BearFan2000

Was watching the Giant's vs Cheatriots and the potential go ahead TD for the Giants stood out to me. Beckham has possession, with 2 feet in the end zone, then the ball is ripped out by the DB it's ruled no catch.... That brought me back to the Lions game where Golden Tate barely had possession for even a split second before it's ripped out and intercepted. Yet Tate is awarded a TD, Beckham is awarded and incomplete pass. Can someone explain why Tate's was and Bechkham's wasn't. To me if Beckham's wasn't neither should Tates. I know the rules get muddier and muddier with each "judgement" call. But that play last night reinforces that we got screwed.

What a great team win, we owned the game in the second half. Two huge long TD drives in the 3rd and the 4th quarters we controlled the clock and the score board. Hats off to the D for standing tall in the final drive by the Chargers. Back to back sacks by Houston followed by two big pass breakups to seal the win. This is huge. It's one thing to be competitive but find ways to lose but it's a growing step to start to find ways to win these close games. Now a little perspective we had to have a big second half to come back and beat a 2-5 Chargers team so its not like we just knocked off a contender but these kind of wins build character and a culture of winning. We fans and the Bears know they should have won 2-3 of the games they lost because they found ways to lose. Bears are only 3-5 but are already far more entertaining to watch than last year where I pretty much stopped subjecting myself to that dumpster fire that was the 2014 Bears. I see growth and I like it. Not perfect by any means had we played better in the first half we could have won this handily. An additional note this is a double win for me. My Bears come up with a big win, and that last Defensive stand literally won me the biggest fantasy win of the season so far. I was leading my matchup 161.24 to 124.72 going into tonight and needed Philip Rivers to be held under roughly 36 points (our leagues scoring causes QB scores to be a bit higher than normal). My opponent was sitting at around 159 before the sack, sack, incomplete, incomplete that knocked his final score back to 155.92 It was a stressful final drive for the Bears fan in me and the fantasy owner in me. Happy for both wins.

I'm pretty much in agreement with the posts in this thread. I'm with Cracker on this you do build a winning attitude by winning, so I always root for the Bears to win. But at the same time even though we've come up short in a few games it's evident the culture has changed and the attitude overall has changed. Last season we witnessed one of the most pathetic excuses for a football team to don Bears uniforms in a long time maybe ever. Bears were gutless, clueless, toothless, pushovers. We were a complete joke, setting dubious records, like giving up 100+ points combined in back to back embarrassing blowouts. Going into this season I don't feel success is directly measured in wins and losses. But after the disaster the last couple years created, seeing the team compete and play hard is a good foundation. This year is a year to evaluate the roster and determine who deserves to be part of the future or who deserves to be elsewhere. Making the jump from disaster to winner isn't something that happens over night. Learning find ways to win vs finding ways to lose is a big step.

I agree what he lacks can be learned and fine tuned. A back can learn patience, and letting the play develop. Blitz pickup timing and such takes practice. What you can't coach is speed and ability. Wether or not Forte is here next year or beyond if Langford is the guy to replace him he needs touches and work in real game situations.

I agree, at the moment I was livid about that play because not only should it have been offensive pass interference it should have been holding too. It was the preverbal salt in the wound. We got screwed early and often by the refs but play calling (going ultra conservative when we needed to be aggressive) was as much to blame. I let the frustration work through my system and then remembered we are rebuilding, this is a new offense, new defense, we've been plagued by injury, and we aren't stacked on talent as it is. This is going to be a growing process and in that what I want to see is a team that is competitive, fights hard till the final whistle and shows improvement. There will be ups and downs. progress and regression at times. Gotta take the good with the bad and give this staff a chance to build this team their way. In my mind that game should have been a W. We looked like a team that's still developing an identity and the staff is trying to get the most out of what they have to work with. My hopes is we become a team that wins these close games more often than not. The improvement overall where we are now to what we put on the field last year is vast. It's going to take time to build a consistent winner.

Yep there was a blatant hold that gave Stafford time to heave the ball and CJ time to push off to make the catch. Also irritated on the lions's scoring drive at the end of regulation where a ref cleared out the defenders for the RB to make a huge run. Also the Roughing that gave Detroit a fresh set of downs at the 4 instead of 4th down from the 20 was bogus too. It was incidental at most. Ref saw stafford fall and a bears player at his feet and threw the flag. How many times do we watch Cutler get hit or driven down well after a throw and no call. In OT the Bennett catch that was a first down gets reviewed and changed to a 4th down. It should have been a 14 point Bears lead on their "game tying" TD. By the rule a contested catch in the end zone requires the receiver to maintain possession. Tate had the ball for a split second before it's ripped out and then picked off. On a play that is that close they should stick with what's ruled on the field but no… Give detroit the TD. If Tate catches it and it's not contested then no question it's a TD but it is contested and it's immediately ripped out before he can make a football move then it's not a completion. That said we could have done more to win this game. Up 7 with 2:30 or so left knowing they have all three timeouts you need to be somewhat aggressive and force them to use their timeouts. Till you can melt the clock. Three straight run calls when we couldn't run all day was not smart IMO A couple first downs on that drive and we're talking about a Bears win. Then in Overtime we continued to run the ball on early downs forcing us into 3rd and long. We had what 3 posessions in OT and could not get into FG range. Even with all the bad officiating we could have won this game.

Not sure we make the playoffs though. We'd have to sneak in as a wild card. While our division has proven to be weaker than thought, we still have that huge monkey on our back that will keep us from taking the division. Till we can overcome Green Bay we will have to make the playoffs the hard way as one on of the last wild card teams. If we can stay competitive and win enough games to keep ourselves in the playoff bubble conversation who knows. I haven't really looked at who our competition might be for the last couple wild card spots.

I really liked how as the game wore on he got better, especially considering the Chiefs specifically attacked the middle because of him. I also felt that our line particularly the Tackles held their own against two very good pass rushing ends. Jay had room to step up in the pocket and avoid the rush. I like that we are seeing little glimpses of improvement in various areas. And honestly I think the staff has gotten more out of the players we have to work with than I thought they would.

What gets me is the talking heads continue to heap praise and respect on Trestman and he's been a failure everywhere he's been and has never had sucess beyond his first year anywhere. I don't include Canadian league cause frankly that doesn't count. In American football he's failed everywhere and has been fired everywhere he's been. Yet these people talk like he's this brilliant football mind. The only people who think this way are ones who haven't had to live through him ruining their team.

I agree as well. Since he arrived in 2009 with the expectation of him being the Savior of the team while coaches, coordinators, and GM's did little to surround him with much to work with. How many years were we screaming "FIX THE FREAKING OL!" he's had virtually no consistency in both weapons and systems. He's had up years and down years. He has been a lightning rod for media scrutiny and much of which may be his own doing. I don't know him personally so I can't say for sure if he is the jerk who doesn't care like the media makes him out to be. It may be greatly embellished cause on Bears teams since 2009 who've disappointed they needed someone to hang it on and Jay's outwardly odd behavior made him an easy target. It may be a bit of both, he may be misunderstood, and personally a little rough around the edges. His teammates stand up for him and seem to like him and that is really what matters. While the past has been very mercurial with regards to his play on the field and the team's overall play, we do have a top notch coaching staff for the first time in recent memory here. Jay and Gase are clicking and have trust in each other. Jay can trust Gase cause he clearly knows his stuff. That I think is huge. He finally has a coordinator who has had much success, is highly respected and though of in the league. It's like being taught by a substitute all your career and now having a top notch teacher you have more trust in them knowing what they are telling you. And when Jay buys in the offensive players around him buy in and start truly believing in the system. He has looked far more under control and confident this year which is why I think we have to look at how things are now vs forever making him have to overcome a past that he can't change. We may finally have a staff that can get the most out of Jay, the evidence is there especially considering the mash unit our roster has become. After last season I wanted him gone I was tired of losing and tired of watching horrible offensive football. I came into this season with the understanding that he's here pretty much because his contract made him virtually impossible to move and with the expectation that after this season he's gone. That thinking is beginning to change I see positives that make me think I'd be ok if he was here beyond this season. Not saying contract extension, but after this year his contract is far easier to swallow, and if he proves this year to be a QB who can run this offense efficiently I think he may deserve a chance to run it with the full compliment of talent around him. I'm not 100% sold on him yet because it is hard to shake the past but I think some objectivity here is wise. Consider this if by season's end Jay proves he can not only be competent but has full command of this offense, keeping him around and drafting a QB we can groom behind a Cutler that can help teach the kid the offense that could be a win win for us. I do have one question regarding Jay. I've noticed that he has had some throws the last couple weeks that were low. Could this be partly effected by the hammy, or is it somewhat intentional on contested throws to make them harder to pick off, or is it just a continuity issue as he's playing with guy's he's had little experience with and is getting used to. Most of the guys he's throwing to were on the field in preseason when he was on the sidelines as we have been scraping the bottom of the barrel for warm bodies to line up outside.

