View Full Version : Game Comments: Eagles 9/28/08


tshanno@gmail.com
09-29-2008, 04:44 AM
http://chicagobearsfanforum.com/blog/?p=299

Offense

1. First pass to Rashied Davis right inside the numbers .
Wonderful call with play action and giving Orton a chance with a pass
over the middle. Redemption for Davis from last week. They also went
right to the slightly neglected last week tight end for the
touchdown. The Bears didn't mess around. They came out ready to play
on offense.
2. I also liked the idea of coming out with the no huddle. As John
Madden immediately pointed out, it wasn't going to keep the Eagles
from blitzing but it certainly didn't hurt.
3. Matt Forte ran well. Unfortunately to my eyes the Eagles
gradually started to get penetration and win the battle on the line of
scrimmage. By the end of the first quarter, they had established
themselves pretty well.
4. Really a nice job on the second touchdown pass. The Bears
finally burned them on the blitz. Obviously they need to do that more
often and not just against the Eagles.
5. The Bears did a nice job with the timely screen pass tonight.
That's a change from previous years where it just seemed that the
Bears couldn't run one for the life of them. Having it in the arsenal
really helps with blitzing teams like the Eagles.
6. I have to admit. I had no idea who Omar Gaither was before the
game started. I sure know now.
7. Admittedly it was a bit of a tough night to be judging but I was
disappointed that Orton didn't show a better feel for the rush
tonight. He held the ball too long on occasion and it burned them
when he did.
8. John St. Clair had a bit more of a rough time tonight. The
Bears couldn't afford to give him as much help because they needed
Forte to help with all of the blitzes.
9. I'm worried about John Tait. He's not been getting the help
that St. Clair has (until tonight) but he's not supposed to need it.
He hasn't been as solid as he has been in past seasons.
10. The offense absolutely hung the defense out to dry in the third
quarter. The Eagle offense basically spent the whole thing on the
field. It was totally ridiculous.
11. The Eagles did a good job of throwing the Bear timing off.
Orton was having a tough time anticipating simply because his
receivers were being knocked around and he wasn't sure when they were
going to arrive where they were supposed to be. It's a risky way to
play defense but that's what the Eagles do and Orton and the Bear
receivers aren't of the type to burn you often when you do it. The
Bears didn't handle it particularly well and they may see more of it
in the future.


Defense

1. The Bears came out in a straight up cover two defense and only
blitzed on third and long in the first set of downs. In contrast, the
Eagles came out in formations that indicated to me that they expected
the Bears to blitz - probably correctly. It wasn't long before the
Bears started to do it (as they have in the previous games) to bring
pressure.
2. Andy Reid's no dummy. He knows that misdirection is the way to
attack the Bears. And they did it with an end around, the occasional
screen, etc... Not as many cut back runs as I would have expected,
though.
3. It was nice to see that they Bears didn't need an eighth man in
the box to stop the run.
4. The Bears got uneven pressure on Donovan McNabb without Tommie
Harris. Of course, they wouldn't have gotten much with him in if he
wasn't healthy. In any case, it isn't like McNabb had to get rid of
the ball quickly like Brian Griese did last week. He had lots of time
for some stretches. Pressure from the defensive line is the key to
the Bear defensive scheme. Without it, you've got real trouble - I
mean more than usual.
5. McNabb got off to a bit of a rough start accuracy-wise. Even
his mom looked a bit perturbed.
6. Lance Briggs had another really good game. Both he and Urlacher
were really laying the wood on the Eagles offensive players.
7. I can't believe Reid didn't call play action pass on that last
goal line stand. I just can't believe it.


Miscellaneous

1. [head shake] Turnovers. I thought the major reason for going
with Orton was to prevent turnovers. Not all of them were his fault,
of course, but they all cost the Bears dearly tonight (again). 'nuff
said.
2. I guess the good news is that there weren't too many penalties.
3. Robbie Gould got some deep kickoffs.
4. The special teams were kind of a wash. The Eagles generally did
a pretty good job covering kicks but missed two field goals.
5. Madden really hasn't lost a step. He simply did a great job
tonight, pointing out the relevant points and teaching football to the
viewer. He and Al Michaels are all class.
6. The Bear defense got tired again and the Eagles were running
over them late in the fourth quarter. It was looking like deja vu.
At least there was an excuse this time as the offense just left them
out there far too long in the second half. It looked very much like
this one would have been on them. As it is, the defense came through
and the offense managed to hold the ball for the last 3 minutes. Give
credit where credit is due. The team did, indeed, close for a gutsy
win.

Benjamin
09-29-2008, 11:01 AM
I agree with most of your points. I'd just like to add that a quarter
through the season now, I believe our offensive line is doing a huge
disservice to Orton and Forte. Orton for starters, in all 4 games,
seems to be doing a bang up job actually reading the field and making
the correct throw. Yes he has been inaccurate on some of his deep
balls on the sidelines and he has thrown some costly picks, but
overall, I feel he does a much better job than Rex when it comes to
decision making. I feel that if he could play the game off his back
for a while, we might actually discover a real QB in this town. He's
shown me the brains and he's shown me the arm, now just back him up
with some protection and we may see the accuracy when he calms down.

As for Forte, where to start? I was only 7 in 85, so as much as I
love Walter on the highlight films, I can't really say I know him.
But from Anderson to present, I've never seen a Bear RB with such
amazing vision. Watching both of our guards get pancaked by a saftey
during the Carolina game makes me want to cry for Matt Forte. Tonight
was another poor showing by our guards. As bad as our tackles are in
the passing games, our guards are just as bad in the rushing
department. Beekman seems like a bright kid who knows his job, but
he needs to be introduced to a cheeseburger. Garza just stinks. No
push, no seams, no running game. I get the feeling that if Forte
had the good fortune to be drafted by Denver or another of the cut
back running teams, he'd be the odds on favorite already for the
RoY. He's easily my favorite Bear and I can't wait to see his career
progress.

