One man’s breakdown of the Bears 21-14 loss to the Packers after the jump and after I take two consecutive timeouts.

Outside of maybe Devin Aromashodu, it would take an inordinate amount of time to come up with a list of players who I thought played really well. (And Aromashodu playing reasonably well in Week 13 brings up an entirely different set of issues).

That’s been the thing with this season: Every game it’s just too damn hard to find a list of people whom Bears fans could say of, “I thought so-and-so played really well.” Of course, this is just an attempt to simplify a bad season in one sentence, but I think it’s true.

After each game there’s never any discussion about one particular person who’s to fault it is; it’s trying to decide the correct percentage for each person. And after this game, everyone has new ammo to shoot at the person they believe to have the biggest slice in the pie chart of bad Bears football.

Don’t like Ron Turner, you’re probably upset over a rather vanilla game plan (even though it was at times effective). Want to see Lovie Smith fired, his consecutive timeouts blunder doesn’t change your mind. If you have bumped your head too many times and wish the Bears still had Kyle Orton, I’m sure you’re not happy about Jay Cutler’s two interceptions. The defense played good enough to win, but their first play from scrimmage is inexcusable.

My censorship of the 2009 Bears came because I was tired of figuring out the percentages of blame – How much is Cutler? How much is the O-Line? etc. It grew tiresome.

Really, it’s just the same shit, different Sunday.

Ron Turner Vanilla

Ron Turner was rather vanilla against the Packers. The Bears ran a lot of really basic stuff – 42% of the Bears’ offensive plays were run from a 2-back, 2 wide receiver set; usually the I formation. For those who say this is Turner being unimaginative, surely there are plenty of people who’d agree. Color analyst Brian Billick talked a lot about the limitations of these formations and wondered aloud why the tight ends haven’t played larger role in the offense.

But to defend Turner, the Bears were often successful in the I formation. On the Bears’ second TD drive, five of the six plays came out of the “I,” and it was a rather convincing 56-yard drive. It kept the Packers in their Base 3-4 defense, and it allowed Cutler plenty of time to throw. Which leads to the larger issues: The steady dose of one tight end and 2-backs may also be considered a necessity in order to provide help for Chris Williams.

Speaking of Chris Williams

Not just Williams, but still it was not smiles times for Williams’ second game at LT.

First off, Williams was kind of beat on Cutler’s first sack. Williams stayed in front of Clay Matthews long enough to give Cutler time to throw, but was driven deep into the pocket by Matthews; then, when Cutler was forced to step up in the pocket, Matthews shed the block for a sack.

These are the plays where we see Williams’ limitations, and why he was defined as a finesse player.

A number of other plays in the game, Williams didn’t even have a chance to get beat by Matthews; instead, he just tried to rip his face off. Williams had three penalties on Sunday – a false start, a 15-yard face mask and an illegal hands to the face. Both in-play penalties, came on plays in which Williams was clearly beat.

To sum up, Williams didn’t exactly respond to the challenge of playing a better team than the Rams like many Bears fans hoped he would.

More than just Williams (*)

(*) This clearly breaks the censorship rule, but I can’t help myself.

Penalties were a killer on Sunday. Williams will take a lot of heat for a couple of bad plays and because he’s about the only offensive lineman that matters in the future, but he wasn’t the only one. As a whole, protection was OK, but there were seven penalties on the offensive line and tight ends. Penalties in bad situations, too.

One penalty negated a 22-yard run by Cutler on third and long, and another eliminated a 16-yard screen pass. But all of them made it real difficult to do something the Bears were doing surprisingly well: run the ball. For most teams 3.5 YPC wouldn’t be too exciting, but for the Bears it’s a minor miracle. However, it’s hard to stick with the run when your ranked 31st in rushing, and you’re looking at a 1st and 15 because Frank Omiyale forgot the snap was on “one.”

Without the penalties, it’s safe to assume the Bears run the ball more than 19 times. And at least for them, run the ball effectively.

Cutler the Complainer

Hidden within all the bad plays and stupid penalties was the highlight of the game for me.

When each Bears game looks the same, I tend to look for little things that make me happy for like … a minute. This week it was Cutler complaining to a referee while he was being tackled.

First of all, I though the big to-do about Cutler’s complaining was people not having anything else to say about the Bears. Nearly every quarterback puts their hands up in disgust looking for late hits and pass interferences, so I never understood the big deal. Obviously, neither did Cutler because he was complaining while being sacked by Johnny Jolly.

Calm Down, Thom

Cutler didn’t care about people’s issues with him complaining, and he didn’t care that Charles Woodson was on the field. Cutler attacked Woodson like he was a referee, throwing to his side throughout the game; even when coverage was good.

Woodson answered with an interception, and he probably should have had about two more.

