Thoughts From NFL Week 16: Chicago Bears and Beyond
by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Dec 27, 2010 11:01 AM CST
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With week 16 nearly over (Tuesday Night Football... really?), the playoff seedings are finally falling into place. The AFC has New England locked into the #1 seed, the Chiefs are now the West champs, the Jets are in, and the Steelers and Ravens both have secured a place in the tourney. Only the South is still undecided, and the Colts simply need to win and they're in.
Over in the NFC, the North champion Bears are still alive for a #1 seed, but the Conference leading Falcons control their destiny with just one more win. The East champion Eagles still have a shot at the #2 seed, and that's it. Six teams are still alive for the final three playoff spots.
1) Does it make sense to call the Saturday night game on the NFL Network, a special Saturday night edition of Thursday Night Football?
2) It's long overdue to retire the FOX robot. I'm tired of the running in place, the pointing, the dancing, and the seasonal garb the FOX people dress it in. Does anyone like the robot?
3) When did CBS #1 color analyst Phil Simms get this bad? He achieved the top crew for CBS, he must have been solid at some point.
4) One last CBS tidbit... Can I get some Gus Johnson in the Chicago market once in a while? HAHA!
5) The Carolina Panthers win!!! The Panthers win!!! The 1st pick in the 2011 NFL draft...
6) There's still a chance the NFC West champ will enter the playoffs with a losing record. If the 6-9 Seahawks knock off the 7-8 Rams, they'll be playoff bound.
7) I saw the Mike Singletary firing coming. He'll bounce back and be a head coach again some day, but his best course of action may be to get on a successful staff and soak in some knowledge and work his way to coordinator.
8) One former '85 Bear falls from the coaching ranks... I wonder if Leslie Frazier will get the interim label removed in Minnesota. Then there are the rumors circulating around San Diego about Ron Rivera.
9) Seeing the Giants lose that bad would normally be a fun afternoon, but with the Packers delivering the smackdown it felt more nauseating.
10) Staying with the Packers, they'll be playing for their playoff lives next week. A week 17 game with that much on the line does not look to good for the Bears.
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- A fun dance at weddings but not a fun avatar.
#3—Simms and Nance have always been good—-for a nap.
#7—Agreed. MIke admitted he didn’t always handle things correctly. - & 10—-agreed. GB is a TOUGH game. RoDgers looked invincible.
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.
He looked invincible
But NYG looked equally inept.
If I did what I love for a living, what would I do in my free time?
Writer at windycitygridiron.com {-/-} http://www.twitter.com/kdoggers
that robot
went to war – he got the Congressional Medal of Honor, he saved the lives of every man on that transport…wait that was Harry Bailey. At least they gave him a 34 patch, but otherwise he should’ve not only been retired 5 years ago, but never unveiled in the first place.
I know you're curious Joseph, you're at that age, and you often forget to delete your internet history.
by jimribs on Dec 27, 2010 11:18 AM CST reply actions 2 recs
we beat the pack next week
eliminating them from the playoffs. why would we not go for the bye and the sweep of the division.how many teams have a chance to sweep there division .
answer 3 the bears, the falcons, and the raiders. yup the raiders.
Lou Brown: I'm not much for giving inspirational addresses, but I'd just like to point out that every newspaper in the country has picked us to finish last. The local press seems to think that we'd save everyone the time and trouble if we just went out and shot ourselves. Me, I'm for wasting sportswriters' time. So I figured we ought to hang around for a while and see if we can give 'em all a nice big shitburger to eat!
by LightsOutVegas on Dec 27, 2010 11:28 AM CST reply actions
I think the Bears will play for the win this weekend
They played for the win yesterday and still have work to do to get the first round bye. So, why would they lay down for the division rival Packers when they would have to face them in the 1st round of the playoffs with a loss this weekend. Who thinks we play to win and who thinks we rest the starters at some point? My vote is that the Bears play for the win.
by Stellarpete22 on Dec 27, 2010 11:32 AM CST up reply actions
I know they'll play to win
I just don’t think they can
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 Dec 27, 2010 11:41 AM CST up reply actions
My longtime Cub/Bear/Blackhawk fandom tends to agree with you...
If the only way to eliminate the Packers from the playoffs is to beat them next Sunday, then we had better do it. Rodgers and Brees (to a lesser extent Ryan) scare the hell out of me in playoff scenario. They can pick our defense apart.
you just made ESPNs come on man
the last game of the regular season. the biggest game of the regular season. and you’re gonna say you I dont think they can?
come on lester you got to have more faith then that Come On Man.
Lou Brown: I'm not much for giving inspirational addresses, but I'd just like to point out that every newspaper in the country has picked us to finish last. The local press seems to think that we'd save everyone the time and trouble if we just went out and shot ourselves. Me, I'm for wasting sportswriters' time. So I figured we ought to hang around for a while and see if we can give 'em all a nice big shitburger to eat!
by LightsOutVegas on Dec 27, 2010 11:48 AM CST up reply actions
Faith has nothing to do with it
I’ll cheer on my favorite team, but I think the Packers are better.
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 Dec 27, 2010 1:39 PM CST up reply actions
ok well how about this
i know for a fact the bears will beat the packers. how do i know this. Its a secret and id have to kill you if i told you.
