Originally Posted by
soulman 
Marshall and a bunch of unknows? "Au contraire ma frere". Marshall alone is a huge addition and the only unknown is the rookie. If we get lucky he's an equal to Jordy at least in the red zone. The kid is gonna put some points on the board. Bennett has pretty well established himself as one of the best clutch 3rd down receivers in football. The guys not jazzy but he gets open and never drops a ball. Hester isn't exactly an unknown just a Wild Card as far as what he can produce in this so called "Hester Package" but no matter how much or how little when he's on the field you have to account for him or he'll burn you faster than a blowtorch. And the little guys, Sanz and Weems, have enough of a track record of success to be #5 and #6 guys and ST players.
I just don't think it's all that unknown especially since Cutler has a history with three of the top four. I think downplaying the threat those guys represent is whistling in the dark and when you add the receiving ability of the backs and TE's not seeing the potential is ignoring the obvious. We do at last have a first rate passing attack.
Everyone is a lot more worried about that line than I am. I'd rate the two lines about even. The Pack has a more well developed bunch of pass blockers but the Bears are a far better run blocking line. People everywhere want to focus on how crappy the Bears line was in 2011 but they all ignore some key facts. One is that they were a patchwork line without their best OT and three others playing out of position. Despite that those boobs blocked for over 1700 yards rushing and only allowed 5 sacks during that 5 game winning streak before Cutler went down. It was after that when Hanie replaced him that things fell apart again and much of that gets put on Martz as well. No more Frank "Omygod" the living turnstile either. He gave up about five sacks in the Lions game alone before they yanked him.
This line will have it's best OT back, a vey probable improvement at LT and some long needed stability on the inside. It isn't all that important whose line is better only that the Bears line has made some major improvements and plays with the same consistency they did during that winning streak last year. Barring numerous injuries I can't see how they won't accomplish that. Anyone who can't see major improvements on the horizon must not see what I do.
With all due respect with the Pack it's not "run game or no run" game", it's "no run game" period just like before 2012 with the Bears it was "no passing game" period. That's not to say that Starks or any of the second line guys stink. It's simply a comment that compares the Packers running game with the Bears passing game of yore. No one respects it. It doesn't make a DC stay awake at night trying to figure out how to defense it. It's not what generates points on the board for the Pack.
From my viewpoint the 2012 Packers offense is more one dimensional than the Bears offense, not that that one dimension isn't a very very good one. But you have to admit it's easier to defense one strength than both. I don't believe teams will be able to defense the Bears as easily any longer just by focusing of slowing down our running attack and pressuring Cutler. The whole offensive concept has changed and it will much harder to predict. There'll be three or four guys on the field at a time capable of getting the ball and moving the chains. Forte is no longer 35% to 45% of the offense. We have top 5 talent at WR and the TE's will be part of the package again along with a power back who can get in the end zone from inside the 5 yard line.
Like you say it does look good on paper but I think when the time comes they'll look just as good on the field.
Your improvements on defense have even more question marks to them than the Bears improvements at WR and TE. The Packers are plugging those deficiencies with rookies or relatively inexperienced guys you hope can step forward. The Bears plugged their offensive holes with vet's at WR, RB, QB and TE. Almost all of those upgrades have a successful history as starters with other teams. They are known quantities and each was at the very top of the list as far as available free agents were concerned including Marshall had he been acquired that way as opposed to by trade. Not just upgrades. Top tier upgrades.
Even defensively, with the exception of DE and Safety, the Bears have added vet depth at CB, LB, and DT. And anyone who thinks that Pep, Briggs, Tillman and Urlacher are slipping must be watching different games than I am. They were all pro bowl level players in 2011 and there's no reason to believe they won't continue to play at that level. The Bears run defense has lost nothing and as far as the pass rush is concerned it should be at least marginally stronger with McClellin and Paea added to the mix and Melton's improvements.
I know we see it differently and I expect that. From my present standpoint the Packers are still playing catch up to the Bears defensively whereas the Bears have made a quantum leap offensively and especially with the re-signing of Forte are every bit as strong offensively as the Packers. You probably don't see it quite that way and by the end of December we'll know which one of us was right. :drinking61:
