Bears vs Packers week 1

[Sammy Sofa]

My meatball reaction after being able to watch most of the game in a replay is that it felt like finally watching a team with some good coaching again, but the talent level is lacking.

[rawaction]

My meatball reaction after being able to watch most of the game in a replay is that it felt like finally watching a team with some good coaching again, but the talent level is lacking.

 

Exactly what it is. I'm encouraged by a couple of the young guys that played above average (Goldman, Amos, Sutton). But they simply do not have enough talent on the OL or defensive back areas to seriously compete this year.

[Wilson A2000]

After the game, I had to go for a drive to run errands. While flipping around on local radio, I made a horrific discovery:

 

Mike North is back on Chicago radio. He was doing a post game show.

 

Within the first five minutes, he argued the Bears could have done better in the game if they had started David Fales because Jim Harbaugh once said some nice things about him. Things went downhill from there.

 

I swear at least half the calls he took were crank calls. There can't be that many morons out there.

Who is giving Mike North work?

 

I think he has a national morning show on Fox Sports Radio

[ARCubsFan]

Apparently he's hosting a Bears postgame show on The Drive:

http://www.robertfeder.com/2015/08/21/loudmouth-mike-north-to-host-bears-postgame-on-the-drive/

[Sammy Sofa]

My meatball reaction after being able to watch most of the game in a replay is that it felt like finally watching a team with some good coaching again, but the talent level is lacking.

 

Exactly what it is. I'm encouraged by a couple of the young guys that played above average (Goldman, Amos, Sutton). But they simply do not have enough talent on the OL or defensive back areas to seriously compete this year.

 

It was weirdly refreshing to see them simply lose for not being as good as the other team as opposed to repeatedly doing dumb [expletive] that just obliterates any chance they ever had.

[jersey cubs fan]

Well, that challenge was dumb as [expletive].

[Sammy Sofa]

I can live with that.

[mul21]

For everyone complaining about the defense, is it me or were there 4-5 throws that pretty much nobody else in the game besides Rodgers completes? At least 1 of the TDs and several other throws to Jones when he just wasn't open and he somehow snuck it in there. The DBs were in good position mostly but just didn't make a play on the ball at the end and I feel like those are mostly incomplete passes against pretty much every other QB.

[Wilson A2000]

For everyone complaining about the defense, is it me or were there 4-5 throws that pretty much nobody else in the game besides Rodgers completes? At least 1 of the TDs and several other throws to Jones when he just wasn't open and he somehow snuck it in there. The DBs were in good position mostly but just didn't make a play on the ball at the end and I feel like those are mostly incomplete passes against pretty much every other QB.

 

Yes, but I'm concerned with the lack of pressure. 0 sacks, 1 hit on Rodgers.

[Sosa21MVP]

For everyone complaining about the defense, is it me or were there 4-5 throws that pretty much nobody else in the game besides Rodgers completes? At least 1 of the TDs and several other throws to Jones when he just wasn't open and he somehow snuck it in there. The DBs were in good position mostly but just didn't make a play on the ball at the end and I feel like those are mostly incomplete passes against pretty much every other QB.

 

I feel the same way.

[Careless]

My meatball reaction after being able to watch most of the game in a replay is that it felt like finally watching a team with some good coaching again, but the talent level is lacking.

 

Exactly what it is. I'm encouraged by a couple of the young guys that played above average (Goldman, Amos, Sutton). But they simply do not have enough talent on the OL or defensive back areas to seriously compete this year.

 

It was weirdly refreshing to see them simply lose for not being as good as the other team as opposed to repeatedly doing dumb [expletive] that just obliterates any chance they ever had.

Yeah, I was watching it in Wisconsin with my Packer fan relatives, and it wasn't that bad/embarrassing.

[Guest]

My meatball reaction after being able to watch most of the game in a replay is that it felt like finally watching a team with some good coaching again, but the talent level is lacking.

 

Exactly what it is. I'm encouraged by a couple of the young guys that played above average (Goldman, Amos, Sutton). But they simply do not have enough talent on the OL or defensive back areas to seriously compete this year.

 

It was weirdly refreshing to see them simply lose for not being as good as the other team as opposed to repeatedly doing dumb [expletive] that just obliterates any chance they ever had.

Yeah, I was watching it in Wisconsin with my Packer fan relatives, and it wasn't that bad/embarrassing.

 

was probably pretty good for most of the game considering what was expected (and the way the packers were doing dumb stuff amidst all the awesome stuff they did)

[KaiserCesar]

For everyone complaining about the defense, is it me or were there 4-5 throws that pretty much nobody else in the game besides Rodgers completes? At least 1 of the TDs and several other throws to Jones when he just wasn't open and he somehow snuck it in there. The DBs were in good position mostly but just didn't make a play on the ball at the end and I feel like those are mostly incomplete passes against pretty much every other QB.

 

Yes, but I'm concerned with the lack of pressure. 0 sacks, 1 hit on Rodgers.

 

Yeah, the pressure did induce a few holding penalties, but was pretty much coming from one area at a time and easy for Rodgers to evade. Anyone who's not a complete statue could deal with that pass rush. The few times they brought a few more guys, Rodgers quickly identified, got the pass out quickly, and the CBs couldn't get off their blocks.

