The Bears Den: August 16, 2010

by Dane Noble on Aug 16, 2010 7:37 AM CDT in The Bears Den

...where the sky isn't falling, yet.

The team's official site provides insights from Saturday's game.

Brad Biggs talks about how the Bears handled pressure in the game.

3rd round pick Major Wright made a good case for himself Saturday.

David Haugh says that Lovie's job is still on the line this season.

Biggs and Haugh in a post game video reviewing the Bears performance.

Martz and Lovie quick to Hester's defense about not being a good WR.

Dan Pompei watches film of game and gives his analysis.

Kevin Seifert reviews week one of the NFC North's preseason.

Sean Jensen looks at QBs who could be brought in while Hanie is out.

John "Moon" Mullin does an offensive evaluation from Saturday's game.

Jeff Dickerson has five things he learned in San Diego.

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Comments

We knew this day would probably come,

and it’s not necessarily a bad idea.

by Dane Noble on Aug 16, 2010 9:20 AM CDT reply actions

Not at all a bad idea

As long as it’s accurate, it’s a pretty good idea.

by DaHamsta on Aug 16, 2010 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions

If/when He cracks the line he will b good. I used to watch him at UF(I hate UF btw) and though he was a run stopper than a ballhawk. I was wrong and may I say I’m glad we drafted I still reserve the right to take it back though. Hopefully I won’t.

by chiguy8506 on Aug 16, 2010 10:03 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

I have to disagree with Biggs. (Offensive Line)

DISCLAIMER: I understand fully that it’s preseason and this is where mistakes and “coming together” should take place for a team. I understand that the Bears still have time. I’m not in a state of panic after Saturday’s matchup.

I think that Rivera gave the Bears a couple of vanilla looks to start off Cutler and the first offense 8 snaps, but then brought two different blitzes in the final 3 sequences that the Bears were really only successful in stopping once. There was a LB blitz with a safety and then there was a corner blitz that flushed Cutler out the pocket.

I thought the offensive line did well in one on one schemes and stunts, but seemed a bit overwhelmed in blitz.

There was a missed block by Forte where he allowed the LB to blow by him. That really bothered me given the fact that the RBs poor blocking in 2009 was a problem.

Semper Fi
PREDICTION for 2010-2011 NFL Season: "The England Patriots will finish 8-8 plus or minus 1" ~8/13/10 1230p

by ChicagoMarine on Aug 16, 2010 10:13 AM CDT reply actions

I don't think it was poor though.

However, it’s tough to say that you could pull much from those 8 plays.

I’m glad Lovie pulled the starters though, because Rivera was playing as week 1. Would hate to see players get hurt early.

Semper Fi
PREDICTION for 2010-2011 NFL Season: "The England Patriots will finish 8-8 plus or minus 1" ~8/13/10 1230p

by ChicagoMarine on Aug 16, 2010 10:17 AM CDT up reply actions

Major Wright looked GOOD!

I liked his instincts to the ball. He made sure tackles and didn’t “lunge” as Briggs did on that one play.

Semper Fi
PREDICTION for 2010-2011 NFL Season: "The England Patriots will finish 8-8 plus or minus 1" ~8/13/10 1230p

by ChicagoMarine on Aug 16, 2010 10:19 AM CDT reply actions

Major Wright

DESTROYED Ryan Matthews…that play sold me for the year, Kid can ball

He's a 300-pound man who moves like a defensive back. That's what you're dealing with." — Bears coach Lovie Smith on DE Julius Peppers

by BearNecessities on Aug 16, 2010 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions

Agreed!

And Ryan Mathews is going to be good this year, so I’m impressed with his ability to lock good runners up and make tackles.

He should show Briggs how to make “fundamentally” good tackles.

“Yeahhh, I said it!”

Semper Fi
PREDICTION for 2010-2011 NFL Season: "The England Patriots will finish 8-8 plus or minus 1" ~8/13/10 1230p

by ChicagoMarine on Aug 16, 2010 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions

This is why the secondary HAS to be improved! (JD's 5 things)

3. Teams may not double-team Julius Peppers: That’s not to say teams are ignoring the five-time Pro Bowl defensive end, rather, they are using other methods to neutralize the pass-rushing force. According to Peppers, he never faced two blockers Saturday night, instead San Diego made it a point for quarterback Phillip Rivers to quickly get rid of the football. “It seemed like before I could get two steps out of my stance, it seemed like he [Rivers] had already thrown the ball.” Expect many teams to employ that strategy against the Bears this year.

Many Bears loyal always got on the pass rush for not “applying pressure” over the past two-three years. And, while that has a level of truth, teams were spreading the Bears C2 out using vaarious spread formations and throwing quickly from 3-step drops, shotgun formations, or quick slants. TIme and time again you would see it and it wouldn’t matter what a DL would do to get at the QB—- The ball was coming out quick!

