Looking for the Brightside: Week 15
by Jacob Hayes on Dec 22, 2009 7:00 PM CST
in Notes
29 comments
Another game, another loss, and another heaping helping of humble pie. I'll be incredibly honest and say that it was extremely hard game to watch, and an even harder game to find something to be happy about in. However, even in our darkest hour there is a new day just around the corner, and there were a few things to be happy about even in this extremely poor game.
The Offensive Line still doesn't look good, but it sure looks better than it did.
We didn't have a top 20 offensive line last night, but it sure wasn't the absolute train wreck that we saw at the beginning of the year. Kreutz still got manhandled too often, and Shaffer didn't look better than average most of the game, but there were no where near as many complete breakdowns of the line. The number of penalties seemed to be way down, and while it's just a start I didn't wish bodily harm on Ole a single time during the game.
The biggest difference in this line is CDub in his natural position, he gave quality protection on the edge all game, and even had a short stack of pancakes driving his attacker to the ground which is good to see from someone more known for his finesse game. If the improvement we see on a game to game basis out of Chris Williams continue we definitely have a rising star that should be starting at LT for a long long time.
Earl Bennett really showed why he is our slot/possession receiver for the present and future.
Fort Knox has received a lot of attention this year, and for good reason. He still makes a few mistakes, specially in regards to ball protection, but his talent is undeniable. Speed, ability to pick up an offense, veteran plays, good hands. It's because of Knox's breakout rookie year and Hester's remarkable improvement that Earl Bennett hasn't received the attention he deserves.
He was the sole Bears player to score any points this week, but he showed the same skill set in his return as he did in a short pass to the outside in the first quarter. Earl Bennett just doesn't go down from tiny bit of a weak contact like lots of other wide receivers. On both the return, and the reception there were more than one opposing player that made contact with him, and a few arm tackles that didn't phase the Vandy product. This guy is everything we ever wanted out of Rashied including the sure hands, and the ability for good yards after the catch.
It also doesn't hurt that on an offense still trying to gel that he has multiple years of experience catching the ball from our brand new QB. I think we can feel good going into next year with Bennett having locked up his WR position.
This season is almost over, and we've got some big changes to look forward to.
It's pretty much a given at this point that there will be some kind of change in the coaching this off season. Whether it's Lovie, Turner, Babich, or some combination of the three it's fairly obvious that they aren't all making it through the Spring. There is a lot of coaching talent in limbo floating around as well, so all signs point to someone catching the boot.
That helps salve some wounds, as does the fact that Christmas is in just a day or two depending on where you are and it's a time for family and friends, and not for bring down hatestorms on the the Bears organization as a whole.
Everyone take these two bright spots in what was an otherwise abysmal day and enjoy your holidays.
Merry Christmahanakwanaka to everyone!
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Good jorb sklz.
Add to that list: Tim Shaw, my new favorite STs player and possible future backup LB.
You are all gentlemen (and ladies) and good judges of cheap whiskey.
While Bennett is a good possession WR...
he is able to get separation at the LOS (though he needs better coaching than Drake provides) more effectively than Hester or Knox. Bennett could do well in the slot on occasion, but Knox and Hester actually need to be in the slot to use their speed to avoid the bump at the line and get into the pass patterns cleanly. The biggest problem is the Bears have a bunch of second and third guys but no primary target. Unless the Bears drop Lovie and the new coaches move to a more pass heavy offense, I suspect one of the four best WRs (Hester, Bennett, Knox, DA) will be gone next season. Ironically, an improved running game (read as better O-line) is likely to have a bigger effect on the passing offense than the addition of a legit #1WR. Still looks like the talent is there, just simply no effective coaching.
When you find yourself in a hole, STOP DIGGING!!!
Hester/Knox in the slot
is something I thought would work as well. Hester hasn’t developed into a No. 1 and he’s not going to. if we get a coaching change either at HC or OC or both, hopefully he will go back to a primary returner and as a slot or No. 3 receiver with Bennett working as No. 2.
FA is going to be the way to go to get a No. 1 and I’m just not sure the Bears can lure top talent at that position or they’ll overpay for someone like Lance Moore and hope he can pan out as a No. 1. with Angelo in charge of assembling this mess, that’s something I can see happening.
Evil will always triumph, because good is dumb.
Bennett in the slot..
and a combo of Knox/Aromashodu/Some form of higher dollar FA receiver in the 1-2 would make me quite happy next year.
Bennett wouldnt start anywhere else, maybe a slot guy
YAY!! a receiver that can actually catch the ball and Bears fans fall in love. It is not that he is good,it is that it has been so long since there has been a Bear’s receiver capable of doing what most WRs in the NFL…….. (drumroll) catch the figgin ball with any sort of consistency.
My biggest pet peeve with this guy is his lack of speed and inability to take anything to the house/ breakaway from defenders.
Don’t get me wrong, I have been impressed with Bennett lately… but the sad truth is this limited success equates to not having to get an actual receiver in the minds of Bear’s management
the sad truth is this limited success equates to not having to get an actual receiver in the minds of Bear’s management
True, but I do agree with one thing JA said in the last post-game press conference – we have more pressing concerns right now. That’s not to say I’m happy with our receiving corps (Cutler, as with any QB, needs a go-to guy who can be relied upon… Olsen isn’t that guy) but we have so many holes in the team.
