Chicago Bear Report

Playoffs. Playoffs!? TALK TO ME ABOUT THE PLAYOFFS!

2007-01-10T12:31:00.000-06:00

Whoo hoo. Time for some post-season action.

The rest of this week we'll be breaking down the Bears defense, as: Tackles, Ends, Backers, Corners, Safeties.

The offense, you know. Grossman either lays a turd or he doesn't. My guess is -- doesn't. He seems to play better under pressure.

One game

2006-12-19T16:48:00.000-06:00

Tank gets suspended for one game by the Bears.

No, Tank Johnson isn't getting cut

2006-12-19T13:14:00.000-06:00

And he shouldn't be.

First of all, let's review.

Player A: smashed his teammate in the skull with a blunt object that left a visible scar. Missed one game due to injury, was fined.

Player B: Punched player A in the face, breaking his jaw and knocking him out for a game. Was fined, not suspended.

Player C: Assaulted a man at a 24-hour dining establishment while still on probation for a previous assault. Suspended by the league for one game.

Player D: Has been arrested twice and been charged with misdemeanors for not having filed the proper state paperwork on his legally owned personal property. Was present when his friend was shot and killed by unknown assailants.

You will not convince me that player D has committed a serious enough transgression to be fired, but the other three haven't. Sorry.

Do I think he should sit on his ass? Yes. But can you win the Super Bowl without this guy? No.

No? But aren't you just replacing him with Ian Scott?

No.

Lovie Smith's system is based on 1) smaller players able to get up the field and pressure the QB. 2) a deep rotation to keep those smaller players fresh against much bigger offensive linemen.

The rotation a month ago was Tommie Harris, Tank Johnson, Alfonso Boone and Ian Scott, with spot appearances by Israel Idonije.

Now your rotation is Tank Johnson, Alfonso Boone, Ian Scott, and Idonije. If you take Tank Johnson off the front of that rotation, the 4th spot is taken by Antonio Garay. Now you have two run-first guys (who are, in fairness, better against the run than Tank is. Ian Scott started last season and the first 5 games this year and their run defense has suffered since he was bumped back in the rotation) and two replacement level players. Is there a dropoff from Tank to Antonio Garay? Yes. Can you win a super bowl with Mr. Garay as a key component of your line? Hell no.

You need that pass rush to keep the pressure of Danieal "Chumped by Tim Rattay" Manning and Devin "You Are Rediculous" Hester. Granted, Vasher will be back in the starting lineup come playoff time unless someone's fibbing about his hammy, but you still need that pass rush. Your #1 middle pass rusher is Tank Johnson.

For everybody clamoring for his ass -- Mr. Terry Boers, to the white courtesy phone -- ask yourself this. Do you want to see the Bears win a super bowl this year? Do you think they're going to be able to next year? Scott and Boone are both free agents, who knows when Tommie is going to be healthy again, and the entire defense is going to be a year older.

Are you going to root for the Bears to fail if they play him this postseason? Do you root against the Bears because Ricky "Nice Laptop" Manning Jr. plays for them? Do you root against Olin Kreutz and Fred Miller?

I didn't think so.

Willie Posey dead

2006-12-16T07:12:00.000-06:00

He was apparently shot to death after a fight at the Ice Bar on N Clark. Tank Johnson was at the hospital, wasn't known if he was at the club.

Not much to say at this piont except my condolences to Johnson and his family.

Tank Johnson's Warrant

2006-12-14T15:08:00.000-06:00

at 11 this morning a warrant was executed on Tank Johnson's house. The nature of the investigation was not disclosed. Comment from the Lake County States Atty should be forthcoming later this afternoon.

Hat tip WSCR and Lawrence Holmes.

WBBM is reporting that Tank Johnson was not there. The press release said (again, crediting WSCR) that a 26 year old male (Tank is 25), 25 year old female (Tank's a dude, as far as we know) and two children were in the house, but that the warrant was executed without incident and some of the items listed on the warrant were recovered.

