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Bears fans, I wouldn't take too much out on Rex.

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  • #16
    Re: Bears fans, I wouldn't take too much out on Rex.

    Originally posted by arenn View Post
    Jay, Urlacher is good, but his strength is not strength. It's his quickness and tackling ability. But regardless, this Bears D is not nearly as good as year's past, thanks to injuries and other reasons.
    I think he's a below-average tackler. In one-on-one situations, he just doesn't bring people down short of the first down marker or goal line. He doesn't consistently make run-stopping tackles in the opponent's backfield and goodness gracious, he's playing behind a four-man front so the only time he's double-teamed is if there is a lead (blocking) back.

    I think his quickness often gets him into position to make plays, and some games he is able to get involved in just about every play, but he's a much better "assist" tackler.

    But he doesn't seem to help "get the defense off the field" - he's not especially good at snuffing out third-down plays to force fourth down and stuff like that.

    I'm not saying he's "average" - he's certainly above average but there are a number of better LBs - definetely in the AFC and probably some in the NFC (including, perhaps, Lance Briggs.) There are a number of AFC linebackers that excel at making the plays to get their defense off the field and that's what defense is all about. (How many additional tackles does he "get" to make because he's not stopping drives and the offense gets more plays.) (And stopping drives against the inept NFC North offenses shouldn't really impress anyone.)

    He's not a superstar. He's generally only a superstar in the mind of a typical Bears' fan that MIGHT have a division-wide perspective (and its true that he and Briggs are probably the two best LBs in the NFC North, which is otherwise the equivalent of the Missouri Valley Conference) or in rare occasions a conference-wide perspective but has no realistic clue about how the Bears truly stack-up league wide.

    But I've been saying all season that I thought the Bears' much-overrated defense would be exposed when they finally got to play against legit NFL competition.

    The Colts scored a very conservative 27 points. I certainly had the feeling they were just toying with the Bears' defense and could've scored more if needed (meaning: if the Bears' had done a better job sticking with the running game.)
    Why do the things that we treasure most, slip away in time
    Till to the music we grow deaf, to God's beauty blind
    Why do the things that connect us slowly pull us apart?
    Till we fall away in our own darkness, a stranger to our own hearts
    And life itself, rushing over me
    Life itself, the wind in black elms,
    Life itself in your heart and in your eyes, I can't make it without you

    Comment


    • #17
      Re: Bears fans, I wouldn't take too much out on Rex.

      Originally posted by DisplacedKnick View Post
      They aren't considered that but blowing guys off the line is exactly what they did against Baltmore, New England and Chicago at the end of games.
      I agree. They are probably a better run-blocking team than their reputation, but there are several better run-blocking teams in the AFC and maybe even Seattle in the NFC.

      And that improvement in OL play/ run blocking is what allowed Manning to play like *dare I say it* Brady or Roethlesberger in a big game where its more important to "manage" the offense and sustain drives than for the QB to feel the need to make "big" plays.

      Manning really grew up a lot in this year's playoffs. He didn't even try to make plays that have normally been TDs in the regular season but INTs or INCs in the postseason. Historically, you knew that in a close game you could bait him into "quick strike Manning" mode and overplay the passing game. The no-huddle didn't always make a difference because teams would just leave the nickle or dime package on the field anyway.

      If Manning had tried to do too much, especially against Baltimore, the season would've ended a few weeks ago and the Bears' would've been smashed by some other AFC representative.

      I've said this throughout the playoffs, but that's exactly what is scary to the rest of the league - Manning's decision to abandon James against Pittsburgh (at least enough to keep our defense honest) probably cost you a SB last season. If he remembers this lesson, and if the Colts spend some amount of money improving its D-line for run coverage, there could be a number of additional Lombardi trophies to follow.

      That's why a number of people have thought that letting Manning call the plays was the team's achilles heel. In big games, his ego, and/or his need to overcome accusations of "choking", used to get in the way of the gameplan and TEAM success. Not this year.
      Why do the things that we treasure most, slip away in time
      Till to the music we grow deaf, to God's beauty blind
      Why do the things that connect us slowly pull us apart?
      Till we fall away in our own darkness, a stranger to our own hearts
      And life itself, rushing over me
      Life itself, the wind in black elms,
      Life itself in your heart and in your eyes, I can't make it without you

      Comment


      • #18
        Re: Bears fans, I wouldn't take too much out on Rex.

        Originally posted by Jay@Section19 View Post
        I agree. They are probably a better run-blocking team than their reputation, but there are several better run-blocking teams in the AFC and maybe even Seattle in the NFC.

