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I dunno, I support taking a knee at the end of a game when I'm winning even though it doesn't produce positive yards. I support running out the clock, even not going to a long 3rd down to punt instead. I don't feel strongly either way, but I can understand rooting for a strategic gain even if it means a tactical loss. We all want to see the Bears become a dominant team. I really do think Trestman and Emery are on a good path.

Right on, guys. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone here, even those that would trade the Turkey

I just think there was an emphasis on building muscle rather than how flexible people are, and it might have something to do with all the injuries. If I oversold the idea to make the "article" more interesting, then well... yeah maybe

Why are the Bears struggling so hard to win games this year? The Offensive and Defensive rosters were full of experienced talent, and we finally had coaches with a scheme that can put up points. The answer was the Bears biggest offseason loss, and it's someone you might never have heard of. Rusty Jones was the Bears Strength and Conditioning coach from 2005 through spring of 2013. During that time, the Bears were relatively injury free. Here's a Story from Sports Illustrated about Rusty Jones, and his philosophy of training to avoid injuries, as contrasted with training to gain maximum strength. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writ...programs/1.html Rusty retired this past year, and we brought in Mike Clark from Kansas City. He was described as being of the opposing school of thought, and interested in "maximizing power and explosion" in the players. http://www.windycitygridiron.com/2013/6/3/...r-and-explosion Now we are looking at that same roster of experienced players on the sideline with injuries, missing at least some games. Melton, Paea, McLellin, Briggs, DJ Williams, Tillman, Peppers comprise the heart of the defense and all have missed games due to injury this season. On Offense, Jay Cutler is out with muscle pulls and now an ankle that was probably injured due to limited movement because of his groin. In fact, none of these players broke a bone. In all cases it was a pulled or ruptured muscle or tendon. If all those players had remained healthy on defense, I wonder what our defense would like like now, as they started to gel. I wonder what the destination of the healthy 2013 Bears squad would have been. How badly do we miss Rusty Jones?

I think the real point here isn't Cutler vs McCown, It's Cutler vs someone else, maybe a rookie. We see Cutler is a tremendous athlete. We know that if he made good decisions, he could be one of the best. We also see that Cutler doesn't play within himself, and tries to do too much McCown's success is just evidence that the Trestman system will work better than a gunslinger, even with a 2nd tier QB running it. Imagine what it would look like if Cutler ran it correctly. Amazing, but is that really one of the choices? Can Cutler learn? Certainly this staff will know the answer to that better than we can. McCown's success serves to highlight that if Cutler continues to make bad decisions, and this INCLUDES audible-ing away form Matt Forte and the run too much, that we might be looking for a new QB next year, and in that case, maybe McCown will steer the ship while the rookie learns? Would Cutler play with heart for the Franchise tag one year, after the Bears draft a rookie QB in the first round? Cutler is better than most QBs in the league, but I'm not sure he's better in the long run than a top rookie candidate with a Trestman graduate degree. McCowns success raises that question more than a direct threat to Cutler. Very interesting stuff.

That doesn't make sense. That's saying that Cutler is better this year because of the players that surround him, and would still surround any other QB that replaced him. That's a point the bears would make, not Cutler's agent?

I actually LIKE the one gap scheme. When it works, it's extremely effective. But it takes time to learn, so new players and coaches don't usually excel in it early.

Yes. Finally. This is exactly what's happening. It happened in Urlacher's first year too. I predicted it on this board at the beginning of the season. A one gap front has 8 guys responsible for 8 holes. A two gap, like most of the league plays, is where the DL is responsible for the gap on either side of him. In a 2 gap, the LBs are like little safeties. The are a second line of defense, and the safeties are the 3rd line. In our front, there is no second line of defense. THe good of it is that the DL doesnt have to stay where he is to read holes, he can get right upfield into his gap. This theoretically means more plays for losses and more pressure on the QB. It deosn't leave room for error when someone is out of their gap or gets beat. In that case, the first man to make the stop will be a safety for an 8 yard run. We saw a lot of those early with Lovie too, until players learned their gaps. That we've had injuries and new players, both free agents in their first year, and pickups to replace injuries, means that we see more of this. When it works, its no gain. When it doesn't, it's 8 yards. The good news is that football rewards consistency (gotta keep making 1st downs) more than inconsistency with big plays, so a few no gian plays sets up passing situations, and then we can pass rush. Problem is, people are out of gaps, and frankly, some people in gaps are just plain getting beaten too. emery did well with the LB & OL groups. Im sure he'll work hard on the DL next year.