Update: Chicago Tribune article

Update 2: WBBM TV is reporting that a man was led from the house in handcuffs and Tank Johnson left the Bears practice facility in the care of a Bears Security staff member.

Update 3: For the record, here's a map of the only house on the 400 block of N Delany in Gurnee. Only one house. Looks like the kind of place Tank would live. No idea who his pal is.

Update 4: Lawrence Holmes on WSCR is reporting that Tank Johnson IS being charged with 6 counts of weapons possession. His friend who lives in the house is being charged with unlawful use of a weapon and felony cannabis possession.

Bleah. For those of you keeping score, this is his second time run-in with weapons charges.

NE Preview

2006-11-26T13:35:00.000-06:00

What's to say? This is a game that is going to be won or lost in Rex Grossman's head. He cannot let the (not that great, without Harrison) pass rush from the Pats rattle him. If he can concentrate on his mechanics and keep the balls out of the Pats hands, we'll win this game.

On the flip side, we've got to take away Brady's options and give the front 4 time to get to him. I think we can.

The Patriots

2006-11-24T10:41:00.000-06:00

Sorry I haven't had much to say in a while. The last few weeks have been a great time to just kick back and watch the team kick ass.

For everybody who wants to throw Grossman off the bus, take a gander at Eli Manning. Here's a kid who simply makes bad throws, under no pressure with perfect mechanics. Mark my words, he's going to go down as one of the biggest draft busts in another 3 years. The only reason he's not considered that now is his last name.

He does read a defense well. T hat's about the best I can say for him. He just can't get the ball to a spot reliably.

Grossman is getting getter at not throwing awful INTs. He's taking the sack when he needs to. Now if we can get him to hit that hot read like the Bradley TD more often, we'll see some good stuff this Sunday. Especially since it's tough to run with Wilfork clogging up the middle. More to come on what to expect against the Fightin' Belicheks.

They're falling like flies

2006-11-06T15:22:00.000-06:00

Urlacher day to day. McGowan goes straight from PUP to IR. Should be an interesting game in NYC.

The play that beat the 49ers

2006-11-05T09:40:00.000-06:00

3rd and two, red zone, first quarter. Thomas Jones takes the handoff
off and has to make linebacker Brandon Moore miss coming in untouched
from his right. The play was designed to go off the left tackle but
by the time Jones makes the guy miss the hole, which was tiny
to begin with, is completely gone. Jones backs up, dances back to the
middle, and finally bounces outside while Moore finally pulls himself
up off the turf in the backfield just in time to go completely the
wrong way and Jones goes untouched into the end zone.

This play showed both the strength and weaknesses of Thomas Jones.
Needing only two yards on third down, he was completely unable
to run into the line of scrimmage and push for that first down.
However, he was able to make the only guy with decent penetration
miss twice and get into the open field.

At this point, up 10-0, the Bears offense had made the 49ers rushing
offense completely irrelevant and the defense could just tee off on Alex
Smith all afternoon.

Bears 49ers breakdown

2006-10-29T11:22:00.000-06:00

The SF defense is real bad. From footballoutsiders.com's stats: 31st overall. 29th against the pass. 30th against the run. 16th-20th against WRs, 31st against TEs, 29th against passes to running backs. Look for Desmond Clark to have a big day.

On special teams, the Bears have the #1 overall and #1 on FG/XP, kickoffs, and punt returns. That's fantastic, especially considering what a wildcard Gould was coming into the offseason. The 49ers are 16th overall and below average on field goals and punt coverage.

When the 49ers have the ball, I expect a very pissed off Bears defense to do some serious damage.

Damnit

2006-10-19T13:49:00.000-05:00

Mike Brown out for the year.

Damnit Damnit Damnit.

I hope we haven't seen the last of you.

