WCG Match-Up Post: Grades and Reviews for Week 11
by Dominique Blanton on Nov 23, 2010 7:00 PM CST
in Game Recap
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PrintNot a spectacular performance from the offense, but given that it was a short week with little time for preparation you can understand. Yes, the Bears didn't put up the big offensive numbers last Thursday against the Dolphins, but they did some good things that might pay big dividends in this Sunday's big game against the Eagles. One, they dominated the time of possession which played a key part in the defense dominance. Two, they converted on third downs which wore down the Miami defense. Three, the offense did a solid job on blitz recognition and have proven coming off the bye they have improved in that area. I expected a low scoring game and the offense leaning on the defense and special teams to play a big part in winning the game. With 10 days to prepare for the Eagles defense, if the Bears can again dominate time of possession and have great success on 3rd downs, they should beat the Eagles and beat them big.
Offensive Line vs. the Blitz: Grade C
Average to above average at best. The line will have to turn it up a notch this Sunday against an Eagles defense that will blitz and blitz often. Last Thursday there were some blown assignments on the offensive line, and when they did pick up the blitz it wasn't pretty. Struggling for most of that night Thursday, J'Marcus Webb will be a marked man in the Eagles defensive film room. It will be interesting to see how Martz and Tice game plan to keep the Eagles from exposing him.
Jay Cutler vs. the Blitz: Grade B
Whenever you are 10/18 on third down conversions, you have to think the QB did a pretty good job at handling the blitz. Jay was so successful with the blitz that Miami reverted to rushing 3 and dropping 8 into coverage. The only bad play from Cutler was him holding on to the football too long on an attempted screen pass which resulted in him getting blasted by a blitzing Miami linebacker.
Wide Receivers vs. the Blitz: Grade B
The Bears receivers did a good job helping out the line and Cutler by executing their hot routes. Johnny Knox, Earl Bennett, and Devin Hester all understand their assignments on hot reads for the most part throughout the game. This is encouraging for fans as the Bears will face more teams like the Dolphins who love to blitz. Look for a guy like Earl Bennett to have some pretty good numbers in these final 6 games.
Tight Ends and Running Backs vs. the Blitz: Grade B-
I felt the tight ends, specifically Greg Olsen, had one of the better games this season as far as blitz recognition is concerned. Olsen is really improving as a blocker this season and is turning into a complete tight end in this league. It's not a coincidence that you see Olsen being more productive in the passing offense than in weeks past; considering now opposing defenses have to respect Olsen in pass protection. Brandon Manumaleuna also had a good game with containment on the outside. He lost some of it during times in the game, but he was overall solid in blitz recognition. Running backs overall were okay in blitz recognition with most of the props going to Taylor.
Best Play: Late in the 2nd half on 3rd and 5, Cutler finds Knox on a quick slant for one of the many 3rd down conversions that night. What made this play happen was the line successfully picking up their assignments, Taylor blasting the blitzing defensive back that was coming from the outside, and Knox who runs a quick hot route to get open. This play definitely showed that the offense is getting more comfortable and showing a lot of growth since that Seahawks game.
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A bit low
But it makes sense, Webb had a bad day and the offense didn’t score much, but they had the ball forever. That was integral in the shutout.
I saw the time of possession discrepancy and did a double-take. It’s like one of my blowout victories in Madden!
"44 years of football history and nothing to show for it. I wish I wasn’t banned at the Norseman.." - tfrabotta
"Fellas, what are they, unblockable? Is that the '85 Bears over there?" - Tom Coughlin, Giants '06 training camp
~~~ Check my profile for links for SB20 and America's Game: '85 Bears ~~~
Madden 07 on a PS2 that a friend gave me when he upgraded to a PS3 (I’m not normally a big console gamer). Had a 3-turnover play just the other night… Rex threw an interception, forced a fumble when he tackled the CB who was threatening to take it back all the way, recovered it, and was then tackled by said CB who forced him to fumble. Luckily the ball went out of bounds so I kept it. Sex Cannon as my QB is endlessly entertaining :-D
"44 years of football history and nothing to show for it. I wish I wasn’t banned at the Norseman.." - tfrabotta
"Fellas, what are they, unblockable? Is that the '85 Bears over there?" - Tom Coughlin, Giants '06 training camp
~~~ Check my profile for links for SB20 and America's Game: '85 Bears ~~~
Cameron Wake is a good player
He’s been getting sacks and pressure all season long
If you go in the bathroom, turn off the lights, and say "Da Coach" 5 times while facing the mirror... Ditka will appear and slap the wussy right out of you.
by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Nov 24, 2010 10:19 AM CST up reply actions
I think I remember before the Bears game he was listed at #2
in sacks behind some bozo in Green Bay.
