Da Dos

Category: NFL, Bears, Twitter, YouTube, GIF

  • Bounceback Bears!

    Bounceback Bears!

    Everyone’s trying to create a great nickname for the ’25 Bears. “Cardiac Cubs” [meh]. “Comeback Kids” [trite]. One I did fancy was “The Cocaine Bears“:

    “They’re never dead, and like a cocaine addicted bear, they self-destruct before wreaking havoc around everyone around them…for the win.” [11:08]

    However, I’ll just go with the Bounceback Bears.

    For starters, they have absolutely bouncebacked from that abysmal ’24 season in which Matt Eberflus found innovative ways to snatch losses from the jaws of victory to the point where he became the first HC EVER in Bears’ history to get terminated midseason.

    Mind you, the Bears have been around since Coca-Cola laced their drinks with actual coke, the Treaty of Versailles was signed, and Prohibition passed. It’s even more impressive when one recalls the clown-car of HCs in that time span[cough, Trestman].

    The disastrous season culminated in THREE different OCs and 68 sacks which ranks 3rd all-time.

    In addition, we must remember the infuriating way Flus called defense: rarely blitzing, playing the CBs 5 yards off, essentially gifting every team free crossers, always reactive, soft, and flaccid which no beard makeover could fix.

    Who can forget when on a key play Flus made a DT cover an athletic TE, or basically bending over vs Washington leading to that infamous Hail Mary?

    Fast forward to now…

    Enter the 2025 Bears. They already have FIVE comeback victories.

    And they’re not your ho-hum, run-of-the-mill, comebacks either.

    They’re crazy catches [Loveland], walk off blocked FGs [Raiders], snatched fumbled snaps [Washington], Duvernay KR [Vikings], 26 YD shanked punt [Giants].

    I still don’t think my heart has recovered from that Bengals game alone.

    How many times did we say to ourselves in the 3rd QTR, “Here we go again. Same ole Bears. It’s over…” Yet it was only beginning.

    Say what you will about the Bears, but they’re dramatic must-watch TV.

    And entertaining!

    Sure, they’re about as fun as massive turbulence, learning how to drive in a stick-shift, approaching a hot girl, or surfing a tsunami…

    But fun nonetheless!

    And in the end, isn’t that the whole point of sports?

    I remember playing at the parks, and some chads were just waaaay too competitive. Don’t get me wrong, I was competitive too [no one who plays sports isn’t competitive to some degree], but I wasn’t going to FIGHT over it – or go to my car to dig for weapons.

    Mostly though, park-ball was an organic energetic activity with tons of synergistic highs: it was jazz.

    Organized sports OTOH was like joining a military marching band. All about winning, structure, PAIN.

    I didn’t begin playing sports to suffer. I never had Tiger Woods’ dad brainwashing me since I was 10 months old, dragging me out to golf at 5AM like some Marine Drill Instructor when I should be eating cereal and watching cartoons in my Spider-Man undies [fast forward to what happens to such ppl like Tiger or Michael Jackson].

    I admit that PRO athletes are indeed getting paid to win; however, I am not getting paid to watch, nor was I getting paid to play.

    I played sports because – it was fun.

    As I’m sure most of us did.

    Winning came later, and don’t get me wrong, WINNING is great, but it’s more like sex in a marriage: the spice, not the meal.

    If I gave it my all, and got beat, well – I got beat. That’s life.

    If a 6’4, 220 college power-forward is posting me up, not much a 5’9, 175 point-guard can do about it – even if you’re Allen Iverson.

    That’s life.

    And because that’s life, many of us turn to watching sports where it’s SUPPOSED to be an even playing field; where players step on the stage to flaunt their athletic prowess and leave us in wonderment and awe.

    For 3 brief hours we are transported to the sublime.

    All I ask every Bears’ season is for them to be relevant by Thanksgiving. That’s it.

    They don’t have to become a juggernaut, go undefeated, or remake the ’85 season [would be awesome!]…

    Simply be a viable playoff contender every Thanksgiving instead of the butt of jokes [don’t get me started on the Bear memes] or worse, my friends putting their hands on my shoulder offering condolences for 30 years straight.

    The ’25 Bears are relevant in late November.

    Bill Parcells used to say that the real season starts after Thanksgiving, but you know, we’ll get to that.

    For now, I’m going to take a moment of zen and cherish this wild season. They don’t strike very often [last one may have been the Dick Jauron 13-win season 24 years ago].

    So let’s all appreciate the 7-3, NFCN leading, Bounce Back Bears!

    And pass the statins…

  • Bears@Vikings Game Preview

    Bears@Vikings Game Preview

    Minny leads series 69-58-2

    By the numbers:

    Bears’ O 26.6 PPG [7th] Can you believe it!

    Week 1 Vikes beat Bears 27-24

    -JJ 143 YDS, 2TDs, 1 INT, 1 Rush TD, 98.5 Rating
    -Caleb 210 YDS, 1 TD, 86.6 Rating

    Vikings’ Pass D allows 102.7 Rating to opposing QBs [24rth]. They only have 3 INTs the whole season. In addition, they have also allowed 24+ points in past 4 games.

    So in theory, this should be a favorable matchup for Caleb through the air.

    Despite this, they boast an athletic front which held Lamar Jackson, arguably the most efficient QB, to 58%, 176 YDs, 1 TD

    Their run D seems a bit more stout holding King Henry to 75 yds, 3.8 ypc. Season long they concede 4.2 ypc [16th].

    JJ McCarthy has been held to a sub 83 QB rating in last 3 games [54.5 vs Ravens] and is going to play with a bruised hand that has limited his practice.

    He has also been sacked 11 times in previous 2 games. Bears have racked up 3+ sacks in back-to-back games, but the key will be if JJ holds on to the ball.

    What should worry Bears more is Vikings rushed for 167 YDs [6.7 ypc] vs Ravens as JJ contributed 48. Given how Dart – darted around – hopefully the D practiced setting the edge, contain, and RPOs.

    Season-long Bears’ D is giving up 5.2 ypc [29th], and if Edwards remains out, you bet your ass the Vikings are going to want to limit JJ passing as much as possible and attack Jarrett/Chris Williams/Sewell every chance they get.

    This is where the Caleb gauntlet begins. Like Hercules and his 12 Labors, Caleb will need to prove himself in order to relieve a lot traumatized Bear fans.

    X-Factor

    Bears played a relatively clean game vs Gmen [3 accepted flags], but will this carry over on the road in a raucous stadium? The Bears NEED to start winning some of these div games [they’re 0-2 currently] in order to stay atop the division or ahead on the WC race with tie-breakers.

    Let the labors commence!

    Overtime. Michael Franzese is a former Columbo cappo who was heavily involved with athletes gambling. If you even watched ONE mafia flick, you know that gambling is YUGE in that culture, so this is his take on what’s rocking the NBA and MLB.

    “My dad told me there’s three things that can kill you: wine, gambling, and women. Watch all three of them.“

  • The Promised Land

    The Promised Land

    “Charlie Wilson’s War” is a criminally underrated movie. It’s about the CIA funding the Mujahideen in Afghanistan; it’s so absurd, it has to be true. Spoiler alert – it didn’t end well!

    Well, one scene specifically is cinematic magic in the hands of the late great Phillip Seymour Hoffman.

    This is how I feel about the Caleb Williams’ journey.

    Rookie year was up and down as Caleb definitely held on to the ball for too long resulting in a whopping 68 sacks [3rd most all time], but he did steer Bears to some late-time heroics including defeating GB in the finale.

    Nevertheless, the whole fiasco of going through 3 different OCs and Flus mid-season firing made it impossible to objectively evaluate.

    Up and down. Up and down.

    “We’ll see.”

    2025. First game he essentially gets outplayed by a raw JJ McCarthy. Then crushed by the Lions.

    He sucks!

    “We’ll see.”

    Later Caleb goes off on toothless Dallas.

    He’s great!

    “We’ll see.”

    Tyler Huntley comes off the Practice Squad and outduels him.

    Heck, often this rollercoaster spins us through loops in a single game.

    Bear games should come with the same warning: do not ride if you have a heart condition or abnormal blood pressure.

    Jaxson Dart, a rook on an awful team with a walking-dead HC, looked better than Caleb. Blame drops, BJ, wind, Tall Whites…don’t matter, Dart still looked sharper passing and running than Caleb [Flacco didn’t look too shabby in comparison either].