Game Balls

2006-10-18T23:34:00.000-05:00

I guess

From the miracle in the desert:

Urlacher: For general ass-kicking. Once the Arizona offense went one dimensional with 10 minutes left he was unbelievable stuffing every single play. Plus the strip of course.

Mark Anderson: For the greatest 5 yard sprint I've ever seen by a reserve D Lineman.

Lance Briggs: Huge. Urlacher and Briggs had two huge pressures with 11 minutes left to stall an Arizona drive at midfield. Between that and the play mentioned above the arizona offense went catatonic.

Peanut and Mike Brown for knowing that on this night just falling on the ball wasn't going to get it done.

Finally. Brendan Ayenbadejo.

with 3:17 left and Rex Grossman probably getting ready to throw his 5th pick of the day, he breaks through the line and almost blocks the punt. The result? A low liner, if deep, because Scott Player was rushed. Hester fields it at the 17 with all the Bears still in their blocks and the nearest Cardinal at the 30 yard line. Hester then can run to the right hash mark (they had mostly been angling punt returns left). He cuts back to the left at the 25 yard line and runs up the right hash to the 35. Here, he half stumbles, fakes left, and cuts back to his right behind the block of ... Brendan Ayenbadejo at the Bears 43. (Brendan's older brother and inspiration, Obafemi, plays fullback for the Cardinals. As a side note, how happy do you think their schoolteachers were when they realized that O's little bro's name was "Brendan"?)

At this point, it's all Hester. He's got Justin Gage in front of him off the right hash mark and the last non-punter defender to Gage's right off toward the sideline. Hester angles to the sideline and as soon as the dude's hips are turned out he cuts straight ahead and runs right past him to the inside, towards Scott Player and a Bears Win.

I spent all day tuesday morning whistling "Bear Down Chicago Bears" on the El Tuesday. Yes, that was me. Sorry.

Bills Predictions

2006-10-08T09:11:00.000-05:00

Mine: 33-6
eternale1: 24-3
DedlyFred: 27-6

see me on EFnet #bears if you want to chime in before noon.

Seattle

2006-10-06T10:39:00.000-05:00

Not much to quibble with last week. The front four dominated this game from start to finish, and Rex has, if anything, been improving his deep ball and pocket presence from earlier in the season.

The ex-Bear parade comes into town from Buffalo this week, we'll try to break down that matchup.

Airese Currie done for the year

2006-09-29T13:40:00.000-05:00

After being active week one, Airese Currie has missed the last two games and will be put on IR. With the emergence of Davis and the continued excellence of Berrian, he's probably done, which is a shame.

Mark Bradley, paging Mark Bradley to the courtesy phone?

Update: Bradley downgraded to doubtful with his ankle. Clark still questionable.

Shaun Alexander broken foot?

2006-09-25T16:54:00.000-05:00

That's the talk on WSCR. Would be huge for Sunday night's game.

Update: Confirmed.

Bummer for the Hawks.

Confidential to 'Des Clark's Ankle'

2006-09-25T10:50:00.000-05:00

Get well soon. we're going to miss you in a hurry.

Update: WSCR says he's in a walking cast. Damn.

Coaching

2006-09-25T02:07:00.000-05:00

In the salary cap era, coaching and play-calling has become more important than ever. When the cap prevents you from building quality depth or o-line that can both run-block and pass-protect... well, that's where playbooks become important. It's not a coincidence that as talent has become more even across the league, playbooks have become more complex.

The importance of play-calling was shown brightly this afternoon. Two play calls in particular, in the 4th quarter, pretty much handed this game to the Bears.

Play one. Minn ball, 3rd & 8, own 43. M. Moore just went 8 yards on 3rd and 5 because the entire Bear defense was trying to strip the ball, desparate to make a play. The clock is stopped at 3:31 because the Bears burned their 2nd timeout and an incomplete pass.

Wait. What?

That's right. 2nd & 8, the running game flowing, Our Beloved Bears almost out of timeouts, and the moron in charge of the Minnesota offense calls a play fake short pass.

