Week 5 Report Card: Bears dominate

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bears/
Week 5 Report Card: Bears dominate

October, 7, 2012 7:39 PM CT
By Michael C. Wright | ESPNChicago.com
Week 4 Report Card: Chicago Bears 41, Jacksonville Jaguars 3

A+
Rushing Offense

Chicago quietly averaged 6.5 yards per carry with Matt Forte churning out 107 yards on 22 carries. The Bears also ran the ball 33 times, which allowed them to dominate time of possession by exactly 12 minutes. The Bears converted 59 percent of third downs, and the running game played a role by putting the team in advantageous situations with positive gains on runs on first and second down.

B
Passing Offense

Jay Cutler started off slow, but remained patient and let the game come to him. That resulted in the quarterback throwing two fourth-quarter passes to Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall as his passer rating improved from 45.8 to 88.8. Cutler's offensive line provided solid protection, allowing the quarterback to spray the ball to seven different targets.

A
Rushing Defense

The Jaguars showed early on they'd be committed to running the ball, but the Bears quickly changed the home team's plans by stuffing Maurice Jones-Drew. Jones-Drew averaged 4.7 yards per attempt, but his impact was minimal because the Bears stopped him early and forced Jacksonville into a passing game. By becoming one dimensional, Jacksonville opened the door for sacks and interceptions.

A-
Passing Defense

This grade should probably be higher, but the sluggish start drops it somewhat. After all, the Bears limited Blaine Gabbert to 142 yards through the air, and the quarterback finished with a passer rating of 37.7. What's more is the Bears scored two touchdowns off interceptions for the second consecutive game by Charles Tillman and Lance Briggs. Chicago's defensive line struggled at first to get to Gabbert, but unleashed three sacks in the second half, including two by Corey Wootton.

B
Special Teams

Robbie Gould kicked two field goals, and hasn't yet missed an attempt. Devin Hester ran back one kickoff 28 yards, but averaged 2 yards on four punt returns. Hester seems to be on the verge of breaking a big return, but it hasn't yet happened. Adam Podlesh, meanwhile, finished with a 34-yard net average and kicked only one of his punts inside the Jaguars' 20.

A+
Coaching

The staff deserves credit for preparing the team to play a lowly Jacksonville squad in just six days after such an emotional game on Monday night against the Dallas Cowboys. It should also be commended for the adjustments made at halftime in every facet of the game after a sluggish start. Bears coach Lovie Smith said he couldn't figure out why the team started so slow. But the staff found a way to right the ship.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/footb...the-bears.html

GRADING THE BEARS
Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) catches a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012, in Jacksonville, Fla. Chicago Bears beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 41-3. (AP Photo/Stephen Morton)
QUARTERBACK B 
With a helping hand from Brandon Marshall, Jay Cutler overcame an INT on his first throw to finish 23-for-39 for 292 yards, 2 TDs and an 88.8 passer rating.
RUNNING BACKS B 
Matt Forte netted 107 yards on 22 carries with a consistent effort. Michael Bush (4-26) was more than a complement and No. 3 back Armando Allen capped off the rout with a 46-yard TD.
RECEIVERS B+ 
Brandon Marshall carried the load with 12 receptions for 144 yards and a 24-yard TD. The supporting cast was quiet until Alshon Jeffery and Devin Hester made plays in the fourth quarter.
OFFENSIVE LINE B 
After a slow start, the Bears finished with 501 net yards, including 214 rushing on 33 carries. Cutler was sacked once. Gabe Carimi struggled with a hold and two motion penalties.
DEFENSIVE LINE A 
Bears clearly won this battle as Corey Wootton led another stout effort with two sacks, including one that forced a fumble that Julius Peppers recovered. Bears stymied Maurice Jones-Drew (11-29 in the first half).
LINEBACKERS A 
Lance Briggs returned an INT for a TD for the second consecutive game and had a sack. Brian Urlacher had two tackles, but one was for a loss. Nick Roach added a pass defense.
DEFENSIVE BACKS A- 
Tim Jennings had a missed tackle and got beat on a deep ball — it’s going to happen. But Charles Tillman made the big play again with an INT he returned 36 yards for a TD.
SPECIAL TEAMS C 
Coverage units continued their strong play — Jaguars had no punt returns and a long KO return of 26 yards. But Devin Hester is almost literally running in circles to break a big play.
COACHING A
 Lovie Smith’s decision to have 8 defensive linemen active paid off as the Bears got stronger in the second half. Team struggled early but still won in a rout — that says something.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201.../week-5/2.html