        And that improvement in OL play/ run blocking is what allowed Manning to play like *dare I say it* Brady or Roethlesberger in a big game where its more important to "manage" the offense and sustain drives than for the QB to feel the need to make "big" plays.

        Manning really grew up a lot in this year's playoffs. He didn't even try to make plays that have normally been TDs in the regular season but INTs or INCs in the postseason. Historically, you knew that in a close game you could bait him into "quick strike Manning" mode and overplay the passing game. The no-huddle didn't always make a difference because teams would just leave the nickle or dime package on the field anyway.

        If Manning had tried to do too much, especially against Baltimore, the season would've ended a few weeks ago and the Bears' would've been smashed by some other AFC representative.

        I've said this throughout the playoffs, but that's exactly what is scary to the rest of the league - Manning's decision to abandon James against Pittsburgh (at least enough to keep our defense honest) probably cost you a SB last season. If he remembers this lesson, and if the Colts spend some amount of money improving its D-line for run coverage, there could be a number of additional Lombardi trophies to follow.

        That's why a number of people have thought that letting Manning call the plays was the team's achilles heel. In big games, his ego, and/or his need to overcome accusations of "choking", used to get in the way of the gameplan and TEAM success. Not this year.
        This is really hijacking this thread but the Colts transformation this season is unlike anything I've ever seen. We're not talking about the defense going from average to good but from horrendous to very good.

        The Manning transformation is equally as significant though IMO less surprising - he's always been smart.

        Somewhere in the Baltimore game, late 1st half, it clicked for him that he wouldn't have to be the hero, that he didn't need 30 points to win that yes, the defense was really going to defend. And he totally changed the team's game. Take the sure FG rather than gamble for a TD, run between the tackles, dink and dunk, use the clock - and actually wear down the Ravens defense by the last 8 minutes of the 4th. I've never seen him manage a game better.

        Same in the SB. How many times in the red zone when it was 3rd down did they run? I'm sure some people would say it was bad red zone execution. IMO, on a wet, sloppy day against a team not noted for its offensive firepower and when your defense is playing well it was perfect. Take the sure 3. The ball's wet, the field is slick - why take the chance on a bad pass or a receiver falling down and getting nothing? Take the 3 and get the win.

        Very, very different Manning - but part of the reason was it was a very, very different Colts defense. The first half of the season if Peyton doesn't ring up big numbers the Colts are about 1-7 instead of 8-0.

        I still can't figure that defense - never seen that kind of turnaround.
        The poster formerly known as Rimfire

        Comment


        • #19
          Re: Bears fans, I wouldn't take too much out on Rex.

          Grossman has some confidence issues which is never good for an NFL QB. But that's expected out of a QB who has just played his first full season. The Bears would only be satisfied with their QB if Brady or Manning at the helm.

          Rex made a few mistakes (back to back snaps where he scrambled backwards and tripped for a loss of yards) but I also thought the play calling was questionable. They should have been running the ball all game with Rex occasionally going off a play action for a deep bomb to Berrian. Only 1 of the interceptions was truly Grossman's fault and I thought he had a solid game. The Bears showed absolutely no confidence in Grossman and had him play a way that relied completely on the Bears defense and special teams to win the game. You can't beat the Colts like that when your defense isn't dominant. They probably should have unleashed some deeper plays when they realized their defense wasn't stopping the Colts.

          I think another problem the Bears have is that they never line Rex up in the shotgun. He says he doesn't like lining up like that, but that's just too damn bad. I think he'd be alot more successful in a shotgun formation. Either way, I think Rex will surprise a few people next year with his consistency. He's not as bad as people make him out to be.

          Comment


          • #20
            Re: Bears fans, I wouldn't take too much out on Rex.

            Originally posted by DisplacedKnick View Post
            This is really hijacking this thread but the Colts transformation this season is unlike anything I've ever seen. We're not talking about the defense going from average to good but from horrendous to very good.

            -snip-

            Very, very different Manning - but part of the reason was it was a very, very different Colts defense. The first half of the season if Peyton doesn't ring up big numbers the Colts are about 1-7 instead of 8-0.

            I still can't figure that defense - never seen that kind of turnaround.
            I guess I'm the doubting Thomas, but we didn't exactly see teams in the playoffs follow-through on their pregame commitments to running the ball. Its still there to be exploited, but coaches get caught up in the "I'm behind, I need to throw the ball" mindset and THAT is what the Colts defense is really good at - defending against a team that is desperately trying to pass the ball to play "catch-up".

