Da Dos

Category: Sports

  • 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.

  • Revenge: CHI@WASH MNF WK6

    Revenge: CHI@WASH MNF WK6

    We all know the narrative. Bears blow a victory vs WASH last year in catastrophic fashion thxs to Matt Eberflus dumbfuckery and Tyrique Stevenson yapping with the crowd.

    Bears enter death spiral that results in the first Bears’ HC to ever be fired midseason making Caleb Williams shuffle through 3 OCs in his rookie season.

    Meanwhile Jayden Daniels catapults to OROY, carrying his team to the playoffs amid media hype.

    Many pundits preseason were predicting the Bears to be a ‘surprise playoff team’, but Washington stole their Cinderella slippers that day.

    On the bright side, it was such a colossal disaster that it was enough for even the milk toast McCaskeys to show some balls and fire Eberflus.

    Although in typical timid Halas fashion, it still somehow wasn’t enough to terminate the GM who hired that HC [and vouched for him]because…Bears.

    So we know what’s at stake. This isn’t just another game. It’s nearly symbolic and a true measure of how far the Bears have really progressed since that fateful Hail Mary.

    What needs to happen:

    Well, once more, this isn’t rocket, or even rock ’em-sock’ em robot science.

    The Commies are the best running team.

    As I wrote on Tues.

    Bears’ avg 102.3 YPG [24rth]; however, when one slices out the Caleb scrambles it leaves RBs: 3.4 YPC, 2 TDs.

    Meanwhile, the Commanders: 156.4 YPG [1st].

    On D, the Bears are giving up a whopping 164.5 YPG [31st].

    Ergo. STOP THE RUN.

    Or at the very least slow it down! This won’t be easy. Jayden Daniels can freeze the LBs opening up lanes for Bill Croskey-Merritt who is having a heck of a rookie campaign. I caught some of him, and he resembles Ashton Jeanty in that he’s shifty with zip.

    Friendly reminder, Poles drafted Kyle Monangai [233rd] while Croskey-Merritt was selected 12 spots after. Fans dreaming about trading for Breece Hall or De’Von Achane when Poles could’ve just drafted Merritt straight up. Thanks, Poles.

    Luckily for the Bears, T.J. Edwards and Kyler “Spider-Man” Gordon are projected back. Maybe they help. It’s important to remember that nickel in today’s NFL is basically the new SAM, as such, expected to make tough tackles in space. For the Bears’ sake, Gordon [and Austin Booker] return hungry.

    As a Bears’ fan, my first instinct is to establish the run and keep ramming it down their throats. That simply isn’t feasible with this Poles’ roster. More realistically, Ben Johnson will have to pass to open up some lanes for the run as WASH struggles to defend the pass and employs a ton of zone.

    Caleb Williams seems to excel vs zone, so chunk plays must be made. First downs can’t be missed; they will act as the defacto run game to keep WASH off the field and hopefully playing from behind. It’s not ideal. Much more can go wrong, from pre-snap penalties, drop passes, wrong routes, to sailing balls, blown up screens, jumped passes and strip sacks, but that’s what happens when a team can’t run.

    Outside a slew of Bear-forced TOs, Commanders self-sabotaging, or crazy plays like blocked FGs, muffed returns, etc… this is likely the best path for the Bears to serve the chilly dish of revenge and finally bury that infamous debacle.

    King Benny didn’t take it lying down and neither should the BJ Bears. Bang! Bang!

  • Another Bearless Sunday Unless You’re in Weho [NTTAWWT]

    Another Bearless Sunday Unless You’re in Weho [NTTAWWT]

    None of the early games are interesting. NFL assumed Rams-v-Ravens would be good, but didn’t plan on Lamar going down. Maybe they calculated Chargers-v-Fins would be watchable, but both teams are disappointing.

    The later slate is not much better. No doubt the schedule makers were proud about Bengals-v-Puke, but with Burrow out the result is all but certain.

    Only real interesting matchup is Lions-v-Chiefs. This could very well be a SB preview, but here’s the difference.

    Lions usually steamroll through the regular season then sputter in the playoffs.

