Alaskan Grizzly

In watching a few highlights and specifically the New Orleans / Green Bay contest earlier this week, many teams Defenses' are simply not ready. I believe Deion Sanders was making the point on NFL Network during "NFL Gameday". Something along the lines of how during the off-season and specifically the lockout you heard of teams' Offensive members meeting with each other but not many Defensive players (as a unit) getting together. Going back to the Saints/Packers game a total of 76 points combined and the passing that was going on, revealed many blown coverages. And in many other games highlights again Defensive backs and LB's not being where they were supposed to be. Or in the case of the Bears / Falcons contest where they (Falcons) were unable or willing to wrap up and make a tackle. Save the Bears...they seemed to do just fine. Perhaps because most of the players have been in the same system for awhile? Hmmm.... I think it could be a few weeks before we see the other Defenses catching up with where the Offenses are in terms of preparation.

I've said it once and I'll say it again. Say what you will about Martz, but not only is the team learning the Martz concept, but what we have been watching as of recent is not "The Greatest Show on Turf" redux. Martz is adapting his style of offense to what the Bears give him. He is also taking into account with the difficulty the OLine has been having. With screens and delays and a few trick plays thrown in occasionally to keep the opposing Defense honest. It was seen in small amounts during the pre-season and yesterday in larger doses with the Falcons. This adaptation by Martz definitely put the Atlanta Defense on its heels.

I have to say your REview was pretty sweet. However your PREview...well let's just say that I too am glad you were wrong. However, if you continue that trend and the same results come about, then by all means keep it up.

Jennings is no doubt a very reliable player. He has produced with regularity, the ONLY real knock on him is his size. Or, as I've said before, the lack thereof. He measures in at 5'8" but plays much bigger and fast. He seems to be in the right place at the right time, most times. The trouble he has is the "jump ball" situation against receivers like Robert Meachem (6'2"), Jordy Nelson (6'3"), Calvin Johnson (6'5") or other receivers the Bears could be matching him up against. But then again, as was mentioned Julio Jones was kept "quiet" throughout most of the day and he's 6'3".

Hey a Meriweather sighting!!!!

Another smart heads up play by Reed.

Say what you will about Martz but this is not "the greatest show on turf"'. Instead he has figured out ways to adapt his play calling to work with what he is given. The man knows what he is doing. The biggest adapt: adding delays and screens.

This was a good keep on the Bears part. Something tells me he is going to pay big dividends.

17-31 in favor of the "Dirty Birds"? Really? As Keyshawn would say: C'mon man!

In defense of the Bears. Their (GB) offense is the same they had last year, save that rookie kid that ran back the 108 yd TD. Finley will be tricky to cover but with stout (and I hope that it is) coverage by Jennings and Tillman (with help from Harris and Meriweather(?)) then he will be the only real concern. In that regard Finley could have it tough with Urlacher, Briggs and Roach(?) covering the middle. I see more of zone type coverage in the middle for him. - slight advantage Chi I saw NO go to the cover two later in the game too and things seemed to calm. Unfortunately for them I don't know that is their comfort level D. With Gregg Williams just starting as D coordinator there (paired with the lockout) and that New Orleans has not had a prolific D I didn't see them getting comfortable UNTIL they went to the Cover 2. The Bears have been running the Cover 2 for how long now and have some of the best players in that scheme - big advantage Chi The point of the "pass rush" you make is an important one. If I'm not mistaken, that is what disrupted Rodgers in all three games the Bears and Packers played last year. Even the sluff #2 game with backups playing most of the way. With Peppers and Idonije (and who knows who else) getting on Rodgers that only makes him become hurried. The big gains last night were due to poor pass rushing and his ability to scan the field. Rodgers usually gets pretty beat up playing the Bears and that counts in the Bears favor - big advantage Chi. Their defense is pretty decent. With Dom Capers you know that there will be a lot of corner/safety blitzes and Clay Matthews showing up in the backfield. Something I saw in the preseason gave me hope which was the development of a lot of delay and screen plays. That will be huge and as I said before they could hope to meet Jay in the backfield all they want, problem is that Forte or Bell will already have left. That will open things up down field. Although their secondary is good they too will have the same challenges as the Bears with one on one coverage. They may do better in that regard but what equals it out is the Bears better running attack and improved Oline run blocking. - even or slight advantage GB Overall there is no denying that GB is a flashy team but Chicago was able to corral them pretty well in two of the games they played together last year. The first matchup, that CHI won, was actually with most of the starters in so GB couldn't even use that excuse. These two games this year will be like usual. A knock down drag out fight to the finish. If Chicago stays true to itself and doesn't try for the big gains it will do just fine.