They better give J-Webb some help on Sunday
Yeah, he’s athletic, but he’s not technically consistent and he got ABUSED by a good DE. I was surprised they left him alone so much in the first half of the Miami game. This will NOT do against the Eagles.
by NorthSideBearsFan on Nov 23, 2010 8:08 PM CST reply actions
He literally is as raw as it gets for a OL with experience.
I don’t say this as a bad thing, but as the truth. He moved from TE to OL in his second year at HS. He academically washed out of Texas, went to a CC, then went to Texas A&M if memory serves. Basically that means very little consistence in his coaching, and a whole lot of getting him ready to play on a different line ASAP.
It also kind of upsets me every time we see a guy like Webb not only starting, but struggling at times and a guy like Tony Washington is still unable to find a spot even on a practice squad when he was a better player at the same position in the same conference with better intangibles on the field when it comes to work ethic, and intelligence while having a very similar build.
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by Jacob Hayes on Nov 23, 2010 8:45 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Ladies & Gentlemen...
The Eagle D does not really scare me as long as we continue with the same offensive plan. Our D should be able to contain Vick like we used to do. We need to make him scramble to his right. He does not like to pass rolling to his right.
Great job as always.
I find these grades to be spot on. The offensive line played the way they should. The receivers were playing better and the running game was above par. I also agree with Mandingo54. Force Vick to his right, I’ll add have Urlacher shadow him everywhere and this game could be win-able. This next one will really test our mettle.
If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny.
I remain a pessimistically hopeful Bears fan.
Having Urlacher or someone else spy" on Vick is exactly what they want
…That basically takes that player out of anything else that is going on, and in Urlacher’s case one of our best. I think rather than put a spy on Vick we simply need to play our game. Pressure with the front four and observing gap discipline. Lay the wood to Vick whenever possible, even if it results in one or two roughing the passer penalties, but make it count – put the hurt on him. I agree, force Vick ro move to his right, but watch out for him cutting back against the grain. D will have to play smart, tactical defense.
"I am a sinner who does not expect forgiveness. But I am not a government official." - Francis Wolcott
We also have to force him to try to drive down the field instead of big plays.
We might see more Major Wright this Sunday as he has the range to keep up with Jackson and Maclin.
by Dominique Blanton on Nov 23, 2010 10:31 PM CST up reply actions
I think the key to this will be Peppers and Izzy holding the edges on their rushes...
if Vick gets outside consistantly, it could be a long night. That, obviously, means that Matt T., Tommie, and AA have to get some push up the middle to keep him honest. Based on most of the games this year, one or two mistakes by either team could be the difference so the Bears have to “play fast”, as Urlacher likes to say, but also be disciplined in their assignments.
Absolutely.
The DE’s can’t play too aggressive, but the DT’s have to make all of the right moves and break the pocket.
It’s hard covering someone who not only seems to have godlike speed as a quarterback and the ability to fit through infinitely small seams under pressure.
Five foot three seems to thrive on his misery...
by awfullyquiet on Nov 24, 2010 11:01 AM CST up reply actions
The Eagles are +15 in turnovers
we need to win that battle if we want to win the game.
. "Most football teams are temperamental. That's 90% temper and 10% mental."
--Doug Plank
While I certainly do not disagree
saying you have to win the turnover battle is almost as insightful as saying you have to score more points.
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Nov 24, 2010 8:13 AM CST up reply actions
The Bears Defense
will determine whether we win or lose against the Eagles. If they can prevent Mike Vick from making big plays then we will win (and the turnover battle too).
Nice writeup Nique...
