jason

Bingo. This has been one of my biggest irritations for the last couple years. It makes NO sense whatsoever. Pisses me off. It is a lot easier to use cutback lanes when you know both the opponent's DEs are 10 yards wide. Sure, it's harder for a QB to scramble, but this isn't flag football. If this DL ever used stunts and varying moves on a consistent basis, it'd look like the gang-busting unit like the Giants last year.

Bad example or not, you miss the point. When someone states something, their statement can't necessarily be disregarded for their own personal issues. Use any example you want. Pick a guy who is widely disregarded or considered a bad character guy, and if he states fact (or damn near fact), then it shouldn't be disregarded because the guy is a bad character. If Tank said water was wet I'd have to agree with him. And Rex, no matter how much we want him to turn into the best QB in the NFL, is timid at best, and weak at worst. Let's take off the rose-colored glasses, stop drinking the koolaid, and just say it: Tank is right - Rex is weak. Does that mean he doesn't have big time talent? No Does that mean he can't lead a team? No Does that mean he can't win with good talent around him? No But, once again, let's be honest, the dude's weak. He pitter-pats his feet more than most NFL-calibre QBs. He throws off his back foot more than most NFL QBs. He makes atrocious decisions when in the face of danger far too often to be considered a tough guy. The pressure, the hits, the physicality of it all intimidates him. There is no denying this fact. All that considered, Tank's words ring true.

I've been saying for years that the Bears should stockpile players with cool nicknames. We could have 3 Tanks on the roster, a Booger, a PNut, Tron, and several other colorful characters like Craphonso.

If Stalin called Hitler evil, would it be any less true because of Stalin's own legacy? I think not. Until Rex steps up in the pocket, there's a good chance that most people on other NFL teams probably agree with Tank.

I've said it for years, and I'll say it again. Just because someone is in the NFL doesn't mean they know what they are doing. They may know the lingo and have the connections, but that's not necessarily an indication of actual football knowledge. Some of the smartest football people I've ever talked to in my life have been on the sidelines of high school football games. Guys that have seen more football, and understand it at a basic level, than most coaches today. And I still contend that if given a year to learn the lingo and what-not, that I'd do better (as would many on this board) than the Bears' OC has for the last decade or so (give or take odd spurts of success).

I thought the popcorn post was meant to be saying, "I'm just going to grab some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the show." In other words, taking the role of Sweden in the Wolfe debate, not getting involved but nonetheless enjoying the results of the fight.

Please refer to my tagline for confirmation of this belief. We will never know what we have on offense as long as the OL is questionable to bad. There is relatively unknown talent at RB, WR, and TE with question marks still remaining at QB as well. Of course, you and I were two of the few who thought it would be a smart move to go OL, OL, OL with the first three picks.

I know it's only the preseason's first game, but if Miller makes his way back to the Bears (shudder), he may not even start. The guys on the OL looked pretty good tonight.

I agree with just about everything you mentioned. Out of everyone tonight, Garrett Wolfe impressed the most. He has homerun potential written all over him. I also thought that the sideline pass to Hass was indicative of everything I have heard about him. The kid has glue on his hands if he consistently makes plays like that.

Also impressed with his showing. Aside from the throw out of the backfield that he chucked over the swing receiver's head, he looked poised.

You know, I just don't think you honestly believe what you are saying. I'm not saying "I told you so", but it seems that unless Wolfe goes for 1500 yards you will continue to think him a wasted draft selection. Scrub time or not, it's ignorant to deny Wolfe's skills. This kid looks lightning quick. He made the other players in at the same time look s l o w. Even if they are 2nd and 3rd stringers, on talent alone he looked to be a man among boys (despite the contradiction of size). His long run was in and through the hole before the defense even knew what hit them. And his TD reception out of the backfield is a play that no other player on the Bears offense aside from maybe Hester would have made. He's quite simply a play maker, an explosive offensive threat that seems to make big things happen when he's in the game. He's definitely not the guy who needs to see the ball 30 times a game, nor is he the guy to run up the pipe for the hard 3 yard gain (even though he made a tough run off guard in traffic during the game), but he's the homerun hitter out of the backfield that the Bears otherwise lack, and have lacked for years.

I couldn't deal with it. First quarter was good...then the buffering got BAD. I missed almost everything in the second quarter and then logged off. I'll watch tonight and just deal with the lack of sleep tomorrow.

I'm on right now, and the Chicago v. KC game was there.

