Don't see it.....Only STL & DET look like gimmes on their remaining schedule.
Cutler padded his yardage numbers like he always does vs. a prevent D in a blowout. Leinart tried to let Chicago back in the game but Cutler shit the bed as soon as it got to be "close" (a two score game). He is now on pace for 24 INT's.
Remaining Schedule:
@SF (Who should be plenty ready after giving TEN their 1st win today)
PHI
@MIN
STL
GB
@BAL
MIN
@DET
Looks like 8-8 at best to me.
Cutler padded his yardage numbers like he always does vs. a prevent D in a blowout. Leinart tried to let Chicago back in the game but Cutler shit the bed as soon as it got to be "close" (a two score game). He is now on pace for 24 INT's.
Remaining Schedule:
@SF (Who should be plenty ready after giving TEN their 1st win today)
PHI
@MIN
STL
GB
@BAL
MIN
@DET
Looks like 8-8 at best to me.
So if the Bears do lose and the playoffs become an afterthought
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/293455-chicago-bears-what-needs-to-be-done-to-fix-the-future-right-now
Chicago Bears: What Needs To Be Done To Fix The Future, Right Now!
by Max Kienzler http://bleacherreport.com/users/51173-Max-KienzlerMax Kienzler
View Profile
<SMALL>Analyst</SMALL> Written on November 19, 2009
The Chicago Bears go up this weekend against the Philadelphia Eagles, who will be missing Brian Westbrook. The game is on Sunday Night Football... which means that despite the absence of Westbrook, I still do not feel bad chalking this one up as a loss.
In Jay Cutler's three previous prime time performances (Packers, Falcons, 49ers), he accumulated the following total numbers: 73/131 for a 55 percent completion rate, 884 yards, three TDs and 11 Ints.
Now that doesn't mean Jay is going to come out and bomb, but I still feel very confident that the Bears chances of winning are slim. Especially considering how the offensive line has played and how much the Eagles' defense enjoys blitzing.
So if the Bears do lose and the playoffs become an afterthought, there are several changes that Lovie Smith needs to make in order for the Bears to be better prepared for the following season.
Lets start on the offensive side:
First, move Juaquin Iglesias into the receiver rotation. I like the trio of Devin Hester, Earl Bennett and Johnny Knox and those three should be the top options, but lets see what the kid has to offer if the Bears break out a four receiver set, that doesn't include Greg Olsen.
Second, as much as I like Dez Clark and how effective he has been, it is time to move Kellen Davis into a more prominent role since he will be the future No. 2 option at tight end behind Olsen. Get him some real game experience so he will be ready when the time comes.
Third, I want to see more Adrian Peterson. This has nothing to do with Forte, I just don't see a point in using him up this season if the playoffs are not a possibility. Let A.P. get some reps and take some pressure off of Forte. Might also spark him to play better if he isn't getting all the carries.
Fourth, the offensive line should be the following: LT Chris Williams, LG Josh Beekman, C Olin Kreutz, RG Roberto Garza, and RT Kevin Shaffer.
Orlando Pace is old and won't make it to the end of his contract before he retires and this is the line that should be in place next year, (unless we sign a big name free agent over the offseason... which is doubtful) so they should get time in now.
Fifth, bring up fullback Will Ta'ufo'ou from the practice squad and see what he has. Jason Davis has been a serviceable player, but he will never be exceptional and we need to find a replacement for him soon. Why not see what Ta'ufo'ou has to offer.
On the defensive side of the ball:
First, I want to see less Adewale Ogunleye and more of Mark Anderson/Gaines Adams. Both Wale and Anderson are in contract years. Anderson will be cheaper to keep if the Bears think he is worth it. Wale will be asking for more and if we are to part ways with him, we need to see if Anderson, or the new pick up in Adams, is capable of replacing him.
Second, I want to see less Tommie Harris and more Marcus Harrison and Anthony Adams. Tommie has been a pain in the butt for the past few years and never seems to want to give it his all. Harrison and Adams do. End of story. If I am going to watch this team with no real hopes for the playoffs, I want to watch players who want to be there.
Third, change up the secondary. Insert D.J. Moore into some situations when needed and continue testing out Nathan Vasher at safety. Change it up. If the playoffs are really out of reach, experiment a little bit so you have a better idea how effective some players are in REAL game situations so when next year comes, they are better prepared.
At some point, reality has to set in and changes should be made for the following season. I understand the argument that you play to win every game, and I am not advocating against that.
