New Offensive Line, New Results................
New Bears offensive line, new results
Steve Rosenbloom The RosenBlog 11:12 p.m. CDT, October 16, 2011
First minute of the game, and it was the Bears’ defense calling a timeout. That’s one fewer timeout the offense can waste, at least.
No, wait, remarkably, they weren’t needed.
Jay Cutler used play-action to hit Devin Hester for a 48-yard touchdown. Bears, 7-0 less than three minutes into the game. Great call. Great protection. Great execution. No headphone issues. Whoever stole the Bears offense can keep it. (It'll happen more often if we keep doing it like we did last night)
Not only did Roy Williams catch some big passes, but Marion Barber scored untouched on first-and-goal. Yeah, those guys. Can the Bears play the Vikings the rest of the season? (We should be so lucky)
But you know what? This was the Bears offensive line doing business. (About time they opened their shop dontcha think?)
Offensive coordinator Mike Martz altered his game plan somewhat, giving Cutler max protection more, and Cutler turned that time into two touchdowns. (And my God how long did it take for him to do that?)
Matt Forte needed holes, and he got them, too. It was Forte off the edge, Forte up the middle, Forte getting paid. (That is the best I've ever seen Matt Forte run between the tackles)
The line allowed the Bears offense to play quicker, smarter and better. The new-yet-again offensive line. (Of course it helps the offense play better when you're not getting penalty on every drive)
Lance Louis started at right tackle, while Chris Spencer, broken hand and all, took over right guard. Not a false-start from those guys. In fact, the Bears false-started only once, and by then it was just about over, much like Frank Omiyale’s Bears career. (Omiyale's career is over I think he's just refusing to give his uniform back. He should have been inactive rather than Harris)
You didn’t hear Brian Robison’s name much, which tells you what kind of game Louis had playing out of position. (I don't think he was out of position. Tice was right he is a good pass blocker but as an OT, not so much as an OG)
You did hear Jared Allen’s name when he sacked Cutler, stripped the ball and recovered the fumble to start the second half. That would’ve been the time for the Bears to end things. They had the ball, a 23-point lead, and momentum. (Jay held that one too long and too carelessly, need to cover it up pal)
Instead they gave a bad team delusions.
But after the touchdown, Hester abused the Vikings the way he has his entire career. That’s what the Vikings get for scoring. ("Still Ridiculous After All These Years", with sincere apologies to Paul Simon)
Hester was the dazzle. The offensive line was where it was won. Yeah the backs and tight ends provided help, but against a fierce defensive line, the Bears’ offensive line had a game. (Finally they get the idea they're supposed to block the guy not usher him into the backfield like it was a church sanctuary)
For one week, anyway.
Adrian Peterson had 16 yards on eight carries in the first half. The Bears called Donovan McNabb’s bluff. (Who's the top back in the NFCN now?)
The Bears sacked McNabb five times, two by Julius Peppers. Playing on a bad knee beats playing on a bad team. (They'd have had about three more on Ponder too if he wasn't such a slippery little fvcker)
And with that kind of pressure, the new kids starting at safety don’t matter much. (Wait, jury's still out on those two but at least we know Wright and Conte can tackle)
Chris Harris went from starting safety to goat to second string to inactive, all in less than a week. That’s about as athletic as Bears safeties get. (I still think that was a slap in his face. Unless he's still hurt it should have been Meriweather made inactive. I suppose they made him play ST as penance)
The defense was so good that you didn’t notice it smothered the Vikings without taking away the ball. Lovie Smith’s defense is built on takeaways, but winning a game where it lost that battle is a tribute to the Bears’ tackling -- gang-tackling again -- and trusting that the next guy would be in his gap and do his job. (It should be noted that the Vikes didn't force the Bears into nickel coverage as much which meant Roach played more downs so there was one more LB to cover those gaps too)
Of course, if the Vikings hadn’t dropped two third-down passes on their first two possessions, it might’ve been different -- the game would’ve been over in the third quarter instead of halftime. (We needed to give someone a good old fashioned beat down so there's some justice in that you know)
Marcus Sherels fair-caught a punt at his 5, and two plays later, Brian Urlacher and Stephen Paea sacked McNabb for a safety. Dumb and bad is how you came in losing our of your first five games.
Wait, Stephen Paea? If he could play, why wasn’t he playing before this? (Lovie claims his technique needs work....Lovie don't know shit, he got into McNabb so quick he forced him to bail before he got out of the endzone and I saw him push double team blocking backwards on several bull rushes. The kid is quick and strong. Toe's job maybe safe but I think AA is about to give up some playing time. I liked the Paea and Okoye combo at DT myself)
The Vikings came out of the two-minute timeout in the first half and lined up for a field goal. Then they called timeout to go for it on fourth-and-3 at the Bears’ 15. Then they false-started. Back to the field-goal try. Ryan Longwell missed badly. Dumn and bad is how you go out losing five of your first six games. (Nice to see some team other than the Bears pull off one of those "Three Stooges" moves".)
Can the Bears play the Vikings the rest of the season? (So you want them to be our version of the Harlem Globetrotter's Washington Generals?)
Copyright © 2011, Chicago Tribune
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