Woodson’s impressive play drew him the praise of Billick and Thom Brennaman. If Woodson circumcised poor kids in Zimbabwe or had the ability to make a man’s life better within minutes of meeting him, someone would have had to hose Brennaman down.

No public interview for Billick

Overall, the broadcast was pretty good. Though I am somewhat surprised Billick didn’t turn into a public interview for the Bears’ offensive coordinator position. Billick talked a little bit about the Bears’ heavy 2-back offense and what’s wrong with Cutler, but I half expected him to start every single sentence with “You know what I’d do in this situation … ”

Even though it was a pretty good broadcast, I’m not watching the Sugar Bowl.

(*) Within the censorship law of the 2009 Bears, of course.

I have an awful habit of reading every comment under Bears’ posts at the major newspapers and blogs. When I’m done reading them I hate the people who wrote them, the Internet for giving these people a forum, the Bears, myself … basically, I hate everyone after I’m done. Unfortunately, my only hope for stopping myself is that eventually these comments rot my brain to the point where I’m not able to read them.

Here’s my favorite comment of the day:

Its the stinkin Rams….anyone notice Ced makes history with Cincy today? Remember in the preseason when we could’ve gotten Favre? Dumb Bears management….they’ve been dumb for two decades…they’ll be dumb forever. I pray a young billionaire comes in one day and cleans house completely. Run the team like the Tier 1 Franchise it is. Until that happens enjoy the interminable wilderness of the dumb that is the Bears. [Chicago Breaking Sports]

Brett Favre? Brett f***ing Favre? He was the answer? Wow, I really need to stop reading these; I just don’t know how.

Anyways, my inability to avoid dumb comments is my problem, and mine alone, but can’t we all just stop being mad that the Bears won. So many people are saying things like, “Its the stinkin Rams,” or “WOW. The Bears beat the Rams. Now we can listen to all these sportswriters talk about how they are starting to come back, rebuild, get on the right track, blah blah blah.”

No one with a brain is saying the Bears are back on track, or ready to dominate the world after a win against the Rams. At this point, It’s common knowledge that the Bears have a handful of problems that need to be fixed before 2010; no win against the Rams, Packers, Ravens, Vikings or Lions is going to change that. They could win all of them, and I’d still say they suck.

The thing is, losses against these teams won’t change it either; the roster’s problems have been identified. Even the guy who wishes the Bears signed Favre has identified them by now. Well, maybe not him, but everyone else has.

Let’s just watch the six guys the Bears have on offense, and hope (really, really, really hope) the front office does a better job filling this team’s holes via free agency and a couple draft picks. Because unless the organization decides to write a $30 million check to overhaul the front office and coaching staff, and bring in one of the big names currently not coaching, that’s all we can do.

Dreaming of 2010

First of all, how weird is it that the Bears were only playing with six guy on offense? Jay Cutler was out there. I saw Chris Williams at left tackle, Greg Olsen at tight end, and Matt Forte in the backfield most of the time. Sometimes I even saw the wide receivers on the field, but that was only when the free agent receiver I imagine the Bears signing was taking a break. (Seriously, who wants to kidnap Anquan Boldin? It’ll be like Celtic Pride, but funnier … and with more consequences for our actions.)

Some have told me the Bears played with 11 guys, but I didn’t see them.

Hazy on defense

The handful of players mentioned above provided me with something to watch on offense; something that had meaning for 2010. It’s a lot more difficult to figure out what I’m looking at on defense though.

Three guys the Bears need to be successful next season – Lance Briggs, Brian Urlacher and (it sucks that this is true, but it is true) Gaines Adams – weren’t on the field. On top of those three guys not playing, I have a hard time picturing the Bears’ defense in 2010. Who is going to be out there? What’s the scheme going to look like?

I know the offense is going to be built around Cutler’s ability, but the centerpiece is harder to locate on defense.

Figuring Lovie Smith stays, and there’s no miracle that makes Tommie Harris healthy (he was the centerpiece), how good can they be playing the Tampa-2 next season? Unless, they add a few guys at key spots like the three-technique, defensive end, and safety, Lovie’s going to have to keep tinkering with the scheme.

Really, I just don’t know what to expect next season. Any ideas?

One solid backup

People are praising Jamar Williams today, and rightfully so. I don’t see him with the Bears next season though.

Williams is a free agent at the end of this season. There’s no reason for him to come back to the Bears. Right now, Williams is making near the minimum, so money shouldn’t be an issue for any team. And there has to be one team who can give him a better chance to start at weak-side linebacker (his natural position) than him switching to strong-side and starting for the Bears.

Chris Williams?

More on Chris Williams tomorrow.

I censored the 2009 Bears’ season because I’m personally tired of writing about each problem with this team – over and over again – when the solution doesn’t appear to be on the roster. And if I’m tired of writing about it, I’m sure people are tired of reading it.

Well, this is to prove my point, tell me if you’re heard these before.

A primary receiver ran the wrong route, and because of someone else’s mistake, Cutler pays. Chicago Bears don’t give Jay Cutler a chance [Chicago Tribune]

The opponents managed to generate a pass rush with only four linemen. These four linemen do bad things to Cutler. Mismatch in trenches spells end doom [Chicago Sun-Times]

Cutler is bored at press conferences … and I, a member of the media, don’t like it. Jay really doesn’t have much to say [Chicago Sun-Times]

I haven’t written this one, but it sure is out there: It’s all Lovie’s fault. All of it. Fire Lovie Smith Tomorrow [ChicagoNow]

They couldn’t get off the field on third down. 537 yards and no answers [ESPN Chicago]

The front-four can’t put pressure on the quarterback, and the secondary isn’t good enough to do it alone. Tom Waddle’s grades for Chicago Bears – Minnesota Vikings on Nov. 29, 2009 [ESPN Chicago]

The Bears had two yards of offense in the second half. Oh, well that’s new.

Also, if people are really that crushed after this loss, I recommend not watching next week. If the Trent Cole/Orlando Pace match-up is any indication, Jared Allen may be the one to officially end the first season of Cutler.

What did everyone else think?

Tampa-2 Turnovers

Lovie Smith preaches turnover; it’s one of the foundations of the Tampa-2. And with all the firepower on the Eagles’ offense, it’s conceivable that the Bears’ three turnovers prevented an additional deep ball or two to DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin.

But for the most part, the Tampa-2 (except for Jackson’s deep touchdown in particular) did what it’s supposed to do. The Bears’ corners had deep help most of the game, the linebackers were deep in their coverages and the Eagles were content to take the underneath routes and short gains. Donovan McNabb hit Jackson and Maclin time after time on screen passes (the two had 14 catches combined), hitches and quick outs, but without the turnovers, these quick hitches become eventually touchdowns.

All three turnovers came on great individual efforts: one a little shocking and two we have come to accept. The first was an interception by Zack Bowman on a quick slant to Maclin. Bowman’s pick came on the fourth series for the Eagles; at this point, Maclin had taken advantage of him twice on slants. Including, one slant just three plays earlier, when the Eagles converted on 3rd and 15; Maclin got inside of Bowman and gained 16-yards. On the interception, Bowman obviously read the route, but he did an even better job of getting his hands inside on Maclin’s chest to both slow down the rookie and give himself a better angle on the ball. Not that the interception was shocking — Bowman leads the team in picks — but it’s the adjustment to the quick slant that came as such a surprise. (Close your eyes and think of any recent Packers game. I’m sure you just saw Greg Jennings run slant after slant after slant).

The next two turnovers came from Charles Tillman strips (he caused one more fumble that went out of bounds). For anything people say about Tillman’s deficiency in coverage, this is what makes him the idea Cover-2 corner.

I also appreciate his provision of “Tillman’s good at stripping” jokes and “punching balls out” jokes. Those are good too.

Bell the truth

It’s too early for me to judge people’s real thoughts on Kahlil Bell, but I want to get out ahead of this one. If anyone wants to start a “See, the Bears can run the ball, look at that Bell kid” Club then I’m signing up to be on the task force to stop it.

The running game hasn’t struggled this season because Bell hasn’t played, period.

If you want to blame the Bears for not having Bell on the roster for Weeks 6 and 7, when Adrian Peterson was out with an injury, fine. Hell, I wouldn’t be upset if Bell simply took Wolfe’s spot on the roster because I don’t think Wolfe’s an NFL running back.

Still, the fact that Bell had to wait until Week 11 for his first appearance isn’t evidence of bad coaching — Wolfe is on the roster because he’s a third round draft pick and teams just don’t get rid of them. Blame Jerry Angelo for that. Bell’s also not proof that Matt Forte can’t run. Bell’s first career run was a great one (and good for him), but it went for 72-yards because the Eagles sent everyone and the Bears blocked it perfectly. Forte, and any other NFL back, gets about 72-yards on that play too.

Not having Bell on the roster cost the Bears exactly zero wins. So just appreciate his good run and leave it at that.

This message was approved by the “The Bears still can’t run the ball, even though Bell had one good game” task force.

D-Line Redemption

I don’t know how the defensive line just started playing better, but they deserve credit for making this game watchable. Tell the truth. After the first two Eagles’ series you were ready to watch Curb Your Enthusiasm, weren’t you? I know I was. There’s just no way the Bears keep the Eagles close without the turnovers, or the defensive line starting to get some pressure on McNabb. They did both and it turned into a rather enjoyable game.

Though the lines improved play over the last couple of weeks has me wondering what happened in the weeks leading up.

Mean people online with no proof

If you ever want to laugh, cry or feel strongly about the demise of mankind, read the comments section after a Bears’ loss. The craziness and vitriol that’s spewed in both Smith and Ron Turner’s direction, without even a semblance of evidence, is interesting to say the least and disturbing to say more. Reading the comments I can see, I’m in the minority, but I still thought both coordinators had a decent game.

The Bears’ roster doesn’t have a DeMarcus Ware or the 2006 version of Shawne Merriman; they don’t blitz particularly well. But they seemed to bother McNabb and the Eagles’ offensive line with the blitz on Sunday, calling most of them at the right time and hiding it well. Like I said earlier, McNabb was happy to make the short pass, so blitzes weren’t always needed, but it was effective when they did send extra guys. Lance Briggs had a sack, Hunter Hillenmeyer had .5 sack and a number of other times, the blitz helped free up someone on the defensive line.

As for Turner, I don’t know what people want to blame him for this week. He took chances down the field and found ways to give Cutler enough time to throw. Cutler simply missed the throws. I wanted to see Cutler move around the pocket a little more, and he did that too. Now, I can’t be entirely sure, but it looked to me as if these were designed roll outs.

Some people may be disappointed with the Bears running only 20 times, but if you remove Bell’s 72-yard run from the totals, the Bears averaged less than 3 yards per carry. If you’re only averaging 2.84 yards per carry, you better not run the ball. Because it’s stupid.

I got some thoughts about this one. (Deep breath.)

Jay, Jay, Jay

That was the worst game Jay Cutler has played this season. He’s been bad in moments all season — and some of the blame for those picks can be shared — but that was pretty bad.

I’ve defended Cutler … probably too much. Since they traded for him, he could steal a candy bar from a kid with Diabetes and my first two words would be, “Yeah, but …” I can’t defend this though. The first interception was the worst of the bunch. There’s no way that ball is caught by a Bears player. Even if Aubrayo Franklin (who made the inteception) doesn’t drop into coverage, that pass is intercepted by one of the other two guys standing exactly where he was throwing it. And here comes an obvious statement: considering where the Bears were on the field (the 1-yard line), it’s not worth the risk. I … I … just don’t know why he threw it.

Same can be said about Dashon Goldson’s interception in the third quarter — the one where Devin Hester ran into referee. What’s the reward for that throw. The Bears were in a 3rd and 4 situation. Cutler was under fire, stepped up, and flicked the ball towards Hester running a crossing route about a yard over the line of scrimmage. Even if Hester avoids the ref and makes the catch, he’s not getting a first down. Take the sack. Run a couple yards and slide, I don’t care. Just don’t throw it.

‘Rush Men’ show a pulse

In the 49ers preview I said Cutler was the Bears’ biggest advantage, so I was obviously disappointed with his performance. Somewhere closer to the positive side is the Bears’ defensive line, who I expected nothing from, but did as well as they have all season. Tommie Harris spent more time in the backfield and less time playing “Got your nose” with an opposing offensive lineman. The ends forced Alex Smith out of the pocket a few times, and in terms of situation, the Bears did a decent job against Frank Gore.

Gore ran for 104 yards on 25 carries, but most of these yards came in a couple of large chunks. I understand this is like saying, “Cutler was great minus the 5 interceptions,” but the Bears stood Gore up a few times at the line of scrimmage; preventing sustained drives and keeping the Niners in 3rd and long situations. Alex Smith doesn’t excel at 3rd and long situations.

The line stepped up in short-yardage too. When the 49ers lined up to go for it on 4th and a foot, not a fiber of my being thought the Bears would stop them. It was nice to see.

Ok, enough nice things. This is a summary of the Bears’ defensive line’s season: a game in which they had four offside penalties is the game where I think they had their best game.

Forte. Meet Frank Gore. Run like Frank Gore.

A lot of Forte’s disappointing season can be blamed on the offensive line, but not all of it. In comparison to Gore, Forte looked especially ordinary running the ball.

Gore had one run in particular. In the middle of the fourth quarter, the 49ers ran what seemed like seven or eight draw plays in a row — basically because they didn’t trust Alex Smith, but didn’t want to make it obvious they were running. Well, on one draw play in particular, Tommie Harris busted through the gap on the right side of the offensive line — the hole Gore was supposed to run threw. Harris just blew it up, nowhere for Gore to go. Gore planted his right foot in the ground, cut left, and sprinted to the outside of the left tackle. Lance Briggs came across the line to make the stop, but the point is, Gore gained three yards on a play that was blown up from the start.