"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
one of the worst/if not the worst receiving corps in the league...
but yet we do still have more pressing needs…. like ownership, management, coaching, offensive tackles, offensive guards and a free safety. That is sad.
He not only catches the ball when it comes to him...
But he has showed that while he doesn’t have breakaway speed he doesn’t go down at the first contact allowing for good YAC.
There is room in the league for both Fitz WR and Boldin WR, is he as good as Boldin right now? Hell no. However, you don’t have to have a amazing blistering speed at WR, specially if you have two of the fastest people in the league at 1 and 2.
Associate Writer - WindyCityGridiron.com
by Jacob Hayes on Dec 22, 2009 11:53 PM CST up reply actions
Speaking of Boldin
I was listening to ESPN other day with Mortensen, and he says this is going to be the year that the Cards trade Boldin. Now i thought this was the last year of his contract? Unless they are talking about Franchise tagging him and then trading him which would screw us because we dont even have any draft picks to sweeten the deal.
Still, would love to have Boldin for next year.
by Chitownproduct on Dec 23, 2009 2:11 AM CST up reply actions
Boldin was a big Bears fan when he was a kid
There was a thing on the news here in Arizona where he was talking about getting a Walter Payton jersey and a Bears helmet for Christmas when he was 7.
If they do trade him, he might want to go to the Bears, but the owners would probably be too cheap to get him.
Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan.
No band-wagoner fans allowed, pick a team and stick with em, throughout the good and the bad.
specially if you have two of the fastest people in the league at 1 and 2.
…which doesn’t help when our QB barely has time for a 3-step drop before he gets clobbered.
"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
Ja, new OLine ftw
:(
Associate Writer - WindyCityGridiron.com
by Jacob Hayes on Dec 23, 2009 10:37 AM CST up reply actions
Nowhere
BECAUSE THE CHEIFS JUST CUT MARK BRADLEY!!!
Should we bring him back?
HELLZ YEAH!!!
Camp ifuwanna, we hold you in our heart...
by ifuwannacrownem on Dec 22, 2009 9:29 PM CST reply actions
LOL
I added that link to tomorrow’s Den and gave you a shout out. I should have known you’d pop up tonight.
You are all gentlemen (and ladies) and good judges of cheap whiskey.
are you a real bears fan?
real bears fans dont call out firing coaches. they stick by their team even when things are tough. you all seem think the bears have a magical ability to fire lovie and bring in some future hall of fame head coach that will slay an evil dragon in halas hall and liberate the draft picks. NEWS FLASH: in the NFL ITS NOT THAT EASY
by bearsfootball1193 on Dec 22, 2009 10:20 PM CST reply actions
real bears fans … stick by their team even when things are tough
I, for one, will be cheering right beside you when the Bears unveil Jauron & Wanny as Angelo & Lovie’s replacements.
"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
would love to see Wanny back
he’s been great at Pitt these last few years, bring him back and see how he does w/ da Bears
I'd rather have...
Brett Favre as our OC over Ron Turner.
Also our defense has been terrible this year across the board except for Briggs, and Lovie took ove r the defensive play calling this year.
They have nothing to hang their hats on. Someone has to pay for the terrible product they put on the field. You could get rid of Lovie because he’s responsible for the whole thing, you could get rid of our OL coach and the OC for the terrible OLine and the terrible play calling, but someone has to go this year, because what we have now isn’t working.
Associate Writer - WindyCityGridiron.com
by Jacob Hayes on Dec 22, 2009 11:51 PM CST up reply actions
bearsfootball1193
My two older brothers got me started following the Bears the year Walter was drafted and I haven’t jumped off the fanwagon since. I only post that in an effort to let you see that I am and always will be a diehard Bears FANatic, and it seems to be apparent from your comment here that you fall into a similar category. With that said, and I won’t review details of the mounting evidence of incompetence that grows weekly with every game that gets played it seems, I would like to recommend to you, as a fellow fan, to do a couple of things. Firstly, search Dan Hampton on wscr and listen to his monday morning(after the Ravens loss) talk with Mully and Hanley I believe it was, if you haven’t already heard it . Then do a little comparison, watch a post game(or weekday) press conference with Lovie Smith, then watch the same press conference conducted by 49er’s coach Singletary. I think that these 2 things will thoroughly convince you that Halas Hall is in need of an immediate and complete cleaning! Happy holidays to ya and as always GO BEARS!!
"They better get another quarterback cuz we're comin"-#58 Wilber Marshall LB Chicago Bears
wow..
go ask the Steelers’ and Patriots about winning.
Real Bears fans know we deserve better. this blue collar “it’ll suck til it doesnt” bullspit is exactly whats wrong. towing line and following status quo is unacceptable.
Not accepting a piss poor team is what real Bear fans do. we aren’t mediocre, and neither should our team be.
"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 Dec 23, 2009 4:45 AM CST up reply actions
Bennett is solid
Early in the year he seemed to shy away from contact, but as the year progressed I realized he’s smart about when he feels he can fight for extra yards and when he knows he going down, it helps him avoid taking big hits
by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Dec 23, 2009 8:44 AM CST reply actions
Looking for the brightside?
Only 2 games left in the Lovie Smith era
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.
I hope you aren't holding your breath...
You are all gentlemen (and ladies) and good judges of cheap whiskey.
The only brightside I see from this game..
is to see what Williams will do in his natural position against a Pro Bowl end.
by boondock_saint812 on Dec 23, 2009 3:14 PM CST reply actions
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