I thought the same thing. Which is why I wasn't all that excited when the Bears signed Kevin Jones. I think HE is the luxury or unnecessary acquisition. I felt beforehand that Wolfe and AP were enough to take the carries when Forte is tired. And, yes NFO, I DO think that Wolfe has the potential to be the next Warrick Dunn. There is something to be said for a good player in the NFL. It means the guy is one of the best in the world. It's an entirely different thing when an NFL player makes another NFL player look foolish, something Wolfe did more than once last year in limited playing time. I believe that if he gets more carries, but not the majority, he will pull off moves and jukes that will just pad his highlight reel, and prove his ability. If this guy was 6' and 210 lbs., we wouldn't be having this discussion because he would have went in the first round based upon college production. IMHO, AP should see VERY minimal carries this year, and after Forte, Wolfe should see the second most.

I know where you are going with this, but it wasn't my intention. If Wolfe gets 30 carries a game, he is almost guaranteed to get banged up. Therefore, more carries more stats, more moves, etc. However, if he gets more than he did, and is not used as the #1, workhorse RB, I think it's well within reason to expect him to break someone else on defense down on a consistent basis.

I agree that there is a small sample size for the number of plays Wolfe has been in...but it only stands to reason when looking at his small body of work (pun intended) that he's capable of repeating what he has done. In VERY limited time, something you hold against him, he's broken down a few good players. He's absolutely made NFL guys look silly. Surely if he gets the ball more often we can expect more similar plays (provided he's not run up the gut against the Vikings). Aside from Hester, I'd go out on a limb and say that Wolfe is the most explosive player on the Bears' roster.

The face of the franchise: Urlacher

Dude, look up the 40 times. It's not hard. He's faster than any RB on the roster unless Kevin Jones is a medical miracle and recovers to college speed - which usually doesn't happen. If you look at the videos on youtube and can't see that he's the best open field runner out of the RBs, then I'd say you don't know football talent when you see it. It's not even close. The others are good, but Wolfe breaks ankles. It's the difference between a regular NBA crossover and an Iverson crossover. As for pass catching, none are really proven. KJ has had one good year as a RB pass-receiving, but other than that it's a wash. Wolfe looked pretty good last year when given the chance. In a completely different angle, stats say he's fast. Videos say he's elusive. Why exactly do you think he's not good? What makes you think he's so bad, or not a factor? I sure hope you aren't using the runs up the middle vs. the Vikings as your basis for debate.

Sorry, but most of the points I made are not opinion. He's faster than any other back on the roster. - I don't have the time or the inclination to look up 40 times, but he's the fastest RB on the roster. (KJ's pre-injury 40 in college doesn't count). He's quicker than any other back on the roster. - This is without a doubt fact. He's a better open-field rusher than any other back on the roster. - This is without a doubt fact. He's probably a better pass-catcher than any other back on the roster. - Until I see Forte catch out of the backfield, I'll count this as a fact.

Funny. I laughed hard.

No? I think your hate blinds you. He's faster than any other back on the roster. He's quicker than any other back on the roster. He's a better open-field rusher than any other back on the roster. He's probably a better pass-catcher than any other back on the roster. The first three alone make him a player who should get AP's carries. The combination of all four means that he should see the third-down-RB role exclusively. Hell, I think he should get more carries than Jones, since the vast majority of the #1 carries should go to Forte anyway. If the Bears don't get the ball into Wolfe's hands 5-10 times a game, it's a sad waste of talent.

Why do you (and some others) hate Garrett Wolfe so much? It baffles my mind that you don't see how dangerous this guy can be to an opposing team's defense. Speed, shiftiness, pass-catching ability, can break a tackle (because he doesn't get hit squarely), he has the tools. He has everything you need unless you plan on running him up the middle twice in a row on the goalline against the #1 rush defense. Of course, NOBODY would be stupid enough to do that. Oh, wait.... Wolfe: 5'7" 186lbs A few "small" guys doing well in the NFL now: Dunn: 5'9" 180lbs Meggett: 5'7 180lbs Sproles: 5'6" 181lbs MJD: 5'7" 208lbs Westbrook: 5'10" 203lbs A few "small" guys who did well in the NFL: Eric Metcalf: 5'10" 187lbs Barry Sanders: 5'8" 203lbs Thurman Thomas: 5'10" 206lbs Now look at all those names, imagine mane more, and then go compare their college stats with Wolfe (since that's our only comparison at this point). If the others did it, why can't he?

Getting Brady Quinn would mean a top 10 (maybe top 5) pick. There is no way the Bears are that bad this year to be in the top 10/5 of the draft next year. No friggin way. The wheels nearly fell off last year, and they still didn't get into the top 10. Are you anticipating a trade-up in the draft?

You left something out. That girl caught herpes from Willy "no tooth" Williams. Therefore, she's verboten.

Yeah, because it's not like the Bears made it there in the recent past with the same QBs and a weaker supporting cast on the team overall. Now, if THAT had happened, then your point wouldn't make sense.