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
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″].
According to PFF Theo Benedet was the lowest overall graded Chicago Bear w 38.7 grade.
Ozzy Trapilo’s 30.8 pass blocking grade was a team low.
Good experience but tough reps for the youngsters vs a really good player. #DaBears#Bears
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.
This run defense is a problem. Tremain Edmunds makes the wrong fit and knocks off Noah Sewell. The DBs look uninterested in tackling. #DaBears#Bearspic.twitter.com/gGxVCS9IKP
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].
The Chicago Bears defense is allowing the lowest amount of 3rd down conversions in the NFL at 23.9% 👀
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.
What a WILD game. I think this was the craziest game since that infamous Zona circa 2006.
Talk about the Raiders letting Bears off the hook!
Ashton Jeanty rushed for 128 yds, 1 TD, 6.5 per along with TWO rec TDs
The #1 key was to stop or minimally contain Jeanty; they failed miserably.
And before you crown his ass, a 33 yr old Raheem Mostert rushed 4 times for 62 yds at a mindboggling 15.5 per carry. They may as well have been Bo Jackson in Tecmo Bowl
Raiders rushed for a total of 240 yds.7.7 avg yet somehow managed to still lose!
Bears@Raiders Highlights
I have way too many thoughts on the game to squeeze into one post but few pertinent notes.
1. The Bears came out slow. I think they had 97 yds total in the first half despite the D spotting them great field position. Four times they started in Raider territory yet flopped.
This was a combo of Nagyesque small-ball, Crosby scud, dropped passes, batted throws, miscues and way too many stupid penalties. Kmet especially did his best Kellen Davis impression.
2. Raiders blitzed over 9 times, which was more in one half than Flus the entire game previously; it rattled Caleb. He looked uncomfortable, making iffy decisions [including on RPOs] and off throws. When he did scramble, his cast didn’t help him much. It was all discombobulated.
3. The run game stunk! 69 yd total, 2.7 avg. Ben Johnson reverted to Nagy-ball of quick screens, flats and dump-offs near the LOS to essentially act as the defacto run game. Only thing missing was empty-set diamond formation. The results were predictable.
However, all this seemed to change once Braxton was out [benched?], Benedet moved to LT, and Trapilo debuted at RT in the final drive before the half.
After the half, the oline seemed to settle-in while BJ became more aggressive.
It appeared BJ just gave up on the run, putting the game on Caleb’s shoulder, and he responded.
I wrote in real time that Caleb somehow looks more comfortable in the clutch than at the start of games. It’s truly odd. The ‘scripted’ plays didn’t help much today.
Caleb is a walking Dickenson quote, “It was the worst of halves, it was the best of halves…”
Then came the final drive where it was all on Caleb.
“This is what you’re built for.”
Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams shared a moment ahead of the game-winning drive by the Bears offense: pic.twitter.com/ByaM6qRfiW
Flus’ Bears would’ve folded like knock-off jeans from a sweat-shop by the 4rth, but the Bears kept clawing back, including the D that forced the Raiders to settle for a FG late.
The Bears’ final drive itself was bumpy as well. As Data keenly relayed:
Loved seeing Caleb overcome some real adversity on that drive. Started with a penalty, then a drop to put them in 2nd and 22. Two strikes, 1st down.
Then another pre-snap penalty puts them in 2nd and 12, still gets the TD.
Naturally, it’s the Bears, so they [badly] screwed up the 2-point conversion making it 25-24 Bears.
At this point, our Angelo-Emery-Pace-Poles trauma triggered as we were cynically expecting the inevitable, no Vaseline.
Sure enough, the Raiders waltzed down field like Fred Astaire through the Red Sea, reaching the Kicker’s Promised Land which felt like anything near the 50.
Like Pavlovian losers, I wouldn’t be shocked if thousands of Bear fans hit the parking-lot trying to beat Strip traffic or make one last all-you-can-eat buffet before leaving Vegas buzzed, broke and bitter.
Then, the unimaginable manifested. Daniel Carslon lined up for a seemingly chip-shot 54 yd FG…
It only took 4 TOs, a slew of Raider mistakes, 4 Cairo FGs [including two beyond 51], a Tori coffin corner inside the 1 plus a blocked FG for a Bears’ victory!
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.
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.
When Jake Browning’s girlfriend went viral for one of the craziest game day outfits of all time.
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
Every rep #Bears Theo Benedet took at RT in win vs the Cowboys.
Benedet came out firing, making a point about his ability to move the Cowboys defenders. He displayed quick feet and a powerful, accessible anchor that could mitigate short arms. More reps are needed to determine. pic.twitter.com/Y0drqdmLlX
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.
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:
The Bears have converted seven out of eight redzone trips into touchdowns.
It was a fantastic week of football. Bears won. Cowboys lost. Puke Lost [to Browns no less]. 1-2 can easily turn into 2-2, heading into the bye on an up note.
By the PFF scores, Shemar Turner did not have a good game in his first outing.
He had the 2nd lowest PFF score on the defense with 30.0
HOWEVER, before everyone jumps all over this.
He only played 23 snaps.
His pass rush score was 59.6.
While that seems low, 60.0 is the starting score for all players when PFF grades games.
His low overall score is based on 1 missed tackle. Because he had so many fewer snaps than most players, one bad play can swing the PFF score wildly. That put his tackling & run defense scores in the basement.
He didn’t record any pressures & as someone said “looked on ice skates” out there, but I don’t want to rush to judgement yet
It was his first game after missing almost all of training camp
Let’s wait to see a handful of games of reps from him before we draw any early conclusions
Gervon Dexter had a 55.4 pass rush grade in his first Bears game, btw
Some QB/Caleb info.
it's still early but for all the talk of the six QBs from last year's draft class, it's starting to look like only the first three matter – Caleb, Daniels, Maye
Nix is dead last in PFF grade McCarthy is the only QB to ever make KOC's system look bad Penix has been brutal so far
Caleb’s deep ball accuracy, an issue we were all fretting about, has improved which is great because Ben Johnson is taking deeper shots with Caleb than with noodle-armed Goff.
A positive trend for Caleb Williams early in the season has been his improved deep ball accuracy.
On 20+ yard throws per PFF, here are his numbers this year.
7/14, 50% (T-7th) 240 Yards (4th) 2 Touchdowns (T-5th) PFF Grade: 92.8 (7th) 6 Big Time Throws (5th)
One difference between Ben Johnson's lions offense and Bears offense. Bears are attacking downfield.
Goff's average air yards per target with DET was 6.6. Williams is 8.8. And he's not just chucking it. It's by design which makes sense with the skillsets of Williams and Odunze https://t.co/4dZwEbG1Os
