Bears Game 5: Sunday Oct 10th at Carolina, Noon on FOX

[UMFan83]

I know Bears game threads are jersey's birthright, but I've only seen one post of his since before yesterday's game started, so guess I'm gonna take the reigns since Week 5 news is already leaking into last week's thread.

 

So since yesterday's game was about as depressing as the entire 2010 Cubs season, let's stick to positives.

 

-The Bears are 3-1 and got there by beating a couple of preseason Super Bowl candidates

-Cutler is alive and there are very early signs that he will play next week

-Carolina really sucks and Steve Smith is looking like he's going to be out so Peanut won't have nightmares all week.

-The schedule is a lot easier for the next several weeks

-The offensive line can't get worse, and it was so bad yesterday theres no way Martz comes in with a "lots of 5-7 step drops" gameplan to start this week's game.

-The defense has looked inconsistently great so far (made up term I know).

-At game time it will be mid-October and the Bears will be in 1st place.

 

So let's get off the mat, dust ourselves off and get some revenge for 2005 against the hapless kittens (sorry Andy).

[Soul]

Off the mat and dusted off.

 

Also in the positives column: Carolina doesn't rush the passer nearly as well as the Giants.

[Mark Priors Calves]

This has the potential to be a very interesting game. A win puts the Bears at 4-1 with two home games to follow. A loss puts the Bears at 3-2 and reeling coming off of two games they could've/should've won.

 

If Todd Collins plays significant time, I think we really struggle to win.

[Keener98]

Off the mat and dusted off.

 

Also in the positives column: Carolina doesn't rush the passer nearly as well as the Giants.

 

Carolina has 4 sacks all year, Im willing to bet they get 4 in this game by itself.

[Soul]

Off the mat and dusted off.

 

Also in the positives column: Carolina doesn't rush the passer nearly as well as the Giants.

 

Carolina has 4 sacks all year, Im willing to bet they get 4 in this game by itself.

 

That's what? An improvement of 8 over yesterday? W00t!

[Banedon]

I think this game will say a lot about how the rest of the season will go. Are we able to beat the teams we should beat? I know we beat Dallas and Green Bay, but now we've gotten our teeth kicked in this past week...how well do we recover?

[rawaction]

I think they'll be ok. I warned about being able to "get up" for the Giants game. Should be no problem this week coming off of an utter embarrassment. Also, Julius Peppers (and Chris Harris) going back to Carolina should help the D stay motivated.

 

I know it's not all about motivation, but it helps level the playing field.

[jersey cubs fan]

This game is currently off as people await word on Cutler, but the Bears were initially 3 point favorites. I'm scared to see this team start a game with a backup QB. I'd expect a lot of punts.

[UMFan83]

Is it bukie that usually analyzes the football outsiders stats? I am interested to see how the Bears Oline is rated this week.

[Banedon]

Is it bukie that usually analyzes the football outsiders stats? I am interested to see how the Bears Oline is rated this week.

 

Not updated yet.

[cubbyvirus00]

Question: How do you think the 2011 NFL draft is going to play out for the Bears?

 

 

Do you use the first pick on a lineman for either side of the ball? Or do you take a big physical playmaking WR?

 

I personally am not happy with Hester on the field for as much as he is. I'd like to make him our slot WR eventually and take a physical specimen as our #1.

[jersey cubs fan]

There is absolutely no question they should take an offensive lineman 1st 2nd and eighty times after that. But it's Angelo so who knows.

[Banedon]

There is absolutely no question they should take an offensive lineman 1st 2nd and eighty times after that. But it's Angelo so who knows.

 

If it's Angelo.

[jersey cubs fan]

There is absolutely no question they should take an offensive lineman 1st 2nd and eighty times after that. But it's Angelo so who knows.

 

If it's Angelo.

 

I still think 7-9 or better and they all return. It shouldn't be that hard to win 4-5 more games.

[Banedon]

There is absolutely no question they should take an offensive lineman 1st 2nd and eighty times after that. But it's Angelo so who knows.

 

If it's Angelo.

 

I still think 7-9 or better and they all return. It shouldn't be that hard to win 4-5 more games.

