madlithuanian

Points well made, but I actually think Orton is a damn good #2 guy. He's not going to jeopardize your team. He'll just manage OK. Is that any different than what Steve Fuller did for us in '85? If not better?

Good analogy... I really look at Kyle as a stop gap. I think our next true QB could be Hanie depending on his development, or who we draft next year. Kyle could shock us all. But I see him playing the back-up role here. And doing it darn well. When you're #1 guy gets hurt, and you have Kyle coming in to manage the team...I think it's a good thing. And especially given our sorry OL, Kyle will do the most not to cause more problems. Rex, I fear, cannot. So, let go Kyle! Show us that you can be a top NFL QB!

Ouch...if Benson's blocking better than Greg...maybe we do need to think of moving him to straight WR... I honestly just don't recall all the drops... But I know there were a few. I guess when you're other guy is Moose, then everyone else looks like Beitnikof. I'm hoping it's just pre-season whatevers... But, dang, it's not looking outstanding. Whereas the rookie Davis is looking extremely impressive.

So true! Heck in in the Wanny years...I would just watch certain elements...like Trace Armstrong and Raymont Harris and get some enjoyment out of it! While I don't want the team to settle for anything less than championship calibur play...I know it's not always possible. I just want that to be the goal. I want to see improvement. (And improvement from last season hopefully shouldn't be all that difficult!) The Bears are all about running and D. And this season will probably be that times 10. I think we just all hope the O line can get a little better with some kind of help from the outside...

Looks like we're still in the running. I sure don't want to see him in Minny though...even if we don't take him.

Well, we're 2 pre-season games into the new season and we seem to have more questions than we may have initially thought... I also have noticed an abundance of "I told you so's" and "don't be negative's" flowing quite heavily. Heck, I'm personally guilty of both things to some degree! I was one of many who claimed that we shouldn't go so heavy after OL in the draft. While I thought we would make splashes in FA (Faneca), I was still sure the OL wouldn't be that much of an issue. Man, was I wrong! I've already posted about eating my plate of crow... Also, I've been quite harsh on the management and coaching staff. While I still am unsatisfied...I'll simply curb my complaints so I don't come off so darn negative...espcially given that nothing will be done until after season ends. With that all said, given everything that's already happened in the past...what can we do now? 1. I think we need to desperately seek out FA linemen. Bentley needs to be called ASAP. 2. I'd to see the coaches just pick the darn QB already.... Why not say, "given what we've seen and how last season ended, we're giving the nod to Kyle Orton. We'd like to see improvement in his play, but we feel he gives us the best opportunity to win." I just don't see either guy doing much one way or another in these next 2 pre-season games to make a darn difference at this point. 3. Let's utilize ALL our TE's... Granted Clark has an injury and that could change the landscape a bit, but let's involve all 3 guys. They all seem to offer something special and different. Can we even try our new rookie beast TE at FB on a few select plays? He blocks well, and can catch. Maybe we can "Fridge" him up the middle once or stice? While I won't lie and say we're going to the SB this year...I am still very excited to see this team play! I want to see the D regain their supremacy! I want to see our yourng RB establish himself, I want to see our TE's become the best in the league, I want to see Hester grow as a WR and keep scoring return TD's like they're going out of style, I want to see Kyle turn the corner and become a servicable NFL QB, and I want our team to play smart and hard! In all honesty, if I just get my last wish, regardless of the outcome of games, I will be on some level, happy. Playing smart and hard is a testament to both coaching and playing. Let's go Bears!

I haven't seen any of the game, but it's disappointing to hear Olsen can't block... I sure hope it's just pre-season BS... If not, I'll be readying another plate of crow as I thought he was a legit starter on any club!

You guys certainly were all about the OL! I know I wasn't... My plate of crow isn't too tasty, but I'll power it down...

ha!

You mean in FA or in the draft? In FA, we could have made a play for a few players...maybe McNabb, maybe Warner, maybe Quinn, etc... NOthing set in stone, and maybe Angelo did walk down those streets. We'll never know what transpired behind closed doors. But there was certainly no visible push to better our QB position other than pray Kyle or Rex could flip the switch. In the draft, there were quite a few QB's we opted to pass on...the list is pretty darn long. So, you were really content with just standing pat at the QB spot?

You're right, they weren't...in a good way. They fought extremely hard on D and on ST to take that game from the jaws of defeat. In those terms, the Bears were certainly not what he thought they were. However, maybe the struggling Grossman and bad play calling were. It's just the resiliancy of the D and Hester showed more heroics than his team could overcome. But in the same token his unemployed butt and Lovie possess the same number of Super Bowl wins as well...zero. If I'm making you skyrocket, then I must be doing something right!

