We Haven't Played Anybody!

Does this worry anyone else?

Through 5 Weeks the Bears have not played anyone decent. The Packers are not getting it done this year and the next best team we have played is St. Louis who only won 2 games last year and is clearly in rebuilding mode. Pretty much piss-poor if you ask me. I believe we should be undefeated, if only our offense could produce. Here are some numbers from the Bears opponents through 5 weeks:

• The Bears opponents have allowed a total of 541 points while scoring only 429.
• Through 5 weeks the combined record of all Bears opponents is 10 wins 13 losses.
• 3 of the 5 teams we have played did not have 4 wins last year.

I don't want to sound like a nay-sayer but our offense has got me really worried. I know the box score from last night looks good and we put up over 500 yards in offense for the first time in a long time, but we all know that had more to do with who we were playing than how "good" our offense is.

Honest to Pete! How can you be TIED 3-3 with the JAGS at halftime?!? They can't move the ball and they can't stop ANYONE! If Armando Allen is breaking 50 yard TD runs on you then you've got some bad problems.


Of course our defense had to come in and save the day again, well really Gabbert did his best Tony Romo impression and threw it right to Tillman... I mean right to him, I could have caught that one. Wooten had a great day and L. Boogie was awesome as well. Can't wait until Urlacher gets back to form (if ever) and we have those two guys back full strength.

It absolutely boggles my mind how we could let Jacksonville make a game of it last night. You all know what I'm talking about. I think Tice did another piss-poor... I repeat PISS-POOR job game planning against what is probably the leagues worst all around team. I know no one liked Martz but that man had us putting up huge numbers on offense without anything resembling the talent we have at WR or RB this year. I mean, I love the guy and wish him the best but this WR group is too good for the likes of Johnny Knox, I'm not even sure I would want him back at this point if he were 100% (maybe replace DS as the slot guy).

I digress, I guess the point I am trying to make here is that we haven't played anyone and we need Tice to get off his fat ass and call a game for us. Im not sure if the defense or offense has scored more points this year and that is a pathetic thing to have to think about. I'm glad our D is good but lets get our O involved. This isn't like other years where we had nobody. There is no excuse this year, for Jay, Marshal, Tice, or anybody. Score points, Win games, don't leave it all to the Defense. It shouldn't take a defensive score to embarrass our offense into action.

P.S. Did anyone listen to the post game on WBBM last night? They were ripping the Jags so bad on air, hilarious!!!


http://dabears.com/webkit-fake-url:/...oker-martz.jpg

All that's true; but the bright spot on this is, w/lost 1 game to the best team, but it was w/in our grasp if our QB doesn't(literally) throw it away. The rest were beat downs on teams that we should be down. The real tests are in the 2nd half of the year.

I'd rather have Martz than Tice as OC at this point. Martz was moving the ball with inferior players. Tice has some real weapons at his hands and cant get it done. Tice was a great OL Coach but not an offensive minded coach. He just doesnt get it. I mean we compare pretty well with anyone in the league talent wise and you are telling me we can only come up with 3 points in the 1st half??? Give me a break.

BEAR DOWN

Bear have not really played anyone. This is true. The collection of teams we have played this year are bad. But you can only play who is on your schedule. Those teams add up to the Bears being 4-1. No matter who you play, being 4-1 is something to be happy and excited about.

We can only play the teams the the league puts on our schedule, when they tell us to play them. If a team isn't at good as others, it should provide us with good practice and a chance to develop depth.


But I've got a question for you - What if we had played the top 5 teams in the league already and we were 1-4, would you be rationalizing the record w/ the level of competition?


If not, then your whole thread premise is kinda destroyed, no?

I'm not going to argue with this point at all. The only thing I really take issue with is the argument for Martz over Tice, but I will not disagree with your original premise.

In 2006, our beloved Bears went to the Superbowl with a guy named Rex Grossman at QB. How does that happen? You get fat winning against bad teams. Until we got into the playoffs, we played a total of 4 teams with records of 9-7 or better. On my old board, one of the guys took a lot of time to go back and look at Lovie Smiths win-loss record against good teams. This was his argument AGAINST Lovie to those that claimed we should extend him because he is the third winningest coach we've ever had. However, his attractive win loss record has been padded by the fact that our Division was so weak for so long. Regardless, Lovie has a record of only .318 (or something like that) against teams with a 9-7 record or better. The weak schedule we've had so far plays into that. We are often good enough to beat the bad teams, but seldom good enough to beat the good ones. We'll see how this season plays out.