One of the key factors in building a run-first pound the ball with a stretch passing game offensive system is that you use the run to set up the pass. One way that's rather popular, especially because it WORKS, is the play-action pass. Grossman, in particular, is rather good at this. Part of the power of the Indianapolis offense is that, especially with Edgerrin James, they ran a power sweep where if Peyton put the ball in his gut Edge would go for 5, or possibly Peyton would stretch the ball out and then pull it back in just as Edge ran past him, turn around and throw it downfield for 20. The blocking and positioning was just about the same.

Now, your quarterback is Brad Johnson. He certainly doesn't deal picks the way Daunte had mastered, but he's certainly not able to do some of the things other quartebacks can do. One of them is play action. His play-action fakes look like aborted pitches, which doesn't fool anybody when the back is 2 feet away and already looking for his blocking assignment. Contrasted with his handoff position, which is clearly a one handed grip extended towards the back, his usual two-handed fake is really easy to spot.

Brad Johnson is occasionally able to make a real play fake. The first play after the 2 minute warning in the 1st half is pretty well done, though the pass afterwards was bad. And on this particular play it was a shitty, two-hand play-fake that my grandmother in the corner woke up to mock before going back to her snooze.

The pass, predictably, was well-covered and incomplete. This set up the aforementioned ill-fated 3rd & 8. Forced into an obvious passing situation, Minnesota tried a draw play but Tommie Harris, Tank Johnson and Adawale Ogunleye crashed the backfield before the handoff could be completed. 3 seconds and Adawale's sure hands on the ball later, and the Bears were in position for Rex's 4th quarter heroics.

The second play call that torpedoed Minnesota's chances was the last meaningful play of the game. Having an eminently makeable 4th and 2, sanely set up by a draw on a long 3rd down, the geniuses on the sideline call a deep fade.

Never mind the fact that the Bears D-line has been on your side of the ball for the last 10 minutes. Never mind the fact that you don't need a home run ball after Troy Williamson kicked the Bears kickoff return teams's asses and put you 30 yards away from a makeable field goal. Never mind the fact that Brad Johnson's passes have been sailing on the deep routes. Never mind that you still have 1:10, only need 20 yards, and still have a timeout.

Nope. Let's throw all that out the window and make an idiotic slow-developing play call that would have marginal odds even with the Bears aggressive D. The best part about that formation is that Chester Taylor is WIDE open in the right flat. Even with the pressure on Brad there's plenty of time for him to float it out there and let Taylor make a play on the ball, make 10 yards easy and get out of bounds.

Thanks for the gifts, Childress. We appreciate it.

Dvoracek and Bryan Johnson out

2006-08-29T12:27:00.000-05:00

link

Dvoracek's foot injury doesn't seem to be well understood. Are the Bears using Cubs training staff?

Johnson didn't want to lose his paycheck so they're clearing him off the roster and he'll be on the street next year, but in the meantime he gets his pay.

Ex-Bear Watch: Mike Green

2006-08-29T12:23:00.000-05:00

Former Mr. Irrelevant 2000 and Offseason free agent signee of the Seattle Seahawks out for the year with "...surgery for a broken bone in his left foot he suffered in last Saturday's exhibition game at San Diego."

Bummer. A gamer if not a top talent, he was a valuable part of the all-color defensive backfield a couple years ago.

So long, Joe Odom

2006-08-24T11:58:00.000-05:00

waived.

claimed by Buffalo. Have fun with Dickie J, Joe. See ya in a couple months.

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!

2006-08-04T11:04:00.000-05:00

Hey kids! I'm BACK!

It's time the greatest team in the NFL with the best defense in NFL history and by far the best 3rd string quarterback ever to begin their run!

Whether that run founders on another squandered first round bye divisional playoff loss after rampaging through an awful NFL North, or takes us all the way to the promised land, or ends up like our former stadium partner Cubs 2006 season remains to be seen.