http://www.sportsmanias.com/news/chicago-b...e6336ae5d8b45d3 I also like the article directly below the McPhee article. The one about Acho and players taking ownership of the defense. Sounds like some good culture changes going throughout the team, and I like it a lot. New staff, new systems, new players mixed with old, on a team who's culture needed a life line after two years under Dr. Death. This team is not only starting to develop an identity they are taking the onus to create an identity. We may not be going anywhere this year, but if we're patient and give this office and staff and players, a chance. We might be seeing them build the foundation for a bright future.

and helps the younger guys and vets around him be better. We need Guys like that on the field who can be an extension of the coaching staff. That was the biggest thing we lost with Urlacher gone his body was failing him but he knew that system and was like a coach on the field. Same with Mike Brown in the secondary. Good to great defenses have guys like this at various levels who elevate the play of those around them and help get everyone where they should be. That was what was almost as hard to watch last couple years as the overall performance was our D was gutless, leaderless, and hapless. The D needs leadership and some nasty, and some attitude, and heart.

Agree as well, should be interesting to see how this plays out. While he hasn't given us much to hang our hat on in the past, I don't think he's 100% unredeemable either. If he can put in a good season and play well this year, his contract does get cheaper going forward. Last offseason we were resigned to keeping him this year due to the contract and then unloading him after this year because he will be easier to shop. But If he proves to be a good fit for this offense then why not keep him but also bring in someone to groom. I think Jay is a system QB not one that can transcend systems. In the right offense he could flourish. Maybe thet offense is Gase's offense that finally is a system he fully trusts, and believes in and can excel in. Course that remains to be seen and we'll have to see how it plays out this year. But not out of the realm of possibility that Jay earns the job beyond this year. This season for the current roster is an audition for next year.

I also enjoy reading these posts.

Amen, those were good times, add to that the pre injury hampered Harris. Remember the year we won with Kyle Orton, and the D carried the team pretty much all year. We sure blew that window of opportunity with the D studs we had then

