This is definitely a much better opponent for the Bears this early in the season.

Indy is 0-2 and is the worst rush defense in the league by a pretty wide margin. They will also more than likely be without Buckner at DT. Richardson has connected on a few bombs but if the Bears take that away, he is prone to mistakes with 4 INTs on 53 attempts and only a 49% Comp%. 

If the Bears defense can stop Taylor and prevent anything to get behind them, this is a much more advantageous matchup than against HOU.

I think this will be the best offensive output of the season for the Bears (so far), and the defense will play similarly than they have the last two weeks. Bears 24-13.

The Bears really need to get right against the Colts:

 

We gotta get right vs the Colts.  Not only are our ex Bears teeing off on the OL, Belichick is out there criticizing our roster construction.  Jeff Saturday out there backing that assertion up.  This negativity can creep into the soul of the team.  Nate Davis must practice or be benched.  I'm seeing around 75% of the bad reps from the OL are directly attributed to Nate Davis or overreact plays for not trusting him.

2 hours ago, Mongo3451 said:

We gotta get right vs the Colts.  Not only are our ex Bears teeing off on the OL, Belichick is out there criticizing our roster construction.  Jeff Saturday out there backing that assertion up.  This negativity can creep into the soul of the team.  Nate Davis must practice or be benched.  I'm seeing around 75% of the bad reps from the OL are directly attributed to Nate Davis or overreact plays for not trusting him.

I've been thinking who should get benched on the Oline.   You get to choose one because it's highly doubtful we'll swap out two players in a single week.   I'm close on either Shelton or Davis but I lean toward pulling Shelton first because he's just getting run over or run past play after play.  The one caveat is who do we have more confidence in at backup - C (Kramer), RG (Murray/Pryor)?   The answer to that question should decide things.  Being on the road and against some backup Dline players maybe it's better to stick with Shelton at Center than having Kramer deal with the silent counts.   Can our OTs hold up better against the Colts edge rushers than they did against the Texans'?  If so, that makes it easier to keep the RB inside for pass pro.  

34 minutes ago, AZ54 said:

I've been thinking who should get benched on the Oline.   You get to choose one because it's highly doubtful we'll swap out two players in a single week.   I'm close on either Shelton or Davis but I lean toward pulling Shelton first because he's just getting run over or run past play after play.  The one caveat is who do we have more confidence in at backup - C (Kramer), RG (Murray/Pryor)?   The answer to that question should decide things.  Being on the road and against some backup Dline players maybe it's better to stick with Shelton at Center than having Kramer deal with the silent counts.   Can our OTs hold up better against the Colts edge rushers than they did against the Texans'?  If so, that makes it easier to keep the RB inside for pass pro.  

Pryor got some snaps at C in camp, but he's gotten blown up some in game action at guard too.

Buckner already out for Indy, who is their best defensive player. They were already getting gashed by the run. Latu has only played sparingly due to injuries (which was always the risk with drafting him).  

Bears by 2 tuddies, 27-13.

I'll take the cheap win as long as it doesnt give our staff the idea that our problems are fixed.

But if it gives Bates another week to heal without taking an L, thats great.

Homer to IR, should mean more Roschon and Herbert. 

Davis re-injured groin (go figure). Looks like we will see some Pryor at OG. I would just IR Davis the rest of the year, free up a roster spot. 

Lets have a fun game.  I don't wish injuries to Homer but I like the idea of Homer not being in the backfield at all (he's a good ST'er but he shouldn't sniff the offensive unit unless the other 3 backs are hurt. Davis wasn't bad last season once he got going (probably was he waits for the season to get into shape which means you have to deal with 4 weeks of issues before he gets decent and even than its just decent).  Was really a reminder of the pitfalls of free agency.  

Davis had some good tape - I believe he has talent, but i think he sucks and he's milking us. He always had a rep for not wanting to practice. I just dont see a spot for him on the team going forward. We are trying to build a culture of winners here, he can go punch the clock somewhere else.

2 hours ago, BearFan PHX said:

Davis had some good tape - I believe he has talent, but i think he sucks and he's milking us. He always had a rep for not wanting to practice. I just dont see a spot for him on the team going forward. We are trying to build a culture of winners here, he can go punch the clock somewhere else.

On a whole, free agents arent worth what they get paid. We were in on McGlinchey  a few yrs ago but Poles wouldnt give him over 14 mil. He's been terrible. Davis had good tape but mentally isnt into the game since his mother died. Hasnt played well here. 

Injuries hasnt been our friend but we do have some depth this yr. Pryor at RG, Bates takes over OC in a few weeks, problem solved. 

2 hours ago, BearFan PHX said:

Davis had some good tape - I believe he has talent, but i think he sucks and he's milking us. He always had a rep for not wanting to practice. I just dont see a spot for him on the team going forward. We are trying to build a culture of winners here, he can go punch the clock somewhere else.

