Banedon

Not when you pick and choose to compare just the "good" offenses, and forget about the other phases of the game. Not when you consider that even if we are just talking offense that the best offenses don't always have great years. Not when you consider that the most talented team doesn't always win. If you want to be good in any phase of the game it makes sense to compare yourself to the best teams in those phases. I'm fairly confident that we can have a good offense relative to the Lions, Rams, and Raiders but that gets you where exactly? For what it's worth I do think the front 7 on D has a chance to be one of the best in the game. But what does each individual player have to do with the unit as a whole? I know in most cases, more talent = better offense. But the Texans were the 4th best offensive team in the league. Yet they only have Andre Johnson who would be a shoe-in to start for the other top 10 offenses in the league. I mentioned Martz's Lions before. They had a bunch of nobodies and were one of the best offensive teams for 2 years. And you even said the front 7 on D could be among the best in the league. Doesn't that mean it could be good enough that the offense matters less? We know the ST will be top 10 in the league. That makes the offense matter even less. It's also worth mentioning that the "names" that Martz had in STL were "names" only after the fact. I mean come on...Kurt Warner was freaking nobody until he was in Martz's offense. Marshall Faulk was a good back in Indy, but was nowhere near what he became in STL.

I would guess it remains rare. No way Chicago ever gets one, Soldier Field is way too small. Lincoln Financial is also relatively small. Denver would actually be a really good place, and Washington is always an option. Not to mention I don't think Chicago will get one until they get a better playing surface.

Three weeks can't come fast enough. Just get this overwith. I disagree there. I love the journey. The destination just means the end of hockey for a while... It's just the downtime that I hate.

give truffle and any other riff raff a place of their own. Eh...Truffle's already all up in the Hawks thread...but that's cool...just thought we could consolidate.

Are we safe to lock this thread, and just put the hockey discussion in the Blackhawks thread now? Anyone have a compelling argument to keep this thread open?

Saturday can't come fast enough. The overanalysis and hype is going to be ridiculous. And tiresome.

You can't pretend that the WC and EC are the same level of skill though. Each team has beaten 3 teams to get here, and those 3 teams aren't equal, as UM's post showed.

The Blackhawks aren't exactly lacking in the hot goalie department. Their guy actually had to stop legit attacks. Exactly. Montreal was almost at the bottom of the league in goals per game during the regular season.

Oh...well if you dismiss it.... Forte will benefit hugely from Taylor's presence. Forte isn't going to get nearly the number of carries this year as he has the last two years.

The assistant editor for the Philadelphia Daily News did a Flyers Q&A... Good! lol http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/frequentflyers/Chat_Flyers_with_Chuck_Bausman.html#axzz0oyB3qajN

Ok, but you're criticizing the WR's, not the line. Would Faulk have been as good with the line the Bears had last season? How about Bruce or Holt? Would Warner have been rushing passes? If not...he'd have been taking sacks. None of us are saying that the Bears are going to have the Rams offense from the "best show on turf" days. We're saying that if we don't have that, it's not necessarily due to bad receivers. It's much more likely to be because of a bad line.

LOL...those mean guys at 312sports always rooting for Chicago teams....BOO! He did post the link in the Blackhawks thread, fwiw.

Eh...we all like rumors. Hell...a sports message board thrives on it. Just having some fun.

Also, the Bulls will really crack open the wallet to pay Jordan and Pippen to re-enact the "flu game" at the halftime of every home game next season.

For you facebook junkies... http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=128566660492628

I've heard so little about Iglesias, that I'm concerned he may not make the team. I've heard his name quite a bit as a guy expected to do what Bennett did last year. As for the top 3, I would not lock in Knox and Bennett above Aroma. He's got as good a shot as any to be the go to guy. Agreed. I think Hester, Aroma and Knox is a more likely starting trio. Not that Bennett won't have his fair share of PT.

I don't find it laughable since pretty much the entire organization has been gushing about the WR since the middle of last year. The Devins get universal praise for obvious reasons, Bennett fulfilled expectations in his first exposure to actually playing and Johnny Knox came on real strong in his rookie year. There's not a lot of track record, but there's been glimpses from all of them for tremendous potential. There's also Iglesias who we really have no idea bout, but someone though he had the potential to be drafted as high as he was. I'm really hoping to start to see him this season, but the top 3 are almost certainly Hester, Knox, Bennett. I've heard so little about Iglesias, that I'm concerned he may not make the team.

I don't find it laughable since pretty much the entire organization has been gushing about the WR since the middle of last year. The Devins get universal praise for obvious reasons, Bennett fulfilled expectations in his first exposure to actually playing and Johnny Knox came on real strong in his rookie year. There's not a lot of track record, but there's been glimpses from all of them for tremendous potential. I think there's a lot riding on Aromashadu though, since he's really the only big receiver we have. And of course, the o-line to give the receivers time to run routes.

Tice is impressed with Johan Asiata...a 2nd year undrafted FA...left guard...6'4" 300lbs http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/05/bears-tice-impressed-with-unknown-guard-asiata.html

Martz has been ridiculously over the top with his praise of our players... it's really bizarre... Apparently that's something he's always done. I'm not sure if it's to this extent, but he's always highly positive about his new players.

Yeah...I didn't say I was buying it. In fact, I'm pretty excited about that idea.

Yep...Flamez posted that last night. :) KC Johnson says his Bulls source is downplaying it.

Heh...I just posted that this morning in the Hawks thread, but I said it wasn't as good as the others. But I also didn't watch AD, so yeah.