Bears game 1: Sunday, Sep 11 vs ATL, noon on Fox

[UMFan83]

Marion Barber reportedly is out on Sunday. Kahlil Bell will back up Matt Forte.

 

Another reason to keep 4 RBs. If Bell stays on special teams, the Bears are screwed at RB.

 

Marion Barber is never healthy. Kind of sucks that we are in the position where Bell is taking potentially important carries for us. I understand that Bell is somewhat valuable on ST, and Barber looked much better running the ball than Taylor in the preseason, but I cant really be surprised that we have issues already

 

We all wanted Taylor gone. We've had our backup RB's on special teams before. Weren't Adrian Petersen and Garrett Wolfe doing a lot of ST duties when they were backing up Forte?

 

EDIT: I didn't realize till I looked him up just now, that Adrian Petersen never played again after the Bears released him.

 

Yeah I didn't say I wasn't ok with cutting Taylor. Just saying it sucks that he's already hurt, but not surprising. I am personally not a big fan of Bell, even compared to people like Peterson and Wolfe.

[CubColtPacer]

Florio and Rosenthal from PFT both predicting the Bears to not make the playoffs.

who did they predict for the WC?

 

Sorry I never answered this. Rosenthal has the Falcons and Cowboys. Florio has Saints and Eagles (with the Cowboys winning the division).

 

Did the Cowboys add anyone to a 6 win team? How am I missing the sudden rise to playoff-caliber status? Romo being healthy is enough?

 

More PFT staff picks.... http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/09/07/the-pft-postseason-picks/

 

Of the 5 that pick, 4 picked the Cowboys in the playoffs, and the one that didn't had the Lions.

 

The Cowboys went 3-8 in games decided by 7 points or less last season. Add in the return of Romo and the fact they were a playoff team the year before and you could see why they are a popular pick to rebound. Also they were 5-3 after the coaching change last year.

[jersey cubs fan]

The Cowboys went 3-8 in games decided by 7 points or less last season. Add in the return of Romo and the fact they were a playoff team the year before and you could see why they are a popular pick to rebound. Also they were 5-3 after the coaching change last year.

 

They are also the Cowboys and there is a lot of money to be made by overhyping them, which is what everybody has been doing for a decade.

[Banedon]

Florio and Rosenthal from PFT both predicting the Bears to not make the playoffs.

who did they predict for the WC?

 

Sorry I never answered this. Rosenthal has the Falcons and Cowboys. Florio has Saints and Eagles (with the Cowboys winning the division).

 

Did the Cowboys add anyone to a 6 win team? How am I missing the sudden rise to playoff-caliber status? Romo being healthy is enough?

 

More PFT staff picks.... http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/09/07/the-pft-postseason-picks/

 

Of the 5 that pick, 4 picked the Cowboys in the playoffs, and the one that didn't had the Lions.

 

The Cowboys went 3-8 in games decided by 7 points or less last season. Add in the return of Romo and the fact they were a playoff team the year before and you could see why they are a popular pick to rebound. Also they were 5-3 after the coaching change last year.

 

They were great in late season games in a lost season when there's zero pressure.

[sneakypower]

the Cowboys are easy to like because all their skill players on offense are awesome, and the coaching changes will surely have a positive impact, but their secondary is utterly gross and expunging their OL of two perennial pro bowlers didn't seem like the greatest of ideas

 

the Eagles are flawed, but they're easily winning that division now, especially given how decimated the Giants already are

[UMFan83]

Florio and Rosenthal from PFT both predicting the Bears to not make the playoffs.

who did they predict for the WC?

 

Sorry I never answered this. Rosenthal has the Falcons and Cowboys. Florio has Saints and Eagles (with the Cowboys winning the division).

 

Did the Cowboys add anyone to a 6 win team? How am I missing the sudden rise to playoff-caliber status? Romo being healthy is enough?

