Can Martz keep this up? (let's hope so...)

Leaving two TEs in. Chipping the best pass-rusher with the RB. Leaving a FB in to block. Anything to protect the QB and give him a cleaner pocket. And you saw what happened. Cutler was calmer, focusing on the receivers. It gave the receivers time to get open. We moved the ball on the ground and through the air. All because they PROTECTED THE QB.

7-step drops were at a minimum. A great mix of run and pass. Mike Martz, this is how the BEARS can win with the personnel they have (props to Tice for benching Omayle)

Keep doing this. The defense will play up and down, but this offense can play this steadily every week when you make your highest offensive priority the PROTECTION OF JAY CUTLER.

Congrats, Mike. It seems you have seen the light.

Cripes we beat the Vikings. Big deal.

That D is still damn good, regardless of how bad the Minny O is. To drop that many points on them; and to have your QB look that comfortable is a big deal against the D.

Leaving people in to max protect allows Knox and Hester to use their speed to get open. Neither guy can run a route worth a damn, but they can blaze downfield, right past DB's and safeties.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Blue Horse-shoe

Cripes we beat the Vikings. Big deal.

---

We may have beaten the Vikings, but this was good for the offense's morale, especially Jay Cutler's. We gave up only one sack the entire game, and that was more or less Cutler's fault because he held on to the ball too long (and, unfortunately, it led to a Vikings touchdown). I won't say that I have full confidence in Mike Martz because this is the second time he's had a come to Jesus meeting with Lovie Smith and Mike Tice, but I will say that I was pleased overall with the play-calling tonight and the execution by the offense.

What they did is exactly what the Lions did to us last week and what I've been bitching about all week. He doesn't need to send 5 guys out in the pattern to confuse the D. He needs one guy to get open and give Cutler time to find him. Hesters TD was a carbon copy of the one CJ made last week when the Lions had max protect on.

If we ran an offense like this every week we'd win more than half our games. Give Cutler some time and better WR's and he can go toe to toe with anyone.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dagan81

We may have beaten the Vikings, but this was good for the offense's morale, especially Jay Cutler's. We gave up only one sack the entire game, and that was more or less Cutler's fault because he held on to the ball too long (and, unfortunately, it led to a Vikings touchdown). I won't say that I have full confidence in Mike Martz because this is the second time he's had a come to Jesus meeting with Lovie Smith and Mike Tice, but I will say that I was pleased overall with the play-calling tonight and the execution by the offense.

---

Sure it's an 'improvement' and makes a lot more sense, but it took until the 6th week of the season to make it. If they can execute against a real team like the Packers and have success then good. This Vikes team is wayyyy over-rated on D. Their punter didn't help them at all tonight either and the good teams don't have that problem. We'll see what happens against a real team, and when the Bears aren't given good field position all night.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Blue Horse-shoe

Sure it's an 'improvement' and makes a lot more sense, but it took until the 6th week of the season to make it. If they can execute against a real team like the Packers and have success then good. This Vikes team is wayyyy over-rated on D. Their punter didn't help them at all tonight either and the good teams don't have that problem. We'll see what happens against a real team, and when the Bears aren't given good field position all night.

---

Well buddy, you're going to be given that opportunity next weekend when the Bears travel to London to face the Buccaneers. I don't know a lot about Tampa Bay other than Josh Freeman has had mixed success passing the football. (As I recall, his interception total is a bit elevated for this time of year.) They did beat the Saints, so I'm a little concerned about their pass rush after what New Orleans was able to do to us. Still, it should be a good game, and I like our chances. If our new offensive line can play well and our defense shows up to play some ball like it did this week, I don't see why we can't win. A win next week would validate any success we have had this season.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dagan81

Well buddy, you're going to be given that opportunity next weekend when the Bears travel to London to face the Buccaneers. I don't know a lot about Tampa Bay other than Josh Freeman has had mixed success passing the football. (As I recall, his interception total is a bit elevated for this time of year.) They did beat the Saints, so I'm a little concerned about their pass rush after what New Orleans was able to do to us. Still, it should be a good game, and I like our chances. If our new offensive line can play well and our defense shows up to play some ball like it did this week, I don't see why we can't win. A win next week would validate any success we have had this season.

---

Validation comes at the end of the year when u see what ur record is. And the Bears are still a long way from being able to compete against the better teams who have the ability to blow up your pass protection. It's 1 game against a lousy team.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Blue Horse-shoe

Validation comes at the end of the year when u see what ur record is. And the Bears are still a long way from being able to compete against the better teams who have the ability to blow up your pass protection. It's 1 game against a lousy team.

---

You look at the NFL season like it's college football. The NFL season is a week-by-week process. I don't even start worry about the standings until early November. Look at the Packers from last year. They were shitty for the most part until the month of December. Then, they came on like gangbusters and won the Super Bowl. The Bears aren't likely going to win the division this season, but there is still a chance that we will still compete for a spot in the playoffs as a Wild Card team, particularly if we can continue the good pass protection like we had tonight and the quality of play-calling. The defense also needs to show up, too.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dagan81

You look at the NFL season like it's college football. The NFL season is a week-by-week process. I don't even start worry about the standings until early November. Look at the Packers from last year. They were shitty for the most part until the month of December. Then, they came on like gangbusters and won the Super Bowl. The Bears aren't likely going to win the division this season, but there is still a chance that we will still compete for a spot in the playoffs as a Wild Card team, particularly if we can continue the good pass protection like we had tonight and the quality of play-calling. The defense also needs to show up, too.

---

I'll put it bluntly. This isn't a playoff caliber team.