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jusnixx
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Credit where Credit is due Nov 27, 2016 22:19:10 GMT -6 via mobile JABF likes this

Post by jusnixx on Nov 27, 2016 22:19:10 GMT -6

Nov 27, 2016 21:33:20 GMT -6 JABF said:

Nov 27, 2016 21:20:10 GMT -6 riczaj01 said:

Right now, the last 2 weeks, were w/3 backsups replacing their starters, 2 of which were pro bowl OG's.

Ya they struggled at times this year, specifically early on as they were getting used to eachother; AND When Cutler is in. When they AREN'T trying to block for Cutler, and as they year has gone on they are far better.

I definitely think those grades would be better w/out Cutler and w/them being healthy for most the year.

Seriously, watch last week's game. That was not all on Cutler. That was not just an early in the year, game. It was one week ago. We were all crapping our pants over the OL woes one week ago. Now. One decent OL game and we're giddy.

LOL. Seriously.

I do think the OL is better. Especially the interior OL guys are solid. I agree with you 100% that Cutty is part of the sack woes. Part. But the OL is not "fixed" IMHO. Yes, it is better. My hope is that we bring in a solid T this off season, at the very least. It could be a FA or in the draft, but the OL needs to continue to get love. Hopefully, we have learned something from our past. Let's give that new young QB that arrives soon, a real solid OL.

I gotta agree with this. There have been some TERRIBLE games this year by our O Line and if you rewatch the games you'll see there is no way you can blame that on Cutty. Yeah there are some plays here and there where he holds onto the ball longer than he should but c'mon man that doesn't make him the scapegoat for whole game disasters from our o line.

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riczaj01
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Credit where Credit is due Nov 28, 2016 5:07:54 GMT -6

Post by riczaj01 on Nov 28, 2016 5:07:54 GMT -6

Nov 27, 2016 21:33:20 GMT -6 JABF said:

Nov 27, 2016 21:20:10 GMT -6 riczaj01 said:

Right now, the last 2 weeks, were w/3 backsups replacing their starters, 2 of which were pro bowl OG's.

Ya they struggled at times this year, specifically early on as they were getting used to eachother; AND When Cutler is in. When they AREN'T trying to block for Cutler, and as they year has gone on they are far better.

I definitely think those grades would be better w/out Cutler and w/them being healthy for most the year.

Seriously, watch last week's game. That was not all on Cutler. That was not just an early in the year, game. It was one week ago. We were all crapping our pants over the OL woes one week ago. Now. One decent OL game and we're giddy.

LOL. Seriously.

I do think the OL is better. Especially the interior OL guys are solid. I agree with you 100% that Cutty is part of the sack woes. Part. But the OL is not "fixed" IMHO. Yes, it is better. My hope is that we bring in a solid T this off season, at the very least. It could be a FA or in the draft, but the OL needs to continue to get love. Hopefully, we have learned something from our past. Let's give that new young QB that arrives soon, a real solid OL.

They arent perfect but ill take a imperfect ol that is beat down and missing players that gives up 1/2 a sack a game with a qb that knows how to get rid of the ball.

Im on record saying both ots could be replaced and the rt probably should be. But they arent the problem on this team.

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Credit where Credit is due Nov 28, 2016 7:05:42 GMT -6 Whisky Beer Bob likes this

Post by JABF on Nov 28, 2016 7:05:42 GMT -6

Nov 27, 2016 22:06:13 GMT -6 blueshoes said:

Nov 27, 2016 16:03:44 GMT -6 MartianBearsFan said:

I also gotta give the Bears credit for not quitting. I remember the Bears under Trestman they quit. Yes, they played, but once they were behind they quit. Under Fox, they show up to play like there is no tomorrow.

With all the critiques of Fox , there's 1 thing that feels different from Tresty and thats effort and more of a feeling that we've been more 'in' games . Sure his 'record' after two years is worse , but it feels like we've been at least more respectable on the scoreboard / more satisfactory as far as ' the eye test' goes . Better execution , a few less drops , a few less untimely fumbles or int's , a few less penalties , here and there , and we might have a better overall record .

I'm not saying he doesn't need to go , maybe he does , but I'm not on the inside at Halas Hall ... so I don't know if he's really grinding really trying his hardest to help his team win , or if he's just putting up his best phony face to make it seem like he cares while making sure he keeps picking up that paycheck .

So if he's 'lost it' or if he's mailing- it- in ( covertly ) , I suspect they'll sniff it out and replace him ; but if they feel like he truly cares and is putting everything he's got into this team and with just a little more patience they will turn the corner then they'll keep him .

