minnesotacubsfan

I've criticized the Bears way too many times for running the ball up the middle to freak out over them deciding to do something different, especially after doing it on that very drive. That just seems like being upset over the loss and finding one thing that could have gone better, and heaping the whole thing on it. If people really think the game hinged upon the Bears running the conservative play, then maybe they should have just taken the FG. It would have put the Bears 2 points down. I wouldn't have faulted them for trying to run it on that 4th, they were having success doing so on previous 4ths. But it just points out the lunacy of Nagys game plan: ie run up the middle then try a stupid pick play on a 4th and short. Why? Why not try a roll out or play action on 1st down instead?

I agree with this, Graham f'ed his responsibility but the play design was stupid to begin with, at least for a 4th down.

no, it was a clean hit. I was just mad because I like Mooney so much and didn't want to see him injured. That, and since Amos was a Bear, it feels a bit "traitor-y"

this is true. Lovie for DC? Lol. Maybe Marinelli, I think he'll be available again. another thought I had about this, is there a difference in CB play between the two systems? I always thought the 4-3 meant a lot more zone/press coverage while the 3-4 meant a lot more man-to-man/off man coverage. Do the DB's we have make sense for a 4-3, or is there just not that much of a dif?

this is true. Lovie for DC?

The defense is fine. The NFL is not catered to defenses carrying teams, and hasn't been for a while, hence why the Bears have made the playoffs like 5 times in 25 years. Every 5 years or so they find the needle in the haystack that is an offense carried to the playoffs by an elite defense. Roquan is great. Goldman is coming back. Johnson and Nichols are solid building blocks. Fuller is solid and should be extended for a lower cap hit. For next year, gotta hope for better health for guys like Mack and Quinn. And you gotta hope a change in scheme (new DC) brings back whatever has happened to Eddie Jackson. I'm sure they'll keep Hicks around since everyone else is coming back (I'd probably release him and get 10.5M in cap space), but then after 2021 you can get out the Hicks, Quinn, and Trevathan deals. Either way, they should be a top 12 unit in DVOA again next year. Maybe a new DC and health gets them back to rushing the passer and creating turnovers more consistently, and they get back to a top 5 unit. But even if not, they should be good enough to win games if they get a halfway decent offense. If they do make a change in the D, I just want to get out ahead and say it should be a broad search and it can be a 3-4 or 4-3 guy. I think a few guys like Mack and Quinn may actually be better in a 4-3 and most of their rotation guys are FA anyways even if they were scheme dependent. Get rid of Pagano, first of all. As for the 3-4 vs 4-3, they currently have the one guy you need to make a 3-4 work: Eddie Goldman. In fact, his absence is probably bigger then anyone else on the D this year outside of Hicks. Might as well stay with that. Also, I loved seeing Vildor break on the ball in the flat. I know he was otherwise toyed with throughout the game, but he could end up developing into a solid nickel.

not sure who Mond is, but Jones is nothing like Trubisky. Trubisky had an arm but very very little playing time. Jones is almost the complete opposite.

I'm mad he instituted a game plan we ALLLLLL knew would be unlikely to help us win that win-and-in game. And it's not just "the future" as next year, it's also about next week where he will undoubtably produce another obviously turd-o-rific game plan that leads to another massive drubbing.

It's a very, very mediocre defense. It had two good games in the entire second half of the season, and one of those was Jacksonville so it doesn't count. Mack and Hicks have lost a step. Jackson is completely washed up. Smith is pretty good at what he does, but what he does is clean up plays and pad his tackle stats beyond his actual impact. Quinn was worthless this year, maybe he'll be more healthy next year or maybe not. Fuller and Johnson are ok (although Johnson's a bit overrated by Bears fans). Trevathan is the guy who makes a TFL on 2nd-and-8 then gets targeted for an easy first down on 3rd-and-9. Eddie Jackson is completely washed up and actively bad at his job. I honestly can't remember one thing some dude named Gipson who is apparently our other starting safety did all season. You've already invested way too much in the defense as it is, you can't possibly justify committing a bunch more to it. Montgomery, Mooney and Kmet are what you build the team around going forward. I agree about Mooney, Monty, maybe Kmet. I totally disagree on the D secondary. Fuller/Johnson/Jackson/Smith are what you build on there, if Johnson's shoulders haven't dissolved.

