WOW! Power Ranking and Bye week info

I don't know how many of you follow comcast.net's Power Rankings, but it's put together by a guy named Lee Russakoff. For the vast majority of this season, he has said that the Bears were "a fraud", or that he simply didn't believe that the Bears were very good at all. Well... check out where he ranks Da Bears now!

http://www.comcast.net/slideshow/spo...ek17nflprs/31/

Perhaps more importantly, Russakoff pointed out an article John Mullin wrote about the Bears. (The article was obviously written before the Vikings-Eagles game.) It's a good read:

http://www.csnchicago.com/12/27/10/C...305&feedID=669

So....

*I say we should NOT sit our healthy starters. Completely takes away from the momentum we've built offensively.

*The GB game is the perfect time to try new strategies on defense, because the Cover 2 is beyond exploitable. (Not sure if stubborn Lovie will ever go for that.)

*We need to try to win against GB. They are highly ranked, too... and it will make us stronger and smarter if we play them hard. Plus, if we win, we knock a serious NFC Title contender out of the playoffs.

*CAUTION: If our OL is getting pummeled, all bets are off. Save Cutler for the playoffs.

*During our bye week, I say run simulated games... play and practice hard. Keep that motor running! Keep Da Bears salivating for a playoff win!

*If we have anybody who is still nursing an injury by GB gametime (possibly Earl Bennett?), then obviously, it's best to rest him. But get him going asap.

Too much sitting and resting.... for the Lovie-coached Bears.... NOT a good thing.

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Originally Posted by PhilM

For the vast majority of this season, he has said that the Bears were "a fraud", or that he simply didn't believe that the Bears were very good at all.

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just another reason why power rankings are useless. this aint college football

Show them the 2006 Super Bowl celebration and how close they were.

Show Devin this picture: http://frankthetank.files.wordpress....super-bowl.jpg and remind him he doesn't want that feeling again.

Let's get fired up and go out there and shock the world!!!

BEAR DOWN!

Mullins article just confirms that there is all the good reason in the world to go out and play Sundays game as if a playoff berth depended on it. Many times injuries happen when a team is getting out hit and destroyed by their opponent. So........... we go out and hit GB square in the mouth from the opening kick off on and take our chances that we can not only outscore them but out tough them as well.

Besides we've got good rotations of personnel on the defensive side of the ball on both the line and in the backfield. We've even got enough LB depth to give those guys a little rest if the situation allows.

Offensively the only postions that shouldn't be rotated is on the Oline. They need the time on duty to keep establishing cohesiveness. Other than that the only other area of concern should be at QB. Webb is gonna have his hands full with Clay Matthews so we need to get him some help out there. If Cutler needs to be benched to avoid getting too banged up Lovie needs to play Hanie. Collins just absolutely sucks and there's no way that he should be rated as the #2 QB ahead of Hanie.

DA is healthy and should be able to rotate in place of Knox and/or Hester and Davis alwasy seems ready to play in the event that we need to rest Bennett. Davis has always been good at making the clutch catch. He's dependable to put in there if needed. Bell should also be activated and given some of Forte's carries and other than losing Forte's pass catching ability I don't think we lose all that much with Bell. He should be given the nod over Taylor whose been all but useless this season by my standards.

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Originally Posted by soulman

Mullins article just confirms that there is all the good reason in the world to go out and play Sundays game as if a playoff berth depended on it. Many times injuries happen when a team is getting out hit and destroyed by their opponent. So........... we go out and hit GB square in the mouth from the opening kick off on and take our chances that we can not only outscore them but out tough them as well.

Besides we've got good rotations of personnel on the defensive side of the ball on both the line and in the backfield. We've even got enough LB depth to give those guys a little rest if the situation allows.

Offensively the only postions that shouldn't be rotated is on the Oline. They need the time on duty to keep establishing cohesiveness. Other than that the only other area of concern should be at QB. Webb is gonna have his hands full with Clay Matthews so we need to get him some help out there. If Cutler needs to be benched to avoid getting too banged up Lovie needs to play Hanie. Collins just absolutely sucks and there's no way that he should be rated as the #2 QB ahead of Hanie.

DA is healthy and should be able to rotate in place of Knox and/or Hester and Davis alwasy seems ready to play in the event that we need to rest Bennett. Davis has always been good at making the clutch catch. He's dependable to put in there if needed. Bell should also be activated and given some of Forte's carries and other than losing Forte's pass catching ability I don't think we lose all that much with Bell. He should be given the nod over Taylor whose been all but useless this season by my standards.

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The quarterback position is something we're going to have to address for next season. Luckily, it won't be the starter's job. I don't know what has happened to Chester Taylor. He reminds me of Cedric Benson in that he can't make it to the line of scrimmage on plays that normally, Matt Forte gains a few yards on (even up the gut).

If J'Marcus Webb is improving as much as we think he is, he may not be as bad off against Clay Matthews as we think he will be. He played well against the Jets, though the Packers have a better linebacker/end-type of position than the Jets have. As long as we do what has been working for us AND PLAY LIKE IT'S A PLAYOFF GAME, I have no fear of the Green Bay Packers.

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Originally Posted by soulman

If Cutler needs to be benched to avoid getting too banged up Lovie needs to play Hanie. Collins just absolutely sucks and there's no way that he should be rated as the #2 QB ahead of Hanie.

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Couldn't agree with you more on Hanie being #2, soulman! And I also agree with you on giving Rashied Davis and DA more playing time.

And maybe.... GASP!.... put Desmond Clark in for a couple of plays? :)

BTw the line jumped from 3 points( normal 3 points for him game) to 10 points after the eagles lost.. So vegas does think we either rest starters or pull them early.. take that for what its worth

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Originally Posted by dabears54

BTw the line jumped from 3 points( normal 3 points for him game) to 10 points after the eagles lost.. So vegas does think we either rest starters or pull them early.. take that for what its worth

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No...vegas thinks that people making bets think the Bears will rest their starters, or that the packers will win. They adjust lines based on how people are betting, not on what they think will happen.

I don't think this team is where it needs to be to rest their starters for any time. Keep playing, keep improving. It also keeps the players humble; the worst thing this team can afford is another break down b/c they think their the best in the league. Their not good enough to be over confident.

God, I hope that we don't pull our starters too early. At least get the game well in hand and win it. I want to see a 12-4 finish to the season. That's a prettier number than a simply 11-5 year. lol

But in all seriousness, this team is not ready to rest on its laurels. It needs more seasoning, especially our offensive line, which is improving. Some said, and I agreed with, resting Pisa and Earl Bennett in the game since they're nicked up. We have good guys that can play their positions right now.