 

More PFT staff picks.... http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/09/07/the-pft-postseason-picks/

 

Of the 5 that pick, 4 picked the Cowboys in the playoffs, and the one that didn't had the Lions.

 

The Cowboys went 3-8 in games decided by 7 points or less last season. Add in the return of Romo and the fact they were a playoff team the year before and you could see why they are a popular pick to rebound. Also they were 5-3 after the coaching change last year.

 

I think I read somewhere that no team averaged more points scored per game the last 8 games of the season than the Cowboys. And they did that all with John Kitna at QB. (and Roy Williams bogging down the offense ;) )

[Banedon]

I think I read somewhere that no team averaged more points scored per game the last 8 games of the season than the Cowboys. And they did that all with John Kitna at QB. (and Roy Williams bogging down the offense ;) )

 

Some quick math has Cowboys at 234 pts over their last 8, and Packers at 267. Possible I'm wrong somewhere though, I did it in a hurry.

[UMFan83]

I think I read somewhere that no team averaged more points scored per game the last 8 games of the season than the Cowboys. And they did that all with John Kitna at QB. (and Roy Williams bogging down the offense ;) )

 

Some quick math has Cowboys at 234 pts over their last 8, and Packers at 267. Possible I'm wrong somewhere though, I did it in a hurry.

 

No you are probably right. I heard it while I was doing something else. It was probably like top 5 over the last 8 games or something. 234 points over 8 games is 29.3 PPG, so that's gotta be in the top 5 or so in the league. Doing that with Kitna at QB, regardless of how meaningless the games were for them, has to count for something.

[jersey cubs fan]

I think I read somewhere that no team averaged more points scored per game the last 8 games of the season than the Cowboys. And they did that all with John Kitna at QB. (and Roy Williams bogging down the offense ;) )

 

Some quick math has Cowboys at 234 pts over their last 8, and Packers at 267. Possible I'm wrong somewhere though, I did it in a hurry.

 

No you are probably right. I heard it while I was doing something else. It was probably like top 5 over the last 8 games or something. 234 points over 8 games is 29.3 PPG, so that's gotta be in the top 5 or so in the league. Doing that with Kitna at QB, regardless of how meaningless the games were for them, has to count for something.

 

Counts as a knock against Romo.

[UMFan83]

I think I read somewhere that no team averaged more points scored per game the last 8 games of the season than the Cowboys. And they did that all with John Kitna at QB. (and Roy Williams bogging down the offense ;) )

 

Some quick math has Cowboys at 234 pts over their last 8, and Packers at 267. Possible I'm wrong somewhere though, I did it in a hurry.

 

No you are probably right. I heard it while I was doing something else. It was probably like top 5 over the last 8 games or something. 234 points over 8 games is 29.3 PPG, so that's gotta be in the top 5 or so in the league. Doing that with Kitna at QB, regardless of how meaningless the games were for them, has to count for something.

 

Counts as a knock against Romo.

 

I guess I can see how you'd think that, but in my opinion I think it means that the Cowboys offense is very good, and with Romo back, Felix Jones given the bulk of the RB carries, and Dez Bryant in his 2nd year, it is likely a better offense than it was over the first few games of last season.

[apete6]

the Cowboys are easy to like because all their skill players on offense are awesome, and the coaching changes will surely have a positive impact, but their secondary is utterly gross and expunging their OL of two perennial pro bowlers didn't seem like the greatest of ideas

 

the Eagles are flawed, but they're easily winning that division now, especially given how decimated the Giants already are

 

If the Redskins get anything from their offense, they could actually be decent. Now, that is depending on Rex Grossman, a bunch of below average running backs and the senior citizen duo of Santana Moss & Chris Cooley, so it's not likely, but I don't think they'll be as terrible as a lot of people think.

[JonJayCutler]

I am personally not a big fan of Bell, even compared to people like Peterson and Wolfe.

 

Any particular reason why? When he carried the ball in 2009 he did pretty well and if I remember correctly his blocking is decent.