    Then Comeback Caleb dons his cape, and we know the rest.

    So where does that leave us?

    “We’ll see.”

    One thing is certain: through 10 weeks, the Bears have played some of the softest defenses.

    Jared@CinnamonJared
    ·
    The bears strength of schedule is .351 (next closest is Buffalo at .407) and their strength of victory is .272 (next closest is the jets at .278)

    Both easiest in the entire league

    Our very own Zombie posted this in-depth commentary:

    —————
    I know we’re all excited about being relevant this “late” in a season. Perhaps some perspective?

    Here are the records of Bears opponents thus far, not including the games against the Bears.

    The teams that beat the Bears
    Detroit: 5-3
    Minnesota: 3-5
    Baltimore: 3-5
    Aggregate: 11-13 (.458)

    Teams the Bears beat:
    Cowboys: 3-4-1
    Bengals: 3-5
    Commanders: 3-6
    Raiders: 2-6
    Saints: 2-7
    Giants: 2-7
    Aggregate: 15-35-1 (.304)

    Grand aggregate: .353

    In other words, bottom feeding. If you add the Bears games, the winning percentage of the opponents is 29-54-1, a mighty .351.

    Of course, you can only play who is on the schedule.

    But, clearly we ain’t done nothin’ yet.

    ———-
    Zombie is not alone. Twitter is brimming with [illiterate] doomers:

    Needless to say, the future SOS doesn’t get easier.

    “Front-runners” is a word floating around the Bears like Drakkar Noir at a gaudy discotheque.

    The other standard ‘slander’ on Caleb is that he wouldn’t need to be Captain Comeback if he actually played well for the other 3 QTRs.

    Or that despite the D spotting him 3 extra possessions, he still barely beats horrendous defenses.

    Common counters – Caleb only in his sophomore season, new to BJ-system, LT is some Canadian walk-on, he’s cut down his sack rate from 10.8 to 4.6 , unfair to compare to Maye, ‘this is a hit piece!’…

    And round-n-round we go.

    A lot of us may live in a Bear echo-chamber, but perhaps the sole good thing about Twitter is that one can see the haters from every echo-chamber!

    So what does this all mean?

    Simple. Caleb must prove the doubters wrong down the stretch.

    It won’t be about stats, comp %, EPA, “4K!” or other nerdanomics.

    Maybe not even about wins and losses.

    Caleb’s rating could hit 158.3 the rest of the way, and it won’t matter in the win column if the defense gets lit up by SB contenders like the Lions, Eagles, 9ers, Pack [2X]…while Specials continue to struggle as flags fly.

    Of course, we’re all going to be pulling for Caleb. How awesome would it be for him to rise above the criticism – to grow before our eyes and totally dominate from anthem to fade to black…

    To transfigure into that mythical elite QB we’ve all been waiting for so long…

    The franchise-messiah to finally lead us to the SB Promised-Land…

    Will he deliver?

    “We’ll see.”

  • Overtime Giants

    Overtime Giants

    Update. Bears are now tied for #1 with the Lions in the NFCN!

    Few additional take-aways from Sunday.

    1. Bears seemingly always get shafted with penalties.

    The refs didn’t hesitate to throw a roughing passer on Sewell when it was basically against the laws of physics for him to avoid the hit.

    Yet same refs, same games, didn’t throw the flag on Giants’ defender doing his best Sagat Tiger Knee to Caleb’s head.

    The crowd let the refs know it too. Think it was collectively getting the red-headed step child treatment for seemingly forever. I don’t know what Ben Johnson can do without getting fined, but SOMETHING must be done about this apparent unfavorable treatment. This game was relatively flag-less for Bears, but history says It could cost the Bears a playoff spot, or even a WC win down the line.

    2. Caleb scrambled more

    Cbear said he’d like to see Caleb run it more when it’s not there [+ to get down quickly], and BJ must’ve heard as Caleb seemed to scramble more.

    It wasn’t accidental either.

    Courtney Cronin
    DJ Moore on why the Bears are seeing an increase of critical scrambles from Caleb Williams: “I think he got the green light to go ahead and use his legs more because teams are playing 2-mans, quarters and man-to-man, so he can just be able to get out with his legs and be another weapon.”