 

In the end, nothing was a glaring hole and the defense seemed like a well-coached unit that competed. The lack of impact talent just means that very few big defensive plays will come against elite offensive units.

[Banedon]

My meatball reaction after being able to watch most of the game in a replay is that it felt like finally watching a team with some good coaching again, but the talent level is lacking.

 

Yep, that's pretty much how to sum it up in one sentence.

 

I will say, that I don't understand why they didn't run the ball at the goalline.

[Brian707]

So Arizona is up next. Lines aren't out yet but I would have to guess Arizona opens as a small road favorite (-2.5) maybe an o/u around 44.5

[Smack]

So Arizona is up next. Lines aren't out yet but I would have to guess Arizona opens as a small road favorite (-2.5) maybe an o/u around 44.5

 

Bears +1.5 at the moment.

[UMFan83]

Cutler was graded at the 5th worst QB yesterday according to PFF (-2.4), Rodgers graded the highest (+6.0)

 

Seems strange, Cutler missed some throws and the INT wasn't very good but it seemed more like a neutral performance than one of the worst in the league.

[Brian707]

Cutler was graded at the 5th worst QB yesterday according to PFF (-2.4), Rodgers graded the highest (+6.0)

 

Seems strange, Cutler missed some throws and the INT wasn't very good but it seemed more like a neutral performance than one of the worst in the league.

 

 

I wonder where Winston ranked?

[Guest]

I thought Ball played pretty well. All in all, I can't really grade out the defensive backs because the lack of QB pressure made their jobs next to impossible to do.

[UMFan83]

Cutler was graded at the 5th worst QB yesterday according to PFF (-2.4), Rodgers graded the highest (+6.0)

 

Seems strange, Cutler missed some throws and the INT wasn't very good but it seemed more like a neutral performance than one of the worst in the league.

 

I wonder where Winston ranked?

 

Last by a country mile. -7.8 rating compared to McGlowin who had the second worst at -3.4

[UMFan83]

I thought Ball played pretty well. All in all, I can't really grade out the defensive backs because the lack of QB pressure made their jobs next to impossible to do.

 

Is it just me or did it seem like the D was able to get by their man frequently, but Rodgers has such great pocket presence and scrambling ability that he was untouchable?

 

We got through more than I expected

[Guest]

I thought Ball played pretty well. All in all, I can't really grade out the defensive backs because the lack of QB pressure made their jobs next to impossible to do.

 

Is it just me or did it seem like the D was able to get by their man frequently, but Rodgers has such great pocket presence and scrambling ability that he was untouchable?

 

We got through more than I expected

 

That might have had more to do with his time to throw than anything else, but I think the Bears could have lined up Hayden, Talib, Revis and Sherman back there and Rodgers would still hit James "[expletive]" Jones. Ball had perfect position on two of the plays he gave up receptions on.

[Banedon]

Cutler was graded at the 5th worst QB yesterday according to PFF (-2.4), Rodgers graded the highest (+6.0)

 

Seems strange, Cutler missed some throws and the INT wasn't very good but it seemed more like a neutral performance than one of the worst in the league.

 

I wonder if the near INT at the goalline and the near fumble both counted against him harshly in the rating.

[UMFan83]

Full PFF grades:

 

Offense:

 

 

Defense:

 

 

Special Teams:

 

 

Also some notes:

 

Chicago Bears

– The narrative continues for Bears QB Jay Cutler, as he threw a costly interception to Clay Matthews in the fourth quarter. But even outside of the pick, Cutler had an off day for the most part. He managed just a 60 percent accuracy percentage—that’s accounting for three dropped passes that were on target, and excluding the spike. He was pressured on 18 dropbacks, and completed just four of 14 passes for 30 yards and a -2.7 pass grade when under pressure.

 

– The Bears parted ways with RT Jordan Mills last week, instead opting to move Kyle Long to right tackle from his usual right guard position. While we’ve never been high on Mills, the move did not pan out in Week 1. Long allowed four pressures (one sack, three hurries) for the first time since Week 4 of 2013, and he seemed to struggle covering more space out at tackle. His -2.7 overall grade was the third-lowest of his career. However, RG Vladimir Ducasse’s performance in Long’s old spot was even more concerning. He struggled in both pass protection and run blocking, while also picking up two penalties. His -6.2 overall grade was among the worst at guard for the week.

 

– Only one Bears defender earned a grade over +1.0 in their first regular season game under new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. ILB Shea McClellin (+2.5) seems to be handling the transition to inside linebacker well, particularly in run defense. He certainly looks much more natural at the position than he did playing defensive end a few years ago.

 

Top performers:

 

ILB Shea McClellin (+2.5)

LT Jermon Bushrod (+2.3)

WR Alshon Jeffery (+2.1)

TE Martellus Bennett (+1.9)

FS Adrian Amos (+0.9)

 

Sounds like the Long to tackle experiment created 2 holes, at least in week 1. Shea!

[jersey cubs fan]

[expletive] offensive line