Alaskan Grizzly

I think the next two games will determine how things progress for the Bears. With Houston, a very legit contender, they have the Defense and a strong Offense to give Chicago fits. The redeeming factor will be that the Bears are at home. The week following is against not as strong a team in SF. Sure, the defense is formidible but their offense leaves something to be desired. Alex Smith, like Cutler, is spotty. His reliable go to is Vernon Davis. Gore has been injured and their back up is inconsistent. The downside for the Bears, having to travel to SF for the game. After its all said and done, if the Bears come out of it 2-0, I'll not only be shocked but convinced the Bears can beat the Packers in their second meet. If they end up 1-1 or even (God forbid) 0-2 then the games for the rest of the season will matter and the Bears will be "in control of their own destiny". More importantly than all that though is that NOONE GETS HURT. Play tough and stay healthy fellas.

I too thought that Williams may have benefited from staying at LT. Regardless, I can't help but think there must have been a reason why he didn't. I know he had injury issues coming out of college. I don't necessarily agree that Tice "dicked" with Williams' playing time and chose his pet in Webb. I think, as I've said before, that Tice worked with what he had. I'm beginnig to have strong doubts about Carimi. You compare him this year to last, he looks physically different. Sure he's still tall but he looks smaller...weaker. Something is going on with him and I don't think he can hold up at Tackle much longer. Guard maybe? Now if you were in either Lovie's or Emery's shoes, I'm sure that the Bears would have one of the best OL's in the league. There would be across the board 1st rounders in each position and all would be bound for Canton. But the very arguement you make for Lovie's choosing top rated talent for the DL has only hurt the point you're trying to make. Where is the Bear's defense currently rated? And why? Because their DL is probably one of the best. Most due to the rotation they have and getting fresh players in for every few plays. *Edit* And there are four Defensive linemen (not two) for the type of Defense run in Chicago. There is no question the correlation to Peanut and Jennings' success this year is in large part due to the DL's ability to pressure the QB's. Thusly so is the improved play of the LB's and the Safeties. They are all inter-related. And interestingly enough, Lovie's forte (no pun intended) is Defense. Consistently thoroughout the years the Defense is what has made Chicago teams. Heck, even in '85 the Defense was better than the Offense. "Monster's of the Midway" did not come from the powerful offensive teams the Bears produced over the years.

My sentiements exactly. As most others that have posted so far, it looks to be a consensus. Another thing with Hester is that he is of some value still. Teams may still be willing to offer money or draft positions to have him on their team. The Bears should consider any and all trades at this point. Like Fudgeripple pointed out, having a player like Weems could be clue. With Dave Toub as ST coordinator I think having Weems pick up the KO and PR duties, most of us fans would probably not notice Hester leaving. His noteriety (should he make the HOF) will still be etched due to his time on the Bears. Like Ditka's (even though he played at Dallas too). And because of it, he (Hester) will always be a Bear, if not on the team.

You know what I find funny (maybe ironic) is that most here insist the root of the problem is the Oline. So JA drafts two Tackles in the first round and first Williams doesn't cut it then it appears so will (not) Carimi. Then everyone says "no, not those two" they shoulda picked so-and-so (insert another name). I still remember when Carimi was picked and how much elation there was with the pick. Yet now we find ourselves trying to make the best of it with him and Webb on the other side. As Brian(?) pointed out, instead Emery goes and secures other talent for skill positions (always a wise choice in my book) for cost. And didn't address the OL in hindsight as many had hoped. But he thought like some of us that our team could get by with what it had and went aggressively after players of more value. And now, as Cutler so eloquently put, "these f*#ing fans, I swear to God" are griping about players (Williams and Carimi) that at one time were touted by the "experts" to be what they really weren't: first round talent. Again, another proof of how pointless mock drafts and people like Mike Mayock are.

Booyah!!! I'm glad at least the fact the team is 6-1 is recognized. That, if for nothing else, says a lot. The game of "what ifs" is too hypothetical.

Couldn't agree more. I'm a big fan of "hurry up". Would really like to see it utilized more.

Now hold on a second, that pick that took place (in the Carolina game) was not Tices fault. Jay has to look at what is presented him and realize that if there are three or four players covering his receiver, that deep in the field, chancres are it ain't gonna end up in your receivers hands. Even the announcers showed the Bears were in max protect, with one wideout down field (Marshall) thus making the receiver options pretty limited. Jay was able to stand there long enough do the protection was there. Why didn't he instead look for an outlet or even attempt a run? Give me a break about Martz and how he was some sort of scapegoat for last year. His playcalling was bad. What had happened with him in Detroit and SF finally caught up with the Bears. The Air Coryell system won't work unless you are able to do protection. Everyone knows that Martz liked the multi step drop back. That won't work most times as it tend to put the QB behind the pocket. Jay needs to remember there are other receivers besides Marshall on the team. That was proven when Bennett started to get involved. Things opened up a lot more once he started to remember that.