    In other words, unlike Trubisky and Fields, Caleb‘s arm is forcing Ds off the LOS which opens up runlanes for him and the HBs. It’s also worth noting that they’re scrambles not designed Dart-runs which gets him killed every week. Caleb seems to only really resort to scrambles when absolutely necessary [unlike Fields].

    3. BJ needs to cut Olamide Zacchaeus‘ snaps and give them to Burden and Loveland.

    • Find some alternative to Sewell. Teams are just gonna keep attacking him in the pass which also stresses the run D
    • Jarrett snaps also need to be reduced. Seems like every time he’s in, a big play pops. Problem is Chris Williams ain’t it either. Bears may just be stuck here.
    • More run por favor, BJ

    Game balls.

    1. Caleb Offense
    2. CJ Gardner-Johnson Defense

    Shot out to Montez Sweat for his 4.5 sack in last 4 games; he’s absolutely not Dayoing it.

    On that note some are saying Ryan Poles needs to revamp the D. I’m not sure he’s CAPABLE of it. Dayo and Jarrett are going to cost the cap in ’26 $20M/$19M respectively.

    The wind was a big factor in the game. It forced both teams to go for it instead of settle for FGs.

    Result? They were a combined 2-8 in successfully converting a 4rth down which I think is least efficient 4rth down conversion rate in a few years. They essentially turned it over a combined 6 times on downs alone.

    Maybe Darnell Wright needs to start a political podcast named, “No Spin Zone”!

  • Mid-Term Grades ’25

    Mid-Term Grades ’25

    It’s halfway through the Bears’ 2025 season; as such, it’s enough of a sample size to grade.

    TLDW2R:

    A dynamic team on O and D with subpar specials.

    Now, “dynamic” doesn’t necessarily equal “excellent.”

    1. Dynamic:(of a process or system) characterized by constant change, activity, or progress.


    Offense:

    The Bears score 26.9 PPG [6th]
    YDs per game. 378.4 [4rth]
    Rush Yds per game. 144.4 [2nd]
    Sacks allowed. 14 [T-6th fewest]

    For me scoring [and preventing scores] are weighted heavily. I don’t care if they run 60 times a game, pass it 60 times, operate a wishbone/rpo/statue of liberty offense.

    This ain’t the Olympics. No style points. Results are results.

    Grade: B+

    Nevertheless, Bears need to absolutely clean up the presnap penalties.

    We should also keep in mind the strength of schedule [SOS] as it’s going to get significantly harder down the stretch.

    Caleb Williams’ watch:

    He looks to be improving even if marginally. I’ll share a bunch of stats on him, but my take thus far –

    Caleb seems more comfortable in the pocket [esp with the opening scripted plays]but still needs to improve with ball placement, anticipation, and decision making.

    A reg posted Caleb in wins/losses, so here’s what I found.

    I was also curious what Caleb’s rating is vs Dallas/Cincy and what it is vs every other team. It’s important because both Dallas and Cincy are historically awful defensively.

    It’s like Trubisky facing the Bucs twice that season and could totally throw off reality in such a short sample size.

    vs CIN/DAL. Pass Rtg=131
    vs Others. Pass Rtg=81.5

    [the latter is worse than Fields, Penix, Tua, Rattler, Wentz, and Flacco…]

    One MAJOR difference between Caleb and his predecessors [Trubisky/Fields] is that I don’t turn-off the TV if the Bears need a final 2-minute drive. Caleb seems to thrive in the crunch, and that can’t be quantified by stats.

    Eli, Flacco and Hurts aren’t exactly first ballot HOFers, but they were money when it counted and now own SB rings; heck, if Grossman and Cutler were that clutch, they would own SB rings too. So arrow pointing up.

    I’ll post the D/Specials manana.

  • Welcome, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka!

    Welcome, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka!

    DE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka is now a Bear.

    Details.

    I honestly never even heard of Shoyinka, so I’m not going to pretend to be a Shoyinka expert. Here’s what cold hard stats and some scouting eyes input.

    I’m relieved Poles didn’t throw a 2nd for Jermaine Johnson. The ‘rumors’ were about him, but apparently the Jets stuck to demanding a 2nd, and Poles didn’t cave.

    Nevertheless, why didn’t Poles offer a 3rd, which would’ve been higher than an Eagles’ 3rd, for Jaelan Philips?

