Thread: Mon bear practice and injury notes

Originally Posted by dabears54

yep.. been through the God-awful 70's( 1-13 ouch)..

That was 1969.

Have the years dulled your memory? Just kiddin'.

Originally Posted by GeorgiaJeff

That was 1969.

Have the years dulled your memory? Just kiddin'.

Oh i know..bt didn't want to put 60's also, because really 1969 first year really remember,,and as that year kinda rolled into what was an awful 1970's,, figured the "artistic license" of calling the 1969 season part of 70's seemed fitting, as bears took until 1977 to even have a winning record in a season that decade...

looks like we missed Briggs on Sunday trying to stop the run. Cant downplay that injury

Originally Posted by motownbear

looks like we missed Briggs on Sunday trying to stop the run. Cant downplay that injury

Yep Iwuh had a nice looking Stat line- lead team in tackles, but missed a few that IMO were key, esp in back field that would ahve left seattle in 2nd and 3rd and longs if had made he plays.. iwuh wasn't bad, just isn't the playmaker briggs is.. its like urlacher last year, while the numbers of hunter didn;t look bad, you see this year how "differrnt and better" the "D" does when urlacher out there- briggs the same.. the "big plays" and tackels for loss missed

ZachZaidman Devin Hester’s 9 career punt-return TDs are tied with Brian Mitchell for second-most in NFL history. Eric Metcalf is the leader with 10.

ESPNChiBears Bears blog: Video: Dickerson and Wright on loss http://es.pn/c6XDnZ

ZachZaidman Look ahead: Washington will visit Soldier Field this Sunday ranked last in the NFL in total defense

Favre and jenn sterger- Sterger spelt backwards= regrets can't make stuff like that up

Mike Ditka rips Bears' sack woes

After watching the Chicago Bears yield six more quarterback sacks to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Hall of Famer Mike Ditka said it's time for Lovie Smith to step in.

It was the first game back for Jay Cutler after he missed the previous week with concussion symptoms. Cutler suffered the concussion while being sacked an NFL-record nine times in the first half against the New York Giants on Oct. 3.

"It's not one thing, it's a multiple of things," Ditka said on "Mike & Mike In The Morning" on ESPN Radio. "From a coach's aspect, I would say yeah, Lovie has to step in. I don't think there's any question about it. You can't let go on what's going on.

"You see these pictures, these kids don't know where to go or who to block. There's people unaccounted for. Every team in the league is going to look at these films. The problem isn't going to get easier, it's going to get harder. It's going to be compounded from this point forward."

The Bears rushed just 14 times for 61 yards in their 23-20 loss to Seattle. Some believe part of the problem is the emphasis on the pass in the system of offensive coordinator Mike Martz.
"So how do you correct it?" Ditka asked. "You better start from scratch, and say: 'We're going to make sure we're going to account for these people, or we're going to run the football.'

"You say it's not glamorous, it's not exciting, it's not what Martz does, I don't care. You cannot put that much pressure on your defense and your special teams. You must be able to be effective on offense, and they weren't effective at home. And they had a chance to win that football game

Ditka, who is an ESPN analyst and former Bears player and coach, was pointed in his criticism of the Bears' pass protection.

"You can't throw the football if you can't pass protect," he said. "They don't understand pass protection. They don't understand where the people are coming from. They can't account for those people. Not only the linemen can't account for them, the back got confused yesterday, but the quarterback is not accounting for them. Now you have a major problem."

"So therefore, if those guys aren't accounting for them, maybe the coaches aren't accounting for them. It's a bad situation, because it takes one dimension you have away from you. You cannot throw the ball effectively, you just cannot. There's no reason for this stuff that's happening to happen."

Free Head Exam: Chicago Bears

October, 18, 2010

By Kevin Seifert


After the Chicago Bears' 23-20 loss Sunday to the Seattle Seahawks, here are three issues that merit further examination:

1. 
   
2. I'm having a hard time summoning outrage at offensive coordinator Mike Martz's unbalanced play calling. Who should be surprised that the architect of the game's most prolific passing attack over the past decade still leans heavily toward throwing the ball? Yes, it was stupefying to watch the Bears totally forget their 218-yard rushing performance at Carolina. There is no doubt Martz got excited by the return of quarterback Jay Cutler and the prospects of adding to a 4-1 start. But hasn't that always been Martz's history? Coach Lovie Smith needs to shoulder the blame on this one. If left to operate on his own, Martz's history shows that he'll throw all day. It's up to the head coach to impose some level of balance on him, and you would think that Smith's longtime affinity for the run would have made that a natural step. It happened earlier this season, but on Sunday, Smith failed to reign in the mad scientist. That's a primary game-day task for any coach that employs him.
3. 
   