In his defense, at least on this one, the original post of his is an actual quote from the article he cited. Can't really blame him on this one.

The Pack is definitely beatable. The Bears did it early last year and nearly pulled it off in the big game....with a backup QB nonetheless. The Bears can and will match up with them fine. They (Packers) did look good yes but the Saints defense looked like crap. They could not cover and were almost always out of place. The Bears' defense is much more organized and pressure better than the Saints ever will. I think when its all said and done I predict the Bears will come out 2-1 after the first three games.

Ah yes...drop him is what I should have meant. Think it's too late for New Orleans to reconsider trade talks?

I'm actually eating Dirty Rice for dinner and wearing white and black, inadvertanly. I'm so going for New Orleans tonight. Watching Kreutz tonight makes me appreciate that he was traded. Pack has gotten to Brees many times ala Kreutz' lane.

Well if for nothing else, this could explain how the Bears are about $20 Mil or more under the cap. Bodes well for players like Forte and others that need work done on their contracts this year. And the possibility of more Meriweather-like signings. The way I look at it, I don't see at it as "really bad" players at the bottom as much as I think pretty decent back-ups to some pretty good starters. Why would you really want high paid/quality players sitting on the bench? Coach Toub is going to get most of these guys working in his ST scheme and help them learn the overall system to (hopefully) become regular contributors.

I feel the idiot for wasting my time reading that.

Now THAT'S funny, I don't care who you are.

I would agree that Meriweather is WAY better than Manning ever will be. And i did say I thought that Manning was, at best mediocre... Not fantastic. Besides his run back ability and "edge blitzing" Manning did have a few notable picks where he left his feet and caught them mid-air. None of those things, I believe, he carried in with him when he came from AC. Instincts suck... Sure I'll give you that but as i said before he improved from crappy to mediocre with the help of Lovie. And as is sometimes the case he didn't stay unemployed long. Houston must have liked something they saw.

I like Meriweather for his style of play but that could prove dangerous in a Cover 2 (for the Bears) as he would be trying for the big hit and his coverage skills are weak as a result. Or so says a coworker of mine who is from the Boston area. But as much as Lovie is probably intrigued with the pickup, I have hope he can get him back to his Pro Bowl level. I believe I remember reading some time ago where Lovie took Danieal Manning under his wing and individually worked with him. Look at the improvement Manning made from crappy to mediocre if not better in the short time he was with the team.

The Giants are one of those teams I would not like to see Briggs on as that would make them that much better. And as much as I like Osi, for his play, don't think he would be a good mix for Chicago. And his age and fact that he is wanting more is disenchanting.

I think mostly it has to do with Lovie's familiarity with Defense and doing well at maintaining a strong one. I believe he entrusts a lot to Tice and Martz and if they say they are good, so says Lovie. Will it work? We'll see. I have to think that the team made it as far as they did, despite Jay being sacked 52 (?) times then maybe overhauling too much could upset the "balance". And that (OL status) appears to be the only real ding in the armor still lingering from last year. However and like Jay, I don't want him to have to risk being sacked 52 times again.

Not saying this would be a counter but the Patriots did sign Guard Brian Waters today (formerly of the Chiefs). He who had been sitting around as an FA for awhile now. And whatever happened to Leonard Davis? Maybe what the Bears have in place at OL will work? As much of an optimist as I usually am, the only thing that really concerns me right now is the OL. Not like I am going to lose sleep concerned, just a little.

For what it's worth and if anyone cares, Chester caught on with the Cardinals and Marcus Harrison is with the Panthers...for now.

Maybe Brandon McGowan? Like the move. Although he's not an OLman....

Are you kidding me??? This is too easy. Rex Rick Mirer and this whole mess: Cade McNown: And lastly...this should have been a sign of problems: John Thierry