Week 17 Preview: Bears (6-9) @ Lions (2-13)
by SackMan on Jan 1, 2010 3:00 PM CST
in Game Preview
22 comments
Tick tock, tick tock. No, it's not Captain Hook's alligator. But, Lovie Smith should be afraid of the hook... cause that's what might be coming after the Bears conclude another disappointing season in Detroit on Sunday. This marks the 3rd consecutive season that Lovie's Bears will miss the playoffs. That's not exactly a recipe for job security after a Super Bowl appearance. But, it could be worse... we could all be Lions fans. Actually, some could argue that we should be Lions fans on Sunday. The countdown to Black Monday begins at 12:00 CT on FOX.
Week 16 Recap
The Lions mustered op two field goals in 20-6 loss to the 49ers in San Francisco. Drew Stanton... yes, I just typed Drew Stanton, led the Lions with 130 yards passing, and... wait for it.... three interceptions. Is there anything else worth mentioning here? No... not really.
The Bears were in the holiday spirit. They gave us all a nice gift last Monday night, with a thrilling 36-30 victory in overtime over the Vikings. Jay Cutler was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week, for his 273 yard, 4 TD and 1 INT performance, and Devin Aromashodu led the team with 150 yards receiving and the game winning TD. Cutler continued the giving spirit, much as he has done all year with his NFL leading 26 interceptions, by giving his offensive lineman airplane tickets as a thank you. I'm not quite sure if that's a gift... or a hint that they all need to leave.
Quick Numbers:
- 150: Receiving yards for Devin Aromashodu last week. The highest total of any Bear all season, and just the second 100 yard receiving day the Bears have had in 2009 (Hester's 101 vs the Bengals in week 7).
- 9: Former Bears that have been full time starters on new teams since leaving Chicago. Makes you wonder why the Bears didn't want to keep them, and have been trying to fix most of these positions since their departure? QB Kyle Orton (traded), RB Thomas Jones (traded), RB Cedric Benson (released), WR Justin Gage (released), S Chris Harris (traded), RT Marc Colombo* (released), LT Mike Gandy** (released), FB Lousaka Polite (released), and S Brandon McGowan (released).
*Colombo made 57 straight starts at RT for Cowboys before undergoing ankle surgery in mid season.
** Gandy had made 76 straight starts in Buffalo and Arizona, since leaving the Bears, before being placed in IR after week 12 this year. He's been protecting future HOF QB Kurt Warner's blind side for the past 3 seasons. - 0: Games active for 3rd round pick WR Juaquin Iglesias... on a team with zero professional WRs. He'll suit up for the first time in his career on Sunday.
Key Injuries:
CHI HC Lovie Smith (job) O
CHI DE Adewale Ogunleye (broken leg) O
CHI DT Israel Idonije (foot) O
CHI CB Charles Tillman (ribs) O
CHI WR Johnny Knox (ankle) Did not participate
CHI S Al Afalava (knee) Did not participate
CHI S Danieal Manning (calf) Did not participate
DET QB Matthew Stafford (knee surgery) O
DET S Louis Delmas (knee) Did not participate
DET LB Larry Foote (foot) Did not participate
DET DT Grady Jackson (knee) Did not participate
When the Bears and Lions have the ball.
As my readers know, normally I go into depth here and break down the key matchups for both offenses:
A. When they have the ball
B. The key match-up
C. The X factor
But being the season finale and all... I thought I'd shake it up a bit. And quite frankly, when either of these offenses have the ball... not much happens.
The Lions are trying to build a team around #1 overall pick QB Matthew Stafford, and so far Stafford showed glimpses of being worthy of that pick. However, he's taken a beating behind that line and has struggled to stay on the field since hurting his knee in the first match-up between these two teams (a 48-24 loss to the Bears at Soldier Field in week 4).
