The Bears Den: August 12, 2010

by Dane Noble on Aug 12, 2010 7:43 AM CDT in The Bears Den

...two days until real Chicago Bears football!

Larry Mayer's most recent Q/A session with GM Jerry Angelo.

The team is getting ready for (and looking forward to) the game in San Diego.

Brad Biggs brings us up to speed on the offensive line.

Mike Martz speaking up on the progress of the OL.

CWilliams greatly benefitting from going against Peppers.

John "Moon" Mullin updates us from training camp.

Mike Mulligan's take on where progress stands with the team.

ESPN Chicago takes a look at the Safety and LB positions.

How about a Schlereth video preview of the upcoming game at SD.

Jay Glazer courting DE Peppers to do some MMA training with him.

Fantasy analysis of the RB combo of Forte/ Taylor.

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Omiyale

I didn’t realize that Frank had only played left tackle up to this point. From the Biggs article, Omiyale had always played left tackle and this is his first time on the other side. Sounds like an OL case of DMS. Sign a back-up LT to a big contract, make him learn LG (kind of), then switch him to yet another new position, all in under 18 months? I hope Schafer is ready.

What's that? Ah -- Playoffs? Don't talk about -- playoffs?! You kidding me?! Playoffs?! - Jim Mora

by Scully85 on Aug 12, 2010 8:13 AM CDT reply actions

"m-o-o-n"

that spells John Mullin………… :)

in•san•i•ty \in-ˈsa-nə-tē\ noun
1 : The practice of repeating the same action while expecting different results.

by Timothy Hockemeyer on Aug 12, 2010 8:34 AM CDT reply actions

Just came across this story on Randy Moss & his workouts...wow.

Video of it: Link
Article
His workout

wow again.

by Mike Mueller on Aug 12, 2010 9:36 AM CDT reply actions

Martz comments on Omiyale

What I really like about Mike Martz is his ability to “press” a player’s buttons by using the media to his advantage. Saying this:

“He’s not where he needs to be, but he’s so talented and he’s got the ability to be an exceptional right tackle,” Martz said. "He needs just like all young players and guys at that position (to learn) just the little nuances and the mental part of playing this game.

… Should have Omiyale waking up thinking, “Oh s&#t?? I got to get it together.”

I think with the confidence that Tice has in Shaffer, Tice’s comfort with rookies, and big & nasty Webb waiting in the wings, its not out of the question to see a line change early on if Omiyale doesn’t pull it together.

Semper Fi

by ChicagoMarine on Aug 12, 2010 9:44 AM CDT reply actions

As opposed to Lovie

who would have said “We like what we have at offensive line. We feel like we’ll be very competitive at that position….”

If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny.
I remain a pessimistically hopeful Bears fan.

by Just Dave on Aug 12, 2010 10:07 AM CDT up reply actions

True

… But, to Lovie’s defense, I think he has also been saddled with having to justify front office decisions on personnel for quite a long time. Especially on offense where he has NEVER said he has an expertise in.

I think saying that a player “stunk” in the past put his buddy Angelo in the spotlight about why that player was on the team to begin with.

Semper Fi

by ChicagoMarine on Aug 12, 2010 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions

Yeah.....

While I have a lot of issues with Smith on the defensive side of the ball, I don’t hold him responsible for personnel issues on the offensive side of things. He’s kinda been been screwed by JA and Ron Turner on that issue. I’m honestly not sure how much input he’s had on that side of the ball, but I wouldn’t suspect it to be much.

Furthermore, it’s neither his job, nor an intelligent position to take, to demean or discredit the talent level on the team heading into training camp. What good would it do for Smith, who would definitely know from experience what a good or bad line looks like from a defensive coach’s standpoint, to come out and degrade his offensive line? He can only hurt the confidence level of the line. Expecting him to come out to the media an tear down his line is asking him to force his own dismissal.

in•san•i•ty \in-ˈsa-nə-tē\ noun
1 : The practice of repeating the same action while expecting different results.

by Timothy Hockemeyer on Aug 12, 2010 7:54 PM CDT up reply actions

Bears vs Chargers should be a good one.

There are PLENTY of story lines in this preseason game.

— Ron Rivera vs Lovie Smith & his old team

— Nathan Vasher attempting to show that he “still has something in the tank” to the team who said he was done.

— DL Coach Don Johnson, who stuck by Tank Johnson when he was facing all the criminal charges in Chicago, was fired immediately following all the mess with Tank after the second offense.

— Norv Turner upholding the “Turdner” name and defending his brother’s honor.

… Oh Yea! There are some story lines! :-)

Semper Fi

by ChicagoMarine on Aug 12, 2010 9:50 AM CDT reply actions

I expect

Vasher to get hurt in the first 5 minutes

In the 8th grade Mike Ditka won his school's Science Fair with a model of a working volcano. There were 17 other working volcano's made that day, but only one named Mount Ditka.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Aug 12, 2010 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

I'll take the under.

If Mike Ditka punched you in the face, you'd have to fight off the urge to thank him.

by Ditkavsworld on Aug 12, 2010 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions

Ha!