            Let's put it this way, if the Colts get too complacent with their "improved" defense and don't emphasize improving their run defense during the offseason, they could regret that next season.

            The Manning transformation is equally as significant though IMO less surprising - he's always been smart.
            What's surprising is that, for a guy that studies that much film, it took him so long to figure out his own scouting report. Or may be knew it in his head but didn't have the maturity/ discipline to work it into his play calling until this year.
            Why do the things that we treasure most, slip away in time
            Till to the music we grow deaf, to God's beauty blind
            Why do the things that connect us slowly pull us apart?
            Till we fall away in our own darkness, a stranger to our own hearts
            And life itself, rushing over me
            Life itself, the wind in black elms,
            Life itself in your heart and in your eyes, I can't make it without you

            Comment


            • #21
              Re: Bears fans, I wouldn't take too much out on Rex.

              Originally posted by Jay@Section19
              I guess I'm the doubting Thomas, but we didn't exactly see teams in the playoffs follow-through on their pregame commitments to running the ball. Its still there to be exploited, but coaches get caught up in the "I'm behind, I need to throw the ball" mindset and THAT is what the Colts defense is really good at - defending against a team that is desperately trying to pass the ball to play "catch-up".
              I think they made a fundamental change and reined in the overused pass rushing that teams were exploiting. Add a couple of changes in the lineup and it totally changed the Indy defense and swagger. When teams couldn't use the pass rush against them to run it forced the opposition to play the Colts more honest. And when they started playing more honest the Colts could selectively release the hounds on the QB on passing downs (which they are very good at).

              With the change, they could force teams to abandon the run rather than just giving them the run (which really played into the hands of the opposing team anyway). It's generally good for the Colts when the other team is throwing.

              I suppose teams could try and run and run and run at the Colts and wear them down but with the revamped defense getting the Colts early stops (3 and outs), Manning and the offense can chew up clock and score TD's and FG's... because they're still hard to stop on offense. Especially when they play semi-conservatively and don't stop themselves. Even if the Colt defense finally would tire out, those early stops should help the Colts to enough of a lead that the Colts could have much more control of their own destiny on the field.

              The question I have is why they didn't do this sooner. But by fixing it later they allowed this team to peak later. I don't know if this was brilliance or brilliance borne of desperation. Whatever... it worked.

              -Bball
              Nuntius was right for a while. I was wrong for a while. But ultimately I was right and Frank Vogel has been let go.

              ------

              "A player who makes a team great is more valuable than a great player. Losing yourself in the group, for the good of the group, that’s teamwork."

              -John Wooden

              Comment


              • #22
                Re: Bears fans, I wouldn't take too much out on Rex.

                Even for a "rookie," he's terrible. The only thing that may keep him in the league for more than 3 years is his status as a Super Bowl participant.

                Comment


                • #23
                  Re: Bears fans, I wouldn't take too much out on Rex.

                  Bball,

                  I can't dispute what you're saying.

                  Still, if the Colts stick with the 4-3 (presumably they will), I wouldn't be surprised to see different (e.g., bigger and slower) DTs to go with the current DEs to have a better balanced DL against both the run and pass.

                  That way, if Freeney overpenetrates against the running play (and the scouting report says he's likely to do so), there's still a DT jamming up the line of scrimmage instead of creating an even bigger running lane.

                  That, and they Colts probably need a better "tackler" among the LBs.

                  When your best run-stop player is a safety, that's generally open to being exploited.
                  Why do the things that we treasure most, slip away in time
                  Till to the music we grow deaf, to God's beauty blind
                  Why do the things that connect us slowly pull us apart?
                  Till we fall away in our own darkness, a stranger to our own hearts
                  And life itself, rushing over me
                  Life itself, the wind in black elms,
                  Life itself in your heart and in your eyes, I can't make it without you

                  Comment


                  • #24
                    Re: Bears fans, I wouldn't take too much out on Rex.

                    I dont' think it is so much rex.. Yes, Rex does have some issues but their offense needs to change. All they are doing is run,run,run, chuck it down field, not to mention all the drop passes some of the recievers should of caught. He'll start next year but I don't know if that Offense is good for him run,run,run chuck down field isnt' his strength.

                    Comment


                    • #25
                      Re: Bears fans, I wouldn't take too much out on Rex.

                      I'm not going to crucify Grossman. As others said, this was like his rookie year. One observation though. Is he really short? He looks very short on the field.

                      As for Urlacher. The Colts did a great job freezing him. Somebody was always in the zone he was responsible for. There isn't a whole lot he could do.
                      The best exercise of the human heart is reaching down and picking someone else up.

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