Stafford had already compiled 296 yards passing in that game, before getting injured on 3rd and 5 at the Bears 6 yard line early in the 4th quarter. Stafford had marched the Lions on a 14 play 65 yard drive, and settled for a FG to cut the lead to 34-24. But, with Stafford out for the remainder of the game, the Lions offense went numb. Stafford's knee gave him trouble the rest of the year, and he was finally put on the IR for surgery on Dec 24th, after some gutsy performances.
With Stafford, Rodgers, and hopefully an improved Jay Cutler... the NFC North could boast some of the games best QBs in the near future.
Chicago
Very much like the Lions, the Bears made a big investment in a young QB. Two first round picks, Kyle Orton, and a $30 mil extension for Jay Cutler. The only problem is... the Bears didn't get the memo that you're supposed to build a team around your QB. Poor personnel decisions and bad coaching have turned year 1 of the Cutler era into a comedy of errors. However, Cutler might get the last laugh, as his performance may ultimately get this coaching staff fired, and open the door for new decision makers who might do a much better job.
The one thing that really stands out though, is the Bears inability to put Cutler in a situation where he historically has shredded defenses... outside of the pocket. Cutler's career passer rating outside the pocket is 114.3 compared to 79.3 in the pocket. When Cutler's out of the pocket and on the move, defenders have to make a decision: either commit to the ball or to the coverage. And Ron Turner took some of the blame for that this week , saying he should have called more movement plays.
"There were opportunities we could have done it more and probably should have," he said.
Bottom line, when your best playmaker is your QB, your job is to put him in a position to pose mismatches and make big plays. The job will likely belong to someone else next year.
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As much
as I would love to see changes made especially in the coaching ranks I just do not think Lovie is gone at the end of the season……
Pompei (on the score) and Mullin (on CTL) already stated that the win against minny helped Lovies chances of being retained….turner ya hes toast (although Mullin did say it might have helped him since Angleo harps on continuity)….
"You want cheerleaders? Bah you have the Bears drumline that should be good enough for ya! If ya don't like that you can bite me!"
- Virginia McCaskey to fans complaining to bring back the Honey Bears
At least the year will probably wind up with a 7-9 record
Instead of 6-10 going by what a lot of us were expecting before last weeks game.
Hopefully Turner will be gone shortly after this season ends.
Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan.
I can't stand band-wagoner fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad.
Aroma had more yards than the lions qb
this better be a win but our chances are decreased with no Izzy
Well Looks like Aromashodu will not start Vs lions.....
Two Devins, wow: Devin Hester was removed from the injury report Friday as he has healed from his left calf muscle pull. It’s expected he will start Sunday at Detroit and that would put Aromashodu in a backup role behind him. The coaches aren’t going to bench Hester and send him into the offseason on a negative note.
Aromashodu should get quality playing time. In the last three games, he has 17 receptions, 236 yards and two touchdowns. Over a full season, that production would be 91 catches for 1,259 yards and 11 scores.
"You want cheerleaders? Bah you have the Bears drumline that should be good enough for ya! If ya don't like that you can bite me!"
- Virginia McCaskey to fans complaining to bring back the Honey Bears
Because letting Aromashodu start would be admitting his talents weren't recognized earlier?
Prolly right there. Sometimes changing your mind in the face of new evidence is a GOOD THING, coaches!
May the wind be always at your back, and may your placekicker have icewater in his veins.
Actually the reason given on radio
is that DA and Hester play the same position…..and since Turner never really switches personnel around to get the best offensive talent on the field they would have to sit DA or Hester instead of getting them both on the field at the same time….IIRC that is the same excuse they gave when Gage could not get on the field…
"You want cheerleaders? Bah you have the Bears drumline that should be good enough for ya! If ya don't like that you can bite me!"
- Virginia McCaskey to fans complaining to bring back the Honey Bears
And that is the same reason he should be fired.
"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)
.
+1
Roger that!!!
"Coaches who can outline plays on a black board are a dime a dozen. The ones who win get inside their player and motivate." ~Vince Lombardi
by Fire Ron Turner on Jan 2, 2010 2:10 PM CST up reply actions
Are you kidding me?
Just let them both start…
Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan.
I can't stand band-wagoner fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad.