    It also appears that Poles’ #1 target was Jeffery Simmons; however Simmons had a shortlist Bears weren’t on. I don’t fancy the rejection, but I very much like that Poles coveted Simmons. Shows he’s active and eagle-eyed.

    All-in-all?


    Shoyinka is merely a Dennis Allen [6’5 260 + wingspan] body. A young former first rounder with upside who cost practically nothing.

    His stats are actually eerily comparable to Dayo Odeyingbo but at least he’s not costing the Bears $48M.

    This feeling is like being at a car dealership. You’ve done all your research, calculated your budget, cross-priced, and settled on buying a used Toyota Camry.

    You get to the lot and right next to your Camry is a spanking brand new cherry red convertible sport’s car with plush leather bucket seats, electric everything and glowing…

    You drive off with your beige Camry telling yourself, “I didn’t overspend…I didn’t overspend…”

  • Bears Sign C.J. Gardner Johnson

    Bears Sign C.J. Gardner Johnson

    Yes, THAT C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Besides Javon Wimms punching him, C.J. also got the immortal Anthony Miller ejected from a playoff game.

    C.J. Gardner-Johnson most definitely has been productive when on the field.

    He’s big [5’11, 210], long and rangy. Still relatively young [27]. Versatile: can cover, tackle, blitz – play FS, CB, and NB. This helps with the uncertainty of both Kyler Gordon and Tyrique Stevenson [NTM J.J.]. Playing for Dennis Allen on the Saints also greatly expedites his learning curve which is, uhhhmm, about 4 days.

    He absolutely contributed to the Eagles’ SB run; they still love him in Philly [fits right in], but now C.J. has become a journeyman, and it isn’t for lack of talent, so what gives?

    Character flags.

    He’s a mouthy agitator on the field, and who the hell knows what off it, but Allen [who greenlit drafting him] and Ben Johnson apparently believe they can manage him.

    I like this signing. It’s a high upside-immediate need move that didn’t cost any draft capital or major cap.

    If C.J. wears out his welcome in a month, well, hopefully by then Stevenson and Gordon are healthy.

    This also is more evidence that B.J. seems more in charge of roster build than Ryan Poles. As we all know, most Bear GMs only want Boy Scouts. Now, this could simply be ‘any swinging d*%k’ desperation at DB, but it could foreshadow that future Bears may not have to be Ned Flanders.

    In addition Bears signed DE Jonathan Garvin to PS [probably because Shemar Turner was put on IR with a torn ACL while Dominque Robinson is sidelined for a few weeks with a high-ankle strain].

    Garvin’s 6’4, 257, 26 yrs old and was the 242nd overall pick in ’20.

    Chicago signed native CB Dallis Flowers. 6’1, 196, UFDA, 28 who also returns kicks [ran a 4.43].

    TE Steven Carlson [mostly a blocking TE/FB] also back.

    Overtime:

    ‘Caleb won’t bust. He’s too talented for that. The bigger fear is that he turns into Kyler Murray or Trevor Lawrence – a QB who fails to live up to expectations but still starts. A guy who’s going to cost $45M/yr to be the 15th best QB’ – Danny Parkins

    I honestly don’t know what’s the best solution to get Caleb Williams out of this funk. Y’all know my M.O.

    Sit them as rooks for as long as humanly possible, preferably a whole year like Mahomes. Needless to say, this assumes competent coaching and continuity which Poles failed to provide Caleb.

    However, plenty of QBs who started day 1 have prospered [Peyton, Burrow, et al], so playing through the rough times is equally viable.

    I sorta suspect the benching Caleb so he can learn ship has sailed [like his accuracy. Zing!]

    In for a penny, in for a pound, comes to mind.

    That being said, if B.J. decides Caleb needs to sit for a few games, then fine. For those arguing Caleb can’t learn anything from a brief sabbatical or a younger player, Sam Darnold partially credited his turn-around to learning from a younger Brock Purdy, specifically about being more of a point-guard as opposed to an ESPN highlight. Sound familiar?

    Most likely outcome will be Caleb keeps taking his lumps and hopefully progressing.

    Either way, I just want Caleb to ball.
    It would suck major azz to know Maye, Daniels and Bo were better options.