    Chiefs stagger through the regular season like a drunken sailor, then when the playoffs arrive, they sober up, and blast their [AFC] foes with anti-aircraft cannons.

    They’re the reason neither Lamar nor Josh Allen own SB rings.

    So despite me hoping the Lions will lose, I think they’ll eke out a victory at KC although part of me still expects Goff to wilt in prime-time.

  • Twitter Tues. WK6

    Twitter Tues. WK6

    So TJ Edwards, Kyler Gordon and Austin Booker are on track to return. Will that make a difference – who knows?

    Sack rate acceptable. It has as much to do with Ben Johnson’s vision and Caleb’s maturity as it does with the big fellas. Either way, reassuring.

    Run game another matter. Bears’ avg 102.3 YPG [24rth].

    However, when one slices out the Caleb scrambles leaving only RBs: 3.4 YPC, 2 TDs. Meanwhile, the Commanders: 156.4 YPG [1st].

    On D, the Bears are giving up a whopping 164.5 YPG [31st]. I blame this mostly on the DTs, but plenty of criticism to go around.

    OTOH the Commanders are in the middle of the pack in defending run at 117 YPG [17th], but do we really expect Swift or Monangai to take advantage?

    These QBs will forever be linked despite Fields not being in his 2nd but 5th yr.

    Apparently Saints are hosting a fire-sale. Unfortunately, none of their vets are appetizing.

    Jets may be another team selling away assets, and HB Breece Hall is at the top of that list.

    Some rumors about Titans’ DT Jefferey Simmons as well.

    In an ideal world, both Hall and Simmons are Bears while Booker finally lives up to hype, but to paraphrase Shawshank, “Halas is no fairytale…”

    Thank Jebus Halas extended Ryan Poles!

    I would love to make fun of Mark Sanchez, but I have done too many dipshit antics whilst drunk to throw any stones. So, I’ll let others do it for me!

  • The Best Defensive Player is Now the Kicker

    The Best Defensive Player is Now the Kicker

    Is Cairo Santos a liability?
    He’s much like Robbie Gould circa 2006. A reliable, somewhat clutch, kicker with limited leg.

    Can win a lot of games with that type of kicker IF it’s paired with the 2006 Bears’ D.

    Problem is 2025 Bears’ is leakier than the Iraqi navy AND, well – see this great Brett Kollman vid:

  • WK5 Bear Bye

    WK5 Bear Bye

    Not using the Cowgirls for this week. Reserving their big hair, big boots, big…pom-poms for when Bears play!

    Teams on bye: Bears, Falcons, Packers, Steelers.

    Normally, I’d argue a WK5 bye is way too early, but this year it feels right. Some players badly need it to heal up. Bears go into it after a 2-win streak, including an incredibly dramatic Raider finale. Plus, Ben Johnson is still a rookie HC, so a brief intermission to ‘re-center’ and do some meta to steer the car in the right direction before going off a ditch – not the worst possibility.

    The next 5 games aren’t exactly daunting. @Wash, v-NO, @Balt, @Cincy, v-NYG

    Bears can realistically go 4-1 in that stretch [esp if the rumors about Poles trading for a Dlinemen are true], then playoffs are well in the mix.

  • Misc

    Misc

    Despite being an English/Lit major, I never really thrived under the ‘thesis-driven’ paradigm that monopolizes nearly all academia [Thanks, Hegel].

    I’m much jazzier and found my best writing often emerges from inspiration to free form. Then later, I chisel it down.

    “To write is to rewrite” ― Carlos Ruiz Zafón

    Performing and reading adds another layer, and for any aspiring writer I recommend taking an acting class even if you never plan on acting. It’ll give a writer a more holistic understanding of the creative process and possibilities of the ‘product’.

    A bonus is that after spending a semester or two around aspiring actors, everyone else seems fucking sane.

    So, here’s some mishmash.

    Ozzy Trapilo snaps.
    Can also check out Benedet.

    Butch take. Neither Trapilo nor Benedet looked Kiran-esque. Trapilo specifically showed a decent side-step and solid anchor. Doesn’t seem to have the athleticism of Braxton exploding to the 2nd lvl, but few OTs do.