This year, I really want to see these CBs get physical off the line and push these WRs off their route. The safeties haveto be ready to play over the top and make the hit if the receiver is targeted pass the first ten yards. Secondary’s improvement will allow the DL a couple more seconds to get in at the QB.

Semper Fi
PREDICTION for 2010-2011 NFL Season: "The England Patriots will finish 8-8 plus or minus 1" ~8/13/10 1230p

by ChicagoMarine on Aug 16, 2010 10:29 AM CDT reply actions

You're right

but it’s not like the NFL just figure out how to defend Peppers in game 1 of the pre-season in his 8th season.

Peppers will get his numbers, there’s no way around it, now Tommie Harris on the other hand…

He's a 300-pound man who moves like a defensive back. That's what you're dealing with." — Bears coach Lovie Smith on DE Julius Peppers

by BearNecessities on Aug 16, 2010 10:42 AM CDT up reply actions

It's not even a concern for Pep.

I agree that Pep will get his pressures & sacks, but I just think that if teams take the strategy of “piccking apart” the Bears on quick passes and slants, they will not be in any better shape than they were last year against the pass.

The secondary has to play stronger on the receivers. I was hoping that with a bigger more athletic Zack Bowman on the line and better safety support that the Bears will enable their CBs to play more aggressive against the opposing receivers.

Semper Fi
PREDICTION for 2010-2011 NFL Season: "The England Patriots will finish 8-8 plus or minus 1" ~8/13/10 1230p

by ChicagoMarine on Aug 16, 2010 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions

Well they should adjust to that, God willing

that will take away those slants, and go routes, so the CBs can bump off the WR to the Safety, which hopefully will give the Dline enough time to penetrate their gap

He's a 300-pound man who moves like a defensive back. That's what you're dealing with." — Bears coach Lovie Smith on DE Julius Peppers

by BearNecessities on Aug 16, 2010 11:01 AM CDT up reply actions

I think you're promoting Lovie a bit too high here.

Well they should adjust to that, God willing

That said, Lovie rarely shows a willingness to adjust. Ever.

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 16, 2010 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions

True!

… Which is why I miss Rivera at times. :-/

Semper Fi
PREDICTION for 2010-2011 NFL Season: "The England Patriots will finish 8-8 plus or minus 1" ~8/13/10 1230p

by ChicagoMarine on Aug 16, 2010 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions

"… Which is why I miss Rivera at times. :-/"

Those times would be all of them for me…………

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 16, 2010 6:23 PM CDT up reply actions

This man, the truth

by TheMan1 on Aug 16, 2010 12:15 PM CDT up reply actions

My hope

is that Hot Rod recognizes this by having a LB or safety cheat sometimes at the LOS, because the short pass thing has been done to death versus our soft-coverage defense.

"In order to have a winner, the team must have a feeling of unity; every player must put the team first- ahead of personal glory" - motivational sign at Halas Hall.

by propheteer on Aug 16, 2010 10:59 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm hoping Urlacher can prevent

some of that space being taken for granted

He's a 300-pound man who moves like a defensive back. That's what you're dealing with." — Bears coach Lovie Smith on DE Julius Peppers

by BearNecessities on Aug 16, 2010 11:01 AM CDT up reply actions

Remember though...

… In the C2, Urlacher has to play deep-to-middle center. It’s up the Sam and the Weak to bump those receivers off the line if they are not lining up over the TE.

Urlacher has to make them pay (along with the FS & SS) if they do catch the ball over the middle. Make it the toughest 5-7 yds they have ever caught!

Semper Fi
PREDICTION for 2010-2011 NFL Season: "The England Patriots will finish 8-8 plus or minus 1" ~8/13/10 1230p

by ChicagoMarine on Aug 16, 2010 11:05 AM CDT up reply actions

Agreed!

The C2 needs athletes in the secondary who can tackle and quickly react to the ball and it’s intended location. It’s been something the Bears have not had in a few years.

I thought with Bowman at the RCB and Peanut on the blindside that this would be the move. Hopefully, Lovie and Hot Rod were just playing soft to avoid injury and “showing their hand”.

I miss Rivera… :-/

Semper Fi
PREDICTION for 2010-2011 NFL Season: "The England Patriots will finish 8-8 plus or minus 1" ~8/13/10 1230p

by ChicagoMarine on Aug 16, 2010 11:03 AM CDT up reply actions

Jealous

Of all you folks who could actually watch the game. I was with the family at a Wisconsin Dells waterpark. Both the Packers and Vikings games were on the hotel TV stations, but no Bears. The Vikings really have some depth on the D-line, but their secondary is beat up. Might need to use some shot-gun looks against those guys.

by Shuffle85 on Aug 16, 2010 10:32 AM CDT reply actions

In Colorado

Set to record last night’s replay of the game, and it turned out to be blacked out because the stupid Donkeys game. So now, I have to wait to tape it tomorrow. :(

"In order to have a winner, the team must have a feeling of unity; every player must put the team first- ahead of personal glory" - motivational sign at Halas Hall.

by propheteer on Aug 16, 2010 10:45 AM CDT up reply actions

When is the replay?

