Alaskan Grizzly

Yep. I think you’re right. And watching the 9ers tonight makes me think of what could have been. This is what the Bears should be looking like right now. Solid (not spectacular) QB play, play-action and inside/outside zone running supported by the OCCASIONAL big pass play with solid defense. It makes me sick to see the Bears’ offense struggling like it is and as a result the defense, like an overripe fruit, withering on the vine.

Last week it was “Nincompoops”, today “Despicable”. Thank you Dan Hampton for your no-nonsense take on the current state of our team. Couldn’t agree more. https://www.google.com/amp/s/bearswire.usatoday.com/2019/11/11/bears-lions-dan-hampton-despicable-win-week-10/amp/

In breaking news the team re-signed Bradley Sowell...again and released OLB Vaughters (which seems unfortunate). In the below story it was interesting to see that Shaheen was a “healthy scratch” (please cut him already!!!!) and Trey Burton suffered some sort of calf injury. Can we please see Horstead play now?!??! Meanwhile Mike Davis was picked up by the Panthers. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.windycitygridiron.com/platform/amp/2019/11/11/20960275/chicago-bears-sign-bradley-sowell-mike-davis-james-vaughters-los-angeles-rams-santa-sleigh-td

For this particular draft and these three QBs; Watson has the most credibility (IMHO) simply due to his ability to make it to back to back National Championships and play almost identically in both games; one time winning against an NFL prospect filled team in Alabama. Mahomes was the ‘riskier, gunslinger type’ QB (the anti-Alex Smith in fact) that for whatever reason Reid and the KC staff decided to take a risk on. Trubisky...was a 13 game starter with a 10-3 (?) record playing for NCAA football powerhouse NC. (Yes there is a bit of a sarcasm there. Even Tom Brady had two years of starting at Michigan before he was drafted...in the sixth round. It’s possible Mahomes could be the next Jameis Winston (himself a risk taker but relatively successful QB in college) and start to flame out in the NFL after another year or two. Or Watson could be the next Cam Newton (not only a successful college QB and national champion but also Heisman winner) where now people wonder if he has the spirit left in him and where he’ll be next year. But Trubisky is who we thought he was; and that was not a second round pick.

And he plays ST too....

Yeah all we did here was assure another week of Trubisky. And Nagy didn’t even have his play card in hand for the last half of the fourth quarter. So maybe he maxed out his plays and decided to revert to sandlot rules? WTF?!? Defense, once the shiny star of the team is a shell of its former self. Don’t necessarily think Pagano is to blame but the loss of Hicks and lackluster play of Mack is definitely figuring in.

Ugh... this is a bad omen.

That’s where Smith comes in . Problem is you lose Trevathan to keep Kwit where he is. Wonder how he’d do as an OLB?

If the Bears do nothing else they need to be sure both Kwitkowski and Skrine come back next year.

Bears MVP Kwitkowski with an INT after the bears score another offensive TD. What the holy heck?? Then suddenly they score again?!! who is this team? I am unfamiliar.

So I noticed something interesting today; normally Nagys play card is full of crap. But today its nearly as blank as what’s below this sentence... Paring back the offense considerably.

I was right there with you!!! Lol My saving grace is that the ground is frozen so I can’t do much yard work. Leaves me to have to do my indoor chores today. GO BEARS!!! Play good!!!

I wonder the same thing. It seems when they ‘hurry up’ the offense does better. And historically speaking, Trubiksy seems to play a tad better in ‘crunch time’ and under pressure.

This is absolute garbage. Whitehair skids the ball across the ground and Trubisky is sacked. yay.

Well...Mitch makes a first down then very nearly turns the ball over on a fumble. Yay

DP

And it looks like Trevathan probably out for rest of year with gross snap of the left arm....ugh.

Yeah they have very similar play styles...sad and rudimentary. Sadder yet the offense will play just well enough to let Trubiksy keep playing throughout the season. and while I type this, Trubiksy throws high on 3rd down and...third and out with only one down and to go series. *sigh*

Yeah I’m a bit of a masochist (but which of is Bears fans isn’t?). But I’ve been doing the Sunday Ticket for years and like it’s convenience to watch it anywhere. May have to consider what you suggest especially if the team continues on its path of mediocrity...for years to come. Ah Thailand. Years ago a co-worker tried to get me to go ‘fishing’ with him there. The wife declined my request.

Back from a self-imposed pout filled no-watch ban (have to since I pay big money for Sunday Ticket), I’m curious about this Stafford development. In his place is Jeff Driskell. Who the hell is that? He was drafted in the 6th round by SF in 2016 after playing QB for both Florida AND Louisiana Tech in college. After being drafted by SF he was eventually released and wandered to Cincinnati until earlier this year, where he found his way as the backup to Stafford. (His career reads like a ‘how-to’ of being a journeyman). As an interesting aside, he was also drafted by the Red Sox in 2013, but insisted on staying with football. So will this game be where he has a sudden ‘Gardner Minshew-like’ rise from obscurity and sets Soldier Field on fire with his play? God I hope not... On the defensive side you have Trey Flowers up front (who came over to help Patricia’s defensive scheme I’m sure). Kennard is one OLB we should be concerned about, Christian Jones is not. Darius Slay is still competent in the backfield so Trubiksy will need to be wary of him. (Who am I kidding, he needs to be wary of any player wearing white today - and not give them the ball). Bears 21-17. Montgomery 2 TDs and one Defensive TD.

I was mostly watching highlights so I didn’t see a lot of play outside of the QBs. But that Burrow...holy smokes...COOL is right. I saw one play where he stood in the pocket with it collapsing around him and some how was able to make a 7 (or so) yard dump. When he threw it all I saw was Bama red where he was standing only seconds before. That kid is goooooood.

One HELL of a game! Those two QBs (Tua and Burrow) are going to be something in the NFL. Look for Bama and LSU players dominating the draft in the next few years.

Illinois came back from being down 31-10 to Michigan State in the 3rd quarter and won 37-34 after scoring 27 points in the 4th. HC Lovie Smith was carried off the field by his players as they became eligible for their first bowl game since 2014. https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaafb/lovie-smith-carried-by-illini-players-after-comeback-win/ar-BBWwuzr?li=BBnb7Kzy

So with the waiving of Davis, the elevation of Nall, the assignment of Long to IR, the moving of Coward in his place and the swapping of positions for Daniels and Whitehair the offense is going to suddenly take off and make an 8-0 run....right? The point is....why did it take a four game losing streak to the halfway point of the season to come up with these changes? Is it enough? My guess is 'no'.

Yes. IF this helps Trubisky play better and suddenly the offense improves, he'll be roasted for not making this decision sooner (as he should be). However if both Trubisky and the offense continue to struggle then he didn't make enough changes...Trubisky being the primary piece of the equation. And the last part of the clip you added where Nagy didn't want to talk about the strategy makes me think he was uncomfortable with the timing of the change.