Bears / Packers. Dec 29. 3:25 CST

[Banedon]

I'm stunned and down about the game last night, but I don't think the Bears were exposed anymore than they were prior to the game. I trust Trestman to make adjustments offensively. I think the Bears win this one something like 27-17 and probably get destroyed by SF next week.

 

The biggest offensive adjustment would be to improve the defense...not let themselves get down so big so early, so the defense can't tee off on them, and they don't have to abandon the run.

[rawaction]

I'm stunned and down about the game last night, but I don't think the Bears were exposed anymore than they were prior to the game. I trust Trestman to make adjustments offensively. I think the Bears win this one something like 27-17 and probably get destroyed by SF next week.

 

The biggest offensive adjustment would be to improve the defense...not let themselves get down so big so early, so the defense can't tee off on them, and they don't have to abandon the run.

 

The offense still had a chance to get back into it after 14-0. They went 3 and out in their first 3 drives, IIRC. The offense has to keep the defense off the field.

[USSoccer]

By the time that the offense got the ball the third time, it was 21-0, wasn't it?

[Soul]

With that loss the Bears became the only division leader with a negative point differential. The only team in the NFCN with a positive differential? Detroit, who just got eliminated.

 

I would never, ever have believed that the NFCN would be won by a 9, or even 8 win ballclub at the beginning of the year. But here we are.

 

The Packers are under .500 on the road this year and the Bears are 5-2. It's pretty clear this team is much better at home, so I'm expecting a good effort and solid preparation this week, and a win on Sunday afternoon. Any kind of lackluster effort will be met with extreme scorn. What I saw yesterday just simply can not happen next weekend.

[Banedon]

I'm stunned and down about the game last night, but I don't think the Bears were exposed anymore than they were prior to the game. I trust Trestman to make adjustments offensively. I think the Bears win this one something like 27-17 and probably get destroyed by SF next week.

 

The biggest offensive adjustment would be to improve the defense...not let themselves get down so big so early, so the defense can't tee off on them, and they don't have to abandon the run.

 

The offense still had a chance to get back into it after 14-0. They went 3 and out in their first 3 drives, IIRC. The offense has to keep the defense off the field.

 

Right, but 14-0 after 3 offensive plays? I'm not saying the offense was blameless, but they were definitely starting from a disadvantageous position to put it nicely.

[rawaction]

By the time that the offense got the ball the third time, it was 21-0, wasn't it?

 

Yeah, point is....it should have been 14-7 if they wanted to have any chance in the game. Would have had momentum and changed field position.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm stunned and down about the game last night, but I don't think the Bears were exposed anymore than they were prior to the game. I trust Trestman to make adjustments offensively. I think the Bears win this one something like 27-17 and probably get destroyed by SF next week.

 

The biggest offensive adjustment would be to improve the defense...not let themselves get down so big so early, so the defense can't tee off on them, and they don't have to abandon the run.

 

The offense still had a chance to get back into it after 14-0. They went 3 and out in their first 3 drives, IIRC. The offense has to keep the defense off the field.

 

What? That game ended when Hester fumbled.

[jersey cubs fan]

What is the point of locking the other thread?

[UMFan83]

So last year the Bears defense finished 1st in the league in DVOA by a large margin (not sure the run/pass splits). This year they are much lower especially against the run. Just curious what people think the biggest reason is, considering there are several areas you could point to.

 

-injuries to Briggs, Tillman, Melton, DJ Williams, Paea

-losing urlacher and izzy (am I missing some losses?)

-new defensive coaching staff

-age leading to decline

-poor drafting

 

Obviously it's a combo of all and more but which one was the biggest reason the defense is embarrassingly bad? How do we get this fixed?

[USSoccer]

Wait, I thought we had an agreement to never speak of last night's game again.

[Banedon]

What is the point of locking the other thread?

 

The idea was not to talk about that game anymore. But that wasn't going to happen. Anyway, the discussion is all here now, so I'll just leave it.

[rawaction]

I'm stunned and down about the game last night, but I don't think the Bears were exposed anymore than they were prior to the game. I trust Trestman to make adjustments offensively. I think the Bears win this one something like 27-17 and probably get destroyed by SF next week.

