jason

Two words: Ron Turner. That's why it won't happen. It's far too outside of his comfort zone. It's beyond his vanilla style. He's far too regimented into the old-school way of offensive coaching philosophies that dictate on 1st and 10 you do this, and 2nd and 5 you do that. Which, of course, is why he's so predictable. And in large part it's a reason why the Bears offense hasn't been worth a damn whilie he's been the OC.

To be honest, I think it comes down to Turner just not wanting to do things out of his comfort zone. I think it's unimaginative, boring, and probably buys his wife the same gift every year for Christmas...you know, because she liked it the first year. The no huddle is not going to happen in large doses while he's here. Period. I damn near shat myself when the Bears got into the Wildcat last night. I barely had time to register what was happening before Hester was going around edge. Everyone in my section was shocked.

Both are inexusable. It's like peewee league. I don't see the big improvement either. Of course, I didn't really buy in and drink the Marinelli as a godly DL coach koolaid either. It's the same cover-2, with the same massive holes, with the same inability to do anything when one of the DTs isn't destroying the middle. Without the TB version of Warren Sapp, the cover-2 is a flawed system. There is no debating this. It's a bend but don't break, passive system that is guaranteed to give up points to ANY offense, and the coaching staff just hopes that it's not too many for the Bears offense to overcome. I'm not making excuses, but that place is the loudest stadium I've ever heard. Completely drowns out your senses. It's 5 times louder than in Green Bay or Tennessee in the NFL, easily louder than any Soldier Field game I've been to, louder than any NBA arena I've been to, completely dwarfs absolutely any of the tons of baseball games I've attended all over the country, and even louder than some big time college games I've been to (i.e. Auburn at UT, Kentucky at Alabama). My ears are sorta ringing today, almost 15 hours after the game. It's tough to operate when you are without your hearing the entire game. I have to hand it to the Atlanta fans; they were pumped almost the entire game. I've even been to a Seahawks game in Seattle, and the Georgia Dome was louder.

We ADAMANTLY disagree about the play-calling on offense - probably defense, too - but I'm telling you, the steam is out of this team. It is palpable. I've never seen a less fired up Bears team. I have no doubt that a great many players hardly care about winning, and are just in it for the next big pay check. The note about Adams dancing was one that particularly bugged me. I think it was early third quarter, or maybe before the half, but dancing to a Michael Jackson song during the game is not what I expect from a team that is not handling their business on the field. Loose and fun is good when your are putting up 5 TDs in one quarter on the Titans; fine, dance away and have a good time. But when the game is tight and undecided, it's best to focus and think about how you as a player can do better, or help your team in another way. On the other hand, at least he wasn't taking on the Zombie Lovie personality that so many seem to have adopted.

I don't think Roddy White was shut down ALL game, and that's the problem. Not to mention the fact that he's slowly becoming RW McQuarters. On running plays and passing plays, his first movement is always to back peddle, even though he's already giving a ten yard cushion. I don't recall the play, but I believe it was late in the third quarter. The Falcons had a 3rd and about 6, but Tillman - probably by design of the cover-2, which is not his fault - was giving about a ten yard cushion. The play started, and he took his first few steps back. Just doesn't make sense, and neither does the defensive scheme that, ultimately, failed the Bears and played a large part in costing the game.

I specifically looked for this in the game. The unequivocal answer is YES. They got separation. Knox especially was open several times when the ball was thrown away. Hester juked his guy more than once when the ball didn't go his way. I also share your concern for the lack of mid-range passing plays, because I believe they are there to be had. The WRs aren't open all game, make no mistake. But they were open numerous times when the OL didn't give enough time, Cutler didn't see the guy open - or that player was a late read, or the play calling dictated that the ball go another direction. I don't know where to place blame, but from what I saw, it was much less on the WRs than it was on the OL, the OC, and Cutler. OL Part 1, Do they suck that bad? Yes. OL Part 2, Does the offense (i.e. Turner/Cutler) make reads/adjustments? I'm sure some are done, but it looks as if they are often locked into the "we'll beat you with our best play" mindset, regardless of how the defense adjusts. That stuff worked in the 50s, but I don't think it works as well now. A team must deceive the opponent AND execute, because great execution doesn't always work when the opponents also execute very well. In that respect, it goes to play calling. OL Part 3, Does the OL get any push? If they did get push, I didn't see the play. The entire section of Bears fans around me absolutely loathe the OL and their inability. Regarding the apathy I spoke of in the beginning of this thread, they seem to be the worst. The only guy who looked like he wanted to pump the guys up is Schaffer, the guy who doesn't play. What's worse is after each failed possession in which they performed average AT BEST, they all came off the field and fist-bumped each other for a job well done. No fire whatsoever. Roach seemed confused. I think it's a matter of being out of place AND reacting late. I just don't think the game has slowed down for him yet. Numerous times in the game I saw him on the field looking at others for a key, and he got instruction on the sideline a few times that I could see. Agreed. I expected much more, and feel the Bears should have won. It was a lackluster performance to say the least.

I got a front row view of a lot of things today, a different perspective than ever before, and here are a few things I saw: -That 5-yd cushion garbage evidently doesn't apply to Knox and Hester, because they Falcons DBs were on them the entire game -Regarding the 5-yd cushion, the Line Judge took an ass chewing several times; it even looked like Lovie got fired up once -Anthony Adams is a great dancer, too bad he doesn't seem to care about the game -Greg Olsen mouthed several F-bombs when watching the defense play -Greg Olsen is the only guy on the sideline who looks like he wants to win above anything else -The entire OL is slow and blah in everything they do. They came back after each horrible performance and didn't seem too upset about it. -The OL barely got coaching information the entire game. -Andrea Kramer just looks like she doesn't have a friggin clue about what's going on. If she said something about Ogunleye's hip flexor injury, it's because I told her. -Pisa looks like his right(?) knee was killing him. The doctor/trainer came over, did a few knee tests, and it was obvious that he was done. He probably tore something. -Tillman has the look of someone without confidence. He has a glazed over look in his eyes like he just plain wants to quit. -Ogunleye was standing behind the trainer's table and I yelled, "You know you hate the cover-2, Wale! Wale, you hate the cover-2!!" He nodded, twice. -I'd love to see what the Bears' fans could pull off with a dome. It's such an advantage. It's a few hours after the game, and my ears are still ringing. -Tackling is still horrendous, and it's easy to see the problems up close. Someone needs to let the guys know it's tackle THEN strip the ball. And the most important thing I saw... -The entire team seems apathetic. I don't know where it comes from, but I have a suspicious thought in the back of my head I know its source. They just don't have the fire, and several don't seem to even care. Hell, there were tons of times when most on the sideline weren't even watching the game - which doesn't say everything - but it just doesn't look like a cohesive group that cares all that much. And, the coup de grace, I have NEVER seen a team so happy immediately after a tough loss like this. And, speaking of happy, Omaliye was as happy as a fat kid in a cake factory. He obviously doesn't care about losing, care about sucking more than possibly anyone in the NFL, and he's evidently good friends with several guys on the Falcons. This team needs a spark, badly.

Like it should have been this past year?! You know I agree with this idea. Read the signature line...

Let's be honest, it's not hard to agree with this thread. After all, Turner does suck. He's unimaginative and predictable. Hell, three or four of us at the game were predicting plays based upon formation, and we were doing well. Damn well. And we don't have the advantage of this being our job, and without the game tape. Suffice to say, the opposing defensive coaches can predict the Bears offense quite a few times per game. However, he didn't fumble that ball on the goal line, twice. That killed the Bears. I actually like the toss/sweep play. It's not like the run upt he middle was doing well. The call allows Forte to look for a lane, cut back, and blast through. Of course, it would be great if the Bears' OL didn't suck at run blocking - a point that is completely undebateable. One play, on the other hand, doesn't make the game. And Turner had far too many opporunities where he was predictable, and it hurt the Bears. Where in the world was the play-action rollout to the tight end? That play is MONEY. And it's especially effective on the goal line, or close to it. There were plenty of missed opportunities out there, and it's on Turner to find them. In the several years he's been here, he hasn't found them very often. It's time for a new OC.

