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

[jersey cubs fan]

I think it's kind of a toss-up either way, but going into the season felt it was a waste to bring in the veteran QB. Just let the younger guy show if he can improve. Collins can't.

[SpongeWorthy]

Collins won't look as bad against a crappier team and a full week of practice. I expect occasionally effective mediocrity out of him which may be enough t o win.

[UMFan83]

For all those puking at the thought of Collins starting, you think Hanie would be any better?

 

Yes for 2 reasons:

 

1) Haine doesn't have a noodle arm like Collins has. I'm not saying he has a strong arm but he can move it down field if need be. He's better suited to run watered down version of Martz's offense

2) He is definitely somewhat mobile, which Collins is anythin but. So if the offensive line fails as it has in some or all of the 4 games we've played, we have Collins in there waiting to get plowed or Hanie who can get out of the pocket and at least run a couple yards forward instead of 7 yards back.

[tfarks]

I'd gladly take Hanie's arm strength and potential over Collins' experience. Either way the offense is going to be toned down, might as well have the guy in there that can produce the big play at some point. If the Bears could run the ball I would be perfectly fine with Collins this game.

[JonJayCutler]

Collins isn't as bad as he looked last Sunday. He was actually very good the last time he got signifcant playing time in 2007. With a whole week to prepare I'm confident he's capable of doing just enough. Hanie isn't better.

 

I hate the idea of Cutler sitting and 3-2 now seeming like a realistic possibility, but this is absolutely the right decision for the long run. We must, however, adjust the game plan and find a way to run the football. Get to the bye week no worse than 5-2 and we'll be fine.

[Wilson A2000]

He was actually very good the last time he got signifcant playing time in 2007.

 

And that is why we really have no idea how good Collins is.

[Soul]

It might be a good thing that I won't be able to watch this Sunday's game.

[Illini Iceman]

For all those puking at the thought of Collins starting, you think Hanie would be any better?

 

Yes for 2 reasons:

 

1) Haine doesn't have a noodle arm like Collins has. I'm not saying he has a strong arm but he can move it down field if need be. He's better suited to run watered down version of Martz's offense

2) He is definitely somewhat mobile, which Collins is anythin but. So if the offensive line fails as it has in some or all of the 4 games we've played, we have Collins in there waiting to get plowed or Hanie who can get out of the pocket and at least run a couple yards forward instead of 7 yards back.

 

I think the lack of mobility might be good in this case. Cutler was getting himself in trouble by not just dumping the ball off or throwing it away when he was under pressure. They need a qb this week that takes his drop and gets rid of the ball. Trying to buy extra time and scrambling around is just likely to cause more problems.

[Soul]

For all those puking at the thought of Collins starting, you think Hanie would be any better?

 

Yes for 2 reasons:

 

1) Haine doesn't have a noodle arm like Collins has. I'm not saying he has a strong arm but he can move it down field if need be. He's better suited to run watered down version of Martz's offense

2) He is definitely somewhat mobile, which Collins is anythin but. So if the offensive line fails as it has in some or all of the 4 games we've played, we have Collins in there waiting to get plowed or Hanie who can get out of the pocket and at least run a couple yards forward instead of 7 yards back.

 

I think the lack of mobility might be good in this case. Cutler was getting himself in trouble by not just dumping the ball off or throwing it away when he was under pressure. They need a qb this week that takes his drop and gets rid of the ball. Trying to buy extra time and scrambling around is just likely to cause more problems.

 

I think I'd rather have Hanie, but it's an argument between 2 pretty blah alternatives.

[Banedon]

It may be a moot point until Jay Cutler is fully healthy again, but perhaps the Bears need to consider using the shotgun formation a bit more often. So far this year, they've used shotgun a league-low 14 percent of the time. But they've averaged a league-leading 8.5 yards per play from shotgun, and their gap of 3.5 yards per play between shotgun and standard formations is also the largest in the league.

[jersey cubs fan]

Kreutz won't let them.

[soapy]

Yeah, that's the supposed old argument, right? He doesn't like the shotgun or something.

[Banedon]

Yep. Though Kreutz hasn't seemed to have the snapping issues with Cutler that he did with Orton and Grossman.

