Bears game 16: January 2 @ GB, 3:15 on Fox

[Banedon]

It was maddening that the Bears weren't running the ball more. Forte was the only player on the offense that really was doing anything positive the whole game. Maybe that was the point? Try to get the passing game on track since the running game is already there? I dunno...but if you're trying to win that game, you run.

 

Bears are now 0-5 in exhibition games this year.

 

Hilarious that all season we get the "Bears are lucky", "Bears haven't played anyone", "Bears aren't a real threat" kind of stuff from the national media, and after a loss in a game that meant nothing, the Bears are getting some nice press because they played hard against the Packers in a meaningless loss. I mean...I was impressed. I thought the Bears really should play this game hard because of the bye week coming....I didn't want them to take it easy for 2 weeks. But I never thought that Lovie would have the guts to do it.

 

It's gonna be a long 2 weeks.

 

Please Bears...don't be one and done. I want more Bears football.

[Flames24Rulz]

Not sure what you guys were watching, but I saw quite a few three-step and even one-step dropbacks from Cutler. I've watched almost every Bears game this year and I can't remember any defense having much success on stopping the short dropbacks from the Bears, but we did a really good job of taking that part of the passing game away.

 

Both defenses were about as good as possible for 60 minutes yesterday, vanilla or no vanilla.

[Banedon]

Not sure what you guys were watching, but I saw quite a few three-step and even one-step dropbacks from Cutler. I've watched almost every Bears game this year and I can't remember any defense having much success on stopping the short dropbacks from the Bears, but we did a really good job of taking that part of the passing game away.

 

Both defenses were about as good as possible for 60 minutes yesterday, vanilla or no vanilla.

 

GB tipped or knocked down a lot of those short passes. GB played very good D yesterday, no doubt. That said, I think if we'd run the ball more, like he have in just about every other week since the bye, it may have changed things. But anybody can play the "what if" game.

 

If Chi-GB meets in the NFCC game, I think it's safe to say it could go either way. I think these two teams have seen enough of each other that they have each others numbers. Neither of these teams are gonna blow out the other.

[jersey cubs fan]

It was maddening that the Bears weren't running the ball more. Forte was the only player on the offense that really was doing anything positive the whole game. Maybe that was the point?

 

Running the football is probably the riskiest thing you can do from a health standpoint. I'm very happy they limited Forte's carries. But he still got it 15 times.

[rawaction]

I'm kinda indifferent about yesterday's game. On one hand, I'm glad the Bears played the entire game, so they didn't mail it in at halftime. But I'm sure that would have been the plan had the game been less in doubt either way.

 

On the other hand though, I really hate to go into an off week after a performance like that. The WRs and Cutler were absolutely horrible. The CB blitz again victimized the Bears. All the stuff the Bears had been doing well for 4-5 weeks, went to hell yesterday.

[Banedon]

It was maddening that the Bears weren't running the ball more. Forte was the only player on the offense that really was doing anything positive the whole game. Maybe that was the point?

 

Running the football is probably the riskiest thing you can do from a health standpoint. I'm very happy they limited Forte's carries. But he still got it 15 times.

 

Riskier than dropping back the QB and letting him get sacked 6 times? If limiting injury was the point, then put in backups.

[UK1679666180]

There were some encouraging signs. GB can't run the ball on anyone so giving them more than modest credit would be fake praise. The pass coverage was outstanding and the pass rush was suffice. Offensively, they ran the ball well but between Cutler's poor decision espec. In the redzone again and the terrible performance by the oline. The bigger concern was their inability to stop a standard 4 man rush.

[Banedon]

There were some encouraging signs. GB can't run the ball on anyone so giving them more than modest credit would be fake praise. The pass coverage was outstanding and the pass rush was suffice. Offensively, they ran the ball well but between Cutler's poor decision espec. In the redzone again and the terrible performance by the oline. The bigger concern was their inability to stop a standard 4 man rush.

 

How many times did they fail to stop a 4 man rush? Seemed like just about every sack was a blitz...they blitzed a ton.

[jersey cubs fan]

It was maddening that the Bears weren't running the ball more. Forte was the only player on the offense that really was doing anything positive the whole game. Maybe that was the point?

 

Running the football is probably the riskiest thing you can do from a health standpoint. I'm very happy they limited Forte's carries. But he still got it 15 times.

 

Riskier than dropping back the QB and letting him get sacked 6 times? If limiting injury was the point, then put in backups.

 

Yes, running the ball is a greater injury risk than a QB taking sacks. That mileage takes a toll on a back, and with Forte already going through that rookie year he had any chance the Bears can take to limit his touches is a good thing for his future, and theirs. That's both in terms of near term and future.

[Banedon]

It was maddening that the Bears weren't running the ball more. Forte was the only player on the offense that really was doing anything positive the whole game. Maybe that was the point?

