2008 Regular Season Week 4 - Bears vs Eagles

Nice work Dave...you beat me...

And the goal line stand is about all you need to know about this game to comprehend what it took from our defense to hold onto the win.

It was an impressive defensive showing...and thank the lords for that. I thought for sure we were going to let it go right at the end again...but we held on.

I had a long weekend...and would have loved to come watch the game with you guys, it was just a little too much for me to try to make it out there with my energy level the way it was. Let me put it this way...you all know what a hardcore Bears fan I am, and furthermore, what an exciting game it was last night....yeah, I fell asleep four separate times. Thats one rude awakening, with a horrified and desperate need for a score update, per quarter...

As such...I cant really claim to have seen every last play...but I saw the big ones...and I got the gist.

Ball control? terrible...too many turnovers is an understatement...

Clock management?...scary at times...but overall, I am relieved to see the smarter coaching that allowed us to hold onto that lead.

Offense? Dont talk to me. turnovers...thats what we were always supposed to be limiting...it never mattered what was accomplished production-wise...just hold onto the ball...worse comes to worse...we punt....Maynard is a pimp...id like to use him.

That said (which is an obvious reaction and the primary issue with the offense last night), the FIRST HALF offense was great...I'd like to know what happened at half...Has Rex spread the good ___, bad ___ disease to the whole team? I was watching a whole team doing their best impression of Rex Grossman...or an offense at least.....

Excluding the second half miscues...I thought Orton's throws looked accurate. Basically, if the play wasnt blown up completely, I noticed that he was usually able to get the ball where it needed to be...

I thought the receivers could have done a better job throughout the game...their inconsistency has to be frustrating for Orton...

Speaking of frustration...our poor defense...i love those guys.

I want to call out Briggs. I thought he had an incredible game. I think that he played hard the whole game, and not only came up with a couple of big plays (and obviously big hits), but he did a lot of things that didnt pad his stats, but that I feel are direct reasons for the success of the defense.

big...BIG game for the Bear D. I am very proud of this season's defensive display. ... Now responsible for two BIG upsets...and kept our losses extremely close...where if we had any sort of offensive help...those should have been wins as well.

Basically...we have a 4-0 defense and an 0-4 offense. Makes sense that we currently reside at a balanced 2-2 record. I have to believe though that our offense is finding itself...

Here's why I think that.

Did you guys notice that it seemed like the pre-strategized first couple of plays were perfectly executed? ...and resulted in points? I think this is because many times a coaching staff will prepare for a game by actually having the first couple of drives pre-scripted....meaning they already know, at the very least, the types of plays that will be utilized during the onset of the game. Obviously...these plays can be specifically practiced and tuned up.

It could be a combination of bad play calling later in the game and poor execution of those plays that result in the lack of offensive production later in the games. OR (and I think this is the REAL problem), when the coaches CANT pre-emptively gameplan...as they cant for later situations in games.....they suck at play calling, adapting, and in-game football innovation.

Maybe, when the coaches have to call plays on the fly (or during game) instead of having a scripted drive-strategy...the plays that are chosen are either flawed because strategically they are not the right play for the situation and the timed nature of the play calling is causing poor decisions to be made ...OR...since they werent "planned-on-plays" they are executed poorly because they are not as well practiced.

Either way...there is such a discrepancy between the way that our offense starts, and the way that it ends, that I feel there must be some sort of explanation for this.

Do any of you think that my inference above might have any merit? or any other possible explanations? or do we just suck overall and get lucky right off the bat? Or do they get tired? lose focus? I need something...I'm grasping at air trying to comprehend the two offenses I saw.

If we can figure out a way to have our offense as well versed on the plays that are called DURING THE GAME (NOT pre-determined plays), obviously we will see some more success.

How bout something as simple as a couple of field goal drives in the second half. It was exampled perfectly that even just ONE field goal when the Bears are in the lead can result in us being able to hold onto the win. I feel like they should be easier to come by later in the game...especially when we are leading...which seems to be a trend this season somehow.

If the offense is causing sparks to fly early in the game and can get us the lead...THATS the hard part. For some reason, once that is done, its like the offense takes the rest of the night off. We should, at the very least be able to hold the lead by just adding three to the lead every once in a while....

run, run, run, first....run, pass, run, first...run, run, run, stuck? ok...field goal...yay gould...how hard is that?

We have one of the best field goal kickers...why can we never get him into position when we have the lead...its crazy to me. It's not like we are starting on our own 2 every time...we often get great field position and cant take it for 2 first downs for a field goal attempt? thats insane....Eight 3 yd runs...thats all...3 yds per down....not that difficult...especially with the way Forte is running these days.

Which reminds me...Jones...hold onto the ball you shmuck...you play once a night...damnit!....use the time youre on the bench to learn the plays...how do you misinterpret a supposed end-around....the play either has you in it or it doesnt. It's pretty important to know which it is...

There were a lot of turnovers that fans could be upset about...but that one really got my goat...just stupid...and unreasonable. The dude used to start, and he cant even spell Forte for a single play now that he is with the Bears?

I need more from him... a lot more....and if he doesnt start ADDING to the offense instead of taking from it...I'm going to get really upset. Forte is already surpassing expectations and doing more than I think he was originally supposed to. How much more slack does he have to pick up?...fucking learn the playbook and get on the same page as your QB for the ONE play that you have.

On a lighter note...

Bears Win...

it felt good...but dont forget, we would have lost if Westbrook was playing. Good ol' Bear luck gave us this upset...and we needed it, because I was losing hope quickly...but its back now...never fear.

DLP