Da Bears or da ex-Bear?

by Simms-McConkey on Nov 10, 2009 10:31 AM CST Comment 17 comments

Hello Chicago fans,
I'm leaning Bears at 49ers for an upset pick this week in a free pool. All I know about the Bears is that they've been decimated at linebacker yet still played remarkably well. The 49ers came out of the gate possessed but have fallen back to Earth. Can any non-homers give me any insight as to the Bears' chances, and any injuries/matchups I might not be aware of?

Thanks and good luck, F Favre no matter who he plays for!

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we are seriously lacking in talent

due to injuries/age this year, our Oline is only second to GB’s in being the worst… our Defense has been a joke against any team with talent, we’ve won two games by bribing the opposing kickers to shank Field Goals… “IF” we win this one, it will be because of Jay Cutler and the WRs, and nothing else

"Hey, the offensive linemen are the biggest guys on the field, they're bigger than everybody else, and that's what make them the biggest guys on the field." -Madden

by BearNecessities on Nov 10, 2009 11:35 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

F Favre no matter who he plays for!

love it. football fans unite against a common evil!

by brands735 on Nov 10, 2009 12:40 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I think the bears have a decent shot at winning this game

due to the 49ers not have a very good QB who can pick apart a poor bear secondary. We should be able to manage a better pass rush against an average Oline. They will be able to do the same to us I am afraid except I like Cutler throwing to our receivers vs. their D better than their chances on ours. If we can stop the run and force them to throw it could swing our way.

Roach love the run stuffin', but don't forget about the TE over the middle!!
- "Original WCG Power Poster!"

by tfrabotta on Nov 10, 2009 1:01 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

+1

I really think both teams are struggling but having a veteran QB might be the difference maker. Bears should just double cover Crabtree all game.

I have Bears picked for this weeks poll.

by TheMan1 on Nov 10, 2009 1:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

This year for SF it is all about Vernon Davis in the passing game though. Considering 2 of Warner’s 5 TDs last week went to VD, let’s keep an eye on him too.

by brands735 on Nov 10, 2009 1:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You meant ARI's TE, right?

Warner can’t throw to Davis unless Davis plays LB.

But I’ll agree. Davis is a lot more dangerous than ARI’s TE. Just remember though, Alex Smith was benched for a reason. We should be able to handle this one. Just gotta make sure Gore doesn’t gash us for a hundred-plus like that Arizona backfield.

by SJS_illini on Nov 10, 2009 2:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Two thoughts combined into 1

Yea, 2 TDs (Ben Patrick and back-up Andy Becht) scored on us last Sunday. I believe VD is leading the NFL in TDs by tight ends. Most of Davis’ routes are streaks down the center of the field. He is a big guy and his success is opening up the sides of the field for Crabtree and the running game for Gore. For a team that is 3-5, they have a lot of power on both sides of the ball.

by brands735 on Nov 10, 2009 2:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah...

VD is #1 in touchdowns (7). Shiancoe and Olsen are tied for #2 with 6.

Which is a little shocking when you consider the dogcrap San Fran has been playing under QB.

But, when the QB sucks, the TE benefits. The WR corp has been able to do nothing this year – the entire corp – combined! – has only 3 TD grabs. (4 non-TE TD grabs, the last one is to Gore out of the backfield).

So for this game, the defensive key is to key on Gore and VD, and find a way to get Smith on his freaking back (SF 26 Sacks Allowed – 18 Hill, 8 Smith). This WR corp doesn’t scare me at all with the popgun that’s throwing to them. I know Crabtree skipped most of the season but I can’t see him having an impact in this one.

~Stats courtesy of ESPN.com.

by SJS_illini on Nov 10, 2009 2:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Smith has had a shakey career

but even after his surgery, his skill set is coming back. He was a #1 overall pick “for a reason” and he may not be great this year, but I think this offense has potential to be dangerous in years to come.

by brands735 on Nov 10, 2009 2:38 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Watch this.

Rex was a first round pick too.

… Just kidding, I won’t do that to ya. Okay, so was Matt Leinart. Reggie Bush was a #2. Too soon? For other accurate examples, Curtis Enis, Rashaan Salaam? Cade McNown? First-round busts aren’t exactly rare.

But your point’s made that he was a #1 overall, which makes him some iota of dangerous. But I still can’t bring myself to be scared of an Alex Smith-led offense after how he was given the starting job out of college and crapped all over the bed.

If Smith’s gonna lead the offense, if you were a Niners fan, would you feel good about your starting QB having this:

SPLIT CMP ATT YDS CMP% YPA LNG TD INT SACK RAT
Career 498 899 5369 55.4 5.97 75 25 36 89 65.7

As his career stat sheet?

I’d like to see Smith take the reins solidly, but A) Not against the Bears; B) four and a half years and he’s given the job up to the likes of Shaun Hill and being out for two years. That’s not what you want from the #1 overall pick. Right now, he needs an Aaron Rodgers-type thing, except he wasn’t exactly sitting behind a legend.

Best of luck to him… After Thursday.

by SJS_illini on Nov 10, 2009 3:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

Besides the Houston game, Smith hasn’t looked dangerous this year. I also think Matthew Stafford = Alex Smith. Very very few QBs in their first year suceed but since last year there were 2 (Ryan and Flacco) everyone thinks it is perfectly fine to throw them in right away. Unless you have a strong veteran team around them, rookie QBs are always going to have a tough time suceeding.

by brands735 on Nov 10, 2009 3:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

As if Detroit is anything close to a "Strong veteran team."

… Or a “strong team.”

… Or a “team.”

The bad thing is a lot of it is dictated by team economy – of either personnel or cash. A #1 is gonna be paid among the most on the team already, so there’s that argument to start him. The other argument… Well, would YOU rather start a this-stage-of-his-career Daunte Culpepper?

ANYWAY.

You’re right, a rook shouldn’t be at QB without strong vets beside them, especially at (pick 2) WR, TE and RB. Flacco’s got Derrick Mason and Todd Heap and he had a rook backfield mate in Rice. Ryan’s got Roddy White and Michael Jenkins with Michael Turner. Now Smith (after two years out we can call him basically a rook again, only… older) has Frank Gore in his backfield with Isaac Bruce at WR and a head-on-straight Vernon Davis at TE, and good young WR talent with Morgan and Crabtree. Supporting your point, compare to his rookie year (2005):

HB Kevan Barlow (4th year)
HB Frank Gore (Rook, 1 Start)
WR Brandon Lloyd (2nd year)
WR Johnnie Morton (11th year)
WR Arnaz Battle (2nd year)
TE Billy Bajema (Rook) and Terry Jones (3rd year) (Neither had more than 9 catches for the year, 0 TDs).

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sfo/2005_roster.htm

Not exactly what he’s got to work with now, eh? That was the end of the Ken Dorsey era, lol.

by SJS_illini on Nov 10, 2009 3:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

if we get beat it will be down to the 49ers being better coached and crabtree having a great game

by stepeo on Nov 10, 2009 1:05 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Bears run D has been horrible recently. Frank Gore’s going to have a career day, though I hope he doesn’t.

"The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent are full of doubt." - Bertrand Russell
"F*** everybody outside of Halas Hall. BEARDOWN" - WavyGravy

by Spongie on Nov 11, 2009 1:11 AM CST reply actions 0 recs