AZ54

A nice look at Urlacher playing the run. This is worth watching considering all the talk about keeping our LB so close the LOS on so many plays. http://www.chicagobears.com/multimedia/mul...clip=Y&rn=2

Given what I've seen of Vasher this season I'm not so sure he'd play at well at the nickel spot. One of his best assets was his quickness in changing direction and I don't see that this year. He had a really bad groin injury last year and maybe he isn't back to 100% for whatever reason. Maybe he never will be. Or maybe he just spent the offseason spending all that bonus money instead of working out. I really don't care for excuses but when WR break on their routes he's no longer staying with them and I'd be fine with Graham taking his spot.

He's being promoted because Mark Anderson has been MIA all season long. I have no idea what he did during the off-season to get ready for this year but it couldn't have been much. I've seen no signs of the quick burst he had his rookie year and does not have the strength to execute any other moves besides a head fake. I didn't see anything from Baldwin in the preseason to make me think he'll be any different but on the other hand we don't have anything to lose.

It's hard to look at Detroit's D and feel good about Marinelli coming here as our DC.

I just read two articles (one on the Trib one Sun Times) that are basically the same talking about how pathetic our pass D is. In one quote Vasher is saying giving up inside slants all day long is the scheme and everyone in the league knows it. Other quotes have Lovie and Babich both saying we're trying everything but there's only so much you can do. Tommie Harris chimes in that the pass rush is doing their job (they aren't). Alex Brown says "we're just not getting there" and he's right. The pass defense is a mess. Either it's scheme or players, or as I see it, both. Nobody seems to want any accountability and nobody wants to admit what needs to improve, or at least admit what must change. I know coaches don't have to single out players in the media but say something more than "we have players in the area we're just not making plays." JT O'Sullivan would still be starting in San Francisco if he played the Bears every week. While we attempt to sort out this mess the Packers are smiling as they do their film study.

Lloyd will be catching his TD from the bench. I agree Tenn is vulnerable to the passing game but only if we can hold up against their pass rush. Forte out of the backfield may be the key for keeping the sticks moving. Will Rex check it down to Forte?

I disagree on Hester. IMO one of his problems on KR is that he no longer stretches the coverage unit toward the width of the field and too often just heads straight up into the wedge. He was at his best moving to the outside and making a quick cut between defenders. In short, he's given up some of his creativity on returns.

I felt this hit the mark better: ''Emotionally we're going to be very, very high and play with a lot of intensity,'' he said. ''And that's something sometimes that this team is missing, especially on the defensive side of the ball."

I agree, Urlacher made tons of great plays in the cover 2 defense during the Lovie years. I won't speculate on back injury or neck injury but it's obvious he's not running as fast as he used to, he's not getting around blockers like he used to (notice I said around because he was never great at handling head-on blocks). His speed was his game and if he doesn't have that he's not the same player.

Very nice, thanks for posting it.

I'll take Manning because of his experience and his speed. We need a guy who can get to the sideline quickly. Now whether or not he makes the tackle when he gets there is a good question.

It's there and I agree with what he says. Urlacher just does not fight through blocks anymore and not just Oline blocks but FB too. He is either slower or lazier because he does not show any burst to the ball on outside runs, plays where he used to take a RB down for a 2 yard loss are now a 2 yard gain.

I see the D in great shape moving forward except for two positions, DE needs a pass rusher and safety. I know we also need to replace Urlacher but we have a couple drafts to accomplish that. If Orton is for real then we need to focus on Oline and add one WR, a bigger possesion type to compliment our smaller quicker guys.

It's getting to the point I won't be surprised if our 1st Rd pick next year is a DE.

Stressed nerve means it's time to get some acupuncture.

Urlacher waving his arms at the crowd might have been his best move all day (and I don't count being unblocked as he rushed up the middle as a good play by him). Every time someone gets their hands on him they drive him right out of the play.

Offense scored 13 pts with Orton in the first half and 14 with Rex in the second. Jabber all you want about Orton vs Rex but he did enough to get the win for us and it's nice to have a QB come off the bench and do that. Now about these recent fumbles by Hester...

I agree with that on Lovie being slow to replace poorly performing vet players the last couple years. However, this year seems to be different, much more like he was in his first year as the Bears coach. Before he got hurt Vasher was already giving up snaps to Graham. Before Roach got hurt he was taking snaps from Hillenmeyer. Metcalf went out with an injury in camp but never recovered his starting job from Beekman.

Until a pass rush shows up this D isn't going to slow anyone down. It's about more than just 3 plays it's all the other defensive plays that led up to us being in that position.

This entire rumor mill is likely based off the article a couple weeks ago where Turner stated the Bears already had a Wildcat play for Hester in the playbook but that they hadn't called it. Turner said that now with so many others doing it that the surprise element is gone. Aside from that I agree, the offense ain't broke so let's not try to fix it with some trick plays.

I realize Orton will have a bad game somewhere down the line. However, if he wants to be thought of as a big time QB (and paid like one as many have suggested) in this league he needs to play like one in the big games. I'll wait to see how we fair against the Titans and it's a home game so that should make things better for our Oline.

That was Cowboy he stomped on. I believe it was their center Gurode (sp?).

If he seems like more of a 3rd down liability it's because he's being used on 3rd downs this year due to injuries. In the past unless it was 3rd and short he came out of the game when we put the nickel package in (w/ RMJ). I suppose you can blame Hunter because he isn't that great in pass coverage but he's usually pretty astute with his assignments. If there is no pass rush and he has to cover a guy for more than 3 seconds then yes, we have a problem. Is it his fault the team is forced to use him in situations he's not suited for? Is it his fault there's no pass rush? Not IMO. Our run defense has been solid this year and he's a part of that. I don't think he's a great LB and it does appear he's not making some of the big plays he used to make in the past. I can say that about all 3 of our LBs so perhaps he's not as good because other players aren't drawing the same amount of attention they used to get.

We will find out what we have when we play the Titans.

Orton - like what I've seen lately but I have to agree with Kyle's words; he needs to do it for a complete season before we discuss a new contract. Mike Brown - No reason to sign him to an extension right now. His play certainly doesn't warrant it. St Clair - I'd love to see this because I like his versatility. I agree he doesn't deserve true starter money but does deserve to be paid right behind those guys. Keeping him around makes it easier to fix our Oline woes over the next year or two. Why would we cut Clark because of Kellen Davis? The same Davis who missed a block on a key 3rd or 4th down play that ended up costing us a game? I assume he'll get better with more experience but I haven't seen it yet.