Yes, those are my beliefs. And, no. Orton would be doing worse, because the WRs are younger, the holes are tighter (alllriiiight), and the OL worse. Agreed. That's why I didn't like the Benson pick when it was made. I didn't think the pieces fit. But once they drafted him, I figured the Bears front office would do a better job of building an OL that could take advantage of Benson's style. Didn't happen. The ego check was needed, but if the Bears actually had an OL that fit his style (i.e. the Cincy OL), then it may have never been needed. More on this in a second... Agreed on everything. And my comments about weak-minded, pampered superstars support this idea. He didn't excel immediately in Chicago, wasn't the best player immediately in Chicago, and it hurt his fragile psyche. You're probably right, but I would have much rather seen the Bears draft the OL to support him, than draft another high RB who, despite a great rookie season, is struggling behind an OL that is, once again, not that great. But of course, with you, I'm preaching to the choir on the OL thing.

I think that I wasn't complete enough in my original post. Obviously the dude had/has some issues between the shoulders, but I honestly believe he's one of those fragile superstars who have been pampered their entire lives, and when things aren't perfect for them, with great family/friends/teammates/coaches, they buckle. With the coaches and offensive line, not to mention the Thomas Jones preference from other players, he buckled. Maybe now he's a stronger person mentally. It just bugs me that the Bears got burned yet again.

Yes, it has to be the Medicine Woman. Anyone who says Cade McNown is retarded. He wasn't great, but he produced in a few games and is infinitely better than a few other QBs already named in this thread.

Regarding the Benson talk, I said it was a mistake to let him go. The reason he underperformed with the Bears was diverse, and started with sharing time with TJ, but in his last year it resulted from the fact that the OL was atrocious...something that has only seen a bandaid applied. Lo and behold, Benson goes to Cincy, gets behind a road-grader OL, and he's busting out stats.

Crazy to read this. Just a month ago there were very few people with me on the "Bears WRs are pretty good, just unproven" bandwagon. I also say pass to TO, but not because we couldn't use a stud WR. After seeing him play a few games in Buffalo, I just think that he may not be the stud WR any more.

What's more hilarious is your apparent lack of football knowledge.

You got the part about the media right. I swear it's a conspiracy at times. Even the stinking ticker at the bottom of ESPN always seems to get cut off for a commercial RIGHT when the Bears are about to be shown.

Meh. As long as it's not a Bears player.

Very impressive stat. The odd thing is, it doesn't feel like he has dominated like the other names on the list. I think it probably has to do with Lovie's passive style of coaching and the manner in which the Bears have employed his strategies with the passive cover-2.

My thoughts almost exactly. Hate list: First the packers, then farv, then the vikings

voted twice...and Knox should have won once by now. No way Sanchez deserves it all three weeks.

Way to conveniently forget the down and situation. Down, distance, situation. Of the three, only the distance is the same. The down is important because on 3rd, a team is much more locked into a run because a QB can't throw the ball away on a passing play that doesn't work. That's why the run happens so often, and why the unorthodox pass surprises the defense so much. The situation is also important. In this case, the Bears already ran two play-action, QB roll outs for short TD passes to the TE, so the situation made it difficult for Detroit to determine what the play would be.

And this game is why I'm extra bugged about the game against Green Bay. This should have made GB 1-3, and feeling horrible about being tied with the Lions. Instead, they're 2-2 and they think they have a shot at the division. I no longer like Green Bay and Minnesota games. It used to be easy because I hated Green Bay and Brett Favre. Now, I'm torn.

Agreed. Better, but not preferred over simply starting well.

I don't love it. The reason why is simple: Sometimes those first few punches you don't answer can end the fight. There should be no surprise about being in a fight.

Down, distance, and situation. Down, distance, and situation. When the runs up the gut with Wolfe were called, the defense had a lot more to worry about, and had to respect the passing game. Not only that, but Detroit's defense is not good at all. It's completely different than running out of your own goal against the Minnesota wall of fat.