BearFan2000

What to say that hasn't already been said... Naggy must hand over play calling asap. There is no flow, no logic, and the only consistency is bad play calling. When the offense finds any rhythm he throws it away with plays that have 0 chance of success. We'll start with the hurry up, and as we get a defense on it's heals even a little bit we do something dumb to let them regroup whether it's huddle up, run up the gut for a loss, throw a short pass for no gain, call a time out, etc. It is so maddening to watch. The final drive in regulation is a microcosm of how ridiculously dumb our play calling is. Just under 2 min to go, 2 time outs, and trailing by 3. And the way he was calling it you't think it was the start of the quarter. No urgency, we had to convert two 4th downs because we mostly wasted early downs either running up the gut, or throwing passes that gained us nothing on first and second down. We should have been playing for a TD not playing for a FG to send it into overtime. Have some friggin balls and go for the win. No killer instinct at all. Naggy claims to be aggressive but that was chickenshit. pardon my french As much as Naggy is culpable for the play calling and clock mismanagement issues, Pace is culpable for this crap OL we have. This unit sucked before we started having injuries, and we have backups of backups playing behind guys who wouldn't see the field on most NFL teams. That is 100% on Pace he has neglected the OL and gone the bargain basement route bringing in late round draft picks, UDFA, and cast offs. We get blown off the ball play after play, they don't run block they don't pass block they just waste space on the field they don't even bother getting in anyone's way. Our RB's struggle just to make it back to the line of scrimmage, Foles has people in his face immediately. Like Mongo said there is no "OL sucks" offense that can work for us. it all starts up front, and with this line It wouldn't matter who your skill players are. You're never going to have any consistent success. Trubisky vs Foles. Both are average at best. Thinking about Trubisky's issues with being slow to read defense, one read QB, etc. Is it at all possible that some of these issues are caused at least in part by line play. Is it possible Mitch has it in his head that he's only going to have time to check his first read and doesn't feel he has the luxury of time to do much else to the point where that becomes a subconscious mental block? Looking at Foles, more often than not he's not able to set his feet to throw. They both have been bad on deep throws. Till last night Foles hadn't connected deep with anyone and he's been mostly every bit as off target as Mitch. Watching this game and the past few with this OL line, perhaps Mitch could provide mobility that Foles cannot or will not provide. There was one play in particular that stood out last night. Foles evades the pressure to his left and there's open field where he could have taken off and at least had a fighting chance to make a first down. Instead he stops, holds the ball and tries to find a target and gets sacked. Long story short both QB's are what they are and it's truly hard to know if they are good enough to lead this offense given what they have to work with. Going into this game, as bad/ugly as we looked on Monday night I gave us little chance to win. The fact that even with all the problems we have on offense this was a winnable game and we could have taken it but we crapped it down our legs. And that is maddening to watch. Add to that with the Packers losing to the Vikings earlier we had a golden opportunity to retake the division lead. But I don't have high hopes for this team to do anything in the playoffs and even they they might stumble their way out of contention after starting 5-1. All Know is after this game I had that feeling like you get after watching a horribly bad movie thinking that's 2+ hours of my life I can't get back. I'm so tired of this vicious cycle of blowing things up new HC, new GM, rebuild, every few years or so. We always seem to end up right back where we started with needing to blow it up again. Each time there's that hope that this time it will be different till Lucie pulls the football away again and Charlie lands on his back. We are again wasting a good-great defense on offensive ineptitude.

horribly soft D at the end of the half now only up by 3 at the half. That was far too easy.

What a sequence. They doink a chip shot and we go 80 yards in 4 plays and get a TD. We finally made the connection to Mooney down field. What a throw and catch for the TD.

no way that is saints ball. Refs getting right on trying to screw the Bears

Agree but at the same time not sure it would matter who is under center behind this line... I mean turnstiles. The only thing Mitch could have provided today that Nick couldn't is mobility. I don't think the result would be much different. This team is doomed with this line play. We are constantly losing the line of scrimmage. Can't run the ball, and the little short pass plays used like a run game won't do it. We are completely one dimensional. Right up there with main culprits of this offense is the play calling. I like Naggy as a coach, but can't call a good game to save his life. I think we're close to another "rebuild" than we are contending for a title.

This game is painful to watch. Thai Int should have been pass interference defender never looked for the ball. We’re playing like crap on both sides. This line is going to get Nick killed. 3 points through 3 quarters. PATHETIC

I hope Jackson isn’t serious.

In our league d/st starts a10 points and giving up points cost your d points while things like sacks, int, fumbles, etc. add points. Just looked at the settings again. -4 is the worst you can have. It’s the default nfl.com league settings.

This week first place in the league is on the line and I have an 8 point lead going into MNF. His players are all done and I just have my defense to play (have both Rams and Bears D). The thought has crossed my mind to bench my D and secure the win. However looking at the scoring settings it looks like -4 would be the worst you can get with a defense. So in tis scenario it wouldn't matter but let's say for future ref if I had like a 1 point or so lead is it bad form or good strategy to bench players to protect a win? I guess I have a second question then. Who would you start? My fan side says go with the Bears.