Lou Brown: I'm not much for giving inspirational addresses, but I'd just like to point out that every newspaper in the country has picked us to finish last. The local press seems to think that we'd save everyone the time and trouble if we just went out and shot ourselves. Me, I'm for wasting sportswriters' time. So I figured we ought to hang around for a while and see if we can give 'em all a nice big shitburger to eat!
by LightsOutVegas on Dec 27, 2010 2:37 PM CST up reply actions
Nice!
Someone get my bookie on the phone!
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 Dec 27, 2010 2:58 PM CST up reply actions
How do you know Lights Out isn't your bookie?
And he’s just trying to sucker you into a bet? Huh … HUH?!
I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something. - Dick Butkus
I know the secret and it goes by the name of
Michael Keller Ditka.
Never underestimate the power of Ditka. How many times must I say this. Why are we so blessed??
When the world slips you a Jeffrey, stroke a furry wall.
- Aldous Snow
by Ditkavsworld on Dec 28, 2010 9:28 AM CST up reply actions
COME ON MAN (LESTER)!
The Packers are not a better team than we are. We have a better record and a better D and ST. They have a better O because of the Line and their ridiculous WR. They have 2 # 1’s and 2 # 2’s. They are stacked at WR and they bail out AR a lot. Otherwise, we are better than they are.
ok
If the Bears knock them off Sunday, and hopefully take away their playoff hopes, case will be closed.
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 Dec 27, 2010 8:32 PM CST up reply actions
The Packers have 13 players on IR last time I counted.
If the Packers are better than us then that would not say much for our roster. And didn’t we already play them … and beat them ? I think they’d only lost Finley at that point? Saying they had 19 penalties is not an argument either, we forced those penalties combined with their indiscipline.
Special Teams
This is why the Bears will win on Sunday. BOOK IT!!!
by NorthSideBearsFan on Dec 28, 2010 3:04 PM CST up reply actions
Wilt
you think the Packers are playing too good right now for the Bears to win? I can see that and am very nervous about the game but, think we can definitely win.
by Stellarpete22 on Dec 27, 2010 11:48 AM CST up reply actions
hell yeah
we are going to stuff that fake ass running back they got, and bend but not break to rodgers passing game. ohh and if he thinks hes not getting the bret favre treatment think again. hes just one peppers play away from eating ice.
Lou Brown: I'm not much for giving inspirational addresses, but I'd just like to point out that every newspaper in the country has picked us to finish last. The local press seems to think that we'd save everyone the time and trouble if we just went out and shot ourselves. Me, I'm for wasting sportswriters' time. So I figured we ought to hang around for a while and see if we can give 'em all a nice big shitburger to eat!
by LightsOutVegas on Dec 27, 2010 11:54 AM CST up reply actions
On any given Sunday...
and all that. But the Packers are really good. The Bears need to pressure Rodgers with the front 4 in order to win the game.
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 Dec 27, 2010 1:41 PM CST up reply actions
We must have different thoughts on the current state of the teams...
I thought the Bears were the better team when we played the Pack back in Week 3 I think it was. Yeah, the Pack hurt themselves with penalties in that game, but we hurt ourselves a lot as well including the end zone drop on a 4th down try, the game being pre-Hester resurgence, our OL being much worse, and lots of other areas.
I think I’d be hard pressed to say that the Bears weren’t much better now than they were in Week 3, and we were good enough to win in Week 3. Is Rodgers good? Sure. No one is going to say he isn’t, but I’d rather have Jay. They have some good receivers too, but I’d rather have our receivers as a group than their receivers as a group.
This is a huge rivalry game, and one Lovie will most definitely be “up” for, and hopefully carry over to the team. I can’t thing of a bigger game than to be playing for the bye, the division sweep, and to knock your most hated rival out of the playoffs all in the same game.
Associate Writer - WindyCityGridiron.com - Artist formerly known as Sklz711
The Bears are a better team than they were in week 3
But so are the Packers. And playing in Green Bay in such a meaningful game will be a tough hill to climb. The Bears will need to get front 4 pressure and harass Rodgers. He’s a damn good QB with some damn good weapons. And the run game isn’t as bad as everyone thinks.
Even though I’m completely OK with Cutler quarterbacking in Chicago, at this point in their careers Rodgers is better than him.
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 Dec 27, 2010 8:40 PM CST up reply actions
Yeah...
But we usually make even good run games look somewhat shoddy, let alone mediocre ones.
If Jay has a performance like last week, I don’t even know that it will be close.
Associate Writer - WindyCityGridiron.com - Artist formerly known as Sklz711
Plus, we're getting better ...
…. and missing 13 players has got to mean we beat them. If we don’t … then we play them again in Soldier field, right?
To quote a good Friend of Lovie's...
“You play to win the game!” – Herm Edwards
I think the Bears will be very motivated for Week 17:
1. They can Secure #2 seed.
2. Cutler can “prove” he should be in the same conversation with Rogers.
3. They can eliminate arch rival from playoffs…
4. They can use all the MSM’s “the Packers are the superior team” propaganda to fuel the “lack of respect” fire that we have used pretty well all season.