When Forte’s holes are blown up (basically all but four plays a game), his running consists of hopping laterally, looking for another hole. He looks like a moguls skier — bouncing back and forth — until someone knocks him off his skis.

Ron, I’m not mad, but where’s the boot

Ron Turner gets a bad rap as an offensive coordinator. If Bill Walsh had this offensive line, he wouldn’t have a coaching tree that extends like it goes all the way back to Moses. And he wouldn’t have written any books, unless they were about dealing with second year right tackles who get late hit penalties with less than two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and their team down by four points.

Saying that, I do have one complaint: where’s the bootleg. He said there would be more bootlegs and plays that moved the pocket; I haven’t seen any. I have seen Cutler get kicked around like he’s Garret Wolfe.

The problem is the offensive line breaks down from any and all angles. Cutler doesn’t always have space to roll right, roll left, or step up; he might as well be playing on a knee.

Hey announcers, it’s not 2006

Is any Bears fan excited when Hester is back to return a punt? Every announcer, at least once a game, talks about how electrifying he is, but I can’t say I sit back, relax and strap it down when he’s back there anymore.

Defending Lovie Smith would be so much easier if he didn’t say things like, “I don’t have a lot of reasons to give you on why we played that way.” Members of the “It’s Not All Lovie’s Fault, This Team Kinda Sucks” Camp want to stand behind him despite a blow out loss, although it’d make them feel better if he had a couple of thoughts after the game.

Though when Lovie says he doesn’t have a lot of reasons, he’s probably telling the truth. Not because he’s apathetic or not paying attention, but because any adjustment he makes is handicapped by a handicapped member of said defense. He’s moved players, adjusted schemes, but none of this improves the overall talent of the Bears’ defense (and it definitely doesn’t make them any better at getting pressure on the quarterback). These adjustments also haven’t made two blowouts in three weeks any easier to swallow.

In the minds of many, these two blowouts are connected because of the proximity between them and relative ease in which both teams moved the ball against the Bears. Really, the only things these two games have in common is that they were embarrassing losses and clear demonstrations of the quality of the Bears.

This the big picture: the Bears have holes on their roster – no matter what defensive scheme they run. Everything else is just stuff people say because they don’t like Lovie as a head coach. These games aren’t demonstrative of the Bears quitting on Lovie. (If the team did quit, wouldn’t the offense quit too? Or, did only one side of the ball decided they were done playing hard for the head coach.) And they don’t prove that Lovie doesn’t make adjustments, because he does. Compared to the game in Cincinnati, Sunday’s game was schematically different in so many ways.

Against the Cardinals, Lovie all but scrapped the Tampa-2. He just didn’t use it. Rewatching the first half (*) it didn’t matter what Lovie called. Defensive coordinator Lovie tried a little bit of everything, but it was about as beneficial to the Bears’ success as placing all the blame on Lovie’s shoulders after the loss.

(*) You can’t make me watch more than the first half. Against the Bengals I could only force myself to watch one series. If I was an optimist I’d call this progress, but I’m not. It’s just bad football.

Based on what the Bears did early, it seems the initial game plan was to hold off from blitzing, and hopefully pressure Kurt Warner without it. The first two plays of the game, the Bears were in man coverage on the outside with a safety over the top (Cover-1) and the linebackers dropping into zone coverage. Even on 3rd and long, the Bears held back the blitz and played it conservatively – corners starting about eight yards off the receivers, dropping back into Cover-3 with one of the safeties, and all three linebackers drifting to about 12 yards off the line of scrimmage at the throw of the ball.

If you saw the game, you know this didn’t work. The Cardinals converted the 3^rd down and then proceeded to march down the field.

Still hesitant to blitz, (and apparently aware of the ineffectiveness of the Cover-2 with this personnel) the second series was more of the same: variations of the Cover-1, man coverage on the outside, occasionally pressing the receivers (Tillman was up, pressing Fitzgerald three of the nine plays in this drive), and just one blitz to help generate some pressure in a passing situations.

The Bears were conservative and the Cardinals scored 14 points in two possessions. In the 17 plays the Cards ran in their first two series, they were in a 2^nd or 3^rd down situations just six times. Good luck playing any scheme when the other team gets to start 1^st and ten on more than half their plays.

But things changed on the next two possessions. Lovie began sending extra guys from all over the place: safeties, one linebacker, two linebackers, up the middle, on the outside. (**) The only problem was whomever Lovie sent to sit on the quarterback would’ve been just as useful had he run head-on with one of his teammates.

(**) I counted nine blitzes in 17 plays over the next two Cards’ series. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any official statistics with this information, but that’s what I saw.

