Bears/Steelers Postgame

[Balance-a-Bull]

We can be a much better team with some tweaking. I heard on the Score 67 radio that the Bears received some coaching assistance from Mike Shanahan on a some offense plays.

I thought Ron Turner said something to the effect "We know good offense". Guess he needs help after all. Surprise.

I would not mind if he took on a more expanded role than consulting offensively considering his familiarity with Cutler .... and how well Denver performed offensively while he was the coach.

can we just switch out Ron Turner? Look at what the Broncos are doing with Orton. Not that they are playing any great teams, but come on, can you see Ron Turner getting anything like what JM got from Orton on Sunday even against the Browns? Turner holds this team and Cutler back period. And if we are going to use the talent around the QB excuse, then that there's just another issue with the Bears system of aquiring talent for the offense. I fail to believe that an organization that historically put all their chips into the defense as the way to win can suddenly coach or support a big time quarterback or offense adequately. As constructed, this staff is gonna always hold back Cutler from being his best.

+1

[Balance-a-Bull]

They were talking about it on the score this morning, that at one point in the redzone Cutler shook his head and called a timeout.

The ensuing play was like a draw or something.

Even Phil Simms at the end, called the Bears play calling way too conservative.

Granted we won, and he called a better game than he did last he week, one game doesn't diminish his mediocrity over the years.

I'm beginning to believe the only way for us to get rid of Turner is for a small rift occur and Cutler starts publicly denouncing him or something.

He must know somebody within the organization

How do you get fired during the Wanny era, go on to lead Illinois to the worst records in over 100 years, then basically get a promotion and another shot at an NFL gig after you are fired?


O rank - D rank:

'93, 28 - 4
'94, 23 - 13
'95, 9 - 19
'96, 21 - 12
'05, 29 - 2
'06, 15 - 5
'07, 27 -28
'08, 26 -21

Granted in 05 I think we put up the most points in the NFL. But we're still playing handicapped ball. Good to great defenses handicapped by meddling offense. Is there any coincidence that in 9 years as the Bears offensive coordinator the best 2 minute drill we had by Brian Griese was when he temporarily lost connection with Ron Turner?

When was the last time we had a reputable offensive coordinator? Seems like instead of paying a little bit of money for a guy that probably will do a good job we fool around with the likes of Terry Shea and Ron Turner. Even Lovie might have been a bit of a risk as a head coach since he was new, but Lovie kinda ended up doing an above average job.

+1

[Balance-a-Bull]

I kind of want to see if we can get the guy that use to be the OC in Denver. I'm pretty sure he got kicked out of Denver and now coaches like USC as the "Asst. Offensive Coordinator" You're telling me he won't take a job with the Bears? Yeah okay.

The OC in Denver was Rick Dennison. He is now Denver's Offensive Line Coach. Dennison has done a very good job of coordinating the line for Denver this season. I was very impressed with his run blocking schemes against the Bears in preseason.

Rick served as an assistant under Mike Shanahan for 14 years. He started off as the special teams coach, and then became the offensive line caoch, before his promotion to offensive coordinator in 2006.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2 ... cos-staff/

His primary role was implementing the game plan in the running attack and coaching the offensive line.

Dennison molded a group that featured two players starting for the first time at tackle, a new addition at center and another holdover switching positions into a cohesive unit that allowed only 12 sacks in more than 600 drop-backs.

Since Dennison took over the offensive line in 2001, the Broncos also routinely have been in the top 10 in rushing, with five individual 1,000-yard seasons by four different players.

[Cliff Levingston]

The "sacks allowed" stat is crap. The superbowl champion Steelers allowed over 50 sacks on Roethlisberger last year, and that vaunted Denver offensive line has allowed the same amount of sacks this year as our crappy offensive line.

[Balance-a-Bull]

In terms of running the ball.... the Broncos are presently at 11th in the league with 261 yards rushing and on a pace to continue within the top 10 as they have been in recent years.

The Bears gained 129 and ranked 31 (next to last in the league) so far in 2009.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/team?stat=rushing

We need drastic improvement in that area.

Hopefully we will see some improvement against the Seahawks.