I'll have some predictions, including a Rex Grossman +/- games played wager, coming up shortly. Let me just say that since I took the last 7 months off after our defense vomited on their own shoes, I have some things to say, and you know they'll be DEEP and BITING and INSIGHTFUL (and, in some cases, transcribed from the WSCR afternoon bears camp report).

Much love. And for those of you who didn't think our defense needed the first 5 draft picks this year, go back and watch the carolina tape again (I know you didn't delete it... it's like Jimmy Fallon in Fever Pitch with the windows drawn watching the buckner game over and over) and tell me that again with a straight face.

Well I better get off the computer before Ricky Manning Jr sees me and I get turned into a grand slam breakfast.

Later dudes. GO BEARS!

Roster updates

2006-01-10T11:00:00.000-06:00

Brandon McGowan put on IR.

Jamaal Green (DE) signed from practice squad to active roster.

That is all.

4 days, 16 hours, 30 minutes until kickoff.

Line of the night

2006-01-09T17:30:00.000-06:00

"if [the Carolina Panthers] double-team Alex Brown, Tommie Harris is going to use Delhomme's helmet as a Sit'N'Spin." - Dan Bernstein, Tonight on WSCR-670.

Bring on the Panthers

2006-01-08T14:49:00.000-06:00

It's rematch time in the Windy City. 3:30 local time at Soldier Field.

Should be a good game. Panthers are going to have a pretty big chip on their shoulders after the way we whipped 'em back in November. Let's knock 'em on their asses early and knock 'em out.

What I learned this weekend

2006-01-03T15:57:00.000-06:00

Lesson one: Don't watch week 17 games.

Lesson two: Gould can hit 52 yard field goals, even if they don't count. Awesome.

Lesson three: It really sucks to watch your team blow a meaningless game. Even if it's meaningless, it's boring. That's why I turned it off after a quarter and a half.

Seeding breakdown

2005-12-29T12:10:00.000-06:00

Curious who we might end up playing in two and a half weeks? Check this out:
NFC Playoff seeding possibilities.

Awesome, awesome weekend

2005-12-27T13:46:00.000-06:00

Lousy punt coverage notwithstanding, what a great job by the Bears on setting up for a postseason run. Now we can rest some guys, play around with the playbook some on Sunday and let Cedric shake off a little rust. I want to see Rex play at least a half. I want to see Muhsin catch every ball that touches his hands.

I don't want to see any injured defensive starters on the field.

I want to see an alternate center play some. We need Olin healthy.

I want to see the ball being passed down the field.

And if we win, awesome.

Falcons Wrapup

2005-12-20T12:05:00.000-06:00

Not much to say about the game that hadn't already been said.

The game was half over when, with 11:52 on the clock in the 1st quarter, Vick tried to scramble. He went left, got past Alex Brown, and saw Brian Urlacher right in front of him. He immediately doubled back through the pocket to the right, where Brian Urlacher went right through a block and knocked him down.

The game was mostly over at 5:23 left in the 2nd quarter when DeAngelo Hall committed a pretty blatant pass interference penalty for 25 yards after a Bernard Berrian punt return started the Bears in Atlanta territory. 3 short rushes later, the Gould kicked his second field goal and the Bears had a lead they would not relinquish.

The game was completely over the moment Rex Grossman stepped on the field. When the Atlanta defense had to respect the pass, the Bears would be able to grind the clock and keep their defense off the field.

But as always, the defense got the final word in when they hammered T.J. Duckett for a loss on two consecutive plays starting with 3rd and 1. That's just pure ownership. Vick got a few passing yards in garbage time, but the Bears defense basically shut down the entire operation. Great game all the way.

A few postgame tidbits:

One, Gado is out.

Two, Mike Brown was reportedly ok to play if they needed him but the coaches decided to have him sit out the game after they learned Minnesota lost.

Three, the Bears defense now needs to give up 13 or fewer points to break the points allowed record by the 2000 Ravens. Given the way the the Vikings and Packers looked this weekend I think it's possible.

