Thread: The same formula that got us to the Super Bowl....

I said something like this might happen... We win against the Panthers and folks would bring that up.

It was just one win against the Carolina Panthers. If they were able to do that against the Packers then maybe they have something going, until then we just need to relax. Nothing against you Starky.

Originally Posted by gammabears

I said something like this might happen... We win against the Panthers and folks would bring that up.

It was just one win against the Carolina Panthers. If they were able to do that against the Packers then maybe they have something going, until then we just need to relax. Nothing against you Starky.

Amen. Starky I think that what you say is the right idea but how they got it done today would never work against a great defense, especially one that focused on bottling up Forte the way the Packers did.

The only reason we got away with a win today behind that offense was one TD on a pick and another on a PR. The offense only produced 20 points and we gave up 30. They had over 500 yards of offense to a little more than 300 for us. Most games Cutler has 80% of that passing. We ran for 224 yards today averaging 7.2 ypc. How often will that happen? Since most of our running yardage came on long runs rather than chipping away 4 and 5 yards at a time the Panthers controlled the ball for 33 1/2 minutes to our 26 1/2. That's three games in a row where we were badly beaten in TOP. You can't give teams who are able to roll up yardage like this that many extra plays and win very many games.

Run the ball, yes, but we also need a decent passing attack because not every team we play will be as vulnerable against the run as the Panthers were. Maybe they didn't prepare for it or maybe it's just because they don't play the run well. Today neither did we. Matt Forte is a very good RB but there aren't many days when he'll roll up 86 yards on two carries and both result in scores. As great a game as he had today last week he did nothing although that may have been as much the fault of Martz for abandoning the run as it was the Packer defense.

Having a QB like Jay Cutler, not building a strong passing game around him and just running the hell out of the ball is like buying a Ferrari and riding your bicycle instead. Jay Cutler can be a great QB if the get him the tools and an OC who will maximize the talent he has instead of always trying to fit player into his scheme who don't. Bears football is run oriented I agree with you but we still need balance. Even when we won the Super Bowl is was our defense and our passing game that won it. The Pats focused on shutting down Payton and they did. He only had a little over 60 yards but we passed over the top and won that way.

We need both because these days most NFL teams would be lucky to have one or two games a year where they ran like we did today. Sorry pal but we just aren't gonna get it done with running and defense anymore. That hasn't worked in forever. It's a pass oriented league these days and we have to go with it.

Originally Posted by StarkyLuv

Your post makes zero sense. We DIDNT run the ball agains the Packers or Saints. That was the entire problem. It's not about who we beat (and why is it the Bears are the only team in the league who's wins are measured by who they play when every other team gets "a win is a win" treatment?)

If the Bears ran the ball with the repetition they did today in the last two games, our chances of winning those games would've increase exponentially. Instead, Martz kept putting the shaky pass-protection and drop-happy receivers at the forefront.

He FINALLY woke up today and I don't care if was against the Panthers, Chiefs or Colts.

I would agree that our chances of winning might have been better but how much is hard to say. The Pack focused on stopping Forte and they did a great job of it. The Panther's didn't and it cost them. I still would have run more against the Packers hoping that Forte would break a long run or two like he did today and I think Martz was wrong not to. But then again I think he's an idiot anyway so I'm a bit prejudiced.

Starky, part of the problem is that Forte is too big a part of our offense. We need to spread the ball around some or they can shut us down just by shutting him down. In today's game Matt Forte had 228 out of our total of 317 yards. That's 72% of our total offensive output coming from one guy. Can't expect that to happen every game. To me an ideal offense for the Bears would be about 53% run and 47% pass with a number of those passes screens to Forte or Hester and short passes to the FB and TE.

With our defense all we need is a good ball control game and to not come away from the red zone without scores, 24 points or more per game, and win the TOP battle. Do that and we win most games but we still need to pass to do it. The trouble is Mike Martz runs a big play downfield passing type of offense and has already been said, "you don't bring in Mike Martz to fit in" or in other words to run your game. He runs his regardless and that's what makes him an arrogant, stupid, prick in my mind, LOL.

Now that Martz is here the Bears will only get off the bus running when they leave Mike Martz on the bus after they get off.

Originally Posted by StarkyLuv

Getting Barber in there is key and we need Bennett back.

And Forte is a huge part of our offense because he's an excellent back. Just like Faulk did it for years with the Rams or Emmett with the Cowboys, you can't NOT give the ball to so potent a weapon. And having Barber prevents him from getting worn down. We really missed having him in there.

I'm with you 100%. Both would help tremendously. Barber can take the carries that Forte doesn't excel at and take another series or two per game. He's got a lot of tough miles on him but that shouldn't wear him out much. Both RB will be more productive if we can limit their carries.

As soon as Bennett returns I put him in a starter along with Knox and only use Hester as the 3rd WR sharing snaps with Sanz. Once he's healthy we can bench RWill for good or cut his ass. I care less which but he doesn't deserve to play unless he decides he plays for the Bears, not Mike Martz and not Roy Williams.

Right now our three best WR are Knox, Bennett and Sanz and those are the guys you give the most snaps to. Hester has to remain in the mix because he has to be accounted for but you'll make the other guys a lot more neverous if he plays in the slot against a NB or isolated on a Safety or LB then you'll ever make them with him playing outside. He's way too easy to bump off his route and his blocking out there sucks.