Bears Vs Colts: Notes, Scribbles, and Things Jotted Down

• I'd like to welcome you to the 2015 debut of NSTJD by complaining about a 7th-round draft pick and second year player, because that's just how things work. And I'm not talking about the 2011 season of J'Marcus Webb. Depending on Charles Leno Jr. to start at right tackle is not something that we were necessarily hoping for (unless Jordan Mills terrifies you that much), but his game action in the first quarter showed that he's just not ready to take the reins yet - a rough penalty on the first drive of the game and a touchdown-killing penalty to nullify a Jay Cutler rushing touchdown. (Honestly, that touchdown rush was a thing of beauty, at least as far as a quarterback rushing the ball looks.)
• When Andrew Luck rushes for touchdowns, his linemen don't commit penalties. Quarterback bias, yo.
• Marquess Wilson suffered a leg injury on a deep route, and it takes a team that was already dealing with some serious receiver injuries and further turns it on its head. You've been getting glimpses this game of Marc Mariani and Josh Bellamy potentially getting significant snaps. Avert your eyes. Avert them.
• At least Cutler still has Martellus Bennett, Matt Forte and Eddie Royal to throw to, and Zach Miller hasn't experienced his annual season-ending malfunction yet. Miller making it through camp in one piece could keep a viable receiving option on the roster with Alshon Jeffery still protected, Kevin White out and now maybe Wilson shelved for a bit. Keep an eye on some of those down the chart receivers, just to be safe, in case something goes wrong.
• I know it's a small thing and it's the preseason and the score matters as much as points in Who's Line is it Anyway?, but I would love to see the Bears actually finish drives.
• Just for the record, I still can't stand Sam Rosen.
• I think I'm still okay with the Marc Mariani as returner experience. He's still slow, but still has that vision to do some things.
• Good to see Pernell McPhee blow people up early in the game. He'll need to keep that up.
• Matt Hasselbeck has been around for 17 years. I... Forgive me while I re-evaluate my life. In every bit of seriousness, good on him for continuing to stick around, turn himself into a productive starting quarterback, and now a decent experienced backup and potential mentor figure. No, not a Hall of Famer, not by a long shot, but if you turn in a productive 17-year career as an NFL quarterback, you've done something right.
• Back to football, I never think of T.Y. Hilton as a really good receiver, then I watch him and he's actually a really good receiver.
• Terrence Mitchell's interception on Donte Moncrief... He was beat, Moncrief had the step on him, but the throw was bad enough that it brought Mitchell back into the play, an opportunity he leapt and snagged out of the air. Really, nice play on a second chance.
• So, the Adrian Amos at starting safety experience doesn't seem to be a bad move, currently. Then again, the Colts didn't do a whole lot to challenge deep.
• Jimmy Clausen got picked off on a throw in Dante Rosario's "direction". That means he's not the answer to all things quarterbacking anymore?
• You know, it feels really weird watching stops be made, players be tackled, and actually realize... The Bears are playing defense.
• This being said, I'm not sure how I feel about Lamarr Houston. I know he's coming back from injury, but I wish I just felt better about him in general. I'm probably way off base, just call it a gut feeling.
• Also, it's kind of nice drafting "versatile" players that can "play in any scheme," thanks Phil Emery, but I kind of wish some of those players actually had some kind of plan or thing they fit best in, because a collection of "versatile guys that play in any scheme" is a collection of guys.
• I don't know how I feel about the depth running backs, to be honest. They've gotten very good offensive line play in the run game, which has helped everything. Jacquizz Rodgers hasn't really impressed impressed, but he's looked okay. Ka'Deem Carey's been buried, but I'd prefer not to give up on a fourth-round pick in the second year, and Jeremy Langford's made some really nice flashes in his short time.
• Jim Miller on Jeremy Langford: "The turfmonster got him. Normally he's running away from people." Startling observation after two games, totaling nine carries (at the time) and one big play, sir. (Side note: If the Lucas Oil Stadium turfmonster is eating people, I really worry about what Soldier Field's going to do to people as the season wears on.)
• One more Langford note: His power running was on display several times, particularly on his 15-yard carry prior to his touchdown dive, fighting through a tackle and falling forward downfield.
• Shea McClellin quietly had a good appearance in this one. He looks like he's starting to come along a little more.
• It's also really good to see the Bears picking up the time of possession lead in both games so far. In both games, it's heavily correlated with that increased emphasis on the run game. As of 5:40 remaining in the third quarter, the Bears had 12 more rushing attempts than the Colts (25-13) and had three more first downs from running the football than the Colts (6-3).
• I think Sam Acho will fit in just fine on this Bears defense, picking up another sack and a forced fumble in last night's game. How do your linebacking depth charts look? There's going to be a hard cut in there, I'm sure.
• Eddie Goldman's starting to make himself known. I think I'm on board with Les here in saying he'll be your nose starter. I don't dislike the look of Will Sutton, either.
• Cameron Meredith and Rashad Lawrence have both looked okay in their brief auditions. Still not sure I want to see either break the 53, however.
• I'd still like to see more out of the defensive backfield. Demontre Hurst gave up a couple catches in front of him in the nickel, I haven't really gotten a good read on Kyle Fuller just yet in the preseason, and the same goes with Tim Jennings. I don't like Fuller's 15-yard penalty on the Colts' long touchdown drive, but he's still a kid, he'll be okay. Hopefully.
• I think tonight and last week, we saw at least some of the formula the Bears want to use to win games - grind out the run, complete some high-percentage throws and take the occasional chance downfield. Jay Cutler's only incompletion was the deep throw to Marquess Wilson where he pulled up. I only wish we were seeing that success come through in the first unit. Depth has come back to take leads, which is nice and something the first unit doesn't really get the chance to do in preseason, but it'd be nice for the first unit to put some solid, non-field goal points on the board.
• The Colts were getting a little sloppy with their own penalties. It's nice to see another team suffer a little sloppiness once in a while.
• David Bass picked up the Bears' fourth sack of the game. I would still like to see him get up on that depth chart. Yes, I'll continue banging that drum.

That's what I've got from the second preseason game of the year. In three weeks, we'll be doing this for real.

How do you feel about the Bears after the game? Are you encouraged? Discouraged?