Unreasonable people make life difficult...
by WisBearsFan34 on Dec 27, 2010 11:46 AM CST up reply actions
And because we can still win the #1 seed int he NFC don't forget ...
…as long as it’s not a 3-way tie with ATL and PHI. Philly must lose a game for us to get #1, ATL must lose out., as must NO.
I dont want to have to play the packers back to back
So we better win this one. I would love to see a win for the 1st round bye.
by Jonathan Heun Jr on Dec 27, 2010 10:06 PM CST up reply actions
The Robot
I actually like the Robot, sometimes, especially with the 34# on the robot.
The best thing about the robot is when the King is out there with him, otherwise I usually just ignore the robot.
Bears. Bulls. White Sox.
Now the King...
that’s some good television
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 Dec 27, 2010 11:42 AM CST up reply actions
I like him too!!
I didn’t think they’d been showing him as much as they had… but I enjoy his antics!
"A lot of fans were drawn to me because they knew that whatever the score was, I was going to run as hard as I could on every play. You don't have that now, you have guys waiting for next week or even next year." - Walter Payton
Editor for WindyCityGridiron.com
by Ashley Czuba on Dec 27, 2010 7:37 PM CST up reply actions
I was rooting for the Pack.
With a Giants loss, all we need now is a Minny win on Tuesday night, and the first round bye is ours. It’s not about what’s best for them, as it is what’s best for us.
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cheekymonkeyart.com | follow me on facebook and twitter
And about that Tuesday night game...
6" of snow… really?!?
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cheekymonkeyart.com | follow me on facebook and twitter
by David Taylor on Dec 27, 2010 11:58 AM CST up reply actions
The thing about the snow
Was the 40 mphs winds, snow coming in sideways, and lightning. Yes, lightning during a snowstorm.
Bears. Bulls. White Sox.
you play in the wind and snow, it's football ffs...
although, I didn’t know it was lightning… how does that happen?
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cheekymonkeyart.com | follow me on facebook and twitter
by David Taylor on Dec 27, 2010 12:18 PM CST up reply actions
Thunder Snow Rocks...
The lightning seems brighter because of the white of the snow reflecting the light…
And the Thunder is extremely loud, because you don’t have the rain deadining the sound…
I’ve only witnessed a few times but it is always awesome!!!
Unreasonable people make life difficult...
by WisBearsFan34 on Dec 27, 2010 12:59 PM CST up reply actions
I live
about 15 minutes east of Philly and we got about 16 inches. I think they should have played anyway, Eagles were probably worried about slipping.
Or maybe the NFL was worried about snow around Eagles fans.
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cheekymonkeyart.com | follow me on facebook and twitter
by David Taylor on Dec 27, 2010 9:07 PM CST up reply actions
Haha yeah....
I didn’t think about that. Eagle’s fans still brag about that from time to time.
by Rjt77 on Dec 27, 2010 11:00 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
Even if we control our own destiny...
I still gotta pull for them on Tuesday, and for the Saints tonight.
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cheekymonkeyart.com | follow me on facebook and twitter
by David Taylor on Dec 27, 2010 12:39 PM CST up reply actions
It's amusing to read columnists discouting the Bears victories...
even the ones against the Packers, Eagles, and Jets. Because, the same things can be said for virtually every other team in the playoff picture.
Football games are most often decided by one or two big plays. That’s it. The margin of victory is often one score. The teams that come up with the big play in the 4th QTR, usually win.
Yes, the Bears W-L record could look very different, with 5 of their wins by less than a TD. But the same can be said for most teams, since nobody is dominating anyone these days, outside of the New England Patriots. The Falcons have won 6 games by less than a TD… there aren’t any writers discounting those victories.
Yet, at the end of the day, the Bears have scored 78 points in the last 8 quarters of football, and are playing for a bye week.
"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)
And funny enough
You don’t hear reporters from Seattle saying, the Seahawks really shouldn’t have beaten the Bears. So that should count as a loss, or ditto for Washington.
Yes, the Bears could be 6-9 or 5-10 right now… but so could the Falcons. The fact that they’ve found ways to win close games makes them a playoff team. In the end, good teams find a way to win.
"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)
To be fair
I see just as much “hate” if you will on atl as well…..I see people constantly picking the eagles or packers winning the NFC (with a few saints picks) than I see people picking The Bears or falcons…..
I want history to erase his every achievement.....I want him to feel the disgust in the bronco fans eyes when they look on him in shame....
- Jay Cutler on josh mcdaniels firing
by CloudyFuture on Dec 27, 2010 12:44 PM CST up reply actions
With the Falcons they just aren't seen as all that great by the media.
But with the Bears just full blown, dissmissal of beating good opponents making up excuses and still ripping us even when we win. and a hatred of Jay with a PASSION.
I.e Guy Jon Richie
(Sing song)...Everybody Hates Rondo...
I wonder if those guys would be talking that same old shit..
If we had won the Seattle and Washington Games. Now the Bears would be 13-2 and sitting at the top of the NFC..