The entire NFL has seen his rhetoric.  His days of stealing paychecks are over.  His next contract will be minimal and incentive laden.  That's if anyone gives him a chance.  He is my most hated Bear ever.

3 minutes ago, Mongo3451 said:

The entire NFL has seen his rhetoric.  His days of stealing paychecks are over.  His next contract will be minimal and incentive laden.  That's if anyone gives him a chance.  He is my most hated Bear ever.

Oh man, he definitely goes on the Shithouse Mt. Rushmore, but most hated ever? I will have to think about that one. I am thinking more like Ray McDonald or Cody freakin Parkey. 

3 hours ago, DABEARSDABOMB said:

Lets have a fun game.  I don't wish injuries to Homer but I like the idea of Homer not being in the backfield at all (he's a good ST'er but he shouldn't sniff the offensive unit unless the other 3 backs are hurt. Davis wasn't bad last season once he got going (probably was he waits for the season to get into shape which means you have to deal with 4 weeks of issues before he gets decent and even than its just decent).  Was really a reminder of the pitfalls of free agency.  

Homer is the perfect ST player that is serviceable when there is an injury or someone needs a breather. However, it is borderline criminal that he is taking away rushing attempts from Herbert and Roschon. 

Davis is clearly not over the death of his mother, which for some, could take a lot longer than a year to get over. You can just tell that sometimes he is just out on the field in between defenders and the ball vs actively blocking. 

13 minutes ago, adam said:

Davis is clearly not over the death of his mother, which for some, could take a lot longer than a year to get over. You can just tell that sometimes he is just out on the field in between defenders and the ball vs actively blocking. 

I call BS.  Dude got his bag and lost his GAF.

2 minutes ago, Mongo3451 said:

I call BS.  Dude got his bag and lost his GAF.

Yeah.  I lost my mother a few months ago and I still show up to work, even worked late on Fri afternoon.  However, it is true I do not have $20mil in the bank.  

The Colts play a ton over Cover-3. It is going to be interesting to see what the Bears do against that coverage. It normally doesn't yield many explosive plays, but there should be open receivers underneath on just about every play. 

19 minutes ago, adam said:

The Colts play a ton over Cover-3. It is going to be interesting to see what the Bears do against that coverage. It normally doesn't yield many explosive plays, but there should be open receivers underneath on just about every play. 

I think that's Flus' primary coverage these days although he mixes it up a fair amount.  Caleb has to have seen a ton of that in practice.  Let's hope it pays off.    

I'm not happy to see Keenan Allen out this week.  Caleb really needs that sure thing on quick routes to help him feel confident.  Rome better step his game up.  

https://www.chicagobears.com/news/injury-update-bears-rule-out-keenan-allen-three-others-for-colts-game

36 minutes ago, AZ54 said:

I think that's Flus' primary coverage these days although he mixes it up a fair amount.  Caleb has to have seen a ton of that in practice.  Let's hope it pays off.    

Colts in Cover-3 55% of the time, CHI 36%.

CHI is in 2-High 42% of time. 

Over 50% in any one coverage is high. 

Lots of good in this thread.

Yes to all the Davis hate.

Yes to cover 3 as our primary coverage.

Yes that Davis probably wont have another shot or it'll be incentive driven.

Just watched my guy's breakdown of the game this week - more insane OL blocking assignment stuff. This is definitely about more than just the players. We need someone to straighten out the blocking assignments.

 

13 hours ago, adam said:

Homer is the perfect ST player that is serviceable when there is an injury or someone needs a breather. However, it is borderline criminal that he is taking away rushing attempts from Herbert and Roschon. 

Davis is clearly not over the death of his mother, which for some, could take a lot longer than a year to get over. You can just tell that sometimes he is just out on the field in between defenders and the ball vs actively blocking. 

I think the death of his mother affected him but it goes to a deeper problem with a lot of players that get big contracts, they dont care enough to live up to it. Players like DJ and TJ Edwards just give prime effort all the time, it doesnt have anything to do with money.

It’s official Davis and Pryor will be rotating at RG.  We’ll see how that goes.  If this works it also hints at Bates coming back at Center

1 hour ago, Stinger226 said:

I think the death of his mother affected him but it goes to a deeper problem with a lot of players that get big contracts, they dont care enough to live up to it. Players like DJ and TJ Edwards just give prime effort all the time, it doesnt have anything to do with money.

he had a rep for being a player that didnt practice back at his previous team too. it has nothing to do with the death of his mother/grandmother

hes just a lazy grifter

If they can admit being wrong about Claypool and somehow trading him, I don't know why they don't do the same about Davis (or release). 

Davis has the 6th highest cap hit on the team and at this point that money is already spent. So if they cut him today, they would actually get back 600K in cap savings because I doubt anyone would trade for him.