Cracker, while I love your sarcasm and all, you're seriously missing the point. Those guys were on roster before Jerry got here. They are obviously foundations of the entire team. They have made a huge impact on the club and are virtually the 3 players reponsible for our run at the SB. As I've said countless times, which you're not seeming to pick up on...Angelo's done an outstanding job getting the defense in order. But a poor one getting the offense in order. Bringing in Thomas Jones, Tait I think...and a few others were his best moves. Other than those, it's been whiffs or plain oversights. Not to mention not checking off boxes and losing out on picks or something of the sort his first year. I can't recall the details. Like I said earlier...I can see giving Jerry a pass, even if we struggle this year. But if we struggle this year, the only pass Lovie should get should be a bus pass out of town.

Positives: Forte Re-signing our studs Cutting Benson & Moose Negatives: Passing on Faneca Not chasing down a QB starter or drafting one.

Don't get me wrong pix! I love this team and I bleed navy blue and burnt orange! I bash this team because I feel the legacy of Halas and the city of Chicago deserve better! I eagerly await the season as well! Crazier things have happened...and overall, I'm excited to see a heathly D makes some tremendous plays, see the wonderful Mr. Hester do his magic, and wach Forte develop into a legit NFL RB! I am just not expecting much else... My hope is that last year was an abmoination...but my fear is Denny Green was right.

nfo, you and I are difinitely on the same page on this...

Huh? First you say Jerry gets credit and then you say 3 of the single most important players on the team weren't drafted by Jerry? Jerry deserves some credit, but he also deserves a ton of blame for a putrid offense. I still think you give too much credit to the coaching staff... I still think the players did well despite the coaching. I think I just expect more from my coaches...

Sure we can! I'm not sure it was either...I think it was the players despite everything. Also, I think Ron Rivera deserves far more credit than he is given. I have not complaint in the least giving Lovie another year before making a decision. I'm just impatient... Turner is a bum and I am not convinced at all about Babich. I still would much rather have kept Chico.

We can debate who or what brought us to the Superbowl exactly... But, I agree, the club won't let them go. But yes, I would like to dump Lovie. Angelo, I will reserve judgement on. He's a virtual failure on O and virtual genius on D. So that gives him a C average. We are mimicing the Bucs, and they got nowhere other than one good season from Gruden's knowing of the Oakland playbook and great D. We could have one season like that with this regime (and some argue we already did and missed the boat), but I do not see many to come... I would prefer to have a better head coach personally. Lovie has shown me he is a poor judge of coordinators, he is a poor mid-game adaptor, his players get too many silly penalties that shows lack of preparation or care, and his vaunted cover 2 has been figured out by the entire league. Unless we shock the world and actually do well, I see Lovie on the hot seat potentially... Angleo could get a pass easily. ...and I'm acutally shocked that you are at a loss of words!

Actually, it's more of a case that this organization doesn't fire people under guaranteed contract... They pay for players as we've seen, but they don't pay for management. Angelo and Lovie were right out of Big Lots! How dare we consider shoping at Macy's and get Cowher and Wolf!

Good question!

http://www.charlestillman.org/ Feel free to send him your well wishes if you so choose...I have. There is no news on his issues on ths site.

Here's maybe a different spin... The coaching staff, fully realizing that all the world in Chicago doesn't like Rex, make it just unfair enough for Orton to win the "battle". Having won the battle, he starts. If he does what he's done in the past, basically managing the offense...we let the running game, defense and special teams dictate the season. If he falters, then you roll out Rex with no complaints form the peanut gallery. If Rex does well, then you sign him again. If not, you roll out Hanie at the end and do something for the love of all that's right and get a freaking QB! But I just can't get over the overall love the staff has for Rex. I still think Rex will start game one and be on a short leash. It's just a feeling I've had since both guys got re-signed. I just think that the team overall will falter, and tougher decisions than even QB will have to be made... I would love to see Cowher come here... Granted he's only won one Super Bowl, but damn if they guy didn't have the Steelers in the playoffs and usually fairly deep almost every year! Even with bloody Kordell!

My freind mentioned that...he can't recall where he saw/ heard it. Maybe WGN...

Ok, I'm now convinced you clowns are no longer talking about the Bears and need to start posting in another area on this site! Something like "Cracker & Nfo's Tea Party"

If that's the case, my best wishes go out to him and his family.