 

The biggest offensive adjustment would be to improve the defense...not let themselves get down so big so early, so the defense can't tee off on them, and they don't have to abandon the run.

 

The offense still had a chance to get back into it after 14-0. They went 3 and out in their first 3 drives, IIRC. The offense has to keep the defense off the field.

 

What? That game ended when Hester fumbled.

 

No it ended when the Bears went 3 and out, down 14 and Podlesh had his second 25 yard punt. Bears came out down 14-0 and ran the ball up the middle 2 times.

[jersey cubs fan]

So last year the Bears defense finished 1st in the league in DVOA by a large margin (not sure the run/pass splits). This year they are much lower especially against the run. Just curious what people think the biggest reason is, considering there are several areas you could point to.

 

-injuries to Briggs, Tillman, Melton, DJ Williams, Paea

-losing urlacher and izzy (am I missing some losses?)

-new defensive coaching staff

-age leading to decline

-poor drafting

 

Obviously it's a combo of all and more but which one was the biggest reason the defense is embarrassingly bad? How do we get this fixed?

 

Probably the 2011 and 2012 drafts, with an emphasis on the latter. Age isn't really a reason when you consider every player ages. It's up to the front office to replenish the talent along the way and the Bears drafted a 1st round DE and 3rd round DB in 2012 that have not contributed at all. The 2nd round DT and 3rd round DB from 2011 have only contributed nominally. It's similar to how the wasted 2007 draft led to a sharp decline and era of mediocrity.

[Banedon]

I'm stunned and down about the game last night, but I don't think the Bears were exposed anymore than they were prior to the game. I trust Trestman to make adjustments offensively. I think the Bears win this one something like 27-17 and probably get destroyed by SF next week.

 

The biggest offensive adjustment would be to improve the defense...not let themselves get down so big so early, so the defense can't tee off on them, and they don't have to abandon the run.

 

The offense still had a chance to get back into it after 14-0. They went 3 and out in their first 3 drives, IIRC. The offense has to keep the defense off the field.

 

What? That game ended when Hester fumbled.

 

No it ended when the Bears went 3 and out, down 14 and Podlesh had his second 25 yard punt. Bears came out down 14-0 and ran the ball up the middle 2 times.

 

Podlesh is dead last in average punting distance. He needs to go.

[rawaction]

As I've said all year, the age thing is overblown. The only player who has really aged and is not anywhere near as good as he was is Peppers. Tillman struggled when he was out there, but he was OK. Jennings has been solid. Briggs was OK before he got hurt. The young guys on the defense have sucked. Wright, Conte, Bostic, Greene, Cohen, Paea, McClellin.

 

At this point, I have to say the injuries at DT. Melton and Collins got hurt. Paea basically has had a lost season. Not necessarily them being out has killed the team, but the guys they replaced them with were terrible. Landon Cohen, Zach Minter, and Christian Tupou are not true NFL talent. 265lb Corey Wootton inside is a liability.

[JonJayCutler]

I don't know why you'd want a team that can't stop the run face a team that's one of the best at running the ball. Especially one that also plays the best defense of any team likely to be in the playoffs. Rough matchup. Bears could win, but I'm not going to be confident.

 

Fair point. It's just that we showed no signs of being able to stop anything the Saints did in Week 5, and I have no reason to believe it would be different this time with an even less-healthy defense. Take your chances with a different team and hope Kaepernick gives us a few.

 

Truth is we'll lose to either team most likely. Any chance Arizona still gets in?

[Banedon]

As I've said all year, the age thing is overblown. The only player who has really aged and is not anywhere near as good as he was is Peppers. Tillman struggled when he was out there, but he was OK. Jennings has been solid. Briggs was OK before he got hurt. The young guys on the defense have sucked. Wright, Conte, Bostic, Greene, Cohen, Paea, McClellin.

 

At this point, I have to say the injuries at DT. Melton and Collins got hurt. Paea basically has had a lost season. Not necessarily them being out has killed the team, but the guys they replaced them with were terrible. Landon Cohen, Zach Minter, and Christian Tupou are not true NFL talent. 265lb Corey Wootton inside is a liability.

