BigDaddy

Precisely my point on the roll outs and bootlegs. This kid can flat out move for a big guy. We need to use that talent but since it apparently doesn't fit into Turners little yellow school box, we apparently aren't imaginative enough to work it into the scheme. You wanna work it downfield, Cutler needs to move out of the pocket. It isn't that difficult to nmove the pocket or at least designing some blocking schemes for it.

Well, I would argue that some of this gets thrown Angelo's way. A good NFL coach instinctively feels heat when things aren't right. For the few that don't, they have GMs who hold them accountable. Lovie is apparently one of those coaches who doesn't instinctively feel the heat but Angelo doesn't appear to be putting any heat on Lovie, so if Lovie doesn't feel any heat, he's not likely to put it on the players. In turn, the problem can multiply. Players stop feeling the heat to perform better or up to their capabilities because the bar is not set high enough. I had a boss years ago who, no matter how well I did would pound into my head that I had it in me to do better and owed it to me and everyone around me to do better. I have always maintained that Lovie Smith is a soft coach. He instinctively finds ways to lose pivotal games and this team is merely taking on his personality. It's not that he's a bad coach, I just don't think he has the make-up to be a great HC. His defense, as wounded as we are is ranked 7th in the NFL. What concerns me is that situations like the no huddle against the Falcons get away from him and he just seems to let it snowball and get worse until we've given up a touchdown. A great HC would have called a timeout right away and regrouped but not Lovie, he just watched it happen and gave us all that lithium stare he's so good at. Truth is that this football team lacks discipline, focus and can't sustain it's intensity. It has nothing to do with lack of talent and everything top do with lack of preparation. Time for some good old fashioned heat to be applied to Lovie's ass. You listening Jerry?

I would agree that we are far too predictable offensively. I know the players are NOT executing. Forte looks completely lost and is putting the ball on the ground at an alarming rate. I think he is pressing way too much. That stretch out fumble in Seattle where his knee was down and lovie challenged, the attempt at flying over the pile at Atlanta and the subsequent fumble are all pointing to a guy trying too hard to make something happen. Olsen is dropping too many passes, even Clark dropped a crucial one at Atlanta. That said, Turner is a chickenshit. He is scared to death to turn Cutler loose. Look, If we can't run the ball, then pass it. We've got guys who can make something happen with the ball after the catch. We also have the fastest guys in the league as 2 of our WRs so forget the run for now and just throw the ball. In the league today, you don't have to have a stellar running game to win. We have invested the farm on Cutler, turn over the keys already Turner. NOW!

Sam reason Lovie Smith and Ron Turner have a job. Cuz they are all we have right now. We're stuck.

Of course we don't run it. That's because numb nuts Turner still thinks Orton is QB. He doesn't realize he has a QB who can run with the rock. That will open up all kinds of possibilities iof teams have to worry about Cutler scrambling.

I'm not trying to be funny but frankly, this offense needs to just get tha damn ball downfield. SCREW THE RUN! I don't care if we have to throw 60 times a game. This team for whatever reason is just not capable of running the football right now and until there are, we need to implement the same offense as New Orleans, yeah I know, never happen but unless we do, we are going to be an 8-8 football team. Look, Payotn isn't bashful and I think that Cutler can be as effective as Brees with the speed we have at WR. I would work my ass off to import a guy like TO if not him or get Aromashudo up to speed so we have some physical type WR to get the tough first downs but I would much rather watch Cutler throw 2 INTs every week and 3-4TDs than watch Forte and the O line stumble and fumble their way to failure. And don't tell me it won't work because last night we threw for 300 yds with ZERO running game. The only reason Turner won't do what New Orleans is doing is because he's a chicken shit and would rather lose a close game than risk a bl;owout. Hey, to me, a loss is a loss. I don't care what we lose by. We need to get the ball downfield.

Because we have to have something to do Sunday night.