[Cliff Levingston]

In terms of running the ball.... the Broncos are presently at 11th in the league with 261 yards rushing and on a pace to continue within the top 10 as they have been in recent years.

The Bears gained 129 and ranked 31 (next to last in the league) so far in 2009.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/team?stat=rushing

We need drastic improvement in that area.

Hopefully we will see some improvement against the Seahawks.

We also faced an amped up GB defense in their home opener in prime time, then followed that up with the best defense in football from the year before. Meanwhile, Denver got to beat up on the Bengals and Browns; both at home. Hardly a fair comparison, ICLO.

Cliff Levingston wouldn't argue that our line is a great run blocking unit or anything, but let's no go overboard.

[Balance-a-Bull]

The Bears mantra forever has been geared around defense and ball control (running the ball). The message was given to Lovie loud and clear that the Bears are a run first team. Lovie's motto (We get off the bus running) for the Bears is indicative of the Bears philosophy.

Despite the great season Forte had last year, we were still ranked 24th in league in 2008 and the Broncos 12th. We can not be a successful team without the ability of running the ball effectively right of the gates.

Our team is predicated on running the ball and we should have schemes ready to counter anything being thrown at us now, especially with a pro-bowl caliber QB at the helm.

From week to week we should show signs of improvement based on making adjustments play wise or personnel wise to establish the run despite the competition.

We need to get back to the upper third of the league rushing wise to compete with big boys.

Hopefully it will start next week.

[Cliff Levingston]

The Bears mantra forever has been geared around defense and ball control (running the ball). The message was given to Lovie loud and clear that the Bears are a run first team. Lovie's motto (We get off the bus running) for the Bears is indicative of the Bears philosophy.

Despite the great season Forte had last year, we were still ranked 24th in league in 2008 and the Broncos 12th. We can not be a successful team without the ability of running the ball effectively right of the gates.

Our team is predicated on running the ball and we should have schemes ready to counter anything being thrown at us now, especially with a pro-bowl caliber QB at the helm.

From week to week we should show signs of improvement based on making adjustments play wise or personnel wise to establish the run despite the competition.

We need to get back to the upper third of the league rushing wise to compete with big boys.
Hopefully it will start next week.

Cliff Levingston doesn't think you can claim that we're predicated on running the ball. Lovie might say it over and over, but it doesn't make it so. Some food for thought:

2008:
528 pass attempts
434 rushes
= 54.8% pass

2007:
569 pass attempts
423 rushes
= 57.3% pass

2006:
514 pass attempts
503 rushes
= 50.5% pass

You have to go back to 2005 to find the last year we ran more than we passed, though much of that could be attributed to having a 4th round rookie QB in there. The fact is that we're not a running team; certainly not any more with Cutler at the helm. But now that we do have Cutler, what's the problem with being a pass-first team? Cutler is one of the best QBs in the league! Cliff Levingston didn't see anyone up in arms about the Patriots being a pass-only team (for the most part) in 2007 en route to a perfect regular season record.

[CjayC]

Instead of going with some old outdated mantra that the Bears must absolutely be predicated around defense and running the ball, we should take what the defense give us.

Lovie shouldn't have said "We get off the bus running"

but

"We get off the bus taking what the defense gives us".

I want to get Matt Forte started up as much as the next guy, but if passing the ball 40+ times a game wins us the game, then do whatever it takes. As mentioned previously, not many people are going to run against Pittsburgh. Even without Polamalu, that's still a formidable defense. The only reason running and D have been the mantra is because the Chicago weather sucks, and because of the team's blue collar reputation. Our friends to the North, Greenbay have equally as crappy weather and yet they don't stick by old tradition. For years now they've had a nice balanced attack. Instead of being stubborn and lying to ourselves that the Bears are mainly a run 1st team we should have a similar mindset to them(As much as I don't want to admit).

[Balance-a-Bull]

The Bears mantra forever has been geared around defense and ball control (running the ball). The message was given to Lovie loud and clear that the Bears are a run first team. Lovie's motto (We get off the bus running) for the Bears is indicative of the Bears philosophy.

