CrackerDog

Best post of the month!

What options did Lovie have? Recall that we just drafted the guy replacing Webb.

Yep. Very possible.

You ought to know.

You used the word open which changes things. All I ever said and continue to say was there was a competition because the evaluation process had to be taking place. No way two coaching staffs in a row give Webb a pass if he sucked. Not that I want to get back into all of this again, I'm just glad that it's clear that they were clearly evaluating the players on their merit, behind the scenes or otherwise, and they appear to have come to the same conclusion most of us have on Webb. I just wanted to wait until we had a few things to judge the new coaches on before I got all angst-ridden about something ONE writer wrote.

For what it's worth, I agree with you on the exclamation points. He overdid it. But damn dude, let it go...

The point is, Twiggy, there always was a competition. Just because you imagined something that made you really really upset, doesn't mean your perception was ever reality. I told you and Jason to calm down and that the evaluation was going on regardless of what was said publicly but you both stomped your feet and pouted like a couple of little kids. Since Jason embarrassed himself he's run off and hid. You don't have the same sense. As to your constant whining about your alleged use of the word "if". If you bother going back to that thread and reading it you'll find that you used the word "if" in that context only after your panties were ruffled up big time. Over and over again you defended Pompeii's observations and took his word as gospel. Webb's suck to not suck ratio was too high for a professional coach not to notice. As soon as they were convinced, which took them ONE PRESEASON GAME, they demoted him, replaced him with a rookie and cut his pay in half. How much more decisive could they have been? But no, you and Jason wanted it announced on the first day of camp that they had an open competition at right tackle. Why? Because it would make you feel better. Well, you know what you and Jason can do with your hurt feelings...

If Cutler can't hack this offense, this year is over already. And for me it'll mean we should've just stuck with Lovie for another season. I think Cutler can and will produce in the new offense and it'll be humming 4 games or so into the season. But until then, it'll be a bit bumpy. Our backup QB on this team is there for one reason only, to replace Cutler if he's injured. None of these journeymen is stepping in and taking us to the promise-land. Just my opinion.

Now that may be worthy of exclamation points. LOL. Maybe not... Let's hope there's enough time before the season to get him ready. It'll be interesting to see who sticks from this lot.

Somebody better find out where SCS is and take away any sharp objects he might have around him. LOL Oh, and Chicken Little's Twig and Jason, how's that competition looking to you now?

Any concern they might fine him for the hit? I've watched it a dozen times and can't tell if there's helmet to helmet contact. It looks like he leads with the shoulder pads. As far as I'm concerned, I love it, regardless. Just that when a guy gets fined it tends to take a little out of him the next time he's in that position. I hope, if there is a fine, he pays the fine and keeps playing the same way!

Cutler is in the mold of Favre, you're absolutely right. But even Brett had the playoff brain-fart that ended the Vikings season one game early. He had an amazing year but he was still a gunslinger. I'm not sure he'll be right for our system. Ever. But I think most would say Brett was elite when he was at the top of his game. My point about Cutler is exactly what you say above, this is really his first chance with the Bears to be elite. For lots of reasons already pointed out, he's had to deal with issues outside his control and they've provided him with excuses. I'm not saying all of those are resolved but the very focus of this team when Lovie was fired was to take the team from a dominant D focus to an offensive focus. That shift means, to me, we can't look at the years Cutler's had as a Bear and say with any certainty that he can't be elite here. Further, he was approaching elite status before he got here! So... I'm not throwing the dirt on his grave yet. He's got this season to prove he's worthy of another contract. That's his motivation even if that jerky guy shows up in press conferences. I know he's got the physical tools and we'll find out if he's got the heart very soon.

Amen.

He better take 'em out for a steak dinner like good ol' #9 used to.

I don't. I'm not saying he is but you can't tell this much from pre-season game #2. I was pissed last week because they didn't show any polish whatsoever and you guys rightly called me on having my expectations set too high. This week it's you all and coming down on Cutler. Lighten up Francis. The line, during that first series and at times during the rest of Cutler's play, wasn't stellar. He was seeing pressure. He caused his own problems at times too, don't get me wrong. I think Cutler will have trouble with trust issues with this line for at least the first 5 or 6 games of the regular season. They won't probably "gel" before that and he'll be taking some hits. Yep. Let's be honest, Cutler may be a jerk but he isn't stupid. Long would kill him!

