nfoligno

I was shocked last year at the blocking of AP. I do not know why, but I guess I thought he was supposed to be a good blocker. Not even close. AP more often seemed to pickup the right man, but it didn't matter. He played and blocked small. I recall watching him basically dive at a LBs ankles to no effect, as the LB hurdled him and knocked down Rex. I remember another time when he tried to block high on a DB. A DB! And was flat thrown to the side. Granted, the DB has a head of steam, but still. AP may run w/ authority, but damn he sucked blocking. Benson was the opposite. When he locked onto a man, he blocked him very well. The question was more about his picking up assignments. I remember one play where the QB (can't remember now if it was Rex or Griese) was blown up. A blitz came at the QB between Brown and Tait and had a clear path to the QB. I remember everyone in the bar screaming to the Gods about how Benson blew it. Until the replay that is. Replay showed another blitzer coming from the opposite end, off Miller's shoulder. Both blitzer attacked at the same time. Benson moved over and picked one guy up (taking him out of the play) while the other had a clear path. Benson was ripped for this play, but is he supposed to block both guys? Maybe he was supposed to block the other guy, I don't know. But what I do know is, Benson was ripped for the play, and it is very questionable whether he was truly at fault. There was another play where, similar look, after the snap, Benson moves immediately to his right. No one there. The blitz came, again, between Tait and Brown. QB sack. Benson basically did nothing on the play as he seemed to be looking for someone to block. So the question is, was he following an assignment, or did he blow his assignment. Knowing his lack of blocking experience, the obvious assumption is he screwed the pooch, but I would just throw out there the possibility he was doing as the play was designed, and it is up to Kreutz or Rex to make the adjustment pre-snap after seeing the D line up.

From the other site, we credited the source to avoid legal issues, as well as to simply inform. Some of the board admins had indicated that if sources are used w/o citing them, those sources could create some problems for "our" website. May be unlikely, but better to be safe than sorry.

I go back and forth. It isn't so much I think he should be at home studying the playbook, so much as that it seems like he needs to grow up. If you look at the pics, does he appear like an adult, or a college kid?

To be honest, still not sure we are on the same page. If we put McGowan at FS, I think he would more than stuggle. I think in an ideal world, the two safeties are interchangable, but finding safeties who are truly so interchangable is simple no as easy. Brown is the only S on our roster who I think is interchangable. Payne is the only other one I think can be, but he is a long way in terms of development.

I was about to argue the college point, but what's the point. Dropping that whole issue. W/ regard to Benson, I believe I see the desire in the games, but no outside it. In interviews, he comes off as a guy who thinks the MVP award is his right. In the offseason, there has been more than ample reason to question his motivation. The way the staff at times talks, maybe even during the week in practice. But on game day, I do not think his desire is as questionable. In the games, I have seen him on the sideline jumping up and down like a cheerleader when another player does well. I have seen him be the first to run over and congradulate a player for a score. I have seen it in his running as well, but it often goes unrealized as all fans care about is the result. When he is hit 3 yards behind the LOS, and fights his way back to the LOS, it hits the stat sheet as a zero gain, but in reality, his desire minimized a far worse potential. Regarding the 3-4. This past year, SD killed us, and Dallas used the 3-4 to hurt us as well. We had no clue what to do about Ware. It isn't simply that 3-4 defenses play well against us. It is our OL and backs seem clueless who to block, which to me has to be coaching.

One, I would argue we do not always play cover 2. Plently often I saw only one safety deep. Two, the premise of a cover two has your CBs do bump, and often will then release to a safety who is playing over the top. Three, while Brown has flipped from one side to the other, I would not say Brown is the norm. Brown is a player w/ the instincts and reactions to play FS, while also being one who tackles w/ power to play strong. You seem to argue in support of the coaches theory, but then your final point seems to be a prime example to the opposite. Arch. Arch was our SS. Even if he did a good job in the box, does that mean he could ever play deep coverage? The reality is, our FS does in fact play deep zone far more often than our SS, and our FS has to have superior coverage skills.

I believe I have seen you say that about DM before. I think you would be in the minority in the belief DM finished very good. Yea, he had a ton of tackles in the last game, but maybe that has to do w/ so many completions on us. He had one pick after the bye (two total). His PDs are quite low as well. I think DM has loads of athleticism, but he simply does not have the instincts, and I am not sure that is something that can be tought. He is the opposite of Brown, he really doesn't have great speed or athleticism, but has a brain that makes up for it. As for Payne, how can you say you were never impressed w/ his play at SS? When did you see his play at SS? That I recall, we he went down w/ injury while Arch was still starting. I have no clue if he will start or not, or be more than a special teamer, but I question why you think so much of DM and think McGowan and Payne will be no more than teamers. Could it be that unless a 2nd day pick proves his mettle, you assume their ceiling is special teams, while assuming only the best for higher picks? W/ regard to Brown's speed, I am not sure how much that matters. Speed was never why he excelled. He was great because of instinct, ability to read and predict plays, and a quick break. DM is the opposite. He is slow as hell to read/react, but his athleticism sometimes allows him to makeup the space.

