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

[Soul]

I'm really just numb from that whole goal line thing.

 

After that, I think I just started laughing every time something happened in that game. It was no longer so much a football game as it was an inevitable march towards absurdity.

 

 

There was so much wrong with that sequence my brain is overloaded from it all.

 

Of course it wound up being the point difference that cost us the game, too. Obviously that's what happens after something like that.

 

But then again, let's be fair: after retaining Lovie & Angelo back in January, we all pretty much knew late October we'd be sitting here wallowing in the badness of it all. So it's not like I'm surprised.

 

No, I'm not surprised. But at the same time and related to your other point I have to think that decision led to some major disappointment by the players. How much faith can Cutler have in his coaches if they are getting him killed and not reviewing touchdowns he scored that were called fumbles? If Lovie isn't doing everything he can to win games, and if he is in fact directly costing them points, players have to be irate. They probably won't say anything because they generally like how Lovie treats them in relation to how other coaches treat them, but my god, I would be livid with the head coach if he was making those decisions in a game I was playing.

 

I don't remember -- did Jay signal touchdown at all? I don't remember if he realized he had gotten in or not.

 

I will say this: the network sure didn't make all haste to get the right angle up on the TV screen.

[DivineBovine]

The whole replay thing in the NFL just gives the head coach another potentially game deciding decision to make. Giving Lovie Smith another important decision to make is just bad news. Spread the blame around this game to Cutler, the coordinators, the lines. But the challenges were 100% Lovie Smith. And clearly, giving Lovie Smith an important decision to make is very bad for the Bears.

 

How simple is it to develop a protocol for challenging plays. Have a reliable guy look at replay upstairs. Decide how important the play is and how likely the challenge is to succeed. Simple. Any idiot can do it just by watching the telecast. And Lovie Smith hasn't figured it out. Moron. If he can't get anything else about the team right, then at least get this one right. It is not that complicated, and it probably cost them the game yesterday.

[Banedon]

"There's a lot of things that I would like to do differently," Smith said. "You guys want to know on whether I should have thrown the red flag down by the end zone. Yes, I should have.

 

"Of course, in hindsight, normally when there's a critical situation, I throw it whether I have a good look or not. Didn't have a great look on it. I understand the reasons why, but that was a critical play in the game. I need to be able to make that call."

 

Smith said having used a challenge on the play before, along with the belief that his team was in control of the game, contributed to his decision not to challenge the Cutler play. Smith also was confident in his defense shutting down the Redskins and getting the ball back quickly.

[jersey cubs fan]

Brad Biggs does a good job of trashing Angelo's lack of O-line draft choices...

 

General manager Jerry Angelo spoke on the WBBM-AM 780 pregame show Sunday about the offensive line, the position that is under great scrutiny from Angelo, who serves as the team's cross-checker for the position when it comes to the draft.

 

Injuries knocked Williams out of three games, and Roberto Garza missed his second game after arthroscopic knee surgery. Angelo maintained it's about continuity.

 

"When you lose a player, or players in our case, it makes it tough on the other guys because one player affects the other four; it just goes with the territory," Angelo said on the show. "That's why I keep emphasizing, it's not about getting great players, it's about getting the same five players playing well together."

 

Not about great players? Sure it is. What team in the league wouldn't go for Joe Thomas at left tackle? Nothing trumps talent in the NFL, and it strikes me that Angelo is trying to obscure the fact that the Bears are left with a cast of late-round picks and waiver claims and reaches after he failed to address the position during the five-draft span from 2003 to 2007. In those five drafts, as I have documented, the Bears drafted one offensive lineman in the first five rounds. That was guard Josh Beekman in the fourth round of the '07 draft. In that span -- we're talking a total of 25 rounds -- 141 offensive linemen were chosen leaguewide. So when the cupboard went bare after John Tait retired and veteran players flamed out, Angelo had no players that were developing in the system and ready to contribute.

 

Angelo was asked if the Bears could have done more for the offensive line?

 

"That's overkill," he said. "I've heard that, seen it written, but that's not the answer. The answer is getting five players that fit what you want to do offensively and then getting them on the same page. We haven't been able to do that. It's not an excuse. It's a reason. We need to get better. Nobody is going to cry for you and we're not looking for tears. We're looking to get better and we're looking for answers and we'll get 'em."

 

Overkill. Not ever addressing the line for a freaking decade is overkill. I hate this stupid theory about continuity on the line. Many media members have bought into that nonsense. It's tough to keep the same 5 guys out there every game when the 5 guys aren't good enough to be on the field and need to be replaced. This is a horseshit excuse by Angelo, but given how openly and repeatedly he ignored the line in the first place (while everybody was freaking out about tight ends) it is not at all surprising that he doesn't see it as a mistake. It was inexcusable as it was happening but by the time he went after Williams it was already way too late. The Omiyale and Schaefer signings were just insulting.

[Banedon]

I'm clinging to the faint hope that the O-line is such an obvious POS that McCaskey's can see through Angelo's nonsense.

[Banedon]

I'm clinging to the faint hope that the O-line is such an obvious POS that McCaskey's can see through Angelo's nonsense.

 

But it's something that's likely going to take years to fix.

[Soul]

Angelo's not going to change his mind about this. He seems willing to go down with the ship based on his erroneous view that talent on the OLine does not matter.

 

Fine then. Simply oblige the man.

 

 

This feels a lot like Jauron going down with Shoop. At some point, if the guy just won't get it and it's killing team performance, you've got to make that move. Labor dispute and outstanding salary owed -? To hell with that, you've got a broken arrow @ GM and need to do something about it.

[DivineBovine]

"There's a lot of things that I would like to do differently," Smith said. "You guys want to know on whether I should have thrown the red flag down by the end zone. Yes, I should have.

 

"Of course, in hindsight, normally when there's a critical situation, I throw it whether I have a good look or not. Didn't have a great look on it. I understand the reasons why, but that was a critical play in the game. I need to be able to make that call."

 

Smith said having used a challenge on the play before, along with the belief that his team was in control of the game, contributed to his decision not to challenge the Cutler play. Smith also was confident in his defense shutting down the Redskins and getting the ball back quickly.

 

 

Not trying to beat a dead horse of anything, but what Lovie is saying is that he bases his challenges on what he sees from the sideline? So he watches the play from the sideline and decides if the officials who see the play from the field are wrong or not? Or bases it on whether it was an important play or not? What in idiot.

 

OK, I'm done now.

[SpongeWorthy]

I almost wish some super team would emerge in the North and just run away with the division because now the Bears will mathematically be in it until late in the season and it might force the team to play well enough to save jobs.

[jersey cubs fan]

I almost wish some super team would emerge in the North and just run away with the division because now the Bears will mathematically be in it until late in the season and it might force the team to play well enough to save jobs.

 

I'd really really like to see this team sneak into a home game in week 1 and maybe win a playoff game. Because even if they stand no chance of going further, getting Cutler a playoff win would at least provide something to argue against everybody that's laying everything on him. If there is no 2011, I'm afraid this team might end up starting over all again at QB by 2012 unless they enjoy some success with Cutler.

[Flames24Rulz]

I almost wish some super team would emerge in the North and just run away with the division because now the Bears will mathematically be in it until late in the season and it might force the team to play well enough to save jobs.

 

Really wish we weren't bitten by the injury bug as much as we have been this year. In a very weak conference, I think a healthy Packers team would be the best team in the NFC. The conference, and division, have looked about as bad as I can remember.

 

But it is what it is. Injuries are a part of the game and we're fortunate that the division and conference blow. Because of that, I don't see anybody running away with either the North or the NFC itself.

[Soul]

I'm not sure what I want anymore.

 

Except that I know I want a coach with a quicker wit and a fresh approach. And a GM with just....better abilities as a GM.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm not sure what I want anymore.

 

Except that I know I want a coach with a quicker wit and a fresh approach. And a GM with just....better abilities as a GM.

 

I don't see it happening. Three more wins and these guys are all back.