"We didn't play our best game, and we won. That's got to be a good sign.'' - Jay Cutler
by Claudio Oliveira on Dec 27, 2010 12:52 PM CST up reply actions
No, they'd just say
“BUT BUT BUT … DETROIT GAME!!! You shouldn’t have won that! That wasn’t right’ yadda yadda yadda
I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something. - Dick Butkus
These so-called "experts"
are the same ones that focused a lot of energy and talk over the comebacks of the Cowboys and the Vikings because they were supposed to be good. The only other team that is comparable is the Chiefs because the experts assumed the Chargers would overtake them in the end and were again wrong.
Predictions are fun and all but I’ll take the actual win-loss record over perceived talent every time.
#2
Amen! I have been saying that for a couple of years now. That thing has been around forever and it is annoying as hell.
"Stop being a troll." - Mr MaLoR
Well knowing both Lovie and the Bears/Packers rivalry
We will be playing for the win. Not only is this game for braging rights and a chance at history, but also we win and we get a bye. That is extreamly important for any super bowl run.
by Erik Christopher Duerrwaechter on Dec 27, 2010 12:22 PM CST reply actions
AND BEYOND!
I’m uneasy! Just because we played a game where the soft turf favored both teams’ offensive lines doesn’t mean that our offensive line woes are gone. They’re still there and on a decent field (like Lambeau’s DD Grassmaster surface) they’ll become more apparent.
But here’s a bigger, longer term concern-our defensive scheme. A smart, patient QB (like Brady or Rodgers) will just rip it apart. A defense which plays soft and eventually relies upon the offense making a mistake is only going to take you so far. Wouldn’t it be far better if we had a scheme that’s more aggressive and more unpredictable? A defense which actually tries to impose its will on the offense? Said another way, a defense which employs a 3-4 scheme!
Check it out! For the past several years, far more 3-4 teams have been in the top 10 defensive teams than 4-3 teams!
We’re missing the boat! As long as Lovie is coach and keeps us in a soft 4-3, we’re only going to enjoy minimal success (maybe in the playoffs because the offense is starting to come around but certainly not the brass ring. There are too many patient, smart QB’s in the playoffs.)
Like the Bull’s in the 90’s (Jackson over Collins) and the Blackhawks last season (Quenville over Savard), we need to make a coaching change that can get us from point B to point C-sustained defensive excellence.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen anytime soon. The Bears will probably give Lovie another long term contract and we’ll be stuck with this type of defense for several more years. What’s wrong with making decisions that will give you a better chance of winning and getting to the Super Bowl?
The defensive alignment has absolutely nothing to do with aggressiveness.
The Ravens are great example of that: they have switched back and forth from 4-3 to 3-4 over the years, and still maintain their defensive strength based on personnel and aggressive play calling.
Just because you’re in a 3-4, doesn’t mean you’re playing an aggressive front. The Jets are perhaps the most aggressive, attacking defense in the league, blitzing out of the Ryan’s modern 46.
The Cowboys play a 3-4, and their defense sucks, because of personnel.
"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)
3-4 AGGRESSIVENESS
With all things being equal in terms of personnel, the 3-4 gives you a greater element of surprise and aggressiveness on the blitz. Because of the extra linebacker, there’s more blitzing (you never know who’s coming and when they’re coming). This is a far more aggressive approach than dropping back into a zone.
I agree with you in that a 4-3 can be aggressive, but just not as aggressive as a 3-4 allows you to me.
You can’t argue with the facts. How come in the past several years 7 to 8 of the top 10 defensive teams in terms of points allowed (or not allowed) are 3-4 teams?
I just throw up every time I see the linebackers dropping and the cornerbacks playing 10 yards off the line. As a long yardage prevent defense-maybe. As a standard MO in the hope that you don’t give up the big one & then hope that the offense makes a mistake somewhere along the line-YUK!
The most aggressive defensive scheme in the history of the NFL is a 4-3 front
The Bears 46 D. Which is being used now by Buddy Ryan’s son.
The alignment of a defense has absolutely nothing to do with aggressiveness. Teams can play a 3-4 and sit back in zone coverage too, if they choose.
Stop complaining about the Bears playing a 4-3. Direct your complaints to the lack of aggressive play calling… not the front.
"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)
well said, SackMan
"I am a sinner who does not expect forgiveness. But I am not a government official." - Francis Wolcott
OK, MORE AGGRESSIVENESS WHICH A 3-4 WILL HELP PROMOTE
OK,as you have pointed out, I guess what I’m really trying to say is that I think the Bears need to be more aggressive in their defensive playcalling. But I’m also saying that a 3-4, with it’s unpredictability and more blitzing, would allow you to truly call a more aggressive game.
I’m sure you’ll be watching the Bears-Packers game this weekend. Watch how the Packers will give you a different look & a different blitz package with each play and watch how the corners will play up on the receivers because they know the extra pressure of an unexpected blitz will cause the ball to come out quicker & probably with less accuracy.
Sackman, let’s match notes and opinions after the game. Odds are, I’ll still be complaining about the Bears playing a 4-3 because it limits their ability to call a truly aggressive game. But, you’re right,-it’s Lovie and the lack of aggressive play calling more than the scheme.
