Da Bears

I don't know if anybody watched the Giants/Bears last night, but Cutler got knocked out with a concussion, the 2nd stringer got knocked down continuously and went out, and they were down to the 3rd stringer. This Sunday, the Pickle may be the best QB on the field - the Bears only scored 3 points.

If our defense can play well, I think we can win, if we can score 14-17 points. Here's hoping.

 

IF....

 

This is an extremely winnable game, even with Cutler.

Hurney talks about "confidence" each week in his interviews. When you go to the Saints' house, withstand the noise, draw only one false start penalty, and turn the ball over 0 times on offense, it builds confidence. At least, if I were a player in that locker room, I would be feeling more upbeat and charged-up than I would have since training camp.

There's been an improvement each week, in terms of the defense. The last two games in particular, against top-flight receivers, we did not allow long passing plays. That's the point of the Cover2 concept, and it's working well. One player, #91, needs to pick his game up. Until he does, he will be referred to by number only.

Cutler may play, but I doubt it. And I hope to god it's Todd Collins, not Hanie, because TC just looked like a klutz out there last night.

This is a great opportunity to come home, run some blitzes, tear that piece of shit offensive line to shreds, and pitch a shutout. That is, again, without Cutler. With Cutler, I still like us.

Martz runs, almost exclusively, 5-man protection from under center. Your QB (Warner, Trent Green, Bulger, Cutler) is required to have exceptional timing and vision to execute this offense. When Collins came in, he looked like a McDonald's attendant trying to cook a 5-star meal at Morton's.

Peppers has been a beast all year. He's not getting the sacks, and I'm sure there's motivation to have one of those "3 Sack Specials" that he's famous for. But what I dig about Clausen is his footwook in the pocket. He feels the pressure very well, and knows how to move. Not afraid to tuck it and get some easy yards on his own.

The Bears DE's pinch down, which allowed Bradshaw to cut back and find room to run last night. He had a big night, and he did a lot of it on his own moxie and vision. Deangelo can do just the same, as he did on his TD run yesterday. The Bears had a top-tier run defense coming into last night-and it was exposed.

Baker vs. Hester. Matchup of the Millennium

 

Punt that bitch OUT OF BOUNDS.

 

The Cuckler has to pass a battery of tests to be cleared. Seeing how he walked to the wrong sideline last night after the hit, my guess is that he will not be making the flight to Charlotte.

Todd Collins got his bell rung, too. I'll say this much: Martz w/o Cutler = a sunny, happy day in Charlotte this Sunday.

 

We are gonna have to learn how to block and pick up blitzes or we ain't gonna score any. No matter how our D does. Me bet is hester scores the only TD, for the win.

 

Former Panthers always kill us in their first game back. Kyle caused a fumble yesterday.... I hate to see what Peppers will do to us. You know he will bring his A game. He may not bring it again this year but it will be on display Sunday.

 

Kyle didn't so much cause a fumble as he accidentally bumped into a player who like to drop balls. Peppers will do what he does, and he will be disruptive. For just as much as an advantage as it will be for Pep to play Carolina, you'd hope that Gross would have a good feel for how to "manage" his exploits after practicing against him for 6 years.

Then again, Lovie will probably move Peppers over to 74's side, which might end up putting Pickle-Head in the hospital.

Just fucking run it, keep it close, don't turn it over, and manage the clock. It ain't that hard, and I got news for you--the Bears: not that damn good.

As for former Panthers coming back to haunt us, I'm trying to recall when this has ever happened, and with what frequency. I recall this concern in 2006 when both Spoon and S. Davis came back the Rams. Neither made a dent. Muhammad, ok, so he caught a TD in the regular season game vs. Carolina in 2005. Pretty quiet in that playoff game. I mean, we can go all the way back to Kevin Greene in 1997, but that's kinda like 14 years ago.

 

Don't forget Chris Harris is a disgruntled former Panther too...

 

My sources tell me that Chris Harris has been playing at a "less-than-stellar" level thus far.