NFC North - A new overview

[Dabaddestbear]

Man thats sad your mind works that way. I think they have meds to reverse those effects. By my standards I was saying I was off by a few yardage average not by comparison of how great a player is.
Well they both were injured last year and one was only in his second year, the other a rookie. Only to add to thte fact that neither was a starter. So to say 701 yrds in there CAREERS means very little.
And in Berrians little time played last year he consistantly found a way to blow past defenses on deep routes. As a matter of fact one of those deep routes left packer defenders gasping for air while he ran past your speedy Caroll and Collins.
Funny how you keep saying I am taking up for Clark, when I was just clearly stating what the Coach said on TV in an interview after pratice. But of course you already know that since you watch them so much...lol
Your just too bright for me kid

Are you kidding me? YOU'RE the one who was bragging earlier about how great Benson was (4.5 yards per carry, top rusher from college). He's in the NFL now, I don't care how he did in college. Ron Dayne was also the leading rusher in college. And hey, who cares about stats? Instead we can make meaningless statements and back them up with absolutely no proof. Then we can just argue back and forth all day.

That's exactly my point about Berrian and Bradley. They have proven very little so far but you're the one who was going on and on about how talented they are.

I wasnt going on and on I was statiing the obvious. They are better than the Packers WR's. I wasnt saying how great he is, for I dont know. But he was great in college and did good in his limited time before getting injured.

[Dabaddestbear]

My comparison of Bears vs. Packers

The Packers QB is way > than the Bears ---True...Although the Bears QB's dont score many points, they wont give the other team as many points either.

The Packers WR's are > than the Bears ---False, Driver and Moose is Equal, Berrian, Bradley and Gage is faster and have have better skills than any wr on the pack team not named Driver. This would not had been the case if Walker was still there.

The Packers TE's are > than the Bears ---uhmm, yeah a few years ago. last year Franks got knocked out twice! once by a smaller DB. He hasnt produced in over two years. Clark numbers are low cuz this system doesnt toss the ball his way often. Franks is solid for 3 yard curls in the endzone, but beyond that he has become invisible.

Healthy, GB's RB's and the Bears RB's are a wash ---c'mon man be serious. I could write a book about how wrong this statement is.

The Bears OL is way > than the Packers ---The Bears have a solid line and I wouldnt say way better overall cuz the tackles on the pack are solid, now that middle is way worse than the Bears.

The Bears Special Teams are > than the Packers --yep, and getting Hester to return punts for us just made it that much better.

The Bears DL is > than the Packers
The Bears LB's are > than the Packers
The Packers CB's are > than the Bears
The Bears Safeties, barely > than the Packers _
I agree with the above 100%

IF both teams are injury free, I'd argue the Bears have slightly more talent than GB, but it's closer than Bear fans will admit.

I knew when I took the time out to do some homework the foolishness would run rampant. One thing you overlook is no matter how great you think your saviour QB is, with no solid middle he will be on his back more times than not. It seems as if each year lately GB is trying its best to make Bretts life harder under center. Die Slow Brett, Die Slow!!

[Dabaddestbear]

The Bears are just not that impressive, on many levels.
I think the division is wide open.

I just don't see all the talent on the Bears that some others see.
To me, they look extremely thin overall.

I live near Chicago - and have watched every game they've played. Even watched some practice in Lake Forest.
Sorry, just don't see the perceived talent gap at all.
Repeat : the division is a crapshoot.

...The Packers are on the way back up -and I like that a whole lot better.

Ok, this clip is just of Brett against the Bears last year. And is one othe reasons why the above statements in this thread just dont make sense.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Zjh75einvQ4&search=Favre%202005

[Fosco33]

The Bears are just not that impressive, on many levels.
I think the division is wide open.

I just don't see all the talent on the Bears that some others see.
To me, they look extremely thin overall.

I live near Chicago - and have watched every game they've played. Even watched some practice in Lake Forest.
Sorry, just don't see the perceived talent gap at all.
Repeat : the division is a crapshoot.

...The Packers are on the way back up -and I like that a whole lot better.

Ok, this clip is just of Brett against the Bears last year. And is one othe reasons why the above statements in this thread just dont make sense.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Zjh75einv...h=Favre%202005

If you like those, check these out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_y5UZmTPHk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vcjKe3G4Is

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rnt63uPUy3Q

[K-town]

Hey, daBaddestBear...tell me when was the last playoff game DaBears won?
I am seriously wondering. I'm thinking the upset of Minnesota in "94...but please correct me if I'm wrong. Thanks, dude.

Note: capitalized Bears, as a sign of respect.

[Bretsky]

Healthy, GB's RB's and the Bears RB's are a wash

homer

well, ok, maybe if we send green back in a time capsule a couple years. But Bears got two excellent RB's.

Cedrick Benson has shown me little so far; Thomas Jones is OK. If Ahman Green could stay healthy I think he'd still be OK.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Cedrick Benson has shown me little so far; Thomas Jones is OK. If Ahman Green could stay healthy I think he'd still be OK.

First we have to see if Ahman Green can GET healthy, then worry about him staying healthy. We don't know if he'll be back to a 100%.

And once he is healthy, we have to find out if last year's poor performance was due to crappy O-line, or Green declining.

[The Shadow]

Benson is a disappointment.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Benson is a disappointment.

ah hell, I wouldn't say that. Jones was excellent, they didn't play the rookie much.

[The Shadow]

He has major attitude problems & seems a lot like that "A Train" of a few seasons back : heavy, slow, average instincts.

[Harlan Huckleby]

heavy, slow, average instincts.

sounds like the Packer RB stable! (other than Green, if he makes miraculous comeback.)

[The Shadow]

Yes, but 2 rookie cut-blocking naturals will open up enormous holes!

[Dabaddestbear]

Hey, daBaddestBear...tell me when was the last playoff game DaBears won?
I am seriously wondering. I'm thinking the upset of Minnesota in "94...but please correct me if I'm wrong. