Bears Players; Who's Hot and Who's Not..............

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10-18-2011, 12:51 PM
soulman

Bears Players; Who's Hot and Who's Not..............
Chicago Bears Report

Streaking and Slumping: Week 6

October, 18, 2011Oct 18
10:37
AM CT
By Michael C. Wright

http://a.espncdn.com/photo/2011/1018...plit1x_576.jpgAP Photo/US PresswireDevin Hester continues to make it look easy while Chris Harris has gone from starter to bystander.
STREAKING

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1. Jay Cutler, QB: Cutler put together his second consecutive strong outing in the win over the Minnesota Vikings, completing 21 of 31 passes for 267 yards, two touchdowns and a passer rating of 115.9. With a game plan more catered to the team’s capabilities, Cutler was able to play aggressively. Even under pressure Cutler kept his eyes downfield toward the receivers. So when your quarterback has a gun like Cutler’s, that’s a dangerous proposition because speedsters like Devin Hester can take the top off a coverage easily.

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2. Devin Hester, WR: Let’s get this one thing straight: what Hester is doing isn’t normal. Players don’t take kickoffs and punts to the house this routinely. So what we’re watching is definitely special, and yes if Hester keeps this up, he’ll definitely warrant consideration as a Hall of Famer. Yeah, I said that. Adding to that was the 48-yard bomb he caught in the first quarter from Cutler.

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3. Julius Peppers, DE: Peppers limped around in the locker room during the week leading up to the game. The team listed him as doubtful. Then miraculously, Peppers became healthy enough to play. Hobbling and at times writhing in pain in Sunday’s game, Peppers still managed to notch a couple of sacks and play a major role in the team shutting down Adrian Peterson. Just think of how he would have performed if he were fully healthy.

SLUMPING

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1. Henry Melton, DT: The penetrating three-technique defensive tackle has contributed just one tackle in his past three outings, and is averaging one tackle per game. Melton wasn’t credited with any tackles against the Vikings, but did register one quarterback hit. Surely that’s not the level of production the team expect of Melton when it raved about him all offseason. It’s not that Melton is playing badly. He’s been just -- well -- average.

http://espn.go.com/espncitysites/chi...rrow_slump.jpg

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2. Chris Harris, S: Slumping for all the wrong reasons, Harris formally requested permission to seek a trade on Monday. But it’s unlikely the team will be able to move him by Tuesday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline. Harris would never admit this, but according to a source he asked the team to give him an additional week to recover (he couldn’t get in and out of cuts) going into the Detroit game. Well, he returned too early, was beaten for a touchdown, later benched, and eventually deactivated.

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3. Brandon Meriweather, S: The Bears decided to pay Meriweather more than what they even offered to one of their own free agents (Danieal Manning). So surely the club expected more from the investment than what they’ve received: a two-time Pro Bowler who is now a backup. Meriweather didn’t play in Sunday’s win over the Vikings. Two days prior to that game, the league announced Meriweather would be fined $20,000 or more for the second consecutive week for a questionable hit.
10-18-2011, 01:11 PM
soulman

Interesting in that according to his "source" Chris Harris was still not 100% recovered going into the Detroit game and this sounds more like they encouraged him to play hurt rather then he wanted to. That would explain why he's a bit miffed over being benched and made inactive for the Viking game.

Melton has been a disappointment so far. He's getting pressure but only one sack so far and his run defense sucks. Okoye is playing much better but not starting. Maybe some changes coming on that Dline especially with what Paea showed he's capable of on Sunday.

Meriweather is just another high dollar waste of a roster spot. It's kind of like RWill you know? These guys have bad reps coming through the door but somehow JA can't resist the opportunity for a coup built around another teams failures. Great, a GM whose ego is in runaway mode. Meriweather and RWill remind me of that story about the Cowboy who saves the rattlesnake from dying in the desert sun after the snake promises not to bite him. The Cowboy picks up the snake and after carrying it to a cool shady place the snake bites him anyway. When the Cowboy acts surprised the snake looks at him and says, "but you knew what I was when you picked me up".

On the opposite side of the coin we have Peppers and we should be very glad we have him because he's the only consistent pass rusher we have and even injured he's better than 99% of the others are healthy. This is about the only FA signing that keeping Angelo's reputation marginally intact. The guy is worth every plug nickel he gets paid.

Cutler looks better then he's looked at anytime since he arrived. I think he's finally taken ownership of this offense. It's his now, not Mike Martz's, and obviously he isn't afraid to tell him so, LOL.

And Devin Hester is still a ridiculous KR/PR man and a very nice offensive weapon to boot. But he's still no #1 WR.
10-18-2011, 01:22 PM
motownbear

How about a big arrow pointing up for Paea! Melton is what I said earlier this season the biggest liability against the run. We havent been this gashed against the run since T Harris helt the DT spot. Paea is what we saw at draft time a guy who can get a pass rush and be a clog to help against the run.

now a surprise arrow pointing up should be Louis. He is looking like the only one worth keeping around on that oline after this season
10-18-2011, 01:23 PM
motownbear

hey soul how nice would it have been if we took all these wasted contracts on cast offs and just gave one big contract to sidney rice
10-19-2011, 08:17 PM
4th and 26

Our punter needs a big fat arrow up.
10-19-2011, 08:40 PM
soulman

Quote:

Originally Posted by motownbear

How about a big arrow pointing up for Paea! Melton is what I said earlier this season the biggest liability against the run. We havent been this gashed against the run since T Harris helt the DT spot. Paea is what we saw at draft time a guy who can get a pass rush and be a clog to help against the run.

now a surprise arrow pointing up should be Louis. He is looking like the only one worth keeping around on that oline after this season

Yes on both. Paea will have to prove that he can bring it every week like that but what I saw was a NT who not only can play the run and bull rush but also gap shoot the way a UT is supposed to do. He was on McNabb in a heartbeat on that safety.

Louis looks better as an OT then he did at OG. He did a nice job of steering his guy wide all night and Robison has been one of the better LDE pass rushers this year. Definite arrow up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by motownbear

hey soul how nice would it have been if we took all these wasted contracts on cast offs and just gave one big contract to sidney rice

Quality instead of quantity is not JA's operative mode anymore. He's become a dumpster diver. I don't know how Rice did this past week but up to that point neither he or the other bigger name FA WR's have done a whole so far. Hell Sims-Walker already got cut by the Rams and this was the guy who thought he could become our #1?
10-19-2011, 08:41 PM
soulman

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4th and 26

Our punter needs a big fat arrow up.

He and Robbie have been real consistent so at least that's not going to hell.