Week 1: Bills @ Bears - Noon CT Fox/780

[WrigleyField 22]

Honestly I'm not sure if running is as important from our RB as catching is. However in the context of this team and it's roster construction I think I can buy Bennett being a bigger loss than Forte would be.

 

 

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[mul21]

Just called DirecTV and ended up getting Sunday Ticket for free. Pretty pumped.

 

how'd you pull that off?

 

and here i was feeling good about getting my usual $15 for 3 months of xm by asking to cancel this morning.

 

I called them last night and after some finagling I managed to get the Sunday ticket for about $9 more a month than I've been paying lately.

[JonJayCutler]

Coach Marc Trestman also confirmed Wednesday that Carey is indeed Matt Forte's direct backup. Veteran Shaun Draughn emerged from the preseason as the favorite for No. 2 duties, but the Bears have apparently seen an improved Carey in practice.

[RynoRules]

Coach Marc Trestman also confirmed Wednesday that Carey is indeed Matt Forte's direct backup. Veteran Shaun Draughn emerged from the preseason as the favorite for No. 2 duties, but the Bears have apparently seen an improved Carey in practice.

 

They must feel like he can pick up the blitz on 3rd down. Either that or he is the backup in every sense and won't even pinch-hit for him every 4th series or whatever.

[kujay]

Just called DirecTV and ended up getting Sunday Ticket for free. Pretty pumped.

 

how'd you pull that off?

 

and here i was feeling good about getting my usual $15 for 3 months of xm by asking to cancel this morning.

 

I called them last night and after some finagling I managed to get the Sunday ticket for about $9 more a month than I've been paying lately.

 

I got it for free this year since we moved into a new house and technically started new service. But won't be using it much as I didn't buy Chiefs season tickets but ended up with tickets for most of the games.

[Guest]

It does touch upon what could kill the Bears this year, the fact that outside Cutler they were the healthiest unit in football, as no other starter missed a game on offense. The fact that we downgraded the depth at the 3 biggest skill positions, QB, RB, WR is worrisome. If it all works out, we will be great. If Forte goes down for an extended period we will be in trouble.

 

 

I think Forte is the big name I'd miss the least on offense if he were hurt. Maybe Bennett. But, no, I think Forte. Having another RB taking those carries and being a little more limited in that you lose his pass catching ability is far from a disaster.

 

Bennett is a guy. Forte is one of the best backs in the league. And unless you have one of the real difference makers at tight end, you don't take one over a top tier RB as devalued as they have become.

 

this is a dilemma. bennett had a bad year pass blocking, but he's still a very large and athletic target for Jay. On the other hand, i think David is overrating Forte as a pass catcher and underrating him as a blocker. forte picks up a blitz as well as any back in the league.

 

i don't think losing either would be a major catastrophe, howver, i'd rather not.

[Banedon]

Michael Irvin predicted Jay Cutler as MVP.

 

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap3000000388465/MVP-predictions

[jersey cubs fan]

i think David is overrating Forte as a pass catcher and underrating him as a blocker. forte picks up a blitz as well as any back in the league.

 

I know he has had that reputation but I think that recent anecdotal evidence and stats suggest otherwise.

[rawaction]

i think David is overrating Forte as a pass catcher and underrating him as a blocker. forte picks up a blitz as well as any back in the league.

 

I know he has had that reputation but I think that recent anecdotal evidence and stats suggest otherwise.

 

So many ways to get around an injury to a TE or RB when you have 2 All pro WRs. TE goes down, you just play more 4 WRs, especially now that you have Morgan and Holmes with some big time experience as the 3-4. Forte goes down, you let Cutler throw the ball 70% of the time instead of 60-65%. Leave an extra blocker on the OL, get rid of the ball quicker, leave a TE or FB in the backfield.

 

Edit: oh yeah, I quoted this post to agree. Forte got his ass kicked blocking last year. Eagles game was terrible from him.

[rawaction]

Interesting stats. The Bears are opening at home for the 5th straight season, and have won all of the previous 4. The Bills are 0-5 all time at Soldier Field. Cutler is 12-4 against AFC teams since joining the Bears. The Bears have made the NFC Championship and the Superbowl the last 2 times they've played the AFC East in the preceeding season.

[JonJayCutler]

Michael Irvin predicted Jay Cutler as MVP.

 

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap3000000388465/MVP-predictions

 

As much as I love Cutler I'm just having a hard time seeing this.

 

Realistically I'm expecting something like 4400 yards, 30 TD, 16 INT. Might sneak into the Pro Bowl, but I can't convince myself of more. Of course some of it depends on how the Bears fare. Stats-wise though, I have a hard time seeing how he could outperform Brees/Rodgers.

[jersey cubs fan]

Michael Irvin predicted Jay Cutler as MVP.

 

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-gameday/0ap3000000388465/MVP-predictions

 

As much as I love Cutler I'm just having a hard time seeing this.

 

Realistically I'm expecting something like 4400 yards, 30 TD, 16 INT. Might sneak into the Pro Bowl, but I can't convince myself of more. Of course some of it depends on how the Bears fare. Stats-wise though, I have a hard time seeing how he could outperform Brees/Rodgers.

