Week 5: Bears at Raiders in London (noon on Fox)

[David]

 

watching the Chiefs/Indy game last night there were 3 plays a punter was run into with similar force, 1 flag. It was a questionable foul.

Questionable or not, the dumbass should not have been within fart smelling distance of the punter on that play. Quit blaming the officials. Next thing we know you'll be blaming the loss on the Bears travel itinerary for the week.

 

I have always had that same thought about punters going for the block on punts that you can't afford to take a penalty on, but at the same time I frequently see guys flying towards the punter on those plays. Meanwhile I can not think of the last time I've seen the Bears block a punt.

 

i wanna say it was that game against the titans in like 2011 or 12 when peanut got like 19 forced fumbles against the titans

[raw]

also, Teddy Bridgewater will like;y be avail this offseason. He might be a good replacement if Mitch doesnt rebound

 

He would be a decent replacement. But I've already been thru this. It cost 15Mil for Mike Glennon. It cost 23Mil for Alex Smith. Bridgewater is currently 2-0 as a starter, was a former 1st rounder, and is getting valuable starts in the NFL right now. He'll cost 25-30Mil to the team that wants to sign him this offseason. This is what QBs cost. This is not money the Bears have to spend. Even if the Bears had that money to spend, they already have Trubisky under a guaranteed contract for next year. Pace traded a bunch to take him as the 1st QB off the board. He's won 13 of the last 18 games he's started (and finished), and 2 of those 5 losses were blown by the kicker. As it stands now, the Bears are still probably good enough to win 9-10 games with Trubisky this year even if he doesn't get any better. There's no way they can justify (and no evidence that Pace even wants to) getting rid of or benching Trubisky and killing the salary cap by bringing in a veteran QB.

[WrigleyField 22]

also, Teddy Bridgewater will like;y be avail this offseason. He might be a good replacement if Mitch doesnt rebound

 

He would be a decent replacement. But I've already been thru this. It cost 15Mil for Mike Glennon. It cost 23Mil for Alex Smith. Bridgewater is currently 2-0 as a starter, was a former 1st rounder, and is getting valuable starts in the NFL right now. He'll cost 25-30Mil to the team that wants to sign him this offseason. This is what QBs cost. This is not money the Bears have to spend. Even if the Bears had that money to spend, they already have Trubisky under a guaranteed contract for next year. Pace traded a bunch to take him as the 1st QB off the board. He's won 13 of the last 18 games he's started (and finished), and 2 of those 5 losses were blown by the kicker. As it stands now, the Bears are still probably good enough to win 9-10 games with Trubisky this year even if he doesn't get any better. There's no way they can justify (and no evidence that Pace even wants to) getting rid of or benching Trubisky and killing the salary cap by bringing in a veteran QB.

I think the Ws are key to why Pace won't be looking to replace him, but if the Ws do change the next 11 games and Mitch is still putting up replacement level passer numbers, Pace could look for something splashier. And he could do it with maneuvering, and Pace is the type that would do so if he felt "conviction"

[raw]

Yeah Daniels and Whitehair both look worse at supposedly their more natural positions.

 

The longer the offense looks incompetent, the more is on Nagy. The OL changes. The sitting in preseason. The offensive minded coach with an innovative offense should be getting more out of this unit for sure.

 

I'm hoping their declining play has something to do with Kyle Long being an empty jersey and the two tackles being completely replaceable. This team needs a big upgrade at a tackle spot sooner rather than later, which would go a long way toward taking the pressure off the inside guys.

 

I wonder what the odds are of Alex Bars coming off the practice squad after the bye week, presumably replacing Long.

 

I would definitely like to see Bars sooner rather than later. Even if he's not thrown into the starting lineup. The run O looked best last week when Larsen was in at RG. Cornelius Lucas also played well at RT vs the Skins. Coward also played some RG when Larsen went down. Long clearly is not the best for the job right now. The issue with tackle is the Bears have money tied into both guys. Leno's not going anywhere coming off a pro bowl season where he was pretty good. Massie has 10.8M in dead cap if cut. Gotta fix RG, then hope for improvement across the board for the other 4 for the next 1 2/3 seasons.

