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  • Butch Bday!

    Butch Bday!

    Well, another revolution around the sun, so can’t complain. I was listening to Matt Forte yesterday. Apparently, Forte owns horses, and expressed that every so often he would love to race one except he doesn’t want to tear a hamstring. I can relate!

    Sometimes when you visit an E.R., or your Dr. informs that you’re at risk of a heart attack, stroke, degenerative neurological disease, or worse – it has a way of sobering you up. It’s like you’re gliding through life in a charmed stupor. Then your head is dunked in icy water.

    Everything suddenly clears and one starts truly rejoicing in the simple act of waking up, taking a walk, laughing with friends and family, sipping tea, listening to moving music.

    Heck, even trivialities. Like, according to Biggsy, these Bears are only the 4rth team in a decade + to force 15 takeaways in a 4 game span. Chicago specifically hasn’t achieved that feat since ’04. As such, no matter how ‘sloppy’ it’s all been, we should savor it.

    So with that in mind, it’s a celebration!

    A study asked a bunch dying people in hospices what they regret most; a majority confessed that they regret what they did NOT do more than what they actually did.

    Roughly – Sins of omission not commission

    So if you always wanted to play the violin, learn French, go surfing, run a marathon, attend a certain concert or travel to Japan, it’s never too late.

    Here’s some late-blooming authors:

    Toni Morrison (Age 40)

    Mark Twain (Age 41)

    Marcel Proust (Age 43)

    Henry Miller (Age 44)

    J.R.R. Tolkien (Age 45)

    Julius Caesar in his mid-30s came across a statue of Alexander the Great and experienced a mini-mental breakdown, weeping, lamenting that Alexander the Great had conquered the world by 32 while he was but a governor of some lowly outpost.

    Oh, and did you know that King Leonidas, yes, that one

    was actually SIXTY years old when he helped fend off a million Persians!

    So compared to that, maybe finally writing again, fixing up that rusting classic car or connecting with a long lost love is a little more feasible.

    Carpe diem, baby!

  • Victory Monday! Bears 26, Saints 14

    Victory Monday! Bears 26, Saints 14

    Lots of thoughts, but here’s a condensed version.

    The Defense came out on fire [most of] that first half. That was a championship D akin to the famous ’18 and ’06 predecessors.

    We heard about ‘bend don’t break’, but the Allen D was more like ‘break but force a turnover’. In that first half, they were not even bending; in fact, fuck you, we’re stuffing the run, sacking your QB, then taking that ball. Absolute dominance.

    Tez Effect seems to be back, and he was SORELY needed.

    Talked about it last week, but TJ Edwards back seems to line up everyone properly, thusly making them play faster and more downhill. Minimized are the wide open lanes, bad angles, missed tackles and total blown coverages.

    Tremaine Edmunds [3 INTs] is now free to use his speed; Brisker and Gordon sniffing the LOS is making QBs shit-bricks while Kevin Byard suddenly patrols the back end like Ed Reed.

    I also wonder how much Shemar Turner at DE has helped stabilize that line, especially vs run. If Austin Booker returns full-force, watch out.

    NGL, this offense, specifically Caleb Williams, sputtered for much of the game. It was just funky from the start, from taking the snap, penalties, dropped passes, scramble drills that had little chance to questionable play-calling [like those WR screens]. Did Caleb even complete 5 passes from inside the pocket?

    Caleb Williams completed 15-of-26 passes for 172 yards and an interception.

    It wasn’t pretty, and Caleb admitted as much. TBH, it’s a bit concerning particularly when one sees what Drake Maye is cooking in NE.

    Luckily for the Bears’ O, their run game continued to steamroll.

    Trivia Time:

    D’Andre Swift had 124 rushing yards and Kyle Monangai had 81, marking the first time the Bears had two running backs rush for more than 80 yards since??? ANSWER

    I loved Ben Johnson’s attacks. Yes, it was meat-n-potatoes traps, stretches, and combo blocks; however, he also mixed in some misdirection that perhaps didn’t pop, but at least helped to keep the Saints’ D honest and somewhat freeze them from just busting in.

    More importantly, BJ made great halftime tweaks. He finally began using more playaction [boot] to get easy passes for a struggling O. This was enough to milk the clock, scratch some points together, and close it out; other wise, it could’ve been a one score game had the refs not bailed out BJ on that 4rth and goal disaster.

    The specials didn’t shit the bed, and the rest was sorta just Judo – letting a bad team defeat itself, and here we are with the Bears at 4-2 riding momentum.

    Chicago relying on turnovers and a strong run game?

    “History doesn’t repeat but it rhymes”

  • Saints@Bears WK7

    Saints@Bears WK7

    If it ain’t broke…

    Is this a ‘trap game’? Seems to fit the definition – catching a meh team on a short week at home after an emotional win.

    I’ve caught some Saints this season. Numbers say their pass D suck, but outside the Bills and Seahawks beating them handily, and stomping the GMEN 26-14, they’ve been in one score games including the last one against a tough Pats’ team.

    In that game, Spencer Rattler completed 76.9% for 227, no TD/INTs, and 106.7 QB rating, so these guys aren’t just gonna roll over

    Bears have racked up 11 TOs on their win streak, and one must imagine that streak will end sooner or later. I mean, if they go +3 TOs the rest of the way, they can damn near beat anyone.

    The real test will come when they don’t create those TOs.

    How will they respond then? Will their D give up a bunch of TDs, or will they force FGs?
    God forbid make 3rd down stops…

    Will the O take it up a notch to make up for essentially 3 extra drives?

    One of my biggest question is if D’Andre Swift can continue stacking big runs off his 7.7 YPC performance?

    Ben Johnson went with the K.I.S.S. philo for the run, and it worked; however, NFL watches tape too.

    If everything goes right – D continues to steal TOs – Swift runs for over 4.5 ypc, Caleb plays efficiently with tactical strikes…

    Then this game should be in hand by the late 3rd.

    Though let’s be real, we’re all Bear fans. No such thing as an ‘easy win’ for this team especially if it’s super windy and rainy.

    As such, I expect more nail-biting Tradewinding into the crunch. At least they won’t be playing against the refs, right?

    Once more, into the breach!

  • Zen 11

    Zen 11

    Wakuan complained when he saw a picture of a bearded Bodhidharma, “Why hasn’t that fellow a beard?”

    – Zen Koan

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Zen 10

    Zen 10

    After taking the high seat to preach to the assembly, Fa-yen raised his hand and pointed to the bamboo blinds. Two monks went over and rolled them up in the same way.
    Fa-yen said, “One gains, one loses.”

    – Zen Koan

  • 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!