    Benedet to me doesn’t seem as strong, but perhaps a bit more nimble. It’s important to remember that Benedet’s arms are 32.5″. Not many PB LTs are T-rexes. I suppose we can pray to the T-Rex Saint Joe Staley [33.5″].

    Perhaps more interesting though is that Ben Johnson had the cajones to basically debut two rooks [a UFDA and a 3rd RDer no less] at new positions while Mad Maxx was doing his best Cocaine Bear impression.

    The experiment could’ve easily exploded, but it worked. When was the last time a starter was straight benched mid-game? Fuck, Smoking Jay pushed WebbNation in primetime, and he still wasn’t bench; the switching was part of the adjustments that saved the game while simultaneously sending a message to the locker-room:

    You’re next.

    We all know the Bears’ D is struggling mightily vs run, and this play illustrates why.

    The pass-rush has also flopped. Is Sweat still on the team?

    Nevertheless, they did create 4 TOs, and made two key stops. One on 4rth and short [granted, Raiders decided simply to olé Billings] and the other forcing Raiders to settle for FG late [a dropped pass helped].

    Meanwhile, Tyrique Stevenson, everyone’s favorite anti-hero [pro-villain?], has been on fire.

    On specials, the gunning still looks iffy. They almost lost the game by allowing the Raiders’ KR to near the 40 – a first down away from FG range.

    Fortunately, they were bailed out by Josh Blockwell. Turns out, he didn’t get lucky though.

    This reminds me of when Belichick prepped his team about a certain slant SEA runs. Then, in the biggest play of SB XLIX, the CB jumps it, INT – Red, White and Blue confetti.

    Or more recently, just last season when the Puke noticed how the triangle leaves a gap, charged, blocked the FG. Game. Puke.

    It’s rare for the Bears to be on the other side of tactical strikes. Feels great, builds confidence and wins games.

    Walk like an Egyptian…

    Random silliness.

    I guess the media gave BJ some guff about his in-game interview, but I thought it was funny. A snarky Chicago coach? [clutches pearls…]

    I don’t know who this dude is, but I pray to all that is holy that Halas gives him an open tryout for HB…

    And, just because…I love the smell of fresh dilithium in the morning…

  • WK4: Bears@Raiders

    WK4: Bears@Raiders

    I’m superstitious! Even Freud, an ardent materialist and atheist, admitted it was hard for him to shake off some superstitions, whether they be throwing salt over shoulder or knocking on wood…as such, these ladies were part of the victory equation last Sunday, so here they cheer again until the next loss.

    That being said, this is a pretty cool image via GP:

    2-2 is within reach .500 going into bye is not ideal, but it’s a hell of a lot better than 1-3. 2-2 players still believe, buy-in, and try harder with playoff dreams beckoning. 1-3…would be a miserable bye for all Bear fans.

    I’m not going to write some elaborate breakdown about what needs to be done. Think we all know.

    1. Stop Ashton Jeanty who despite a 3.1 avg remains dangerous in the open field. I think he’s been hit the most behind the LOS of all starting HBs [or close to it]. Jeanty still has great contact balance, vision and acceleration which would be lethal in open lanes. Bears’ D needs to attack and wrap.

    2. On the flip side, our Oline has opened up lanes for D’Andre Swift, but he has yet to take advantage and break out. If ever a ‘get right game’ presented itself to Swift, this is it.

    3. I’m not expecting much from our run game TBH. Seems to be all smoke and mirrors; however, Ben Johnson and Caleb have been efficient in the redzone. If that continues, and if Caleb produces a complete game, then that will stress the lowly Raiders.

    The Bears’ D simply can’t be Trestmanesque. Contain Jeanty. Get a few key sacks and stuffs. Maybe a turnover or two. Then let BJ/Caleb cook hopefully dominating TOP. TOP is the Bears’ best defense.

    Despite this being an away game, I suspect a decent showing of Bear fans in Vegas.

    So double down! Bear down!

  • Thread

    Thread

    Like many other unwitting men
    I may or may not be happy
    I may or may not be watching football

  • Da Dos Passes 50K!

    Da Dos Passes 50K!

