Preseason Game 3: Post Game Rant
Noots’ Notes: 2010 Preseason Game 3
By
Michael Nudo
Made #3 look like Dan Marino last night (AP Photo/Jim Prisching).
Yesterday, I previewed the game with a string of questions that I felt would be a key to defining our expectations for the season. Well, last night we saw the smoking gun of evidence that points directly to the fallen body of a 5 and 11 season.
I’ll keep this short and quick, firing the bullets off in rapid fire.
Does Offensive Coordinator Mike Martz know you’re allowed to run the ball? Do they plan to practice this at all? This was not a balanced attack at all. Other than the draw, are they planning to have some running plays in a live scrimmage?
The pass protection was actually better than the number of sacks indicated. One of the sacks was due to the ball being held too long. Another was because Cutler stumbled. The third, well, let’s chalk that up to the line being bad. That’s right, I’m not defending them, I just gotta tell you what is and isn’t happening. Frank Omiyale has found a new penalty (holding, 2 of ‘em) that he likes more than the false start.
I remember Chris Harris’ first run as a Bear. He still tackles too high. Chris Harris had an isolated play where he came up to fill the hole against the running back and just flat out missed. He’s a safety. There’s a reason why the position is called “safety.” You’re supposed to be the surest tackling position on the field. I think not.
Arizona was playing without Larry Fitzgerald, and their quarterbacks had combined for a putrid preseason. And yet their passing offense looked stellar versus our number ones, who played like a pile of number two. What’s Aaron Rodgers, Driver and Jennings going to do against them?
The bulk of investment by the Bears in both free agency and draft picks lives on the defense. It’s up to the coaches to get them to perform, and put together schemes that stop opposing offenses. For this moribund Cardinals team to throw the ball up and down the field against the Bears’ defense, well, it’s too much like what we’ve seen here every season since Ron Rivera was asked not to return. It’s time to stop blaming the players and start looking at the coach. They don’t know how to run an effective blitz package that locks up the receivers long enough to allow the rush to get to the quarterback. Week after week, year after year, it’s like watching a 7 on 7 drill when the Bears are on defense. The football rarely touches the ground. How much more can YOU take?
Dez Clark is your H-Back/Fullback. Are you kidding me? Really? This reminds me of Gary Crowton using Casey Weigman at fullback. This is a JOKE. The offensive genius is purely offensive. We have another coordinator who seems to think that NFL stands for No Fullback League.
Sorry, but Jay Cutler was grossly inaccurate. His two picks were UNFORCED. Just bad passes. He also had a pass in the left flat where he got the completion but it was so low the receiver could do nothing with it after he caught it. Let’s stop making excuses for the guy and call it like we see it.
On offense, I’m expecting some growing pains. But how do you NOT TRY TO SCORE at the END OF THE HALF? Well, that sent a message to me. It sounded like the Soldier Field fans got the message as well. I’m glad they shared their opinion with Lovie as they slinked back to the locker room at the half.
August 29th, 2010 at 7:51 pm
I had misgivings before this game ,which I am now going to watch on NFL channel a day late. I had read of the awful results but have to admit that in sheer awfulness, I have seen nothing in the games played by other teams to match this. I thought that the Bears had a chance but now seeing this product now,IF the trends hold, I see them as fourth behind the Lions in this division.Yes 4th! Further to this, I expect them to rank below 25th in the standings.I hope I am wrong and great things can happen but trends usually prevail and this trend is terrible.Thanks for your forthright and insightful views. A team that just plays out the clock at the half deserves the boos they got.
August 29th, 2010 at 11:24 pm
Chris Harris can’t play anymore. He is too slow to play in the NFL anymore. If he does start, and he may, I expect him to be replace before midseason. From what I have seen, he shouldn’t make the team, much less start.
OL play was better, but tons of holding going on. Watch Omiyale for a few plays, he holds on most plays but only gets called a few times. Williams played better, but not great. One sack both Lance Louis and Kreutz are on a DT, they apparently figure the other guy has him, so they both leave him…he gets a free run up the middle! OL play is a comedy of errors.
Cutler looked uncomfortable in the pocket, even when not rushed. I think he has lost faith in this OL. He also made some bad throws and reads. Melissa Isaacson says it looked to her like he was waiting for WRs to break open instead of throwing to where they are supposed to be.
Defense pretty much IS Peppers. He is all he is billed to be, but doubt we will finish much better than we would without him.
This team is a 5 or 6 win team. Lots of deadwood on it, and much of the deadwood is older. Older teams are more prone to injuries. So when and if they finally pull the plug on this team, we will need several good drafts to retool. Just hope they fire Lovie and Angelo, they could be back even if we are only 6-10.
August 30th, 2010 at 8:04 am
In January of ’09, Angelo held a news conference in which he just about blamed Kyle Orton for all that was wrong with the Bears. The same issues that plagued the team then are still here now: bad offensive line, bad defensive line, and inconsistant WR’s. Watch for them to try to throw Cutler under the bus too. Just so this assclown can keep his job.
August 30th, 2010 at 5:47 pm
Upon my initial read of your Post Game Rant, I was going to ask if you had enough fiber today..
But, after thinking about the last two pre-season games and recalling how shocked and angry I was, I realized I may be going through the 7 stages of grief over the Bears. Damn! That is pathetic, this is only pre-season. I should probably not even watch these damn games. BUT, if these games are any reflection of preparation for the season, then the Bears are in trouble.
Probably the only bright spot or two in pre-season game 3 was Chester Taylor (he was valuable with the Vikes, glad we have him now), and our 3rd string QB (aka substitute 2nd string looking more poised back there).
My fantasy team has Forte, good thing he catches the ball, as it appears they have abandoned the run.
As always Noots, I enjoy your notes and insight!