Thread: Joyner: Bears are Super Bowl contenders

Not with their o line problems

If anyone has ESPN insider, could you give a quick synopsis of what they are saying?

It's pretty cool Ric. I'm not used to journalists being hopeful about the bears, but Joyner sure is. He says we haven't had a tandem like Cutler/Marshall since McMahon/Gault. That's probably right on. I was never impressed with Willie Gault (certainly he wasn't in Marshall's class as a WR). He goes on to point out that Cutler ranked 11th in vertical yards per attempt (VYPA, which measures productivity on aerials thrown 11 or more yards downfield) with a receiving corps largely consisting of pitiful receivers.

He also says, Marshall racked up a 12.0 VYPA on 73 targets in 2011 while playing in a Miami offense that had less than elite quarterback play. His VYPA mark ranked 14th out of 31 wideouts with at least 50 vertical targets. That ranking should improve now that he is working with Cutler. And he says Mike Tice's play-calling system that emphasizes protecting the passer should go a long way toward reducing the 49 sacks that the Bears allowed last year.

That's about it Ric.

Originally Posted by nikkisickles

Not with their O line problems...

Oh a noobie. Step forward and identify yourself young man.

Originally Posted by nikkisickles

Not with their O line problems...

I'm thinking that I'm going to watch more than 1 pre-season game before I give up on this year's Bears. I am definitely concerned about a number of issues this pre-season, but I'm not out on the ledge (just yet ).

Welcome to the message board. Great to have you here.

long way to go but I can only repeat myself. I already put money on da Bears winning it all

For a LONG time, when we (or most any NFL fan) thought about the Bears, you thought about DEFENSE. STs some too since Hester burst onto the scene. Other than a passing nod to Forte, the offense was a distinct 2nd or 3rd fiddle. That should and must change this year.

Our D and ST should still be good this year. But the time for relying on or expecting or needing them to "hold the opponent to 10" and even to score has to end. I'm not saying that they can't or won't sometimes but it needs to become more of a "gravy" thing than a requirement like it has been in the past (see the 2010 NFCCG when we held Rodgers & Co. to 14 offensive pts and lost the game due to a goalline pick-6). If that wasn't obvious enough already, it should be absolutely clear now what's needed since Urlacher may be sidelined a while and definitely won't be truly 100% (for him) at the start of the RS this year.

Bottom Line:
This offense must control the ball, pressure opposing defenses, and put serious points on the board.

The (previously legit) excuses are over. We have heard and seen them all--Mad Martz, defenses keying on Forte, hopeless pass pro, no big marqui WR, red zone ineptitude, backup QB follies, etc. etc. This team is now stacked with offensive talent enough to be among the top 25% in the league.

We have one of the best 1-2 RB duos in the NFL...and both are good receiving backs too.
We have a high quality QB with a great arm who's now showing the maturity and skill development to reach elite status this year.
We have a legit top-tier big-body marqui WR...who happens to have great chemistry with our above mentioned QB.
We have one of the better 3rd down possession type WRs in the game who also has history and chemistry with the signal caller.
We have a deep threat in Hester who promises to be used judiciously and properly for the 1st time in this O.
We have an OC who finally actually understands how to call a game plan that suits the team's strengths rather than his own ideas.
We have young talented weapons in ERod & AJ who can exploit the middle of the field and red zones respectively.
We have depth at the skill positions we could only dream of the last few years.

Cutler, Forte, and Marshall are our key offensive QB-RB-WR "triad". They are smart guys. They are as talented and potent a triad as any team in the NFL has. STEP UP and STEP THIS OFFENSE UP. No more excuses.

POINTS ON THE BOARD GENTLEMEN.

Originally Posted by soulman

Oh a noobie. Step forward and identify yourself young man.

Looks to be a female, which is fantastic. We'll see if she is here to talk football, or to spam our site with links to hers.