Bears game 14: Monday Dec 20, at MIN (TCF)

[Wilson A2000]

I'd vote for Peppers, FYI. Defense was in the 20s last year, top 5 this year. Peppers is the only new face on the D.

 

Urlacher.

[Magnetic Curses]

and wow, are the lions going to be dangerous very very soon.

 

Stafford's shoulder turned into steel overnight?

 

i don't think they'll even need stafford.

[rawaction]

Urlacher is not a new face. And the last time Urlacher played for the Bears, the D was bad then too. It's not like they were bad last year because he wasn't there. He was there in 08 and they were bad.

 

Peppers has made Idonije into a potential double-digit sack man. He has made the D into one of the top run stopping units. He has made the pass D respectable.

[Guest]

Sulley, I agree with you re: Matthews but he gets all the publicity. I think Raji and Woodson are better players than Matthews.

 

Wilson, Briggs has been better than Urlacher this season. He was sorely missed against Seattle. Peppers is clearly the best player on the Bears defense.

[bukie]

Still, though, Urlacher wasn't around last year and is this year.

[minnesotacubsfan]

neither was Chris Harris or Major Wright

 

the safety play might be the biggest upgrade to the D

[rawaction]

neither was Chris Harris or Major Wright

 

the safety play might be the biggest upgrade to the D

 

No, D-line play is clearly, IMO. Idonije getting full time snaps. Peppers is much better than Ogunleye and Brown ever were. Melton, Toeina have stepped up.

 

The safety play has been better, but the biggest factor in that has been Manning moving from FS to SS. Harris has helped in that he's "not Al Afalava or Kevin Payne". Major Wright hasn't played enough to have been that big of a factor.

[Magnetic Curses]

Sulley, I agree with you re: Matthews but he gets all the publicity. I think Raji and Woodson are better players than Matthews.

 

Wilson, Briggs has been better than Urlacher this season. He was sorely missed against Seattle. Peppers is clearly the best player on the Bears defense.

 

raji has been a beast this year, and he's the kind of guy that allows matthews to be effective.

 

i don't think any one-dimensional pass-rushing 3-4 linebacker should win dpoy, ever. the 3-4 may not be a gimmick but that position most certainly is. he's not really doing much more than what kgb did in his prime, he's a nice little pass-rusher and that's about his usefulness. he gets bulldozed against the run and isn't good in coverage.

[Magnetic Curses]

neither was Chris Harris or Major Wright

 

the safety play might be the biggest upgrade to the D

 

No, D-line play is clearly, IMO. Idonije getting full time snaps. Peppers is much better than Ogunleye and Brown ever were. Melton, Toeina have stepped up.

 

The safety play has been better, but the biggest factor in that has been Manning moving from FS to SS. Harris has helped in that he's "not Al Afalava or Kevin Payne". Major Wright hasn't played enough to have been that big of a factor.

 

and please get corey wooton more snaps, he's huge and absolutely abused mount mckinney on the last days of favre play.

[UMFan83]

Bears D was 16th in 08, 21st last year, and 3rd this year.

 

Between 08 and 09, we've added Pisa Tinoisamoa, Julius Peppers, Chris Harris, Corey Wooten, Henry Melton, Major Wright, DJ Moore and Tim Jennings. Only the first 3 are new starters, but all of them have played big roles on this defense at one time or another.

 

That said, Peppers has clearly improved the Bears defense a ton. Probably more than the other guys on the list combined. But he's not the only new addition that has contributed to an improved D.

[Guest]

Chris Harris has been disappointing. Hopefully Major Wright gets the majority of PT next year. The light bulb has gone off for Daneal Manning. Raw correctly is pointing to Manning for the improvement at safety.

 

Both the DL (Peppers, Melton and Idonije) and LBs (Urlacher and Tinamisamoa) have been far bigger upgrades than S from last year to this year.

[UMFan83]

Chris Harris has been disappointing. Hopefully Major Wright gets the majority of PT next year. The light bulb has gone off for Daneal Manning. Raw correctly is pointing to Manning for the improvement at safety.

 

Both the DL (Peppers, Melton and Idonije) and LBs (Urlacher and Tinamisamoa) have been far bigger upgrades than S from last year to this year.

