Bears game 4: Sunday 10/2 vs CAR at noon on Fox

[jersey cubs fan]

Bears are 6.5 point favorites, which kind of surprises me. I think Carolina is 3-0 against the spread so far, while the Bears are 1-2. Carolina has been able to throw the ball in non-torrential rain storm situations. The Bears can't stop the pass, but after facing three straight top notch QBs they should be able to handle Cam Newton. They have a history of handling mobile QBs fairly well. And with 3 games of film on the guy they have to be able to exploit his inexperience. At the same time, Carolina can't stop the pass, or pressure the QB much. So the Bears have to win this game if they want any chance of staying in contention this season. A loss would be devestating. A win puts them into position to possibly go on a little run here. But that's a discussion for another day.

[UMFan83]

I predict the Bears win a really ugly one.

 

19-16 in OT

[Butterscup1679666578]

lose, i dare you

[sneakypower]

At the same time, Carolina can't stop the pass, or pressure the QB much.

not on the interior, but Charles Johnson and Greg Hardy are terrific at providing edge pressure; this is definitely the game to try running more- Carolina's DTs are woefully bad

[Mark Priors Calves]

Its nearly impossible to have a "must win" in week 4, but this is pretty close.

[minnesotacubsfan]

we really should handle Carolina. If we dont, it will implicate a bad downhill slide for us and likely mean we are playing for "draft position".

[jersey cubs fan]

Its nearly impossible to have a "must win" in week 4, but this is pretty close.

 

In a literal sense, sure. But if you start out 0-3, week 4 is a must win if you want any realistic chance to contend. And going to 1-3 is a huge hole, especially when your division leaders are undefeated. Lose here and you have to go 8-4 just to finish above .500 and have an outside shot at the playoffs.

[WrigleyField 22]

we really should handle Carolina. If we dont, it will implicate a bad downhill slide for us and likely mean we are playing for "draft position".

Its not too late to enter the Luck sweepstakes!

[JonJayCutler]

Forte crapped on Carolina last year and I expect the same to happen this year.

 

Bears 27

Panthers 14

[WrigleyField 22]

Forte crapped on Carolina last year and I expect the same to happen this year.

 

Bears 27

Panthers 14

Will be hard to do if he doesn't even get double digit rush attempts.

[jersey cubs fan]

Forte crapped on Carolina last year and I expect the same to happen this year.

 

Bears 27

Panthers 14

Will be hard to do if he doesn't even get double digit rush attempts.

 

It's not the attempts that matter as much as the actual performance on those attempts.

[JonJayCutler]

Forte crapped on Carolina last year and I expect the same to happen this year.

 

Bears 27

Panthers 14

Will be hard to do if he doesn't even get double digit rush attempts.

 

I would normally agree with you, as I have been very critical of Martz needing to call more run plays. Yesterday, however, was an exception. The run was not there all day and thus I don't blame them for abandoning it.

 

Hopefully they give the run another chance against Carolina, as it's almost gauranteed they'll have more success than vs. GB.

[UMFan83]

Yesterday, however, was an exception. The run was not there all day and thus I don't blame them for abandoning it.

 

 

All day? They tried 9 times (and 2 cutler scrambles) and abandoned it.

[jersey cubs fan]

Yesterday, however, was an exception. The run was not there all day and thus I don't blame them for abandoning it.

 

 

All day? They tried 9 times (and 2 cutler scrambles) and abandoned it.

 

Because they couldn't run worth a crap but the pass was kind of working.

[Guest]

Yesterday, however, was an exception. The run was not there all day and thus I don't blame them for abandoning it.

 

 

All day? They tried 9 times (and 2 cutler scrambles) and abandoned it.

 

They were down by double digits in the first half itself and Forte was averaging less than 0.5 yard per carry. Thank goodness they abandoned it when they did. Now, Martz called some inexplicably dumb pass plays given the quality of the line and receivers but that's a different argument.

[Banedon]

Lovie talking out of his [expletive] ass.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-lovie-disappointed-but-defends-lack-of-rushing-plays-20110926,0,762273.story

[Derwood]

it wasn't just that he only ran 9 times, it was WHEN Martz had him run:

 

- 1st and 10 at CHI 22

- 2nd and 15 at CHI 31

- 1st and 10 at CHI 29

- 2nd and 5 at CHI 34

- 1st and 15 at GB 48

- 2nd and 3 at GB 3

- 2nd and 18 at CHI 18

- 1st and 10 at CHI 21

- 1st and 10 at CHI 2

 

Just 2 runs in GB territory. Just 2 runs with 5 or fewer yards to go. 3 runs with over 15+ yard to go. 0 runs on 3rd down.

 

:banghead:

[jersey cubs fan]

it wasn't just that he only ran 9 times, it was WHEN Martz had him run:

 

- 1st and 10 at CHI 22

- 2nd and 15 at CHI 31

- 1st and 10 at CHI 29

- 2nd and 5 at CHI 34

- 1st and 15 at GB 48

- 2nd and 3 at GB 3

- 2nd and 18 at CHI 18

- 1st and 10 at CHI 21

- 1st and 10 at CHI 2

 

Just 2 runs in GB territory. Just 2 runs with 5 or fewer yards to go. 3 runs with over 15+ yard to go. 0 runs on 3rd down.

 

:banghead:

 

Why are you banging your head? I'm really not sure what you are trying to say here. Running with a cushion (15 yards to go) should actually allow you to gain more than short yardage in the opposition's side of the field. The Bears offense was pretty crappy overall and a big reason was that when they ran they didn't get anything out of it.

[SpongeWorthy]

We also need some passing ideas besides Cutler taking a deep drop and expecting our receivers to get open 15-20+ yards down the field and having the protection hold up.

 

Absolutely zero effort to get Cutler on the perimeter on roll/sprint outs, bootlegs, etc. Martz still thinks he has Warner and Bruce/Holt out there or something. He only called a screen on 3rd and mile a too when that's been the best weapon.

[WrigleyField 22]

I unfortunately (or fortunately?) misse large chunks of the GB game. So I realize it may not be all on Martz. Part of it is our already below average OL losing our best Lineman. It also has to od with falling behind. Both of those reflect just as poorly on our team though. And Martz is still the biggest problem.

[Andy]

Best of luck to you guys. I expect an easy Bears victory. Hopefully Cam can look better than he did against GB. Look for a lot of Jonathan Stewart - he's significantly outplaying DeAngelo Williams so far this year.

[jersey cubs fan]

I unfortunately (or fortunately?) misse large chunks of the GB game. So I realize it may not be all on Martz. Part of it is our already below average OL losing our best Lineman. It also has to od with falling behind. Both of those reflect just as poorly on our team though. And Martz is still the biggest problem.

 

On what grounds are you basing this statement?

 

The Bears have a terrible offensive line and extremely weak receiver corps (plus horrible tight ends). Those are personel issues, and they are easily the biggest problems as it pertains to the weakness of the offense. Martz may not be making the most of what he has, but he doesn't have much to work with.

[SpongeWorthy]

I think the no audibles thing is really out of date in today's NFL. I think a big part of the success of the Rams was great personnel and being relentlessly aggressive with the play calling. Teams have adjusted to that and are willing to let the Bears try to attack over and over because the players are subpar.

 

Cutler's played a lot of football and should have a free reign to adjust things at the line.

[Guest]

We also need some passing ideas besides Cutler taking a deep drop and expecting our receivers to get open 15-20+ yards down the field and having the protection hold up.

 

Absolutely zero effort to get Cutler on the perimeter on roll/sprint outs, bootlegs, etc. Martz still thinks he has Warner and Bruce/Holt out there or something. He only called a screen on 3rd and mile a too when that's been the best weapon.

 

Definitely agree. There are ways to at least adjust to how poor the o-line and receivers are. And he definitely needs to be getting the ball on screens to Forte, Hester and Knox (look at some of the biggest plays against Atlanta).

[UMFan83]

Yesterday, however, was an exception. The run was not there all day and thus I don't blame them for abandoning it.

 

 

All day? They tried 9 times (and 2 cutler scrambles) and abandoned it.

 

They were down by double digits in the first half itself and Forte was averaging less than 0.5 yard per carry. Thank goodness they abandoned it when they did. Now, Martz called some inexplicably dumb pass plays given the quality of the line and receivers but that's a different argument.

 

Have you never seen a team struggle with the run for a chunk of the game and eventually find some holes, wear down the D and finish with a decent game? I just think that balance is very important. I didn't see the game so I don't know how GB was aligning defensively in the 2nd half but I'd imagine they were dropping 7-8 guys back into pass coverage. Granted the Bears were down double digits the majority of the game, so its more understandable than last week but 9 carries is extremely low for an NFL team. In fact, the Bears had the lowest number of rushing yards in a game since 1954 yesterday, and only because of Jay Cutler scrambling did they avoid having the lowest in NFL history.

 

That said, I'm not too upset about it, because like I said, being down 14 points early causes you to change your game plan. As does getting 0.5 YPC on the ground. But there needs to be more emphasis in general on the running game. It doesn't have to be 50-50 every game, but there should be enough to throw the defense off a little. The Bears won't win many games throwing as often as they have, and it shows, having scored 13 and 17 points the last 2 weeks.