I have read our staff and others say this plenty of times before, and I still say BS. Maybe on paper, if you have the perfect FS and SS, the two are interchangable, but I think in the real world, the two are rarely so similar. Whether it fits in Angelo's perfect world or not, the FS is simply going to cover deep more often, while our SS is going to move up in the pocket more often. That means your FS needs better than average coverage ability, while your SS need better than average run support ability. So basically, despite Angelo's perfect world, I would argue the two positions are in fact quite different.

On the whole, I agree. One point though is there had been talk one of the girls (at least one) could be a minor. Frankly, as he is a recent college grad, this would not shock me as he is not that much over 21 himself. While many here may not think it a big deal to give a 20 year old girl a beer, it's a bit different for a NFL player with millions in contract. And if the party was at his house, and there were minors present and drinking, then he would be responsible. I have no issue w/ the partying, but (a) if minors were present, he is setting himself up and ( I guess as much as anything, doing beer bongs just seems like he has not grown up or left behind the college mentality, which is sort of an issue for a player who has not developed the way many expected, or (according to some) shown a level of committment expected.

Gotta look at who posted this, Come on ya'll. Message was by Terra. In other words, this is his post April fools joke.

One. My issue w/ the Benson/SB is you seemed to form an opinion based off a rumor, which was not even a very wide spread one. And while it may not be a perfect source, I do think the college days can be factored. If a player missed a bunch of games due to minor injuries in college, and then a similar rumor surfaced, I think history may lead to a more logical negative conclusion. On the other hand, if the rumor goes against anything the player has ever shown in his career, I simply then question it. I would say there is PLENTY to knock Benson for w/o using some rumor not even widely reported. Two. W/ regard to blocking, like you said, it is semantics. I agree when you say he is not a good blocker. I simply find different from saying he is a bad blocker. I also would say this. Some players show absolutely no desire to block, while others may take time to develop into good blockers, but do show desire. I will get ripped for this, but I do believe he shows desire. Whether he shows that desire in Monday-Saturday practice, I do not know. But in terms of the game, I watch him go after the rusher. While some RBs, like AP, basically just dive at the feet of the rusher, Benson looks to take him on. That means something to me. IMHO, his weakness in this area is experience, which the staff has not helped by replacing him on most passing downs. If he can better develop the mental aspect, I think he could become a very good blocker. Three. While not specific to Benson, as we have mentioned the SD game, I have to throw this out there. Our blocking against 3-4 defenses is pathetic. I swear it is like we have never seen the 3-4 and have no clue what to do. Kreutz really struggles against 3-4 defenses, as he has trouble taking on the big NTs. And the rest of our OL always seems to look lost. I am not just talking about this past year either. I really wonder how well our coaching staff prepares our team for 3-4 defenses.

But is it a smokescrean when the world can see the fire? From outer space? OT is a need? Um, yea. We would consider moving to to RT. Um, said that long ago. RB is deep this year? Wow. Shocker. If he slipped out some info that may not otherwise be so obvious, I too might chalk it up to smoke. If it was reported that Angelo was really impressed w/ Broham, while it may be true, that I would say has absolute potential for smoke. I remember some year back when Hatley talked about needing a pass rusher, and fans freaked out when SF leap frogged us to take Andre Carter, blaming Hatley for loose lips. I always laughed. It was like fans felt it was a secret we needed a pass rushing DE. Still makes me smile. Maybe it is all smoke, but when the obvious is stated, I don't think much of it. Now, if Angelo talked about how confident he was in Beekman, or how well he felt St Clair could fill in at OT, then I would agree w/ the smoke call.

Bears announce pre-season schedule By David Haugh Tribune staff reporter The Bears released their four-game preseason schedule on Thursday. The highlight: a national TV game against the 49ers on Aug. 21 at Soldier Field. Exact times and dates will be determined later, but each opponent has been set to play within a four-day window. The Rex Grossman- Kyle Orton quarterback derby opens at home against the Chiefs somewhere between Aug. 7 and 11 before the Bears travel to Seattle to take on the Seahawks at Qwest Field a week later (Aug. 14-18). The matchup against the 49ers on FOX follows on Aug. 21 -- a concrete date set by television schedules -- before the final run-through is set at Cleveland against the Browns on Aug. 28 or 29. It will mark the fifth straight year the Bears and Browns have closed out the preseason against each other. The regular-season NFL schedule originally was set to be released Thursday but the league pushed it back at least one week. On Monday, the Bears did learn that they would open the 2008 season Sept. 7 against the Colts at new Lucas Oil Stadium in a prime-time matchup on NBC. http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sp...657,print.story

