Game one has created some pretty diverse observations and opinions about what we saw and what should be done about it. A few players escaped largely untouched by criticism, but too few, and the coaching staff has taken it's share of licks as well. This is a fairly young team still in a rebuilding or restocking phase laced with some very good vet talent at a few key positions. What should our expectations be of them in each 4 game phase of the current season.
Games; 1-4 Games; 5-8 Games; 9-12 Games; 13-16
I'll start with the more generic expectation of seeing this team start to develop a "style" of play again that's more identifiable with many of the successful Bears team of the past. It seems to me we lack that yet. Fox may have described it loosely but I would like to see it quantified in their play game after game after game. I'm not insisting they be the mid '80s Bears but rather that they have an identifiable personality and style of play as a team that earmarks them in this era as the '80s Bears did in their era.
IMHO one reason the Bears tend to rank so low in many preseason forecasts seems to be that few can predict just who this team is and how they'll actually play. They haven't even established themselves as competent across the board in all three phases of the game let alone even close to dominant in any one of them. Even during the Lovie era we were a very strong defensive team who created offensive opportunities through turnovers and we were clearly dominant for many years on STeams due to guys like Hester and Gould. We lack any of that right now.
So chime in with some thoughts and what you feel our expectations should be for these guys as they progress through this season. On Tuesday when I write my forward looking column I'll try to pick up on some these thoughts and compare them to where we are after two games and what these two games may be telling us about what to expect down the road from now in October and November.
Game one has created some pretty diverse observations and opinions about what we saw and what should be done about it. A few players escaped largely untouched by criticism, but too few, and the coaching staff has taken it's share of licks as well. This is a fairly young team still in a rebuilding or restocking phase laced with some very good vet talent at a few key positions. What should our expectations be of them in each 4 game phase of the current season.
Games; 1-4 Games; 5-8 Games; 9-12 Games; 13-16
I'll start with the more generic expectation of seeing this team start to develop a "style" of play again that's more identifiable with many of the successful Bears team of the past. It seems to me we lack that yet. Fox may have described it loosely but I would like to see it quantified in their play game after game after game. I'm not insisting they be the mid '80s Bears but rather that they have an identifiable personality and style of play as a team that earmarks them in this era as the '80s Bears did in their era.
IMHO one reason the Bears tend to rank so low in many preseason forecasts seems to be that few can predict just who this team is and how they'll actually play. They haven't even established themselves as competent across the board in all three phases of the game let alone even close to dominant in any one of them. Even during the Lovie era we were a very strong defensive team who created offensive opportunities through turnovers and we were clearly dominant for many years on STeams due to guys like Hester and Gould. We lack any of that right now.
So chime in with some thoughts and what you feel our expectations should be for these guys as they progress through this season. On Tuesday when I write my forward looking column I'll try to pick up on some these thoughts and compare them to where we are after two games and what these two games may be telling us about what to expect down the road from now in October and November.
I think one of the big takeaways for me from game 1 (and I think I've seen this expressed by you and others) is this is a team committed to youth and the future. Week 1 demonstrated that Fox wants to play 'his' guys. Maybe he's nepotic or maybe he and the coaches believe the youthful players are the best players we have on the team for their scheme. I'll be monitoring this trend throughout the season to see which it is. Committing to guys like Whitehair (over Larsen) White (over Bellamy) Floyd (over Houston) Callahan / Hall (over Fuller) HJQ (over Prosinski) and, on a wider scope the entire running back squad.
I expect these youthful players to show their value consistently since this seems like a commitment by Fox and Co. That means, by the midway point of the season, these players all need to be valuable contributors. If they're not, Fox's opening game move looks stupid as ****. If you're going to commit to youth, you better have a valid reason to do so.
I expect the Bears to show their commitment to a RBC approach OR I expect to see Langford demonstrate he's a better back than Forte. By midseason, I expect to see one of two things: a commitment to RBC that starts yielding 150+ yards rushing each game OR Langford showing 150+ all purpose yards all game.
Games; 1-4 Texans Eagles Cowboys Lions It sure would be nice to come out of this with 2 wins, and showing better play from game to game. By that Lions game, I would expect the play calling to be solid, and the players executing those plays reasonably well.
Games; 5-8 Colts Jags Packers Vikings Just show steady improvement. Maybe even win one of those two NFCN games (the Vikes game is a home game so maybe that one). I would be pretty disappointed if we couldn't win 2 of these games and at least not crap the be in any of them.
Games; 9-12 Bucs Giants Titans 49ers
Games; 13-16 Lions Packers Redskins Vikings For the last 8 games of this season we need to be a team that (unlike last year) can win close games. By now we should see Loggains play calling for what it's going to be with him as an OC for his duration at that position. The OL should be playing well as a unit... as well as we're going to see this year... I expect to see them opening up holes for our RBs to hit so we have a decent running game. And the running game should be decent by this last half of the season. I expect us to be able to win a game or two against the better teams too. I know that at this stage these teams mostly look like weaker teams, but maybe a few won't be that bad this season by the time we play them. Let's see the Bears beat a good team this year.
I'm not predicting anything win wise. But these are some random thoughts. Nothing earth shaking :-)
Strangely enough, I am going to stay at 10 games at this point. My concerns are White and Loggains. I think (hope) White will come around. If Loggains is not an OC that either won't or can't make game time adjustments, we'll all know soon enough. If that is the case, I'll adjust my hopes.
Well it seems like the NFCN is not as locked up as the football pundits thought. Minnesota's defense is for real the offense is not. The Packers are wounded. If we get our shit together the Bears can contend.
Well it seems like the NFCN is not as locked up as the football pundits thought. Minnesota's defense is for real the offense is not. The Packers are wounded. If we get our shit together the Bears can contend.
Looks like the Vikes will have a good shot at being Champions of the NFCN again. Packers may be 2nd again. It looks like the Lions and Bears will fight for that 3rd place finish - again. The Vikes and Packers both looked pretty stout on defense last night to me anyway.
I just expect them to get a positiv record, thats all im asking for. Despite the fact that it feels nice not to wait too long on our draft picks, I rather have us pick later than we have done in recent years.
I dont expect playoff but I hope it. Oline and Secoundary along with RB is still too big of a question to expect that, at least for me.
Well it seems like the NFCN is not as locked up as the football pundits thought. Minnesota's defense is for real the offense is not. The Packers are wounded. If we get our shit together the Bears can contend.
Looks like the Vikes will have a good shot at being Champions of the NFCN again. Packers may be 2nd again. It looks like the Lions and Bears will fight for that 3rd place finish - again. The Vikes and Packers both looked pretty stout on defense last night to me anyway.
I like this post because that is what is likely to happen. However, I dislike this post because that is what is likely to happen.
But I'm with mike, if we can get our shit together, there's no reason we can't make a run for 1st. The peckers are fading, the lions are the lions and are still finding ways to defeat themselves. The Vikings are much improved but still not that consistent.
Post by dachuckster on Sept 19, 2016 7:35:21 GMT -6
Personally I would like to get as much player development out of the way this season as possible. If our front office and coaching staff feel that Hall, Floyd, Glenn, Bullard, Whitehair, Howard, etc are the future of the franchise then let's play them.
Of course I want to see wins as opposed to losses each game. But I want to be in the best position next year for a serious playoff run as possible.
Looks like the Vikes will have a good shot at being Champions of the NFCN again. Packers may be 2nd again. It looks like the Lions and Bears will fight for that 3rd place finish - again. The Vikes and Packers both looked pretty stout on defense last night to me anyway.
I like this post because that is what is likely to happen. However, I dislike this post because that is what is likely to happen.
But I'm with mike, if we can get our shit together, there's no reason we can't make a run for 1st. The peckers are fading, the lions are the lions and are still finding ways to defeat themselves. The Vikings are much improved but still not that consistent.
I agree with that too ^^^^^ After tonight's game we will hopefully know a bit more about this 2016 team. If the team looks like it's improving then anything (good) is possible. And even if the team looks pretty rough, then that doesn't necessarily mean the team won't get a lot better. But I sure am hoping we see some improvement tonight.