But I feel that the Bears are not playoff bound so why waste the second half of the season meddling in mediocrity as opposed to prepping the team to be more competitive next year.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/293455-chicago-bears-what-needs-to-be-done-to-fix-the-future-right-now
Chicago Bears: What Needs To Be Done To Fix The Future, Right Now!
by Max Kienzler http://bleacherreport.com/users/51173-Max-KienzlerMax KienzlerView Profile
<SMALL>Analyst</SMALL> Written on November 19, 2009
The Chicago Bears go up this weekend against the Philadelphia Eagles, who will be missing Brian Westbrook. The game is on Sunday Night Football... which means that despite the absence of Westbrook, I still do not feel bad chalking this one up as a loss.
In Jay Cutler's three previous prime time performances (Packers, Falcons, 49ers), he accumulated the following total numbers: 73/131 for a 55 percent completion rate, 884 yards, three TDs and 11 Ints.
Now that doesn't mean Jay is going to come out and bomb, but I still feel very confident that the Bears chances of winning are slim. Especially considering how the offensive line has played and how much the Eagles' defense enjoys blitzing.
So if the Bears do lose and the playoffs become an afterthought, there are several changes that Lovie Smith needs to make in order for the Bears to be better prepared for the following season.
Lets start on the offensive side:
First, move Juaquin Iglesias into the receiver rotation. I like the trio of Devin Hester, Earl Bennett and Johnny Knox and those three should be the top options, but lets see what the kid has to offer if the Bears break out a four receiver set, that doesn't include Greg Olsen.
Second, as much as I like Dez Clark and how effective he has been, it is time to move Kellen Davis into a more prominent role since he will be the future No. 2 option at tight end behind Olsen. Get him some real game experience so he will be ready when the time comes.
Third, I want to see more Adrian Peterson. This has nothing to do with Forte, I just don't see a point in using him up this season if the playoffs are not a possibility. Let A.P. get some reps and take some pressure off of Forte. Might also spark him to play better if he isn't getting all the carries.
Fourth, the offensive line should be the following: LT Chris Williams, LG Josh Beekman, C Olin Kreutz, RG Roberto Garza, and RT Kevin Shaffer.
Orlando Pace is old and won't make it to the end of his contract before he retires and this is the line that should be in place next year, (unless we sign a big name free agent over the offseason... which is doubtful) so they should get time in now.
Fifth, bring up fullback Will Ta'ufo'ou from the practice squad and see what he has. Jason Davis has been a serviceable player, but he will never be exceptional and we need to find a replacement for him soon. Why not see what Ta'ufo'ou has to offer.
On the defensive side of the ball:
First, I want to see less Adewale Ogunleye and more of Mark Anderson/Gaines Adams. Both Wale and Anderson are in contract years. Anderson will be cheaper to keep if the Bears think he is worth it. Wale will be asking for more and if we are to part ways with him, we need to see if Anderson, or the new pick up in Adams, is capable of replacing him.
Second, I want to see less Tommie Harris and more Marcus Harrison and Anthony Adams. Tommie has been a pain in the butt for the past few years and never seems to want to give it his all. Harrison and Adams do. End of story. If I am going to watch this team with no real hopes for the playoffs, I want to watch players who want to be there.
Third, change up the secondary. Insert D.J. Moore into some situations when needed and continue testing out Nathan Vasher at safety. Change it up. If the playoffs are really out of reach, experiment a little bit so you have a better idea how effective some players are in REAL game situations so when next year comes, they are better prepared.
At some point, reality has to set in and changes should be made for the following season. I understand the argument that you play to win every game, and I am not advocating against that.
But I feel that the Bears are not playoff bound so why waste the second half of the season meddling in mediocrity as opposed to prepping the team to be more competitive next year.
http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/2965
A Soldier Field sayonara
Posted by Lindsey on Mon, 11/23/2009 - 00:57
It's not quite an hour since the Bears kissed their remaining playoff hopes goodbye with a 24-20 loss to Philadelphia.
The stands are empty, the grounds crew is replacing divots in the grass and the Chicago skyline is as hard to make out as the Bears' future. Nobody -- NOBODY -- in football is worse over the last six games than the Bears' 1-5 mark.
Coach Lovie Smith summed it up nicely, albeit with inadvertent humor: "This wasn't part of the master plan."
Defensive end Alex Brown tried to provide a short-term direction: "We need to go to Minnesota and win a ballgame."
That doesn't seem likely. Not with the Vikings on a 9-1 spree and Brett Favre eagerly awaiting the chance to be the next quarterback to put up a 100.0 or better passer rating on the Bears.