    Helllllooo drafting Cendrunk instead of Rodgers, Trubisky over Mahomes….

    With that in mind

  • Bears@Ravens WK8 Preview

    Bears@Ravens WK8 Preview

    First off, thanks for the bday wishes! Had a blast. I rarely eat fancy meals, but I heard of an Italian spot run by actual Italians. At first I was a bit skeptical since it was located in a strip mall!

    However, so what if it’s not atop the Pyrenees ? As long as the food is delectable, and it was!

    You guys in Chicago might be spoiled with more quality Italian restaurants, but it’s a bit hard to find authentic Italian in L.A.

    The chef comped me a crab chowder soup: fresh crab in lobster bisque, potato, carrots and a touch of cream flavored with white Italian truffle paste; we actually chatted since he was making the rounds. He was from Naples, the host from Northern “German” Italy.

    I ordered a Tuscan Wild Boar Ragu: parpadella pasta, Tuscan wild boar and juniper flavor pancetta in a light red wine sauce.

    Magnifico!

    On to the Ravens…

    The biggest factor will be if Lamar Jackson plays, and just how healthy he is.
    He missed Mon, Tues, returned Weds, but was limited.

    The Ravens opened up as 6.5 favorites which should be a slap in the face to the Bears who after all are 4-2 riding a 4-win streak. Pan to the Ravens at 1-5 with a hobbled QB and a leaky defense.

    Ravens’ D is allowing 4.6 ypc [to RBs]
    32.3 PPG [32nd]; rank 27th in 3rd down D.

    Their pass D isn’t much better. Their secondary amazingly enough has only ONE INT thus far while allowing 108.4 passer rating [28th]and 246 passing yds [28th] with only 8 sacks and low pressure rate.

    They’re supposed to get Roq back who should be motivated. Still, is he going to remedy ALL that?

    Ravens are coming off a bye, playing at home, in must-win mode, ergo this should test the Bears.

    What I really want to see is if the Bears are physical.

    One thing about the Harbaugh Ravens is that they always come out ready to brawl.

    The Bears have actually played physically on their win streak – one of the biggest reasons we should get excited about the Ben Johnson Bears which differs bigly from his predecessors.

    Stuffing the run, forcing 3-4 TOs while stampeding for 200 will make the other team buckle-up their chinstraps.

    If the Bears can match the Ravens’ intensity that will bode well going forward.

    On O, it’s simple enough. Will Ravens respect Caleb Williams enough to go with a light-box like the Saints, and if so, will that open up the run game again?

    [D’Andre Swift is nursing a groin FWIW]

    Follow up question: if the Ravens don’t respect Caleb enough and decide to go full-Ravens and crowd the LOS, how will Caleb respond after a down Saints’ game?

    172 yds, 1 INT, 61.7 Rating

    Will he pull out of the slump?

    Something else to keep an eye on is Theo Benedet especially since rumors are swirling about trading Braxton Jones. Here’s an in-depth breakdown of his performance vs Saints.

    Speaking of trade rumors, there’s waaaay too many to track here, but luckily Harrison Graham covers some names, first and foremost DE Jermaine Johnson [Jets] and maaaybe Mad Maxx Crosby.

    On D, well, I keep waiting for the turnover ride to be over, but it keeps going, so screw it, let’s go Dennis “The Menace” Allen!

    We gotta keep an eye on if Tyrique Stevenson will play because if not the Bears will have to start Nick McCloud or Josh Blackwell, essentially CB#4/5. Not exactly ideal if Lamar is back.

    Austin Booker should return, so that’s a boost.

    At any rate, the Ravens score 24 PPG [13th] and are 13th in 3rd down conversions with Jackson, and that’s really the crux.

    Lamar’s QB rating is a mind-boggling 130 [1st] with 10TDs/1INT and naturally a bunch of back-breaking runs.

    IF Lamar plays, and is maybe like 60%, I think the Bears might be able to contain him. Montez Sweat, Dayo Odeyingbo, Booker, Tremaine Edmunds and even Dominque Robinson are relatively athletic – they just must remember to stay discipline and close in under control.

    Maybe Dennis Allen plays more zone and blitzes less [particularly if Stevenson doesn’t play] in order to minimize those big Lamar lanes.