I got almost everything I hoped for out of this game... rookies starting in the O Line - CHECK! The rooks played well together. Long is a ferkin' stud. Anyone who doubted this pick should slap yourself in the face RIGHT NOW. There was a running play to the left where I saw him crush his man, head out into the secondary and nail another guy. Of course the left side of the line didn't get the job done but Long was attacking even when the play wasn't on his side. I really like this kid. This offense needs to look professional tonight. - CHECK! Although Cutler zoned in on Marshall it was his first game on the field with Jay this preseason and I'm pretty sure Jay wanted to see that they still have chemistry in the new system. Besides, he just plain feels more comfortable with BM on the field. Unlike many of you, I don't find this to be a problem. Next week is the "dress rehearsal" and with a little game planning, scripting of plays, etc we should see the offense open up a bit. We'll get a good idea of who the coaches are likely to cut at various positions. - Not sure about cuts but we certainly found a few guys who are a lot more likely to MAKE the team now. Ford looked good. Is Peppers playing? NOPE. We got some pressure though. And SMC played like he knew what he was doing. Bostic's hit was special. Tackling was, for the most part, OK by the starters. Starters will play a quarter or so if history is any indication. Has Nerdman said otherwise? - Frankly after seeing this team show a little more polish last night, I might start calling him by his real name. After that first series I was getting pissed! The team, for preseason, have been pretty disciplined too. Few penalties. It's a veteran group of guys but I'm still impressed with not seeing 15 false starts a game. Would it be so bad to see Forte hit an actual hole the line opened for him? - CHECK! A big check at that. Nice blocking, Forte kept his feet and almost took it to the house. And, of course, let's stay healthy! - Third string QB didn't make it through the game. That's not good for the 4th preseason game. We'll need someone to kill most of that game time. Is Jeff George available?

Could they have picked a worse crew to announce this game?

Obviously for me the rookies starting in the O Line will be my #1 concern. Want to see Cutler succeed. Hopefully the WR's will all play. No excuses! This offense needs to look professional tonight. We'll get a good idea of who the coaches are likely to cut at various positions. Is Peppers playing? If so I sure hope we get more pass rush than last week. Even if he isn't, there's no excuse for that. Starters will play a quarter or so if history is any indication. Has Nerdman said otherwise? Would it be so bad to see Forte hit an actual hole the line opened for him? And, of course, let's stay healthy!

The article makes it pretty clear his getting cut would be related to his health. In that regard, that comment could apply to pretty close to 100% of the non-star players in the league. What point would there be in the Bears placing him on IR and paying him? Pretty silly for the author to even bring it up, IMO.

Maybe. But your boy has to play his way into the spot now. It was his to lose and thus far he's managed to lose it. To a rookie drafted in the 5th round! I hope this fires him up but the quote from Webb in that article something like "I don't know if I'll start" feels like a guy who isn't fired up enough to go out there and bust his ass to win it. Unlike others here, I kinda doubt he gets cut. I do see the numbers game they're pointing to though and it's possible, if he falls out of favor enough, he could end up unemployed. PS. I read that Carimi has been slated for a backup role in Tampa. They don't see him being able to beat out either of their starters. Not a surprise to me but I think someone (can't remember who) mentioned that he'd probably turn into a stud. Not so far.

All well and good until he used the word "Stellar" in reference to Webb. Then I had to say enough was enough. I actually took SCS's side in the whole "Webb is being handed a job" thread because it was clear to me that just because the team didn't announce there was a competition, there had to be one. Or they simply realized they had no other option. Those that were proven wrong, slinked off. One preseason game was enough to send Webb to practice with the second string. I'm starting to like Nerdman and his coaching staff more and more each day.

I could be wrong but this certainly feels like one of those classic cases of "Guy on internet says something silly and then can't back down despite all evidence that he should". I've fallen into that trap myself over the years. I'm old now and I've learn to just say "My bad" and get on with life. As to Webb, it's always been clear he sucked but nothing makes it more evident than the fact that after one preseason game his coaches demoted him to second string behind a 5th round rookie. If that doesn't sink in for SCS, nothing will.

Is Webb your brother or cousin?

I found your statement "but for the last 2 months+ of the regular season he was more than stellar" to be an insult to the intelligence of this board.

I'd like to know when the last time an entire side of an O Line was rookies. I'm sure it happens but I assume it's rare. Hey, at least Cutler will see them coming! LOL! I sure hope they figure something out.