CrackerDog

ST is probably the last area to see improvement as a team emerges from massive suckitude. It takes a while to develop that bench depth that delivers the ST's coach guys who can actually play. At this stage, Detroit is focused on skill position players and in finding guys who can help keep Stafford alive. As they rebuild, they'll find those guys. With that said, I've always claimed that the difference between great teams and average teams in the league wasn't a huge gap in talent. And I'd say the same thing for teams that suck and average teams. I think this is proven out year after year when we see teams go from a few wins to competing for playoff spots the next. And the other way around too. Detroit has beaten the odds, however, in that they've SUCKED for a lot longer than most.

Sad but true. But... I think the execution improved so dramatically in the second half and in the following games, for me, it was lack of preparation. And not "Rex Grossman wanting to party on New Years Eve" lack of preparation but rather "Coach Turner really screwed the pooch" type of lack of preparation. None of this will matter if we don't get healthier. You can prepare these guys very well but if you don't have the horses, you're not going to compete. And in this regard, I give the coaching staff a lot of credit. We've won 3 games with lots of excuses not to.

I assume Colombo's was a lot worse but have you heard something about Stafford's? Colombo had pretty bad nerve damage with his. PS. I won't wish injury on any player, not even a Packer, since I believe it carries with it bad karma. With that said, now that the injury has occured, I don't really "feel bad" for him either. Not that I hope it's a really bad long term injury or anything but it isn't my worry either. We've got our own guys to feel bad for and plenty of them are injured too.

The first game it was that we weren't prepared on offense at all and Cutler looked lost. So I blame that on coaching. So, did we "not adjust" in game one until halftime... Not sure. We dragged our feet in game four to be certain. Against Seattle they had a second string QB in there and while they couldn't close the deal on lots of drives, they had an easy time of it against our ill-prepared D for the most part. They earned my respect a touch for the Pitt game because we were much better prepared entering the game but we'd just come off playing a 3-4 so we damn well should've been. Hey, 3-1 is as good as we could've hoped for before the season began. But I don't think Green Bay is even the best team we've played and we found a way to lose to them. I want these guys better prepared and then I want to see coaches reacting more quickly. But I admit it's tough to do when you're working with a bunch of second teamers, particularly on D.

Very well said NFO and as long as those lessons are driven home, I'm with you 100%. Also, there's actually a Youtube on this and you can see the ball as it drops hits the goal line. And he's dropping it from behind himself. So, although it's still REALLY stupid and should never happen again, I can't agree that it's completely clear that he fumbled. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkdL2nvzVXA I'm not sure you can drop the ball on the goal line from behind yourself and have it land on the goal line if you aren't already across the line. It's REAL close...

I'm thrilled our team isn't one dimensional anymore. We can give up 24 points and still win. It wasn't so much Cutler and the offense but ther special teams guys yesterday and some second half defense. But if you can get the guys inspired at halftime, you should be able to do it during the pregame too. Coming out flat isn't an option. And with all the injuries we've suffered, it'll be a full team effort to continue to win.

I agree 100%. This team isn't good enough to take ANYTHING for granted. Come out of the gate scratching and clawing EVERY GAME and they have a chance at winning 10 games or so and making the playoffs. Piss away a game or two because you don't or because you can't close or because one of your stars plays like shit (opening day was all of the above) and you'll end up 8-8 and out of the playoffs. And the coaches need to make adjustments sooner than halftime. What is it about these guys that they can't seem to get their thumbs out of their asses until they're off the playing surface?

I hope they rip him a new asshole in the film room. There's no room for this. Sure, the kid made a great play... But that doesn't mean he's allowed to be stupid. The vets ought to ream him.

This defense F*CKING SUCKS!

Jason thinks very highly of himself. Nothing wrong with that.

And more accurately, giving the receiver a chance to see the field.

I think we'd have won in either case but this can't be bad for the Bears.

Pix - Please note these aren't my positions on these matters but I think I can sum it up... 1.) While most realists expected 10-6 a solid year for this team, most football fans may pretend to be realists on the outside but deep down everyone hopes for perfection. Seeing a team from last year with a 9-7 record only improve 1 game to this year after adding Cutler just wasn't enough for most fans. Urlacher and Tommy were supposed to be MUCH better this year due to health. 2.) Our one loss was to the Packers and we lost in a very disappointing fashion. It made a lot of people think of last season and how we found ways to lose. 3.) Many saw Forte as a sure thing stud, regardless of the line. Nobody bought into the idea that he could have a slow start, particularly with a QB who could produce 100+ QB ratings. Forte ought to be seeing wide open spaces as D's back off and play the pass... Or so the logic goes. 4.) There are people out there like me who still aren't sold on Ron Turner as an O Coordinator. Others feel the same way about Lovie, ownership or Jerry Angelo. For those people, the start to the season vindicates their own prejudgements. In my own case, I'm still not in love with what Turner is doing but have to admit the W's are still there despite some flaws I perceive in his performance. I can nail, for example, 90% of his play calls based on formation and down and distance. If a novice like me can do that, professional defenses are all over it. And this, IMO, causes some of failed plays that would be much more successful with a more creative, imaginative and unpredictable scheme. 5.) The loudest and shillest voices you hear are those that scream on talk radio and parrot those opinions here. It's easy, it sells papers and it brings more listeners. Hey, don't forget, everyone on Bearstalk is a friggen expert! Those are my initial thoughts.

They better not... http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PaytWa00.htm Sweetness had a helluva year in 1985!

I'm of the opinion that no play on the field should ever result in a monetary fine. EVER. Plays on the field should be penalized in three ways and only three ways. 1.) Yardage - 15 yards for a personal foul 2.) Being thrown out of the game 3.) Suspended Asking these guys for $5k or whatever is absolutely meaningless.

Why don't you repeat yourself some more. Jeez! You're totally wrong. Moose wasn't a great signing but we was nowhere near a bust either. If you could extract your head from your ass for 5 minutes and read all the comments from everyone else, you'd see that.

I rarely defend Terra but while it isn't really that funny a joke, there's nothing here to give him a hard time about either. I give him credit for finding the picture!

Speaking of big busts...

I like your list a lot! I laughed that 90% of it seemed to be from during the Wanny era. Damn I'm glad he's gone.

I've always considered you uninformed. Moose was a good signing at the time, petered out a little faster than anyone hoped, and was a victim of the Rex yo yo. If we had the 2005 Moose on this team, this year, with Cutler, he'd produce 90 catches. I don't know if that means he was a bad signing or not. Water under the bridge and not worth the brain damage. Looking back on it, Moose was a disappointment. Just not sure that was Moose or if he'd have met expectation if Rex would've continued to grow as expected.

Not today.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/...s-a-broken-rib/

Guys, just be happy with the win and move on.

This really pisses me off.

The family that bowls together apparently also has other leasure time hobbies! Congrats!