rawaction

Poor Ole Miss. SEC doesn't want them to win.

This is a pretty interesting game on paper. And a big game, especially for the Bears. The Bears will take the field essentially 1.5 games out of first due to the loss to GB. A lot of people look at the Panthers and see an injury report full of RBs, a rookie WR leading them and a 1-dimensional TE. But despite their lack of weapons, Carolina has been a very efficient and effective offense thru the air. They are 13th in the league in passing offense, despite starting Derek Anderson in the opener. Newton and Anderson also have yet to throw an interception, the only team in the league not to do so. Carolina just has 1 lone special teams fumble. So, the Bears probably aren't going to be able to count on the formula they used for their previous 2 road wins. Speaking of road wins, 3 wins away from home is almost a solid season's worth. A lot of really good teams don't win much more than 3 on the road. So, if the Bears win this, I'm sure they aren't done winning away from home, so we could be looking at a solid season if they turn it around at home, which they obviously will. The Panthers have probably the worst OL the Bears will see this year. Newton is getting sacked 3 times per game this year, and those sacks have gone for about 8 yards lost a pop. With Newton hurting, he hasn't run very much (only 8 carries) and they really don't want him taking many hits. So, I expect them to really try to get rid of the ball quickly against the Bears D with a lot of 3 step drops. They will use Benjamin's size on slants, especially when matched up on Jennings (which will happen a lot). They will test Bostic in pass coverage quickly with Olsen and use his size advantage. I don't think they will be able to run very much, though they will try early to establish something. If the Bears don't get pressure again, they will be picked apart again. Can't count on a turnover, especially without pressure. And Newton completes a decent 64%. 3rd and less than 5, they'll convert a lot, so gotta keep them in 3rd and long situations by getting in the backfield on early downs. One interesting stat is that Jerricho Cotchery has caught every pass thrown to him. 13-13. So, this is not just a 2-man receiving corps. For all the crap the defense caught last week by not forcing a single punt, the offense has been pretty lackluster. A of 500 yard offensive games have yielded a total of 37 points between them, including a 3 and 0 point half in those games. A team that averaged 28 per game last year, has only put up over 20 this year when getting short fields or a defensive TD. The defense is pretty much what you can hope for: stopping the run, geting turnovers, struggling without a consistent pass rush. But if you told me before the season the Bears would be 20th in total yards and 18th in points, I would have called this season a failure considering all 11 starters returned. I know they haven't been together or 100% much, but they have to get it going ASAP. The Bears skilled players should be as healthy as they've been since Week 1. Marshall with a full week of practice. Forte had some success in the run game. Jeffery coming off his best game. Bennett becoming a 3rd go-to guy. Cutler has to be mistake free, because can't count on the defense bailing him out by making a stop or getting a turnover. The Panthers have been very poor on run D, but I don't expect that to continue to the extent it has been. The Bears shouldn't be completely shut down in the run game, but they won't get anywhere near the performance they got vs. Green Bay. They are going to have to take advantage of the Panthers thru the air. Their back 4 isn't very impressive. Lost in their run D troubles is the fact that they've given up 72% completions, 5 TDs, 5 pass interference penalties, and haven't had an INT in the last 2 weeks. The Bears combo of Marshall, Jeffery, Bennett, and even Forte should have over 250 yards between them thru the air, along with a couple penalties forced. This is a battle of a 2013 playoff team vs a trendy 2014 playoff pick. Both teams have been very inconsistent to start. Bears with a pair of turnover prone games with points left on the board and a shaky defense. And a couple games where the defense was strong and the offense maximized its output on the scoreboard. The Panthers allowed 21 points thru the first 2 weeks (14 of those points in garbage time in the opener) and then back-to-back 30 burgers. The cliche is "depends on which team shows up", but I have to believe these teams are trending in the opposite way. Carolina's losses of edge rushers and changes in the defensive backfield are catching up to them, while the Bears should be getting healthier at the skilled positions and were able to practice in full as a unit for the first time since before the season. Not sure if the string of 30 point games continue, but I look for the Bears to get after the QB some this week by forcing things if they have to. And the offense should have their most complete game of the season, despite replacing its LT.

This is Chicago. Derrick Rose diagnoses all injuries here.