The offense played OK and showed signs of continuing improvement across the board against a pretty good Miami D. Let’s face it the offense outscored Miami by 16 points; mostly because the defense pitched a shutout. That being said, the offense now has to step up again and show they can do more than gain enough yards to kick FGs and not commit turnovers. The WRs need to make some plays…even when the ball isn’t thrown perfectly. I can think back to the Hester drop in the endzone and wonder when he and Knox are going to start impressing with more than speed on offense. It’s great to see Knox get open on a broken down pocket with Cutler rolling out, but he needs to get open on his designed routes better. Forte improved on his blocking, now he needs to continue hitting the hole quickly so he has a chance to break it to the outside PAST the LOS. The O-line is OK and I don’t know that they can get much better, but if they can keep the QB hits down, Cutler seems best suited to breaking containment and making throws on the run. Cutler will have to stay focused on his mechanics and intensity and just not force EVERY throw. Sometimes he misses on the easy ones, but he and his WRs need to continue to develop their rhythm and rapport. Cutler’s misfires and bad throws can kill the Bears in the next few weeks, so he needs to keep himself under control and throw it away when it’s not there. Martz seems to have come to terms with what he has on the offense and if he can build on these successes, the offense can be more like what he wants to do later on. The match-up with a great (but beatable) Eagles defense will show how much improvement the Bears offense has made. IMO, its going to decide not only the game, but how likely the Bears are to make the playoffs. A loss to the Eagles puts them behind both the Giants and Eagles for a wildcard and adds to 3 conference losses which hurts even more.
IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO FIRE LOVIE (IT'S BACK BABY!)!!!
"There's a fine line between stupid, and clever!"
No doubt that Cutler has to have one of those games like he had late last season against the Vikings.
He and the rest of the offense needs to be efficient this Sunday more then ever. I don’t think you can beat this team with a conservative game plan like they had against the Bills and Dolphins. I would like to see the Receivers take advantage of opportunities when they are there (I.E. The Hester drop in the end zone last Thursday).
by Dominique Blanton on Nov 24, 2010 3:31 PM CST up reply actions
This might sound simple and dumb but...
Instead of having a guy like Brandon Manumaleuna block, since all he really does is block anyway, why not just straight up put another o-lineman out there?
He virtually is just another OLineman...
Honestly, who else would you put out there… Shaffer or Louis? With the money the team paid Manu, they aren’t going to sit him unless someone can come along and replace him.
It was encuraging though to see Kellen Davis worked in a few times in the last few weeks.
that signing confused me at the time
and hasn’t really stopped confusing me since, although he has been better in the past few weeks.
I had never heard of him, but he was touted as one of the best,
if not THE best, blocking TE in the league. But, John ’Moon" mullin made a very good point about blocking TEs: They are only as good as the OL they are working with.
If Manu can’t be used like Martz and Tice would like him to be because of other deficiencies on the OL, then by default it might look like he isn’t being very effective. You’re right about the last few games, and undoubtedly because the OL as a whole has been playing better.
Wasn't he with the Rams when both Lovie and Martz were there?
I think his most recent stint, before coming to the Bears, was with San Diego and when you have Antonio Gates, how much playing time did he actually get?
The point is, I agree with you, I had never really heard of him either and after watching him I just wonder if this was just another “Ram connection” signing like Pace and Archuleta. The Bears coaching staff always call the people they bring in as “one of the best” but not many (Peppers the most obvious exception) turn out that way.
I still am not convinced Rod Marinelli is “the best D-line coach in the NFL”, he didn’t do a whole lot with the group last year and now Peppers would make me look like I knew what I was doing if I was in that position….okay, that was a stretch, but you get the idea.
Marinelli is looking like a great D-Coordinator though.
Props for that.
Playing next to Webb may not be the best thing for your image either (not to continually harp on Webb, it’s his inconsistencies that are maddining).
Five foot three seems to thrive on his misery...
by awfullyquiet on Nov 24, 2010 11:04 AM CST up reply actions
2 keys IMHO
Cutler vs Eagles d-backfield. Pretty solid against the pass & corners have 3 & 7 INT’s this season. #2 is Da Bear’s defense containing Vick running and long pass plays. I think our O-line will be OK both running & passing. The Eagles don’t have the rush ends like previous opponents.
It's 106 miles to Chicago, we have a full tank of gas, 1/2 pack of cigarettes...it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses.
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