Week 8 - Bears (4-2) @ Commanders (5-2), 3:25 p.m. Sunday 10/27

[mul21]

This coaching staff ain't it and I've not wavered from that stance since Poles announced Flus would be back last year.  He's just not ready for prime time.

The goal line play is something you do to give teams something to think about when you're trying to go up by 3 TDs in a game you already have in hand, not when you're down 5 in the 4th quarter of a game you've scored 7 points in.  The 2 consecutive runs with Caleb before the PI on Allen were another WTF moment.  The coverage drop on the 2nd to last play.  No pass rush on the hail Mary.  This group will never get them to the promised land regardless of how well Caleb plays.

That said, a Bears QB leading a game winning TD drive in the 4th quarter and it not being a miracle is something I could get used to.  Caleb is the real deal in spite of the struggles yesterday.  He's 7 games into his career and he's already done that more times than most Bears QBs in my lifetime.

I was in an airport last night and yelled out "Are you horsefeathers kidding me!?!?!?" when Washington scored and had a buddy send me a screenshot of the best man from his wedding doing the exact same thing in an airport and getting the same weird looks I did.

[CubinNY]

I screamed oh my god so loud that my daughter who was upstairs texted my wife to see if I was ok. 

I'm not angry like some people. They deserved to lose that game. 

[gflore34]

48 minutes ago, CubinNY said:

I screamed oh my god so loud that my daughter who was upstairs texted my wife to see if I was ok. 

I'm not angry like some people. They deserved to lose that game. 

Yeah, I really don't understand not going after Daniels at any point during the last series.  You rush six on that last play and there's very little chance he that much time to pass.

Also, Daniels was hurting, and was going to have trouble throwing the ball deep, gifting him the extra yardage was just plain stupid. I'm no expert but, even I could see he was going to have trouble so, why give up the extra yardage?

Edited October 28, 2024 by gflore34

[BigbadB]

That game had very few redeeming qualities. I give credit to Eberflus for being a defensive guru. As a head coach, I'm not impressed. You cannot have your players behaving the way they've been behaving. Pryor with a sportsmanship flag 2 weeks ago. Stevenson with one yesterday. Brisker mocking opponents with his hands every game. Stevenson chatting it up with the fans no where near the play WHILE the play is actually happening. As the coach, you have to control your team. I can excuse the sportsmanship stuff when you are protecting your teammates. Stevenson was just being an ass to get his. And that last play, his behavior is inexcusable. I've thought about him being benched, but I'd rather see the fan base boo his ass and let the media point out his stupidity non stop as his punishment rather than miss a game. He is a tremendous player most of the time. I'ts Flus that needs to get control of his locker room. 

But don't even get me started with Waldron. I look at last year's Seattle team and the air show, and he's here handing the ball to Doug freaking Kramer on the goal line. Maybe you try something like that on 3rd or 4th down, but you don't even let Roschon try it first? The most inexcusable thing to me was after what, 13-14 days of rest, you come out with 2 yard run, sack, penalty 3rd and 20 to start this horsefeathers game? Really dude? Go horsefeathers yourself, my dude. Absolute worst team in the history of all things sports on the first series of a game. You almost have to be purposely lulling everyone to sleep with that nonsense. Last year, I get it if you do that. You have very few playmakers. This year, design a play that surprises EVERYONE. I just can't even with this OC. I just can't.

I've pretty much already given up on having any chance this year given that no rookie QB has ever taken their team to a Super Bowl. But the coaching isn't even close to good enough offensively to take this team to the playoffs. And that's ignoring how bad this OLine is. And I'll be damned if I want them wasting picks to try to improve it in what will clearly be a lost season anyway. Pocket the picks and fix the line this offseason. And maybe think about some coaching changes, AGAIN!

I'd take Caleb over Jayden 10 times out of 10. End rant! 

[raw]

I will agree that Flus probably isn't a good coach. He's easily the worst coach in the division which is why I didn't necessarily like hanging on to him and completely punting that advantage. But my point is, you probably aren't going to get a ready made great coach anywhere. If you get rid of him, you're probably going with an offensive guy, and likely one who has never been a HC either. So, it's not a given that guy can be any better overall. You're betting on the offense being better, but it could come at the expense of a top 7 defense.....and we saw how that went last time with Marc Trestman.

The control of your players thing is nonsense. I understand the discipline stuff. These are still grown ass millionaires who are going to do whatever they want for the most part. I know it's not on the field, but Andy Reid is widely considered the best coach in the league. He's had players beat their GF and break their kids arm. He's signed a guy after kicking his GF. He has Rashee Rice and his 119mph driving which hurt people and gave him a bigger role in the offense before he got hurt this year. 

And IDK how reliable this site I found is, but among the league leaders in personal fouls last year was Buffalo, Miami, Houston, and Green Bay...all playoff teams considered to have good coaches.