If you look at our schedule, it's possible with the way things are playing out this year, that we could make it to 10-6 or even 11-5 without winning a single game against a winning team.

If anything we are gaining traction, confidence, and momentum. Were going through fits and starts now on offense and thankfully have a easier schedule to work on some things with an ok record to show for it. Plus the bye week will help heal up Pep,Urlacher, and others.

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Originally Posted by 4DaBERS

I'm not going to argue with this point at all. The only thing I really take issue with is the argument for Martz over Tice, but I will not disagree with your original premise.

In 2006, our beloved Bears went to the Superbowl with a guy named Rex Grossman at QB. How does that happen? You get fat winning against bad teams. Until we got into the playoffs, we played a total of 4 teams with records of 9-7 or better. On my old board, one of the guys took a lot of time to go back and look at Lovie Smiths win-loss record against good teams. This was his argument AGAINST Lovie to those that claimed we should extend him because he is the third winningest coach we've ever had. However, his attractive win loss record has been padded by the fact that our Division was so weak for so long. Regardless, Lovie has a record of only .318 (or something like that) against teams with a 9-7 record or better. The weak schedule we've had so far plays into that. We are often good enough to beat the bad teams, but seldom good enough to beat the good ones. We'll see how this season plays out.

If you look at our schedule, it's possible with the way things are playing out this year, that we could make it to 10-6 or even 11-5 without winning a single game against a winning team.

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Well, I hear what you are saying, but there are far too many factors to make the stat meaningful. Who was injured when we played them, for either team? Was that teams that were 9-7 in the 16 games before we met or the season we met them in? Who was their competition for either span? What was the weather like in the games? Were they playing at night or day? How many games were in domes? Were there replacement refs officiating? Who were the coordinators for each phase? Were any of the wins/loses in overtime? Who did the teams played gain/lose in free agency or the draft?

In general, I'd argue that strength of schedule is a meaningless stat. Proof positive is a current year opponent - The Packers. They were 15-1 last year, or 14-2 in the 16 games leading up to this year, they are 2-3 this year, they have had significant turnover on the oline from last year, they have G.Jennings (probowl WR from last year) that has been injured most of the year, I think they drafted really well, Urlacher was still recovering, Peppers has been battling Plantar Fascitis. What do you make of a team like that from a "strength of schedule" standpoint? Is your arguement still valid if they suddenly start winning the majority of games? What about if they continue to slide a bit?

Bottom line, you play who is printed on your schedule, with the folks that are available to play. The only fair measurement is the score on the scoreboard at the end of the game. The rest is messageboard fodder that can't be measured for accuracy.

These are NFL teams, and with the parity in the league there are no easy games. Oh, they may look easy, but they are all games where you need to take care of business.

And we have.

As some here have pointed out. We don't get to pick our schedule. You play the team they put on your schedule. Regarding Martz, well, I don't know what to say about that comment. He's not an NLF-level OC anymore. That's why nobody is touching him with a 10 foot pole right now. Stick a fork in him. He's done.

Regarding Tice, I'm very pleased with how he's adapted over these 4 games. We have a lot of new moving parts on offense, a new scheme and a new offensive coordinator. It is to be expected, that it takes a few games to get this offense in sync. Anytime the offense puts up 500+ yards the OC is doing something right. It is delusional to think otherwise.

Relax. Enjoy a great season. More wins are coming. It's a great time to be a Bears fan.

:bearbang[1]:

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Originally Posted by BearStuff

We can only play the teams the the league puts on our schedule, when they tell us to play them. If a team isn't at good as others, it should provide us with good practice and a chance to develop depth.


But I've got a question for you - What if we had played the top 5 teams in the league already and we were 1-4, would you be rationalizing the record w/ the level of competition?


If not, then your whole thread premise is kinda destroyed, no?

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I certainly would not be as upset as if we played our current schedule and were 1-4. So yes I guess I would be rationalizing with the level of competition.

Also, the greater concern here is that the offense cant seem to score without the defense showing them how first. We are going to come accross an opponent that can score on our defense at some point, then what do we do? Certainly cant rely on O to get the job done.

Bottom line is that with the talent we have this year there are no excuses. I personally believe Martz would be having a field day with these guys.