Fourth, as I'm sure we all know, there are three games left to decide the NFC North champion. If the Bears win one of the Vikings lose one, the Bears win the division.

Finally, Welcome back Rex Grossman! Now let's see some high flyin' offense. The 85 Bears won games 44-0! Come on!

WSCR Daily Bears Report

2005-12-15T17:02:00.000-06:00

Lawrence Holmes reports:

Lovie says Rex is healthy enough to play "if he had to", but that Kyle "gives us the best chance to win." No answer on the record as to exactly how he does that.

Injured (replacement): Hunter Hillenmeyer (Leon Joe), Todd Johnson (Mike Green), Terrence Metcalf (Orza). Adrian Peterson is ill but should be ok tomorrow.

The team practiced in shorts.

Tonight's punt return update

2005-12-14T17:03:00.000-06:00

WSCR's Lawrence Holmes reporting that Bernard Berrian could be the new guy, despite the busted thumb. 4 guys are in the mix, including Nate Vasher.

In Kyle Orton news, he doesn't want to run the shotgun. He doesn't want to be looking for the safety and the ball coming back to him at the same time.

Quote of the Week: "If he runs he has to understand there is a price that will be paid." -- Lovie Smith on Michael Vick

The final note is that the DBs all had to go through a basic tackling drill today after last Sunday's performance.

You can listen to WSCR's Bears Report at online with windows media player, nightly at 5pm CT.

Bobby Wade released

2005-12-13T17:28:00.000-06:00

Bears released Bobby Wade today.

Fumbling punts during the runback was bad. Muffing punts was worse. Muffing punts on the 5 -- ok, we've had enough.

Tom Cross (R-Oswego) is an idiot

2005-12-08T16:15:00.000-06:00

This is utterly stupid. Do you really want to see idiots in Florida trying to pass similar legislation about the 72 Dolphins? They have more idiots than us!

Hat tip: WCG

Wednesday Injury Report

2005-12-07T16:14:00.000-06:00

Wednesday Injury Report:

Safety Chris Harris (knee) and running back Cedric Benson (knee) are doubtful; right guard Terrence Metcalf (shoulder) is questionable; and cornerback Jerry Azumah (hip), left guard Ruben Brown (elbow), middle linebacker Brian Urlacher (finger), receiver Muhsin Muhammad (hand) and right tackle Fred Miller (ankle) are probable.

52 Reasons ESPN sucks

2005-12-06T17:22:00.000-06:00

The only thing I can say about this list is that it's not long enough.

Kid KO

2005-12-06T14:20:00.000-06:00

Kyle Orton sucks.

The reason he's not riding pine is not that the Bears are winning.

The reason he is still our starting QB is that Rex isn't healthy.

Injury report and Punt Brain Injury Report

2005-12-01T17:02:00.000-06:00

Lawrence Holmes of WSCR-AM just reported that the injury report, other than Cedric Benson, is clear. That means Azumah, Kreutz, Ruben Brown and Tommie Harris are all cleared to play (all 4 were probable yesterday).

He also predicted Bobby Wade will probably return punts on Sunday. Oy. I hope not.

Update: Oh yeah, one more thing -- Grossman split snaps with Blake during warmups. When asked about it, Coach Lovie would only snap "Rex is our #3 QB."

Bears QBs drafted since 1960

2005-12-01T15:20:00.000-06:00

Here they are in all their glory. Not corrected for immediately traded, etc.

