jason

I can reply to my quote easily by saying I agree with what you've said. But you and I both know the Bears aren't the Giants, and we possess neither the offensive firepower (i.e. Manning and those WRs) nor the defensive firepower (i.e. their DL) that can get hot and absolutely destroy teams, regardless of matchup, for a stretch of playoff games. As for the "shut anyone down" stuff, I still think you're missing the point. The Bears don't stomp on people. When they have the lead they may hold on - and even a Lovie-hater like myself has to admit that he holds on more than most - the simple fact is that his scheme allows opponents to stick around and make a game of it. We very rarely see a game like the Titans game this year when they step on the gas pedal and never let up. Normally Lovie sees anything equal to or greater than a touchdown lead and drastically alters gameplan.

And, despite making the playoffs, that will probably be a disappointment because it will save Lovie while simultaneously get the team most likely hammered in the first round.

I believe the reference was to Lovie Smith's patented "get a 10 point lead at any point in the game and immediately call off the dogs while playing a semi-prevent the rest of the game"-strategy.

Amen.

I was beside myself at the 4th down play. I definitely did not want them to go for it. At that distance, it's almost a guaranteed 3 points. You never give away points. Especially that early in the game. They should have kicked the FG. Also, is it Forte's inability to run between the tackles, the OL's inability to both pass and run block in a single game, or maybe some of both? I personally think it's both, with the lion's share falling on the OL as usual. There were very few holes for Forte to hit. You are dead on right about the D wearing down. I was mentioning this to friends at the end of the game. It's the same thing every year.

The thing is, that's only frowned upon. It's not illegal. I don't know why the hell the OL isn't doing it to begin with!! Inferior OL talent can be maximized when they dive at the knees of the DL. There is a reason the Denver Broncos had a string of nobodies run for 1000 yards, and it almost all stems from the fact that their OL cut blocked the DL on a consistent basis. That's what the Bears should do more of. Then add in the chip blocks, maybe some really low ones, and the DL starts to second-guess their all-out assault. That's what infuriates me about Tice and this OL. They don't even try to maximize their matchup by putting the DL on their heels. Instead, the DL knows there is no danger, and they pin their ears back to rush with impunity.

Trepidation is not necessary. Is Webb, Carimi, Garza, Louis, Scott the worst the Bears could do? Absolutely not. Does it "look like a pretty good line"? Hell no. But I guess if we're used to eating shit sandwiches, spoiled ham isn't too bad. BTW - We don't necessarily disagree on how to build an OL. I just don't think the FA pieces are usually there. Tait was an anomaly, and if I recall a poison pill contract that KC couldn't match. Normally that guy is not available. Not with that many years left anyway. Brown in 2006 was lightning in a bottle. And Miller was at the tail end of his career, and I still can't believe the Bears squeezed three years out of him. Finding available vets who were once studs, and who can still play at a high level, is not something that is bankable for very long. When it works it's great, but you're pretty much always reloading every year because one of the guys doesn't work or one of the guys needs to retire. I prefer the draft because when you hit, there is a player on your team for a decade.

The point about Carimi being on roller skates was that, even while injured, Scott didn't start over him. That generally means Scott is a worse player. My comments are not intended to be personal at all. It's just that this is years and years in the making, and yet there are still people, apparently you are included, that think an OL of Webb, Carimi, Garza, Louis, Scott "looks like a pretty good line." Broken down that just doesn't make sense. Webb is at best subpar. Carimi would be in a brand new position (disregarding the fact that it would be a completely misplaced and wasted draft pick). Garza would still be an average center at best. Louis would be an average guard coming off a massive injury. And Scott is a nobody who couldn't start over Carimi when he was playing like garbage. How does that look "like a pretty good line"?

That's clearly the intent, but I don't think it's very high probability considering the personnel. Glad it worked, but I doubt it would work very often given the exact same scenario. 9 out of 10 times Spaeth drops it.

I like the move as well, as a stop-gap. If he ends up going to C, and Garza moves to G, then I'd wonder WhyTF Lovie and crew didn't make the move when Spencer was signed. After all, Spencer was explicitly signed to be the replacement for Kreutz. Enough of this switcheroo BS. Put the players in the positions they have played and are familiar with.

Notice I didn't say anything about the rollout. I like it. Notice I also didn't say anything about the play design itself. I like it. The personnel grouping for that play, however, is downright problematic when the Bears have much better options to fill those roles. And going on your "confuse the defense" theory, that would be even more of a reason for Rodriguez to be in there on that play.

Great link and breakdown. I enjoyed it. There are major problems, however... 1. Why are the Bears running plays where it appears the primary target is the third best pass-catching TE on the roster? 2. Why are the Bears running passing plays when they have their two best blocking TEs, who are also the two worst pass-catching TEs? 3. Why are the Bears running passing plays when they have their two worst pass-catching TEs and their #5 WR (#4 by injury to Alshon) in the game? It worked. I was shocked. I was ecstatic. But it's a horrible personnel grouping for the play design. Substitutions should not be wholesale.

