Bears beat Lions - who gets the game ball?

JABF
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Bears beat Lions - who gets the game ball? Dec 10, 2023 21:42:07 GMT -6 britishbearfan and vladbears like this

Post by JABF on Dec 10, 2023 21:42:07 GMT -6

Dec 10, 2023 21:39:40 GMT -6 davidl said:

Dec 10, 2023 20:41:41 GMT -6 JABF said:

+1
This year we had 30 new players on our roster. New guys everywhere. We are very young/new. But next year these new guys will not be new guys anymore - and consequently we will not only have an opportunity to draft some crazy-good additional talent (like Harrison Jr), we will have the young guys like Wright with a year's NFL experience under their belt. We beat a good team today. Almost beat 'em a few weeks ago too. On top of that, the improvement in this team from the beginning of this season until now has been very satisfying to watch. But obviously there is work to do in 2024. I know I will sound like a meatball here (and I probably am) but I thing that 2025 Super Bowl ready team we've talked about, is possible if we quit tearing things down (like letting Fields walk) and just build the roster with some great additional talent in 2024 and 2025. At some point you quit the tearing down stuff and actually build on the good stuff you already have. Keep the good. Get rid of the remaining bad & we will be one heck of a good team.

I agree. This game Fields passed my personal test for keeping him. Poles needs to keep him, JJ, and all the good players.

I know people here don’t like Eberflus, but they have to admit the defense has been playing much better after he took over the job and even before Sweat arrived.

+1
One thing that stood out about the Lions. Those dudes hit hard. Hardest hitting game I've seen in awhile. Playoff intensity. The Bears still managed to beat them. You've been (rightly) saying for weeks that this game was a big test. I think they passed it - and it wasn't an easy test. Tough win over a pretty good team I think.

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weneedmorelinemen
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Bears beat Lions - who gets the game ball? Dec 11, 2023 0:57:55 GMT -6 via mobile AlexM and shark86 like this

Post by weneedmorelinemen on Dec 11, 2023 0:57:55 GMT -6

Why did last year and this the Bears started the season as if everyone on the team played like they had only read about football in books?

"The Legends foretold of a game with an oval ball, and on occasion some of the bigger guys will have to physically stop their opponents from reaching the leader, who holds the oddly shaped ball, without using their hands,"

For once I would like the Bears to walk out onto a field IN SEPTEMBER and look like they belong out there.

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vladbears Rookie Posts: 36 Likes: 47	Bears beat Lions - who gets the game ball? Dec 11, 2023 3:44:40 GMT -6 AlexM likes this Post by vladbears on Dec 11, 2023 3:44:40 GMT -6 I voted for entire def. , but it's obviosly team win. Bear down! Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
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AlexM
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Bears beat Lions - who gets the game ball? Dec 11, 2023 4:18:38 GMT -6 via mobile JABF, bearsfaninaz, and 1 more like this

Post by AlexM on Dec 11, 2023 4:18:38 GMT -6

Dec 11, 2023 3:44:40 GMT -6 vladbears said:

I voted for entire def. , but it's obviosly team win.

Bear down!

I know we are messing our draft pick (thank god for panthers and poles), but it still feels good to W for a change.
And back-to-back vs NFCN. Feels real good.

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Last Edit: Dec 11, 2023 4:18:51 GMT -6 by AlexM

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dachuckster
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Bears beat Lions - who gets the game ball? Dec 11, 2023 11:09:02 GMT -6 JABF, shark86, and 1 more like this

Post by dachuckster on Dec 11, 2023 11:09:02 GMT -6

Dec 10, 2023 21:39:40 GMT -6 davidl said:

Dec 10, 2023 20:41:41 GMT -6 JABF said:

+1
This year we had 30 new players on our roster. New guys everywhere. We are very young/new. But next year these new guys will not be new guys anymore - and consequently we will not only have an opportunity to draft some crazy-good additional talent (like Harrison Jr), we will have the young guys like Wright with a year's NFL experience under their belt. We beat a good team today. Almost beat 'em a few weeks ago too. On top of that, the improvement in this team from the beginning of this season until now has been very satisfying to watch. But obviously there is work to do in 2024. I know I will sound like a meatball here (and I probably am) but I thing that 2025 Super Bowl ready team we've talked about, is possible if we quit tearing things down (like letting Fields walk) and just build the roster with some great additional talent in 2024 and 2025. At some point you quit the tearing down stuff and actually build on the good stuff you already have. Keep the good. Get rid of the remaining bad & we will be one heck of a good team.

I agree. This game Fields passed my personal test for keeping him. Poles needs to keep him, JJ, and all the good players.

I know people here don’t like Eberflus, but they have to admit the defense has been playing much better after he took over the job and even before Sweat arrived.

I have to agree with you on both. But especially about Fields. But as JABF posted, the hitting was at/near playoff intensity. If Fields keeps being the #1 rusher for the team, game in and game out, he probably has 3 or 4 years left in his body.

Looking at Mahomes for KC, he is the #2 rusher with 339 yards in 2023. But his running is more unpredictable and his average yards per attempt is higher (5.8 vs 5.1 for Fields), and the number of attempts is much lower (58 vs 89 for Fields). And Mahomes' sack numbers are about half of Fields (18 sacks for Mahomes vs 32 for Fields). And this doesn't even factor in that Mahomes has played in all 13 games.

If Poles and Warren want to keep Fields as the #1 QB, they need to improve the performance in the running game (and specifically not including Fields). I don't mean that Fields doesn't run with the ball. Just that we need to be able to hand the ball off to someone else and have them consistently average at/above 5 yards per carry. And we need to seriously improve our passing game. Probably both getting a new center as well as a better passing scheme.

If they can't do that, we will need another #1 QB sometime over the next 2 or 3 years.

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AlexM Administrator Posts: 5,705 Likes: 5,467	Bears beat Lions - who gets the game ball? Dec 11, 2023 23:53:48 GMT -6 via mobile dachuckster and Whisky Beer Bob like this Post by AlexM on Dec 11, 2023 23:53:48 GMT -6 Oh, how good DWright was... Only gave up one QB hit in 45 pass blocking snaps and going against their best rusher, Hutchinson. Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top
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malagabears
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Bears beat Lions - who gets the game ball? Dec 12, 2023 3:20:10 GMT -6 via Tapatalk

Post by malagabears on Dec 12, 2023 3:20:10 GMT -6

I was a bit premature in the shoutbox and gave up on the team based on past performance. Have they turned a corner? Maybe but the biggest test is next week in Cleveland. We have to neutralizalize Okoronkwo so we can chip block Garrett on passing down, tall order.
I think we can shut down their O & Sweat will feast.

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JABF
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Bears beat Lions - who gets the game ball? Dec 12, 2023 7:48:09 GMT -6 shark86 likes this

Post by JABF on Dec 12, 2023 7:48:09 GMT -6

Dec 11, 2023 11:09:02 GMT -6 dachuckster said:

If Poles and Warren want to keep Fields as the #1 QB, they need to improve the performance in the running game (and specifically not including Fields). I don't mean that Fields doesn't run with the ball. Just that we need to be able to hand the ball off to someone else and have them consistently average at/above 5 yards per carry. And we need to seriously improve our passing game. Probably both getting a new center as well as a better passing scheme.

If they can't do that, we will need another #1 QB sometime over the next 2 or 3 years.

+1
I so agree with you, Chuck. And I would add that if the Bears can also add an elite WR in this draft like Marvin Harrison Jr, then if for some reason we do move on from Fields down the road, then this offense is 100% set for success for the next QB1. It's win/win as far as I can see. From reading up about this upcoming draft it sounds like it is a very good one for WRs. If it is, then I'd be fine drafting a 2nd WR in the mid-rounds too. But get that Harrison kid no matter what. If that guy stays relatively healthy during his NFL career then he is a lock for a Hall of Fame level career - think Walter Payton and Gale Sayers, but at the WR position. Sayers & Walter were both top-5 picks... in fact, both taken at #4 (Walter in 1971 and Sayers in 1965) - and they gave us incredible seasons - Walter was still a good player when we won our only Super Bowl with the #2 scoring offense that year as well as the #1 defense.

The game has changed a lot since those days and now the passing game makes or breaks a team.

I 100% agree with you about the run game taking some pressure off of the QB... saving wear and tear on Fields' body. Totally agree. But get that Harrison kid to team with DJ Moore and Kmet. That will be a lethal offense that will pay off in a SB win. That's the cherry on the sundae I think. I don't want to see a trade down this draft with that top pick. Use it. Use it to get MHJ. Again, think of it as the WR equivalent of the Sayers and Payton drafts. And as an aside on this, we had two 1st round picks in that 1965 Sayers draft. We went defense with the other top-5 pick and drafted Dick Butkus. I would like to see that "one two punch" offense and defense in THIS draft. Get an elite WR and the best DL guy though, this time. Again, the game has changed so much since 1965... get the MHJ kid at all costs. He (I believe) is the key to championships here in Chicago as we move forward.

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brasilbear
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Bears beat Lions - who gets the game ball? Dec 12, 2023 9:15:16 GMT -6 AlexM, dachuckster, and 1 more like this

Post by brasilbear on Dec 12, 2023 9:15:16 GMT -6

Dec 12, 2023 7:48:09 GMT -6 JABF said:

Dec 11, 2023 11:09:02 GMT -6 dachuckster said:

If Poles and Warren want to keep Fields as the #1 QB, they need to improve the performance in the running game (and specifically not including Fields). I don't mean that Fields doesn't run with the ball. Just that we need to be able to hand the ball off to someone else and have them consistently average at/above 5 yards per carry. And we need to seriously improve our passing game. Probably both getting a new center as well as a better passing scheme.

If they can't do that, we will need another #1 QB sometime over the next 2 or 3 years.

+1
I so agree with you, Chuck. And I would add that if the Bears can also add an elite WR in this draft like Marvin Harrison Jr, then if for some reason we do move on from Fields down the road, then this offense is 100% set for success for the next QB1. It's win/win as far as I can see. From reading up about this upcoming draft it sounds like it is a very good one for WRs. If it is, then I'd be fine drafting a 2nd WR in the mid-rounds too. But get that Harrison kid no matter what. If that guy stays relatively healthy during his NFL career then he is a lock for a Hall of Fame level career - think Walter Payton and Gale Sayers, but at the WR position. Sayers & Walter were both top-5 picks... in fact, both taken at #4 (Walter in 1971 and Sayers in 1965) - and they gave us incredible seasons - Walter was still a good player when we won our only Super Bowl with the #2 scoring offense that year as well as the #1 defense.

The game has changed a lot since those days and now the passing game makes or breaks a team.

I 100% agree with you about the run game taking some pressure off of the QB... saving wear and tear on Fields' body. Totally agree. But get that Harrison kid to team with DJ Moore and Kmet. That will be a lethal offense that will pay off in a SB win. That's the cherry on the sundae I think. I don't want to see a trade down this draft with that top pick. Use it. Use it to get MHJ. Again, think of it as the WR equivalent of the Sayers and Payton drafts. And as an aside on this, we had two 1st round picks in that 1965 Sayers draft. We went defense with the other top-5 pick and drafted Dick Butkus. I would like to see that "one two punch" offense and defense in THIS draft. Get an elite WR and the best DL guy though, this time. Again, the game has changed so much since 1965... get the MHJ kid at all costs. He (I believe) is the key to championships here in Chicago as we move forward.

They need to stop with the little Fields run where he follows the RB right off one of the tackles. Too much contact and not enough yards picked up. I much prefer Fields running QB shotgun draws--use the WRs on verticals to clear space and let Fields go open field against LBs.

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dachuckster
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Bears beat Lions - who gets the game ball? Dec 12, 2023 9:22:14 GMT -6 shark86 and butkus3595 like this

Post by dachuckster on Dec 12, 2023 9:22:14 GMT -6

Dec 12, 2023 7:48:09 GMT -6 JABF said:

Dec 11, 2023 11:09:02 GMT -6 dachuckster said:

If Poles and Warren want to keep Fields as the #1 QB, they need to improve the performance in the running game (and specifically not including Fields). I don't mean that Fields doesn't run with the ball. Just that we need to be able to hand the ball off to someone else and have them consistently average at/above 5 yards per carry. And we need to seriously improve our passing game. Probably both getting a new center as well as a better passing scheme.