While the Bears defense kept Philly within striking range (Charles Tillman forced 3 fumbles; 2 of which were recovered by the Bears), the offense looked way out of whack.
Throw out Kahlil Bell's 72-yard run on his first carry as a Bear...and the offense's best play was a 23-yard Jay Cutler pass to Earl Bennett. Throw out Bell's 72-yard run...and the Bears put up 54 rushing yards in 19 carries. A grim-looking Matt Forte looked just as quick bolting out of the locker room as he did trying to buck the Eagles' front seven.
Overall, though, this game was about Jay Cutler. His wildness reminded of Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano, who coincidentally spent the game in a suite and wore a thick Bears parka as he rode the elevator after the game. Cutler overthrew several receivers (I believe I heard a stat that Cutler went 0 for 4 on passes that flew 20 yards or more) and any one of those could have changed the game.
He missed Greg Olsen and Devin Hester on back-to-back passes in the southwest corner of the stadium...both of which would have gone for scores since there weren't any Eagles near them. Rookie Johnny Knox got a step on the corner in the fourth quarter, but Cutler's bomb was 4 yards too far. I'm no expert, but it looked to me like he preferred to err on the side of incompletion rather than interception.
Cutler went 24 of 43 for 171 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception -- the one that ended the game. He now owns a passer rating of 74.5, which ranks 24th in the NFL. He's snuggled between Miami's Chad Henne and Buffalo's Trent Edwards on the efficiency list...and not too far above Cleveland's Brady Quinn.
People have poked fun at San Francisco's quarterbacks for years, but both Shaun Hill and Alex Smith own passer ratings better than Cutler's.
It makes you wonder what Donovan McNabb whispered into Cutler's ear as they clung to each other on the field during the postgame handshakes. I'm not positive, but the Gettysburg Address might have been shorter.
"That's between us," Cutler said. "He's a first-class guy. He is someone I have admired from afar. I think he's one of the best quarterbacks in the league."
Since Cutler won't say, let's just agree that everyone felt a lot better about the Bears four score and 7 days ago.
To be sure, everyone felt a lot better about the Bears four score and 7 days ago. For the calendar-impaired, that would be Aug. 28...six days after Cutler dissected the New York Giants and two days before he shredded Denver to lead the Bears to a pair of easy exhibition wins.
Those were the days, my friend.
LW
A Soldier Field sayonara
Posted by Lindsey on Mon, 11/23/2009 - 00:57
It's not quite an hour since the Bears kissed their remaining playoff hopes goodbye with a 24-20 loss to Philadelphia.
The stands are empty, the grounds crew is replacing divots in the grass and the Chicago skyline is as hard to make out as the Bears' future. Nobody -- NOBODY -- in football is worse over the last six games than the Bears' 1-5 mark.
Coach Lovie Smith summed it up nicely, albeit with inadvertent humor: "This wasn't part of the master plan."
Defensive end Alex Brown tried to provide a short-term direction: "We need to go to Minnesota and win a ballgame."
That doesn't seem likely. Not with the Vikings on a 9-1 spree and Brett Favre eagerly awaiting the chance to be the next quarterback to put up a 100.0 or better passer rating on the Bears.
While the Bears defense kept Philly within striking range (Charles Tillman forced 3 fumbles; 2 of which were recovered by the Bears), the offense looked way out of whack.
Throw out Kahlil Bell's 72-yard run on his first carry as a Bear...and the offense's best play was a 23-yard Jay Cutler pass to Earl Bennett. Throw out Bell's 72-yard run...and the Bears put up 54 rushing yards in 19 carries. A grim-looking Matt Forte looked just as quick bolting out of the locker room as he did trying to buck the Eagles' front seven.
Overall, though, this game was about Jay Cutler. His wildness reminded of Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano, who coincidentally spent the game in a suite and wore a thick Bears parka as he rode the elevator after the game. Cutler overthrew several receivers (I believe I heard a stat that Cutler went 0 for 4 on passes that flew 20 yards or more) and any one of those could have changed the game.
He missed Greg Olsen and Devin Hester on back-to-back passes in the southwest corner of the stadium...both of which would have gone for scores since there weren't any Eagles near them. Rookie Johnny Knox got a step on the corner in the fourth quarter, but Cutler's bomb was 4 yards too far. I'm no expert, but it looked to me like he preferred to err on the side of incompletion rather than interception.
Cutler went 24 of 43 for 171 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception -- the one that ended the game. He now owns a passer rating of 74.5, which ranks 24th in the NFL. He's snuggled between Miami's Chad Henne and Buffalo's Trent Edwards on the efficiency list...and not too far above Cleveland's Brady Quinn.