Fine Fifteen

After Miami, Seattle and Indianapolis won on Sunday, SI.com's Mark Mravic wonders if it's time to start believing in these surprise teams.
1. Houston (4-0). Acid test won't come tonight against the outmanned Jets in New Jersey. It'll come next Sunday night against Green Bay, on a short week, followed by the Ravens the following Sunday -- both at home.
2. San Francisco (4-1). Last two weeks: Niners 79, Foes 3. I thought seriously of putting them No. 1.
3. Atlanta (5-0). The Falcons, born in 1966, were never 5-0 until yesterday.
4. Chicago (4-1). Zooming up the Fine Fifteen, thanks to the three-game win streak with an average margin of victory of 24 points.
5. Minnesota (4-1). Never thought I'd put the Vikes here, but they're legit. Things don't really get real for the Vikes until Thanksgiving weekend, when, in a span of 15 days, Minnesota plays the Bears, Packers and Bears. By the way, how good is Percy Harvin?
6. Baltimore (4-1). A meh game in Kansas City, but a win's a win.
7. New England (3-2). Remember when Wes Welker was being phased out? Last three games: 30 catches, 375 yards.
8. New York Giants (3-2). One of the things the Giants do so well is use whoever dresses, and just win. Rueben Randle and Domenik Hixon were Week 1 afterthoughts at wideout. And in Week 5, both were much needed due to injuries, and they came through with 11 catches for 137 yards.
9. Pittsburgh (2-2). "By any means necessary! By any means necessary!'' Mike Tomlin shouted to his players as they hugged their way to the locker room after the win over Philadelphia. The means was a little bit of everything.
10. San Diego (3-2). Wacky, weird finish, obviously, with Jared Gaither's ankle-related ineptitude killing the Chargers on the last series. But this result really was expected, if you ask me. Much bigger game next Monday: Peyton and the Broncos at San Diego.
11. Philadelphia (3-2). When or if you figure out this team, please let me know.
12. Green Bay (2-3). Don't look now, Cheese Nation, but the Packers are two games behind two teams in the NFC North, and we're only in Week 5, and roadies against Houston, Chicago, the Giants, Minnesota and Detroit await.
13. St. Louis (3-2). Used to be an easy day, playing the Rams secondary. Today? Rams are second in the league with a 66.6 defensive passer rating. That's what signing Cortland Finnegan and drafting Janoris Jenkins will do for a team.
14. Arizona (4-1). I can't see how this team makes the playoffs with that offensive line.
15. Seattle (3-2). Bruce Irvin's on pace for a 14.5-sack season. His speed is impossible to handle for almost any tackle in the NFL. What a smart pick -- assuming Irvin can stay on the field.


Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...#ixzz28iDpMrNz


I know it's not really a grade, but when everyone else has their rankings, good luck finding Peter Kings MMQB article from earlier this week.

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A+
Coaching

The staff deserves credit for preparing the team to play a lowly Jacksonville squad in just six days after such an emotional game on Monday night against the Dallas Cowboys. It should also be commended for the adjustments made at halftime in every facet of the game after a sluggish start. Bears coach Lovie Smith said he couldn't figure out why the team started so slow. But the staff found a way to right the ship.

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This could have turned into a trap loss very easily. But Lovie reset the team at halftime, and they went out and blew away the Jags. Lovie has evolved into a better coach in recent years. His strengths are being able to keep the team focused, and to steady the team so they don't get too up or down as they navigate through a season.

The very things that make us fans crazy (the wooden indian demeanor) is actually an asset to the team. When Lovie DOES get emotional with the team (like at the halftime yesterday) the team responds, because he is not a guy who yells all the time. Instead of tuning out a loudmouth lunatic coach who yells all the time, this Bears team listens to Lovie when he jacks them up a bit & does get emotional. It has effect.

We have a really solid coach in Lovie Smith now. Who knew?

ya he is a top notch coach, I'm not one that wants to see him go. I don't think he's the best coach in the NFL, but this team will struggle to find a better coach then Lovie.

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Originally Posted by Riczaj01

ya he is a top notch coach, I'm not one that wants to see him go. I don't think he's the best coach in the NFL, but this team will struggle to find a better coach then Lovie.

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I think that sums it up pretty well. There may be better coaches out there on game day but nobody gets his team to play for him any better than Lovie when he gets down to it. It's about time he chewed some ass at halftime. Maybe if he did it more often they'd play even better.

Wow honor role

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Originally Posted by gramster10

Wow honor role

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LOL Gramster. My pea sized brain had to think about what you meant for a minute. But that is too funny :smile: