Game 1 - Indianapolis Colts @ BEARS - 12:00 PM

[Guest]

 

The Bears offense has been wasting timeouts in the red zone home and away in the Lovie era because they have been a poorly coached/organized/disciplined unit. The coaching staff obviously doesn't value time outs and doesn't mind using them in the 1st and 3rd quarter, so it's going to happen. Don't blame the fans for the Bears shortcomings.

 

 

First of all, every team in the league has to call time outs on the road from time to time in the 1st and 3rd quarter. This is nothing unique to the Bears and I think you're letting the non-audible offense under Martz sway your opinion too much because it was done at an unusually high rate in 2010 and 2011.

 

By pointing out that the Bears have had this problem at home games during the Lovie tenure, you're supporting his argument. I would wager that it was not any less of a problem pre-Lovie. If you want to show me some type of proof to the contrary, be my guest.

 

Do I think it is catastrophic? No. But it does hurt the team and is preventable. The preventable part is why I think it is a topic and why it annoys Bernstein (and myself too).

 

I'm not supporting the argument because it's not noise that forces timeouts. it's disorganization from the offensive unit. They have consistently wasted timeouts (much like Lovie in general badly mismanages challenges). They will call timeouts on 2nd and 8 from mid-field. It doesn't have to be the red zone.

 

The fans cheering is not the problem. The Bears have a horrible offensive line and just this year finally put together some offensive weapons, all under a first time coordinator. There are going to be miscommunications and errors, noise or no noise.

 

The fans cheering is A problem. I'm not sure how you are trying to deny that when the quarterback himself has said it on numerous occasions.

[scarey]

 

The Bears offense has been wasting timeouts in the red zone home and away in the Lovie era because they have been a poorly coached/organized/disciplined unit. The coaching staff obviously doesn't value time outs and doesn't mind using them in the 1st and 3rd quarter, so it's going to happen. Don't blame the fans for the Bears shortcomings.

 

 

First of all, every team in the league has to call time outs on the road from time to time in the 1st and 3rd quarter. This is nothing unique to the Bears and I think you're letting the non-audible offense under Martz sway your opinion too much because it was done at an unusually high rate in 2010 and 2011.

 

By pointing out that the Bears have had this problem at home games during the Lovie tenure, you're supporting his argument. I would wager that it was not any less of a problem pre-Lovie. If you want to show me some type of proof to the contrary, be my guest.

 

Do I think it is catastrophic? No. But it does hurt the team and is preventable. The preventable part is why I think it is a topic and why it annoys Bernstein (and myself too).

 

I'm not supporting the argument because it's not noise that forces timeouts. it's disorganization from the offensive unit. They have consistently wasted timeouts (much like Lovie in general badly mismanages challenges). They will call timeouts on 2nd and 8 from mid-field. It doesn't have to be the red zone.

 

The fans cheering is not the problem. The Bears have a horrible offensive line and just this year finally put together some offensive weapons, all under a first time coordinator. There are going to be miscommunications and errors, noise or no noise.

 

 

Ok. Let's just assume it is that Lovie and company are disorganized. What do you feel other teams do to prevent this? Do other NFL teams do team building outtings? Communication activities? Do they have group therapy sessions together? I am extremely interested to hear what your theory on why players under Lovie Smith have this high capacity for disorganization.

[Banedon]

John Clayton and I did not watch the same game.

 

Luck wasn't good enough to overcome the defensive problems of the Colts, but he was competitive against the Chicago Bears.

 

Maybe he's just trying to say that he showed some flashes, but I think "competitive" is overstating.

[UMFan83]

One concern I do have about the game is how Cutler's improvement in the game seemed to coincide exactly with Freeney leaving the game. Was that extra help all Cutler needed to go from awful to awesome? And are the Bears completely boned once they do go up against a legit pass rush?

 

Interesting observation, but I'm gonna say that is more of a coincidence. Cutler was bound to play a lot better in the game regardless of how much pressure was on him. I mean maybe he doesnt finish the game 20-23 with 320 yards and 2 TDs, 0 INTs if Freeney stays in there, but I don't necessarily think Cutler will suck whenever he faces a pass rush this year.

 

In terms of the top 10 best pass rushes in the NFL last year according to FO, we played the Vikings (twice), Eagles and Broncos. Denver and the 2nd Minnesota game don't count because Cutler didn't play, but in the other 2 games, the Bears went 2-0 and Cutler had QB ratings of 96.9 and 115.9.

[cubbyvirus00]

Great win by the Bears. The first series pissed me off at the time and I was worried the Bears were going to have a tough time rebounding from it, but Cutler showed great poise.

 

Going forward, I think the concern is still on the D-line and hoping that we can bring a pass rush to a team that has an average to above average o-line.

 

Shea was ok, I'm not as down on him as Doug and OB were after the game. I think that spin move was real nice but he does lack size and strength as well as the needed pad leverage to generate a consistent rush.

 

I hope we use E-Rod a little more in the passing game as I thought he blocked pretty well and is a great decoy.

[Banedon]

Great win by the Bears. The first series pissed me off at the time and I was worried the Bears were going to have a tough time rebounding from it, but Cutler showed great poise.

 

Going forward, I think the concern is still on the D-line and hoping that we can bring a pass rush to a team that has an average to above average o-line.