Tell me something. I remember sometime last year a post showing how "someone" said they thought Benson pulled himself out, and that he could have played through the pain, or whatever. Did you honestly think that prior to this piece of news circulating? I just recall TONS of talk after the SB, and while many called Benson a putz for the fumble and getting injured (again), I simply do not recall anyone saying he should have taken some cortizone and gotten back in there. Further, while he NFL and college career have not seen even similar, I would point out that he played through tons of minor injuries in college. We debate his motivation and all that, but considering what he showed (regarding playing through injury in college) I simply have a hard time buying that he would not play through an injury, in the super bowl, if it was at all possible. Last comment is key. I consider there to be a large area between good and bad. Further, let me ask you this about what you saw in the SD game. When you say he missed blocks, was it a situation where he simply picked up the wrong area/rusher, or was it him picking up the right man and simply getting beat. That is part of what my point is. I have seen Benson pick up LBs who had a head of steam, and flat out stand them up and knock them back. The issue, IMHO, is more an issue of getting more playing time and learning. One further point. You point out the SD game, but as I recall, everyone looked bad. We SUCK blocking against 3-4 defenses, and our players look so confused it is sad. If you go off that game, everyone on our OL (including Kreutz) is a bad blocker. We have discussed this, and I was 100% for drafting DJ. He was my #1 choice. But today, despite his becoming a damn good LB, I still say he would have been a wasted pick for us. He would have been tried at SLB, where I think he would have failed, and he would today be called a bust.

I still disagree. I think he has shown speed. The issue, IMHO, is he is the sort of RB that does not have that immediate speed. If he has an opportunity to hit a hole, I think he has shown speed. The issue is he has not seen many holes. I have said this before, but do you realize that in 2006, Benson has more 20+ yard runs than TJ, who I think you would agree has speed. Benson has speed, but needs space to show it. Still disagree. Asking for market value is not being selfish. Selfish would be demanding greater than market value. Negotiations is an aspect no fans enjoy, but is simply part of the business of the game. I wonder about this. Numerous times last year, I heard players speak up for Benson and defend him. He may not be the most popular guy on the team, but I am not sure it would be accurate to say he has no friends in the locker room either. While I understand your point, I would argue this is calling out Benson in such a way as to separate him from the rest of the team. I simply do not believe he is such a bad blocker. May not be his strong suit, but I do not believe it is such a weakness either. IMHO, he was a better blocker than AP, by a long shot, last year. He is still learning and developing, but I saw him make some great blocks last year. He was the opposite of AP, IMHO. AP knew who to block, but would get blown up trying. Benson had some missed assignments, or appeared to, but on the whole, I thought he did a pretty solid job blocking. Come on. He was injured in the SB. It isn't like he said he had a headache and asked to be pulled. There was one blurb from someone who made this claim, but I do not recall it being the common belief, and yet fans have run w/ it. And I still say that would have been a mistake, as he would never have developed into the playmaker he has become, as he would have had to play SLB, which I simply do not believe he would do well at. Not on my S list, but I am not high on him either, and would say he is on his last chance. Put up or shut up time.

I understand your logic, and in large part agree. What I believe the thinking may be is, by allowing DM a shot at SS, he has a shot to start, where as if they keep him at FS only, he is strictly a backup. While I do not always agree, the staff loves to talk about how the S positions in their scheme are interchangable. So you allow DM a shot at SS, and if he does well enough, maybe he starts. If not, I imagine he will spend the remainder of the season practicing at FS, where he would be the primary backup.

Agree the staff is made up of idiots. Disagree this move/decision is evidence of such. DM was simply not good. I would absolutely agree the staff did him no favors w/ the continual position changes, but I would also say maybe a reason for the changes was his not showing expected development at any one position, and thus trying to move him around to find him a position. DM is a great athlete, but I have not seem much by way of football play. Like drafting a track star to play WR. Nice idea, but doesn't always translate. I think it is as simple as this. Brown at FS and Payne/McGowan at SS is simply a superior combo to DM at FS and Brown at SS. Further, I suspect the bears would like to move Brown to hopefully better limit his risk of injury.

Imagine a WR (likely not one of the bigger WR) going up and catching the ball. Now imagine a safety literally catching the WR, not allowing him to hit the ground, and carrying him out of bounds. Not likely to happens w/ most WRs, but I think where you could see it is w/ some of the smaller WRs. Think about Jackson (in the draft) who I read ways around 165 lbs. That would not be so difficult for a 220 lb DB or even a 240 lb LB to catch him in the air, and essentially carry him a couple yards out of bounds. By and large, I do not think we will see this too often. Today, WRs are simply bigger and stronger, and would be far more difficult to "carry". On the other hand, if the WR is looking to make a play near the sideline, I can see the DB not even trying to go up for the ball w/ the WR, but simply planting underneath him and driving him out of bounds.