That is an important point. Fox has never been considered a good game day coach. But he does have 2 strengths. He is respected by players AND by other coaches. That is one reason we were able to attract Vic Fangio and Adam Gase here. They didn't come here because this was a great offense or defense. We had been a joke on offense. The D was giving up 50+ points in games. We had a roster with VERY little talent. But they came here to be on John Fox's team. They respected the man. I suspect Fox, if he stays after this season, will retain Vic Fangio (he will not be a head coach elsewhere) and we can also attract a solid OC to work with a new young draftee QB. And as stated, the players are surviving an EXTREMELY tough season without giving up on the team. That directly reflects on the head coach, IMHO.

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JABF
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Credit where Credit is due Nov 28, 2016 7:11:09 GMT -6 riczaj01 likes this

Post by JABF on Nov 28, 2016 7:11:09 GMT -6

Nov 28, 2016 5:07:54 GMT -6 riczaj01 said:

Nov 27, 2016 21:33:20 GMT -6 JABF said:

Seriously, watch last week's game. That was not all on Cutler. That was not just an early in the year, game. It was one week ago. We were all crapping our pants over the OL woes one week ago. Now. One decent OL game and we're giddy.

LOL. Seriously.

I do think the OL is better. Especially the interior OL guys are solid. I agree with you 100% that Cutty is part of the sack woes. Part. But the OL is not "fixed" IMHO. Yes, it is better. My hope is that we bring in a solid T this off season, at the very least. It could be a FA or in the draft, but the OL needs to continue to get love. Hopefully, we have learned something from our past. Let's give that new young QB that arrives soon, a real solid OL.

They arent perfect but ill take a imperfect ol that is beat down and missing players that gives up 1/2 a sack a game with a qb that knows how to get rid of the ball.

Im on record saying both ots could be replaced and the rt probably should be. But they arent the problem on this team.

I do agree with you that we have worse problems. And I also appreciate your points about the OT's being replaced. Maybe we are saying the same thing, because I am not saying we spend crazy resources on offensive linemen. I just want the team to always give attention to both the DL and the OL. I just believe we will ultimately have more success if we do this. But I agree with you, we do have units with worse issues right now. No question.

LOL we need about 5 first round picks this year :-)

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GrizzlyBear Hall of Famer United We Stand, Divided We Fall. Posts: 5,762 Likes: 5,837	Credit where Credit is due Nov 28, 2016 7:18:14 GMT -6 JABF likes this Post by GrizzlyBear on Nov 28, 2016 7:18:14 GMT -6 Nov 28, 2016 7:11:09 GMT -6 JABF said: LOL we need about 5 first round picks this year :-) And that's putting it mildly. Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top

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Credit where Credit is due Nov 28, 2016 7:20:24 GMT -6

Post by JABF on Nov 28, 2016 7:20:24 GMT -6

Nov 27, 2016 22:19:10 GMT -6 jusnixx said:

Nov 27, 2016 21:33:20 GMT -6 JABF said:

Seriously, watch last week's game. That was not all on Cutler. That was not just an early in the year, game. It was one week ago. We were all crapping our pants over the OL woes one week ago. Now. One decent OL game and we're giddy.

LOL. Seriously.

I do think the OL is better. Especially the interior OL guys are solid. I agree with you 100% that Cutty is part of the sack woes. Part. But the OL is not "fixed" IMHO. Yes, it is better. My hope is that we bring in a solid T this off season, at the very least. It could be a FA or in the draft, but the OL needs to continue to get love. Hopefully, we have learned something from our past. Let's give that new young QB that arrives soon, a real solid OL.

I gotta agree with this. There have been some TERRIBLE games this year by our O Line and if you rewatch the games you'll see there is no way you can blame that on Cutty. Yeah there are some plays here and there where he holds onto the ball longer than he should but c'mon man that doesn't make him the scapegoat for whole game disasters from our o line.

I think we've survived seasons with such outright crap OLs that we have lowered our expectations to the point a mediocre OL makes us feel pretty good. That Football Outsiders ranking of 18th in pass-protection is not bad. But wouldn't it be reasonable to want the OL to be a bit better than that? But Ric is 100% right in that we have even worse issues than the OL right now. I do agree. While I envy that Dallas OL, built with all 1st round picks, I don't expect (or even want) Chicago to do that. But just upgrade the tackle situation at RT, and my dream would be to upgrade Leno at some point and make him the swing tackle. Maybe get a solid RT this year (draft or FA) and the following year go after a solid LT in the draft. Something like that anyway. Ric is also right that we have 2 Pro Bowl level guards injured right now who will be back next year. And I think Grasu will be solid next year too as an interior OL guy... if nothing else as quality depth.

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Credit where Credit is due Nov 28, 2016 8:03:53 GMT -6 riczaj01, JABF, and 2 more like this

Post by hawkeye21 on Nov 28, 2016 8:03:53 GMT -6

I'm not sure too many people wanted a complete revamp of the OL. I'm pretty sure most people are very happy with the LG, C and RG. Leno has done well enough and we need a RT. Sitton will not be the long term LG at his age. The OL needs more depth, not necessarily starters right away. They still need to draft a couple OL to beef it up more.

I don't think anyone is going to argue that drafting a QB is a top priority. The running game looks fine. Defense has performed well for being depleted as well but needs to strengthen the secondary. These are all things we know and agree on though.

After yesterday's game if you are still good with letting Jeffery go then I don't know what to say. The offense needs him and another good WR. I'm still hopeful White can be that second guy but he has one year left to prove himself.

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weneedmorelinemen
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Credit where Credit is due Nov 28, 2016 13:16:20 GMT -6 via mobile riczaj01 and JABF like this

Post by weneedmorelinemen on Nov 28, 2016 13:16:20 GMT -6

Nov 27, 2016 21:04:38 GMT -6 JABF said:

If you think the OL is "fixed" then re-watch last week's game. Yes, the OL was decent today. But it has struggled in games this year too. And if you think it is all Cutler's fault, just go back and re-watch the games if you have them recorded. The OL is better this year. It still needs attention.

Matt Barkley had a decent day too. Is our QB position "fixed" now? Of course not.

From week to week we seem to go from one extreme to another. After the Vikings win we were talking positive about Cutler. The next game we were ready to kill him. Last game we were in the depths of despair over the OL. Today we are talking about the OL being "the least of our problems"...

Maybe we should evaluate every unit at the end of the season, and with some sanity just see where we are truly at.

Football Outsiders (LINK) has the OL as being decent. They have the OL as 13th in run-blocking, and 18th in pass-protection. That's certainly better than in past years. But I'd like to see us continue to give it some attention, especially the tackles.

13th and 18th? But those numbers are nowhere near Tice's 31st and 32nd ranked O-lines.

Middle of the road never felt so good.

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riczaj01
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Credit where Credit is due Nov 28, 2016 13:37:11 GMT -6 weneedmorelinemen likes this

Post by riczaj01 on Nov 28, 2016 13:37:11 GMT -6

Nov 28, 2016 13:16:20 GMT -6 weneedmorelinemen said:

Nov 27, 2016 21:04:38 GMT -6 JABF said:

If you think the OL is "fixed" then re-watch last week's game. Yes, the OL was decent today. But it has struggled in games this year too. And if you think it is all Cutler's fault, just go back and re-watch the games if you have them recorded. The OL is better this year. It still needs attention.

Matt Barkley had a decent day too. Is our QB position "fixed" now? Of course not.

From week to week we seem to go from one extreme to another. After the Vikings win we were talking positive about Cutler. The next game we were ready to kill him. Last game we were in the depths of despair over the OL. Today we are talking about the OL being "the least of our problems"...

Maybe we should evaluate every unit at the end of the season, and with some sanity just see where we are truly at.

Football Outsiders (LINK) has the OL as being decent. They have the OL as 13th in run-blocking, and 18th in pass-protection. That's certainly better than in past years. But I'd like to see us continue to give it some attention, especially the tackles.

13th and 18th? But those numbers are nowhere near Tice's 31st and 32nd ranked O-lines.

Middle of the road never felt so good.

13th and 18th and how many of the starters have played together on that OL this season? They could use help, but it's far from a top need.
QB
DE
CB
TE
S/WR
RT

imo are the top needs, in that order. Let Barkley or Hoyer(depending on how Barkley looks the next 5 games) and Shaw fight out for backup roles and find a legit QB to start building your franchise around.

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Credit where Credit is due Nov 28, 2016 13:46:36 GMT -6

Post by JABF on Nov 28, 2016 13:46:36 GMT -6

Nov 28, 2016 13:37:11 GMT -6 riczaj01 said:

Nov 28, 2016 13:16:20 GMT -6 weneedmorelinemen said:

13th and 18th? But those numbers are nowhere near Tice's 31st and 32nd ranked O-lines.

Middle of the road never felt so good.

13th and 18th and how many of the starters have played together on that OL this season? They could use help, but it's far from a top need.
QB
DE
CB
TE
S/WR
RT

imo are the top needs, in that order. Let Barkley or Hoyer(depending on how Barkley looks the next 5 games) and Shaw fight out for backup roles and find a legit QB to start building your franchise around.

I keep thinking some of our needs will be filled in FA. I would hope we'd get at least 1 or 2 solid additions there. Maybe get a solid RT there. And a RT upgrade shouldn't be that difficult for us. If it is, then we have the wrong GM.

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