Would love to tape it.

by Shuffle85 on Aug 16, 2010 11:13 AM CDT up reply actions

Sometime tomorrow night I believe

Check the NFLN, and you’ll see it at some point on the 8/17 guide.

"In order to have a winner, the team must have a feeling of unity; every player must put the team first- ahead of personal glory" - motivational sign at Halas Hall.

by propheteer on Aug 16, 2010 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions

NFL Replay

I still cought the game a little bit after 9, the Broncos game went a little late. They still played the Bears Chargers game though.

by Da Sassage on Aug 16, 2010 12:29 PM CDT up reply actions

Ryan Grant injury?

It’s listed as a head injury, but they think it might be a concussion.

Grant would be a big blow to that offense if he is unable to play this year.

I also heard that Jordan Dizon might miss a few weeks due to an injury for the Lions.

Semper Fi
PREDICTION for 2010-2011 NFL Season: "The England Patriots will finish 8-8 plus or minus 1" ~8/13/10 1230p

by ChicagoMarine on Aug 16, 2010 10:56 AM CDT up reply actions

He's out for the year

The Lions lost linebacker Jordon Dizon (knee) for the season, according to Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com.

It’s in Seifert’s link/report.

"In order to have a winner, the team must have a feeling of unity; every player must put the team first- ahead of personal glory" - motivational sign at Halas Hall.

by propheteer on Aug 16, 2010 11:00 AM CDT up reply actions

That hurts that already suspect LB unit.

The DL looked good against the Steelers, but the LB will be hurt without Dizon.

Semper Fi
PREDICTION for 2010-2011 NFL Season: "The England Patriots will finish 8-8 plus or minus 1" ~8/13/10 1230p

by ChicagoMarine on Aug 16, 2010 11:15 AM CDT up reply actions

From JD

Hanie MRI

All things considered, I think he played well and hope it’s not too serious.

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

by Pete Dixon on Aug 16, 2010 10:39 AM CDT reply actions

Seems to be a big divide here

about the play of Hanie, I like you feel like he did well, all things considered.

He's a 300-pound man who moves like a defensive back. That's what you're dealing with." — Bears coach Lovie Smith on DE Julius Peppers

by BearNecessities on Aug 16, 2010 10:43 AM CDT up reply actions

All things considered=running for his life.

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

by Pete Dixon on Aug 16, 2010 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions

Yep.

But, to Hanie’s defense, he has ALWAYS played like that ranging back to his time at Colorado State. He LITERALLY had to run and “extend the play” on almost every down. That o-line was abysmal!

He has to learn how to take what he gets and understand that sometimes you can also get yards on the next play.

Semper Fi
PREDICTION for 2010-2011 NFL Season: "The England Patriots will finish 8-8 plus or minus 1" ~8/13/10 1230p

by ChicagoMarine on Aug 16, 2010 11:19 AM CDT up reply actions

Totally agree.

Maybe he did learn…the hard way.

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

by Pete Dixon on Aug 16, 2010 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions

I liked his accuracy and ability to find the open area on the field.

He forced it once, but he was pretty good for the most part.

I didn’t like the fact that he held on to the ball too long on several plays— including the play he was injured on. He has to learn to take what the offense gives you on plays that you KNOW the blitz is coming. Iglesias (I think it was Iglesias?) cut over the middle on that play he was injured and was wide open as the Chargers sent 7 men at him on the blitz. He held onto it lookng down the field and really should have hit the “hot” receiver.

But, I still think he did decent. Lotta growth from this guy over the past couple years.

Semper Fi
PREDICTION for 2010-2011 NFL Season: "The England Patriots will finish 8-8 plus or minus 1" ~8/13/10 1230p

by ChicagoMarine on Aug 16, 2010 11:00 AM CDT up reply actions

Or learn to take the sack.

No reason to have thrown the one pick, and if he’d tucked and fallen when he got hurt, he probably wouldn’t have gotten that hurt.

And yes, I realize he didn’t see the guy behind him.

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 16, 2010 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions

True,

And he didn’t see the guy behind him because he tried to extend the play with his legs, when he should have (as you mentioned) tucked the ball and took the sack.

Take the loss, but win the series.

Semper Fi
PREDICTION for 2010-2011 NFL Season: "The England Patriots will finish 8-8 plus or minus 1" ~8/13/10 1230p

by ChicagoMarine on Aug 16, 2010 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions

If LeFevour plays like that

He’ll be safe to stash on the practice squad

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 16, 2010 2:48 PM CDT reply actions