Bearstalk

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter?game_id=2960...=tab_gamecenter If you can handle the emotions again watch the video at that link. They say football is a game of inches but for a couple months now I've been thinking about what a difference 11 seconds can make for a team. If we won that game against Atlanta we would not have seen anywhere near as many changes as what we had this offseason. I believe that's for the best. If we win this game against Atlanta it's likely we: 1) Made the made the playoffs but lost in Rd 1. That would have been enough for JA and Lovie to sit tight and just tweak things a bit instead of the wholesale changes we had. 2) Do…

Thayer listed the things he'll be watching for during training camp. One thing caught my eye, a very welcome sight indeed is that our Dline is learning to use counter moves on their pass rush. We've all been asking for this for years and perhaps it has finally arrived. If true, just the fact that we mix up the pass rush angles and moves will make our Dline more effective. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://blogs.suntimes.com/bears/2009/07/1_...tom_thayer.html There will be a good deal of focus on the secondary and rightfully so. Cornerback Charles Tillman will be an onlook…

http://chicitysports.com/2009/08/01/cutler-to-improve-wrs/ Article on Jay Cutler improving the WR's. What do you think of it? I think he'll improve them to a certain extent but some guys will really have to step it up.

http://nfpost.com/Biggs-Will-Bears-extend-Cutler.html Its amazing what all you can find on Twitter. lol Thanks to Brad Biggs.

Got some tid bits from ESPN Chicago Blog - Due to some injuries, Bullocks started at FS and Afalava at SS. Per the reports, both played well, which may not mean a lot in terms of starting, but is a nice sign regardless. Also reading a lot of good about Afalava, who missed OTAs due to school, but is quickly learning and making an impression. - Jamar Williams got snaps at SLB, and may factor in the competition, which I don't think many expected. I have read Roach and Pisa have done well, but it could be that much more interesting if Williams is getting a legit look there. - Read this little tid bit about Beekman, which I have to say, is a surprise, Th…

It finally has come out that Tommie Harris has had his knee scoped in March and he is suffering from some problems with that surgically repaired hamstring. So this is not good news.

Pompei makes the argument that while Cutler has an incredible arm, he is also going to throw picks. In general, I agree w/ this. QBs w/ strong arms and aggressive instincts are simply put going to throw more picks. That is simply how it is. However, the idea is they will also throw more TDs, thus throwing (for example) one pick per game is not really that painful. What bothers me though is more in his reasoning than his argument in general. He makes the case that, to date, Cutler has played in 37 games and thrown a total of 37 interceptions. He then compares Cutler w/ Payton Manning and Tom Brady, and points out how Brady threw a pick every 42.4 throws an…

Team Notes Bears activate Tillman The Chicago Bears have activated cornerback Charles Tillman from the physically unable to perform list, making him eligible to play in the season-opener at Green Bay. Tillman missed training camp and did not appear in any of the four preseason games after undergoing back surgery. His health is key for a team that struggled against the pass last season and is trying to get back to the playoffs after... (ap) http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/chi;_ylt...Fc1vU00yY1DubYF

http://espn.go.com/nfl/picks http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/features/writers/expert/picks 16 so-called experts pick the Falcons. Not a single one picks the Bears, yet we are only 2.5 underdogs. The Jets are the only other unanimous pick to win. That means every other underdog received one vote. The odds makers are pretty good at the spread and they are actually saying the Bears are favorites on a neutral field (3 pts the normal home field advantage bonus). It is kind of funny to see their yearly records predicting the games. ESPN "experts" put CBS "experts" to shame.

These come out about once every three seasons but after this game I think I want to vent/evaluate where I see the team. First: Brian Urlacher. There is a lot of hate for him and a lot of people thinking he isnt needed or we can do with out him. IMO, he is the best linebacker in the cover 2/Tampa 2 in the game and possibly ever (for the current scheme we run). He isnt replaceable and I think people overlook what he does in pass defense in the middle of the field. When he is done, our Tampa 2 is done, Lovie is done and we are starting over. Defense: In a lot of trouble. Lance Briggs is a top 10 defensive player in the league, but after that we are hurting. …

Couple tid bits from a Mulligan article in the Sun Times, http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/be...mully30.article Payne was benched for not being able to defend the pass, but, lo and behold, he's now used as a deep safety in nickel downs because the player starting ahead of him, Danieal Manning, moves down into the box in passing situations. In other words, Payne, who isn't good against the pass, is only used in passing situations. Does that make sense? Man, I have been saying that since camp when the staff said this was their plan. It just never made sense to me. Payne was removed from the FS position in favor of DM, mainly due to his lack of abilit…