[Mark Priors Calves]

Here's the rest of the schedule:

 

at Buf (in Toronto)

vs Min

at Mia (thursday)

vs Phi

at Det

vs NE

at Min

vs NYJ

at GB

 

The rest of the NFC is very average but what are everyone's expectations for remaining wins?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

The way they've been playing, I'd say 2. I'll give them Buffalo and a split with the Vikings.

[jersey cubs fan]

Here's the rest of the schedule:

 

at Buf (in Toronto)

vs Min

at Mia (thursday)

vs Phi

at Det

vs NE

at Min

vs NYJ

at GB

 

The rest of the NFC is very average but what are everyone's expectations for remaining wins?

 

Damn, I would not be surprised with just 1.

[Mark Priors Calves]

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/10/ex-nfl-officiating-chief-lovie-dropped-the-ball.html

 

FOX's referee guys crushing Lovie's decision not to review the Cutler fumble. I'm glad to see his incompetence being called out.

[Guest]

Here's the rest of the schedule:

 

at Buf (in Toronto)

vs Min

at Mia (thursday)

vs Phi

at Det

vs NE

at Min

vs NYJ

at GB

 

The rest of the NFC is very average but what are everyone's expectations for remaining wins?

 

2-7. They desperately needed to win those last 2 very winnable games. Do Lovie and Angelo keep their jobs if they go 6-10 (assuming no work stoppage issues keeping everyone's job safe)?

[jersey cubs fan]

2-7. They desperately needed to win those last 2 very winnable games. Do Lovie and Angelo keep their jobs if they go 6-10 (assuming no work stoppage issues keeping everyone's job safe)?

 

Man, I'd hate to find out. I think 7 wins and they stay, and 6 is just no-man's land.

[UMFan83]

I think its playoffs or bust for Lovie and Jerry probably has enough leeway to stick around if their season ends like last year with a positive finish.

[Soul]

I think its playoffs or bust for Lovie and Jerry probably has enough leeway to stick around if their season ends like last year with a positive finish.

I'm going the other way. The mccaskeys are obstinate, stubborn, prone to inaction.

 

I think they look for any reason to do nothing. 6-10 might net Angelo/lovie a pass. 7-9 certainly does.

 

They should have done this last year; the fact that they didn't speaks very loudly.

[17 Seconds]

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/10/ex-nfl-officiating-chief-lovie-dropped-the-ball.html

 

FOX's referee guys crushing Lovie's decision not to review the Cutler fumble. I'm glad to see his incompetence being called out.

 

this quote is really moronic to me-

 

"I am flummoxed that the Bears would choose to challenge the previous play and not this one. We can talk all day about officiating mistakes and the impact they have on a game, but this was clearly a mistake by Smith and his coaches that may have cost them the game."

 

i'm all for trashing lovie over not challenging that, but what is this clown talking about? it was a mistake by the refs before it was a mistake by anybody on the bears sideline. defending refs by saying the bears screwed up by not challenging their screw up is pretty funny.

[Wilson A2000]

Pigs flew today. Lovie actually admitted that he made a mistake by not challenging the goal line Cutler fumble.

[Soul]

Did jay just say screw it??

 

All INTs came after the lovie no challenge, correct?

:-k

 

Now I wonder...

[UMFan83]

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/10/ex-nfl-officiating-chief-lovie-dropped-the-ball.html

 

FOX's referee guys crushing Lovie's decision not to review the Cutler fumble. I'm glad to see his incompetence being called out.

 

this quote is really moronic to me-

 

"I am flummoxed that the Bears would choose to challenge the previous play and not this one. We can talk all day about officiating mistakes and the impact they have on a game, but this was clearly a mistake by Smith and his coaches that may have cost them the game."

 

i'm all for trashing lovie over not challenging that, but what is this clown talking about? it was a mistake by the refs before it was a mistake by anybody on the bears sideline. defending refs by saying the bears screwed up by not challenging their screw up is pretty funny.

 

Yeah but refs screw up multiple times in each football game played during every week of every season. That is the reason that the challenge system is in there, as a way to limit the damage done by ref mistakes. I agree that the refs called that wrong, but Lovie has got to neutralize the impact of a mistake. And in a situation where you are talking about a potential TD and a potential reversing of a turnover, it makes no sense to not challenge it.