Week 2: Vikings (0-1) @ Bears (1-0) Noon CT, Fox/780

[rawaction]

Yeah, running all the same stuff, with a few wrinkles in blitz packages thrown in. And yes, it's pretty much all about the DL not getting enough pressure. The LBs have probably been an improvement over last year. I thought DJ was better today. Anderson has really played much better than Roach ever did. Briggs is Briggs, though he hasn't been great so far.

 

Seems like they are getting beat on Cover 2 a lot. Other than the 2 big plays to AJ Green, the big plays in the passing game have come either vs. Cover 2 or when the QB has been able to flee outside of the pocket. This game felt a lot like the Seattle game last year with the losing contain of a mobile QB and watching mediocre WRs pick the DBs apart on broken plays. Not getting a consistent pass rush and then losing contain when you do is a horrible habit to get into.

 

Basically, I think they are just as good (or better) talent wise on D as last year. The front 4 has just been really bad. Back 7 has executed fine for the most part.

[Butterscup1679666578]

the DBs are fine. the LBs are mostly fine. the DL is awful. if the DL improves, the previous 2 will improve. not entirely concerned yet.

[Guest]

Yeah, running all the same stuff, with a few wrinkles in blitz packages thrown in. And yes, it's pretty much all about the DL not getting enough pressure. The LBs have probably been an improvement over last year. I thought DJ was better today. Anderson has really played much better than Roach ever did. Briggs is Briggs, though he hasn't been great so far.

 

Seems like they are getting beat on Cover 2 a lot. Other than the 2 big plays to AJ Green, the big plays in the passing game have come either vs. Cover 2 or when the QB has been able to flee outside of the pocket. This game felt a lot like the Seattle game last year with the losing contain of a mobile QB and watching mediocre WRs pick the DBs apart on broken plays. Not getting a consistent pass rush and then losing contain when you do is a horrible habit to get into.

 

Basically, I think they are just as good (or better) talent wise on D as last year. The front 4 has just been really bad. Back 7 has executed fine for the most part.

 

DJ was a lot better than last week and Anderson has been quite the revelation. Completely agree with what you said.

[mul21]

Yep, a little pressure from the front four will solve all the issues. They don't even need to be great, just not giving the other team 5-6 seconds to throw every time they drop back.

[Banedon]

More Kyle Long:

 

For the second consecutive game, their ills were cured in the final minutes.

 

‘‘It’s like when you get sick,’’ Long said. ‘‘You get a certain number of symptoms, depending on what your doctor says your sickness is. We had our diarrhea, we had our stomachache, we had our nausea, all that stuff.

 

‘‘And then in the fourth quarter, we started to feel a little better.’’

[jersey cubs fan]

Jay needs to start scoring a lot earlier because that old D is on its last leg

[Banedon]

Jay needs to start scoring a lot earlier because that old D is on its last leg

 

Its really just Peppers, Tillman and Briggs that are old though, right? And Briggs and Tillman played fine from what I saw.

[jersey cubs fan]

Jay needs to start scoring a lot earlier because that old D is on its last leg

 

Its really just Peppers, Tillman and Briggs that are old though, right? And Briggs and Tillman played fine from what I saw.

Briggs was a non factor and Tillman is great as long as he can get back on field after his early injuries every game. Peppers is on vacation and there is no other talent showing up.

[Guest]

I thought Briggs started the game strong.

[Soul]

Yep, a little pressure from the front four will solve all the issues. They don't even need to be great, just not giving the other team 5-6 seconds to throw every time they drop back.

 

I'm concerned about it because getting pressure from the DLine doesn't seem like something that typically develops over time.

 

You've either got the strength/speed to impose your will on the line, or you don't. Not likely to shift very much.

 

I think -- hate to say this -- Peppers is solidly a player in decline now.

[Guest]

Jay needs to start scoring a lot earlier because that old D is on its last leg

 

Its really just Peppers, Tillman and Briggs that are old though, right? And Briggs and Tillman played fine from what I saw.

Briggs was a non factor and Tillman is great as long as he can get back on field after his early injuries every game. Peppers is on vacation and there is no other talent showing up.

 

Briggs tied for the team lead in tackles, had a TFL and 3 deflections. He was not a non-factor.

[seanimal]

I screamed "TETSUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" and then it all went white.

 

http://www.thenerdpocalypse.com/wp-content/uploads//2012/01/AkiraTetsuoFinale03.png

[Guest]

Yep, a little pressure from the front four will solve all the issues. They don't even need to be great, just not giving the other team 5-6 seconds to throw every time they drop back.

 

I'm concerned about it because getting pressure from the DLine doesn't seem like something that typically develops over time.

 

You've either got the strength/speed to impose your will on the line, or you don't. Not likely to shift very much.

 

I think -- hate to say this -- Peppers is solidly a player in decline now.

 

Peppers was in decline even before this season. You just wish he'd be able to pick his spots and make a few plays a game. One would hope he can still capture some of his athleticism for brief moments.

[Sammy Sofa]

Yep, a little pressure from the front four will solve all the issues. They don't even need to be great, just not giving the other team 5-6 seconds to throw every time they drop back.

