jethro_tull Posted August 29, 2014 Posted August 29, 2014 Short answer- An extreme mix of too old and too young because of the continued fallout of the deal with Denver for Jay Cutler. Linebackers that are too old and lack the speed and reaction time of their youth- example DJ Williams starting ILB, 11th season; the formerly great Lance Briggs, starting OLB, 12th season. Or they are too young and lack experience, example Shea McClellin, starting 2 down OLB, 3rd season, and Nickel LB Jon Bostic, 2nd season. A very below average LB corps. In the backfield you have the same thing- Charles "Peanut" Tillman, starting RCB, 12th season; Tim Jennings, starting LCB, 9th season and Brock Vereen, starting FS, in his rookie year. These are the questions the Bears had to address going into this offseason and they have not answered a single one of them. This could play into the Bills offense wheelhouse of short quick slants or seam passes just beyond linebacker depth. If the Bills OL can patch it together of course.
peterpan Posted August 29, 2014 Posted August 29, 2014 With a crappy D like that she should be able to hold us to 10 points or less.
Big C Posted August 29, 2014 Posted August 29, 2014 Their D is bad, but our O might be worse. I hope not!
Footballs Posted August 29, 2014 Posted August 29, 2014 Short answer- An extreme mix of too old and too young because of the continued fallout of the deal with Denver for Jay Cutler. Linebackers that are too old and lack the speed and reaction time of their youth- example DJ Williams starting ILB, 11th season; the formerly great Lance Briggs, starting OLB, 12th season. Or they are too young and lack experience, example Shea McClellin, starting 2 down OLB, 3rd season, and Nickel LB Jon Bostic, 2nd season. A very below average LB corps. In the backfield you have the same thing- Charles "Peanut" Tillman, starting RCB, 12th season; Tim Jennings, starting LCB, 9th season and Brock Vereen, starting FS, in his rookie year. These are the questions the Bears had to address going into this offseason and they have not answered a single one of them. This could play into the Bills offense wheelhouse of short quick slants or seam passes just beyond linebacker depth. If the Bills OL can patch it together of course. The deal for Cutler was 5 years ago. A variety of failed draft picks on the defensive side of the ball is why the Bears D is in a state of transition. If Vereen has been named the starter at FS its news to this Bears fan. You convieniently omitted mention of their rebuilt D-Line or their 1st round CB who will be the starting nickel DB. I know you want/hope for the Bears D to be bad, but truth is you don't know if they will or won't be...neither do I. What is known is that it's not last season anymore.
jethro_tull Posted August 29, 2014 Author Posted August 29, 2014 (edited) The deal for Cutler was 5 years ago. A variety of failed draft picks on the defensive side of the ball is why the Bears D is in a state of transition. If Vereen has been named the starter at FS its news to this Bears fan. You convieniently omitted mention of their rebuilt D-Line or their 1st round CB who will be the starting nickel DB. I know you want/hope for the Bears D to be bad, but truth is you don't know if they will or won't be...neither do I. What is known is that it's not last season anymore. Giving up (2) number one picks and (1) third round pick in the last (5) drafts have contributed to this problem. In addition, the Bears had to fill other holes (e.g. WR, TE, OL) in order for their "sell the farm" investment to have a chance of paying off. Their Sam LB, Shea McClellin, is not very good at pass coverage and opens the door for TE passes on first and second downs. The defensive personell is still a liability until proven otherwise. Edited August 29, 2014 by jethro_tull
poo Posted August 29, 2014 Posted August 29, 2014 Before any football is played they don't look good. I have a feeling they will be a top defense entering week 2.
Johnny Hammersticks Posted August 29, 2014 Posted August 29, 2014 Well, based on what I have seen in the preseason they are good at at least one thing on defense. That is getting to the QB and being disruptive in the offensive backfield. I hope our offensive line is up to the task.
Max997 Posted August 29, 2014 Posted August 29, 2014 Short answer- An extreme mix of too old and too young because of the continued fallout of the deal with Denver for Jay Cutler. Linebackers that are too old and lack the speed and reaction time of their youth- example DJ Williams starting ILB, 11th season; the formerly great Lance Briggs, starting OLB, 12th season. Or they are too young and lack experience, example Shea McClellin, starting 2 down OLB, 3rd season, and Nickel LB Jon Bostic, 2nd season. A very below average LB corps. In the backfield you have the same thing- Charles "Peanut" Tillman, starting RCB, 12th season; Tim Jennings, starting LCB, 9th season and Brock Vereen, starting FS, in his rookie year. These are the questions the Bears had to address going into this offseason and they have not answered a single one of them. This could play into the Bills offense wheelhouse of short quick slants or seam passes just beyond linebacker depth. If the Bills OL can patch it together of course. what does the Cutler deal have to do with their defense being bad? its not like it was a Hershel Walker type deal and its been more then a few years since that trade went down there is no issue with having a mix of young and old in a defense as long as those players can play
jethro_tull Posted August 29, 2014 Author Posted August 29, 2014 what does the Cutler deal have to do with their defense being bad? its not like it was a Hershel Walker type deal and its been more then a few years since that trade went down there is no issue with having a mix of young and old in a defense as long as those players can play see response in post#6. agreed but in this case we're talking a mix of players past their prime / declining speed and reaction time and those that haven't proven themselves yet. of course the local fan base is calling for DC Mel Tucker's head on a platter which may be somewhat deserved as well. many are fearing that the defense may finish worse than last year's 30th place.
boyst Posted August 29, 2014 Posted August 29, 2014 The Bears are the anti Bills. Our defense = their offense. Our offense = their defense. There is a ton of talent on offense but they never come together to really pull the job out. Just like our D. They have a lot of very good players on D but they lack the gel to make them solid.
