Alaskan Grizzly

Interesting post, since you don't seem to have much conviction in your thoughts (more on that in a moment). I wouldn't go as far as saying this staff is as good as it was when Ditka and Buddy were with the team. Nothing's been done yet...just some intriguing personnel moves. And a 2-2 preseason record...against some garbage teams. Interesting that you left "bad" as an option. Here's where things get a little dicey in your post.... All the words bolded are 'passive' remarks. Meaning you don't believe what you wrote. If you did you would have said "This offense WILL..." and "...WHEN Cutler plays..." but there are too many unknowns to make bold predictions.The one that you did was that Peppers "will get double digit sacks". This I agree with. The rest, not so much. I mean if we really have to ask how well the team will perform against the Cinncinnati Bengals, then maybe we should wait until the game is actually played.

And you're right. The childish remarks do come off as boorish, but sometimes 'you just have to choose your battles'. Its something I have to tell my wife to do with my youngest all the time. But I'm just as guilty as some here, similar to what Mad Lith said. I've come off as arrogant and prickish, especially after a Bears loss where I've had too many libations, but most here don't seem to hold a grudge despite my best efforts. Except maybe Terra Tor (speaking of characters that are MIA). Most of the folks here are all genuinely in support of the team and many will share your feelings but not comment. In fact I wouldn't be surprsied that many 'members' still come in from time to time just to see whats going on, catch up on Bears news and not leave a comment.

Ouch. He's worth zilch to any other team. With his injury history he's barley hanging on in Chicago. If not for the link to Cutler I think he'd be done.

Of the three McCown is the only one with experience 'on the team' and Trestmans offense. And FWIW I think fundementally he's more consistent than even Cutler. Of Palmer and Edwards though, I'm intrigued by both. Youth is on Palmers side where experience is on Edwards'. Game 4 will be their determining factor.

Is this who Jay was referring to some weeks ago when he said "not everyone was on board" with the new offense?

Agreed. The one thing I don't want Trestman to do is 'wait and see' if Onubun is going to work out or not. Practice and game time are two different experiences. And if Fendi is cracking under pressure during pre-season, then he's got no place on the team for the regular season. Game 4 will be telling for him. Between he and Adams at this point, my vote would be Adams. Over Maneri? Not sure yet. And FWIW, I'd still like to see Bennett (the TE) do something convincing that he belongs. I know it won't happen this week but maybe he'll get one or two plays in(?)

Adams has shown some promise in the last year or so. He's not been premiere but probably worthy of looking at. Moreso than Onubun. Why would the team use him as a "decoy"? He hasn't caught one pass yet. And other teams are watching the same film we are.

Well despite my rooting for Pope I didn't see him do anything to raise his stock. He truly has turned into a bust, oh well. Now the question is does the team have that much faith in Bennett to be able to do what he should be, which is catching passes? And I'm bummed about Aromashadu. Thought he'd work out this time around. Maybe it means the younger guys are doing well enough to make it? Here's to hoping

Reading the tea leaves aside; 'you say tomayto I say tomahto. You have to ask yourself why he was a starter for only one year?

I understand what you said, my counter was that I'm not so sure Bennett will be 'all that'. Since he hasn't done anything of note yet. And that he and Pope are currently on the same level, as far as productivity... with this team. Speaking of... When I say 'benchmark' I mean it in the sense of as a measure of how the respective players have done over their career. The quote you provided said that Bennett did at least make 250 yards receiving one year where Pope hasn't even done that much. I said that since it appears you were using 200+ yards as the measuring stick (benchmark) of productivity - at least for TE's - then the Bears should have stayed with Kellen Davis, since he received 200 yards in two consecutive seasons. I hope that whomever the TE ends up being the "one" gets way more than 250 yards receiving in the year. Will it be Bennett or Pope or some other unknown? Still remains to be seen. So far NO TE has stepped forward to show that they deserve to be "..a part of every game plan." As far as your understanding of Pope, and for what its worth, I think you might have a pretty good first hand perspective since he played in Arizona for a bit. Who knows, maybe he'll 'rise to the occasion'? And as far as I'm concerned Romo is douche. I'm glad Jerry Jones blew all his dough on him, they deserve each other. Here's to the new season.

