My Friends,
The flags were flying and the South Lot was its usual
boisterous self on another perfect opening day, with our gracious hosts Bruce
and Jim throwing down a veritable smorgasbord of homemade entrees that would have
made any veteran tailgater envious. Of special note was the grilled chicken
breast with Gouda, served on a ciabatta slathered with a garlic pesto aioli, as
well as the grilled Cajun andouille appetizers. Allegedly they also phoned
Trotter’s To Go to see if he had any Brad Maynard Tender Groin for the group,
but it turned out that was a hot selling item now that it’s back on the menu.
In any event the food was awfully good, and a great way to kick off the home
dance card.
Unfortunately, we were only treated to half a game
afterward, as the defense was stout and special teams stellar while the offense
once again failed to show up. The excuse last week was that the Bears were up
against the vaunted Chargers defense, but they were exposed by New England to
the tune of 38 points tonight.
It’s kind of strange to walk out of Soldier Field with a
win and feel deflated, but somehow the Bears managed to inflict that emotion on
us this afternoon. If this keeps up, the D is going to run out of gas well
before December, and we’ll be left to reminisce about what might have been in
2006 had Tommie Harris been healthy for the Super Bowl.
We can look on the bright side and point out that Cedric
Benson managed to top 100 yards with a 4.2 average, but that’s about all I can
come up with when the Bears had the ball. That, and their first offensive
touchdown of the season, scored by a tackle no less. What happened to all those
skill position players?
So what’s wrong? Did Ron Turner call another conservative
game? I’m starting to wonder, because I can’t believe that the imagination he
showed in his first go around has suddenly vanished. My guess is he’s sending
in plays with options that these guys can’t execute.
Like a Rex Grossman screen pass to Garrett Wolfe, who had
a wall of blockers in front of him, floating over everybody and directly into
the hands of the Chiefs’ Nate Harris. Grossman’s other interception was vintage
as well, when he locked onto Rashied Davis coming over a clogged short middle
and instead threw it to a waiting Donnie Edwards, sitting on the pattern. And
he should have had a third pick when he underthrew Bernard Berrian into triple
coverage at the end of the first half. Grossman was having a solid game up
until that throw, but he was a train Wrecks after that point. Is that all it
takes to push him off the rails?
Also, I’m tired of watching Grossman try to “evade” the
rush. More often than not he steps back instead of up, right into the arms of a
defensive end who’s finally getting around one of our tackles. Two of his three
sacks happened that way today.
Another sore spot is the way he tosses balls into the
flat. Hasn’t Pep Hamilton taught him to throw the ball to the upfield shoulder
of the receiver? Shouldn't he have learned that in Bloomington? On one throw
Grossman had Jason McKie twisted into a pretzel, to the point that he probably
would have lost yards had he caught the overthrown pass. Why is he in there if
he can’t handle a simple dump off?
Grossman’s line: 20/34, 160 yards, 1TD, 2INT, and a 56.0
rating. I guess that’s considered improvement when last week he posted a 53.7,
but at this rate he won’t reach 90 before January, which isn’t going to happen
putting up 200+ yards of offense each week. It’s time for Lovie to split reps
with the first team during practice, and every week for that matter. Brian
Griese deserves a chance to see if he can find somebody downfield and keep it
away from the guys in the other color jerseys.
To be fair, it doesn’t help Grossman when Davis and
Muhsin Muhammad are dropping balls that hit them in their hands. Isn’t Muhammad
supposed to be their possession receiver?
I’ve seen enough of his “veteran leadership.” Start the tally now on Moose
droppings because it looks like he’s picked up (dropped off?) right where he
finished last year, and if that’s the case, why not give Mark Bradley a shot
opposite Berrian? Use Bradley until he breaks again and maybe you’ll find out
he can play. He showed he had the tools before he went down against the Lions
as a rookie.
And while they’re at it, consider reducing the role of Devin Hester in the offense. I know the
thought is they need to get him more touches, but he’s going to get killed with
this Keystone Kops show. I’d like to turn the old adage that you don’t risk
starters as return men on its head, because losing Hester’s return ability on
this inept offense would be devastating defensively and in the field position
game.
Benson had his hundred, but I can’t help but think he would
have had close to 160 had he had any kind of help from the offensive line. It’s
early days, but the fear here is that the oldest line in the NFL is showing its
age in game two, and if that’s true it’s going to make for a very long year.
It’s no comfort to say Jerry Angelo has nobody to blame but himself for that.
Angelo better hope Josh Beekman can play, because he has completely neglected
the offensive line while building one of the best defenses in the NFL. I guess
that’s a good thing, because we’re going to get to watch that D play about 40
minutes a game if this keeps up.
Mojo summed it up well by deeming the victory unworthy of
the cigar he traditionally lights after a win, keeping it tucked in its
container for another day. Perhaps that’ll come at home next week against the
2-0 Cowboys, who sit atop the NFC with the resurgent (?!) 49ers, Lions and
dreaded cheese. I knew the stinkkäse won because the wife remembered to turn on
the lights in front of the house this evening, as sure a sign as any that the
packers were victorious in their swamp tilt earlier.
Oh, there’s one more thing on the bright side. With their
1-1 record, the Bears are a game behind the Cowboys in the NFC standings. It
may only be week three, but it’s never too early to consider conference
tiebreakers and the first one is head-to-head. So the Bears face a must-win on
their own national stage this Sunday night, and with a victory they’ll be one
step closer to sitting atop the conference. On the other hand, if they lose,
there’s virtually no chance the conference championship game will return to
Soldier Field in January.
So be happy. In a week either the Bears will be back on
top, or you can look forward to your playoff money refund hitting the mail just
about the time when those Christmas bills come rolling in.
LBF
9/17/2007