 

Yeah. Unless there's a magic labor turnaround, the Bears are going to be looking for excuses to keep, rather than fire ppl.

[Guest]

The problem is the draft is deep with those big, dynamic WRs (AJ Green, Michael Floyd, Jonathan Baldwin, Julio Jones) and won't be that great on the offensive line. Of course those 4 receivers might all be gone by the time the Bears pick.

 

Defensive line should be better but OL better be the priority.

[rawaction]

There's no way the Bears can afford to draft a WR in the 1st round with the other needs on this team. Say what you will about Hester, but the Bears have been a top 12 passing team in the league the last 1 1/4 seasons with the current WR corps. Hester may not get a ton better, but Knox and Bennett should continue to improve. I don't take a WR before the 3rd, unless you get a steal in the 2nd.

 

I'd go DT in the first, simply because this seems to be a pretty deep draft for 4-3 DTs, and the Bears have a bigger need at the interior OL than OT (not because they are necessarily better at OT, but because they are younger). Interior OL can be had later in the draft as very few Cs and OGs go in the 1st. But I wouldn't mind a DE, potential shutdown CB, or even an elite safety prospect.

 

My mock draft right now has DT in the 1st, then OG, then WR or LB in the 3rd, C in the 4th, OL or LB in the 5th, then S in the 6th. And I'd still probably sign a FA guard or center.

[UMFan83]

I guess it all depends on what is going to be out there this offseason. When does the labor agreement end? I'm assuming between the draft and the start of FA?

 

No doubt in my mind that OL is the number 1 priority on the team, and the team should probably draft at least 2 or 3 lineman in the draft. But whether its a 1st 2nd and 3rd or a 2nd 4th and 5th, depends on how everything plays out. I'd be pretty disapointed, but not surprised, if one of our first 2 picks wasn't a lineman.

[bukie]

Initial FO stats: Cutler had one of the worst games in DYAR history, being sacked on 45% of his dropbacks. And he managed it in just one half.

 

Whether it was all the line, whether the concussion attributed to his slower than usual delivery, whether it was the playcalling, it was certainly an awful performance that was up there with Ryan Leaf in the hall of shame.

[Banedon]

One of Gabe Carimi, Anthony Castonzo or Matt Reynolds could possibly be there for the Bears in the 1st.

[rawaction]

My mock:

 

1- Jurrell Casey, DT USC

2- Rodney Hudson, OG Florida St or Benjamin Iljana, OG Villanova (Hudson is small, Iljana is huge, depends on preference believe both are 4 year starters)

3- Kelvin Sheppard, LB LSU or Chris Owusu, WR Stanford (Owusu may stay in school, Sheppard is the pick if you feel Urlacher's replacement is needed ASAP)

4- Jake Kirkpatrick, C TCU

5- Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, WR Iowa or Obi Ezeh, LB Michigan

6- Jeron Johnson, SS Boise ST

[Banedon]

OT in the first. OG in the second.

[rawaction]

One of Gabe Carimi, Anthony Castonzo or Matt Reynolds could possibly be there for the Bears in the 1st.

 

They are all tackles though. And while I understand the entire line is weak.....Williams, Omiyale, and Webb are all still young.

 

FWIW, I don't like Carimi AT ALL. Castonzo is not going to be a stud OL (which I would like in the 1st). Reynolds is interesting.

[Banedon]

One of Gabe Carimi, Anthony Castonzo or Matt Reynolds could possibly be there for the Bears in the 1st.

 

They are all tackles though. And while I understand the entire line is weak.....Williams, Omiyale, and Webb are all still young.

 

FWIW, I don't like Carimi AT ALL. Castonzo is not going to be a stud OL (which I would like in the 1st). Reynolds is interesting.

 

What about Carimi don't you like? Most boards are rating him their top OT. And as valiantly as Omiyale might be trying...the guy is bad. They might be young, but they aren't talented. As far as I'm concerned, we need at a minimum, two starting quality OL out of this draft.

[Banedon]

Nate Solder and Demarcus Love are two other names I'm seeing suggested for the Bears in the 1st.