Speaking of the nickel spot saw that DJ Moore had a 'pick six' last night for Carolina against Flacco and the Ravens. Hear he's been doing nicely over there.

That's not necessarily a slam dunk in Bennett's defense but ok. Heck if we were to consider 200 yds as a benchmark then the team should have kept Davis, he did it twice in consecutive years (2011 and 2012). And we all know how good a player he was. Something else to consider is there is a better player looming large in Bennett's way, that being BM. Where Witten was the target emeritus in Dallas so too is Marshall in Chicago. And, I might add, Cutler is no Eli Manning. I dare say (as much as it pains me) nor is he Romoesque. But enough of the blasphemy from me, I'm looking forward to what awaits us in this year. I'm guarded in my excitement and reserving judgement for later in the season. I hope Im wrong and Bennett does excel then we'll all be happy and you'll be right. I look forward to tomorrow nights game to see some pieces fall into place. Maybe that'll take the edge off my pessism...just a little.

Devil's advocate: He hasn't done anything yet to prove that he will be "a part of every game plan", not with Chicago. I could make the same arguement for Leonard Pope. BUT, you are more than likely right that he (Bennett) will end up being an integral part of the team. I'm always suspect during pre-season games with teams doing their vanilla plays that they aren't going to show their hand at least until week 1 of the regular season. My hope is that is why we haven't seen much from him yet.

I'm not 'sold' on Bennet just yet BUT (and directing to your comment in bold) we all saw how Brandon Marshall has evolved. Before he came to Chicago (especially in Denver) he had a pretty ill reputation, but since being in Chicago nothing but positive has come from the guy. I strongly suspect that BM's influence will have something to do with Bennet's being a part (or not) of the offense.

The problem is technology. The 'tradition' of football is slowly being degraded because of miniscule observations by the 'armchair QB's'. As Chitown pointed out there is some blame to the older players too, but not as much IMHO. Ever since the evolution of Instant Replay a play can be determined by a blade of grass being white or green (when determining someone out of bounds or not). And in this case we can sit and look at a play frame by frame and in an instant determine the legitamacy of a hit where the player has less than a heartbeat to make that same choice. Not only do we over evaluate things like this, we find ourselves adding more time (for the game to be played) and more layers of rules into the game. I'm all for safety but like Chitown also added, they know what they are getting into when they join. They are paid handsomely for it...let them play. Its times like this I miss Art Donovan.

Briggs would make for a decent defense attorney. Comparing Bostic's hit to how Keller was injured was a good illustration of how the guys are having to think about their tackles more. To avoid the 'fine induced' upper body hits, instead they target for the legs/feet. Thus risking injuries similar to what Keller suffered. Bostic's hit was about as legal as they come. Way to stick up for him Lance.

I'm not a fan of either proposed dates as they are in the middle of the week and your 'early evening' is probably my afternoon. But if I'm in the minority then I'll do auto draft. My keeper will be Trent Richardson.

Wow...very eerily looks like a few shots from the '80s. I'd have to say it would be cool seeing "Da Coach" roaming the sidelines again. Maybe an 'inpsirational leader' of sorts? Probably motivated the players that have only read about him in history books. That helps in my support of Trestman.

So how do you explain pick #14 overall in 2008 (Chris Williams) and #29 in 2011 (Carimi)? These two were not touted soley by Angelo alone. Most of the "talking heads" had both rated high during their respective draft classes. Is it simply a case of being snake bit twice? I agree that Lovie could (and maybe should) have said more, but again Offense was not his forte. Trying to help his buds (Martz, Tice and Babich as examples) and taking their word was his downfall. As far as "busts" go, the jury is still out on Long. Two preseason games does not a career make. Ironically enough though for all the hype that Williams and Carimi garnered during their draft years, Long did not. In fact those "talking heads" were first to question the pick. So maybe, just maybe you have to go against conventional wisdom in order to succeed. Again, time will tell.