I came away from this game thinking they both could be beat. See what happens when you stay in your gap assignment against Peterson and not try to do too much? He looked pretty human didn't he? The one thing I'll credit Capers for is having that line ready for AP. They did not get enough pressure on Favre though, but I didn't see anything so special that it would keep me up at night about either one of them. I think we're all gonna split with each other and whoever get's beat by Detroit, and make no mistake, one of us will get beat by Detroit. Whoever that is, will most likely be odd man out for a playoff run. The key for us is to come out ready to play. Hopefully our players and coaching staff know that by now.

I noticed that too. What do you suppose it is with this group that we just can't seem to play in the middle of the field? It's uncanny, we get burned alot over the middle on defense as well as STs.

I'll agree, we are playing better than last year in many respects. Our tackling is just as horrid if not worse, now it looks to have spread to our STs play. But Lovie is certainly doing a better job. I like some things about this defense aside from the fact it's cover 2, Tampa 2, whatever the hell you wanna call it. I would much prefer we scrap Harris and get another big guy in their with Adams. Hell, maybe Harrison could even fit the bill. I just hate the 3 technique DT. They really have gotten way too specific about the requirements for thatr guy. Just give me a couple of fat asses like Trayler and Washington and I'm happy. I do think that Payne, Afalava will be good ones as well as Manning. I am getting to like our CBs and I love our LBs even with Url out and contrary to popular belief, we don't need a rebuild. We just need an effective defensive scheme for our front 4.

Sure, but let me use your logic for a moment. after week 1 we were ranked 5th in the NFL defensively, we're now 9th. Another performance like last Sunday and we'll be 11th and headed south. At the risk of sounding like Biff Blache, stop putting so much emphasis on sacks, they can be dramatically overrated. By the way, we have been consistently slipping defensively since week 1 when we were the 5th ranked defense. I don't think either one of us wants to hazard a guess as to where they'll end up at seasons end if they continue as they are. I think what you are missing is, Tommie Harris keeps being wheeled out there every week and some hack writer is asked to do a fluff piece about him regaining his form but ANYONE who watches him each week can tell he IS NOT near there and alot of people believe he's done. If this team doesn't start tackling better, they are going to get shredded. It is only a matter of time until alot of teams do what Seattle did on Julius Jones TD against Tillman. Let's also look at all the 3rd and longs that are getting completed against this team. It all points to a underachieving or mediocre defense. Backs continuing to play soft from fear of getting burnt, gaping holes in the middle for God knows what reason. All I'm trying to say is, don't drink the koolaide. This defense IS NOT playing to their potential and they could slide right back to where they were last year if something isn't done to increase front 4 pressure, tackle better and play tighter coverage.

I think the most important factor is the coverage and i think Roach did a better job. He's quicker and appears more physical than Hillenmeyer. I'll bet he wins out. By the way, when is Pisa coming back? That could also have alot to do with what we see from Roach. If the guy has it in him to play the middle, he solves ALOT of problems at that spot. Maybe we need to let him continue to play it so we can develop him for the future. Url isn't getting any younger and maybe, dare I say, it's time we looked into his worth in the marketplace. If Roach is handling the job well, it sure could be a lightening rod for this defense.

What do you mean, the rest of us? Our defense is predicated on pressure by the front 4. You think we're getting penetration with our front 4?, You think we're tackling worth a tinkers damn? You think Tommie harris is anywhere close to being anything but serviceable at best? I don't know what US YOU are talking about but if there are more of you in there, remember, puff puff pass. The reason we have more sacks is because we're having to blitz so much more to make up for not getting enough push up fron from our d line. Even if we do end up with 48 sacks, so what? Our d line still is not getting enough push from the front 4. You and I have different expectations of our d line that's for sure.