People have poked fun at San Francisco's quarterbacks for years, but both Shaun Hill and Alex Smith own passer ratings better than Cutler's.
It makes you wonder what Donovan McNabb whispered into Cutler's ear as they clung to each other on the field during the postgame handshakes. I'm not positive, but the Gettysburg Address might have been shorter.
"That's between us," Cutler said. "He's a first-class guy. He is someone I have admired from afar. I think he's one of the best quarterbacks in the league."
Since Cutler won't say, let's just agree that everyone felt a lot better about the Bears four score and 7 days ago.
To be sure, everyone felt a lot better about the Bears four score and 7 days ago. For the calendar-impaired, that would be Aug. 28...six days after Cutler dissected the New York Giants and two days before he shredded Denver to lead the Bears to a pair of easy exhibition wins.
Those were the days, my friend.
LW
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/296685-chicago-bears-picked-the-worst-time-to-become-bad
Chicago Bears Picked the Worst Time To Hibernate
by Gene Chamberlain http://bleacherreport.com/users/110289-Gene-ChamberlainGene Chamberlain
View Profile
<SMALL>Correspondent</SMALL> Written on November 25, 2009
The Chicago Bears not only are bad, they've also picked a bad time to be bad.
Obviously, it's never good to trade away your first round draft pick for a quarterback who isn't producing—whether it's his fault or the lack of an offensive line. It's also not good to trade away your second round pick for a defensive end like Gaines Adams, who looks less physically imposing than the average NFL punter.
So the Bears can expect little or no improvement next year through the draft. Considering general manager Jerry Angelo's draft record, they probably could have expected this even if they had both those picks.
Yet, there is another reason the Bears have picked a poor time to become one of the NFL's have-nots.
It's called labor strife.
Without a collective bargaining agreement in place, the salary cap vanishes after this year.
A lot of casual NFL followers see this is a great opportunity for teams to become talent-rich in free agency.
Certainly, no one would ever expect the McCaskey family to start throwing around nickels like they were manhole covers in an effort to land talent, but let's assume they actually saw the error of their frugal ways and did want to make an effort to get experienced talent for big cash.
They'll still have a tough time doing it—an extremely tough time.
Without a CBA and salary cap, the old rules of free agency kick back in and players would need to be in the league six years before they become unrestricted free agents.
I've read a list on one of my stories submitted by some Bears fans detailing the wide receivers who will become unrestricted free agents after this season, and how they would fit in well in Chicago as targets for Jay Cutler.
The list contained Braylon Edwards, Roddy White, Steve Breaston, Brandon Marshall, Greg Jennings, Vincent Jackson and a few others.
You can forget every one of those names.
Without a collective bargaining agreement and salary cap, none of those wide receivers will be unrestricted free agents. Edwards, White, and Jackson are in their fifth years. Marshall and Jennings are in their fourth years. Breaston is in his third year.
None has six years in after this season so they have to wait another year to become unrestricted free agents.
The list posted also had players like Kevin Walter (a native of Lake Forest where the Bears practice, by the way) and Chris Chambers, Torry Holt and Hines Ward.
Acquiring one of those players would be a far more distinct possibility, but during an uncapped year there is another restriction in place that could keep any veteran with his old team.
Currently, teams can tag franchise and transition free agents and keep them at either the average salary of the top five or top 10 players at their position. With no salary cap, the rules allow a team the ability to tag three players.
Hines Ward, for instance, will be 34 years old next season. That's crypt age for a wide receiver, but the Steelers will have three ways to tag him and keep him.
In my opinion, the Bears are better off trying to add at least one more free agent offensive lineman than a wide receiver. The offensive line has been the main reason the offense has struggled. If you have an offensive line blocking, you have a running game and an ability to keep defenses off balance.
The longer the offense can be on the field, the less your own defense is on the field. With the threat of a running game, Jay Cutler is far more effective regardless of receivers.
However, it's going to be difficult to sign free agent offensive linemen since they can also be protected.
A labor agreement is the only way talent is going to be in the unrestricted free agent market this year.
Bears followers have to hope there is some sort of contract agreement reached. It might be more important than anything else that happens in the off-season to their team.
Chicago Bears Picked the Worst Time To Hibernate
by Gene Chamberlain http://bleacherreport.com/users/110289-Gene-ChamberlainGene ChamberlainView Profile
<SMALL>Correspondent</SMALL> Written on November 25, 2009
The Chicago Bears not only are bad, they've also picked a bad time to be bad.
