Week 8: Vikings at Bears MNF on ESPN

[raw]

And since I'm already in draft mode, this is a pretty optimistic analysis of the Bears with a number two pick of a safety, of all things. From drafttek;

A (1-5) record is terrible, and it can't be excused. Does it mean that this team is as bad as they are accused of being? The record says so. Fans say so. But reality, well...reality tends to get in the way of a good narrative. The offense is doing ok - 4th in Yards Per Play Differential, 7th in Total Yards. The Offensive Line has played well - 5th in Avg Sack Rate and 9th in Run Block Success. The much-maligned defense has been fairly decent: 11th in Total Yards, 13th in Sack Pct, and allowing only 1 more PPG than the more-heralded GB and LAR defenses. So what is the problem? This team cannot score. It's 31st in PPG & 28th in Pt Differential. There is no doubt that scoring is a skill, and the Bears need tremendous improvement. The real story here, however, is that this is not a rebuilding situation. There is talent here (alot of it injured), and a Top 10 pick may be enough to complete this team. Garrett, Watson, Peppers, Tabor - they would all fill a need and be part of turning this team competitive. Laugh all you like, but they're closer than you think.

 

They have some pieces, but the extent of their injured talent is White and Goldman. You could throw in Fuller, but he hasn't proven to be very good when healthy. Langford, I guess, but he's not even the best young talent at his position.

 

I do often look at the Bears and say,

"Hey the interior of the OL is really good and Leno is serviceable at worst"

"Man, Howard is really talented. Spell him with Carey and change the pace with Langford and that's not bad"

"Jeffery is a stud, Meredith is really developing, when White gets healthy"

"Our ILBs are pretty good"

"We have some developing talent at CB, just drafted a couple guys there and at S who could be solid"

"Goldman, Bullard, and Hicks are a solid DL"

 

But then I come back to the fact that, while they all could get better individually and as a unit....they are this team now, and this team isn't close to good enough with all those guys on it even if projected back next year.

[UMFan83]

Apparently Alshon Jeffery was either traded to or is in the process of being traded to the Eagles

[WrigleyField 22]

Apparently Alshon Jeffery was either traded to or is in the process of being traded to the Eagles

Whoa.

 

Edit- If twitter is to be believed they're talking a 3rd and/or 4th and thats with Alshon agreeing to an extension? Ew.

[jersey cubs fan]

so that would be punting on 2017

[USSoccer]

I mean who needs a #1 receiver when Jay's best years in terms of W's & L's came with a collection of #5 receivers and a special teams guy.

 

/s

[jersey cubs fan]

Apparently Alshon Jeffery was either traded to or is in the process of being traded to the Eagles

Whoa.

 

Edit- If twitter is to be believed they're talking a 3rd and/or 4th and thats with Alshon agreeing to an extension? Ew.

these reports seem highly questionable at the moment. The closest they got is somebody who works with WIP saying they are working on it.

[WrigleyField 22]

Okay there doesn't seem to be much in the way of verified sources actually saying this is done or near done. Mostly just Eagles being interested. Hope this goes the way of Jimmy Butler to Minnesota trade rumors.

[UMFan83]

Okay there doesn't seem to be much in the way of verified sources actually saying this is done or near done. Mostly just Eagles being interested. Hope this goes the way of Jimmy Butler to Minnesota trade rumors.

 

Yeah sorry I might have jumped the gun based on fringe sources. I just needed something to spice things up while watching the Cubs game.

[jersey cubs fan]

Okay there doesn't seem to be much in the way of verified sources actually saying this is done or near done. Mostly just Eagles being interested. Hope this goes the way of Jimmy Butler to Minnesota trade rumors.

 

Yeah sorry I might have jumped the gun based on fringe sources. I just needed something to spice things up while watching the Cubs game.

hahaha, I didn't even notice this was posted last night.

 

ya goober.

 

no bears talk during world series time.

[JonJayCutler]

Adam Schefter says it's most likely not happening.

[Sammy Sofa]

so that would be punting on 2017

 

It's kinda cute how this implies the Bears have any kind of agency over their inevitable sucking next year.

[biittner77]

so that would be punting on 2017

 

It's kinda cute how this implies the Bears have any kind of agency over their inevitable sucking next year.

 

You don't think a couple crappy draft picks will help win next year?

[Sammy Sofa]

If a smarter, better org is kind enough to pick them for them, sure.

[WrigleyField 22]

So Fox was telling people he was done with Cutler, which I guess is not surprising, but really makes me nervous about next year. It's kind of too early to tell if one of the top QBs interests Pace, or worse, whether the Bears can remain bad enough to be in a spot to get that guy.

 

The idea we could let go of Jay without a "future" in place and just roll with Hoyer or whatever FA we can get is terrifying as far as keeping next year at all interesting.