I'm going to take a stab at this... Besides going Madden on this and blowing up our roster and trying to get picks, etc...I'm going to approach this as is. What FA are possible, where our draft picks are etc... I'll be utilizing this site for potential available FA's.... http://www.footballsfuture.com/2010/fa/ol.html 1. FA pick ups: OL - Keep on T (Williams), and one G (Garza)...the rest should be cut or traded. a. Logan Mankins (G), I want a winner, someone who knows what winning is like. He's only 27, fairly young. NE tends not to want to pay $$$$. b. Marcus McNeil (T), young kid. We need youth and he's also got some size... c. Justin H…

OK, so let me get this said up front: I'm not giving up on the Bears after 8 games. They could still be anywhere from 12-4 to 4-12 (although god knows they look more like a 4-12 team right now.) However this season plays out, though, there are some serious personnel holes on this team. If you believe (as I do) that Lovie's keeping his job, this next offseason is going to be really key. So here's the game: you're the 2010 Chicago Football Bears, and you need at least two new starters on the o-line, plus maybe a new CB and DT, depending on your viewpoint. Problem is, Jerry Angelo traded away all your draft picks! Well, at least all the ones on the first day. Mayb…

That Omiyale had replaced Beekman on the last drive. ZZ asked him after the game why Beekman was replaced and Lovie said that was the 1st he aware of it. ZZ asked if Beekman was injured and Lovie said no. Just food for thought. Peace

Changes I would make for next yr: 1 - Olsen moves to WR. Let's face it, he cannot block and I don't want to see him try anymore. Thayer was saying Kellen Davis has improved. Keep working with him and draft another blocking TE. 2 - Draft a blocking FB or get the best one on the FA market. They come cheap and can normally play well even at the twilight of their career. McKie is gone. 3 - Sign at least one o-lineman in FA. Not a project but a proven vet that is considered in the top 3 available. Draft 1 to 2 more. Get rid of Pace and get road graters. 4 - Move Williams to LT. Lose Pace. Tell Omiyale he is competing for RT (Do not simply give hi…

I got to thinking about how excited everyone was about the RB screen. It was successful, looked great, and had my jaw on the floor the entire game. I'm sure that every Bears' fan was pumped to see this play, one that has NEVER worked, be so successful. Here's the problem: it's a sign of the Bears' failure. Why does a RB screen usually succeed? The offensive gameplan is successful enough that the OL can almost toy with the DL. The DL rushes in, almost oblivious to their newfound success at getting to the QB. The RB and OL scoot through, set up things, and the RB screen is successful. Why is this a problem, you ask? The Niners' DL was so used to blasting throug…

The bloom is off that rose. I won't say I was a staunch defender of Lovie but I was willing to pull for the "Brotha". That all changed when he decided he would continue to talk in coach speak and basically ruined my Sundays(or Game Days). When it comes to the Bears I'm not sitting here starring at a Malcolm X poster and reciting Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech, I am first and foremost looking for the Bears to win the game they play. Taking my ethnicity out of the equation Lovie sucks as bad as Herm Edwards did in KC. Maybe he is one of those guys that just needs to be a coordinator like Romeo Crennel, Kevin Gilbride ,Dick Le Beau and Dom Capers…

Orlando is a quitter. "Ankle sprain" and he walks off the field with a brisk, healthy walk.

By Brad Biggs http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2009/...-cap-bears.html It is detailed in Sunday's Tribune how the Bears have $4.63 million remaining in available salary-cap room for the final month of the season, space that general manager Jerry Angelo could put to use for next year, in the event the NFL proceeds with a capped system. Salary-cap numbers for individual players do not represent how much money they are earning each year. Rather, they are a reflection of how much room the player takes up under the cap. Think of it as one big pie, the whole of which is $135.9 million for the Bears. Quarterback Jay Curter is the biggest piece in the pie w…

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2009/...g-to-bears.html Briggs echoes Hester, predicts changes coming December 17, 2009 12:40 PM | No Comments lancebriggs-pv.JPGBy Brad Biggs Lance Briggs stepped to the podium in the media room at Halas Hall this afternoon and said he was ready to deliver some controversy. The Pro Bowl linebacker was joking, playing off an interesting Wednesday when wide receiver Devin Hester expressed his frustration with his role and the team's struggles. "There is going to be a shakeup. There is going to be what I call a shake at the lake,'' Briggs joked. Then, the team's leading tackler got serious and admitted …