Week 18: Bears vs Lions at 3:25 on FOX

[Thurman Merman]

Sounds like the eagles are going to be resting a bunch of guys.

[Banedon]

The Packers claimed Diggs

[Wilson A2000]

1 hour ago, Banedon said:

The Packers claimed Diggs

This is where we say we’re happy the Bears didn’t sign him because opposing QBs have lit him up

[Tryptamine]

36 minutes ago, Wilson A2000 said:

This is where we say we’re happy the Bears didn’t sign him because opposing QBs have lit him up

Did you actually want him?

[Tryptamine]

Rueben Bain Jr is a damn monster and I want him on the Bears some how.

[minnesotacubsfan]

30 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

Rueben Bain Jr is a damn monster and I want him on the Bears some how.

I’ve wondered about him, Alex brown is who he reminds me of

[Wilson A2000]

1 hour ago, Tryptamine said:

Did you actually want him?

As a backup, it wouldn’t have hurt

[Geographyhater8888]

Edited January 1 by Geographyhater8888

[Banedon]

Fun fact:

If the Vikings beat the Packers this weekend, those two teams will have the same number of wins on the season.

[Derwood]

[Banedon]

So...what's the issue with the Bears defense?  Obviously the pass rush is a problem.  Opposing QB's have all day.  I also think quick WR's can out-race our DB's generally, which is where not having Kyler hurts.

So that said, is there anything that the Bears can do to stop that bleeding?  Is it just pray for turnovers?  Blitzing more is fine in theory but it seems like when we do, we still don't get to the QB and just get burned more.  

If the Bears lose in the playoffs, the defense is going to be the obvious reason why, and I know there's a lot of football smarter dudes on that coaching staff trying to solve this same problem, but wanted to toss it out there to the couch coaches here.

[Wilson A2000]

5 minutes ago, Banedon said:

So...what's the issue with the Bears defense?  Obviously the pass rush is a problem.  Opposing QB's have all day.  I also think quick WR's can out-race our DB's generally, which is where not having Kyler hurts.

So that said, is there anything that the Bears can do to stop that bleeding?  Is it just pray for turnovers?  Blitzing more is fine in theory but it seems like when we do, we still don't get to the QB and just get burned more.  

If the Bears lose in the playoffs, the defense is going to be the obvious reason why, and I know there's a lot of football smarter dudes on that coaching staff trying to solve this same problem, but wanted to toss it out there to the couch coaches here.

Pray for turnovers, somehow hold the opposing teams to FGs in the red zone, and cross our fingers that Booker goes crazy over the next month

[Derwood]

Let the other team score quickly so Caleb can get in the field again 🤷‍♂️

[Outshined_One]

25 minutes ago, Banedon said:

So...what's the issue with the Bears defense?  Obviously the pass rush is a problem.  Opposing QB's have all day.  I also think quick WR's can out-race our DB's generally, which is where not having Kyler hurts.

So that said, is there anything that the Bears can do to stop that bleeding?  Is it just pray for turnovers?  Blitzing more is fine in theory but it seems like when we do, we still don't get to the QB and just get burned more.  

If the Bears lose in the playoffs, the defense is going to be the obvious reason why, and I know there's a lot of football smarter dudes on that coaching staff trying to solve this same problem, but wanted to toss it out there to the couch coaches here.

Oddly enough, what will kill them defensively in the playoffs likely won't be their pass defense, since they have a really good core of DBs (when healthy), even if their pass rush is decidedly mediocre.

Their run defense is a huge, huge problem going into the playoffs, where the importance of the run game tends to increase significantly.  They're a bottom 5 rush defense right now, and I could see the right team (49ers) go off on them in the playoffs.

[gflore34]

44 minutes ago, Outshined_One said:

Oddly enough, what will kill them defensively in the playoffs likely won't be their pass defense, since they have a really good core of DBs (when healthy), even if their pass rush is decidedly mediocre.

Their run defense is a huge, huge problem going into the playoffs, where the importance of the run game tends to increase significantly.  They're a bottom 5 rush defense right now, and I could see the right team (49ers) go off on them in the playoffs.

I was thinking, if I had to chose between stuffing the run or rushing the passer, I'd go with stuffing the run.  Rushing sets up everything for a successful offense, take away the rush and you'll get to the QB. 

In the off season, I'd rather they fix the run defense, do that and the other facets will improve.

[raw]

2 hours ago, Banedon said:

So...what's the issue with the Bears defense?  Obviously the pass rush is a problem.  Opposing QB's have all day.  I also think quick WR's can out-race our DB's generally, which is where not having Kyler hurts.

So that said, is there anything that the Bears can do to stop that bleeding?  Is it just pray for turnovers?  Blitzing more is fine in theory but it seems like when we do, we still don't get to the QB and just get burned more.  

If the Bears lose in the playoffs, the defense is going to be the obvious reason why, and I know there's a lot of football smarter dudes on that coaching staff trying to solve this same problem, but wanted to toss it out there to the couch coaches here.

DL in general is the issue. No pass rush, not stopping the run. They are built to stop the run because Allen likes big ass DEs. Granted, one of them is hurt, but clearly haven't been good enough at what they were built to do.

That being said, they have randomly pulled a good run D game out of their butts. 1st GB game, Philly, Cincy, NO, and Dallas (after the 1st couple drives) were decent run D games. Of course, then they gave up an average of 292 passing in those games, not including the game they played the non-serious Browns offense. 

The best hope is the CBs take away the quick stuff from the offense and Sweat and Booker pull out some timely pressures and essentially have their best games of the season in January.

[BigSlick]

I think simply they don't have enough talent on the D-Line. The fact they've spent a ton of money and still have a bottom 5 D-Line in the league is pretty brutal. Get some real mean motherfuckers next season. I don't care how, by trade or FA or by draft. Get some mean guys who want to murder quarterbacks. 

Also, they have had a bunch of DB injuries: still don't think Jaylon Johnson is fully healty, Nahshon Wright is a home run hitter (so-to speak) who either makes a great play on the ball or gets burned, Jaquan's play has been spotty and not having Kyler all season has hurt. 

 

[SpongeWorthy]

my bull case for the defense is that I think the defensive back 7 will hold up better in coverage against non shanahan/purdy teams and maybe that flu got around the team more than showed up on the injury report 

[Wilson A2000]

Odunze was limited in practice and upgraded to questionable. I just don’t see much upside in playing him. Sit him and Burden on Sunday. 

[gflore34]

42 minutes ago, SpongeWorthy said:

my bull case for the defense is that I think the defensive back 7 will hold up better in coverage against non shanahan/purdy teams and maybe that flu got around the team more than showed up on the injury report 

Without question the bug went around the defense, the Niners aren't speed merchants on offense and they looked super fast against the Bears.  The Bears were a step or two slower than usual.

[Banedon]

41 minutes ago, Wilson A2000 said:

Odunze was limited in practice and upgraded to questionable. I just don’t see much upside in playing him. Sit him and Burden on Sunday. 

I could see some benefit in just getting Odunze out there for a few plays to get a little game action...he's been out a while.

[raw]

7 hours ago, BigSlick said:

I think simply they don't have enough talent on the D-Line. The fact they've spent a ton of money and still have a bottom 5 D-Line in the league is pretty brutal. Get some real mean motherfuckers next season. I don't care how, by trade or FA or by draft. Get some mean guys who want to murder quarterbacks. 

Also, they have had a bunch of DB injuries: still don't think Jaylon Johnson is fully healty, Nahshon Wright is a home run hitter (so-to speak) who either makes a great play on the ball or gets burned, Jaquan's play has been spotty and not having Kyler all season has hurt. 

 

I don't think it's a talent issue, TBH. Sweat is a talented player. Booker is talented. Dayo is talented and had a MUCH better year last year before he got hurt his year. They've spent enough money and fairly compensated the players who they paid (Jarrett was overpaid on paper, but historically had been good enough for the contract he got). They've drafted guys highly without overdrafting them. 

