Rocky Landing

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the same rules for protecting players on the PS that were instituted last season apply this season, as well. So, the trick would be getting Stevenson on the PS, not keeping him there.

LOL, I just made that correction right before you responded!

No doubt about it. I'm suspecting that teams who are thin at WR, and DE are paying especially close attention to the Bills in particular. And I'm assuming the Bills are paying close attention to teams that might be deep at OL, and CB.

Worth noting also, his interception occurred because his WR slipped, and fell, after the ball was thrown.

Perhaps, but of course, Kumerow has been playing on ST, as well. And I would think that the area of ST that poorer teams would have ignored would be the periphery spots, whereas they would have at least addressed K/PR. It all makes me consider... I think all teams, to some degree, are preparing for waivers, and have people watching tape (including the Bills) of value players that might get cut. It's no mystery in the league that the Bills are exceptionally deep at certain positions, WR being one of them. I wonder how much scrutiny the Bills are receiving around the league?

I agree entirely (I was just trolling Zero). The awesome thing about Rousseau for me is how raw he still looked in the last two preseason games-- but still a sack vs. starters in each game. Imagine what he's going to look like with some polish!

Agree with all of this, but I have a couple comments: Haack's shank occurred due to pressure. He is a tad slow getting the ball off, but he should have had better protection than on that play. Also, my recollection is that his punt when he was pinned in the end zone was pretty damned good. You're right about Kumerow, but I suspect that he would get claimed off waivers quicker than Stevenson. A lot of eyes have been on that guy.

When Spencer Brown gets polished, his speed (and, obviously, size) is going to make him a baddass tackle. Steal of the draft! (lol, @Zerovoltz)

I'm going to sort of agree with you that Breida could be cut, but for completely different reasons. Earlier this offseason, I posited that considering the similarities between Motor, and Moss (with Moss being far better in pass pro), Breida being the speed guy, and Williams being the closest thing to a power back, that Motor could be the odd-man-out surprise cut. But, of course, now that we have seen Motor in the preseason, and TC, and the improvements he has made, it's safe to assume that he is basically a lock. Moss's pass pro makes him a lock. And as for Williams, considering the way we just saw 240lb Reggie Gilliam pound the rock in on third and short, and at the goal line, I'd say we likely have our answer for those situations. Breida did look rather pedestrian yesterday. He was also running behind the worst of our O-line depth. But, when he did get a decent block, we all saw his speed, and the quick gains he can make. He's not a lock by any means, and certainly looks to be third on the depth chart. With Gilliam getting a unique role on this offense, he makes Williams fairly redundant. And don't forget Taiwan Jones. He likely makes this roster, as well. They may decide there isn't room for Breida, but it won't be in leiu of Williams. Breida offers speed-- something McD/Beane covet. Gilliam offers versatility, which they also covet. Williams doesn't offer anything they don't have in the players in front of him.

Common sentiment on the Bears forum.

Ya know, I posted a thread back in July positing that a Bills team comprised of its backup players would actually be competitive, and I was mostly flamed as a homer (which, admittedly, is true). But, I count a total of six starters on that list, with only three (Cody Ford- 44%, Mongo, and Dawkins- 31%) playing more than 30%. Defense especially (in which I was most heavily flamed) played exactly one starter- Ed Oliver, with six snaps. Our second, and third string D absolutely man-handled the Bears starting O. Bam Johnson was in the backfield all day. Epenesa just flattened their starting LT, and stepped over him like a doormat on his way to a sack on Dalton. Rousseau, utterly raw, was running around the backfield so fast with his long long frame, and they had no idea how to handle him. Two sacks in two games vs. starters for that rookie. In fact, our entire front seven (and someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I feel like we played a lot of 4-3 yesterday) looked complete. Pressured the QB, and handled the run all day. On offense, our #4, and down WRs looked better than some other team's starting WR corps-- I will say: including the Jets, and Pats*. Yeah, it's preseason, I know. But, this team is deep.

Chicago fans love Daboll-- want him as their head coach. https://www.chicitysports.com/forum/forums/chicago-bears-forum.31/

My take aways: Offense: Mitch Trubisky can run this offense. Webb is better than Fromm, although neither looked very good. Motor and Moss look better than last season, I'll say by a lot. It's hard to assess Breida, as he was operating behind an exceptionally weak O-line. But, he doesn't look much better than T J Yeldin did last season. Hollister had a good game. Reggie Gilliam balled out!!! To my admittedly biased eyes, Spencer Brown, in his limited reps, looked much better than he did last week. They had Cody Ford out there A LOT. Played much of the third quarter, I believe. And he looked good, especially in the run, and third and short, and at the goal line. Our number 4, 5, and Kumerow (6?) WRs look as good, or better than many starting WRs in the league. In fact, I'll say they look better than both the Jets, and Patriots* starting corps. Defense: Greg Rousseau is spectacular. AJ Epenesa absolutely flattened E. Wilkinson, their starting LT, on his way to a sack on Andy Dalton. Vernon Butler looked sloooooooowwwww. On some plays, it was an embarrassing lack of effort. On that note, thank God it was only Zimmer's funny-bone. Horrible Harry looked solid up until his knee injury. Man, I hope that isn't serious. Not sure how I feel about Boogie Basham. Bam Johnson is making this team. It's not merely a matter of his ST value anymore. Is it me, or does Hamlin, and Wildgoose both look like they are progressing compared to last week? Siran Neal has struggled with fundamentals in both preseason games. Special Teams: McKenzie's muff was horrible. But, I have to say, he looked pretty good after that. Stevenson'e punt return for a TD looked too easy. Is he that good, or was that just the Bears playing scrubs on their ST? Haack's first punt sucked, sure, but he was pressured, and that's on his protection. His punt when he was pinned to the back of the end zone was pretty good. Either way, hopefully we don't use him too often in the regular season.

Terrible route by Duke.

On the bright side, not a bad punt pinned back in the end zone.

Man, to listen to these Chicago announcers, you'd think the Bears were playing lights out, and weren't down 41-6.

Epenesa pancaked the Bears starting LT in that 1st half sack on Dalton.

The D-line rotation this season is going to be so much fun to watch!

Takeaway: Mitch Trubisky can run this offense.

So far, Breida hasn't looked any better than Yeldin did last season. But, I wonder what he would look like running behind the first team O-line?

That wasn't the only play in this game where Neal missed on fundamentals. That was a great play by Adams, and Neal was right there with him, but Neal needs to work on the fundamentals, Needed his hand in there, needed to look for the ball. Second game in a row where Neal has made rookie mistakes.

McD still has Ford out there.

Reggie Gilliam is valuable. He makes the run game better. I hope there's a spot for him.

Who else thinks Bam Johnson is making this team?

Three passes in a row to McKenzie after he muffed the KO. Classic McDermott.