.JPG

 

Oh, man. Can we just freeze that screen for all time? =D>

 

 

It is nice, but... lol

 

http://home.comcast.net/~davhern2/Grossman.jpg

 

I was at game 2 that year. Those were two cakewalk bad teams and with an offensive line that could actually protect some, plus an even better defense that made winning easy. Grossman faced 1% of the adversity that Cutler has faced in those two games.

[David]

I know. I'm not comparing them. I just thought it was funny that I had that graphic still and that it applied so well.

[Soul]

It's interesting that's '06, just a few years ago.

 

Only Rivers is still a starting NFL QB.

 

Not for Long, indeed. Actually Batch might get the start next week I think -- but he's no starter.

[jersey cubs fan]

I know. I'm not comparing them. I just thought it was funny that I had that graphic still and that it applied so well.

 

I was wondering how you found it.

[Banedon]

Sounds like he's in the doghouse, but they haven't told him why....weird...

 

Where did Devin Aromashodu go? After looking like Cutler's favorite target all over again in the opener, Twitter messages were flying during the game. Where is No. 19? The short answer is he was replaced by Bennett this week in the offense. Aromashodu was on the field for one snap, a week after being targeted for 10 passes.

 

He was knocked around pretty good in the game against the Lions, but he also had three drops, one of them on what would have been a touchdown. He was limited because of injuries because he was involved on special teams.

 

"I kind of knew I really wasn't going to play that much," he said, basing that on his work in practice last week. "You never know really know."

 

Was it related to the drops?

 

"I don't know what it was related to, honestly," he said. "(The coaches) didn't talk to me about that. Just keep practicing. I know my chance will come again."

[Old Style]

I am SO happy we won. I almost wish I wasn't off from work today. I'm sure everyone is dreading my return tomorrow.

 

:lol:

[UMFan83]

 

I was at game 2 that year. Those were two cakewalk bad teams and with an offensive line that could actually protect some, plus an even better defense that made winning easy. Grossman faced 1% of the adversity that Cutler has faced in those two games.

 

It went on for longer than those 2 games though. The next week he had a mediocre but not bad game against Minnesota, and then after that another couple of great performances against the defending NFC champs (Seattle) and another cakewalk team. And then the Bears went to Arizona, and everyone's perceptions of Rex changed forever.

[cubweiser03]

I don't care that the Bears can't run the ball that well but they need to improve in short yardage situations. Going tight and pounding it doesn't work with this line, id like them to try and spread the defense out with 3 or 4 wides and run some zone blocking plays where Forte can use his one cut and vision strengths to hit the hole, rather than the hole be forced to him by the play design. Im a BIG fan of Martz though. Give him some talent on the oline and it will really take off. Forte and Taylor are great at screens. The one thing RT got right was splitting Forte wide, glad Martz uses this tactic. I really like how he used Olsen as the hot receiver on the TD play too.

 

The defensive energy of this teams seems to be much improved, they really are all over the field swarming. The LBS are awesome. I like having Urlacher AND Pisa healthy. I like DJ Moore a lot too and this isnt just because of his ints. The safties havent been exposed too much yet. You can't run on this defense, it can't be done.

[Soul]

Sounds like he's in the doghouse, but they haven't told him why....weird...

 

Where did Devin Aromashodu go? After looking like Cutler's favorite target all over again in the opener, Twitter messages were flying during the game. Where is No. 19? The short answer is he was replaced by Bennett this week in the offense. Aromashodu was on the field for one snap, a week after being targeted for 10 passes.

 

He was knocked around pretty good in the game against the Lions, but he also had three drops, one of them on what would have been a touchdown. He was limited because of injuries because he was involved on special teams.

 

"I kind of knew I really wasn't going to play that much," he said, basing that on his work in practice last week. "You never know really know."

 

Was it related to the drops?

 

"I don't know what it was related to, honestly," he said. "(The coaches) didn't talk to me about that. Just keep practicing. I know my chance will come again."

 

He's got the right perspective on it, I think. I'm going to stay away from ascribing reasons to it without knowing for sure.

[SpongeWorthy]

Brad Maynard sucks.

[rawaction]

I don't care that the Bears can't run the ball that well but they need to improve in short yardage situations. Going tight and pounding it doesn't work with this line, id like them to try and spread the defense out with 3 or 4 wides and run some zone blocking plays where Forte can use his one cut and vision strengths to hit the hole, rather than the hole be forced to him by the play design. Im a BIG fan of Martz though. Give him some talent on the oline and it will really take off. Forte and Taylor are great at screens. The one thing RT got right was splitting Forte wide, glad Martz uses this tactic. I really like how he used Olsen as the hot receiver on the TD play too.

 

The defensive energy of this teams seems to be much improved, they really are all over the field swarming. The LBS are awesome. I like having Urlacher AND Pisa healthy. I like DJ Moore a lot too and this isnt just because of his ints. The safties havent been exposed too much yet. You can't run on this defense, it can't be done.

