jason

The OL did play better, but I'm still not impressed. Keeping Cutler relatively clean is an improvement, but there were very few pockets that didn't get collapsed. The window to throw the ball is small, and probably will be all year. I was also very disappointed by the stuff job on Barber. The OL has to get a better push than that.

Yes, you're right. That one did work well. Otherwise, it got stuffed or screwed up all night.

I can't remember the last time a Bears team has looked this bad in the preseason. Wow. That being said, there are two points to be made regarding comments in this thread. 1 - There is a difference between being negative and being realistic. The team has played like shit, and it's worrying. All the "just relax" talk is BS. These guys have, for the most part, looked somewhat incompetent. I could see if the team was just missing the breaks, had a few unlucky turnovers, or something like that...but the Bears have looked ATROCIOUS in just about ever phase. 2 - We may not like the current installation of the Martz offense, but I still don't understand what dude is supposed to do. He's essentially installing a neutered version of his offense. That being said, Cutler went 12/21 for 171 yards. That's pretty damn good considering Williams had two important drops and the OL still isn't exactly killing it in the pass or run blocking area. Even though I'll admit the OL looked better this game...despite the fact that the QB appears to be pressured nearly every play. Add in that last 95+ yard TD, and it's yet another game in the long line of bad MNF performances...but just because it's preseason doesn't mean we can't glean anything from the performances.

So, apparently Sanzenbacher is slow AND stupid? Who the hell didn't know he needed to get out of bounds on the sideline catch with 10 seconds left?

Big surprise...the Bears still run a RB screen like shit. Is that ten years in a row now...or more?

My goodness...now the ST domination is worse. I can't remember the last time Maynard got stuffed like that. Horrible blocking.

In what phase of the game have the Bears looked good? I can't think of a single one. Even the Special Teams, usually owned by the Bears, is being won by the Giants.

freakin atrocious hold not called on that last Jacobs run. How in the world was that missed?!

As predicted... Good start by D. Bad (false) start by O.

I'll admit that despite how much I dislike it, and no matter how much it endangers and potentially shortens the career lifespan of the Bears' #1 talent on offense, the blueprint has been established for teams to win with dominating defenses and less formidable offenses. 2008: Pittsburgh, 20th O, 1st D 2005: Pittsburgh, 9th O, 4th D 2002: Tampa Bay, 18th O, 1st D 2000: Baltimore, 14th O, 1st D But it certainly benefits a team not to have all or most of their eggs in one basket.

Not that I'm against Mays - dude can hit - but I love that the brilliant minds in the FO are pursuing yet another defensive player for positions (e.g. SS, OLB) that a relatively steady while virtually ignoring positions of greater need.

Exactly. Some time during the offseason I posted a few videos showing Forte running up a brutal hill during training. Olsen was alongside and working hard. But it was VERY apparent that Forte was in great shape already, and his appearance in camp displays that. Same for Knox; he added 20 pounds of muscle supposedly. He looks bigger. There is no excuse for these multi-million dollar athletes to be in anything other than football shape when preseason rolls around. There are a wealth of resources available to anyone wishing to get into football shape. It's up to the players to exploit those resources.

I honestly don't see why the extension of college infractions into the NFL is supposedly ridiculous. Many jobs require background checks. Many jobs penalize potential employees for not being as squeaky clean as the next guy. How so? Money. If the college players want to be recognized and paid individually based upon their performance, then they should have no problem realizing that committing what amounts to a "football crime" is bound to tarnish someone's image somewhat. Think of it as a direct reflection of the personal conduct policy of recent years. The NFL doesn't want thugs, criminals, rule-breakers, etc. That's the image they're trying to alter. Penalizing those who apply to get a job in the NFL - make no mistake, playing in the NFL is a privilege; it's not a right - could be a way to help stem the actions at a lower level. If a potential NFL talent realized that his actions affect his future (like the rest of us), then perhaps they wouldn't break rules that are so blatantly obvious.

JA talking to himself on the sideline... "Man, that DL could be potentially epic! I picked up Gholston and Okoye off the scrap heap, and they were probably misused before. I think the...what?...speak up Tice! I can't hear you. Oh, you want some help on the OL? Well, I got you one guy didn't I!? Just do what you can with the other guys. Coach them up, coach! Now quit bothering me, I need to figure out how to bolster my 9-man defensive line rotation by picking up Maybin."

Legitimate LOL. Thanks.

This is the kind of thread I come to TalkBears for. Totally out of left field for me, but totally makes sense. The Bears have a ton of DL depth. Why not consider it?

Trust me, nobody has forgotten what you've said. In fact, you're arguing for a side that nobody is debating. It's not about their lack of experience; it's about their lack of experience and training at the position they're currently playing.

Exactamundo! That's why I want an OL that looks like this: Williams - OG - Spencer - Garza - Carimi Hell, Webb is so huge and the Bears are so fond of moving guys around, I bet he'd fit just right at LG. Probably do better there than at LT.

Ain't that the truth. Aside from being an OL advocate, I've always been irritated by the Bears' aversion to QB development. Look at the Patriots...they have Brady and still spent a third on Mallet. Or even worse (for the Bears), look at what Green Bay has done over the years.

I pretty much agree right now. I don't think it matters all that much whether someone is #2 or #3 in the preseason when it comes to QB. You already know you aren't going to be on the playing field unless someone is injured.

Yes, like last year when the OL was clearly not the reason they made it that far, and was VERY clearly the reason they stopped where they did.

Could be because the media is full to the brim with spineless, shit-stirring, yellow journalists who think their "talent" is to be admired alongside the athletes, and they are the reason we turn into sports highlight shows. If I were a professional athlete, all my interviews would be like a player (can't remember who) did a few years ago. Q1: Blah blah blah. A1: One game at a time. Q2: Blah blah blah A2: One game at a time. And so on.

I believe they've already told him that in regards to the OL.

Judging by what no-steroid Merriman did with the OL, there's a decent chance Osi will have another highlight reel.

HA!! Nice one. And too true. Carimi should be at LT, and Webb should be at RT. Webb proved, once again, that he's below average as a LT.