If we really want to optimize our chances of getting through the playoffs to the brass ring, we’ve got to get rid of Lovie and, IMO, bring in a qualified & experienced 3-4 proponent. The Bulls and Blackhawks made this type of coaching move (move to more open, knowledgeable coaches). The Bears should also do this.
PS It was nice reading about Buddy Ryan & the 46 again. Remember, “with all things being equal with personnel”. The 85 Bears had superior personnel.
A 3-4 is no more unpredictable than a 4-3
A blitz design, is a blitz design… in any scheme. And a blitz is designed to be deceptive to the QB. You can throw a parade down State Street for a 3-4 if you want, but please realize it has absolutely nothing to do with aggressive play calling.
Certain teams playing the 3-4, have actually created major disadvantages to themselves… as it’s difficult to roster enough versatile LBs to play the scheme with excellence. On top of blitzing, you’re asking LBs to sometimes put their hand down and rush like a lineman, or are drop back into coverage to match with a RB, TE, or slot WR. Teams without the proper talent get victimized over and over again in mismatches. Watch a Denver Bronco game.
Watch how the Packers will give you a different look & a different blitz package with each play and watch how the corners will play up on the receivers because they know the extra pressure of an unexpected blitz will cause the ball to come out quicker & probably with less accuracy.
Did you watch the Bears-Jets game? Did you notice the Jets man coverage locked onto the Bears WRs, as they blitzed? Did you notice what happened in the second half of the game, as the Bears adjusted and burned the man coverage for 3 long TD passes? I’d wager you would’ve been throwing things at the TV if you were a Jets fan.
The Packers have found themselves a great 3-4 LB in Clay Matthews. The best 3-4 LB of All-Time was Lawrence Taylor. These guys don’t grow on trees, they’re superstars who fool people like yourselves into thinking that the 3-4 is better than tits.
Just because you play a 3-4, doesn’t automatically make you an aggressive defense, setting the tone or pace of the game. Playcalling dictates that. And yes, it’s fun to watch the Steelers play defense… they hit hard as hell, play very aggressive, and try to set the tone and make the offense react to them.
The Bears are the polar opposite, they play passively, and bait the offense into making mistakes. It may not be what you, or even I prefer to play, but it’s no coincidence that Lovie’s team leads the NFL in forced turnovers over his tenure as Bears HC. They excel at it.
"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)
Two things:
The Bears are the polar opposite, they play passively, and bait the offense into making mistakes. It may not be what you, or even I prefer to play, but it’s no coincidence that Lovie’s team leads the NFL in forced turnovers over his tenure as Bears HC. They excel at it.
SackMan is absolutely dead on, when you think of ‘aggressive’ you think of opportunistic plays, sacks, TFL’s and plenty of blitzing. Passive, really though, is much tthe same, just a different form of control. You’ll see many more incompletions, decreased passer ratings, sacks, and yes, interceptions, because trying to force a ball into tight coverage (which, for all intensive purposes, the tampa 2 shell is ‘tight coverage’) doesn’t always work. You see tipped passes, but it’s a different style, let your d-line have at it if you have faith in them (which, the way the DLine has been playing, you should), let them set the pressure clock, and let the offense play around it.
Essentially it’s ‘control’ vs. ‘playmaking’. An analogy on the offence would be like the guy that gets 3.5 yards every touch, and the one who gets stuffed quite a bit but can break free for 80 yards every so often. Which one is better?
The giants and rams and packers may rack up the sack numbers, does it mean they have better defences? Just food for thought. What are the metrics that define an ‘aggressive’ defence over a ‘passive’ defence. I think that many people don’t actually believe that passive defences work (like Atlanta and New England to name two).
Second point. Nosmo, I think you fail to recognize the qualities of a 3-4 vs a 4-3. In places like Dallas (albeit not a great example) or Miami (same again)… they generally run a 3-4 phillips style defence, which, in turn has 1 main pass rusher who often ends up play defensive fronts much like a 4-3, but with a stand up OLB. The Bears (and most 4-3 teams) play one gap schemes on their DL where the line penetrates just like some 3-4 teams… the DL aren’t just ‘space hoggers’ that free up the linebackers to make plays, they’re actual gap busting playmakers themselves. When we talk about ‘being aggressive’, I think you’re referring to the front seven, of which the front seven in both some 3-4 defences and 4-3 defences play similarly, and by ‘aggressive’ you mean blitzing. If you’re looking for the Bears to be a team that blitzes more, confuses teams, I ask you, what more do you expect the defence to do as a whole? What more can this defence accomplish that it hasn’t already?
Five foot three seems to thrive on his misery...
by awfullyquiet on Dec 27, 2010 5:01 PM CST up reply actions
Furthermore.... the Bears were among the top blitzing teams in the league
In the past two years, pre-Peppers. They blitzed on more snaps than almost every team in football, because they were failing to get pressure from the front four.
"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)
The formation in which the teams runs it's base D from
has nothing to do with the pressure it generates… The Packers run a 3-4 D and use a zone blitz scheme, a 4-3 team could run a similar scheme if it has versatile defensive linemen. The Giants run a Cover 2 scheme from a 4-3 look and bring a lot of different looks and are atop the league in sacks at 44. The Rams run the same attacking 4-3 D as the SB Giants did a few years back and have 43 sacks.