Reports in San Diego says he looking good out there. I’ll be looking to see how the Interceptor moves around this season. He was one of my favorite Bears in the past.

Semper Fi

by ChicagoMarine on Aug 12, 2010 12:36 PM CDT up reply actions

I never liked him as a player

glad he’s moved on

In the 8th grade Mike Ditka won his school's Science Fair with a model of a working volcano. There were 17 other working volcano's made that day, but only one named Mount Ditka.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Aug 12, 2010 1:08 PM CDT up reply actions

I concur. Once his confidence was shot,

his abilities steadily declined. The change of scenery was needed badly.

by Dane Noble on Aug 12, 2010 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions

he benefitted

from a good Bears defense… talk about a corner that couldn’t cover, it was Vasher.

In the 8th grade Mike Ditka won his school's Science Fair with a model of a working volcano. There were 17 other working volcano's made that day, but only one named Mount Ditka.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Aug 12, 2010 1:33 PM CDT up reply actions

Not at all.

There are stats that support that as well.

Vasher wasn’t even targeted as much as Tillman was in 2006 because of his skills in coverage.

He declined— yes! But, he was a very good corner for a year before injury.

Semper Fi

by ChicagoMarine on Aug 12, 2010 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions

Vasher was terrible

He couldn’t cover anyone man to man… he had good ball instincts as a Cover 2 corner. His best years were when the Bears ran the Cover 2 the most. When ever the Bears decided to lock a corner man to man it was Tillman.

I remember him getting blown by by many a WR. Terribly overrated.

In the 8th grade Mike Ditka won his school's Science Fair with a model of a working volcano. There were 17 other working volcano's made that day, but only one named Mount Ditka.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Aug 12, 2010 3:30 PM CDT up reply actions

That last sentence

Didn’t read properly the first seven or twenty times I looked at it.

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

by Kev H on Aug 12, 2010 3:35 PM CDT up reply actions

Ha!

Yeah, I had to read it twice as well.

Semper Fi

by ChicagoMarine on Aug 12, 2010 4:02 PM CDT up reply actions

by, by

In the 8th grade Mike Ditka won his school's Science Fair with a model of a working volcano. There were 17 other working volcano's made that day, but only one named Mount Ditka.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Aug 12, 2010 4:18 PM CDT up reply actions

I respectfully disagree...

… According to Football Outsiders, in 2007 Vasher was targeted 48 times through the regular season compared to Peanut’s 88 . The stop rate percentage was nearly the same (with Peanut having a 5% increase of Vasher’s 56%) and their yds after the catch was nearly the same (Peanut’s 5.9 to Vashers’ 5.4).

A lot of that was attributed to the C2 system, but the over denying factor was that even when the no. 1 was lined up on Nathan Vasher’s side of the field— Qbs still chose to target Tillman’s side of the field. In fact, look at the Atlanta Falcons game of 2008. The first Falcons drive of that game, Ryan targeted Peanuts side of the field over 75% of the time.

I think it had a lot to do with Mike Brown’s absence in 2006 and 2007 as QBs fed off of what the safety would do in a C2. Not having a good safety over the top of Peanut has made him have to play off of the receiver and give a cushion. Knowing that Brown was there in 2005, helped give him good over the top coverage. Something he hasn’t had since Brown’s absence.

I also attribute a lot of Vasher’s success to Lance Briggs underneath.

Nevertheless, I think your descriptive of Vasher’s play in his one (maybe two) years is severely biased.

Semper Fi

by ChicagoMarine on Aug 12, 2010 4:28 PM CDT up reply actions

Hence, why I have been so adament over the years about the FS position

You wouldn’t know that from my time on this blog, but on the other websites I frequent, I speak highly on the importance of safety in a C2. Angelo has not done a good job of replacing Brown with someone of competence.

Semper Fi

by ChicagoMarine on Aug 12, 2010 4:31 PM CDT up reply actions

Agreed......

As important as line play is to the corners performance, the safety positions (especially the FS spot) have are nearly as important. Not having a good cushion behind the Corners forces them to play off of receivers instead of playing closer or pressing, which leaves the corners (and the entire cover 2 defense) susceptible to the underneath passing. That actually affects the effectiveness of the defensive line, as well, by giving them less time to reach the QB.

Having poor play at the line forces DBs to cover longer, which exponentially increases the likelihood of a receiver breaking open.

Having poor play at the safety positions forces corners to play off of the receivers, opening up shorter routes underneath, and narrowing the window the defensive linemen have to harrass the QB, tiring the line out faster and eventually opening up the big pass when the defense tries to adjust for the underneath passes.

In other words, poor safety play can decimate the defense, just as poor defensive line play can do. Angelo should have recognized this and taken steps to fix the issue long ago. Smith should have realized it, as well, and actually tried to develop the players he was given into the roles they were drafted for instead of playing the impatient musical safety game. DMS is on Smith.

in•san•i•ty \in-ˈsa-nə-tē\ noun
1 : The practice of repeating the same action while expecting different results.

by Timothy Hockemeyer on Aug 12, 2010 8:28 PM CDT up reply actions

Vasher is/was/and will always be slow

Biased or not, when matched up 1 on 1 a double move will beat him every time. Stats be damned.

