Bears game 7: Sunday Oct. 24 vs WAS on FOX

[jersey cubs fan]

I can't believe the Bears are 3 point favorites here. They are 3-3 against the spread this year, but two of those times they didn't cover were as home favorites. The Bears are 2-6 against the spread in their last 8 home games. Well, at least Washington isn't really very good. They have a mediocre offense and a weak defense, but they can move the ball through the air and can pressure the QB somewhat, so they could conceivably hurt this Bears team that can't run, can't protect the QB, and can't defend the pass.

 

 

As a side note, the media seems to have decided that they lost this game due to the heavy pass/run differential, as if simply calling more running plays means the offense would be more effective. This isn't a good running team, and it hasn't been for years now. That's not Martz. That's what happens when you don't have an offensive line and don't have a dynamic running back. I'd like to see a more effective running game, but when you can't gain a yard on 57 consecutive attempts at gaining 1 yard, that says as much as needs to be said about the ability of this running game.

[Banedon]

As a side note, the media seems to have decided that they lost this game due to the heavy pass/run differential, as if simply calling more running plays means the offense would be more effective. This isn't a good running team, and it hasn't been for years now. That's not Martz. That's what happens when you don't have an offensive line and don't have a dynamic running back. I'd like to see a more effective running game, but when you can't gain a yard on 57 consecutive attempts at gaining 1 yard, that says as much as needs to be said about the ability of this running game.

 

Even if the running game isn't effective, you still keep the defense guessing though. When the defense knows that you're just gonna pass every single down, they can just tee off on the QB. There's a lot of reasons for what happened against Seattle though...I just think the media is tired of saying "the o-line sucks". They need a different narrative.

[jersey cubs fan]

As a side note, the media seems to have decided that they lost this game due to the heavy pass/run differential, as if simply calling more running plays means the offense would be more effective. This isn't a good running team, and it hasn't been for years now. That's not Martz. That's what happens when you don't have an offensive line and don't have a dynamic running back. I'd like to see a more effective running game, but when you can't gain a yard on 57 consecutive attempts at gaining 1 yard, that says as much as needs to be said about the ability of this running game.

 

Even if the running game isn't effective, you still keep the defense guessing though. When the defense knows that you're just gonna pass every single down, they can just tee off on the QB. There's a lot of reasons for what happened against Seattle though...I just think the media is tired of saying "the o-line sucks". They need a different narrative.

 

But they don't have to guess running game or passing game. The running game isn't dangerous enough for them to have to focus on it, and the pass blocking is so bad they don't have to send all sorts of exotic risky blitzes to make it work. Even if they are sending a DB on the outside, that guy is going to be able to defense the rush which has a hard enough time getting cleanly to the 2nd level, let alone the secondary.

[Soul]

Wait, what? How are we favorites?

[jersey cubs fan]

Wait, what? How are we favorites?

 

Because Washington is as mediocre as the Bears and it's in Chicago, I guess. I've now seen as many 2.5 point spreads as 3 point, so it's definitely in that range.

 

Predicting these individual games is beginning to be a lot like how I predicted the season, I could see a wide range of results. Washington doesn't gain a lot of yards and gives up a ton of yards, especially through the air. This could be a vintage Cutler game and a relatively easy win. But Washington also moves the ball well through the air and Chicago's passing game is dangerously suspectible to the pass rush. Washington could win by 10. Or it could be kind of like the Detroit and Seattle games where they get off to an early deficit hang in there and then it comes down to a play or two in the 4th quarter.

[UMFan83]

I see Washington as a completely average team. Without looking at the actual stats, I feel like they are just completely average at every part of the game, not particularly bad, not particularly good. Just average. They remind me of the 2008 Bears for some reason who had that same dynamic.

[UMFan83]

Also, yeah the local media really bit hard on that 200+ yard rushing performance against a pathetic 0-5 football team. I mean yeah I was impressed that they were able to be so successful, but its an awful team we played.

 

Even still, they rushed for I think 219 yards, and it was on 39 carries. 5.6 ypc is good, but only slightly better than what the top rushing teams in the league average for the season. You'd think the YPC would be a little big higher on a day you have your highest rushing total in almost 15 years.

 

Despite 219 yards, they still had 21 of their 39 carries go for 2 or less yards, including 8 for 0 or negative yardage. If you take away their 3 best and 3 worst runs, their totals go down to 125 yards on 33 carries and 3.8 YPC. Still better that I'd expect from our running game, but not enough to make me believe we can run the ball against real NFL teams.

[Banedon]

Per Brad Biggs, Olsen lined up as LT during a play in the 3rd quarter this past week:

 

Let's set the play up, and you can find it on your DVR with 12:26 remaining in the third quarter:

 

After a Seahawks' punt, the Bears took over with first down on their own 10-yard line. They broke the huddle in an unbalanced line as Olsen lined up at left tackle. In this situation, left tackle Frank Omiyale went to the right side of the line where he effectively became the right tackle. From left to right, the line looked like this: Olsen, Chris Williams, Olin Kreutz, Edwin Williams, J'Marcus Webb and Omiyale.

