The Cowboys are who we thought they were! And we let ‘em off the hook!
Now I’ve never quoted Dennis Green before, but I figure this week’s performance requires that I reach a new low in journalism. We looked bad, really bad. We looked almost as bad as a Dennis Green coached team. And that’s about as bad as it gets. Point blank, we got our asses whooped, at home, on National TV, against a team that said they were ready to make a statement and beat us. And there isn’t a player on the roster that’s free from blame. Not even Devin Hester, who didn’t seem to do a thing right all night.
Let me just start by saying this – it’s not Rex. Did he play poorly? Yes. Did he throw 3 INT’s? Yes. But they weren’t all his fault. The offense has 11 players, and everyone has to do something for plays to work. When they do their jobs, we can run the ball AND pass it. And we were able to do that early. But before long, no one on offense was executing. Not the line, not the running backs, and not the receivers, who dropped passes like the ball was covered in Texas tea. No, this one isn’t on Rex.
In our first drive of the second half, there was a 3rd and 10 when Rex scrambled for a first down, diving over the yellow line that the NFL magically inserts on your TV screen as if was actually on the field. I thought that this was the kind of play that a guy like Rex needs – one where he gets to hang his nuts out and put himself in harms way for the good of the team – and succeed. He then hit TE’s Desmond Clark for 52 yds and Greg Olsen for 21 on consecutive strikes, putting us on the one. And when Benson scampered in for our second offensive TD of the year, I thought we found our stride. But I was wrong. Man, was I wrong.
Now it might sound like I’m making excuses for Rex, so again I’ll say that he did not play well. But our defense – yes, OUR defense – played horribly! They started playing well early, when they were being aggressive, blitzing, and puting plenty of pressure on Romo. But like the offense, they seemed to hit a wall. And with our offense turning the ball over like it was a hot potato, our defense eventually got beaten into submission after spending so much time on the field. I think it was evident with all that arm-tackling. And once we fell behind, with Dallas keenly keying on the pass, we had nowhere to go. Hence the lack of running AND passing in the second half. And it just snowballed from there.
Not to say that injuries aren’t part of the game that you have to overcome, but we did have some crucial personnel whose absence on the field was noticable. It doesn’t excuse our sloppy play, but it does sort of explain it. We got to see just how good Lance Briggs is when he left the game at half-time (groin) with the score tied 3 – 3. Dallas went on to outscore us 31 – 7 in the second half. But the most critical injury is Tommie Harris (knee). Without Mike Brown, losing Harris again (like last year, when we were without both) would render us virtually impotent outside of the Chicago city limits. Thus, we would not win the Super Bowl. So if you have a God or know one, ask him to make sure Tommie Harris’s knee is OK.
The good news is that it’s still very early in the season. Sure we’re already two games behind the surprising Packers, but we play them twice in the 13 games left on our schedule. And even though we look pretty bad right now, our schedule is pretty weak. The bottom line is that there comes a time in every team’s season when they have a gut check thrust upon them. And how they handle it defines their season. Usually it happens much later in the year. But for us, we’ve reached that point in week 3. So I wouldn’t be surprised if they came out next week playing like their lives depended on it. Next week’s game is about as much of a “must win” as any Bears game we’ve seen in a while. So while we mourn this disastrous loss, I am able to find some solace knowing that we’ll be able to take it out on next week’s opponent. I pity the poor Lions.
© 2007
Bear Down Baffa 
Mon, Sep 24, 2007 at 8:31 pm |
The Cowboys offensive line played very well. It was strength vs. strength with their OL vs. our pass rush. The max effort from our defensive front 1) was successful early and 2) lead to the injuries as guys were pushing their bodies to the limit. The Cowboys game-planned all week for the rush and they played it very well.
The defense lost their luster after 1) they realized that IF they were to reach Romo he was going to get away, so why waste the effort? and 2) they were so tired since our offense could not sufficiently sustain drives.
I think the Cowboys are the pre-eminent team in the NFC.
As for the Bears, better offensive play would have helped the defense.
As for Hester, did anyone else feel like he partook in some of that south Florida doobage right before kickoff? Oh yeah, it doesn’t count unless I have the ball…
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Mon, Sep 24, 2007 at 9:26 pm |
Como yo voy ello, los Osos necessitan hacer un par des cosas reparar el barco. Primero, Rex Grossman
Como yo voy ella, los Osos necesidad hasta hacer un par cosas hacia la reparar elbarco. Primero Rex Grossman necesidades tomar un asiento en el banco. Él está también fácil hasta charla. Defensas no tener nada que ver miedo cuándo él está al mando. Él está también corto, inmóvil, y bobo ser un efectiva quarterback en el Nacional Fútbol Legua. Exposición A estado el último obra teatral de la primero medio. Ese estado peor dar gracias cualquier Bob Avellini o Bobby Douglas mover.