Obviously, it's never good to trade away your first round draft pick for a quarterback who isn't producing—whether it's his fault or the lack of an offensive line. It's also not good to trade away your second round pick for a defensive end like Gaines Adams, who looks less physically imposing than the average NFL punter.
So the Bears can expect little or no improvement next year through the draft. Considering general manager Jerry Angelo's draft record, they probably could have expected this even if they had both those picks.
Yet, there is another reason the Bears have picked a poor time to become one of the NFL's have-nots.
It's called labor strife.
Without a collective bargaining agreement in place, the salary cap vanishes after this year.
A lot of casual NFL followers see this is a great opportunity for teams to become talent-rich in free agency.
Certainly, no one would ever expect the McCaskey family to start throwing around nickels like they were manhole covers in an effort to land talent, but let's assume they actually saw the error of their frugal ways and did want to make an effort to get experienced talent for big cash.
They'll still have a tough time doing it—an extremely tough time.
Without a CBA and salary cap, the old rules of free agency kick back in and players would need to be in the league six years before they become unrestricted free agents.
I've read a list on one of my stories submitted by some Bears fans detailing the wide receivers who will become unrestricted free agents after this season, and how they would fit in well in Chicago as targets for Jay Cutler.
The list contained Braylon Edwards, Roddy White, Steve Breaston, Brandon Marshall, Greg Jennings, Vincent Jackson and a few others.
You can forget every one of those names.
Without a collective bargaining agreement and salary cap, none of those wide receivers will be unrestricted free agents. Edwards, White, and Jackson are in their fifth years. Marshall and Jennings are in their fourth years. Breaston is in his third year.
None has six years in after this season so they have to wait another year to become unrestricted free agents.
The list posted also had players like Kevin Walter (a native of Lake Forest where the Bears practice, by the way) and Chris Chambers, Torry Holt and Hines Ward.
Acquiring one of those players would be a far more distinct possibility, but during an uncapped year there is another restriction in place that could keep any veteran with his old team.
Currently, teams can tag franchise and transition free agents and keep them at either the average salary of the top five or top 10 players at their position. With no salary cap, the rules allow a team the ability to tag three players.
Hines Ward, for instance, will be 34 years old next season. That's crypt age for a wide receiver, but the Steelers will have three ways to tag him and keep him.
In my opinion, the Bears are better off trying to add at least one more free agent offensive lineman than a wide receiver. The offensive line has been the main reason the offense has struggled. If you have an offensive line blocking, you have a running game and an ability to keep defenses off balance.
The longer the offense can be on the field, the less your own defense is on the field. With the threat of a running game, Jay Cutler is far more effective regardless of receivers.
However, it's going to be difficult to sign free agent offensive linemen since they can also be protected.
A labor agreement is the only way talent is going to be in the unrestricted free agent market this year.
Bears followers have to hope there is some sort of contract agreement reached. It might be more important than anything else that happens in the off-season to their team.
http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/jay-cutler-superstar/2009/12/chicago-bears-pie-chart-of-blame.html
Chicago Bears Pie Chart of Blame
Matt Lo Cascio on <ABBR class=published title=2009-12-28T05:59:00-06:00>12.28.09</ABBR> |<SCRIPT src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT>
Mmmm...pie chart of blame. I'm not sure what Bear Down Bacon means, but I like bacon and I like the Bears. I like this video he put up too. I don't agree with all of the numbers, but it's a clever way to pass out some blame for the offense woes of 2009.
<EMBED src=http://www.youtube.com/v/B73mROFeW08&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01&border=1 width=580 height=360 type=application/x-shockwave-flash allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true">
I still think Cutler deserves a higher percentage of the blame based on the amount of red zone picks. Those most certainly take points off the board and that's all on him. There are other QBs that play with poor o-lines and don't throw as many picks. Cutler needs to become one of them.
Chicago Bears Pie Chart of Blame
Matt Lo Cascio on <ABBR class=published title=2009-12-28T05:59:00-06:00>12.28.09</ABBR> |<SCRIPT src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT>
Mmmm...pie chart of blame. I'm not sure what Bear Down Bacon means, but I like bacon and I like the Bears. I like this video he put up too. I don't agree with all of the numbers, but it's a clever way to pass out some blame for the offense woes of 2009.
<EMBED src=http://www.youtube.com/v/B73mROFeW08&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01&border=1 width=580 height=360 type=application/x-shockwave-flash allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true">
I still think Cutler deserves a higher percentage of the blame based on the amount of red zone picks. Those most certainly take points off the board and that's all on him. There are other QBs that play with poor o-lines and don't throw as many picks. Cutler needs to become one of them.