The Bears have struggled blitzing for a while now. Last season they blitzed more than about every team in the league; they were also one of the most ineffective blitzing teams. Sunday was more of the same as pass rushing linebackers and safeties continually ran into piles of offensive lineman. Running into the line, or getting blocked by a running back, didn’t bother Warner in the pocket, but it did remove at least one guy from coverage.

The point of all this being: what more can Lovie do?

After the Bengals mess people were upset because Lovie stuck with the Tampa-2; against the Cards it was barely used. Lovie was forced to change his initial game plan after ONE QUARTER!!! because the front four couldn’t generate any pressure and his starting three-technique decided to punch a guy in the face … whom was wearing a helmet.

Throughout the game in Cincy, Lovie hardly did as much as add an extra defender in obvious run situations. Against the Cards, Lovie used a variety of coverages and tried to generate pressure from different spots. It wasn’t in the game plan to blitz, because the Bears are awful at it. But he was sending everyone by the second quarter, because the Bears had to do something to generate pressure. Problem is the Bears are awful at it and it didn’t change what was happening on the field.

I guess it’s Lovie’s job to find a reason the Bears are awful at it.

Get blown out once and it’s a bad game. Get blown out twice and it’s probably a bad team; this is really the only important piece of information to take away from this game.

No new problems appeared, but the Bears’ same problems continue to prevent the Bears from really challenging for a playoff spot. Speaking of problems, the offensive line played one of their better games on Sunday. They still lost, because in place of one problem were a line of problems waiting their turn to be the reason the Bears look like crap. This week it was the defense … the entire defense.

A few thoughts about the Bears’ 41-21 loss to the Cardinals:

Does Lovie want Jay out of the picture?

Of course, I’m kidding. Lovie Smith doesn’t want Jay Cutler dead. He needs Jay Cutler. Though I’m willing to listen to any theory as to why he left Cutler in the game after the Cardinals took a 41-21 lead, because I’m lost.

If I were allowed to attend Lovie Smith’s press conference it’d be the only question I really have: Why was Jay Cutler still playing after his interception in the fourth quarter? With the following follow-up: Is your primary goal to have your team’s best player hate you or have killed by a pass rusher? Or, is that a consequence you’re willing to accept for another reason, and what’s the reason?

Now, that’s a tough question! Because I don’t think it has a good answer.

Can’t block ‘em, Screen ‘em

Hey a positive. The Bears looked good running the screen pass today.  Whether it was the middle screen, WR screen, the delay screen, they all worked.  Ron Turner: +1.

(Sad voice) Now, another negative. The reverse play to Devin Hester (even though it was first down and the Bears were moving the ball without trickery) didn’t work so well. The result of the reverse to Hester was a loss of ten yards and one killed drive. Ron Turner: -1.

Later Tommie

Tommie Harris was thrown out of the game after four plays. Four f***ing plays. SBNation is out to determine if this is the quickest ejection ever. I’m not sure about this, but I do know no one should be ejected before their name scrolls across the FOX starting lineup thingy.

Image Courtesy of No Spain, No Gain

Jay Cutler threw three picks and dropped two (albeit low) snaps, and no one really cares. After the Green Bay game, if I told you the Bears were going to lose by five touchdowns just six weeks later and Cutler would throw three interceptions, would you believe me if I told you it wouldn’t even register on the “Uh-oh, the Bears might be in trouble” Scale. It’s hard to believe so many frustrating – and at the same time comical – events happened in one afternoon that the Bears’ brand new, $14.668 million man and his interceptions were forced to the 17th paragraph in the AP’s game recap.

I give the Bears credit though. They made sure Cutler was an afterthought: everything that went wrong, went really wrong. The things (the defensive line, Tommie Harris, Nick Roach, the team’s inability to block the person in front of them, etc.) all definitely deserve to be a greater concern. It’s not even close.

It didn’t take long to see the Bears were heading for a long day. Any Bears fan realizes before Cutler even tosses his first pick that the Bears were going to have some issues throughout the game. Really, anyone can scout the Bears’ problems by only watching the first two series. In total, it takes about 20 minutes to get a full analysis. Done. Scouted.

On the first series, there was no pressure on the quarterback, a spot in the defense the Bears could never quite cover and corners that were outclassed one-on-one when Lovie Smith did decide to throw guys (I think they were blitzers) into the pile of Bengals offensive lineman protecting Carson Palmer. Obviously, things went wrong and the Bengals drove 77 yards on eight plays.

The Bears made a few adjustments, but results were largely the same. Despite slight changes to the Cover-2, it didn’t work; therefore, the Cover-2 is a bad defense and the Bears shouldn’t use it any more.

Of course, I’m kidding. There’s nothing wrong with the Cover-2; at least there’s nothing inherently wrong with it. The Bears’ Cover-2, which used to be the league’s go-to template of the defense, has become about as useful as Tommie Harris at a Wednesday practice. While it really isn’t the same as it used to be, fans still remember what it once looked like, see the potential, hope it comes back; however, deep down, realize the pieces aren’t the same.