Segundo, ellos necesidad hasta ejecutar algunos clasificar de ofensivo juego plano. Ron Turner y los Osos’ personal absolutamente hacer desconocer cómo meter junto un juego plano. Comienzan afuera con unos pocos decente runs , tirar en un pareja abobado Devin Hester farsantes, un farsante campo gol, abandono el corrido, licencia el Vaqueros mejor billete con prisas unblocked, y mostrarse no aptitud meter arriba punto en un opuesto defensa. Algunos estadística:
San Diego: Osos 3, Other Opponents 31
Kansas City: Osos 13, everyone else 11.5
Dallas: Osos 10, Other Opponents 27.5
Buena Suerte Osos!
English translation –
As I see it, los Osos need to do a couple things to right the ship. First, Rex needs to take a seat on the bench. He is too easy to rattle. Defenses have nothing to fear when he is at the helm. He is too short, immobile, and dumb to be an effective quarterback in the National Football League. Exhibit A was the last play of the first half. That was worse than any Bob Avellini or Bobby Douglas move.
Second, they need to execute some sort of offensive game plan. Ron Turner and los Osos’ staff absolutely do not know how to put together a game plan. They start out with a few decent runs, throw in a couple goofy Devin Hester fakes, a fake field goal, abandon the run, leave the Cowboys’ best pass rusher unblocked, and show no ability to put up point on an opposing defense. Some statistics:
San Diego: Osos 3, Other Opponents 31
Kansas City: Osos 13, everyone else 11.5
Dallas: Osos 10, Other Opponents 27.5
Good luck Bears!
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Tue, Sep 25, 2007 at 8:59 pm |
Now here’s a little story I’ve got to tell
About Those Monsters you know so well
It started back in recent history
With Urlacher, Hester, and Da Coach – Love-E.
Had a little horsy named Cedric Benson
Making a Sallam kind of indention
Hit into the land, eating sand
Opposing D on his tail cause he ain’t ‘the man’
‘One lonely Bear Coach I be
All by myself’, proclaims Lovie
Rex is beating down on my team’s potential
Gonna start Griese and hope is essential
The air is gettin’ hot the hype was getting flat
I don’t know if Griese’s got it, But it’s time G-man sat!
Lovie wondered about the D, so he went and got the guy
His name is Urlacher, he said, “Howdy” he said, “Hi”
He told a little story that sounded well rehearsed
Three sacks so far this season, but our defense still seems worse!
This Babich guy is aggressive and he’s making us fly around.
But he left the middle open, when the QB I was to hound.
He said, “Go get some?”
I said, “It will be done!”
Just before I got, to the QB
It was Owens in middle headin towards the fifty!
Now Rivera is gone, but I know this for a fact..
He’d had me drop into coverage and blast Owen’s ass!
To Be continued….
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Thu, Sep 27, 2007 at 11:12 am |
i keep hearing about how terrible Rex is. so much so that he’s been benched. but i disagree. not that i don’t think he’s struggling, but the offensive line acts as if they’re Rex’s personal assistant: “you’d like a sack? yes, right this way to Mr. Grossman.” (i heard that one on the radio monday morning and liked it.) bensen has fumbled already as much as he had last year (maybe it’s still a hangover from his holding out for more $). but i think it’s the receivers that are MOST to blame. besides the obvious that they’re dropping balls, they’re running terrible routes. against SD, the receiver stopped running his route and caused the first int as they were approaching the goal line. this week, on Rex’s first interception, the defender simply got to the ball first. Barriam all but came to a stop, turned, and waited for the ball. the defender saw this and moved it. the receivers need to run the defenders off, get them to turn their hips (out of fear for the long ball, which is not called enough), so as to get some separation between the receives and the defensive backs. and i have yet to see a receiver go up and play defender for a bad throw. and of course, everyone is saying the right thing about not doing their part … except the receivers. Barriam has said that he ran a good route, but that the throw was too high. too high? if he didn’t let the defender get to the ball first, it would have hit him in the facemask.
not that i’m hoping Griese (his dad’s a sig, snap) is injured or does poorly, but i’d like Rex to get some more play time against Detroit, the Pack, and the hated Vikings. maybe start him and if it’s more of the same, put Griese in at that point. am i the only one in Chicago that still has faith in Rex?
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Thu, Sep 27, 2007 at 8:24 pm |
I have always been a staunch Grossman defender and supporter and I think the guys got talent and even I think it’s time he rode the pine a little!
I think it’s time we saw Griese and see if he is better. If he sucks against Detroit, then fuck it put Rex back in, cause Detroit’s D is Swiss Cheese!
I think this media shit really got to Rex’s head. I also think they may be asking him to think too much and not playing with his ‘gut’. This guy is a gunslinger, so you can’t have him game planning TOO much. He’s not a mental midget, just plays better on instinct.. Just let it all cool down and if fate keeps going like it has been, He’ll be back under center soon.
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Fri, Sep 28, 2007 at 11:57 am |
Sorry this is so long but damn…
Ok, I delayed commenting until late this week to let the sting and dissapointment of the loss pass a bit. I’ve learned never to talk when you’re mad or you’ll regret what you said. That being said…HOLY F’ING CRAP WE SUCKED!!! For those of you who are still giving Grossman a pass (“Intercepted for 6!!!”) after this many games I’m in shock and awe (trademarked btw). Have you not seen him play in any game against anyone other than teams that me, Laffy, and a one legged hobo couldn’t beat?? Any team that is worth its salt has given Grossman the ability to walk without a spine which is a true feat! He can’t handle any pressure without coughing the ball up on a silver platter. Whether its throw an INT to a wide open defender or fumbling a snap (ok, he hasn’t done it lately but still…) he’s TERRIBLE! I agree that a couple of our receivers have givien up on balls, which they should be fined for, but in all 6 INTs and 1 TD (to a back up lineman none-the-less) in 3 games is less of a stat line and more of a punch line. And not just INTs but they get taken back for 6 on a regular basis.
How did Lovie stick with him this long? Has he lost the confidence of his team now that he’s buckled to the pressure and is starting someone who should have been starting? Is the D pissed at him for keeping them out there for what seemed like most of the game (I just checked and it was ~35mins/25mins Cowboys; yeah, I was shocked too, I think we bulk loaded in the 1st half)? The D held its own against a pretty good offense until late in the third but enough was enough. There is only so much you can do when you can’t breathe.
Yes, I also agree that Grossman was not fully to blame. Berrian dropped a sure TD pass. Mush seems to be going in slow motion and won’t go after passes (ala Berrrian). But throwing passes to their D backs has become unacceptable. Its about time for a change. I don’t know if that’s Griese but its time. Why, OH WHY can’t the Bears just buck up for a good QB?? Not a great QB, just a good one. We haven’t had one since McMahon and its even questionable if he was really that good or was the team just that great. I know that’s blasphemy to a point but its realistic. Anyhow, go out and get a veteran QB thats proven. Hell, Culpepper and especially Leftwich were available for nothing, why not try it out? Culpepper is proven with a good team in Minn and Leftwich has had decent output as well. I’m not saying Grossman should be run out of Chicago but at least get him a veteran who can teach him a thing or two. If Griese hasn’t been able to teach him anything (which I’m not sure he actually can do when he’s going for his job) then he may be hopeless as a pro-QB. Not a first for the Bears (ie. see Cade Mcnown).
I can’t, in good conscience, say Grossman doesn’t deserve some props for flashes of ‘goodness’ (not greatness) but the bads have BY FAR outweighed the goods. Yes, he “took” us to the Supa Bowl but most of that was D and not offensive power. Yes, he was player of the month but again, it was against some of the worst teams last year in the begining of the season. Lots of blame to go around. Ron Turner still not being able to call a game good enough for Pop Warner, D turning into Swiss Cheese with injuries, fans boo’ing Rex (yeah, that’s going to help), but leave Hester out of it. He’s not supposed to return balls for touchdowns. its more of a gift. It doesn’t help that we’ve come to expect it from him but its not realistic. He had some decent returns but I will agree he has gotten a ‘Rock Star’ attitude which I think led to his mediocre outing (although 17.2 avg ain’t too bad on kick returns). The 2 fumbles (neither lost) was a sign of overconfidence evident with his “Bring it on! I dare you to kick it to me!” hands waving before kicks.
Anyhow, overall a terrible game against a really good team. The ‘Boys will be a major hurdle in getting back to the Bowl. Good D and with TO and Romo getting their game on, they’ll be SB contenders…that is until our Bears pull their collective heads out of their asses, get it together, and score some Goddamn offensive TDs!!!
GO BEARS!!!
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