 

Chris Harris gets a one day repreive from criticism for that stop of Gehart last night. That was awesome.

[rawaction]

Chris Harris has been disappointing. Hopefully Major Wright gets the majority of PT next year. The light bulb has gone off for Daneal Manning. Raw correctly is pointing to Manning for the improvement at safety.

 

Both the DL (Peppers, Melton and Idonije) and LBs (Urlacher and Tinamisamoa) have been far bigger upgrades than S from last year to this year.

 

Chris Harris gets a one day repreive from criticism for that stop of Gehart last night. That was awesome.

 

Harris had his best game of the year last night, if you take out the first drive, where he missed 2-3 tackles.

[Magnetic Curses]

say what you want about the crappy drafting of angelo and the gutless decision-making and quiet demeanor of smith, but they've brought an era of success with them. smith has won the division 3 out of 7 years competing against some very talented vikings and packer teams. this is a far-cry form the days of wannstedt and jauron.

[jersey cubs fan]

say what you want about the crappy drafting of angelo and the gutless decision-making and quiet demeanor of smith, but they've brought an era of success with them. smith has won the division 3 out of 7 years competing against some very talented vikings and packer teams. this is a far-cry form the days of wannstedt and jauron.

 

Now that they've had a successful 2010, sure, but Angelo's early years and recent run of mediocrity weighed heavily on the overall body of work.

[UMFan83]

say what you want about the crappy drafting of angelo and the gutless decision-making and quiet demeanor of smith, but they've brought an era of success with them. smith has won the division 3 out of 7 years competing against some very talented vikings and packer teams. this is a far-cry form the days of wannstedt and jauron.

 

No doubt, but until last night it was 2 in 6 years, and none in the last 4. This division title makes his numbers look a lot better. So go Lovie and Angelo.

 

It took like 5 years for Manning to show some worth other than returning, but Melton and Wooten are showing some real promise on the line, as has Wright in the secondary, so bravo finding 3 solid defensive contributors in the last 2 drafts.

[rawaction]

say what you want about the crappy drafting of angelo and the gutless decision-making and quiet demeanor of smith, but they've brought an era of success with them. smith has won the division 3 out of 7 years competing against some very talented vikings and packer teams. this is a far-cry form the days of wannstedt and jauron.

 

Now that they've had a successful 2010, sure, but Angelo's early years and recent run of mediocrity weighed heavily on the overall body of work.

 

Just imagine how good they could be if they had the Gaines Adams trade back. Or if they drafted OL early at all, ever. And if they didn't bust on top 3 picks such as Gilbert, Iglesias, Okwo, and Bazuin. Granted, every team has bust picks but the Bears had no early picks combined w/ busts. There was a good 2 years where they added 0 young talent on a defense that was built on adding young talent.

[minnesotacubsfan]

I think they clearly got overconfident with the Super Bowl run. And i still would rather take away Angelos draft card. look at the superstars on the team. They were either drafted before Angelo or he simply got them via trade/free agency well after they were known stars.

 

except for Briggs and Hester, and Hester's pick is still kind of a fluke considering how logical it would be to pick a KR/PR in the 2nd rd.

[Magnetic Curses]

say what you want about the crappy drafting of angelo and the gutless decision-making and quiet demeanor of smith, but they've brought an era of success with them. smith has won the division 3 out of 7 years competing against some very talented vikings and packer teams. this is a far-cry form the days of wannstedt and jauron.

 

Now that they've had a successful 2010, sure, but Angelo's early years and recent run of mediocrity weighed heavily on the overall body of work.

 

well, take out any successful year and it lessens the overall body of work. they haven't been patriots-good, but i can't complain. as for the early years, he got rid of jauron as soon as he could have, and shoop with him. i credit him for that.

[Magnetic Curses]

say what you want about the crappy drafting of angelo and the gutless decision-making and quiet demeanor of smith, but they've brought an era of success with them. smith has won the division 3 out of 7 years competing against some very talented vikings and packer teams. this is a far-cry form the days of wannstedt and jauron.

 

No doubt, but until last night it was 2 in 6 years, and none in the last 4. This division title makes his numbers look a lot better. So go Lovie and Angelo.

 

i don't understand how you can say "none in the last 4," it doesn't make sense.

