Noots’ Notes Game 13: 21-14 Loss to Green Bay
Noots’ Notes-Game 13: 21-14 Loss to Green Bay
By
Michael Nudo
The Bears (5-8) gave their fans plenty to boo about in losing to the Green Bay Packers 21-14. Somehow, they managed to pull ahead 14-13 in the third quarter. This was clearly a mirage. The Packers squandered numerous first half opportunities. It could just have easily been a 35-14 romp.
You can hang this loss right here (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images).
OFFENSE
Quarterbacks:
Jay Cutler’s performance (23-36-209, 2 TD, 2 Int) was a microcosm of his season. He made some remarkable throws, including the touchdown passes to Johnny Knox and Devin Aromashodu. But he also had quite a few costly errors, including one interception that was taken back far enough to set up an easy Packer touchdown. There were also some apparent miscommunications between Cutler and his receiving corps. And lastly, there were at least 2 or 3 other passes that could also have been intercepted. He also had an excellent scramble to convert a long third down that was called back on a penalty. GRADE: C-
Running Backs:
Matt Forte (12/51, 4-17) showed a few signs of life. He was hardly given the chance by his coaches to carry the ball, and maybe they had a point. On one particular play off right tackle, he hit the edge soft he managed to be taken down by an outstretched arm. Really? Yeah, Really. Bell had a few carries but nothing to write home about there, either. McKie was isolated as the lone back on a few sets where Forte motioned to the slot. In those cases, he made some decent pass blocks. GRADE: D
Receivers:
With Devin Hester sitting this one out (calf), Devin Aromashodu (8-76, TD) finally had a chance to start. He did not disappoint. He broke tackles, made great back shoulder catches showing balance and hands, and overall presented a great target for Cutler. Johnny Knox (5-83, TD) also had a solid day, including a 28-yard catch later followed by his 19-yard touchdown reception. Knox and Cutler didn’t always appear to be on the same page, however. Earl Bennett only had one catch for six yards. He just missed coming down with a touchdown in the back of the end zone and had yet another play where he was mugged on third down and didn’t get the call. Greg Olsen (2-14) couldn’t come down with a big catch over the middle. He continues to be a deficit in protection schemes. At one point, he stood still while blitzers ran inside and outside him. He blocked nobody, and then did a cute pirouette after they passed him by. No style points there. GRADE: D+
Offensive Line:
Wow, this one was bad. The line SHOULD play better at home. Frank Omiyale committed a false start and also had a holding penalty (to negate a long scramble by Cutler). Chris Williams had a false start, illegal hands to the face and then a facemask. Olin Kreutz committed another false start. Has there ever been a center in NFL history with more of these? He also had a poor block on a screen. Not much to be said about the right side of the line today, and considering the 3 guys to their left, I guess that’s a compliment. Overall run and pass protection was its usual middling to below middling. When you add in all the mental errors, it’s hard to find a way to take their side. GRADE: F+
DEFENSE
Defensive Line:
Ryan Grant took the first handoff from Aaron Rodgers and blasted through a natural hole over left guard for a 62-yard touchdown run. Pass rush was spotty, highlighted by a rare Tommie Harris sack. Anthony Adams turned in the performance of the day, with six tackles and a fumble recovery on what could have just as easily have been an interception. Ends Adewale Ogunleye and Alex Brown had some rare pressures, but the Packers did just enough holding to keep them at bay before Rodgers could move around and find the open man. After the initial damage was done on Grant’s first carry, the run defense was actually solid, but the offense put them in some dire field position. GRADE: C-
Linebackers:
Lance Briggs had a sack and a pressure. Hunter Hillenmeyer was particularly active. Nick Roach and Jamar Williams made a few plays. Hillenmeyer was blocked up on Grant’s long run. The linebackers had a few plays, but not enough to change the game. GRADE: C
Secondary:
Charles Tillman was fortunate that a replay review upheld an incomplete pass ruling on what appeared to be a 36-yard touchdown pass to Greg Jennings deep over the middle. Zack Bowman was flagged for interference and also allowed a long third down conversion to tight end Jermichael Finley. Al Afalava and Kevin Payne started at safety. Neither was in position to make a play on Grant’s long run. Afalava was flagged for hitting a player out of bounds.
GRADE: C
Special Teams
Robbie Gould didn’t have any opportunities for a field goal. Brad Maynard could only put one of his six punts down inside the 20-yard line. He didn’t have much distance on his punts. Kick and punt returns were unspectacular. Coverage was solid on both kickoffs and punts. Corey Graham was flagged for holding at the end of game on a critical punt return. Patrick Mannelly was also flagged for unnecessary roughness. GRADE: D
Coaching
Hello stubborn, I’d like you to meet Stupid. Well acquainted? I cannot believe they’re playing an athlete like Bowman 12 yards off a tight end like Finley on 3rd and 11. I cannot believe they can continue to blitz but play soft on the corners. I cannot believe they continue to throw twice as much as they run, even when they’re within a touchdown for most of the game. On Grant’s long run, there’s a natural gap there in the defense that the Packers ran to and blocked. It was too easy. The Bears defense, which is coordinated by Lovie Smith, continues to consistently give things away too easily. How can Smith call a timeout and THEN throw the review flag? So he loses the review and is quickly out two timeouts. Should we be surprised that Aromashodu would shine when finally given his opportunity to contribute? Somebody make this broken record stop…please! GRADE: F
Noots’ Nut Crackers
Mark Anderson on Ahman Green
Nudo’s Kudos
Anthony Adams
Devin Aromashodu
Horns
Chris Williams
Frank Omiyale
Lovie Smith
Ron Turner
December 14th, 2009 at 12:41 am
Good stuff as always,Noots. I can see your patience is running out when you give grades like this. I was pleasantly surprised by Aromashodu even tho pre-season he had showed good stuff. Is there any doubt about his taking over from Hester as a receiver??Better hands and instincts by far and I believe Knox should be the other wide receiver . Why was the running still mainly Forte while Green and Grant seemed to divvy things up for G.Bay and the change up seemed to work??Lovey’s stupid time out was surprising but not shocking.I have decided we are not relatives after all,ha,ha.I would be interested to hear your views sometime in a special note ,as to why Cutler is throwing so many interceptions. Please,please,Santa,not another Jeff George!!!!Cheers.LUS.