 

Jay Cutler handed the ball off to Matt Forte and he ran directly behind Olsen, who was trying to block the Seahawks' 6-4, 323-pound right end Red Bryant. The Bears list Olsen at 255 pounds, meaning he was sacrificing 68 pounds at the point of attack. Bryant moved off the block to corral Forte with his right arm and bring him down for no gain. The play never had a chance to get going. Linebacker David Hawthorne was there to clean it up if needed.

 

If Martz was trying to confuse the Seahawks or trick them by running behind the weak link on the line, he failed badly.

 

More at the link: http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/10/mad-mike-bears-tried-to-run-behind-left-tackle-olsen.html

[Butterscup1679666578]

solid.

[Banedon]

ESPN Chicago reports that the Bears kicked around the idea of trading for Mankins but decided that the price was too high.

[UMFan83]

ESPN Chicago reports that the Bears kicked around the idea of trading for Mankins but decided that the price was too high.

 

Yeah of course. It's not a big enough need for them anyways.

[/sarcasm]

 

I'd argue that acquiring even 1/5th of an offensive line is more of a need than an entire QB was when we traded for Jay Cutler. I think you could get Mankins with a 2nd round pick but honestly at this point I'd give them a 1st if the asking price came to it. They are probably going to use their 1st on someone you hope could be as good as Mankins anyways.

 

By price though they probably mean asking price, as in it's not in Jerry's philosophy to have high prices O-lineman. Chris Williams is already making a crapload and Angelo doesn't want to commit to more on the line. It's completely idiotic considering how glaring the need is, how good Mankins is, and the fact that it's an uncapped year and when a cap comes back in play you figure it out from there. It's not like you are gambling on paying Mankins. You are getting one of the best guards in the game, and he's only been in the league like 3-4 years so he'd be your starting guard for at least the next 5-6 years.

[jersey cubs fan]

By price though they probably mean asking price, as in it's not in Jerry's philosophy to have high prices O-lineman. Chris Williams is already making a crapload and Angelo doesn't want to commit to more on the line.

 

Actually, while he made a lot of guaranteed dough off the bat, being in the third year of his rookie deal I doubt he's making all that much. The total value of the 5 year deal was just $16m. He's making less than $1m in salary this season and he's going to be missing out on a few million in incentives. Frank Omiyale's contract was probably almost as much. Olin Kreutz is the only lineman actually getting paid. And he plays the least important position.

[Mark Priors Calves]

Per Brad Biggs, Olsen lined up as LT during a play in the 3rd quarter this past week:

 

Let's set the play up, and you can find it on your DVR with 12:26 remaining in the third quarter:

 

After a Seahawks' punt, the Bears took over with first down on their own 10-yard line. They broke the huddle in an unbalanced line as Olsen lined up at left tackle. In this situation, left tackle Frank Omiyale went to the right side of the line where he effectively became the right tackle. From left to right, the line looked like this: Olsen, Chris Williams, Olin Kreutz, Edwin Williams, J'Marcus Webb and Omiyale.

 

Jay Cutler handed the ball off to Matt Forte and he ran directly behind Olsen, who was trying to block the Seahawks' 6-4, 323-pound right end Red Bryant. The Bears list Olsen at 255 pounds, meaning he was sacrificing 68 pounds at the point of attack. Bryant moved off the block to corral Forte with his right arm and bring him down for no gain. The play never had a chance to get going. Linebacker David Hawthorne was there to clean it up if needed.

 

If Martz was trying to confuse the Seahawks or trick them by running behind the weak link on the line, he failed badly.

 

More at the link: http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/10/mad-mike-bears-tried-to-run-behind-left-tackle-olsen.html

 

This is unbelievable.

[UMFan83]

Any truth to the rumor that Jay Cutler has been sacked 4 times in this game already?

[Soul]

I could find it on my DVR with 12:26 remaining in the 3rd quarter.

 

Yes, I suppose that I *could*.

 

However, somehow I seem to have "lost" that particular recording.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Bears cut Charles Grant. Awesome.

[Soul]

LOL.

[Banedon]

Bears cut Charles Grant. Awesome.

 

I have no words.

 

Preparation for a trade?

[jersey cubs fan]

finally?

[Old Style]

Bears cut Charles Grant. Awesome.

The UFL dude?

[Soul]

Bears cut Charles Grant. Awesome.

The UFL dude?

 

Yes. The "age has nothing to do with it, I know the game" dude as well.

[UMFan83]

Someone should write a book about this team. This season has just been a comedy of errors. The biggest joke is that we're 4-2 and we would can the coach and GM in a second if we could.

[Banedon]

Former Bears defensive end Alex Brown saw the news on Twitter and gave the team a suggestion: "Wow!! They should look at my dude Bobby McCray."

[Banedon]

"I guess the last one in is the first to go," Grant told the Tribune on Tuesday afternoon. "I guess they were looking for something different. I appreciate them bringing me in, but I didn't even get a chance to get on the field."

 

"This is a business, and I know the (trade) deadline is today," Grant said. "And I know that (Wootton) and the other young guy (Barry Turner) are a little more familiar with their system, and I respect that.

 

"I'm not knocking them at all. I just don't think I got a fair chance. But it is what it is."

[jersey cubs fan]

Chicago Bears use LIFO accounting methods? Interesting.