Just because... bolded could be wrong. History shows it can happen: (From Wikipedia) •Roger Staubach backed up Craig Morton for the first few games of the 1971 season and the Cowboys won Super Bowl VI with Staubach. •Terry Bradshaw was in and out of the starting role his first few years. He lost the job to Joe Gilliam in the 1974 preseason but after re-taking it led the Steelers to victory in Super Bowl IX. •Jim Plunkett started out 1980 backing up Dan Pastorini and went on to win Super Bowl XV with the Raiders. •Doug Williams only started two games in 1987 and lost them both. Joe Gibbs made him the starter for the playoffs over Jay Schroeder anyway and he won Super Bowl XXII. •Jeff Hostetler took over for Phil Simms on the 1990 Giants after an injury and started each playoff game and Super Bowl XXV. •Trent Dilfer backed up Tony Banks to start off 2000, but took over halfway through the season and rode Ray Lewis to victory in Super Bowl XXXV. •Tom Brady was the second-stringer for Drew Bledsoe in early 2001 but after Mo Lewis knocked Bledsoe out for the season Brady came back to win Super Bowl XXXVI I know the law of averages is against it, but 'never say never'. Heck, Hanie came close to doing it in 2010. If the team/management have as much faith in Trestman's ability, AND Cutler doesn't work out then maybe...just maybe...all is not lost if "Cutler is not the answer."

Fair enough. I'll agree that "things will be bumpy". Four games into the regular season will probably be a good trial run to see where the team is headed. The intersting thing I noted in a story about the pick up of Edwards. The question raised: "The addition of Edwards and Palmer is not seen as a sign the Bears are unhappy with backup quarterback Josh McCown. The club - from management to the coaches - has strongly backed McCown as a player and lauded the intangibles he brings to the quarterback room. The issue having a healthy option behind McCown, if the need arises." So reading into it, whats NOT being said? What if "they" don't think Culter can hack it? His skills aren't what they were hoping for? From what I've seen, McCown has appeared better in the first two games. More comfortable. But like you said, none of these guys 'are going to take the team to the promised land' . That just might include Cutler. I'm just sayin....

Although I think the question should be asked what IF Cutler doesn't produce? So far I'm not seeing a whole lot of positive with this new transition. IMHO, McCown probably could do a pretty good job stepping in if Cutler were either hurt or continues to look like mediocre garbage. From the two first pre-season games, he's showing a better read on his progressions and checkoffs. And distributing better. Blanchard, I'm not so sure. But between Palmer and Edwards, the latter intrigues me. This is the same cast off from Buffalo? He showed a lot of promise there but wasn't he starting to run into his own concussion issues? Of the two newest signees, he might be the better. And thank you for your service.

This x2 Optimism is good but this is just fancy practices/scrimmages. And for what it's worth regardless of how great Long and Mills look now it doesn't mean a whole lot if the QB keeps turning it over. Maybe we'll see a better lithmus test of what's to come after game 3. Although I'm still not sure Oakland will be a true test either.

In regards to "having cajones", sure perhaps. But we should probably temper it a bit with a few more games and consider that the Chargers aren't considered a "top flight" defense (word used in Chicago Tribune article I just read). I will agree that a few of the last two years' draft picks look pretty good; namely Hardin (on ST), McClellin and Bostic. Still waiting to see Cutler actually make progress. Instead I'm seeing stagnation or even regression. That concerns me.

First and foremost, NO INJURIES of any significance. Hence why I'm all for less participation by the starters. I think this will be 'lower tier' players making their case for staying around through the next round of cuts. Webb might be one of them. It won't be until game 3 (IMHO) before we get a better idea of how well our starters and overall team outlook will be for the season. And really know who will be cut before the 53 man roster.