I feel like this is one of if not the biggest issues with our offense. Naggy's play calling, and clock management or should I say mismanagement is holding us back. We can wish for a true franchise QB or this skill player or that at whatever position, but when the offensive flow is hampered by poor play calling would it really make that much of a difference. Stellar talent that is miss-managed is bound to not be as productive as it's potential. This doesn't absolve the Oline play and that falls much on the shoulders of Pace not putting resources and draft capitol into building an offensive line that can protect whoever is back there or open running lanes for the backs. A perfect example of this is that play at the goal line where we sent in a run heavy package with extra TE's to help block and we lost a yard. The entire line got pushed back and Monty had no where to go (though I felt he should have recognized it and bounced it out and possibly could have walked in with everyone focused on the point of attack). We've seen drives stalled because things are working well and then we do something dumb that puts us behind the chains then we do something dumber rather than go back to what has been working on the drive. Or we get the defense on it's heals and rather than hurry up the pace we huddle up or call a time out and let their D regroup. We are often our own worst enemy on offense.

I liked Te'o coming out of college. Don't know if it's the end of Travaton or not yet. I think it's a good signing to at least take a look at him and see what he can offer. With his speed/range he could fit well here with all the talent around him.

Earlier this year I commented that we need to start seeing the defense get after QB's, create pressure and that there is way too much talent on the D to not see better production. Well, over the last few weeks it has gotten better and they seem to be taking weekly strides in getting more consistent. I feel like it has a lot to do with lack of normal offseason programs and no preseason games that puts defenses slightly behind offenses. It's good to see and I feel like Pagano is getting more creative in scheming to create added pressure. I feel like our tackling is slowly getting more crisp in general as well. With our offense playing the way it is it's on the D to keep games close. At some point the offense is going to have to pull their weight. It's sad when you see the statistic that we were the only team in the NFL to be shut out in any quarter. It took us 6 games to finally put up points in the 3rd quarter. A vast majority of our points this season have come in the 4th and that in large part due 4th quarter comebacks.

It seems like this season it has been even worse. Like Adam said it's like we've become conditioned to see a big play for the Bears and just expect to see a flag called for something to take it away. It's more infuriating seeing that even within the game it's not called consistently, Robinson can get mugged and no call but they call Johnson for PI? It goes for holding, roughing the passer, and so on. Seeing us get called for anything close to a penalty but watching our opponent get away with murder gets old. The only game this season that had calls actually go both ways was the Bucs game and I suspect that's because the Bears and the Bucs are two of the most penalized teams and it feels like once that stigma is there officiating crews tend to follow the trend and call more penalties on you rather than try to call things fairly. I liked the idea last year of being able to challenge pass interference but in reality it essentially became a wasted challenge since the league would rarely reverse the call basically wouldn't admit their refs screwed up. It'd be nice if certain penalties could be challenged but only if it's truly challengeable, meaning there's a reasonable chance of success if the video evidence shows the call was wrong or that there should have been a call and there wasn't. Maybe limit it to impactful plays. Like a well defended pass that gets called for PI on a 3rd and long gifting the offense get free first down plus yardage. Or that play when Rodgers needs a hail marry pass play for a com-back and his OL is tackling D-linmen and nothing's called.

Amen to that. Stop throwing to Harris, it's a wasted down because 9 times out of 10 he'll drop it no matter how well thrown the ball is.

Foles should have just thrown it away since he was rushed and didn't have time to set his feet. Live to fight another down.

That TD was a gift. How the hell is that pass interference?

so far Kmet has contributed 1 catch, and one holding penalty. Other than that it's been a where's waldo. For the draft capitol invested in getting him he should be on the field more and more involved. Which either means he's not quite ready to be more involved in the offense, Naggy's holding him back, or he's not as good as we hoped he'd be. Through 5 games I would have expected more production from him. As a ND fan and having watched Kmet play I feel he has what it takes to succeed at this level and maybe at some point he'll become more involved.

the drafting of Johnson reminds me a lot of getting Jackson where we got him. Both were great picks especially where we got them.

4-1 and in a lot of ways this feels like the most sold win of the 4. We needed two crazy comebacks, and survived with a W against the hapless Giants. While most of the first half was forgettable once things started clicking this became a competitive game against a solid opponent. The way it started I had the "here we go again" vibe as the offense couldn't get out of their own way. But at the end of the day all 3 phases had a hand in this victory. Santos was solid, D stepped up and finally saw more consistent pressure as the game wore on. And the offense while they didn't light up the scoreboard got enough done to get the W. My game ball goes to Fuller. That was a great hit to dislodged the ball and the play was actually ruled correctly for once. That play put us in the position for the go ahead score before the half. And Quinn being there to scoop up the fumble for a clear recovery. I must say we''ve had much to complain about when it comes to officiating it's been so bad that every time something is getting reviewed or looked at I assume we'll get screwed. This game felt for the most part evenly called. I agree with NYC the tackling has been atrocious. It feels like every big play we allow either YAC on a pass or a run play we had multiple guys whiff. Roquan whiffed on TFL twice resulting n good runs because it allowed Jones to get to the second level. That needs to be tightened up. Now I will say it got slightly better in the second half perhaps it was a half time point of emphasis. Also agree as I'm sure we all do, the offensive line needs addressed it's been neglected for too long. It all in the trenches it's hard to consistently make anything happen when you are losing that battle more often than not. I loved seeing Brady under duress more and more as the game went on we need to see more of that on a consistent basis. With the talent we have in the front 7 we should be getting after the QB's. All in all a quality win vs a solid opponent. We're 4-1 and Ill take that any day.