4. The Bears are in a no-win situation with their offensive line. As we've written many times, there are no short-cuts to developing a line. You have to identify five (hopefully) reliable starters and let them play next to each other for a while. But after making four lineup changes in the first six weeks of the season, some for health-related reasons, the Bears remain in complete flux as we enter Week 7. The looming return of left guard Roberto Garza (knee) hints at another change. Not all of Sunday's six sacks can be attributed to the line, but it should take its share of the blame for an offense functioning well below capacity in recent weeks.
   
5. The Bears missed Lance Briggs. I don't think their defense played terribly, but there weren't many big plays either. The Seahawks didn't commit a turnover, nor was quarterback Matt Hasselbeck sacked. Briggs provides an edginess and push-the-envelope aggressiveness that tends to infect other players. He's only missed four games in his NFL career, so we don't have a big sample size for the impact of his absence. But it was pretty obvious Sunday.

And here is one issue I don't get:

Is Cutler going to even out his game? Or will his Bears career be defined by stretches of brilliance followed by periods of complete mystery? We celebrated his NFL-high 121.2 passer rating through the first two weeks of the season, noting the nice carryover he had achieved from the end of last season. Since then, however, Cutler has thrown only one touchdown pass, has been sacked 18 times and has a 74.6 passer rating. His arm, and Martz's preference for downfield passing, means there will be some more productive games over time. But if they're followed by such deep dips, it's going to be hard for the Bears to win consistently with Cutler behind center.

Biggs: 10 thoughts on Bears' loss to Seahawks


It's impossible to imagine Mike Martz ever tuning into a Bears' radio broadcast. So perhaps general manager Jerry Angelo will personally deliver to the Bears' offensive coordinator the same message he sent out Sunday morning on the WBBM-AM 780 pregame show: Find some balance.

The Bears weren't interested in running the ball in their 23-20 loss to the Seattle Seahawks at Soldier Field. You'd never know this was the same team that went to Carolina a week ago and rushed for 218 yards, the most for the franchise in two decades. That's because Martz, after calling runs on three of the first four plays (not counting the 58-yard pass interference penalty), ditched the run.

The Bears finished with 47 pass plays called and 12 runs. That 4:1 ratio has to be bothering coach Lovie Smith. Maybe he needs to announce the Bears will get off the bus running again. Yes, the Seahawks came into the game with a successful run defense, but by making themselves one-dimensional, the Bears were so much easier to defend.

"We were licking our chops, the way the Giants had success," said Seahawks strong safety Lawyer Milloy, referring to the nine sacks the Giants had on Cutler two weeks ago.

In the last six quarters with Cutler under center (dating to the first half at the Giants), Martz has called 67 pass plays and 19 runs. The Bears have gone 0-for-19 on third down and taken 15 sacks. Yes, it has looked like Terry Shea all over again. The Bears have a quarterback this time, though, and they're not shuffling through Jonathan Quinn, Craig Krenzel and Chad Hutchinson.

"Offensively, we didn't get anything done," Smith said afterward. "Third downs on the offensive side of the football, we can't reach the place we're trying to go until we can take care of third downs. I don't think we completed one today. Protection-wise, it's still a problem. It's something we have to fix. Never really got the running game established, didn't get a whole lot done."

It doesn't take a great deal of imagination to envision a Monday meeting taking place between Smith and Martz. Maybe some other coaches will take part, too. And at that potential meeting, Smith will talk about the need to remain committed to the run. The Bears tried to sell the idea that they fell behind the Seahawks and therefore had to turn to the pass. Phooey. It was a one-score game until the Seahawks went ahead 23-13 with 13:45 remaining in the fourth quarter. That argument doesn't hold up. Just like Martz stubbornly was dialing up passes when Cutler was getting crushed against the Giants, he called pass after pass in this game. The Seahawks kept blitzing defensive backs. It was all too predictable.

Here are nine more thoughts in the aftermath of the Bears' loss:

2. How did six more sacks happen? The offensive line is young and there are moving parts. Switching Chris Williams to left guard created the fourth lineup in six weeks. But I wouldn't compare this to the Giants game necessarily. The Giants buried Cutler in a sea of blitzes with four-man rushes. On their nine sacks, they blitzed just twice. The Seahawks, however, came time and time again with defensive backs and linebackers, particularly off the edge. There were coverage sacks. There were blown blitz pickups. And again there were opportunities for Cutler to get rid of the ball and he failed. When the defense comes heavy with defensive backs, someone is either open or in man coverage.

We saw (Seattle blitzing DB's) on film, but not this much," running back Chester Taylor said. "I am pretty sure it was working for them so they just stuck with it."

Cutler acknowledged he probably missed some hot reads. That was echoed by Taylor.

"We've got built-in hots when we've got safety blitzes," Taylor said. "Jay is going to go watch film and learn from this and try not to make the same mistakes."

3. Devin Hester goes into the NFL record books tied with Brian Mitchell for the most combined return touchdowns in NFL history at 13. His 89-yard return in the fourth quarter also tied for the longest in his career, matching one he had against the Minnesota Vikings in 2007.

What interesting is that Hester's backup for punt returns, Earl Bennett, was the man who sprung him free along the Bears' sideline. With a crunching crack-back block, Bennett sent punter Jon Ryan flying and it was a clear path for Hester the rest of the way. Bennett previously scored on a punt return in a preseason game against the Seahawks, and took one back for a score at Baltimore last season when Hester's calf muscle was bothering him.

"It's exciting," Bennett said. "He's like my brother, man. This guy is a first-class gentleman, good to be around; to help him to reach that point in history, I am more than delighted."

Is it even more cool because he's the backup to Hester?

"I am trying to do my job and that is to help us win no matter where it's at," Bennett said. "Devin is the best. I am trying to play my role. If it is springing Devin for a touchdown, that's what it is."

Bennett asked about the condition of Ryan after the game. The veteran punter had X-rays on his ribs and preliminary reports indicated he was OK. He described himself as a little woozy but said he didn't suffer a concussion. Ryan isn't a string-bean punter, either, he's got a little of the Todd Sauerbrun thing going on when it comes to weight-lifting.

"I didn't see him at all. I remember it a little bit," Ryan said. "I got my bell rung but it's more my neck and chest. I think I am fine. I think it was clean. I was going downfield to make the hit. That's how it goes sometimes."

Bennett's block isn't the only one for the Bears to celebrate. Kellen Davis also picked up a "de-cleater" of his own. As Hester made his cut across the field, Davis picked off linebacker David Hawthorne, who was peeling back to make the play.

4. Rod Wilson no longer was on the field when he found out just what referee Alberto Riveron was saying. The officials called Wilson for holding, a call that wiped out Danieal Manning's 89-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

"I didn't know it was me until I got to the sideline," Wilson said. "So I didn't have a chance to ask for an explanation.

"When I get in and see the film, I'll let you know."

I've never known a player with a penalty that wipes out a return touchdown to fess to the crime. That just doesn't happen. Wilson didn't deny it, and truly seemed perplexed afterward. It will be interesting to hear special-teams coordinator Dave Toub break the play down later this week. He'll say if Wilson was indeed holding.

The replay shows Wilson engaged Seattle's Michael Robinson, who was closing in for a tackle near the 20-yard line. Wilson clearly had his hands inside -- the quickest way to be called for a hold is to have them outside the shoulders -- and with Robinson's momentum carrying him forward, Wilson finished the block.

Holding?

"I don't really know what I did," said Wilson, who did watch the replay on the video board. "Maybe the guys' hands went up when I was driving him to the ground. I don't consider it holding. I was just doing what I do every Sunday."

5. The Bears can't let Deon Butler get open like he did for the 22-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter. What happened on the play? Well, the Seahawks ran a Cover-2 beater and they beat the Cover-2. Butler got behind cornerback Charles Tillman on the play.

Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck pump-faked in the direction of tight end John Carlson, who was also running a vertical route on that half of the field. Safety Danieal Manning froze and with a good throw to Butler it was an easy touchdown.

"They were playing Cover-2. They play it as well as anyone in the world," Hasselbeck said. "We had the tempo going, I think we get an advantage when we do that. I was really trying to throw to the inside guy, I pumped the inside guy and settled (Manning's) feet. And Deon did a nice job of continuing to run."

I asked the Tribune's Cover-2 guru Matt Bowen about the play during the game.

"Two verticals at the safety,"Bowen texted. "Manning hanging inside too far on (Carlson). Has to get more depth and drive on No. 1. That's on the safety. Pump by Hasselbeck is killing the Cover-2. Safeties drive on the throw, not the pump."