All of what you said may be true, but doesn't it bother you that the Bears have drafted two NFL OTs, or at least had the original intention of using them there, and this concept would move both of them to OGs? Why not just wait longer in the draft and get OGs? And the last sentence...c'mon man. Webb, Carimi, Garza, Louis, Scott is not a good OL. We're barely two weeks removed from one of the worst OL performances in Bear history, and you're already making that statement? Webb will not be good. Carimi would be in a new position. Garza would be the best of the bunch, but still not superb. Louis would be coming off of massive injury, and was never an all-star. And Scott is a virtual nobody who couldn't start over Carimi, who was on roller-skates for the last couple games or so.

He should absolutely get fined. The blindside is not what I have a problem with. If it were a blindside block and he drilled someone in the sternum, no big deal. It's the fact that he launched himself upward with specific intention of hitting someone above the shoulders. He intended to cause injury. He intended to remove a player from the game. It was dirty. Period.

Just like you said, in the grand scheme of things, none of our opinions matter or influence the Bears front office. But sometimes the timing of certain decisions is interestingly right after it's suggested on this board. As for the gig, thanks, but as an OL coach, someone actually being paid to improve their performance, you couldn't deal with me. I'd be insufferable. I don't see how any OL coach the Bears have had in the past 5 years or so has lasted beyond 1 year, much less gotten a promotion. But, it's the thought that counts. Happy Holidays.

Exactly. What's the Einstein quote about doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results? It's hard to blame Forte for bouncing on runs so often when the OL fails to provide the hole so often. Getting hit behind the line is nothing new; I'm pretty sure the Bears led the league in that last year. He's better off going on instinct or looking at color groups than he is trying to follow the hole designed by the play-call.

Agreed. But it made me think, "If Carimi got demoted, WTF does Webb have to do to get demoted?" As bad as Carimi has been, he's started sliding more in the past two or three games. Previous to that he wasn't horrible. Maybe average to just below average. Webb has been anywhere from atrocious to average just about the entire time he's been in a damn Chicago Bears uniform. (decent game today doesn't make up for countless games he has completely sucked)

For the millionth time, sacks are not the total evaluation of an OL. This has been shown over and over again. Sacks may be close, but pressures, hits, and knock-downs are nowhere near close. Cutler gets chased like rabbit at a race track. And for the millionth time, I don't think OL is the only problem with the team. That's what you think about me. It's not my fault you can't read the numerous times I've said we also need other positions. But make no mistake, OL is the #1 need, and probably the #2 need. The reason your post was/is stupid is that when you posted it, Klein would have been a first round draft pick. And the Bears do not need QB as a first round draft pick since they have Cutler. They need many other positions before they need QB. Typically teams draft BPA or need, and when they already have a franchise QB, they still don't get a QB unless their current starter is nearing retirement. Since you thought QB was a first round need (which is absolutely ridiculous), then I absolutely do know more about football than you.

FYI - Tait and Brown were both first round draft picks. First round draft talent. Spending money on a FA 1st round OT talent is expensive, and most teams don't let those guys go. I still don't think you can blame Cutler since the OL has sucked for so long. For the record, I've said numerous times that QB is a position that requires a multi-year, consistent effort. Like the Packers do it. Having a guy in waiting who is qualified is a great security blanket. But that requires an effort from the front office to draft QB semi-regularly. Something they don't do. Same as the OL.

If you set up your own strawman to destroy (something you've done), it's easy to make your point. Nobody said, "OMG! The only time a LT should EVER be drafted is the first round!!" We're all just saying that the OL should have been addressed multiple years ago, multiple years in a row, all until the shit gets fixed. Why is that so difficult for you to understand? Are you blind? Do you watch the games? Have you read anything regarding how the Bears' QBs have been absolutely brutalized the last several years? As for what you "proved," you've only really proved that you don't have a clue about statistics and percentages (hint: divide the little number by the big number). Please read all the people above you who have pointed this out to you. Drafting OTs early statistically strengthens the odds of drafting one who succeeds. And, for the second time, it's completely ignorant to try and equate a single player's ability with a team's success. No LT in the NFL will make an offense work if the LG, C, RG, and RT all take turns completely sucking. Again, divide the little number (one) by the big number (five) and you'll see how much individual impact a LT has on an entire OL.

HAHA! Yeah, because THAT'S the dude who should have been starting and protecting the team's blue-chip player.

Even I do prescribe to that train of thought. But if the stars did align, and the Bears thought BPA in the first three rounds was the way to go, it wouldn't upset me if it played out like this: 1. Barrett Jones, Alabama, OT/OG/C 2. DJ Fluker, Alabama, OT 3. Travis Frederick, Wisconsin, OG/C Barrett Jones would be the best possible pick for the Bears because he excels at multiple positions, and combined with Frederick the Bears could do virtually anything on the OL.

This made me snort. Bravo.

Of the top 11, six were drafted in the first round. To include the aforementioned Bulaga and Albert. The top three (Stewart, Clabo and Peters) were all picked in the 4th round - Stewart or (in the case of the other two) not even drafted to begin with. So with odds outside of 50/50 I can't say with certainty that Offensive Tackle position is the one to take each and every time for the first round. At least not as much as you or Jason would like to convince me. So, 50% of the best offensive linemen in the NFL were taken in round 1, and your argument is that taking one in round 1 is a bad idea? Yeah, maybe you should attend these slumber parties. Classic.