The Packers give a lot of looks, but on most every obvious passing situation Matthews is lined up to rush the passer on the offensives right side. Nothing fancy about that.
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 Dec 27, 2010 3:39 PM CST up reply actions
Giants leading the league in sacks is misleading....
they caught us when we had 3 swinging gates, a mailbox post and Kruetz playing o-line. They don’t get all those sacks against us again. Maybe they get 3-4, but not 10-12.
They got an overrated D imo
Nobody except for maybe Antrel Rolle and the D line really impress me
(Sing song)...Everybody Hates Rondo...
Sooo
Rod Marinelli > perry fewell ?……
Remember when fewell took that job over the Bears because he thought that was the “safer” job…..Wonder if he regrets that one now……Course wonder if the Bears implode against the eagles with fewell as DC…..Ah what ifs….Fun game…..
I want history to erase his every achievement.....I want him to feel the disgust in the bronco fans eyes when they look on him in shame....
- Jay Cutler on josh mcdaniels firing
by CloudyFuture on Dec 27, 2010 4:09 PM CST up reply actions
Well... the Bears don't have the pass rushing talent
That the Giants have.
Marinelli sure looked great when he was coaching Warren Sapp and Simeon Rice. They’ll make any coach look great.
"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)
So you agree
……
I want history to erase his every achievement.....I want him to feel the disgust in the bronco fans eyes when they look on him in shame....
- Jay Cutler on josh mcdaniels firing
by CloudyFuture on Dec 27, 2010 5:08 PM CST up reply actions
Quite the contradictory post
Interesting how you bring up the 46 defense in a post with the premise that a 3-4 defense is more aggressive than a 4-3. The 46 was a 4-3 defense and probably the most aggressive defense ever concocted. It is not about the set up, it is about the play calling.
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 Dec 28, 2010 9:01 AM CST up reply actions
The Eagles under Jim Johnson had a very aggressive 4-3
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 Dec 28, 2010 10:10 AM CST up reply actions
And, if you throw up everytime you see linebackers dropping backin coverage
Then you’ll have your face stuck in a garbage can for the entire football game, if you’re watching a 3-4 defense… because that’s what LBs are asked to do: play coverage, when they’re not rushing.
"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)
the botonm 12
teams in points allowed this season are 3-4 teams…
┌∩┐(•_•)┌∩┐
by Tommy Ohyeah Mcduffie on Dec 27, 2010 1:20 PM CST up reply actions
Kind of have to look at a few things
First, with so many teams switching to 3-4s, the prototypical DE (Peppers, Cole, Freeney) are being replaced by those prototypical OLBs (any LB from USC (Matthews, Cushing, Malaugau(sp?), Dumervil, Ware, etc.. etc…).
Basically the 3-4 right now is going through a talent drain on those OLBs and even NTs and 3-4 ends (Ngata, Ratliff, Shaun Ellis of the Jets), leaving a lot of teams with a lot less talent to run the 3-4 (Bills, Broncos, Redskins, Packers to name a few).
Eventually the pendulum will swing again.
Bears. Bulls. White Sox.
great point
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 Dec 27, 2010 1:47 PM CST up reply actions
The Voiss
thank you
the truth have been spoken
┌∩┐(•_•)┌∩┐
by Tommy Ohyeah Mcduffie on Dec 27, 2010 2:08 PM CST up reply actions
We just need to acquire some..
better CB and we will be able to play more press coverage and still fall into our zone. Which will give the front four more time to get to the passer.
the problem is
to get a better press you need bigger naturally slower corners, if they get beat in press coverage its harder for them to pursue.
I respect your OPINION but i also value the FACTS, To save time, lets just ASSume IM NEVER WRONG
by Tommy Ohyeah Mcduffie on Dec 31, 2010 10:13 AM CST up reply actions
Well
1 – Ya have to agree with you there. Thought it was pretty dumb on their part
2 – Ya Fox has to change that I think. Though I wonder if they will since its like their mascot
3 – Havent had a chance to listen to CBS yet (will when I have to record the game). Listen to the radio broadcast even if its lagged by 2 plays cause what can beat Joniak’s “Fade to black” call or Thayer screaming “BALL! BALL!!”
4 – Hear alot about this gus johnson guy. Though I dont really care about some announcers his name being brought up constantly makes me curious
5 – With the first pick in the 2011 NFL draft the carolina panthers select Andrew Luck QB from stanford. What hes staying in school sonava……
6 – Although I had hoped for the NFC west team to go in as 7 – 9 champs I am pulling for the rams sun now
7 – Ah Singletary. Well no one can say they are surprised. However he has got to reinvent himself and I dont think he can do it. Cant get into near fist fights with your starting QBs on the sidelines during games. Add in the fact that san fran wanted to make this change ealier in the year but didnt want to ruin a shot at the playoffs (according to mort) because players were turned off to his style of coaching and thats not good. The days of screaming at players and sticking fingers in their faces or poking / grabbing them is ovah
8 – Gotta think this is the year rivera gets a HC gig. Know he was mentioned for the denver job and know some charger fans want him as HC now
9 – What amazed me is tuning into the national shows the lead story was the nyg packer game and how the packers destroyed them little on everything else. Bleh
10 – Gotta agree. Hope vikes pull off the upset on tues cause takes a lot of pressure off the Bears. Plus well I would LOVE to see THE Todd Collins start another game for the Bears.