He has bad change of direction speed.

In the 8th grade Mike Ditka won his school's Science Fair with a model of a working volcano. There were 17 other working volcano's made that day, but only one named Mount Ditka.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Aug 13, 2010 9:20 AM CDT up reply actions

That's unfounded, Les.

Again, I respect your opinion & consider you a good poster, but that’s just not accurate.

Again, he did fall off, but he was an above average to really good corner for two years in Chicago before injury.

Semper Fi

by ChicagoMarine on Aug 13, 2010 9:33 AM CDT up reply actions

Just to add

There was an interview yesterday with one of the Bear beat writers (don’t remember who it was or I would link it) and Peanut. Tillman had nothing but good things to say about Nate and that he tried to play hurt and just couldn’t perform at the level he was capable. One bad play last season pretty much did him in.

"More cowbell" - Bruce Dickinson; "More bell cow" - Lovie Smith

by Pete Dixon on Aug 13, 2010 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

He had good numbers, but...

if you can think back to all his interceptions… how many did he go get, as opposed to those that were thrown right to him?

True the injuries hurt his play and his confidence, but his 2 best years were when the Bears front 7 was able to let the Bears play their Tampa 2 more effectively.

Watching him play I always thought he was overrated.

In the 8th grade Mike Ditka won his school's Science Fair with a model of a working volcano. There were 17 other working volcano's made that day, but only one named Mount Ditka.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Aug 13, 2010 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions

You and me agree!

Vasher made alotta money because of the pass rush, not his pass defense.

by rdent4hof on Aug 13, 2010 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions

Was it that the "ball was thrown to him", or...

… that he was able to anticipate the throw (hence his nickname).

it’s funny how Bears fans OVER value Peanut’s coverage skills (which were diminished with no over the top support) and UNDER value Vashers.

… But, again, that’s the legend of Peanut TIllman in Chicago— hard to convince anyone differently regardless of stats or game logs.

Semper Fi

by ChicagoMarine on Aug 13, 2010 12:22 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm hoping you meant "blown by, by". Very disturbing mental image otherwise.

by BigGeorgeTX on Aug 13, 2010 8:45 AM CDT up reply actions

Schlereth

He actually didn’t say anything about how the Bears suck and are going to lose every game this year. Unless they edited it out, this has to be a first.

by ddub101 on Aug 12, 2010 11:22 AM CDT reply actions

Schlereth probably realizes his Broncos are going to have major problems this year because of the injuries and doesn't want to light that fuse.

by BigGeorgeTX on Aug 13, 2010 8:47 AM CDT up reply actions

The more I hear about...

the o-line, the more I am concerned. The eyewitness reports seem to indicate a confused “wait and see” approach to the o-line; Lovie at his best. The news articles never seem to say much positive about any of the o-line guys other than to state that Kreutz looks healthy. Let’s hope Tice can get more out of these guys in the weeks to come because I am now starting to worry less about the D-line than the o-line. I still contend T Haris will flame out by mid-season, but neither line looks to be very good so far. Maybe the Chargers game will shed some light. Tick…Tock…Lovie…

IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO FIRE LOVIE!

by LostInSTL on Aug 12, 2010 11:46 AM CDT reply actions

Remember the last time the Bears played the Chargers

I think it was the last time…

Rex Grossman dropped back and no one blocked the LB coming off the right side and he creamed Rex

In the 8th grade Mike Ditka won his school's Science Fair with a model of a working volcano. There were 17 other working volcano's made that day, but only one named Mount Ditka.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Aug 12, 2010 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions

That was so bitter sweet...

It told me all I needed to know about the player’s confidence in him. : >}

IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO FIRE LOVIE!

by LostInSTL on Aug 12, 2010 12:33 PM CDT up reply actions

I remember that play

I think it was Shaun Phillips and he completely obliterated poor Rexy. I honestly thought he was dead, or at least would be on IR. I was surprised when he got up after that hit.

Uugggh….now I’m having visions of Cutler getting blindsided by Merriman and getting a concussion. Please, o-line, don’t kill our QB.

by NorthSideBearsFan on Aug 12, 2010 7:35 PM CDT up reply actions

Most hated license plate in Wisconsin

by Da Sassage on Aug 12, 2010 2:10 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Nice!

Semper Fi

by ChicagoMarine on Aug 12, 2010 2:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Classic, never tire of seeing it.

If Mike Ditka punched you in the face, you'd have to fight off the urge to thank him.

by Ditkavsworld on Aug 12, 2010 2:40 PM CDT up reply actions

Beautiful

by NorthSideBearsFan on Aug 12, 2010 7:35 PM CDT up reply actions

Man, talk about asking for a keying. Gotta admire his attitude in enemy country.

by BigGeorgeTX on Aug 13, 2010 8:49 AM CDT up reply actions

Our LB corps (are LB core) sporting mohawks

Just saw this story in the links on the right. At least morale seems to be high with these guys!

"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?" - overheard at Giants' '06 training camp
~~~ Check my profile for links for SB20 and America's Game: '85 Bears ~~~

by Spongie on Aug 12, 2010 4:14 PM CDT reply actions