 

Running the football is probably the riskiest thing you can do from a health standpoint. I'm very happy they limited Forte's carries. But he still got it 15 times.

 

Riskier than dropping back the QB and letting him get sacked 6 times? If limiting injury was the point, then put in backups.

 

Yes, running the ball is a greater injury risk than a QB taking sacks. That mileage takes a toll on a back, and with Forte already going through that rookie year he had any chance the Bears can take to limit his touches is a good thing for his future, and theirs. That's both in terms of near term and future.

 

Then I just don't understand why you play him at all. Activate Bell and let him get some carries.

[rawaction]

It was maddening that the Bears weren't running the ball more. Forte was the only player on the offense that really was doing anything positive the whole game. Maybe that was the point?

 

Running the football is probably the riskiest thing you can do from a health standpoint. I'm very happy they limited Forte's carries. But he still got it 15 times.

 

Riskier than dropping back the QB and letting him get sacked 6 times? If limiting injury was the point, then put in backups.

 

Yeah I agree. Either play to win, or don't try at all. It seemed like too much middle ground with the offense.

[jersey cubs fan]

Then I just don't understand why you play him at all. Activate Bell and let him get some carries.

 

He got 15 carries, I'm really not sure what you're complaining about.

[UK1679666180]

There were some encouraging signs. GB can't run the ball on anyone so giving them more than modest credit would be fake praise. The pass coverage was outstanding and the pass rush was suffice. Offensively, they ran the ball well but between Cutler's poor decision espec. In the redzone again and the terrible performance by the oline. The bigger concern was their inability to stop a standard 4 man rush.

 

How many times did they fail to stop a 4 man rush? Seemed like just about every sack was a blitz...they blitzed a ton.

They gave up a sack on a 3 man rush to Matthews. Walden had a career day on the right side.

[rawaction]

There were some encouraging signs. GB can't run the ball on anyone so giving them more than modest credit would be fake praise. The pass coverage was outstanding and the pass rush was suffice. Offensively, they ran the ball well but between Cutler's poor decision espec. In the redzone again and the terrible performance by the oline. The bigger concern was their inability to stop a standard 4 man rush.

 

How many times did they fail to stop a 4 man rush? Seemed like just about every sack was a blitz...they blitzed a ton.

 

Actually, a lot of the damage was done on a 4-man rush. The 2 sacks where the Bears punted from the endzone were both 4-man rushes. The 2 sacks after the Tillman INT were on 4-man rushes, though those were both coverage sacks / Jay Cutler not throwing the damn ball sacks.

[Banedon]

Then I just don't understand why you play him at all. Activate Bell and let him get some carries.

 

He got 15 carries, I'm really not sure what you're complaining about.

 

Basically, I'm saying either [expletive] or get off the pot.

 

If the Bears were going to play Forte, and he's the only part of the offense that's working, why didn't he get more carries? If you're trying to win, he was your best option.

 

If you're not trying to win, hey...I get that...but then why put him in at all? Basically I don't like the middle ground of "we're going to play him, but only a little."

[rawaction]

Then I just don't understand why you play him at all. Activate Bell and let him get some carries.

 

He got 15 carries, I'm really not sure what you're complaining about.

 

He's complaining because your argument makes no sense. You say there's more likely to be an injury running the ball, so instead of taking people out you just don't run the ball. That makes no sense.

 

And your "only" 15 carries doesn't make any sense considering he had 8 catches, and 2 more than got called back due to penalty or the Matthews sack. So, he had basically 25 touches. Which you also argued that Forte has more wear and tear.

[jersey cubs fan]

Then I just don't understand why you play him at all. Activate Bell and let him get some carries.

 

He got 15 carries, I'm really not sure what you're complaining about.

 

He's complaining because your argument makes no sense. You say there's more likely to be an injury running the ball, so instead of taking people out you just don't run the ball. That makes no sense.

 

And your "only" 15 carries doesn't make any sense considering he had 8 catches, and 2 more than got called back due to penalty or the Matthews sack. So, he had basically 25 touches. Which you also argued that Forte has more wear and tear.

 

I don't think it's hard to understand the concept behind playing your starters but not overexposing them to risk. Forte had 15 carries and what'shisname is crying that he didn't get more. There really wasn't much of a good reason to give him more. They went out and played a vanilla game and put in a decent effort but were not going to go balls to the wall, and they shouldn't have. Complaining that Forte didn't run enough yesterday just does not make any sense for a Bears fan.

[jersey cubs fan]

Then I just don't understand why you play him at all. Activate Bell and let him get some carries.

 

He got 15 carries, I'm really not sure what you're complaining about.

 

Basically, I'm saying either [expletive] or get off the pot.

 

Why?