I want history to erase his every achievement.....I want him to feel the disgust in the bronco fans eyes when they look on him in shame....
- Jay Cutler on josh mcdaniels firing
agree with Cloudy Future re Singletary
it is highly likely he will never be a successful head coach in the NFL, since the very traits that made him a GREAT linebacker work against him as a head coach.
"I am a sinner who does not expect forgiveness. But I am not a government official." - Francis Wolcott
click the link I added after the Gus Johnson comment
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 Dec 27, 2010 1:47 PM CST up reply actions
that robot is so badass
but i like to imagine all football players are robots. makes them seem cooler
BTW... comgrats to Detroit on their 3 straight win.
and back to back on the road.
They actually might not finish in last place this year.
"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)
They've been in a lot of close games all year
If they can keep Stafford healthy, they may contend for the NFC North next year.
Pardon the interruption, but I want to introduce myself.
Up until the past previous two years, I haven’t claimed a NFL team – I’m from Alabama & Bama & Auburn are king down here (but I do love college football). I’m also a Vanderbilt alum – Cutler was one year ahead of me, I’m just a couple of years older than Bennett & DJ Moore & the same age as Chris Williams) – you get my drift. So it’s not just my love for players from my own alma mater that makes me love y’all so much – it’s also the exhilarating fans that are, well, pretty much bad ass. Thanks for cheering on my favorite players & let’s kick some ass!
Wearing the orange in blue in the deep south, and it ain’t for Auburn!
"There are going to be days when you think you've got no more to give and then you're going to give plenty more. You are going to have pride and class. You are going to be very special. You are going to win the national championship for the University of Alabama." - Coach Paul Bear Bryant
Welcome to Bears fandom!
"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)
welcome!
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 Dec 27, 2010 1:48 PM CST up reply actions
Thanks for the Welcome!
Here’s hoping for a smack-down in Green Bay!
"There are going to be days when you think you've got no more to give and then you're going to give plenty more. You are going to have pride and class. You are going to be very special. You are going to win the national championship for the University of Alabama." - Coach Paul Bear Bryant
Ah
Missed all the great debates then…..Like Bennett is to dumb to learn ron turners playbook thus he is a bust…..Or DJ Moore is to short thus it was Angelo reaching for a bad corner and another horrible Angelo pick….Or Jay Cutler is no kyle orton, will never be a winner, and cant read defense…..Or CWilliams is….Well you havent / wont miss CWilliams stuff now so….Ya…..you still got that I guess…..
Anyways welcome…..And something something florida football…..I dunno I got nothing…..
I want history to erase his every achievement.....I want him to feel the disgust in the bronco fans eyes when they look on him in shame....
- Jay Cutler on josh mcdaniels firing
by CloudyFuture on Dec 27, 2010 4:17 PM CST up reply actions
Welcome to the family!
:]
"A lot of fans were drawn to me because they knew that whatever the score was, I was going to run as hard as I could on every play. You don't have that now, you have guys waiting for next week or even next year." - Walter Payton
Editor for WindyCityGridiron.com
by Ashley Czuba on Dec 27, 2010 7:39 PM CST up reply actions
Or the famdamily.....
If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny.
I remain a pessimistically hopeful Bears fan.
We put the "fun"
in dysfunctional! :P
"A lot of fans were drawn to me because they knew that whatever the score was, I was going to run as hard as I could on every play. You don't have that now, you have guys waiting for next week or even next year." - Walter Payton
Editor for WindyCityGridiron.com
by Ashley Czuba on Dec 28, 2010 8:53 PM CST up reply actions
We have to beat the Packers next week
Thing is, i just don’t want to see them in the Playoffs, I would much rather see the Giants. Green bay just has x factor it seems when everyone counts them out, they step up. I believe we can beat them of course, but i would rest easier if i knew they wern’t going to the Playoffs.
by Chitownproduct on Dec 27, 2010 12:53 PM CST reply actions
Well...
If the Giants keep imploding, and we beat the Packers next week, the Bucs have the best chance for the 6th seed. And honestly, out of the Giants Packers and Bucs, I’m afraid of the Bucs the most because of very unfamiliarity. But I’d pull to face the Bucs the most because of the relative inexperience of a lot of their key position players.
Bears. Bulls. White Sox.
Bucs
don’t scare me because like you said, the inexperienced young team. They also haven’t really beaten any of the good teams this year. They seemed to have lost the “tough” games and won the easy ones. Let’s beat the Pack and hope for a Giants loss! haha
by Stellarpete22 on Dec 27, 2010 1:14 PM CST up reply actions
I know it's cliche but it's also very difficult to beat the same team 3 times in a season...
Also, I’d much rather go up against Eli than Rodgers, although if he’s on his game, Eli can put some numbers up too.