Data from NFL.com and drafthistory.com

year	pos	Name	College
2005	106	Kyle Orton	Purdue
2004	148	Craig Krenzel	Ohio State
2003	22	Rex Grossman	Florida
2002	none
2001	none
2000	none
1999	12	Cade McNown	UCLA
1998	232	Moses Moreno	Colorado State
1997	none
1996	none
1995	none
1994	none
1993	none
1992	107	Will Furrer	Virginia Tech
1991	190	Paul Justin	Arizona State
1990	63	Peter Tom Willis	Florida State
1989	192	Brent Snyder	Utah State
1988	none
1987	26	Jim Harbaugh	Michigan
1986	none
1985	none
1984	244	Mark Casale	Montclair State
1983	none
1982	5	Jim McMahon	Brigham Young
1981	260	Tim Clifford	Indiana
1980	242	Turk Schonert	Stanford
1979	none
1978	none
1977	140	Vince Evans	USC
1976	none
1975	135	Bob Avellini	Maryland
1974	186	Alan Chadwick	East Tennessee State
1974	420	Craig Holland	Texas-Arlington
1973	33	Gary Huff	Florida State
1972	167	Jim Fassel	Long Beach State
1971	167	Buddy Lee	Louisiana State
1971	376	Ron Maciejowski	Ohio State
1970	131	Bob Cutburth	Oklahoma State
1969	41	Bob Douglass	Kansas
1968	none
1967	142	Virgil Carter	Brigham Young
1966	107	Ron Meyer	South Dakota State
1965	228	Tom LaFramboise	Louisville
1964	112	Larry Rakestraw	Georgia
1963	81	Dave Mathieson	Washington State
1962	none
1961	160	Howard Dyer	Virginia Military Inst
1961	257	Ben Charles	South Carolina
1960	32	Don Meredith	Southern Methodist
1960	57	Dick Norman	Stanford

Airese Currie

2005-11-29T18:25:00.000-06:00

Sounds like he's on IR for the year. Bummer, dude. Looks like he's back to square one next March.

Update: Yep.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. - The Bears on Tuesday signed offensive lineman Lennie Friedman to a one-year contract and placed wide receiver Airese Currie on injured reserve. The Bears also released wide receiver Eric Hill from the practice squad.

Things that need to happen

2005-11-29T10:52:00.000-06:00

Bobby Wade needs to sit for a week or two. I'm not convinced he's unredeemable but he needs to spend a little time in street clothes. Maybe Michael Haynes can save him a spot on the bench. Rashied Davis wasn't bad as a punt returner, and Eddie Berlin has some experience doing punt and kickoff returns.

Kyle needs to show something or Rex needs to get some game time. I'd like to see us rack up another blowout like we did against Detroit in Week 2 so Rex could maybe get some garbage time action and get comfortable. Of course, with that blowout Kyle would probably make me comfortable with him as a starter...

Peanut: Stop getting torched. Gave up the underneath pass to Galloway on 1st down after the Bears TD, then tightened up and gave up a bunch of middle-deep stuff later. Oy. I wonder if he's not 100% on that knee from last year.

Finally, Berrian had better get some serious touches this week. Come on, let's try to stretch the field again. Is it a surprise that Thomas Jones has struggled a bit since Bradley went down?

Roster Moves

2005-11-23T17:22:00.000-06:00

Blah blah blah... ignoring all the noise: Rex Grossman and Airiese Currie activated, Carl Ford and Kurt Kittner waived.

Grossman's saying all the right things. I'm tired of obnoxious journalists trying to stir up controversy. He knows the spot he's in and that unless Orton contracts Blass disease or gets hurt, he's a backup this year and maybe get a shot for a training camp battle next year.

Which is as it should be. I'm not sure he can take the pounding of a full year in the NFL. Nothing wrong with being a backup. Still make good dough, fewer concussions.

Update: While I'm talking about this: So long, Carl Ford. Don't let the door hit ya on the way out. I am so tired of watching you botch special teams assignments.

Saints sign RB Thomas

2005-11-08T16:20:00.000-06:00

Well, my weekend predictions didn't work out so hot but this one was pretty much spot on...

Week 9 Prediction

2005-11-06T02:35:00.000-06:00

Here's my inaugural quarter by quarter prediction:

First quarter: Bears return a pick for a touchdown, Orton leads the offense on an 80+ yard scoring drive. Much punting ensues. Score after 1: 14-3.