 

Why is it better to go all out. They gave proper effort and tried to win the game, but they were never going to put everything on the line for that game. It would make no sense to do so. They played it as it should have been played and are now ready for the playoffs. Bitching about Forte not running more yesterday just doesn't make sense.

[Banedon]

Then I just don't understand why you play him at all. Activate Bell and let him get some carries.

 

He got 15 carries, I'm really not sure what you're complaining about.

 

Basically, I'm saying either [expletive] or get off the pot.

 

Why?

 

Why is it better to go all out. They gave proper effort and tried to win the game, but they were never going to put everything on the line for that game. It would make no sense to do so. They played it as it should have been played and are now ready for the playoffs. Bitching about Forte not running more yesterday just doesn't make sense.

 

Ok. You don't want to understand my point. I don't feel like beating my head against a wall.

[rawaction]

Then I just don't understand why you play him at all. Activate Bell and let him get some carries.

 

He got 15 carries, I'm really not sure what you're complaining about.

 

He's complaining because your argument makes no sense. You say there's more likely to be an injury running the ball, so instead of taking people out you just don't run the ball. That makes no sense.

 

And your "only" 15 carries doesn't make any sense considering he had 8 catches, and 2 more than got called back due to penalty or the Matthews sack. So, he had basically 25 touches. Which you also argued that Forte has more wear and tear.

 

I don't think it's hard to understand the concept behind playing your starters but not overexposing them to risk. Forte had 15 carries and what'shisname is crying that he didn't get more. There really wasn't much of a good reason to give him more. They went out and played a vanilla game and put in a decent effort but were not going to go balls to the wall, and they shouldn't have. Complaining that Forte didn't run enough yesterday just does not make any sense for a Bears fan.

 

Like was said, if you are trying to win....then he should have run more. If they weren't going to go balls to the wall, then don't play him at all.

 

And you can't seriously say he shouldn't have had more carries and in the same vein be ok with him getting 8 catches (not including 2 more where he took hits and they didn't count).

[jersey cubs fan]

Then I just don't understand why you play him at all. Activate Bell and let him get some carries.

 

He got 15 carries, I'm really not sure what you're complaining about.

 

Basically, I'm saying either [expletive] or get off the pot.

 

Why?

 

Why is it better to go all out. They gave proper effort and tried to win the game, but they were never going to put everything on the line for that game. It would make no sense to do so. They played it as it should have been played and are now ready for the playoffs. Bitching about Forte not running more yesterday just doesn't make sense.

 

Ok. You don't want to understand my point. I don't feel like beating my head against a wall.

 

No, I don't understand your point. There is no reason to go balls to the wall in that situation. They gave an honest effort, but running Forte over and over and over wasn't the best for the team. Trying to keep the line/cutler/wr learning was the best they could hope for (and they mostly failed).

[rawaction]

 

No, I don't understand your point. There is no reason to go balls to the wall in that situation. They gave an honest effort, but running Forte over and over and over wasn't the best for the team. Trying to keep the line/cutler/wr learning was the best they could hope for (and they mostly failed).

 

But it was ok to throw him the ball 10 times? I like how you keep ignoring that.

[jersey cubs fan]

Like was said, if you are trying to win....then he should have run more. If they weren't going to go balls to the wall, then don't play him at all.

 

And you can't seriously say he shouldn't have had more carries and in the same vein be ok with him getting 8 catches (not including 2 more where he took hits and they didn't count).

 

He got those touches already though, so why would it not make sense for me to not want him to get a lot more? Receptions aren't the same risk as simply pounding the ball over and over on the run. He already got as many touches in that game than he has since Miami. He ran 14, 13, 9, 17 and 19 in the games leading up to this one. I really don't see the point in giving him much more than he did. They played the game at full strength, but there was no good reason to go above and beyond, especially when it came to the running back who is backed up by a bum. I don't see the point in unnecessarily exposing him to more risk, and I don't see the point of a Bears fan wanting them to do that. A Giants fan? Sure. But a Bears fan should not care about that.

[jersey cubs fan]

 

No, I don't understand your point. There is no reason to go balls to the wall in that situation. They gave an honest effort, but running Forte over and over and over wasn't the best for the team. Trying to keep the line/cutler/wr learning was the best they could hope for (and they mostly failed).

 

But it was ok to throw him the ball 10 times? I like how you keep ignoring that.

 

If you think about the stupid question you are asking maybe you will realize why I'm not paying much attention to it. They did throw him the ball. He did touch the ball. He did run 15 times and caught 8 officially plus a couple more. What somebody is complaning about is that he should have had even more. I don't think that makes any sense.

 

 

But receptions aren't the same as runs from a physical exertion/toll standpoint.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Dr Jersey, in the house!

 

Master of all Sports Medicine Issues.