Lovie Smith is 51-41 as Bears head coach, including playoffs, but he’s just 20-20 over the last three seasons since reaching the Super Bowl in 2006. Smith’s 51 wins are the third most in franchise history, trailing only George Halas (324) and Mike Ditka (112). He is 3-0 in his career against the 49ers, and I can’t imagine a bigger game in his career than tonight.
Smith has taken over the defense this season and the Bears have gotten worse from a year ago. Granted, they’re missing some key players, but fundamentally they have not been sound with their defense all season. In two of the last three weeks, they’ve been behind 62-10 at the half. Yes, at the half. The Bears have trailed at halftime in each of their four road games (outscored 68-19 in the first half on the road this season).
I thought quarterback Jay Cutler played on a team with a bad defense last year in Denver, but this year, in spite of the talent level being better in Chicago, the Bears are just as bad. It’s hard to play quarterback when you know if you’re forced to punt, the next time you get the ball, you may be down in the score. The Bears struggle to play any phase of defense well right now. Recently, they haven’t been able to stop the run, they haven’t been able to rush and they haven’t been able to defend the pass. How did this team beat the Steelers?
Even though both teams are not playing great right now, I expect the game to have a playoff atmosphere. The Bears have to find a way to win this game to keep pace with the wild card teams in the NFC. They’ve invested too much into this season to let it all fall by the wayside -- which is why this is a big game for Lovie Smith and his entire coaching staff.
For the Bears to win, they have to stop the 49ers’ running game and make it a one-dimensional contest. When the 49ers have to pass, their liability at left tackle and right guard show up quickly and they struggle to pass protect. The Bears will have their hands full dealing with a very physical 49ers front, but if they protect, they can throw all over the poor 49ers secondary.
The 49ers have to play with the lead and must be able to control the game — it’s their only recipe for winning. Head coach Mike Singletary will have them ready and motivated for a huge first quarter — but as we all know, they will need to sustain that energy for four quarters. The Bears were embarrassed last week, which is why I think they’ll find a way to pull this game out and keep their playoff hopes alive. If they don’t, get ready for all the Mike Shanahan talk about coming home to join his former quarterback.
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I'd say 2 missed field goals by Jeff Reed and no Troy Polamalu is the reason the Bears beat the Steelers.
DREW T.
Who are you? Cutler's mom? He has no trouble ca$hing in his paycheck.
He cried his way out of Denver.
He thinks he's got a better arm than Elway. (His words).
Time to shut up and play.
Ever since Bowlen fired Shanahan and Cutler bolted to the Bears I've predicted that the two would be reunited in the Windy City following this year. Shanny will sell himself as the only coach who can truly harness Jay's amazing skills.
As for the bears struggles this year, I wonder if some of it is related to Jays quick strike offense that scores super fast that forces the defense back on the field too soon and often.
Too many defenders are out, but Harris promised to play better maybe he can lead the way. The Bears essenntially have a nickle back or safety as a starting corner, that isn't great for coverage. They need to hit big, usually the team plays a converted end at strong linebacker, can this match up with Davis, and if not can the nickle shoulder run support?
The Niners seem to rotate people at safety as well to strong side. Lewis is a great run stopper against run fronts, the other safety has more speed so he should be in position to play the ball better at times. Lewis is still a favorite for how he plays, he finishes tackles and has game sense. The Bears have a great pass catcher at one tight end and a solid blocker at the other one, if the Niners go double tight do they nickle and match each safety up to their similar defender?
How much does Singletary change stuff up now? He seems to be more of the school that you stay with consistent looks to get better coverage results, and key just enough items to remain aggressive. He could be one coach that really changes what coverage can dictate.
A 3-3-5 would let them use Michael Lewis in run stopping ability for their nickle sets and still bring all kind of blitz looks. Ironically it is a high school/college trend, one that actually converts to a lot of the zone blitz principles in the coverage options it provides. Could the Niners line handle that much run assignment football and just let the blitz do its work?
Singletary's team could be one of the most intriguing matchups for the plethora of spread football going on. He's able to be an X and O's type in defensive game planning and still put hard hats on the fundamentals. Patrick WIllis gives his team game presence to be what his coach was(and is) to a game plan.
It's still a huge work in progress, the challenge is on both teams, this is separation week in a playoff style.
BTW, Gore, Crabby, and Hester are all on my FF team, let's see each of those guys get plenty of reps, please!
Dre Bly sighting @ 13:40
Three time outs @ :37 sec in the first half, sounds like Mike is writing up a story already. However, Bly is supect enough in coverage that going no huddle or hurry up is better than allowing him to get help on a reset....
Let's see what Cutler can kamikaze against Samurai Singletary's defense now!
Dang JP...I gotta say...I've re-read my comment over and over again and have a hard time figuring out how it could be mistaken as pro-Cutler. That initial sentence-- the one in quotes-- is out of Lombardi's article. In fact, I'm so generally anti-Cutler that I thought twice about taking a shot at his 'franchise' designation again. I just can't resist. I was the King of Cutler rationalizers when he was a Bronco, but once he spit on the organization and its fans, I've come to realize what he really is: a career loser who transcends nothing, except maybe his rightful reputation.
Its all about the laundry...and I'm a Broncos guy through and through. No Cutler love or sentimentality here.
I don't really care one way or another about Cutler, the Broncos or the Bears. But IMO this post-game quote from Cutler is pretty murderous:
"I've played Thursday games before and been successful," Cutler said. "It didn't effect us. We saw everything coming. They didn't have any surprises for us. We just didn't execute."
Hmmm...I'VE been successful...but WE just didn't execute. So success is a me thing, but failure is a team thing. If I were his teammate I'd be thinking, "Who's 'we,' Mr. Five-INT Man? Got a mouse in your pocket?" Jeez. That's how a QB loses his team.
How hard is it to say, "I feel terrible, everyone busted their humps and we were in place to win, but I made some bad decisions and gave it away. This one's on me." It's only the truth and all.
That initial sentence-- the one in quotes-- is out of Lombardi's article. In fact, I'm so generally anti-Cutler that I thought twice about taking a shot at his 'franchise' designation again.
That initial sentence-- the one in quotes-- is out of Lombardi's article.
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Nov 12, 2009
06:12 PM
"It’s hard to play quarterback when you know if you’re forced to punt, the next time you get the ball, you may be down in the score."
When it comes down to it, isn't this really the difference between a 'franchise' QB and a guy that's part of the pack. The franchise guy transcends the normal adversity, and the system guy succumbs to the inevitable. You can gloss over Jay Cutler all you want, but at the end of the day, he rarely makes a difference. I would expect him to do just enough to keep the monkey off his particular back again tonight...but not a whole lot more.