3putt Posted August 29, 2014 Posted August 29, 2014 The deal for Cutler was 5 years ago. A variety of failed draft picks on the defensive side of the ball is why the Bears D is in a state of transition. If Vereen has been named the starter at FS its news to this Bears fan. You convieniently omitted mention of their rebuilt D-Line or their 1st round CB who will be the starting nickel DB. I know you want/hope for the Bears D to be bad, but truth is you don't know if they will or won't be...neither do I. What is known is that it's not last season anymore. No they pretty much suck. They replaced Peppers with Allen, and Houston is average. They were run on at will last year and will be again due to the age noted above. McClellin is a square peg in a round hole. The Cutler deal tied their hands draft wise and they are now feeling the affect of not being able to draft great players as opposed to filling needs. Your right it isn't last season, your key players are all one year closer to retirement.
jethro_tull Posted August 30, 2014 Author Posted August 30, 2014 (edited) No they pretty much suck. They replaced Peppers with Allen, and Houston is average. They were run on at will last year and will be again due to the age noted above. McClellin is a square peg in a round hole. The Cutler deal tied their hands draft wise and they are now feeling the affect of not being able to draft great players as opposed to filling needs. Your right it isn't last season, your key players are all one year closer to retirement. I stayed away from the front four because they aren't the liability of the back 7. Jared Allen could have plenty left in the tank and remains an iron man having not missed a game in the last 6 years and registered 11.5 sacks last season. May have lost a step vs. the run though as his tackles are down. Lamar Houston (5th year, free agent from the Raiders) is a very good run stuffer on the left side. Jay Ratliff at nose tackle is basically a second string player who will be staring for the Bears. RDT Stephen Paea is a home grown Bear in his 4th year who has not shown very much either. Basically the Bears D starting 11 has (2) pro bowl players, one out of gas, one with something left, 2 or 3 players that are decent and 6 or 7 players that are pretty much 2's or 3's at best. Edited August 30, 2014 by jethro_tull
C.Biscuit97 Posted August 30, 2014 Posted August 30, 2014 The Bears are the anti Bills. Our defense = their offense. Our offense = their defense. There is a ton of talent on offense but they never come together to really pull the job out. Just like our D. They have a lot of very good players on D but they lack the gel to make them solid. Cutler is just as likely to throw 5 tds as he is to throw 5 ints. I think Cutler is severely overrated.
3putt Posted August 30, 2014 Posted August 30, 2014 (edited) I stayed away from the front four because they aren't the liability of the back 7. Jared Allen could have plenty left in the tank and remains an iron man having not missed a game in the last 6 years and registered 11.5 sacks last season. May have lost a step vs. the run though as his tackles are down. Lamar Houston (5th year, free agent from the Raiders) is a very good run stuffer on the left side. Jay Ratliff at nose tackle is basically a second string player who will be staring for the Bears. RDT Stephen Paea is a home grown Bear in his 4th year who has not shown very much either. Basically the Bears D starting 11 has (2) pro bowl players, one out of gas, one with something left, 2 or 3 players that are decent and 6 or 7 players that are pretty much 2's or 3's at best. their vulnerability is on the ground. Their moves did not markedly change that. Houston included. The whiff on McClellin will be felt. Bostic is a question mark and is going to get time. Their scheme hasn't changed much from Lovie to Tucker, they simply are lacking the players to run it. Btw I'm in Tinley, where do you watch games other than Lincoln stn? Edited August 30, 2014 by 3putt
FLFan Posted August 30, 2014 Posted August 30, 2014 Cutler is just as likely to throw 5 tds as he is to throw 5 ints. I think Cutler is severely overrated. Agreed. He is prone to big mistakes under pressure. If the Bills can score 20 points I think they win this game.
keepthefaith Posted August 30, 2014 Posted August 30, 2014 Sadly, The Bills offense will make the Bears a top 5 defense after week 1.
jethro_tull Posted August 30, 2014 Author Posted August 30, 2014 their vulnerability is on the ground. Their moves did not markedly change that. Houston included. The whiff on McClellin will be felt. Bostic is a question mark and is going to get time. Their scheme hasn't changed much from Lovie to Tucker, they simply are lacking the players to run it. Btw I'm in Tinley, where do you watch games other than Lincoln stn? Agreed. McClellin as the strong side linebacker is puzzling- almost as vulnerable to the pass as Chris Kelsay was (maybe not quite that bad). I'm in far west Bartlett and watch the games at home. When they turn the corner I'll be out and about a little more!
Ed_Formerly_of_Roch Posted August 30, 2014 Posted August 30, 2014 This thread can't be true. I picked them for my fantasy team!
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