Lastly, twice early in the game last night, the Eagles jumped into
the nuetral zone and did the cha cha and Olin just squatted there with
his thumb in his butt. Snapping the ball and getting the free play
used to be something Olin was good at. He's been slipping talent wise
the last couple of years and now his head, which was never his
strength, is starting to fade. I hate to say it, but there isn't a
single starter on that line I feel good about.

Mark Anderson
09-29-2008, 11:20 AM
In article benjamin1.49.27@gmail.com says...
> As for Forte, where to start? I was only 7 in 85, so as much as I
> love Walter on the highlight films, I can't really say I know him.
> But from Anderson to present, I've never seen a Bear RB with such
> amazing vision. Watching both of our guards get pancaked by a saftey
> during the Carolina game makes me want to cry for Matt Forte.

Before you start comparing Matt Forte to Walter Payton you need to
ground yourself in reality. Walter Payton rarely played a game where he
ran for under 100 yards not including the yards he made receiving.
Today Matt Forte ran for 43 yards on 19 carries with 42 yards on 9
receptions.

Benjamin
09-29-2008, 12:54 PM
On Sep 29, 5:20 am, Mark Anderson <m...@nospambrandylion.com> wrote:
> In article benjamin1.49...@gmail.com says...
>
> > As for Forte,  where to start?  I was only 7 in 85,  so as much as I
> > love Walter on the highlight films,  I can't really say I know him.
> > But from Anderson to present,  I've never seen a Bear RB with such
> > amazing vision.  Watching both of our guards get pancaked by a saftey
> > during the Carolina game makes me want to cry for Matt Forte.  
>
> Before you start comparing Matt Forte to Walter Payton you need to
> ground yourself in reality.  Walter Payton rarely played a game where he
> ran for under 100 yards not including the yards he made receiving.  
> Today Matt Forte ran for 43 yards on 19 carries with 42 yards on 9
> receptions.

What part of I didn't see Walter play so I'm comparing him to all the
backs after him did you not understand?

tshanno@gmail.com
09-29-2008, 03:01 PM
On Sep 29, 5:01 am, Benjamin <benjamin1.49...@gmail.com> wrote:

> I agree with most of your points.  I'd just like to add that a quarter
> through the season now,  I believe our offensive line is doing a huge
> disservice to Orton and Forte.

Well, I agree a little and I disagree a little. With Williams out and
with a guard that no one wanted starting in there on the left, they
weren't supposed to be very good. The only guy that has been a bit
disappointing to me is Tait and he really hasn't been *that* bad.

This games not a very good one to use to judge them. The Eagles are
pretty good and with all of those blitzes, I'm even a little surprised
they didn't do worse.

Tom S.

Benjamin
09-29-2008, 11:52 PM
On Sep 29, 9:01 am, "tsha...@gmail.com" <tsha...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Sep 29, 5:01 am, Benjamin <benjamin1.49...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > I agree with most of your points.  I'd just like to add that a quarter
> > through the season now,  I believe our offensive line is doing a huge
> > disservice to Orton and Forte.
>
> Well, I agree a little and I disagree a little.  With Williams out and
> with a guard that no one wanted starting in there on the left, they
> weren't supposed to be very good.  The only guy that has been a bit
> disappointing to me is Tait and he really hasn't been *that* bad.
>
> This games not a very good one to use to judge them.  The Eagles are
> pretty good and with all of those blitzes, I'm even a little surprised
> they didn't do worse.
>
> Tom S.

I'm not sure I follow. We knew the unit wasn't very good, so we're
just getting what we expected. Is that your general thought? If so,
I agree, but my point was just that we are not seeing the best from
Forte and Orton yet because this line isn't very good. With Williams
coming in later in the year and another mid round pick most likely
next year, I want to see this line become the strength of the team
soon.

tshanno@gmail.com
09-30-2008, 01:31 AM
On Sep 29, 5:52 pm, Benjamin <benjamin1.49...@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Sep 29, 9:01 am, "tsha...@gmail.com" <tsha...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Sep 29, 5:01 am, Benjamin <benjamin1.49...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > > I agree with most of your points.  I'd just like to add that a quarter
> > > through the season now,  I believe our offensive line is doing a huge
> > > disservice to Orton and Forte.
>
> > Well, I agree a little and I disagree a little.  With Williams out and
> > with a guard that no one wanted starting in there on the left, they
> > weren't supposed to be very good.  The only guy that has been a bit
> > disappointing to me is Tait and he really hasn't been *that* bad.
>
> > This games not a very good one to use to judge them.  The Eagles are
> > pretty good and with all of those blitzes, I'm even a little surprised
> > they didn't do worse.

> I'm not sure I follow.  We knew the unit wasn't very good,  so we're
> just getting what we expected.  Is that your general thought?  If so,
> I agree,  but my point was just that we are not seeing the best from
> Forte and Orton yet because this line isn't very good.  With Williams
> coming in later in the year and another mid round pick most likely
> next year,  I want to see this line become the strength of the team
> soon.

I guess I was thrown because you said they were "doing Orton and Forte
a huge disservice". To me that usually implies that they are
purposefully doing something that doesn't serve them well.
Techinically, I guess it doesn't have to though.

Tom S.