I'll double this down. The Panthers got lucky too with that FG that bounced off the inside of the goal post and recovered their own fumble in the early part of the game for a TD. Sometimes luck is simply part of the game. And until the Bears play teams like the Packers (speaking of luck - against the Jags today), 9ers or Patriots... Not much can be said that would deter me from thinking the Bears are a good team.

So how do you explain the 4th quarter? I'll tell ya. Better playcalling and the fact that Jay figured out there were other WRs beside Marshall. And the good play on OL, especially Rachal and Louis.

Good as Gould!! B

Regardless. Just like the turf monster kept him from catching that TD pass. Punk!

Guy is a punk!!! OWNED!!!

This is why, like mock drafts, power rankings are a total and complete waste of time. Jay sucks under pressure (wait until they replay that little verbal tirade as he was leaving the field, should really be appreciated in Chicago) Yes there are other receivers other than Marshall in Chicago. Both tackles (one 1st rounder and one 7th rounder suck) The defense, as is usually the case, has to carry the load. Thank you Wright, Jennings, Urlacher, Briggs, Peppers, Tillman and Collins for coming to play today and keeping the team in the game. And a shout to Forte for being the only guy on Offense for even trying.

Ah ... here we go again. Say what you will but since there are only 32 pairs of guards to choose from I still feel safe to say the Bears' pair is "one of the best". When it comes to tenacity and apparent drive they are up there. If you take each guard singularly then things filter out but I'm not sure the balance on the other 31 teams is equal all the way across. But what the heck ever right? As long as the team is winning. I used to be the only one that thought Lovie was the right fit at Head Coach.

Wasn't Marco Columbo "dropped like a bad habit" by our team a few years ago only to flourish in Dallas? My thoughts were more of how the two worked together, not so much individually. And to qualify my statement I did say "Two of the best".....not "the best two". They could simply be two of the best 10 guards in football. And I also further qualified that with, "at least in my book". By the by, one of my favorite segments in morning football shows is the "c'mon man" that ESPN does.

My pictoral responsed to some of your points: 5. This is probably the best play of the whole game: 9. Did you guys hear, MadLith said something nice about me! WOW!!! 10. Time and again, announcers and commentators will remark how "football smart" the Bears fans are. Bear the F down!

Speaking of Chilo, couldn't help but notice his "exuberance" during the game the other night. It appeared he and one of the Lion's LBs were getting ready to get into a 'knock down, drag out' until Cutler finally intervened. Stuff like this, displayed by Rachal, only impresses me. That paired with what I heard in regards to a description of Lance Louis as: "a player that will eat glass" tells me that the team has right now two of the best Guards in football. At least in my book. "Calm down big fella, its not like Suh is trying to kill me or anything".

And besides that, and perhaps more importantly, Bush is on my fantasy team. Can't get a lot of points if he's not running it into the endzone. This does me no good.

The Bears probably could have lost the 5 games they won but they didn't. To be honest, I was concerned about this game as much as I was about the Dallas game. In both cases the Bears did fine...for the day and for the team they played. Sure the Bears did better in the game against Dallas (comparing the two). But there were other factors to consider here. One of which was our QB was nearly crushed to death and no matter how you slice it that affected the overall tempo to the game. Our team was also without Jeffery and the team itself had been off for two weeks. All these things played into what was the end result. A win.

I agree. The power ranking each week, like mock drafts, is a sham. The season is too long to start formulating who the best teams are now and project them to be for the rest of the year. Too many variables to consider. I for one am good with people "disrespecting" (or disregarding) the Bears. Makes it easier to do things without the microscope on you 24/7. Look at the alternative in a team like the NY Jets. That is a circus. Doing everything they can (led by the ring leader Ryan) to be front page news each week only to flop time and again.

I thought there were murmurs about two-three weeks ago that Williams had fallen from grace. And he had been residing in the dog house for some time. If that be the case, farewell Mr Williams.

So the bigger question is why did they bring back Bowman? Not that I'm against it since he is a local HS graduate and alum of the college team I follow.

http://www.prosportsdaily.com/articles/pla...ars-728416.html I for one am good with someone like Burress coming to Chicago. I think it evident in his last attempt at playing in NY wasn't as much to blame on him as much the circus that is known as the NY Jets. Burress would like to give it another go and probably could be had for cheap. And if it doesn't work out, and he signed low, the Bears could dump him after Jeffery is back. http://www.prosportsdaily.com/articles/bea...nse-728370.html And the idea of the team doing no-huddle sounds like a splendid idea. With as much as Jay is effective on the run, it would only highlight his skill set. That and since the team has been having issues getting plays on the field it could help in working out the kinks.

I'm good with it. Surprise, surprise. And Mongo, what "f'ed up" situation are you refering to? The fact the team started out 4-1 this year and 7-1 last year (until Cutler and Forte got hurt) are things to definitely consider.

Keep him. With Cutler (hopefully) in place for a awhile, and the offense finally resemblant of an NFL caliber team, the last thing they need is to have to restart with the WHOLE line.