 

Shea was ok, I'm not as down on him as Doug and OB were after the game. I think that spin move was real nice but he does lack size and strength as well as the needed pad leverage to generate a consistent rush.

 

I hope we use E-Rod a little more in the passing game as I thought he blocked pretty well and is a great decoy.

 

Doug was just on ripping on "that kid Mckellan", saying he thinks he'll be the MLB eventually.

[Guest]

Great win by the Bears. The first series pissed me off at the time and I was worried the Bears were going to have a tough time rebounding from it, but Cutler showed great poise.

 

Going forward, I think the concern is still on the D-line and hoping that we can bring a pass rush to a team that has an average to above average o-line.

 

Shea was ok, I'm not as down on him as Doug and OB were after the game. I think that spin move was real nice but he does lack size and strength as well as the needed pad leverage to generate a consistent rush.

 

I hope we use E-Rod a little more in the passing game as I thought he blocked pretty well and is a great decoy.

 

Hoping we bust out Evan in the passing game against Green Bay.

[cubbyvirus00]

Great win by the Bears. The first series pissed me off at the time and I was worried the Bears were going to have a tough time rebounding from it, but Cutler showed great poise.

 

Going forward, I think the concern is still on the D-line and hoping that we can bring a pass rush to a team that has an average to above average o-line.

 

Shea was ok, I'm not as down on him as Doug and OB were after the game. I think that spin move was real nice but he does lack size and strength as well as the needed pad leverage to generate a consistent rush.

 

I hope we use E-Rod a little more in the passing game as I thought he blocked pretty well and is a great decoy.

 

Doug was just on ripping on "that kid Mckellan", saying he thinks he'll be the MLB eventually.

 

Yea I understand they're old time football guys but man the blanket statements and little used statistics is sometimes hard to listen to. It is great comedy when they both start yelling incoherently though.

[Sammy Sofa]

Great win by the Bears. The first series pissed me off at the time and I was worried the Bears were going to have a tough time rebounding from it, but Cutler showed great poise.

 

Going forward, I think the concern is still on the D-line and hoping that we can bring a pass rush to a team that has an average to above average o-line.

 

Shea was ok, I'm not as down on him as Doug and OB were after the game. I think that spin move was real nice but he does lack size and strength as well as the needed pad leverage to generate a consistent rush.

 

I hope we use E-Rod a little more in the passing game as I thought he blocked pretty well and is a great decoy.

 

Doug was just on ripping on "that kid Mckellan", saying he thinks he'll be the MLB eventually.

 

Yea I understand they're old time football guys but man the blanket statements and little used statistics is sometimes hard to listen to. It is great comedy when they both start yelling incoherently though.

 

Win or lose, I love hearing those oafs grow a little more senile with each radio show.

[rawaction]

"@bestung: Wow. According to #profootballfocus after 1 gm #chicagoBears LT J'Marcus Webb is 2nd best LT in league. Keep it up J Webb" nice

[Magnetic Curses]

John Clayton and I did not watch the same game.

 

Luck wasn't good enough to overcome the defensive problems of the Colts, but he was competitive against the Chicago Bears.

 

Maybe he's just trying to say that he showed some flashes, but I think "competitive" is overstating.

 

he threw 45 times. he looked like lurch mcstumblegus compared to rgIII

[Soul]

John Clayton and I did not watch the same game.

 

Luck wasn't good enough to overcome the defensive problems of the Colts, but he was competitive against the Chicago Bears.

 

Maybe he's just trying to say that he showed some flashes, but I think "competitive" is overstating.

 

Yeah, that's too much. I think he (and others) are just trying to find a way of saying they think Luck looked like he will develop and still retains his upside. This week's performance just wasn't noteworthy, but he didn't look bewildered. He looked like a guy who was discovering for the first time that some of the things he relied on in college won't work nearly as well in the NFL. Whether he can take that and advance to the next step will be key.

[sneakypower]

"@bestung: Wow. According to #profootballfocus after 1 gm #chicagoBears LT J'Marcus Webb is 2nd best LT in league. Keep it up J Webb" nice

tied with Eugene Monroe for best, actually

 

they suggest that Webb and Carimi (and Rodriguez) were pushing people around with the utmost of ease in the run game

[Smack]

Well yeah, with Freeney on the sideline.

[Banedon]

Well yeah, with Freeney on the sideline.

 

I'm not gonna pretend that's not a factor, obviously it is. But things settle down after the first few possessions. Plus Cutler starting to hit some passes means they can't rush as hard. Freeney was no doubt a loss, but it's too simplistic to act that like was the sole reason.

[Smack]

Well yeah, with Freeney on the sideline.

 

I'm not gonna pretend that's not a factor, obviously it is. But things settle down after the first few possessions. Plus Cutler starting to hit some passes means they can't rush as hard. Freeney was no doubt a loss, but it's too simplistic to act that like was the sole reason.

 

Oh, I agree it wasn't the sole reason. It's just hard to judge accurately either way with their best weapon on the bench. Webb looked really good against the players he faced, after the start.

[imb]

"@bestung: Wow. According to #profootballfocus after 1 gm #chicagoBears LT J'Marcus Webb is 2nd best LT in league. Keep it up J Webb" nice

 

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