This is what's going on. I predicted it before the season started. In a one gap system, it takes time for new players to learn their run fits. Also, some people, even if they are in the right hole, are getting blown out by superior blockers. That's because of the rash of injuries on the DL specifically at DT. I don't blame Briggs for this at all.

What, Webb again?

I disagree. I thought Bostic was excellent in coverage, but had trouble getting off of blocks in the run game from what I saw.

I didnt read his comment to mean he was frustrated that Cutler wasn't choosing him, but that he was getting double teamed. I don't have any problem with what he said. I think Marshall is a good guy.

Yeah that's what I figured Grizzly, my response was to the phrase, and not what you meant by it

Actually the phrase "the pot calling the kettle black" implies that they are BOTH the same, in this case both thugs. And while I appreciate the irony given that Detroit is one of the dirtiest teams in the league, I am not willing to make that point while also saying the Bears are dirty, cuz they're not. I see a hard hitting aggressive team that plays within the rules. I don't see cheap shots from this team. I see fierce competitors. You probably didnt mean that when you started this thread, just the irony of Ford's statement, still i thought I'd make the point

HA! That joke is the ONLY kind of cheese we like here

Awesome

Without Burleson, I expect the Bears to bracket Megatron, so whoever draws the coverage won't be alone with him anyway. I think that means Jennings is alone vs. #2, because he can handle the solo responsibility, and because he doesnt have the height to play Johnson straight up anyway. Also, with Megatron doubled, the likelihood of Jennings getting more targets increases, and that means he has more chances to get interceptions, which plays to his strength. Since I expect more man coverage as a result of bracketing Johnson, I expect we will be free to blitz more too, which is a great plan vs. Stafford anyway, especially missing Melton and the lack of pass rush in general the past three weeks when only rushing 4. It kinda all fits together.

He's been hurt or sick or something, I predict he will straighten out at some point this season. He hasn't played well this year, but I don't think you cut him just yet.

Let's give him a chance. Sheesh.

Hahahaha totally. I'm a little more concerned about the game Pittsburgh is going to give us tho. 0-2 teams are dangerous.

It's too easy to second guess the play call. Football is a game of rock/paper/scissors and sometimes going away from the vanilla option is necessary. I don't blame Trestman for calling that play at all. He probably figures even with an incomplete pass it forces the defense to play us honestly on subsequent running downs. The armchair offensive coordinators here tell us the regular vanilla first option is a run. Yes I am SURE Trestman knows that LOL but you gotta mix it up, and Trestman has earned the right as an offensive coordinator in this league to call a change up. The real problem was why Cutler didn't just throw the ball away, and try again on second down. That's what we need to be focusing on. Trestman's call might not have generated a touchdown right there on first down at the goalline, but it sure didn't imply the interception had Cutler executed it properly. I'm still rooting for Cutler, but that decision and a few others leave me worried. I hope Trestman can straighten him out to think more strategically, that you don't win the game on every play, sometimes you fold your hand, and play the next one. We've got enough horses to win consistently if we can play smart.

Not all the points are scored on the defense. The kickoff return and the fumble recovery this week for example. They only socred 16 on us. And frankly, when the offense stops making mistakes, it will limit opponents scoring even more, both in terms of limiting their time with the ball, and in terms of our defensive front being better rested in the 3rd and 4th quarters. I think we've seen a lot to be happy about - talent, a scheme etc. I also think we've been terribly inefficient, and with good coaching we ought to get much better. It's early, but the trajectory looks good to me.

ESPN has the Bears 9th, with the Bengals 10th Packers are 7th. Lions 18th. Vikings 21st. http://espn.go.com/nfl/powerrankings

This is GREAT news. I hope the offensive tackles play with all the understanding of our scheme that Webb has. If he could show them some of what he's learned from Kromer's blocking techniques that'd be great too. Now yes I understand he's scouting for the defense, but still. Let's go kill those Vikings.

Right on Dude.