 

I'm concerned about it because getting pressure from the DLine doesn't seem like something that typically develops over time.

 

You've either got the strength/speed to impose your will on the line, or you don't. Not likely to shift very much.

 

I think -- hate to say this -- Peppers is solidly a player in decline now.

 

Why do you hate to say that? It was pretty obvious he's at the end of his career as a Bear; I don't know why this is some kind of revelation.

[Guest]

Brandon Marshall on Cutler's pick:

 

“The interception to myself, I ran the wrong route. It kind of stuck in between because the safety played really high and Jay believes in me a lot and he threw it up there and I’ve got to make that play for him or at least knock it down.

 

“If the safety is high, I have to play the ball better as far as slow it down a little bit and not just [blow] through that route and kind of screwed (Jay). I didn’t leave him any room to throw the ball.

[Sosa21MVP]

Yep, a little pressure from the front four will solve all the issues. They don't even need to be great, just not giving the other team 5-6 seconds to throw every time they drop back.

 

I'm concerned about it because getting pressure from the DLine doesn't seem like something that typically develops over time.

 

You've either got the strength/speed to impose your will on the line, or you don't. Not likely to shift very much.

 

I think -- hate to say this -- Peppers is solidly a player in decline now.

 

Why do you hate to say that? It was pretty obvious he's at the end of his career as a Bear; I don't know why this is some kind of revelation.

 

So you expected him to be this much of a non-factor so far? Yes he is aging and at the end of his deal. I still hope for more production especially since this Bears team could be very competitive.

[Sammy Sofa]

My comment was just in response to how he was saying it like it was some revelation that he thinks Peppers is an older/declining player. That started becoming obvious last year.

[UMFan83]

Yep, a little pressure from the front four will solve all the issues. They don't even need to be great, just not giving the other team 5-6 seconds to throw every time they drop back.

 

I'm concerned about it because getting pressure from the DLine doesn't seem like something that typically develops over time.

 

You've either got the strength/speed to impose your will on the line, or you don't. Not likely to shift very much.

 

I think -- hate to say this -- Peppers is solidly a player in decline now.

 

Peppers was in decline even before this season. You just wish he'd be able to pick his spots and make a few plays a game. One would hope he can still capture some of his athleticism for brief moments.

 

He's in decline but lets not forget he has always been a player known to disappear and show up at random. He can be in decline and still be a productive player for us.

[Banedon]

Brandon Marshall on Cutler's pick:

 

“The interception to myself, I ran the wrong route. It kind of stuck in between because the safety played really high and Jay believes in me a lot and he threw it up there and I’ve got to make that play for him or at least knock it down.

 

“If the safety is high, I have to play the ball better as far as slow it down a little bit and not just [blow] through that route and kind of screwed (Jay). I didn’t leave him any room to throw the ball.

 

It seemed apparent to me on that play that Marshall did something wrong. He has the safety right in front of him and should have seen him.

[Banedon]

“Passed an electronic billboard on I-94 north of Chicago that reads ‘TRESTMAN: The only good thing to come from Minnesota.’ “

—@TomPellisero of USA Today

[Guest]

Jay needs to start scoring a lot earlier because that old D is on its last leg

 

Its really just Peppers, Tillman and Briggs that are old though, right? And Briggs and Tillman played fine from what I saw.

Briggs was a non factor and Tillman is great as long as he can get back on field after his early injuries every game. Peppers is on vacation and there is no other talent showing up.

 

Briggs tied for the team lead in tackles, had a TFL and 3 deflections. He was not a non-factor.

 

he also had a QB hit.

[Banedon]

Also, althought Tillman was a little banged up, I'm not sure he even missed a snap.

[jersey cubs fan]

Jay needs to start scoring a lot earlier because that old D is on its last leg

 

Its really just Peppers, Tillman and Briggs that are old though, right? And Briggs and Tillman played fine from what I saw.

Briggs was a non factor and Tillman is great as long as he can get back on field after his early injuries every game. Peppers is on vacation and there is no other talent showing up.

 

Briggs tied for the team lead in tackles, had a TFL and 3 deflections. He was not a non-factor.

 

he also had a QB hit.

 

He also got run over by a QB. And tackle totals aren't particularly meaningful.

[UMFan83]

Its really just Peppers, Tillman and Briggs that are old though, right? And Briggs and Tillman played fine from what I saw.

Briggs was a non factor and Tillman is great as long as he can get back on field after his early injuries every game. Peppers is on vacation and there is no other talent showing up.

 

Briggs tied for the team lead in tackles, had a TFL and 3 deflections. He was not a non-factor.

 

he also had a QB hit.

 

He also got run over by a QB. And tackle totals aren't particularly meaningful.

 

Yeah LBs typically have the highest tackle numbers on the team.

[Soul]

My comment was just in response to how he was saying it like it was some revelation that he thinks Peppers is an older/declining player. That started becoming obvious last year.

 

 

It seems to be more pronounced this year than last year. That's all I meant. And I hate to say it because I don't want to see it happen like this. I mean, I'm not seeing anything at all right now.