 

Moore was really good Week 1 also. He blanketed Nate Burleson for most of the game.

[jersey cubs fan]

Brad Maynard sucks.

 

It seems to me that he often has a major stinker of a game, and then will correct things and do better. Of course he's also older and has had some health issues, so maybe he can't any longer, but I'm going to assume he gets it straightened out soon.

[rawaction]

Brad Maynard sucks.

 

It seems to me that he often has a major stinker of a game, and then will correct things and do better. Of course he's also older and has had some health issues, so maybe he can't any longer, but I'm going to assume he gets it straightened out soon.

 

Maynard's only value for the last few years has only been in his ability to put the ball inside the 20. Been in the bottom 1/4 of the league in avg and net the last 4 years (including the 2 games this year), yet has finished top 10 in punts inside the 20 all 4 years.

[jersey cubs fan]

Brad Maynard sucks.

 

It seems to me that he often has a major stinker of a game, and then will correct things and do better. Of course he's also older and has had some health issues, so maybe he can't any longer, but I'm going to assume he gets it straightened out soon.

 

Maynard's only value for the last few years has only been in his ability to put the ball inside the 20. Been in the bottom 1/4 of the league in avg and net the last 4 years (including the 2 games this year), yet has finished top 10 in punts inside the 20 all 4 years.

 

Because Lovie always punts inside enemy territory.

[rawaction]

Brad Maynard sucks.

 

It seems to me that he often has a major stinker of a game, and then will correct things and do better. Of course he's also older and has had some health issues, so maybe he can't any longer, but I'm going to assume he gets it straightened out soon.

 

Maynard's only value for the last few years has only been in his ability to put the ball inside the 20. Been in the bottom 1/4 of the league in avg and net the last 4 years (including the 2 games this year), yet has finished top 10 in punts inside the 20 all 4 years.

 

Because Lovie always punts inside enemy territory.

 

True. But Maynard clearly has his niche. You probably have to find a punter before 2011, but it's on the bottom of the list of things to do.

[Soul]

I don't care that the Bears can't run the ball that well but they need to improve in short yardage situations. Going tight and pounding it doesn't work with this line, id like them to try and spread the defense out with 3 or 4 wides and run some zone blocking plays where Forte can use his one cut and vision strengths to hit the hole, rather than the hole be forced to him by the play design. Im a BIG fan of Martz though. Give him some talent on the oline and it will really take off. Forte and Taylor are great at screens. The one thing RT got right was splitting Forte wide, glad Martz uses this tactic. I really like how he used Olsen as the hot receiver on the TD play too.

 

The defensive energy of this teams seems to be much improved, they really are all over the field swarming. The LBS are awesome. I like having Urlacher AND Pisa healthy. I like DJ Moore a lot too and this isnt just because of his ints. The safties havent been exposed too much yet. You can't run on this defense, it can't be done.

 

Moore was really good Week 1 also. He blanketed Nate Burleson for most of the game.

 

He has looked pretty good.

 

Also agree on the LBs. It's been so great having our good LBs back causing havoc. We did get some fill in performances last year that were decent, but nothing like having these starters back.

[SpongeWorthy]

Brad Maynard sucks.

 

It seems to me that he often has a major stinker of a game, and then will correct things and do better. Of course he's also older and has had some health issues, so maybe he can't any longer, but I'm going to assume he gets it straightened out soon.

 

Maynard's only value for the last few years has only been in his ability to put the ball inside the 20. Been in the bottom 1/4 of the league in avg and net the last 4 years (including the 2 games this year), yet has finished top 10 in punts inside the 20 all 4 years.

 

Because Lovie always punts inside enemy territory.

 

True. But Maynard clearly has his niche. You probably have to find a punter before 2011, but it's on the bottom of the list of things to do.

 

He puts it in the 20 but I don't really think he puts it inside the 5 very often. I could be wrong but I just don't remember him getting those great knockdown punts that die close to the goal line. Plus he's just not ever a big boomer.

 

He's had a fine career but there should be better options out there. Anecdotally, I think the quality of NFL punters has gotten a lot higher in recent years.

[jersey cubs fan]

He puts it in the 20 but I don't really think he puts it inside the 5 very often. I could be wrong but I just don't remember him getting those great knockdown punts that die close to the goal line. Plus he's just not ever a big boomer.

 

He's had a fine career but there should be better options out there. Anecdotally, I think the quality of NFL punters has gotten a lot higher in recent years.

 

Inside the 5 is really freaking hard. I really don't think it's that big of an issue. They aren't losing games based on punts, although you can make a case they've failed to win a few because of their willingness to punt instead of go for it.

[Soul]

It's not a bad career option if you've got the leg. Long-lived career, not a lot of heavy lifting.....good pay & benefits :)