Some haven't panned out like they expected. But I think a big issue is how Allen plays his DL. IDK what it is but he doesn't seem to let his guys pin their ears back and go after the QB. Maybe they are "run first" upfront and that is slowing them down when rushing the passer. But Allen had a history of similar in NO. Chase Young had a career low in sacks with Allen (not counting the years with the ACL injury) and had more the years before and after (this year) DA. Cam Jordan had his big years under Allen, but just 6 sacks the last 2 years, before 8.5 this year again after Allen left. 

Allen is known as a coach that gets a lot out of his back 7 moreso than the front 4. He generates pressure with timely blitzes, but they will face QBs that they can't really blitz without getting destroyed (Love, Purdy, Stafford) in the playoffs. 

I honestly think this offseason, Poles and Ben need to take control of the situation on the DL and either go after guys that get to the passer much quicker. Or DA proof the DL by getting 1 game changer that also happens to fit Allen's mold for edge rushers (Garrett, Hendrickson, Crosby), don't come off the field and are good all around players.

[raw]

Edit: and I love DA as a DC. Don't want him gone or anything, but I think there's enough history to show guys don't necessarily flourish as pass rushers with him as their DC. Which is fine. Stay healthy on the back end of the defense and they'll be fine going forward.

[Geographyhater8888]

20 hours ago, BigSlick said:

I think simply they don't have enough talent on the D-Line. The fact they've spent a ton of money and still have a bottom 5 D-Line in the league is pretty brutal. Get some real mean motherfuckers next season. I don't care how, by trade or FA or by draft. Get some mean guys who want to murder quarterbacks. 

Also, they have had a bunch of DB injuries: still don't think Jaylon Johnson is fully healty, Nahshon Wright is a home run hitter (so-to speak) who either makes a great play on the ball or gets burned, Jaquan's play has been spotty and not having Kyler all season has hurt. 

 

They haven’t drafted a defender in round 1 since 2018 who’s no longer a Bear. The lineman they’ve drafted have been round 2 and 3 tackles where it’s hard to find dudes past the first round, Booker is the only edge they’ve drafted. They had 2 choices coming into the season which was Booker Billings and Dexter or paying a premium for low end d line starters because none are on the roster. Spending money doesn’t always mean good. Like Woodstock 99 either you pay $10 for a water bottle or drink out of a water fountain contaminated with the equivalent of plumbing sewage.

Edited January 3 by Geographyhater8888

[jersey cubs fan]

12 hours ago, raw said:

I don't think it's a talent issue, TBH. Sweat is a talented player. Booker is talented. Dayo is talented and had a MUCH better year last year before he got hurt his year. They've spent enough money and fairly compensated the players who they paid (Jarrett was overpaid on paper, but historically had been good enough for the contract he got). They've drafted guys highly without overdrafting them. 

Some haven't panned out like they expected. But I think a big issue is how Allen plays his DL. IDK what it is but he doesn't seem to let his guys pin their ears back and go after the QB. Maybe they are "run first" upfront and that is slowing them down when rushing the passer. But Allen had a history of similar in NO. Chase Young had a career low in sacks with Allen (not counting the years with the ACL injury) and had more the years before and after (this year) DA. Cam Jordan had his big years under Allen, but just 6 sacks the last 2 years, before 8.5 this year again after Allen left. 

Allen is known as a coach that gets a lot out of his back 7 moreso than the front 4. He generates pressure with timely blitzes, but they will face QBs that they can't really blitz without getting destroyed (Love, Purdy, Stafford) in the playoffs. 

I honestly think this offseason, Poles and Ben need to take control of the situation on the DL and either go after guys that get to the passer much quicker. Or DA proof the DL by getting 1 game changer that also happens to fit Allen's mold for edge rushers (Garrett, Hendrickson, Crosby), don't come off the field and are good all around players.

This line didn’t just start to suck when they hired a new DL. 
 

there’s very limited talent. Dayo stinks. Sweat is maybe a top 20 guy as your best and the talent falls precipitously from there.