[jersey cubs fan]

So Fox was telling people he was done with Cutler, which I guess is not surprising, but really makes me nervous about next year. It's kind of too early to tell if one of the top QBs interests Pace, or worse, whether the Bears can remain bad enough to be in a spot to get that guy.

 

The idea we could let go of Jay without a "future" in place and just roll with Hoyer or whatever FA we can get is terrifying as far as keeping next year at all interesting.

 

He denied making those statements. Those reports happen all the time. For all we know Fox had that story planted in an effort to pressure Pace to do one of two things:

 

1) He wants out but wants to keep the money owed so he needs Pace to fire him.

2) He wants to stay and is daring Pace to fire a coach and allow Cutler to start fresh with his 15th coach, knowing it won't happen.

 

Then again, maybe it's a made up story.

[David]

i want john fox fired almost as bad as i wanted hendry fired. and i am similarly apathetic about the bears.

[minnesotacubsfan]

I dont mind Hendry. It's not like the Tribune Co gave him any real power. Same for Fox maybe. Idk. Fox has built teams in other places.

 

 

Cutler will always be Cutler and their are coaches who can work with him. Personalities seem to play such a big part of football.

[jersey cubs fan]

I dont mind Hendry. It's not like the Tribune Co gave him any real power. Same for Fox maybe. Idk. Fox has built teams in other places.

 

 

Cutler will always be Cutler and their are coaches who can work with him. Personalities seem to play such a big part of football.

this is so ridiculous

 

Fox is a coach, he's built nothing. Hendry had as much power and money as a gm could hope to have. He did what he wanted and failed.

[UMFan83]

I dont mind Hendry. It's not like the Tribune Co gave him any real power. Same for Fox maybe. Idk. Fox has built teams in other places.

 

 

Cutler will always be Cutler and their are coaches who can work with him. Personalities seem to play such a big part of football.

this is so ridiculous

 

Fox is a coach, he's built nothing. Hendry had as much power and money as a gm could hope to have. He did what he wanted and failed.

 

It's only like the 43rd most ridiculous thing he's said this week.

 

Btw my irrational love for Cutler makes me want him just dominate the next few weeks even if it causes the Bears to have a worse draft pick

[WrigleyField 22]

I dont mind Hendry. It's not like the Tribune Co gave him any real power. Same for Fox maybe. Idk. Fox has built teams in other places.

 

 

Cutler will always be Cutler and their are coaches who can work with him. Personalities seem to play such a big part of football.

this is so ridiculous

 

Fox is a coach, he's built nothing. Hendry had as much power and money as a gm could hope to have. He did what he wanted and failed.

 

It's only like the 43rd most ridiculous thing he's said this week.

 

Btw my irrational love for Cutler makes me want him just dominate the next few weeks even if it causes the Bears to have a worse draft pick

My love is rational, and the best thing that could happen is he leaves us with a tanking gift, sealing his fate and Fox's and hopefully throwing us a bone on the way out with our QB of the future (Try not to suck, Kizer!)

[minnesotacubsfan]

Give me a break. Hendry gave us 3 post seasons which is more then any other horsefeathering GM since 1945: when I bet the GM position was much different. He wasn't Theo, but nobody is. Besides, Theo has more power.

 

Fox def had a say in those Carolina and Denver teams. Anyone who argues that coaches have a lot of power in the NFL and then argued (hey jersey) against Fox's success is either drunk or bitter over the fact that Fox doesn't like Cutler.

[jersey cubs fan]

Give me a break. Hendry gave us 3 post seasons which is more then any other [expletive] GM since 1945: when I bet the GM position was much different. He wasn't Theo, but nobody is. Besides, Theo has more power.

 

Fox def had a say in those Carolina and Denver teams. Anyone who argues that coaches have a lot of power in the NFL and then argued (hey jersey) against Fox's success is either drunk or bitter over the fact that Fox doesn't like Cutler.

youre drunk

[minnesotacubsfan]

Trying to be. But I'm also correct.

[jersey cubs fan]

Trying to be. But I'm also correct.

No, you're way off. Fix didn't build teams, he coached them. Entirely different. He's not building the Bears, pace is. Hendry was a terribly inefficient gm who did a very bad job. Making 3 playoffs in 10 years was not an accomplishment in the wild card era regardless of Cubs history. His record was abysmal and he sucked.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Trying to be. But I'm also correct.

No, you're way off. Fix didn't build teams, he coached them. Entirely different. He's not building the Bears, pace is. Hendry was a terribly inefficient gm who did a very bad job. Making 3 playoffs in 10 years was not an accomplishment in the wild card era regardless of Cubs history. His record was abysmal and he sucked.

 

 

This is weird. I mean, he won 3 division titles dummy:

 

 

2003

2007

2008

 

Who gives a horsefeathers about the wild card