If they can't do that, we will need another #1 QB sometime over the next 2 or 3 years.

+1
I so agree with you, Chuck. And I would add that if the Bears can also add an elite WR in this draft like Marvin Harrison Jr, then if for some reason we do move on from Fields down the road, then this offense is 100% set for success for the next QB1. It's win/win as far as I can see. From reading up about this upcoming draft it sounds like it is a very good one for WRs. If it is, then I'd be fine drafting a 2nd WR in the mid-rounds too. But get that Harrison kid no matter what. If that guy stays relatively healthy during his NFL career then he is a lock for a Hall of Fame level career - think Walter Payton and Gale Sayers, but at the WR position. Sayers & Walter were both top-5 picks... in fact, both taken at #4 (Walter in 1971 and Sayers in 1965) - and they gave us incredible seasons - Walter was still a good player when we won our only Super Bowl with the #2 scoring offense that year as well as the #1 defense.

The game has changed a lot since those days and now the passing game makes or breaks a team.

I 100% agree with you about the run game taking some pressure off of the QB... saving wear and tear on Fields' body. Totally agree. But get that Harrison kid to team with DJ Moore and Kmet. That will be a lethal offense that will pay off in a SB win. That's the cherry on the sundae I think. I don't want to see a trade down this draft with that top pick. Use it. Use it to get MHJ. Again, think of it as the WR equivalent of the Sayers and Payton drafts. And as an aside on this, we had two 1st round picks in that 1965 Sayers draft. We went defense with the other top-5 pick and drafted Dick Butkus. I would like to see that "one two punch" offense and defense in THIS draft. Get an elite WR and the best DL guy though, this time. Again, the game has changed so much since 1965... get the MHJ kid at all costs. He (I believe) is the key to championships here in Chicago as we move forward.

When I used the phrase "And we need to seriously improve our passing game.", I was being purposely vague. When fans see inefficiency or a lack of effectiveness on offense, there are lots of subtleties/nuances/etc involved in what is going wrong. We don't know the exact issues causing the issues.

And by fans, I am including all of us here on this board, myself included.

I have been of the opinion that much of what we have seen of offense this year lies directly on the coaching staff. As long as Fields is our QB, we need a scheme in place that both protects Fields, while exploiting his highly unique talents.

In the 2023/2024 off-season, I believe that Poles need to prioritize the offense more than the defense. Not exclusively on the offense but maybe something like 55%/45% or 60%/40% slanted on the offensive side.

Currently it looks like we will have the #1 pick along with something like the #5 - #8 pick in the 2024 draft. If we could get a potential All Pro WR and OC with both of these, so be it. If Poles feels there is a sleeper of one of these available in Day 2, that's good too. If you look at a couple of our Day 2 picks from 2023, both Dexter and Pickens seem to be working out. But we need to see how both finish out the season. But Poles needs to be as effective on our 2024 day 1 and day 2 picks as he was in 2023.

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Bears beat Lions - who gets the game ball?

Post by JABF on Dec 10, 2023 21:42:07 GMT -6

Post by weneedmorelinemen on Dec 11, 2023 0:57:55 GMT -6

Post by vladbears on Dec 11, 2023 3:44:40 GMT -6

Post by AlexM on Dec 11, 2023 4:18:38 GMT -6

Post by dachuckster on Dec 11, 2023 11:09:02 GMT -6

Post by AlexM on Dec 11, 2023 23:53:48 GMT -6

Post by malagabears on Dec 12, 2023 3:20:10 GMT -6

Post by JABF on Dec 12, 2023 7:48:09 GMT -6

Post by brasilbear on Dec 12, 2023 9:15:16 GMT -6

Post by dachuckster on Dec 12, 2023 9:22:14 GMT -6