 

Here's a question. I know his success in the final game came against scrubs but why did Robert Hughes not even make the practice squad? I read an article saying he was the only player eligible for the practice squad who didn't make it. Must have seen something they didn't like considering they added a different RB to their practice squad after cuts.

[UMFan83]

I am personally not a big fan of Bell, even compared to people like Peterson and Wolfe.

 

Any particular reason why? When he carried the ball in 2009 he did pretty well and if I remember correctly his blocking is decent.

 

Here's a question. I know his success in the final game came against scrubs but why did Robert Hughes not even make the practice squad? I read an article saying he was the only player eligible for the practice squad who didn't make it. Must have seen something they didn't like considering they added a different RB to their practice squad after cuts.

 

He just seems like a mediocre back in general IMO. I think he's ok when a hole is created (most RBs are) but too many times I saw him take a carry and never emerge past the LOS. There's no real technical reason I've obsereved why, just my personal impression from the few times I saw him, and I was at the game where he had a 72 yard run against the Eagles. BTW, if you take that 72 yard run away from him, the rest of his carries in 09 netted him a 3.5 YPC average, which is ok and much better than Taylor last year but nothing impressive. His longest run in the other 39 carries that year was 11 yards.

[UMFan83]

BTW I saw this in a Yahoo football article by Scott Pianowski and it pissed me off. Pianowski was making a list of predictions for the upcoming year and had this as one of them:

 

-Jay Cutler gets into a fistfight with a member of his own team.

 

Are you [expletive] serious? When has Jay Cutler EVER been known to not get along with his teammates? When has Jay Cutler ever been known to be a hothead that resorts to violence? If anything, his public persona is of someone who doesn't act like he gives a [expletive], not that he cares too much.

 

I don't know how the world made the connection that Jay Cutler giving a douchy post game press conference and/or having an expressionless face during games means that he's an egotistical jackass who has a short temper and doesn't get along with his teammates.

[sneakypower]

i just assumed that meant he was going to finally take exception to J'Marcus Webb letting him get maimed

[minnesotacubsfan]

i just assumed that meant he was going to finally take exception to J'Marcus Webb letting him get maimed

 

which would be A-ok with me

[UMFan83]

i just assumed that meant he was going to finally take exception to J'Marcus Webb letting him get maimed

 

which would be A-ok with me

 

He should punch Mike Tice then. He's the one trying to push a 2nd year 7th round pick down our throats as a LT.

[jersey cubs fan]

i just assumed that meant he was going to finally take exception to J'Marcus Webb letting him get maimed

 

which would be A-ok with me

 

He should punch Mike Tice then. He's the one trying to push a 2nd year 7th round pick down our throats as a LT.

 

To be fair, Angelo hasn't given him jack squat to work with.

[JonJayCutler]

BTW I saw this in a Yahoo football article by Scott Pianowski and it pissed me off. Pianowski was making a list of predictions for the upcoming year and had this as one of them:

 

-Jay Cutler gets into a fistfight with a member of his own team.

 

Are you [expletive] serious? When has Jay Cutler EVER been known to not get along with his teammates? When has Jay Cutler ever been known to be a hothead that resorts to violence? If anything, his public persona is of someone who doesn't act like he gives a [expletive], not that he cares too much.

 

I don't know how the world made the connection that Jay Cutler giving a douchy post game press conference and/or having an expressionless face during games means that he's an egotistical jackass who has a short temper and doesn't get along with his teammates.

 

This quote scared the [expletive] out of me at first because I naturally assumed it was a news report from today. Thankfully it's just another meatball spewing garbage.

[Guest]

BTW I saw this in a Yahoo football article by Scott Pianowski and it pissed me off. Pianowski was making a list of predictions for the upcoming year and had this as one of them:

 

-Jay Cutler gets into a fistfight with a member of his own team.

 

Are you [expletive] serious?

 

It's pretty clear he was at least partially tongue-in-cheek with a lot of those predictions.