    My biggest worry might be a rested King Henry [5.0 YPC] and their TE Mark Andrews especially if TJ Edwards has to cover him.

    Otherwise, it’ll be the Lamar show.

    Overtime:

    Apparently, Luther Burden is starting Festivus early and airing his grievances about not getting the ball enough. Well, it’s a little hard to feed the 5th option when the QB only has only completed 15 [Saints] and 17[WASH] passes in last two games. I guess we’ll find out how Ben Johnson handles this.

    Also, what’s going to happen with the kicker situation? Is Cairo Santos returning, and if so, are they going to put Jake Moody back on the Practice Squad and risk a team, like say the Gmen, poaching him?

    Will the Bears actually carry TWO kickers on the 53? [nobody tell the Rev…]

  • Bears NEED Jeffery Simmons

    Bears NEED Jeffery Simmons

    Here are the next 5 Bear opponents:

    Saints
    @Ravens
    Burrow-less Bengals
    Giants
    @JJ? Vikings

    Bears are 3-2, only one game behind the Puke in the NFCN.

    It is entirely possible the Bears could go 4-1 in the next five games with a 7-3 record at minimum sniffing a WC.

    Yes, the Bears’ Dline did perform much better vs WASH, but they still allowed 4.0 ypc, and it may have been more if it hadn’t been for playing with a lead for most of the game.

    Also, Ben Johnson can’t rely on +3 TOs every game going forward. As Olin Kreutz correctly assessed, ‘You’re not forcing 11 TOs in 3 games like on this streak.’ That’s not a sustainable formula for success.

    A reliable formula for success? A studly Dline, or at the very least, a mediocre one.

    DT Jeffery Simmons could raise all battle ships.

    Since Bears played Mon, I had Sunday free to peruse. I flipped to the Raider game specifically to scout Jeffery Simmons.

    Holy Moly.

    I admit, I didn’t even know where he was on the field since I don’t watch much Titans’ football. But it took me about 3 seconds to spot him. He’s hard to miss. He’s the type of monster you want stepping off the bus first when visiting an opponent. He looked like JJ Watt.

    More importantly, he PLAYED like JJ Watt. On the very first series vs Raiders Simmons stuffed Jeanty twice, then sacked Geno despite the double team. He’s strong, fast, mean, and YUGE.
    The Titans’ DC seemed to line him up at 3T when he anticipated pass, then moved him to 1T to gobble-up doubles vs run.

    Honestly, it doesn’t take long to recognize greatness with the right eye. I mean, how long would you have to watch Sweetness, Butkus or Hester to determine they’re fucking awesome? It only takes one Picasso painting to gasp, “Wow.”

    Simmons hovers close to that tier. Much closer than Billings, Dexter, Turner, et al, at least.

    The Titans’ season is lost. They just fired their HC Brian Callahan and are basically tanking. They’re really about 3 yrs away [minimum] from making a serious SB push. Simmons is 28. Do they really expect he’ll fit that window?

    Trading for Simmons seems realistic for both parties. I would trade a 2nd for him given that Bears still have to take on his contract. Titans could use that 2nd to bolster their oline or weapons for Cameron Ward who should be their #1 priority.

    If Titans play hard-ball, demanding a 1st, MAYBE I’d throw in DJ Moore, but I’d have to get like a 4rth back in that scenario. They may want Moore. A tough savvy vet to help their fledging rookie franchise QB while the Bears need to clear cap for Simmons anyways.

    This would also mean more Luther Burden.

    Braxton Jones may also be in play, albeit I’d be more weary about trading away Oline given attrition. The Chiefs are paying a swing OT $15M/y. That’s how pivotal those OTs might be now; nevertheless, let’s be real. I doubt we’re paying Braxton next year.

    Feels like this trade makes too much.

    I also don’t trust Ryan Poles to actually DRAFT an elite linemen, so we’re back to Jerry Angelo copium.

    Football is an arm’s race. USSR launched Sputnik. U.S. blasted off to the moon. The other Evil Empire snatched Micah Parsons. Time for Bears to counter with Simmons. Imagine him destroying Love, Rodgers, Monty/Gibbs…

    Here’s Olin Kreutz breaking down the Bears-v-Commanders:

    Cliffnotes:

    1. Thinks coaches during bye simplified playbook.

    2 . Blocking, specifically combo blockings, looked much crisper resulting in better running.