I think I read where it would still be called if the DB "carried" the WR out of bounds. So I guess the DB can not catch the WR and run for the sideline (which would actually be funny as hell). But otherwise, yes. The DB can simply plant under the WR, and drive him several yards to force an incomplete pass. That would seem easier than going up to battle for the ball or try to knock it away. I simply love the mid-air battles, and think we wil see fewer after this change.

Wasn't it also reported that Williams offered the officer sex w/ the girl in his car to get out of trouble.

The impression I get is OL is our top choice in round one, and RB is a choice in the 2nd or 3rd. I get this impression because - If he is thinking about moving Tait, that means we want to add a LT, and IMHO, that means our top choice. I do not think any OTs available after that point are likely to start at LT. - He talks about how deep the draft class is at RB, which to me implies he believes he can get a very good RB later, and for better value.

If I had to guess, I would suspect we have several players we are looking at in the 1st who, if we drafted them, could move Tait to the right side, but we are leaving it open as we can no predict how the draft plays out. For example, if... Miami or Stl take Jake Long, KC takes Albert (which I would have never thought, but his stock seems to have moved up so much. Kiper now has them taking him in his mock, and PFW is saying KC is not in love w/ Clady, but does really like Albert, and feels he is a great fit for their scheme. Baltimore takes Clady to replace Ogden Denver takes Clady Carolina takes Otah. That would leave Cherilius (strictly a RT) and Baker (a massive reach) for us. This is a worst case scenario, but it in fact possible. Point is, while I think Angelo would like to draft a LT and move Tait, there is no guarantee a LT will fall to us to allow us such a move. A question I would ask is, can we interpret from Angelo's comments that he does "want" to move Tait, and that he does feel Tait should be playing RT? If so, would that mean we are less likely to draft a RT as that would basically eliminate our ability to move Tait. Could this take Otah off our board?

But there are plenty of penalties that are pure judgement calls. You here all the time how there is holding on EVERY down, and it is simply up to the refs to decide how bad it is. WRs and DBs "bump" constantly, and a ref can call interference or holding on that, but use their judgement. I love sideline plays, and how about fade routes to the corner of the endzone. Using a big WR to go up and catch the ball simply may not be as huge of a play now. Instead of the DB going up to battle for the ball w/ the WR, the DB can simply plant himself underneath, allow the WR to catch the ball, and then jack him out of bounds. If the WR is in the air, he has minimal control over his body, and it simply will not be that difficult for the DB to take him a yard or two one direction. Further, I can see this increasing the potential for injury to the WR. Right now, the WR and DB go up and battle for the ball. I love that. W/ the rule change, the DB is less likely to battle, IMHO, and more likely to plant and drive. W/ the WR in the air, he is far more exposed and the potential for injury rises. I don't know. I love sideline/corner endzone plays, and the battles for the ball you would see between the DB and WR. W/ the rule change, I think we will see fewer battles for the ball.

Actually, I believe Angelo has said it. Prior to our additions, Lovie said he was confident in Bradley as our #1.

Slow - He has shown speed, but it is hard to display speed when you meet your first defender about the same time you get the ball. He is not, never was, or will be, a burner, but he does have speed. selfish - Based on what? Said it before, and will again, but the deal Benson signed, and the deal Cadillac sign I think does signify the team may not have ever been prepared to put up market value for the 4th pick. asshole - I think his character, and in particular his motivation, can be questioned, but this is a bit much. says ignorant things - Okay. He has said some really stupid things. Dealing w/ the media is FAR from his strong suit. overpaid - What I saw last year, that would apply to nearly the entire team. bad hands - Not a good receiver, but I am not sure I would go so far as to say bad hands. bad blocker - I would say developing blocker. His blocking itself I thought was actually very good, but his decision making wasn't always. When he picked up a block, I often saw him do an outstanding job. The problem was, he doesn't always seem to have a good feel for which player/side to pickup. Maybe that has something to do w/ never having an opportunity to learn since he was constantly pulled on 3rd downs. won't play hurt - sorry, but where do you get this. If a player is just flat out injured, how is he supposed to play. To me, this would be like calling out Mike Brown for not playing hurt. I can understand if you want to say he is hurt too often, but doesn't play hurt? Might as well have drafted Mike Williams or Troy Williamson. Well, at least Benson still has a chance to do well for his own team. The other two players are no longer even on their original teams. Hey, I was his biggest supported, and even I can look at him realistically. I have yet to see the player I saw in college, either in production or attitude. At the same time, I think many of the faults you apply to him are over-blown.