jason

Finally! Just like I called for. Off-tackle, let Forte setup his blocks, and he's off to the races. If the Bears' inside running game is to be successful, then the outside running game must at least be utilized in order to thin out the DL.

Just for the record, I've stated numerous times that Turner would do a better overall job than me, and knows more than me. On the other hand, however, I also feel that people too "in the know" end up out-thinking themselves, and fail to see the obvious, the common-sense approach. I believe Turner is often guilty of this. Whereas a novice probably wouldn't do that, because it would be about the basics and fundamentals.

So far I have found: Jay Cutler Matt Forte Tommie Harris Greg Olsen Nick Roach Do you guys know of anyone else on there?

Does ANYONE like the Cover-2? If it weren't for the fact that Stafford has missed about 5 wide open receivers, the Lions could very well be winning this game.

Wow. This is atrocious. The missing LBs are killing the Bears. The front four is looking horrible.

Holding on the screen play not called. I think it was Payne, but the guy "blocking" him, basically hugged him around the waist. Bears are getting the short end of the stick on the officiating in this game.

Agreed. Here's what I'd like to see with Wolfe: Off tackle. Stretch play. Sweep. Draw. FB lead block. Screen.

Wolfe up the pipe (gets stuffed)! That crafty Ron Turner!!!! lol

Agreed. I love the play call for the TD, but would it kill the Bears to run Forte on the outside once on a stretch or sweep play? Let Forte setup the blocks, plant a foot, and explode downhill. On the other hand, back to the TD...I love the QB play action call that almost always seems to result in a TD to the TE.

Greg Olsen would like a word with you.

TOMMIE SIGHTING!!!! Every Bear player is suddenly showing up!

HAHAHAHAHA!!! TOO EASY!!! QB roll out, play action, suck it Lions!

LOL. Nice. Speaking of nice, Earl Bennet's hands.

Surprised they didn't call a facemask on Alex Brown again.

How can the Bears continue to send the entire DL and all the LBs, and NOT GET FRIGGIN PRESSURE!?

Gotta love the cover-2 (i.e. zone defense) when your front seven can't get pressure.

Calvin Johnson has Tillman on roller skates.

CUTLER BITCHES!!

What's the prescription for an underperforming offense? The Lions' defense. Go Forte!!

So much for the fast start. Horrible Defense gives Calvin Johnson a long catch. Offsides on a field goal try gives the Lions a first down. Absolutely atrocious call on a phantom face mask - on a great play by Alex Brown - that gives the Lions the ball on the doorstep. Nice.

Yes, thank you for saving me the time. That's my point. I'll expand a bit more on that idea, however. First, the "if you don't work in the NFL" argument is stupid. There are tons of high school coaches who are legendary, and probably have more football knowledge in their little finger than some coaches in the NFL. Look up coach Barta of Smith Center in Kansas for a quick example. Second, find a knowledgable, passionate, intelligent, devoted fan, who has football experience on more than simply playing a year or two of varsity in high school, and give that person the type of money the OCs in the NFL make, and give them a year's crash course on the verbiage and lingo, and I have no doubt in my mind that many could do better than some of the worst in the NFL, and even more as the level of play decreases. That person probably wouldn't be up to Turner's level in one year on an overall basis, but I would contend that the person would be at least at Shoop's level.

You answered your own question. I just didn't feel like calling him out specifically...even though he has replied in this thread with more of the same nonsense that insinuates the infallibility of the coaches simply because they are in the NFL (even though this entire thread is about an NFL coach questioning himself on the very same play several of us hated when he ran it before and didn't learn his lesson). As for the overall ability and what not, I've come out and said that Turner probably knows more about football than anyone on this board (at least in the sense of calling plays). On the other hand, I think he's often too far into the forest to see the trees, and outthinks himself by trying to be too cute. I also feel that he locks himself into an idea (i.e. run the ball up the middle on 3rd and short), even though he doesn't put in the right players. Regarding bad calls by OCs in the league, yes, they all make mistakes. I just think that Turner makes far more boneheaded mistakes than many I've seen. It's like taking a hard math test: I can understand missing the difficult ones, with equations, letters, and all sorts of various disciplines going into the formula. But I can't accept someone at his level missing so many of the little ones, the common sense ones.

NFO - It's more about down and distance than the specific call. That call is not bad on first or second. But on third and short, the primary call in all levels of football is a power run up the middle. Everyone knows this. It's the offense saying, "We're getting one yard, and there is nothing you can do about it." But since it's such an obvious play, there is nearly no deception...which is why the play-action, QB roll out, toss to the TE works so well in that specific situation. So, to run Wolfe up the middle in that situation is simply a bad call. Turner admitted it, but, to be quite honest, I don't know he attempted after how horribly it worked in Minnesota last year. That play, for that situation, for that personnel, for that down and distance, should have been scratched from the playbook.

Ron Turner - I just don't see it. And, frankly, if someone says that, then I have to question their opinion on this matter. Even the casual fan can recognize that Turner isn't in the top five. Unless, of course, I'm forgetting about when he completely baffled opponents with his play calling on a consistent basis, or coached an offensive team that scored well above league average for an extended period of time.

The point I'm making is that some on here act as if Turner is infallible, and can't be questioned. On this play specifically, members of this board, including me, crucified Turner for it. All we were met with was, "You don't know because you're not in the NFL." Well, here is a guy in the NFL who says that he got it wrong. He admits to making a stupid call. As for Wolfe, I do think he's more than a one trick pony. He is not, however, a power back, 3rd and short, run it up the pipe guy. As for Turner overall, I also think he's improved this year, and I've said as much. This is simply more about some on this board who act as if we, the mere football fans, have no clue, and the coaches are unquestionable in their decisions.