I believe in this theory too
although in order to play the Packers 3 times we would have to lose next week meaning we can still only beat them 2 times this year. I’d rather face a new team like the Bucs than face a team we’ve already played in the regular season. exception: Seahawks haha
by Stellarpete22 on Dec 27, 2010 2:09 PM CST up reply actions
You're righ, math was never my strong subject...
of course, now that I think about it, I didn’t have any strong subjects.
It's all good
I understood your main point—not wanting to face a common foe too often in the same season, especially the playoffs. ie: Carolina Panthers/ Bears 2004.
by Stellarpete22 on Dec 27, 2010 2:28 PM CST up reply actions
sunday's game
Absolutely have to play to win the game. The perfect record in the North is on the line here too and I’d hate to lose the perfect record because we rested certain guys. (Min in 05) Need to have positive momentum going into the playoffs.
After thinking about it, though, if Philly loses tomorrow, and assuming the Falcons lock up the 1st seed,
we automatically have the #2, I think you have to disregard the NFC North sweep argument. Can you imagine what would happen if Cutler, Peppers, Urlacher, and/or Briggs were seriously injured in a game that really meant nothing more than bragging rights?
It’s the playoff games that matter at that point.
If that happens 4 words
THE Todd Collins starter…..Oh ya……
I want history to erase his every achievement.....I want him to feel the disgust in the bronco fans eyes when they look on him in shame....
- Jay Cutler on josh mcdaniels firing
by CloudyFuture on Dec 27, 2010 4:59 PM CST up reply actions
Fisher HATES the Cowboys
"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)
Not if they
are willing to pay you millions of dollars…..Think that will soften the hate…..Besides from what I understand Fisher and jjones are friends or something (some type of connection) cause they always mention that down here……
I want history to erase his every achievement.....I want him to feel the disgust in the bronco fans eyes when they look on him in shame....
- Jay Cutler on josh mcdaniels firing
by CloudyFuture on Dec 27, 2010 5:09 PM CST up reply actions
Only 4 games to go until we are SuperBowl champs
by DaHamsta on Dec 27, 2010 5:23 PM CST reply actions 4 recs
The Robot actually has a name--
It’s "Cleat-us"….
Get it! Get it!?!?
….yea he sucks.
You must have me confused with someone else, I have never been to Chicago.
[whispers] I sexually assaulted Scottie Pippen in 1997.
Gus Johnson should get more of the big name games
Dilfer was being a Dilfer today too on NFL Live. When the one guy was talking about how well Cutler played it looked like he was shaking his head in anger.
Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan [I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].
I can't stand fair-weather/bandwagon fans, stick with your team(s), throughout the good and the bad. And don't switch to whichever team wins the Super Bowl each year.
It's because...
Guys like he and Hasselbeck were never good QB’s with the physical tools that Jay has. So they had to work hard on the fundamentals to make up for their lack of ability and to me that bothers them. The guy can make any throw back pedaling and they needed perfection in order for them to make those same throws. Asides from that they have no reason to hate. They need to understand that Jay’s mechanics have worsened because of the constant pressure. At the beginning of the season Jay was dropping back like a “normal” QB but the more he got hammered the more he got skittish. In the offseason I can guarantee Martz will work on Jay’s footwork because he is a known stickler for that.
by frenchbears113 on Dec 27, 2010 5:58 PM CST up reply actions
I'm new here...
and I make question of making my first words here “Dilfer is a massive tool”. Now that Singletary is out of work, is an actually likable guy who is honest and straightforward , could ESPN get him on board and get rid of mr. “game manager” ?
(won’t go on further since it’s not an open thread)
also, Ditka.
Welcome
You have learned well, the Ditka at the end is classic. But, I think Singletary is probably going to find another coaching job and we will probably have to continue through the pain that is Dilfer.
Like someone mentioned above, I also have my doubts Singletary’s style will fit with many teams. Of course, there’s probably some GM thinking his team lacks discipline, and Mike could be the man to straighten them up, but after this season, it might take a few years until he’s back at HC somewhere in the league.
But then again, Ron Turner got a job at the Colts, so things won’t always make sense.
Singletary has to pick his spots for the in your face stuff
Let the assistants do that stuff during the game, and he can have practice and meetings for that.
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 Dec 27, 2010 10:01 PM CST up reply actions
Welcome!
Singletary would be a good in studio guy, I like his passion.
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 Dec 27, 2010 8:35 PM CST up reply actions
So now, if the Eagles
Win the next two ( which is probable), will the MSM say they got lucky facing two 3rd string QB’s in a row?
2 reasons why to beat packers next week
1. If we lose we meet them again in the wild card(no.3 vs no.6). Back to back games against packers not good for confidence especially after a loss.
2.It will be awesome to lay to rest the GB playoff run.
just some thoughts
R Davis is playing some headsup ball, he is going to turn dropapotomus into a term of endearment.
I understand Lester’s point of view, I think its going to be a tough game and if we get the turnovers we can win.
. "Most football teams are temperamental. That's 90% temper and 10% mental."
--Doug Plank
I hate
The f%*#ing robot. Everytime he does the electric slide I want to throw a beer bottle through my tv.
by Rjt77 on Dec 27, 2010 11:13 PM CST via mobile reply actions
give the robot Tilfer's job
. "Most football teams are temperamental. That's 90% temper and 10% mental."
--Doug Plank
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