In some situations the players are the same as the old, glory days. Adewale Ogunleye and Alex Brown are still asked to bring pressure from the outside, eliminating the need of a blitzing linebacker. Except now, instead of forcing Palmer to throw the ball a split second before he’d like or to come behind him for a strip-sack, they’re being digested by tackles, allowing the QB time to pick apart the holes that everyone knows exist in the Cover-2.

Now, I feel the need to clear something up. Every team in the NFL knows holes exist in the Cover-2; it’s not that Cincinnati all of a sudden figured it out this week. Offenses knew holes were present when the Bears rode the Cover-2 to the Super Bowl (and Indianapolis used the Cover-2 to win the Super Bowl.) There are soft spots in the Cover-3, the 3-4 and every other conceivable defense. There is no “magic” defense that covers everything on the field. (Well, there’s Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu, but they’re not available options right now.)

Like every other defense, the Cover-2 needs players to take away as much of the soft spots as possible, or at least get in the way a little. Sometimes it takes great players to do it; the Bears are forced to deal with the soft spots in their defense with simply OK players. More specifically, the deep middle, and Nick Roach who just can’t seem to get back far enough from his spot as a middle linebacker.

Enter new personnel problem number two. (One being the fact that Harris was suspended for Sunday’s game, and when he’s playing isn’t really the three-technique the Cover-2 demands.) Nick Roach isn’t Brian Urlacher (gasp).

In Seattle, Roach played a great game for a third-string middle linebacker forced into heavy action in a tight spot. This all happened after Hunter Hillenmeyer cracked his rib earlier in the game. Roach made a couple of great plays, including deflecting a pass on fourth down to seal the Bears’ win. But, when the Bears stopped playing quarterbacks named Seneca Wallace, Roach’s lack of skill running backwards real fast has been obvious.

Roach is living off of his game against the Seahawks, and benefits from the mental images of Hillenmeyer, trailing speedy tight ends while in man-to-man coverage, that Bears fans have. Though despite Hillenmeyer’s weaknesses in man, his zone coverage skills make him a more able replacement to Urlacher in the middle.

Against the Bengals, Palmer, Ochocinco or whomever the Bengals’ play sent in the deep middle of the field was more or less wide open. (Really, I only re-watched the first Bengals series, and it’s pretty obvious whom they were going to pick on.) The soft spot in the zone that used to be covered by a super-athletic, 6’4” experienced All-Pro who could run backwards as quickly as some wide receivers run forwards is now being less tightly secured by a third-year, 6’1” guy that is usually a step or two (or four) away from where he needs to be. Every team the Bears have played against since Urlacher went down in Week 1 tried to take advantage of this fact; only, it hadn’t been this painfully obvious until the Bengals made it look so easy.

Now, as long as the Bears can’t get pressure with the front-four there’s not much they can do to protect the deep middle against a team with good wide receivers and an accurate quarterback. Everyone knows the holes are going to be there. The Bears play Cover-2 quite a bit, and with Roach’s struggles they’re not really able to hide the scheme at any point during the game. Roach’s backwards running problem prevent him from creeping up to the line, showing blitz and trying to cause some confusion among the QB and his O-Line. Only problem is a different look at the snap takes Roach or two steps farther away from where he needs to be at the end of the play – 15-20 yards down the field.

Cover-2, or whatever else the Bears are running, has little to do with the Bears’ defense stopping the run in obvious run situations. For most of the game, the Bengals’ offensive linemen placed the Bears like they were furniture in a living room while Cedric Benson ran wherever he wanted. Usually, Bears defenders were nice enough not to touch him while he was running – trying to make up for all the cheap shots Benson got as a rookie in training camp, I guess.

Benson ran all over the Bears for 189 yards and a touchdown. A lot of these yards came early in the game when Smith was slow to add an eighth guy in the box to help an outmatched front-seven; an odd decision considering the Texans success stopping Benson last week (16 attempts for 44 yards) and their inclusion of a safety in the box for most of the game. It took a couple of possessions before Al Afalava was moved closer to the line of scrimmage, although the Bengals figured that out too (Benson ran for 91 yards in the second half, when everyone knew the Bengals would be running on most plays).

Oh look, I don’t even have time to talk about the offensive line. Or, maybe I just don’t want to.

