balta1701-A

Apparently Wilbon "reported" today that DJ Moore was speaking on behalf of a group of Bears players.

Here's Cutler's radio appearance getting ripped, in case you want an early version of it.

If everyone's thinking this...then it should be aired in the locker room. Not on the radio.

No matter whether Webb's play deserved it or not, the fact is that Cutler can't do that. He especially can't do that on a day when he throws 4 picks and when he gives Marshall a pat on the back after dropping a pass in the end zone. The article writes itself and keeps going for a week.

That's what happens when you start doing things to take the pressure off the QB, like running the ball, quick routes, etc. The kind of stuff the Bears refuse to do. You can't bull rush the passer on every play if there's a decent chance the running back will be behind you.

This is a really interesting concept. It might well keep the Bears from overthinking things sometimes too.

That's part of the problem though...for some ungodly reason, the Bears keep thinking that up against teams that can rush the passer they can still look downfield to start the game. I don't know if that's just Lovie, if that's Tice/Martz, if that's something Cutler insists upon, but that's not how it works in the NFL. You can sit back in the pocket when your opponent can't rush the passer and when they're sending 6-7 guys. When an opponent can get pressure, you have to do something to break it. You have to complete a couple quick passes against the blitz and start moving the ball, so that the defense pays a penalty for sending extra men. You have to run the ball and break a 10+ yard carry or two because the defense is going after the QB. Then you have to add in the play fake. This was the book on how the Patriots beat Peyton for 5 years. Get in his face, overload one side of his line and break through with a blizter, and make sure that he doesn't have time to read a defense. How did he adapt? They developed that Manning-to-Wayne quick slant where every time a team sent a blitz, Manning made it go for at least 8 yards, with an occasional missed tackle for a long play. No reads, no progressions, dare the defense to blitz because he'll eat it alive.

On the couple sacks where the line was blown up, can you tell how many people the Packers sent? Were they rushing 3-4 or was it a good 6 man hit?

It doesn't absolve them...but no offensive line was going to perform well with that game plan.

Don't just look at the fake FG on that...look at the Randall Cobb out of the backfield play. The Bears have Brandon Marshall and Devin Hester, 2 of the best playmakers in the NFL, and outside of "Plays where the ball was kicked to Devin Hester", what did they do to get the ball in their hands early?

Here's the problem...you could go into this game knowing the Packers were going to send 7-8 guys after Cutler on a lot of plays. You ought to have known the blitz was coming...and it came early. Even a good offensive line needs help against a good defensive front. The Bears did nothing to help the O-Line out. They came out the entire first half determined that they were going to throw the ball down the field, and they did nothing to make that happen. There was nothing to break the pass rush up. Cutler never rolled out of the pocket. There were no quick slants or hot reads. I can barely recall anything resembling a play fake the entire first half (I turned it off when I realized it wasn't going to change). For crying out loud, you've got Brandon Marshall on this roster now...expect the blitz and have him either run a few quick slants or quick out routes, get yourself a 6-7 yard completion, and dare the defense to tackle him before he takes it 70 yards! When you come out against a team like the Packers and you try to throw the ball downfield on every passing play, you can't be surprised when your QB starts taking hits. It was the Mike Martz offense all over again.

I don't care how angry Cutler was...this game plan was built to make sure the O-Line failed.

I believe this could have been said in February. Lovie's got 1 contract year after this year right?

The Cover 2 format did exactly what it was supposed to do. Got pressure on Rodgers, kept the deep ball from happening, kept the scoring down, gave the Bears every chance in the world to win the game. It worked like a charm. The problem is...the Bears offense has no idea how to attack the Bears own defense! The Packers did the exact same setup to the Bears, except out of a 3-4 and with Peppers replaced by Matthews, and the Bears have no clue how to attack it!

This is a solid read on this subject, how the 49ers and other teams have focused on taking away the Packers deep threats and that has become the #1 way to beat them. They also note the Bears have been successful with this in the past.

However, Greg Jennings is questionable for Thursday's game with a groin injury.

Jennings had an excellent first half yesterday, but with the Packers WO options, you need a whole lot of depth.

Generally good news, the Bears need tillman out there against the packers.

Oh be quiet Matt. You got your contract, having Bush take the bigger hits in short yardage might well extend your career by a couple years, if you're worried about your numbers then just put Bush on your fantasy team.

W for the Vikings also. If this Bears score holds up, the Packers will be the only team in the NFC North that hasn't yet won their game.

Lions going to get the W, OT for the Vikings now.

Lions down 3 right after the 2 minute warning

Detroit ties up STL

Detroit in trouble in the 4th, Minnesota has a lead.

The Colts D was spread apart like the red sea on that TD.