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Still alot of work to do, but I have no doubt that our starters would have won this game if it had been regular season. Bright spots, sloppy spots, but overall not bad. I think alot of teams are playing the same way with the lockout and all. Might be a weird sloppy start to the season, there may be some "upsets" throughout the league, but after about 3 games ... things should start to take shape. I still have high hopes.
Sloppy and very inefficient. That kind of play won't win 8 games let alone 11 or 12.
True, but I've seen this kind of preseason play from every team every year, and it's like night and day ( the level of play ) once the regular season starts. This team will rise up once it starts for real.Quote:
Originally Posted by soulman
The reason every team is looking sloppy, is because there was no preseason.
But yes, the Bears did not look good. They have a lot of work to do in a very limited time
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Benjamin
I'll grant you that without OTA's teams are experiencing some issues like that but I don't follow those teams and I assume you don't either so saying that doesn't necessarily make it so. I have watched three Bears games though and what I see is still a number of mistakes and sloppy play that's all about the lack of concentration and the instensity (hustle) in the way they play. Neither of those is the earmarks of a Bears team or the fact that we've gotten only one turnover if three games. Yes, they still have a lot of work to do.
Observations,
1. The OL is starting to look solid and with 0 sacks and only a couple of pressures there is reason for optimism.
J'Marcus Webb, continues to impress me with the improvement in his feet and the way he engulfs speed rushers.
Chris Williams, I am more and more impressed with him every week and he looks like he is settling in despite the fact he is never going to be a dominant power player.
Lance Louis, he is still the worst OLmen on the field, but he is improving and had fewer straight misses. He needs more time, but he should continue to run with the 1s.
Gabe Carimi, he is the man.
2. It is time to pay Matt Forte some money, because he looks faster and more dynamic this season and the truth is what does our offense look like without him?
3. Jay Cutler looks like a different QB when he stands in and delivers and it looks like he is more confident behind this OL. That confidence could be huge in him taking the next step.
4. Thank God for Earl Bennett, because Hester, Williams and Knox did not show me anything new. Hester had terrible drops, Williams was not physical and Knox ran some terrible routes.
Nice breakdown Windy! The Oline did look much better but the Titans aren't one of the top pass rush teams either. Webb is great as long as he engages quickly. As soon as they get him in space or loses contact with his man he also loses his balance and begins to reach or clutch jerseys. He got away with at least one blatant hold when he grabbed his mans jersey to save Cutler from a hit.Quote:
Originally Posted by WindyCity
Carimi is great when his guy takes an outside rush he just guides him right around the pocket and out of the way and he can't be bullrushed straight up. Jay is gonna love him. CWill looked very nice kicking out in front of plays and Garza seems to be taking control of the line calls. Much less disarray this week than last so that improvement continues. Louis was ok but I still don't see where Tice comes off calling him "elite" as a pass blocker???????
Forte was on his game and proves again why we need him. I di hope the get something agreed upon soon.
Cutler looked the best I've ever seen him especially now that his technique issues have improved dramatically. Caleb disappointed me though. Very inconsistent but would probably done a far better job playing with the starters.
Bennett shows every week why he's the best go to man of the bunch. He just gets open and catches passes. I think that Sanz will be a lot like that once he get's it all down. RWill, cut him or at the very least play him last. Knox and Hester will do fine as a pair of #2 type guys so we survive again without a true #1 but we spread it around and that gets it done.
Thank god for NFLN replay (damned hurricane). I'm not really worried, it's just preseason. I'm just watching physical matchups and that isn't too bad.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BearStuff
Got everything tied down? Everyone safe?
Thoughts & Observations
1. WRs: Bennett played a great game--caught every chance and broke some tackles. Same can't be said of Hester and Knox--no glory there for either of them. RW finally made 2 catches but absolutely no excuse for letting a deep ball sail through his hands for a pick that was completely ON HIM. Sanz made a couple of catches but also dropped one at knee level that he's gotta catch to make the team (and I hope he does cuz I really like the guy). Would have liked to see a few throws to Hurd in the 2nd half. All in all, too many drops for the "starters" at WR.
2. OL: Encouraging, improving play in the 1st half from the starters. CWill looks like he's really stepping up at LG. Webb was decent but still needs work. Louis pulled well on running plays & was ok on pass pro (I'm less worried about this spot than LT cuz we have the Garza/Spencer option). Carimi got knocked on his ass once and committed a penalty but he's gonna be really solid. All in all, steady progress from the disaster w/ Buffalo.
3. QBs: Cutler looked sharp and threw ropes. His stats were good and underestimated his on-field performance due to several big drops and an INT that wasn't his fault (thanks, Roy & Devin). Hanie showed good flashes but also why he isn't #1 material in the NFL--still holds the ball too long, makes inaccurate and weak throws, and his passes don't have nearly the pace on them that Cutler's arm shows.
4. RBs: Forte ran very well and picked up a key block. Barber did too in limited touches (hope his injury is minor). KBell showed why he belongs on the team as #3. Chester Taylor is as good as gone and that's a good thing. T'uo (whatever his name is) didn't help his cause any that I could see and he got a lot of PT.
5. DL: Starting 4 looks very solid. Okoye continues to show why he was a great pickup, especially for the future at his young age. Ghoulston/Reed/Addison did nothing to distinguish themselves as possible backups at DE.
6. Who's gonna be the 6th LB? Need some depth here...will Pisa be back and in what shape?
7. Secondary is thin after Tillman. Bowman showed why he isn't ready to be a full-time starter. Major Wright played fairly well but still whiffed on a tackle he should have made. Conte made a nice tackle on ST. We need a depth guy at CB from somewhere.
8. Knox didn't exactly make a strong case for himself. Didn't stay in bounds on a sideline catch he should have completed and wtf was that return fumble about? I know he will be fine but No Excuse for that at all...would have been a disaster in a RS game.
9. I HATE THIS 35 YARD LINE KICKOFF RULE. Seeing Gould (even if it's for us) boom the ball into the stands on a fly and virtually everyone getting the ball deep into the EZ makes this rule WRONG.
10. The lack of takeaways is concerning. If the OL continues to (hopefully) improve, the secondary is looking more and more like it could be a weak link.
11. It's just a PS game, but that was poor clock management at the close of the 1st half--a Lovie special yet again.
12. Thank you, Mike Martz, for featuring a balanced attack and a running game. Now please go smack your man Roy and put some glue on his hands.