 

DJ Williams really hurt too. He played well in his brief time.

[rawaction]

As I've said all year, the age thing is overblown. The only player who has really aged and is not anywhere near as good as he was is Peppers. Tillman struggled when he was out there, but he was OK. Jennings has been solid. Briggs was OK before he got hurt. The young guys on the defense have sucked. Wright, Conte, Bostic, Greene, Cohen, Paea, McClellin.

 

At this point, I have to say the injuries at DT. Melton and Collins got hurt. Paea basically has had a lost season. Not necessarily them being out has killed the team, but the guys they replaced them with were terrible. Landon Cohen, Zach Minter, and Christian Tupou are not true NFL talent. 265lb Corey Wootton inside is a liability.

 

DJ Williams really hurt too. He played well in his brief time.

 

I didn't think he was anything special. Basically if he was still playing, I don't think the Bears allow a significantly less amount of yards. Plus, I don't count that as a big injury because a) odds are he was going to get injured at some point anyway. b) I thought Bostic would be the better player.

[UMFan83]

I don't know why you'd want a team that can't stop the run face a team that's one of the best at running the ball. Especially one that also plays the best defense of any team likely to be in the playoffs. Rough matchup. Bears could win, but I'm not going to be confident.

 

Fair point. It's just that we showed no signs of being able to stop anything the Saints did in Week 5, and I have no reason to believe it would be different this time with an even less-healthy defense. Take your chances with a different team and hope Kaepernick gives us a few.

 

Truth is we'll lose to either team most likely. Any chance Arizona still gets in?

 

The same 49ers team that systematically destroyed our defense last year when it was still good. Although this time it would be January in Chicago but I have no reason to believe we wouldn't get destroyed. We at least held NO to 26 points and that was back when they were playing a lot better.

[Banedon]

As I've said all year, the age thing is overblown. The only player who has really aged and is not anywhere near as good as he was is Peppers. Tillman struggled when he was out there, but he was OK. Jennings has been solid. Briggs was OK before he got hurt. The young guys on the defense have sucked. Wright, Conte, Bostic, Greene, Cohen, Paea, McClellin.

 

At this point, I have to say the injuries at DT. Melton and Collins got hurt. Paea basically has had a lost season. Not necessarily them being out has killed the team, but the guys they replaced them with were terrible. Landon Cohen, Zach Minter, and Christian Tupou are not true NFL talent. 265lb Corey Wootton inside is a liability.

 

DJ Williams really hurt too. He played well in his brief time.

 

I didn't think he was anything special. Basically if he was still playing, I don't think the Bears allow a significantly less amount of yards. Plus, I don't count that as a big injury because a) odds are he was going to get injured at some point anyway. b) I thought Bostic would be the better player.

 

I'm not saying DJ Williams was anything special, but Bostic has been terrible. Williams had some good and some bad, but I still think it was a significant injury....it's a starter out for the season.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Wth happened to Bostic? I expected a lot more from him . Also, draft HAGEMAN. Collins is old, Melton the only real DT. Paea looks lost.

[jersey cubs fan]

Good grief

 

http://cdn.ksk.uproxx.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/trest.gif

[rawaction]

Wth happened to Bostic? I expected a lot more from him . Also, draft HAGEMAN. Collins is old, Melton the only real DT. Paea looks lost.

 

Collins is 26. If you mean Ratliff, yeah he's old. Melton and Collins are FAs. Emery is going to have to do the DL like he did the OL last year. Sign FAs, draft a couple guys.

 

If you figure Peppers is cut and I'm thinking Melton will want too much money as a FA, coming off a knee injury than a team that will have to pay a QB wants to pay. Collins is also a FA. As is Wootton and Ratliff. So, the only guys under contract are Paea, McClellin, and a bunch of rookies. None of that group should be guaranteed a roster spot.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Bass has looked good from time to time, but then just totally disappears. Yea, I was thinking Ratcliff. Melton seems as important as Cutler, not really, but if there is a #2 top priority for the team it's got to be him

[minnesotacubsfan]

Well, this is cool :

http://m.espn.go.com/general/story?storyId=10180295&city=chicago&src=desktop