[raw]

also, Teddy Bridgewater will like;y be avail this offseason. He might be a good replacement if Mitch doesnt rebound

 

He would be a decent replacement. But I've already been thru this. It cost 15Mil for Mike Glennon. It cost 23Mil for Alex Smith. Bridgewater is currently 2-0 as a starter, was a former 1st rounder, and is getting valuable starts in the NFL right now. He'll cost 25-30Mil to the team that wants to sign him this offseason. This is what QBs cost. This is not money the Bears have to spend. Even if the Bears had that money to spend, they already have Trubisky under a guaranteed contract for next year. Pace traded a bunch to take him as the 1st QB off the board. He's won 13 of the last 18 games he's started (and finished), and 2 of those 5 losses were blown by the kicker. As it stands now, the Bears are still probably good enough to win 9-10 games with Trubisky this year even if he doesn't get any better. There's no way they can justify (and no evidence that Pace even wants to) getting rid of or benching Trubisky and killing the salary cap by bringing in a veteran QB.

I think the Ws are key to why Pace won't be looking to replace him, but if the Ws do change the next 11 games and Mitch is still putting up replacement level passer numbers, Pace could look for something splashier. And he could do it with maneuvering, and Pace is the type that would do so if he felt "conviction"

 

That conviction would have to include him saying, "I was wrong" about trading up for Mitch. Don't know if he's ready to do that.

[WrigleyField 22]

Massie has been basically what he has been the past couple seasons, from what I've seen. We know we can live with that production. RG, C, and LT all seem like bigger problems.

 

Long seems like the obvious choice, but I'd almost go Leno first, even though no one is really a great candidate as a natural LT. Even if it was a short trip to the bench, maybe he just needs that kick in the ass, because I don't really see an issue why he should be playing as bad as he is, seems mostly effort or mental.

 

Assuming no IR stays, if they were to call up Bars who's spot does he take? I'd think they'd almost have to keep 9 OL? One of the extra ILBs? Or Sowell/Bray's spot.

 

And another related thought. I think a big issue with Mitch this year compared to last is he has yet to add any value with his legs whereas last year, he added value with his legs perhaps more than any QB. With better line play perhaps they'd have an easier time designing opportunities for him to add value that way.

 

The line play can't take the entire blame, but I feel it's a plurality of the issue the offense has right now.

[WrigleyField 22]

 

He would be a decent replacement. But I've already been thru this. It cost 15Mil for Mike Glennon. It cost 23Mil for Alex Smith. Bridgewater is currently 2-0 as a starter, was a former 1st rounder, and is getting valuable starts in the NFL right now. He'll cost 25-30Mil to the team that wants to sign him this offseason. This is what QBs cost. This is not money the Bears have to spend. Even if the Bears had that money to spend, they already have Trubisky under a guaranteed contract for next year. Pace traded a bunch to take him as the 1st QB off the board. He's won 13 of the last 18 games he's started (and finished), and 2 of those 5 losses were blown by the kicker. As it stands now, the Bears are still probably good enough to win 9-10 games with Trubisky this year even if he doesn't get any better. There's no way they can justify (and no evidence that Pace even wants to) getting rid of or benching Trubisky and killing the salary cap by bringing in a veteran QB.

I think the Ws are key to why Pace won't be looking to replace him, but if the Ws do change the next 11 games and Mitch is still putting up replacement level passer numbers, Pace could look for something splashier. And he could do it with maneuvering, and Pace is the type that would do so if he felt "conviction"

 

That conviction would have to include him saying, "I was wrong" about trading up for Mitch. Don't know if he's ready to do that.

Ready now? Certainly not. Can I envision a scenario where he could by March? Yes. Low odds, like maybe a 15% chance?

[WrigleyField 22]

Any interest in Ben Watson for the Bears? He's 38, but still seemed to have it last year, and the Bears TE room needs help big time right now.

[UMFan83]

Any interest in Ben Watson for the Bears? He's 38, but still seemed to have it last year, and the Bears TE room needs help big time right now.

 

I wouldn't hate taking a shot. I pretty much forgot the Bears had TEs.

[BigbadB]

Any interest in Ben Watson for the Bears? He's 38, but still seemed to have it last year, and the Bears TE room needs help big time right now.

 

I wouldn't hate taking a shot. I pretty much forgot the Bears had TEs.

 

Bars should take the spot of one of the ridiculous number of TE's they are carrying. Burton, Shaheen, Brauneker, Holtz and then Sowell was on the roster last week. I think Sowell was cut to add Bray. Let Sowell go and put Bray back on the practice squad and you have your spot for Bars, assuming Trubisky can manage the backup role to Daniel if he isn't ready in two weeks to just take over for Daniel. The lack of production from TE makes having 5 below average guys on the roster a bit ridiculous. After watching the OLine get devoured against the Raiders, Bars needs to get a chance. Especially if teams are knocking on the door to steal him. If he's good enough to be a backup on the Patriots, surely he's good enough to be a back up with this disappointing group. Hell, maybe even at a starter.