    3. On run-stopping, maybe moving Shemar Turner to DE and Gervon Dexter to 3T helped.

    4. TJ Edwards back may have bolstered entire D. He may not be the fleetest of foot, but his mind is agile, and perhaps he aligned everyone correctly, making them play faster and more aggressively, especially Tremaine Edmunds.

    Olin, ‘I played against those MIKEs. They’re the worst. Sometimes they call out the play we’re running, and we know we’re going to have to move them off their spot’

    MISC…

    Finally, new Olympic sports I can get behind, literally!

  • Victory Tues!

    Victory Tues!

    I’m a bit exhausted right now, so I’ll keep it short.

    Hell motherfucking ya!

    Rapid fire reactions:

    1. This team is finally turning the corner

    I said when Matt Eberflus was hired that the team needed to learn how to win. They never did. In fact, they found new innovative ball-kicking ways to lose that would even make the Chargers proud.

    This team faced a lot of adversity in this game. For starters, given the whole ‘fail mary’ last season added pressure. MNF – pressure. Away game. Pressure. Underdogs. Pressure. Not ideal conditions. Pressure. Washington Refs. Pressure. Dropped passes, questionable play-calling, busted coverages, shoddy specials’ gunning, blocked FG. Pressure, pressure, pressure.

    Yet, Bears never cracked. They kept slugging it out, REFUSING to quit. They kept tugging, punching, clawing…returning all that pressure right back to WASH ’til they cracked on a hand-off. A Flusian critical mistake.

    Then Bears did what they rarely did under Flus.

    FINISH.

    The game boiled down to what I wanted – the ball in BJ/Caleb’s court to win or lose; they proceeded to march down field sans mistakes, executing, making WASH use TOs, RUNNING it [successfully] ’til they basically made the final FG a PAT attempt.

    Fade to black…

    2. Ben Johnson countered the blitz.

    I shared in the game-day thread that WASH uses a lot of zone [3rd most], but they zigged on Monday. They blitzed more than usual, no doubt trying to throw off the plan.

    However, Ben Johnson was ready. He used draws, screens and bombs to make WASH think twice. Here’s a creative screen which neither Trub or Fields could consistently pull off.

    Despite that awesome throw to Rome being called back on an absolute BS call, the rationale was right. Attack the blitz. If they’re going to single your best weapon, go balls-deep. Make them pay.

    It’s smart and aggressive – like Ben Johnson.

    3. Tip-o-hat to run O/D.

    My #1 MUST was to stop the run. They did – sorta. Or at least, they didn’t get completely run over, even forcing a Merritt fumble.

    On paper, doesn’t seem like that much of a differential.

    Bears total rushing yds: 145
    Comm total rushing yds: 124

    However, how they got there differed. D’Andre Swift was mostly responsible for the Bears, especially late to seal the deal.

    While Jayden Daniels had to pull some Houdini escapes, getting crunched along the way.

    Besides, let’s face it – we were all expecting WASH to steam-roll Bears’ D, so Bears limiting the #1 running attack to 4.0 ypc shocked me TBH, as did Swift averaging 7.7 per.

    Holy shit, who had that on their bingo card?

    Misc:

    Can’t discuss the game without mentioning the total dogshit officiating. Dr. Rev Huge Bears’ Penis warned us this crew threw a lot of flags, but Moses Krishna Christ, at least PRETEND to do it fairly. Refs tried everything possible to give the game to the Commies, yet the Bears still prevailed.

    Apparently, DJ Moore was hospitalized after the game. Let’s hope it’s merely precautionary.

    Troy Aikman also seemed to be hating on Caleb Williams. People noticed, Troy. Was it the UCLA-USC rivalry or have his concussions finally creeped in?

    Despite all that, it was a FANTASTIC Bears’ victory. It felt more emotionally draining than usual for some reason. Maybe it was just me, but the whole game felt tense with all the ups-n-downs and refs making Bears play with one arm tied behind their backs.

    Making the win that much sweeter.

    “Whatever does not kill us, only makes us stronger.” – Nietzsche

    Good Better Best!
    Never let it rest!
    Until your good gets better!
    And your better gets best!

    Bear Down.