How so? The lost 35-16. They were within one score, in the 4th quarter, with the ball in Packers' territory. did you think that was likely going into the week? Once they fell behind and had to play real football, the score got out of hand. If they had tried to play more open from the beginning, they would have lost 53-16 instead. They were within one score in the 4th but only because the D somehow woke up for two series. The offense as a whole was still plodding towards their demise. They lost 35-16 and we all knew it was a likely loss weeks ago, but it would have been helpful to see if what they did against bad D's could work against GB. What's the worst thing that would happen? They'd lose big and still squeak into the playoffs to face another great team with a likely embarrassing loss and further forcing them down the draft board because, as it turns out, they actually made it into the playoffs? Well, that happened anyway.

Horrible take. 1) Johnson and Skrine were out, and this D has had issues coming up big all season. 2) opening up the offense Nagy Style isn't what I'm talking about. Nagy only opens up the offense when he has to, when he's down In this game, only opening up the offense when you have to was 100% the right play. How so? The lost 35-16.

How can you tell? Repeated Inside dives haven't worked since the 80's Repeated dives to the inside didn't cause them to give up 35 points, and the moment they tried to open it up Trubisky threw a terrible interception. Horrible take. 1) Johnson and Skrine were out, and this D has had issues coming up big all season. 2) opening up the offense Nagy Style isn't what I'm talking about. Nagy only opens up the offense when he has to, when he's down

horsefeathers that, I want to win Then you need way better players How can you tell? Repeated Inside dives haven't worked since the 80's

Generally I'd agree with you, but that play had no chance from the outset. 2 receivers bunched to one side with a rollout that way and nobody going downfield on that side to clear any defenders. They'd crammed it down their throat several times already and gotten them with a spread formation. Why they didn't go with some variation o f what had already been successful I have no idea. Give it to Monty and have him get you a yard or have Mitch sneak it again. That's too pivotal a moment in the game to do something gimmicky like they did. I'm okay with doing something different, but that didn't seem to be it, even if there was a missed pick. QB sneak or Monty would have been better choices then a horsefeathering play your TE doesn't even understand

That last 4th and inches call will put a damper on what was a fairly decent game plan. That was ugly as a call. Then things spiraled in minutes, mainly because they had no choice but to try and let Mitch win it. Moose seemed to imply that he thinks Graham blew his route and was supposed to pick Robinson's defender. Play call looks a lot better if that's the case. Yes, Graham should have picked

horsefeathers that, I want to win

Exactly ETA: and honestly, this is what makes it so hard for me to judge Trubisky. How can you know about anything with this offense when Nagy is causing bigger issues?

Yes, the meat of that schedule was against bad D's, but MN had held TB to 303 yards the week prior to the Bears and for fearer points. They weren't a nobody D when the Bears showed up. I don't know if they lost someone to injury against TB, however, and that could have certainly played a part Weren't they down their top two corners for that game? looking back at the TB/MN game Summary, they lost Boyd during the TB game, so if their other CB was out already, that would be the case

No, that is 100% THE ISSUE. Somehow, Matt Nagy lost his ability to craft an offense. Lazor could, and by the way, MN had a pretty good defense. Yeah i think DVOA has them at like 16th for the year but clearly trending downwards since the Saints put 52 on them the week after and the Lions 35 this week. Anyways but the other 3 teams (DET, HOU and JAX) came into the week as the 30th, 31st and 32nd best defenses per DVOA. Almost the easiest possible 4 game stretch an offense could possibly have. Bears took advantage which is a credit to them as I’ve seen even worse Bears offenses struggle against terrible defenses in the past, but it’s clear to me that this was a major reason for the offensive emergence. Yes, the meat of that schedule was against bad D's, but MN had held TB to 303 yards the week prior to the Bears and for fearer points. They weren't a nobody D when the Bears showed up. I don't know if they lost someone to injury against TB, however, and that could have certainly played a part

I can still wish it

I wish they'd fire Nagy honestly, and hire the OC Lazor as the HC

Several: Tony Dungy - 2001 Marty Schottenheimer - 2006 (after going 14-2, lol) Mike Mularkey - 2017 Lovie Smith - 2012 Smith was fired after missing the playoffs at 10-6

No, that is 100% THE ISSUE. Somehow, Matt Nagy lost his ability to craft an offense. Lazor could, and by the way, MN had a pretty good defense.

I'm not sure I want to ruin my Sunday that way. Might be better to roll it all into the Sunday Night Blahs and have a crappy Monday instead Alvin Kamara can't play if the game is Saturday. Can if Sunday. none of that will matter, we will lose

I'm not sure I want to ruin my Sunday that way. Might be better to roll it all into the Sunday Night Blahs and have a crappy Monday instead