Hey, at least Matt Forte averaged four yards per carry. That’s pretty good. No, I’m just kidding, everything that happened on Sunday afternoon sucked. There are no bright spots, unless your set your sights so low and consider the fact that Cutler is still alive a bright spot. He spent too much time on the ground, grimacing in pain, for my taste. But, hey, how much do you really want to protect a new, multi-million dollar investment really?A few quick notes about Sunday’s suck-fest:

• Nick Roach has had a couple of good moments this season, especially in Seattle when he was forced to play a lot of minutes. But, if Hunter Hillenmeyer’s healthy, it’s time to move him back to MLB. As much Cover-2 as the Bears play, Roach just doesn’t get deep enough in his drop to affect any throws over the deep middle. Pretty much every series, Carson Palmer hit Chad Ochocinco (or whomever the Bengals sent over the middle) for long gains, usually just over the hands of Roach. Hillenmeyer isn’t Brian Urlacher, but he was kept on this team specifically for his ability to play MLB and get back in coverage. Plus, his 6′4″ frame makes it just a little more difficult for opposing QBs compared to Roach’s 6′1″.

• Still, can’t blame Roach for everything that happened against the Cover-2. Unless, the front four does a better job getting just a little bit of pressure, there isn’t much any safety or linebacker can do against a decent offense who reads the defense correctly.

• As for stopping the running game, they just got beat up. For a little while, it hurt not having an eighth guy in the box. But, even when they did creep Al Afalava up with the backers and they knew the Bengals were running later in the game, they still got destroyed off the ball. Not too worried about this happening again though, they’ve been generally good against the run this season.

• The Bengals defense played the Bears perfectly. They knew they could get pressure rushing only four guys. Well, at least they knew they could get enough pressure to eliminate a lot of 5-step drops and all 7-step drops, and make it difficult for the Bears to hit any receivers deep. Since they didn’t have to blitz anyone on a consistent basis, the linebackers just drifted back to the 10-12 yard range and took away the intermediate pass; Cutler was forced to dump the ball off short, and except for a handful of times, the Bears receivers didn’t do all that much when they made the catch.

More on the Bears game tomorrow, after I tape my eyes open and force myself to watch it again.

On Sunday night Jay Cutler played as bad as he can play (at least I think he did). Still, even a crappy premiere couldn’t soil the beginning of the Jay Cutler era.

Seriously, how great is it to have a 26-year old franchise quarterback?

Remember last season, when the Bears lost 35-7 in Lambeau? That Sunday afternoon, like this Sunday night, I was as excited as I get for a non-playoff game. Then … the game started.

That team looked real bad, a lot worse than they looked on Sunday. After the loss, the team fell to 5-5, and were only still competitive because the division was so bad.

The game ended, the season looked to be over and the future looked bleak. Before Jerry Angelo pulled off the deal of the decade, fans were about as optimistic as Cubs fans going into 2010 and beyond. There were so many holes to fill, and only enough money, draft picks and Jerry Angelo “geniusness” to fill a couple of them.

If you’re scoring at home, in one 28-point ass-whooping against a bad Packers team, everything was over. The Bears got blown out in game they never had a chance in, playoffs chances dimmed and the future looked even bleaker, as each hole on the depth chart was compounded with the fact that the Bears still had to fix the most important position in professional sports.

That’s not how it is anymore.

Sure, Sunday night was bad (and not just Cutler was bad), and there are still questions for the 2009 team, but how many things would you want to change about the future. Even when the Bears have a bad game or an average season, the foundation for the future is set. Just remember to keep things in perspective.

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Cutler was really bad on Sunday night; more than a few times Cutler made me bury my face in my hands because he was rolling right, off-balanced, cocked and ready to throw to his left. And, each time he did this, I really didn’t know whose hands the ball would end up in.

Not that any of this is really a surprise. Anyone who watches football already knew Cutler’s tendency for the wild and risky throw — as much as they knew about the big arm, size and talent — but there’s enough tape from Denver to reasonably place any bad game in perspective.

There’s also enough tape to believe Cutler can throw for 300-yards and three TDs next week. Nothing that happened in Green Bay made a big game by Cutler or a good season from the Bears franchise quarterback any less likely. But, for the team to succeed, things need to change.

Cutler will need more help then he got. Cutler compounded the team’s problems by forcing bad throws, but there will still problems that altered the way that Cutler played.

The Bears offensive line played like the 3-4 really was a “magical” system that turns average Packers defensive players into a Super Bowl-caliber defense; however, Cutler looked flustered moving within the pocket and did a poor job making decisions when he did avoid the rush. When an inexperienced receiving corp seemed confused, ran poor routes and simply gave up on more than one occasion, Cutler threw it to them and many times it was tough to see what looking at and why he made the throw.

Cutler’s poor decisions won’t ruin the Bears season, and if the Bears receivers run smart routes, finish them and are where they’re supposed to be, Cutler will make them better this season. As far as how far the Bears go this season, Frank Omiyale whiffing on defensive lineman or Earl Bennett not really knowing … anything, is what will ruin this season.