[UMFan83]

say what you want about the crappy drafting of angelo and the gutless decision-making and quiet demeanor of smith, but they've brought an era of success with them. smith has won the division 3 out of 7 years competing against some very talented vikings and packer teams. this is a far-cry form the days of wannstedt and jauron.

 

No doubt, but until last night it was 2 in 6 years, and none in the last 4. This division title makes his numbers look a lot better. So go Lovie and Angelo.

 

i don't understand how you can say "none in the last 4," it doesn't make sense.

 

Sorry brain fart. None in the last 3

[jersey cubs fan]

say what you want about the crappy drafting of angelo and the gutless decision-making and quiet demeanor of smith, but they've brought an era of success with them. smith has won the division 3 out of 7 years competing against some very talented vikings and packer teams. this is a far-cry form the days of wannstedt and jauron.

 

Now that they've had a successful 2010, sure, but Angelo's early years and recent run of mediocrity weighed heavily on the overall body of work.

 

well, take out any successful year and it lessens the overall body of work. they haven't been patriots-good, but i can't complain. as for the early years, he got rid of jauron as soon as he could have, and shoop with him. i credit him for that.

 

I'm not taking a year out. The fact is before last night they only won 2 divisions together, and none in 3 years. They brought more success than Wanny, but it's not like they brought a lot. Criticism was plenty valid. Now they have a franchise QB and NFL caliber coaches on the staff, and they are as good as they should have been the past few years. Doing better than crap is nothing to get excited about.

[UMFan83]

say what you want about the crappy drafting of angelo and the gutless decision-making and quiet demeanor of smith, but they've brought an era of success with them. smith has won the division 3 out of 7 years competing against some very talented vikings and packer teams. this is a far-cry form the days of wannstedt and jauron.

 

Now that they've had a successful 2010, sure, but Angelo's early years and recent run of mediocrity weighed heavily on the overall body of work.

 

well, take out any successful year and it lessens the overall body of work. they haven't been patriots-good, but i can't complain. as for the early years, he got rid of jauron as soon as he could have, and shoop with him. i credit him for that.

 

I'm not taking a year out. The fact is before last night they only won 2 divisions together, and none in 3 years. They brought more success than Wanny, but it's not like they brought a lot. Criticism was plenty valid. Now they have a franchise QB and NFL caliber coaches on the staff, and they are as good as they should have been the past few years. Doing better than crap is nothing to get excited about.

 

It's the same "hey we may not contend for the playoffs every year with our $130 million pay roll, but at least the Cubs are more competitive than they were in the 90s!" reasoning.

[Magnetic Curses]

say what you want about the crappy drafting of angelo and the gutless decision-making and quiet demeanor of smith, but they've brought an era of success with them. smith has won the division 3 out of 7 years competing against some very talented vikings and packer teams. this is a far-cry form the days of wannstedt and jauron.

 

No doubt, but until last night it was 2 in 6 years, and none in the last 4. This division title makes his numbers look a lot better. So go Lovie and Angelo.

 

i don't understand how you can say "none in the last 4," it doesn't make sense.

 

Sorry brain fart. None in the last 3

 

well, they aren't going to win the division every year and if you really want to be fair, smith has won 3 out of 7, that's nearly 50% in a 4 team division, playing against at least one franchise that always seems to find success and doesn't accept failure.

[Magnetic Curses]

say what you want about the crappy drafting of angelo and the gutless decision-making and quiet demeanor of smith, but they've brought an era of success with them. smith has won the division 3 out of 7 years competing against some very talented vikings and packer teams. this is a far-cry form the days of wannstedt and jauron.

 

Now that they've had a successful 2010, sure, but Angelo's early years and recent run of mediocrity weighed heavily on the overall body of work.

 

well, take out any successful year and it lessens the overall body of work. they haven't been patriots-good, but i can't complain. as for the early years, he got rid of jauron as soon as he could have, and shoop with him. i credit him for that.

 

I'm not taking a year out. The fact is before last night they only won 2 divisions together, and none in 3 years. They brought more success than Wanny, but it's not like they brought a lot. Criticism was plenty valid. Now they have a franchise QB and NFL caliber coaches on the staff, and they are as good as they should have been the past few years. Doing better than crap is nothing to get excited about.

 

again, 3 out of 7 years. that's not simply "doing better than crap."