6. Speaking of defensive backs and play that wasn't up to par: Mike Williams chewed up Charles Tillman. We've been waiting to see opponents go after Tim Jennings on the left side but Hasselbeck chose to attack Tillman. It wasn't a good game for him. Typically, he's excellent at getting his hand and and arm in and deflecting away passes in tight quarters. In this case, Williams used his 6-5, 235-pound frame to shield Tillman. It worked well and he had a career game with 10 receptions for 123 yards, but it's easy to have a career game when you've been sitting out of football for the past two years.

If memory serves, Smith flew to Tampa to visit with Williams before the draft in 2005. The Bears nabbed Cedric Benson fourth overall. Williams went 10th to Matt Millen and the Detroit Lions.

7. For as much confusion as there was on the offensive line, it's fair to say that Roberto Garza was missed. He had a streak of 69 consecutive starts ended when he had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Friday. That's not to say Chris Williams didn't do OK at left guard. The point is Olin Kreutz is at center and everyone else is in a different spot than they were a year ago. That much turnover with this many young players isn't easy, especially when the coordinator wants to chuck it all game.

8. The Seahawks have had some serious offensive line issues of their own. Guard Max Unger was lost for the season. Veteran guard Chester Pitts isn't all the way back from major knee surgery. Rookie left tackle Russell Okung suffered a high ankle sprain in preseason and missed the first three games.

Okung played a half at St. Louis two weeks ago before the pain forced him out. But Okung made it back to play the entire game on Sunday. If his first full NFL game is a sign of things to come, they won't be worrying about replacing Walter Jones in Seattle any more. Okung made Julius Peppers hard to find. The defensive end had two tackles -- one solo and an assist -- and wasn't much of a factor. Hasselbeck continually had time to throw in the pocket and the Bears' plan to rush the passer with their four down linemen failed.

9. What said the most about Devin Aromashodu continuing to get more playing time at the expense of Hester? One guy who is all for it is Hester.

"When you have guys like D.A. sitting on the sideline, that hurt us," Hester said. "He's a great athlete and I love to see him out there. When he's on the field he makes plays. So I don't mind the way."

One veteran scout was baffled how the Bears handled Aromashodu after the season opener against the Lions, insisting Johnny Knox and Aromashodu were the team's two best receivers. Aromashodu caught two passes on Sunday, one of them going for 34 yards.

"It's definitely a good thing," he said. "I want to win though. I just have to get back to basics and the fundamentals and just play hard. That's what I had to do."

10. The Bears used their seventh-round draft pick in 2011 on BYU running back Harvey Unga, who was placed on injured reserve in August with a pulled hamstring. Meanwhile, there was offensive line help that could have been had on the trade market. Three guards were traded and are now starting in their new homes. Stacy Andrews was traded from Philadelphia to Seattle at the beginning of September. He started for the Seahawks at right guard. Rob Sims, whom the Bears investigated, was dealt from the Seahawks to the Detroit Lions and he is their starting left guard. The Lions also just locked up Sims with a contract extension. Reggie Wells, who has a wealth of starting experience, was traded from Arizona to Philadelphia. Players were available on the cheap.

10 a. With a full complement of timeouts, the Bears could have elected to kick off with 1:54 remaining in the game. A defensive stop would have forced the Seahawks to punt and the Bears could have put their most valuable weapon back on the field -- Hester. But two of the three timeouts were burned earlier in the half. On first downs. They called timeout on first-and-10 at the Seattle 45 in the third quarter. They called timeout on first-and-10 at their own 19 in the fourth quarter. This is another sign the offense is out of whack. Martz does so much personnel substituting and there are so many shifts and motions, it's a mess from time to time. Cutler will also be lobbying to get the play sooner from the sideline on occasion. Just watch him. These are preseason miscues. Not Week 6 errors.

10 b. Tight end Greg Olsen was held without a catch for the second straight game. How is he not targeted in the red zone, where the offense has been brutal? Olsen has been angling for a contract extension and has looked good at times this season. But he's on pace for 40 receptions.

10 c. Brian Iwuh was credited with a game-high nine tackles in press box statistics even though he came out in the sub packages. The Bears still missed Lance Briggs plenty. Seattle had a consistent running game and when Hasselbeck wasn't connecting with Williams, he was dinking and dunking underneath.

10 d. Craig Steltz showed up on the stat sheet with three tackles on special teams and Pisa Tinoisamoa was credited with two.

10 e. Here's a tough feat to pull off. Brad Maynard had eight punts with a average distance of 38.1 yards. His net was 38.4, as Golden Tate, the NFC's second-leading returner entering the game, had minus-two yards on four returns.

10 f. If the Week 2 victory at Dallas was a "statement" game, what statement was sent on Sunday?