Interesting take but it certainly doesn't explain why we can't tackle. If you know 90% of the plays Turners going to call based on the formation, our problems just became 100 times larger with our offense. I don't think Forte is starting slow, I believe he is hurt and I believe he has been hurt for awhile. Maybe people would be so disappointed in his performance if they knew he was hurt, something this organization hasn't seemed interested enough to want to address publicly. You look at how he's running and I think it's obvious, something, maybe that hamstring injury that he suffered in OTAs is bothering him. Let's not forget that Urlacher heard that same POP when he hurt his hamstring a few years back only to wind up on the IR a few games after the season started. I'll only add that this board and others like it are really about avid football fans discussing their favorite teams and voicing their pleasure or displeasure. Those that take it too seriously, regardless whether you are a naysayer or an eternal optimist are just more passionate about their views. I'm good with both of them.

First of all, noone is throwing our WRs or QB under the bus. Frankly, THEY are the ONLY reason we aren't 0-3. Our line play on both sides is horrid on offense and mediocre on defense. I say mediocre instead of bad because we did get some pressure on Rodgers and Rothlisberger. Let's face it, this team does not or just cannot tackle. That is unacceptable, it's a fundamental and extremely important ingredient in a defensive unit. We're a work in progress? Yes, but will it be progessively better or progressively worse? Do you know how many Bears teams we have watched that escaped a few early games, giving everyone hope that they were going to only get better, only to watch them go into the toilet? Besides, you don't just say hey we won, let's be happy. I certainly hope this team is not happy with what they've seen out of their lines. If they are, then it's gonna get uglier.

Let's face it, one of the top FA WRs is a guy we faced yesterday and held to 35 yds receiving and a fumble so what did we miss? You are right though, we could be 0-3 if not for Cutler.

Really? Well, the team the Lions are going to trot out against us Sunday will probably be better at ALL skilled positions than the team we played in Seattle. I said before the Seattle game and I'll say it right now before the Lions game. THIS team is due an upset ass kicking unless they get their shit together.

I think the point Hampton made that stood out for me was, stop waiting for Harris to re-emerge because he won't. We may just have to accept that he will be a marginal player. He also made a pitch for idonijie to get some PT at that position but said that Smith is too reluctant. I would have no problem sitting Harris. He just isn't earning his money.

give me another Adams for this d line. Screw the Tampa 2. Just give me the wide bodies and I'm good.

I say, who gives a rats ass what this douchebag says? Just because JA didn't sign him he's gonna show us what weve been missing? Jesus, why hasn't he done that to the first 2 teams he played. They passed on him too? It's sad that this is what motivates a guy. My advice, shut the phuck up and just play. The less we make of it the better. We just need to go out and play the way we're capable of.

I'm in Dallas as well and it's nowhere near the crap Cutler put up with. And nationally, I see nothing compared to Cutler bashing.

That's NOT an average run game. You may believe Benson is an average back but since he left Chicago, it's not like he's been panhandling pencils on the street corner. This league is akll about NOW and right now he's ranked in the top 6 in yds this year with ZERO runs over 20 yds to pad his stats and he did help Cinci last year as well. I thought letting him go was the right thing to do but if he continues to produce, then we have to accept we may have made a mistake. That's not taking anything away from Forte either. I believe we just don't run block well against a 3-4. Nothing more than that.

Hey, let's also not forget Tony Romo's 27.1 QB rating stinker with 3 picks.

Sorry, but on this one, I'm gonna relegate Carol to writing pieces for Better Homes and Gardens. We were trying to do 2 things, 3 things actually, get into FG position, run the clock down and win the game. Goulds history tells us that IF we do that, he will win it for us. Besides, scoring a TD with 1:20 left would not have been prudent. Too many things can happen. I don't think it has anything to do with trusting Cutler although let's face it. If you are tied, you have an opportunity to drive the ball downfield, minimize your risks and eat up the clock hoping for a FG, the worst thing that can happen is you don't make the FG, you tie and go into OT.

Good post. I am one who believes the QB makes the WR although a great WR will be able to help make a good QB better. Each week I get more hopeful about the possibilities of this receiving corps. If they keep improving and Cutlers number continue, THEN we'll finally be able to see this running game we've been missing but back to the WRs, it's possible we could have ourselves 1 or 2 1000 yd WRs and THAT'S exciting.