Can't argue with any of this and that was my first thought when he was pulled and Foles was put in. Mitch's time is done here, I have a lot of respect for the kid, just too bad he's not better at football.

This 100%, He balls out every week. His broken tackle for a walk in score was amazing determination. And he got Robbed of a TD. He's a big reason that comeback even happened. Pay the man. Give him Mitch's money.

For sure, I was about to turn off the TV after that pick as I was sure we'd just get buried. I'll give Nagy credit for having the guts to pull the plug on Mitch in game. We've seen enough, and you have to try something different. And what a difference there was. The way it all went down I have to think they went into this game with Foles being at least prepared in case they needed to pull Mitch. Knowing we were going to have to put up points to compete. And Mitch was the starter on a short leash. Otherwise I don't know if Nagy makes the move. I'm sure the Falcons hadn't prepared for Foles exclusively, and lets face it preparing for Mitch isn't a difficult task. But you could see a difference. Foles looks confident, composed, and decisive. He's less mobile but I'll take the improved accuracy and a QB who can go through his progressions. He'll make his mistakes and I don't assume what happened in that quarter and a half will be the norm, but I do expect the offense to be more efficient and effective with him under center. I'm glad we got him in the offseason.

I feel like Ridley is underrated in that offense because people focus on Julio Jones. Ridley's had himself a nice season so far and I believe had a strong second half of last season. But definitely having both on the field makes that team more dangerous. Gage going down hurt them too as he was also having a good season. It was basically Ridley, and a bunch of no names and their TE Hurst. The crazy thing is we're 3-0, but if Swift catches that pass we lose to the lions, if the Giants score on that final drive we lose, if we don't have our second miraculous comeback we lose this week and just like that we could easily be 0-3. The Falcons have blown double digit 4th quarter leads in back to back games (16 and 15pt). Losing week 1 to the seahawks is understandable that's a tough matchup. They can argue that they should be sitting at 2-1. But blowing big leads at the end of games has been a pattern, that's how they lost the Super Bowl. All in all we're 3-0 and I'll take it any day. We need to play better all around. Can't depend on 4th quarter heroics to pull games out that won't work against better competition. Hopefully Foles having a full week's prep as the starter will help. He could have had 5 TD passes in the 4th quarter, one was wrongfully taken away, and the other a drop. The difference in command of the offense, the huddle, reading the defenses, and decisiveness were clearly evident. Mitch looked like a guy scared to make a mistake and generally indecisive. Even his big run, he looked like he didn't know if he should go down, or try and score, if he's thinking score all the way (and once he was in open field he should have), the block was there to score. He has all the phyisical tools to be a good QB he just does not seem to be able to put it all together consistently. After 4 years he pretty much is what he's going to be most likely baring the lightbulb coming on at some point if it ever will. The Bears have given him every opportunity to succeed. He's had more benefit that many young QB's have. Solid to great D, plenty of weapons, etc. We've seen young QB's come in with less around them and succeed. I like the kid, but his time here's done barring injury this season. The D has to play better, there is too much talent on the roster for the production we're seeing. Our front 7 should be able to regularly harass QB's and we get there sometimes. I know we're getting held a lot but there are also a lot of downs where our studs are getting neutralized. I know our offense hasn't done them any favors. It does get tiring to work hard to get off the field and the offense does nothing over and over. Our run D, pass rush, and tackling needs to improve. Kicking game... ug. It really hurts not having a reliable kicker. The game should have been tied early on 6-6. We're just going to have to play better on offense/defense so games don't come down to our kicker. Refs have also not been doing us any favors. Two straight weeks we have had a defensive turnover taken away that would have been big momentum changes for us. Roughing the passer on a sack fumble??? How do you even justify that call? The pick 6 should not have been pass interference, the defender has as much right to the ball as the receiver. Yesterdays game was by far the worst I've seen, for 90% of the game it seemed like every time we'd do something good the refs would take it away. Yet wouldn't call the Falcons for anything till late. This was the only game it felt like they were doing all they could to keep the Falcons from losing. As bad as it's been the Bears have been their own worst enemy. The refs didn't miss and overthrow WR's, they didn't miss tackles in the run game, etc. Good teams shouldn't be in a position where bad calls make/break you.

That interception for the giants should have been PI. Defender was all over the receiver and never once turned his head. That make the one we get a TD in taken away worse. The defender has as much right to the ball as the receiver. It gets maddening watching us get screwed

Santos looked solid on his kicks. I know its a dome and it's not like he had any really long attempts. Maybe the Pinero IR thing is a blessing in disguise. Here's hoping Santos performs well enough to get us by till we find that long term solution.