Soul

Everyone would like to have a better run blocking line, no doubt. But having an OC like Martz, who can succeed without needing to run the ball as a primary strategy, seems like a nice way to sidestep the issue.

The thing is, I think Martz has already put together good offensive football teams without worrying about producing good run game numbers. I'm moving away from expecting a run game, or worrying about it. One of the pleasant surprises I've seen from this bunch so far has been the screens. For years upon years the lack of any sort of screen ability has frustrated me. Now it's like a light switch being turned on. They're getting big plays on various incarnations of the screen, and it serves as a surrogate for a run game since it's a high percentage play when executed well, and they're getting it done. If they can keep doing that, it really plays to our strength since we can't plow open holes, and both of our running backs have shown solid receiving skills. The one downside I see is 3rd and 4th and short yardage. They'll likely not do very well in those situations unless they can get creative. Right. I don't think they need, and I don't expect, a really good running game. But you need to be able to get a few yards on the ground when needed (particularly 3rd-4th down as you said) and they haven't shown that yet. Right, but converting a few more 3rd and 1's isn't going to equal a better run game perception. It won't increase anyone's ypc and it will only positively affect a few plays. I think this team should focus on what they can do well. I'm not disagreeing with anything you said. The point I'm starting to come to with this team is that I think it would be a mistake to fall into the trap of running the ball just because of some notion that "you need to be able to run it." Nay, I don't think in an offense like this that you do "need to be able to run it." You need to do what you do well; emphasize your strengths and de-emphasize your weaknesses. 3rd and 1 is likely to be a weakness all year. They can and should work on it. But if that means running more often instead of creative pass plays, then I'd rather live with the 3rd and 1's not being all that great, in favor of an overall offensive scheme that emphasizes what we do well the other 90% of the time.

I read MMQB this morning wondering what King would say about the game. He bumped the Bears up high in his rankings, but his only talk of the game was Dallas struggling and the Bears offensive line being worse than he thought. He talked about 3 QBs who won their games, and not one of them was Cutler. Don Banks who had the Bears in the bottom 5 or so to start the season said he's not sure how the Bears have won and assumes they probably won't keep winning. I sent Peter an email this morning on his lack of coverage of that game. He'll have plenty of comments about the Bears when we lose a game and he drops us 10 slots. King must've had someone from Chicago kill his dog once, or something.

Couldn't happen to two better teams. Well, I'll concede I'd rather see Green Bay suck. But with Favre on the Vikings it's almost as good. However, given that I was at Illinois when the Pearl thing happened, I loathe Iowa with a passion. Yeah but you're an Illinois fan. You really shouldn't even speak about college football in public. Being an Illinois fan frees me from high expectations in football. It actually makes things much easier. Hahah, yeah. I find being an Illinois fan in general does that :)

The thing is, I think Martz has already put together good offensive football teams without worrying about producing good run game numbers. I'm moving away from expecting a run game, or worrying about it. One of the pleasant surprises I've seen from this bunch so far has been the screens. For years upon years the lack of any sort of screen ability has frustrated me. Now it's like a light switch being turned on. They're getting big plays on various incarnations of the screen, and it serves as a surrogate for a run game since it's a high percentage play when executed well, and they're getting it done. If they can keep doing that, it really plays to our strength since we can't plow open holes, and both of our running backs have shown solid receiving skills. The one downside I see is 3rd and 4th and short yardage. They'll likely not do very well in those situations unless they can get creative.

I only caught this on the highlights, but sheesh. Sounded like Bob caught it right when it happened. Interesting that he was following the trajectory of the broken bat the whole way. I usually focus on the ball.

I dunno, where's Vance when you need him? The 'Boys have a lame coach. I'm not sure why JJ seems to like him so much. When I look at the Cowboys and the Chargers, I see similar traits. Tons of talent, all the potential in the world -- and coaches that act as a training harness, keeping them from being as good a team as they could possibly be.

That FO ranking is suddenly starting to look more solid.

Just seeing the opening line of 3 points is pretty amazing considering where the discussion was just a couple weeks ago. In terms of this game, I still give the edge to Green Bay. They are playing as expected; dominating lowly teams like the Bills, improving their offensive sync in the early going, and showing just a few chinks in the armor on defense. The Bears will need to find a way to exploit any GB defensive weaknesses, and limit the big plays while being opportunistic on defense, if they hope to hang in this game. Even if the Bears come away with the loss, I'd have to say a 2-1 start for this club is still beyond expectations and puts the Bears in a pretty good position heading to the Giants game -- especially considering Eli & Co.'s poor showing last night in Indy. But I'm greedy. A 3-0 start would be bombastic, and having a game in hand against the division favorites would put the Bears in control of the division; something nobody expected heading into the season. Just having this kind of opportunity has me very excited for this football game.

Oh, man. Can we just freeze that screen for all time? =D>

that probably happens every play it definitely doesn't, but it doesn't appear that his feet moved forward, so the qb received the ball at the same spot anyway. Yes it does, Kreutz does that every snap. Lots of centers move it forward. It wasn't a cheat as the youtube diatribe suggests. This happens routinely. The refs know it and allow it, again -- routinely, as you said.

Hahah. He said that?

That's what I heard too and that's ridiculous if true. He also had some good plays to go along with the drops last week. They didn't bench Knox for messing up his routes or Hester for not getting open, so I don't think Aromashodu deserved to be benched. He's better than Bennett. But he's not the same player as Bennett. And Martz can be expected to gameplan and use his pieces in many different ways depending upon the opponent. The Sun Times bit I read said the Bears provided no official reason that Shodu didn't see much action on offense.

Yeah, there isn't going to be much of a running game. It's really a passing offense with Martz. The screens and short passes ARE the running game. That actually works in our favor since this line just isn't going to blow open holes for runs up the middle consistently.

I really hope people begin to realize how good Cutler is. For him to perform like he has under these circumstances is pretty amazing. He's got a radically different system that he's had to learn very quickly, an absolutely horrible O-Line to compensate for, and a group of receivers that isn't exactly best-in-NFL to work with. Hats off to this guy. He's an amazing talent, hands down.

YEAH! Thinking back to the 1st quarter of this game, it's a pretty darn good job to win this ballgame. I'm pretty surprised right now.

Just recover the damn onsides kick. Don't be lame.

They still can't cover. The primary thing you defend against is that deep Austin route. They're letting that stuff go right past them. Peppers is being doubled, of course. But none of the other linemen are beating their single teams. It's pretty frustrating. If they put it in the end zone quickly, this thing still isn't over.

I can't think of a better turnover-producing defender than Charles Tillman.

Did this game ever unfold differently than I thought. Not over yet though.

Beware the player who can't stay healthy just running down the field. Martz makes an adjustment, whaddayaknow! That'll teach em to blitz every play.

What a joke, lol Hahahahahh.

Toe has been showing up so far this year

It gets tiring feeling like my team is an embarrassment in some way. Shouldn't there be at least a base level of competence at this level? It's really not to much to ask for an oline to at least not pull an ole on every damn pass play.

Jesus just run the ball. The main goal should be getting jay cutler out of this building alive.