[UMFan83]

 

[gflore34]

10 minutes ago, raw said:

I will agree that Flus probably isn't a good coach. He's easily the worst coach in the division which is why I didn't necessarily like hanging on to him and completely punting that advantage. But my point is, you probably aren't going to get a ready made great coach anywhere. If you get rid of him, you're probably going with an offensive guy, and likely one who has never been a HC either. So, it's not a given that guy can be any better overall. You're betting on the offense being better, but it could come at the expense of a top 7 defense.....and we saw how that went last time with Marc Trestman.

The control of your players thing is nonsense. I understand the discipline stuff. These are still grown ass millionaires who are going to do whatever they want for the most part. I know it's not on the field, but Andy Reid is widely considered the best coach in the league. He's had players beat their GF and break their kids arm. He's signed a guy after kicking his GF. He has Rashee Rice and his 119mph driving which hurt people and gave him a bigger role in the offense before he got hurt this year. 

And IDK how reliable this site I found is, but among the league leaders in personal fouls last year was Buffalo, Miami, Houston, and Green Bay...all playoff teams considered to have good coaches.

That whole he's lost control of his players shtick only becomes a thing when you're losing.

[NorthsideAvenger]

I am chosing to believe that the Commanders needed a poor effort by the Bears and a flukey, miracle hail mary play just to beat the Bears at the Commanders' house. 

 

[Wilson A2000]

31 minutes ago, BigbadB said:

That game had very few redeeming qualities. I give credit to Eberflus for being a defensive guru. As a head coach, I'm not impressed. You cannot have your players behaving the way they've been behaving. Pryor with a sportsmanship flag 2 weeks ago. Stevenson with one yesterday. Brisker mocking opponents with his hands every game. Stevenson chatting it up with the fans no where near the play WHILE the play is actually happening. As the coach, you have to control your team. I can excuse the sportsmanship stuff when you are protecting your teammates. Stevenson was just being an ass to get his. And that last play, his behavior is inexcusable. I've thought about him being benched, but I'd rather see the fan base boo his ass and let the media point out his stupidity non stop as his punishment rather than miss a game. He is a tremendous player most of the time. I'ts Flus that needs to get control of his locker room. 

But don't even get me started with Waldron. I look at last year's Seattle team and the air show, and he's here handing the ball to Doug freaking Kramer on the goal line. Maybe you try something like that on 3rd or 4th down, but you don't even let Roschon try it first? The most inexcusable thing to me was after what, 13-14 days of rest, you come out with 2 yard run, sack, penalty 3rd and 20 to start this horsefeathers game? Really dude? Go horsefeathers yourself, my dude. Absolute worst team in the history of all things sports on the first series of a game. You almost have to be purposely lulling everyone to sleep with that nonsense. Last year, I get it if you do that. You have very few playmakers. This year, design a play that surprises EVERYONE. I just can't even with this OC. I just can't.

I've pretty much already given up on having any chance this year given that no rookie QB has ever taken their team to a Super Bowl. But the coaching isn't even close to good enough offensively to take this team to the playoffs. And that's ignoring how bad this OLine is. And I'll be damned if I want them wasting picks to try to improve it in what will clearly be a lost season anyway. Pocket the picks and fix the line this offseason. And maybe think about some coaching changes, AGAIN!

I'd take Caleb over Jayden 10 times out of 10. End rant! 

Kramer’s fumble was on 3rd down, but I still hate the call

[raw]

9 minutes ago, NorthsideAvenger said:

I am chosing to believe that the Commanders needed a poor effort by the Bears and a flukey, miracle hail mary play just to beat the Bears at the Commanders' house. 

 

Keep losing games with 90% win probability, at some point it's not a fluke.

[minnesotacubsfan]

I have to think that Caleb’s nervousness yesterday had to be due to either playing in front of his home crowd or playing in a highly anticipated match up for the first time in the NFL

 

whatever it is, I’m sure he’ll grow out of it. But that really stood out to me

 

 

[Wilson A2000]

11 minutes ago, raw said:

Keep losing games with 90% win probability, at some point it's not a fluke.

We call that a flus, not a fluke 

[Soul]

10 minutes ago, minnesotacubsfan said:

I have to think that Caleb’s nervousness yesterday had to be due to either playing in front of his home crowd or playing in a highly anticipated match up for the first time in the NFL

 

whatever it is, I’m sure he’ll grow out of it. But that really stood out to me

 

 

It stood out but I'm choosing to focus on the fact that he engineered a drive that resulted in what should have been the winning score.  That's a pretty good indicator that he's not going to be shaken mentally even if he has a bad game.

[Soul]

Raw, I slept on it and I'm still angry and want Flus gone.  And Stevenson to be benched.

[raw]

11 minutes ago, Soul said:

Raw, I slept on it and I'm still angry and want Flus gone.  And Stevenson to be benched.

If it makes you feel better, I am more upset this morning than I was yesterday. 

[raw]

26 minutes ago, minnesotacubsfan said:

I have to think that Caleb’s nervousness yesterday had to be due to either playing in front of his home crowd or playing in a highly anticipated match up for the first time in the NFL

 

whatever it is, I’m sure he’ll grow out of it. But that really stood out to me

 

 

Guessing it's the playing in front of his hometown. His HS was there. It had to be a tough situation.