Put Hester back on every kickoff and punt
let’s see if he has anything left in that area of his game. If nothing else, a good return could spark interest from other teams for his services and maybe we could get some draft picks back. Obviously, not a #1, probably not even a two but possibly a couple of mid rounders that we could package another way.
You pretty much know what you have from him as a WR, so why not get a better feel for DA’s abilities so you’re more prepared for the offseason.
by BearFan611 on Jan 2, 2010 10:54 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
Or... a new head coach will make him a full time return man again
"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 say make him a slot reciever and a full time returner
which LB or nickelback is going to cover him and it will make sure that he can return well
SackMan - time for you to put aside your bias
See SackMan
The difference is this…….
Whether the Bears finish 6-10 or 7-9 is irrelevant, but you just want someone held accountable and think it’s all Turners fault.
I recognize where they will finish and just want them to improve in 2010 and I don’t care if that takes a new OC, a new Head Coach, a new GM or if it takes bringing them all back again.
By the way, you conveniently left out one very large piece of the Ron Turner quote on moving Cutler outside of the pocket – the part where he said that they would have liked to have done more of that had if other Defensive fronts would have let them.
Time to stop your bitching and lets all move forward instead of pointing fingers.
I hold the entire coaching staff and management accountable
For making a constant series of bad decisions that has led to three straight seasons without a playoff appearance.
We’re allowed to criticize our favorite teams you know… after all, they deserve the criticism :)
And as for the Turner quote… here’s the full piece
Turner acknowledged the plan was to get Cutler outside the pocket more than they did. In the offseason, he talked about incorporating more movement plays.
He said he veered from the plan in part because of game situations and the styles of defenses the Bears faced — often opponents lined up their ends wide, which makes it more difficult to move the pocket.
Turner took some of the blame, saying he should have called more movement plays.
“There were opportunities we could have done it more and probably should have,” he said.
And what I have to say about that isn’t any nicer. As an offensive coordinator, you want to dictate the game on offense and force the defense to react to you… not the other way around.
Very seldom in his coaching career has he ever accomplished that. And on the rare occasion that he does (running the no-huddle last year comes to mind)… he ends up going away from it way too early. Then, on the following Monday press conference, when asked why we abandoned something was working so well, Lovie Smith will say something idiotic like, “We knew they would eventually stop that.”
Ha. Ha. Ha. Well, Lovie… make them stop it first, before you dump something that is successful. No one in the NFL could stop Devin Hester either… except for Lovie Smith.
"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)
.
That quote box should read
Turner acknowledged the plan was to get Cutler outside the pocket more than they did. In the offseason, he talked about incorporating more movement plays.
He said he veered from the plan in part because of game situations and the styles of defenses the Bears faced — often opponents lined up their ends wide, which makes it more difficult to move the pocket.
Turner took some of the blame, saying he should have called more movement plays.
"There were opportunities we could have done it more and probably should have," he said.
"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)
.
TOMMIE HARRIS YOU BIG DUMB LOSER…… Monday night you played your heart out???? And your going to do the same Sunday? Wow, 2 games you are going to play hard… What about trying to play the 1st 14 games HARD you Moron !!!! , that is why Smith’s job is in jeopardy, because of lazy asses like you, who only plays hard enough to not lose his job (but who should be fired anyway if it were not for bad Mgmt. by the BEARS).
The fact that a BUM like you Tommie says " I know he’ll be back" gives me comfort knoing that Smith probably won’t be Back.
love it...
“the Bears didn’t get the memo that you’re supposed to build a team around your QB. Poor personnel decisions and bad coaching have turned year 1 of the Cutler era into a comedy of errors” best part of this article….you guys should check out this link….
http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d8156bb87&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true
kick returning
is Bennett going to return kickoffs today? With Knox and Manning out anyone know who are we going to have back there?
follow me on twitter for fantasy sports analysis @http://twitter.com/DrewDinkmeyer or get the full analysis at www.fantistics.com
by DartmouthCubsFan on Jan 3, 2010 11:13 AM CST reply actions
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