The coaches showed their stuff today.

I watched a Chicago Bears Defense just now that excited me. The game was not a real exciting game, but when the defense was needed, they were there in spades. Urlacher was all over the place as was Tillman, both making key plays. Urlacher goes in for a touchdown, and I felt that was going to happen before the game even started. Two Bears touchdowns in a 57 second period is stellar. Peppers was really on fire too, and he nearly took off a head! I was truly excited to see the Bears Defense all over the field today, and would have to say that Rod Marinelli earned the game ball today.

The Offense looked just okay to me today. I never know who to actually blame for a QB sack, but have to think that if the Offensive Line had protected the QB better there wouldn't have been a sack. I do have to wonder too, why Cutler couldn't just finally decide that if there isn't a pass, and there isn't an escape route, that it is okay to throw the ball down. On the real positive side though, that Cutler to Knox combination is a killer. I love what Knox does when a plan comes together and wish it happened more often. Matt Forte showed today that despite all of the hemming on the contract talks, he is here to play and play hard. Well Done Matt. Altogether, the offense did real well even though it wasn't the huge scorefest it could have been. I saw a lot of positive offense changes that added up to good things. Now we will see if it was a fluke or if it is the real deal next week against New Orleans. I feel good enough about this to say the Bears coaches have done their jobs and made positive changes since last season. I am an excited Bears fan right now. How about it?

GO BEARS!

I loved the fact that when Carmini was getting in trouble they put one of those huge TEs along side to help him out.

I think the Coaches did a great job! It was good to see plays using misdirection. Cutler rolling out, then passing back to the weak side...too bad he overthrew it. Our screens are looking good but, why was the broadcaster saying that the Bears have been one of the best at screens for a while? If we were, I didn't notice til now.

The decision to use TE help when a Tackle can't handle his rusher is great to see! it shows that our coaches are willing to be flexible, and not stuck into a failed gameplan. Which could lead to Cutler audible-ing to a run or pass when he sees the right defense.

I thought the smartest play was the pass to Davis, that, if Cutler had just a little more time, would've been a TD that made the Falcons look extremely silly.

I would agree with everything above. I think Martz really shows his brilliance at times, but what I didn't like were all the pass plays he called for in the 4th Quarter with a 20+ point lead. He was really trying to get a little too cute too -- I don't need to see any of that silly razzle dazzle crap. Run the clock out with the RUN!

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Originally Posted by Beardown50

I think the Coaches did a great job! It was good to see plays using misdirection. Cutler rolling out, then passing back to the weak side...too bad he overthrew it. Our screens are looking good but, why was the broadcaster saying that the Bears have been one of the best at screens for a while? If we were, I didn't notice til now.

The decision to use TE help when a Tackle can't handle his rusher is great to see! it shows that our coaches are willing to be flexible, and not stuck into a failed gameplan. Which could lead to Cutler audible-ing to a run or pass when he sees the right defense.

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Originally Posted by IPeedOnLambeauField

I would agree with everything above. I think Martz really shows his brilliance at times, but what I didn't like were all the pass plays he called for in the 4th Quarter with a 20+ point lead. He was really trying to get a little too cute too -- I don't need to see any of that silly razzle dazzle crap. Run the clock out with the RUN!

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Overall I thought it was a very well played and coached game.

Offensively: That was one of the best planned and called games I've seen from Martz since he arrived right up until the time when he had Cutler passing from and empty backfield when we were up by 24 points! That kind of crap needs to stop now and I hope Lovie had a few choice words for him about that. Not only did it cost us a 6 points the other way but we didn't need to expose Cutler to the rush anymore without some protection in the backfield. Damn pass happy mother frocker!

Game balls to Cutler (obviously), Garza, Knox and Forte. Half a game ball to Hester for that run after the screen but he loses half a ball for not getting it over the goaline (actually I thought he did) and for a missed catch later in the game when he didn't finish his route. For the most part I thought the line play was only fair. Cutler had time to thrown often but five sacks is still too much pressure to allow. Webb gets a boot in the ass for two penalties (especially the one on Bell's run) and for allowing Abraham to blow by him on that tipped pick they returned for a score. Carimi also struggled a bit but for the most part the OT's played well enough to win. OG's played much better than preseason.