I miss Dave Toub

Couldn't stand Carroll at USC and can't stand in Seattle. There were a lot of non calls and bogus calls that would have made a difference when they happened, as mentioned the holding calls, pick plays, several late hits there were few when Clausen slid feet first giving up his body that a Seattle player would dive on to him, last I checked that was hitting a defenseless player, he also got hit often late after throws but no call. The botched call on the punt was horrible. It was wrong the first time it was dead wrong on review. The ball clearly changed direction when it came near his foot. Now I'm no rocket scientist but gravity and momentum doesn't do that. At that point in the game it was 3-0 and as Adam pointed out that would have given us the ball in the red zone which would have at the very least been a easy game tying 3 if not a possible TD to take the lead. I too did not care for Seattle having the game well in hand and throwing deep or throwing at all he coached that way in college. He's an a-hole and the team has adopted that personality. Talking head were giving Seattle way too much credit for holding us to punting every possession and how great their D is. Congrats you just beat a crippled team in transition. I think the Bears offensive ineptness was more on us than on their D. That said, it is hard to say whether the missed calls would have changed the outcome. We can't worry about that stuff, truth is it's going to take us a couple seasons to to get to where we are making serious noise. We have a new FO, new coaching staff, and a roster of players brought in to run a different defense and a different offense. It will be a process of evaluating and moving guys around to find out what pieces on the current team will be part of the future and which ones won't. We as fans have to have some patience here I see a lot of panic and frustration and and we've only played 3 games have we lost sight of the fact that it may take some time to build this team back up? We have to look at it from a standpoint of what can we build on. In the two games I've seen I didn't see any of last weeks cardinals game. But what I have seen is a defense or defensive players showing some positive things. Yesterday I saw that the D played pretty decent considering the offense did them no favors and putting no points on the board. Second half I saw a defense that just got gassed. For all the crap cutler gets it's clear he's by far the best QB on the roster, Clausen looked terrible not that he was asked to do much but what he did he didn't look good doing. When you go into a game starting WR's that would probably otherwise be on other teams practice squads or deep on their bench aside from Royal. We did the one thing we felt we could do well, and that is run, run run, putting 3 TE's extra linemen in it worked for a while but it made us one dimensional and became easy to stop. We've lost to probably one of the best teams in the NFC, the two teams playing for the NFC title game last year. We knew this was a brutal start to the season. Personally I could care less what our record is this year I know we won't be going to the playoffs, but I do look for the bears to improve as the year goes on. I'm not going to freak out after just 3 games and jump on the dump the roster, fire everyone bandwagon, that's a bit knee jerk IMO. Let's all just take a step back and let this season progress.

makes me glad I didn't waste a draft pick on Bridgewater in my fantasy leagues there was a lot of hype and that team looks like a mess. No wonder AP wanted out lol

We had a defense last year?

The pattern continues. There's a reason he wore out his welcome on 3 teams and counting despite his skills and abilities on the field. Teams simply grow tired of his act.

And they wonder why people hate the Pats, Bill Belicheat, Tom Shady, et all. It's an example of a win at all costs organization, they don't care what rules they have to bend or break. Integrity means nothing to them. And as long as the NFL and judges look the other way they'll keep doing it.

This. Much of what people say about Jay outside of the organization and locker room is perception, what matters is what his teammates think of him and their level of respect. None of us are with the team or in the locker room and see Jay on a day to day basis. Media perception loves to latch on to the negative, and will jump on or invent controversy to sell papers, get hits on web pages, blogs, and ratings. I've never met him, never been around him so I can't say if he's a good leader or not, all I can judge him by is what he does on the field. There is much there to be desired since he got here but he isn't as awful as he's made out to be either. For him the skills, the talent, the arm, is all there, but his random brain farts are what has kept his potential from being realized to this point. If his teammates trust him and believe in him that's what really matters.

What I saw of the game sure looks like he doesn't stay low like he should he gets stood up too easy and as an OL when you stand up and give up leverage it's game over you get tossed around like a rag doll which I think why he has to resort to holding in an attempt to keep Jay from getting blown up. His technique and footwork are awful.

I think we all expected this year to be a potentially painful year to watch. New FO and Coaching staff were handed a pile of crap to work with. Their job now is to sift through the rubble and look for what's salvageable, and start building from there. What I'm looking for this year is to see progress over the course of the year and us develop and find players that can be part of the teams future. I have a feeling this coming offseason will involve a decant amount of roster moves to unload guys who don't have a future here. It's going to be a year long evaluation of the team as a whole. I don't even want to predict a record or have a record in mind of what I want them to achieve. Gotta start the rebuild somewhere.

Add Jordy Nelson to that list. Been trying to prepare for fantasy drafts and guys are dropping like flies across the league. Somehow it seems like there has been a rash of injuries that seems worse than previous years maybe not but sure has been a lot.