Second quarter: Aaron Brooks hits Joe Horn for a deep bomb when Chris Harris falls down but Peanut takes him out of bounds at the 3. New Orleans has to settle for a field goal. Orton content with field position drives after a pass deep over the middle is nearly picked. Score at halftime: 14-6.

Third quarter: New Orleans comes out and marches down the field for a TD. The defense, shocked to see their customary 4th quarter collapse coming early, sacks Brooks, forcing a fumble and returning it to the two. Thomas jones twists his ankle trying to jam it in, so Cedric gets the call and his first NFL TD... on a play fake bootleg pass. 21-13.

Fourth Quarter: After a huge Wade punt return, Orton chucks a 40 yard bomb to Gage, who misses it, but tips it up in the air to Muhsin streaking down the sidelines for a TD. Cedric grinds out the clock. 28-13, Bears.

Stats: Orton 18-29, 210 yards, 2TD. Jones, 65yards on 15 carries, 1TD. Cedric, 17 carries, 72 yards, 1 TD.

Defense: Two INT, 2 fumbles forced, one recovered.

Friday Week 9 Update

2005-11-04T14:13:00.000-06:00

Predictions: Peter King, SI: New Orleans 7, Chicago 6. Yahoo Experts and Pro Pick'em: All 4 experts predict Bears, 77% of Pick'em pick Bears. ESPN SportsNation poll: Bears, 79%.

Injuries: IR: Bradley (WR); Out: Berrian (WR), Grossman (QB); Questionable: Ruben Brown (G); Probable: Harris (DT), Maynard (P); Cleared to play: Jones (RB), Tillman (CB).

Come back Saturday for my quarter by quarter predictions predictions and Sunday for (hopefully) live updates.

Update: One more prediction: Brian Tarcy of scout.com: Bears 30-20. Also, WSCR is reporting that, according to Lovie, there's basically zero chance Brown is going to play on Sunday with his partially torn left pectoral.

Anthony Thomas released

2005-11-03T19:19:00.000-06:00

Yet another Bears 2001 draft pick from Michigan who can't get any love... at least David Terrell's on a roster, even if he's never active.

I'll be surprised if he's not snapped up by some team, either the Saints or maybe the Eagles who could use a guy who can pick up 3 yards between the tackles, even if it's just to make the play fake look legit.

Bears Roundup for week 9

2005-11-02T20:30:00.000-06:00

Last week: 19-13 OT win in Detroit
This week: Against the ~~New Orleans~~ ~~San Antonio~~ ~~Los Angeles~~ Baton Rouge Saints.

On the one hand, you feel bad for the Saints and the city of New Orleans.

On the other hand, Jim Haslett hasn't exactly lit the world on fire when his back wasn't against the wall, the team is devoid of talent other than one good wideout and one good running back, and Deuce, the running back, is hurt. So much for that.

The main thing is going to be to stay focused, not give away the game on defense late (Hello, Cleveland!) and try to get the offense into a rhythm for more than one or two drives. The 99 yarder against Detroit was pretty good but I sure would like to see some more of that.

Other concerns? Obviously, who's going to move up the depth chart with the loss of Mark Bradley for the year. I hate freak turf injuries. We definately need someone who's going to stretch the field, and Muhsin, as much as I love the guy, neither does that nor can he really handle Orton's throws well yet. Way too many dropped passes.

Good matchups: Our 4th ranked pass defense against their 26th ranked pass offense. Our 12th ranked rushing offense vs. their 28th ranked rush defense.

Bad matchups: Nothing in particular.

Prediction: 20-12. Another game with no TDs allowed...

Welcome to the Chicago Bear Report

2005-11-02T20:00:00.000-06:00

I'm a bears fan trying to keep up an irregular commentary on the Chicago Bears. Let's see how that works out.

One quick note, if I refer to rankings on this site, unless I mention otherwise I'm using footballoutsiders.com's weighted DVOA.