[tfarks]

I would have Cutler in the shotgun constantly, let's see some no huddle.

[Soul]

I've been thinking the Bears have been using the shotgun more this year.

 

It's interesting they are still at league-lows. I think the reality is, they were just not using it period before except for the very rare case. Now they've done a little more, but it's still really really low in terms of percentage.

 

I don't get why Kreutz would stop them from using it. He does do it. If he was so against it wouldn't that mean that he doesn't want to do it at all? Plus -- do we really think Olin Kreutz is telling Martz what formations and plays he can call?

 

Maybe he is, I don't know. But I find that strange.

[jersey cubs fan]

I've been thinking the Bears have been using the shotgun more this year.

 

It's interesting they are still at league-lows. I think the reality is, they were just not using it period before except for the very rare case. Now they've done a little more, but it's still really really low in terms of percentage.

 

I don't get why Kreutz would stop them from using it. He does do it. If he was so against it wouldn't that mean that he doesn't want to do it at all? Plus -- do we really think Olin Kreutz is telling Martz what formations and plays he can call?

 

Maybe he is, I don't know. But I find that strange.

 

He's the starting center, core of the offensive line and the most talked about leader of the team. If he's uncomfortable doing it, you can be sure he's let people know and they are paying attention. He's not going to refuse to ever snap it from shotgun, but the story has always been he prefers not to, which would seem to indicate they would do it less often than they wanted.

[Magnetic Curses]

I've been thinking the Bears have been using the shotgun more this year.

 

It's interesting they are still at league-lows. I think the reality is, they were just not using it period before except for the very rare case. Now they've done a little more, but it's still really really low in terms of percentage.

 

I don't get why Kreutz would stop them from using it. He does do it. If he was so against it wouldn't that mean that he doesn't want to do it at all? Plus -- do we really think Olin Kreutz is telling Martz what formations and plays he can call?

 

Maybe he is, I don't know. But I find that strange.

 

it's not kreutz specifically, martz doesn't use it that much and neither did turner.

 

-The shotgun formation has been nearly non-existent in camp. Here's Martz on why: "We do have some shotgun. We're not quite there yet. That's one of the last things we deal with. That really moves towards two-minute. I'm not a real big fan of shotgun because we like to get things out real fast. We like to have the ball underneath the center with having the chance to hand it off or throw it real quick. The shotgun eliminates some of that"

 

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/ninerinsider/detail?entry_id=28607#ixzz11n2AyTQD

[Banedon]

Chris Williams is out for Sunday.

 

Offensive line coach Mike Tice said he plans to go with Frank Omiyale at left tackle and Kevin Shaffer at right. But rookie Ja'Marcus Webb could work his way in the mix.

 

So pretty much no O-line changes.

[Guest]

Chris Williams is out for Sunday.

 

Offensive line coach Mike Tice said he plans to go with Frank Omiyale at left tackle and Kevin Shaffer at right. But rookie Ja'Marcus Webb could work his way in the mix.

 

So pretty much no O-line changes.

They should be improved, then!

[jersey cubs fan]

Chris Williams is out for Sunday.

 

Offensive line coach Mike Tice said he plans to go with Frank Omiyale at left tackle and Kevin Shaffer at right. But rookie Ja'Marcus Webb could work his way in the mix.

 

So pretty much no O-line changes.

They should be improved, then!

 

That's all it takes!

[SpongeWorthy]

Chris Williams is kind of a [expletive] isn't he?

[Banedon]

Chris Williams is kind of a [expletive] isn't he?

 

I dunno about that. But he's fragile without a doubt.

[jersey cubs fan]

Chris Williams is kind of a [expletive] isn't he?

 

I dunno about that. But he's fragile without a doubt.

 

Back troubles suck and hammies are tough with big freaks of nature. I don't think he's faking it or anything but he's definitely fragile.

[JonJayCutler]

I have no idea what to expect Sunday. I could see them having offensive problems similar to last Sunday and losing, and I also could see them moving the ball well while using their defense/ST to generate points and winning by a couple TDs. I just want to get this game over with so we can go back to Soldier and (hopefully) get our QB back.

[Soul]

I'm fully expecting a poor offensive showing without Cutler.