That almost impossible to get. It's probably knee aids. Neebola.

Wow. Ratliff got a helluva concussion. 3+ weeks for his 1st one? First recorded by the NFL does not make it his first concussion. True. FYI, Garza and McManis listed as doubtful for Sunday. Looks like more of Frey at the nickel (I'd give Hurst a series or 2). But also looks like at least 1 more week of DLP at center with Slauson back. Crazy the OL that started 16 games together last year, have played together for about 20 minutes, including the preseason.

Wow. Ratliff got a helluva concussion. 3+ weeks for his 1st one?

But Tseng doesn't have bad or even average stuff. 91-92, has hit 95. Good curve. Really good changeup. He's not the low A version of Hendricks stuff wise.

Unless you're the Packers.

Fear. Jay you poor bastard. Run hard. Run fast. Luckily it might be the worst D-Line they play all year. Nope. Look at the one on the schedule for next week.

Vikings are so bad that they screwed my fantasy teams. Have Cobb in 1 PPR league. Nelson in the other. Nelson did get 13.6, but only had 1 catch. Cobb added 2 more catches at least, but finished with only 12.4 because GB didn't have to throw the ball any more. If the Vikings could have kept it somewhat competitive early, both had easy 20 point games in the making.

Predominately white neighborhood?

No, not in the middle of the season. If this was in camp, I would. Plus, it seems like only 2-4 weeks. Don't want to mess up 2 positions to fix 1. Play Ola, give him lots of help from Britton. Mills really needs to step up though.

Christian Ponder. LMAO.

[expletive]. This [expletive] doesn't sound too optimistic at [expletive] all.

This might not be our year people. Allen, Slauson and Bushrod have never missed games (other than suspension for Allen). Looks like they are all going top miss in the first 5 weeks.

I'm gonna go with NO. Colston will come on like he did last year. Charles is too good to take the drop off to a backup RB. Monumentally better than Miller (who you'd start) or Bradshaw.

Yeah, i'd take that team in a heartbeat. Not overly unrealistic, though I agree with the assessment of the Span trade and I still think Tampa trades Hellickson or Moore before Cobb.

I'm secretly hoping Bears will draft him in the 1st. I think I like him more than Collins. Yeah, I'd take him in the 1st too. Especially after last year when 4 safeties went in the 1st. But I said 2nd because I like a bunch of guys projected as 1st round talents too. I was being greedy. But yeah, I preliminarily have him as one of the top 25 players in this draft class.

So, this list is basically a performance based review of players who are actual prospects.

Never heard of him, though apparently he's one of the fastest players in the NFL. Has dabbled at WR too in practice for Arizona.

Wayne. Edelman has had a couple bad weeks as Brady forgot how to play QB. But the Pats will figure it out, just like last year. Wayne and Edelman.

Asiata is hot and GB just got lit up on the ground. Then the other one is kind of a toss up. I'd probably go Spiller, but couldn't blame you if you went Hopkins.

I'm going to go 1-2-3, but I don't think any of them are extremely UNlikely. I don't have much faith in 2 of those pitchers to each put up 2.5 WAR (or 1 to put up like 3.5-4 WAR). I probably have too much faith in Javy, but are we talking average MLB player or average 2B production? And #3 is really interesting. I think if Schwarber is going to be an MLB catcher, he's going to have to be that to start a season. I don't know that he can possibly do enough to come up midseason and take over at C. It's not like you are waiting for his bat to develop. He can probably hit in the majors by late 2015. If he can't catch in the majors by early 2016, he won't be catching in the majors mid-2016, IMO.

Yeah I think the Cubs make a great effort but someone gives Lester something ridiculous like 6-150 and the Cubs settle for a lesser pitcher. There's too much to be lost by not putting a team that can legitimately contend on the field next year. It's an opportunity cost. They're not stupid. With their payroll flexibility, the money isn't all that important...not compared to not giving a team that could have a chance to immediately contend that chance to do so. That doesn't mean they get him. Also lesser pitcher doesn't mean bad pitcher.

Yeah I think the Cubs make a great effort but someone gives Lester something ridiculous like 6-150 and the Cubs settle for a lesser pitcher.