    Have no idea what this means, but hey, it’s something! Got hits from Germany, India England, China. Heck, our old Romanian Jericho may even be dropping by from time to time!

    In the true American way of hustling and monetizing, I shall do that soon enough. Maybe I too can provide you with a Manscaper while betting on Draftkings and pounding Celsius Heat!

    ‘Merica!

    But for now, enjoy, Regs and Lurkers alike. Maybe I need to invest in a better outfit to get more followers like Jake Browning’s GF.

    Some more twits b4 moving on to the Raideeeerzzz

    Gervon Dexter snaps.

    Wrote in previous thread, I almost would prefer Eddie Goldman over Dexter, a solid not spectacular, DT holding point of attack. However, when Dexter is on, he’s on. Dexter’s pressure helped create that 2nd Edmunds’ INT in the redzone to seal the deal.

    Theo Benedet snaps

    Best I can say about Benedet: he looks the part. Doesn’t look cement-footed, weak, or lost. Basically everything we thought Ozzy Trapilo would be. If Wright is out, could be worse.

    Some more Caleb Williams numbers.

    Caleb in context. Indiana Jones new Alex Smith?

    Kevin Cole

    2025 quarterback efficiency (EPA/Play),
    min 50 dropbacks *Updated for MNF

    1) Daniel Jones +0.42
    2) Jared Goff +0.38
    3) Lamar Jackson +0.37
    4) Josh Allen +0.34
    5) Jordan Love +0.25
    6) Baker Mayfield +0.23
    7) Drake Maye +0.23
    8) Sam Darnold +0.21
    9) Justin Herbert +0.21
    10) Patrick Mahomes +0.15
    11) Kyler Murray +0.14
    12) Dak Prescott +0.13
    13) Matthew Stafford +0.12
    14) Jalen Hurts +0.12
    15) Aaron Rodgers +0.10
    16) Caleb Williams +0.09
    17) Mac Jones +0.08
    18) Geno Smith +0.07
    19) Tyrod Taylor +0.03
    20) Russell Wilson +0.03
    21) Spencer Rattler +0.01
    22) Trevor Lawrence +0.01
    23) Bryce Young -0.01
    24) Jayden Daniels -0.01
    25) Bo Nix -0.03
    26) C.J. Stroud -0.04
    27) Michael Penix Jr. -0.04
    28) Tua Tagovailoa -0.07
    29) Jake Browning -0.17
    30) Joe Flacco -0.23
    31) Cam Ward -0.24
    32) J.J. McCarthy -0.29

    BJ Cooking:

    Always curious about the rooks:

    The highest-graded rookies in the NFL through 3 weeks, according to PFSN’s Impact metrics:
    1. Will Johnson, Cardinals – 99.5 CBi (2nd)
    2. Trey Amos, Commanders – 89.5 CBi (6th) 3. Armand Membou, Jets – 86.4 OLi (7th)
    4. Tyler Warren, Colts – 85.8 TEi (1st)
    5. Xavier Watts, Falcons – 84.6 SAFi (12th)
    6. Tyler Booker, Cowboys – 84.2 OLi (8th)
    7. Jahdae Barron, Broncos – 83.5 CBi (19th) 8. Nohl Williams, Chiefs – 82.2 CBi (26th)
    9. Emeka Egbuka, Buccaneers – 81.2 WRi (19th)
    10. Abdul Carter, Giants – 81.0 EDGEi (29th) 11. Jackson Hawes, Bills – 80.3 TEi (10th)
    12. Mason Graham, Browns – 79.2 DTi (22nd) 13. Kelvin Banks Jr., Saints – 78.4 OLi (21st) 14. Harold Fannin Jr., Browns – 78.2 TEi (13th) 15. Elijah Roberts, Bucs – 78.1 DTi (25th)
    16. Will Campbell, Patriots – 77.5 OLi (24th) 17. Tetairoa McMillan, Panthers – 75.7 WRi (43rd)
    18. Jihaad Campbell, Eagles – 75.7 LBi (34th) 19. Carson Schwesinger, Browns – 75.6 LBi (35th)
    20. Elic Ayomanor, Titans – 75.5 WRi (44th)

    Schadenfreude!