[UMFan83]

BTW I saw this in a Yahoo football article by Scott Pianowski and it pissed me off. Pianowski was making a list of predictions for the upcoming year and had this as one of them:

 

-Jay Cutler gets into a fistfight with a member of his own team.

 

Are you [expletive] serious?

 

It's pretty clear he was at least partially tongue-in-cheek with a lot of those predictions.

 

Well obviously. But I don't follow the logic there. Why Jay Cutler and not someone like Ronnie Brown or maybe Olindo Mare? Cutler is no more likely to get into a fistfight with a teammate than either of those 2 or any other random NFL player. I resent the connection made between Cutler being a douche to the media and him being a horrible person who fights with his teammates. Basically it all goes back to the discussions we were having in the offseason about more people hating Jay Cutler than Michael Vick when Jay Cutler really hasn't done much to be disliked so much. The media is stretching their Jay Cutler hate to now include tongue in cheek predictions where he is punching his teammates. I cannot recall any stories where Cutler wasn't liked by his teammates.

[Soul]

I am personally not a big fan of Bell, even compared to people like Peterson and Wolfe.

 

Any particular reason why? When he carried the ball in 2009 he did pretty well and if I remember correctly his blocking is decent.

 

Here's a question. I know his success in the final game came against scrubs but why did Robert Hughes not even make the practice squad? I read an article saying he was the only player eligible for the practice squad who didn't make it. Must have seen something they didn't like considering they added a different RB to their practice squad after cuts.

 

He just seems like a mediocre back in general IMO. I think he's ok when a hole is created (most RBs are) but too many times I saw him take a carry and never emerge past the LOS. There's no real technical reason I've obsereved why, just my personal impression from the few times I saw him, and I was at the game where he had a 72 yard run against the Eagles. BTW, if you take that 72 yard run away from him, the rest of his carries in 09 netted him a 3.5 YPC average, which is ok and much better than Taylor last year but nothing impressive. His longest run in the other 39 carries that year was 11 yards.

 

Wolfe was less than mediocre. No power, far less speed than advertised. Personally, I'd rather see if Bell can develop some worthwhile skills as a depth player than keep a sure dead-ender like Wolfe around.

[JonJayCutler]

Kind of absurd to say this before the season even starts, but our game next week against the Saints could end up being very relevant to our Wild-Card hopes down the line. So could our game this Sunday against Atlanta. It all depends on whether NO or ATL takes the South.

 

Of course I haven't given up hope for the division either.

[rawaction]

Kind of absurd to say this before the season even starts, but our game next week against the Saints could end up being very relevant to our Wild-Card hopes down the line. So could our game this Sunday against Atlanta. It all depends on whether NO or ATL takes the South.

 

Of course I haven't given up hope for the division either.

 

Home Field in the NFC could be decided by Oct 9th. Packers will have played the Saints, Bears and Falcons. Falcons would have played the Bears, Eagles, Bucs (don't count them out), and Packers. Bears will have played Falcons, Saints, Packers. Saints will have played Packers and Bears. Eagles will have played Falcons and Bucs.

[Banedon]

Kind of absurd to say this before the season even starts, but our game next week against the Saints could end up being very relevant to our Wild-Card hopes down the line. So could our game this Sunday against Atlanta. It all depends on whether NO or ATL takes the South.

 

Of course I haven't given up hope for the division either.

 

Home Field in the NFC could be decided by Oct 9th. Packers will have played the Saints, Bears and Falcons. Falcons would have played the Bears, Eagles, Bucs (don't count them out), and Packers. Bears will have played Falcons, Saints, Packers. Saints will have played Packers and Bears. Eagles will have played Falcons and Bucs.

 

Well that's not true. Some tiebreakers could be decided by then. But home field in the NFC? Come on. Good teams will lose to bad teams as the season goes on, and it'll affect playoff seeding. Packers and Bears both lost to the Redskins last year.