But that's the last time he should get that excuse. He was nervous first home game. Nervous first road game, first primetime game, first dome game, first game in his hometown. I guess first division rival game could have nerves. But for a guy who says he never gets nervous, he's been noticeably nervous (or too amped) 4 times in 7 games.

[minnesotacubsfan]

1 minute ago, raw said:

Guessing it's the playing in front of his hometown. His HS was there. It had to be a tough situation.

But that's the last time he should get that excuse. He was nervous first home game. Nervous first road game, first primetime game, first dome game, first game in his hometown. I guess first division rival game could have nerves. But for a guy who says he never gets nervous, he's been noticeably nervous (or too amped) 4 times in 7 games.

I often give presentations to clients as part of my job and when I was starting out, I used to try and psych myself out with power talks. It never worked, I was typically a nervous wreck. Thats what I see when he says "I never get nervous".

Someone should show him the 1-2-3-4 breathing method. making sure you have enough oxygen in your brain is like 90% of getting over nerves. If not, he has the potential to develop the yips...

[Old Style]

Flus is a poon. He has no backbone. 

[gflore34]

1 minute ago, Old Style said:

Flus is a poon. He has no backbone. 

Tell you what, despite the fact the Guardians success on the hail mary was 100000000% preventable by the Bears, I'd been all over the officiating overlooking multiple holdings + a block in the back to the point of getting fined.  Along, this vein, he'd should have been in officials faces and made a big case about them allowing defenders to cheap-shot and head-hunt Fields on numerous occasions last year.  horsefeathers that going through official channels or following league protocol to lodge officiating complaints - it doesn't work.

[BigSlick]

I do think the points stacked against Eberflus are really adding up. There are only so few things that are directly attributable to head coaching, but the ones that are - like challenges and usage of time outs (and coaching hires), he keeps bumbling. There was a pass that should have been challenged and overturned near the end of the game. He probably should have used his time outs to set things up better at the end of games. There are times when the team is utterly undisciplined and it keeps costing them. 

But, there are other times when fanbases just need to accept that there are players out there and sometimes they are not executing. I'm actually not furious at Shane Waldron today. The gameplan was totally fine, Caleb just had a poopy, nervous, rookie effort out there. The line also had to deal with multiple injuries on the offensive line and still managed to be O.K. despite it - there were some real glaring issues at times but that is to be expected with so much shuffling. They ran the ball shockingly well. There were open receivers to be had. Caleb just kept missing them, or freaking out and taking off and running in the pocket. Caleb had a bad game. You can't just put that on the offensive coordinator. If Caleb gave us 50% of what we got in the Jags or Panthers games, we win this in a blowout. He gave us 25% of what he had in those games and we nearly won.

The back up center full back dive? I can't really get that mad at it. It's a natural iteration once you put on tape that you have this I formation play with the oversized fullback. I probably wouldn't have done it in a 1 score game with a ton on the line, but it's something they were going to do at some point. (I also think the hand off was pretty bad from Caleb, so. There's that). 

It feels pretty bad today, I was coping a little better yesterday. But it doesn't hold a candle to the 2018 playoffs to me. There's 10 more games to go, and I'm excited to see how they go. 

Edited October 28, 2024 by BigSlick

[mul21]

That was the other glaring one to me.  The spot on the 3rd down run before the trash throw to DJ on 4th down was an absolutely challengeable call.  I thought they spotted him nearly a full yard short and probably had the first down, which would have been a game changing call.

[raw]

Just started watching this. And man, I still hate that it feels like Keenan is the primary on most plays. DJ has stuff schemed for him, but it's all screen horsefeathers. But they are literally running DJ and Rome on decoys to open up Keenan, when it should be the other way due to speed reasons.

Like the screen throwaway was DJ blocking for Allen. You run it the other way, you get a bigger blocker and a faster receiver being targeted

[gflore34]

19 minutes ago, raw said:

Just started watching this. And man, I still hate that it feels like Keenan is the primary on most plays. DJ has stuff schemed for him, but it's all screen horsefeathers. But they are literally running DJ and Rome on decoys to open up Keenan, when it should be the other way due to speed reasons.

Like the screen throwaway was DJ blocking for Allen. You run it the other way, you get a bigger blocker and a faster receiver being targeted

As bad as it was, I'm seeing a big old helping of step on their on dickituss, people are open, I'm still encouraged.  Caleb is more than capable of hitting on these plays and, in time, he will.

[UMFan83]

2 hours ago, raw said:

Keep losing games with 90% win probability, at some point it's not a fluke.

5 times in 41 games = a full 12% of all games coached by Flus have resulted in the Bears blowing a game with 90+% win probability in the 4th quarter.

[jersey cubs fan]

15 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

5 times in 41 games = a full 12% of all games coached by Flus have resulted in the Bears blowing a game with 90+% win probability in the 4th quarter.

That’s unfortunate