The goaline play call for the pass to Spaeth was great as was the one they missed on when Cutler over threw Davis. That's about the only real mistake I can remember him making although had Davis kept his feet moving and drifting a little instead of staying planted he might have gotten to it despite the over throw. Cutler has a lot of arm strength even when he's rolling right and has to throw back left. We should have had a TD on that one.

Defensively: Hello inside pass rush!!!! Two sacks for Melton and one for Okoye. What a difference those two make. There was good pressure inside all game long. Melton just missed a third sack when he ran past Ryan. Man I hope those guys can keep that up because it makes Pep's rush even more effective. Nick Reed also continues to impress me. He's smart, he's got moves, and he comes off the snap like he was shot from a gun. Even if Corey Wootton isn't 100% when he returns Reed is a more than capable DE in this rotation. He and Okoye were great finds.

The rest of the defense played their usual tight game. The only real big play the Falcons got was that run by Turner when Urlacher failed to cover his gap. But then again he more than made up for that with the rest of his play. We need to keep him healthy because it's a much better defense when he's in there. Briggs needs to realize that one of the big reasons he gets the stats he gets is from playing next to him. That's not to take anything away from Briggs but there's no doubt in my mind that Urlacher makes him a better player.

Peanut played well once we tighteded up his coverage as did Jennings. I'm sure the whole defensive backfield found their jobs a little easier because of the pressure the Dline was bringing. The Falcons couldn't take advantage of the speed and size advantage they had at WR when Ryan seldom had time and when he did he was throwing against 7 man coverage.

Summary: That's about the best I've seen the Bears look in an opener in many a moon and it came againt a very good football team. I thought we played well on both sides of the ball. Now maybe Nags will gain a little confidence and the press will have to start eating their words and predictions. The real test comes next week on the road and the week after. If we can win at least one of those games we're off to a great start, both and we're in the drivers seat for a while. It's a good day to be a Bears fan.

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Originally Posted by soulman

Game balls to Cutler (obviously), Garza, Knox and Forte.

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Don't forget Urlacher! He should definitely get one for the interception and fumble return for a TD, I think he also had 10 tackles. His one blemish I noticed was for that run up the gut you mentioned when he got fooled into cheating to his left. That was his man.

My votes would be for Cutler, Knox, Forte and Urlacher. I was really happy to see Knox get the numbers he got yesterday without being a starter, he really deserved that! Damn, are we deep at receiver or what? I'm sure Martz had a lot to do with that!

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Originally Posted by Beardown50

. Which could lead to Cutler audible-ing to a run or pass when he sees the right defense.

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I don't believe Martz's system allows for audibles. I thought I heard that somewhere. Instead the routes/plays automatically adjust based on how the defense lines up.

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Originally Posted by IPeedOnLambeauField

Don't forget Urlacher! He should definitely get one for the interception and fumble return for a TD, I think he also had 10 tackles. His one blemish I noticed was for that run up the gut you mentioned when he got fooled into cheating to his left. That was his man.

My votes would be for Cutler, Knox, Forte and Urlacher. I was really happy to see Knox get the numbers he got yesterday without being a starter, he really deserved that! Damn, are we deep at receiver or what? I'm sure Martz had a lot to do with that!

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Those were just my offensive game balls. I'd honor Urlacher, Melton, Pep, and Peanut on the defensive side of the ball.

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Originally Posted by trackguy

I don't believe Martz's system allows for audibles. I thought I heard that somewhere. Instead the routes/plays automatically adjust based on how the defense lines up.

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That's my understanding too but somehow there should be an ability to audible out of passing plays to a run or vice versa. As the season progresses teams will have more tape on Martz'd tendencies and some of what we accomplished yesterday won't come as so much of a surprise. I really think we caught Atlanta with their pants down yesterday.