Despite the great season Forte had last year, we were still ranked 24th in league in 2008 and the Broncos 12th. We can not be a successful team without the ability of running the ball effectively right of the gates.

Our team is predicated on running the ball and we should have schemes ready to counter anything being thrown at us now, especially with a pro-bowl caliber QB at the helm.

From week to week we should show signs of improvement based on making adjustments play wise or personnel wise to establish the run despite the competition.

We need to get back to the upper third of the league rushing wise to compete with big boys.



Hopefully it will start next week.

Cliff Levingston doesn't think you can claim that we're predicated on running the ball. Lovie might say it over and over, but it doesn't make it so. Some food for thought:

2008:
528 pass attempts
434 rushes
= 54.8% pass

2007:
569 pass attempts
423 rushes
= 57.3% pass

2006:
514 pass attempts
503 rushes
= 50.5% pass

You have to go back to 2005 to find the last year we ran more than we passed, though much of that could be attributed to having a 4th round rookie QB in there. The fact is that we're not a running team; certainly not any more with Cutler at the helm. But now that we do have Cutler, what's the problem with being a pass-first team? Cutler is one of the best QBs in the league! Cliff Levingston didn't see anyone up in arms about the Patriots being a pass-only team (for the most part) in 2007 en route to a perfect regular season record.

Granted, teams geared up to stop the run with Orton at QB and Forte still did well with the opposing lines stacked against him......but as a team running wise.....we did not fare well.

We were forced to pass.... as teams dared us to beat them in the air, which attributed to the high percentage of passes.

Once we got Cutler.... we can now employ a real balanced attack not based on being forced to do it, but based on our enhanced ability to do it.

I have no problem and prefer being a pass-first team, however we need to compliment that with a good running attack to keep other teams honest and give ourselves the best chance to succeed.

[SportsWorld]

The Steelers' Carter got fined for his hit on Greg Olsen. This league is getting really soft. I thought that was a great defensive play.

[NoSkyy]

Which one? The one that laid him out of bounds? That was a great play. Olsen said so himself.

[Darth Celtic]

i watched the play and wondered why no penalty at the time. now, i'm all for hard hitting, and getting rid of this "omg, he touched the qb in a bad place, 15 yard penalty" crap. but if they are going to have those rules, then need to call them on all sides. You know if payne tatooed a reciever and led with his helmet (which carter did, helmet to helmet too) it would have been a 15 yard penalty like it is supposed to.

not sure what carter is going on about, i to watched it over and over, and he clearly goes in with his helmet, and hits olsens helmet.

[SportsWorld]

i watched the play and wondered why no penalty at the time. now, i'm all for hard hitting, and getting rid of this "omg, he touched the qb in a bad place, 15 yard penalty" crap. but if they are going to have those rules, then need to call them on all sides. You know if payne tatooed a reciever and led with his helmet (which carter did, helmet to helmet too) it would have been a 15 yard penalty like it is supposed to.

not sure what carter is going on about, i to watched it over and over, and he clearly goes in with his helmet, and hits olsens helmet.

I thought it was a great defensive play and Olsen said again today that he thought it was. He prevented Olsen from making the catch. What else is he going to do? Let him catch the ball?

[kyrv]

Thank you Cliff.

What's worse than fans repeating the bullsh*t that the Bears are a running team, it's the dolts that are paid to cover the NFL who keep repeating poop that Lovies dishes out.

Oh, and most Bear games aren't played in bad weather, Lovie (and the national idiots).

How about win the game, whatever it takes.

Fyi I think there are very few NFL teams that run more than they pass. The game and rules have changed. It's a ton easier to pass for ten yards than to run for ten yards.

If the Bears can run, great, run. If they can't, then pass. Note to Lovie (duh) also, you can stack the line and stop the run, you can't do anything to stop the pass. You can pass when ahead or behind. Being good at running is nice, being good at passing is imperative.

Bears also haven't been an elite defense for years but I don't have the heart to tell Lovie that either.


I also thought the guy led with his head on Olsen, I thought it was just me until the NFL looked at the tape as well. I'm glad Olsen doesn't feel it was intended to be dirty, but in all fairness Olsen doesn't decide what hits are legal or not legal, even if he is involved.