 

I think it is pretty obvious how Cutler could win an MVP. He hasn't put up MVP numbers to date, but he's in the same quality system for the second year in a row for the first time in forever. If things go well for the Bears this year, it will mean Cutler will have amazing numbers. This is no lock, of course. But it seems pretty obvious how Cutler would be in the MVP conversation.

[RynoRules]

He will never win - he doesn't handle himself "the right way".

[Soul]

I'm sold on the 2nd year in a system thing. Has to result in improvements. HAS TO.

[Guest]

Conte cleared. Probably will start with Mundy on Sunday.

[rawaction]

I'm sold on the 2nd year in a system thing. Has to result in improvements. HAS TO.

 

HAS TO? Hard to improve greatly on 4300 yards passing, 6100 total O and 28ppg.

[cubbyvirus00]

A lot of pessimism on the various local networks (670 The Score, The Game, ESPNChicago) regarding the Bears, their defense and lack of depth. Many paint Trestman as the 'Offensive Lovie' with no clue about Special Teams and Defense. Man I hope they're wrong...

[rawaction]

A lot of pessimism on the various local networks (670 The Score, The Game, ESPNChicago) regarding the Bears, their defense and lack of depth. Many paint Trestman as the 'Offensive Lovie' with no clue about Special Teams and Defense. Man I hope they're wrong...

 

I don't see that last sentence as necessarily a bad thing. What does Sean Payton know about defense? But he has a ring and a perennial contender.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm sold on the 2nd year in a system thing. Has to result in improvements. HAS TO.

 

HAS TO? Hard to improve greatly on 4300 yards passing, 6100 total O and 28ppg.

HAS TO!!!

[Banedon]

A lot of pessimism on the various local networks (670 The Score, The Game, ESPNChicago) regarding the Bears, their defense and lack of depth. Many paint Trestman as the 'Offensive Lovie' with no clue about Special Teams and Defense. Man I hope they're wrong...

 

I don't see that last sentence as necessarily a bad thing. What does Sean Payton know about defense? But he has a ring and a perennial contender.

 

Yep. Pat Mannelly didn't view it as a bad thing either. Basically said that Lovie's problem was that he couldn't seem to get good offensive coaches in there. I guess if you really don't like Tucker, you could draw a parallel there, but honestly...I'd rather be strong offense and weak defense than vice versa in this league right now.

[Soul]

I'm sold on the 2nd year in a system thing. Has to result in improvements. HAS TO.

 

HAS TO? Hard to improve greatly on 4300 yards passing, 6100 total O and 28ppg.

HAS TO!!!

MUST!

[Guest]

A lot of pessimism on the various local networks (670 The Score, The Game, ESPNChicago) regarding the Bears, their defense and lack of depth. Many paint Trestman as the 'Offensive Lovie' with no clue about Special Teams and Defense. Man I hope they're wrong...

 

I don't see that last sentence as necessarily a bad thing. What does Sean Payton know about defense? But he has a ring and a perennial contender.

 

Yep. Pat Mannelly didn't view it as a bad thing either. Basically said that Lovie's problem was that he couldn't seem to get good offensive coaches in there. I guess if you really don't like Tucker, you could draw a parallel there, but honestly...I'd rather be strong offense and weak defense than vice versa in this league right now.

 

Scheme is so important on offense, and not as important on defense. When the bears were the best defense in the NFL, it was basically a scheme that relied on the ability of the players making big plays, while keeping the play in front of them and pursuing to the ball. It was all reaction, and it was effective against every single type of offense because of its simplicity and lack of nuance, not to mention the fact that they had really really fast players doing one thing while Urlacher played centerfield as maybe the best coverage linebacker of all time. It was all player-driven.

 

Offense is more scheme and timing driven, and it's harder to maintain continuity when you replace your entire scheme every couple of years. Belichick has been smart in that he's retained an assistant of the same school of offensive philosophy every time he's lost an OC.

[bukie]

Look, if Jay's not throwing for 7500 yards and 70 TDs, it's just not a good year for him.

[UMFan83]

A lot of pessimism on the various local networks (670 The Score, The Game, ESPNChicago) regarding the Bears, their defense and lack of depth. Many paint Trestman as the 'Offensive Lovie' with no clue about Special Teams and Defense. Man I hope they're wrong...

 

Yeah the overall perception of the Bears locally and nationally dipped significantly after that Seattle preseason game. Before that game they were a trendy pick to win the north and compete for the title, now I see most predictions have the Bears as WC2 or out of the playoffs.

[Soul]

A lot of pessimism on the various local networks (670 The Score, The Game, ESPNChicago) regarding the Bears, their defense and lack of depth. Many paint Trestman as the 'Offensive Lovie' with no clue about Special Teams and Defense. Man I hope they're wrong...

 

I don't see that last sentence as necessarily a bad thing. What does Sean Payton know about defense? But he has a ring and a perennial contender.

 

Yep. Pat Mannelly didn't view it as a bad thing either. Basically said that Lovie's problem was that he couldn't seem to get good offensive coaches in there. I guess if you really don't like Tucker, you could draw a parallel there, but honestly...I'd rather be strong offense and weak defense than vice versa in this league right now.

 

It's not either/or. All I ever wanted was good offense. I can see taking a hit on D to get it, but total unmitigated collapse is a different story.

 

We're talking in circles with this thing though. I'm going to kick a dog if Tucker doesn't do something this year.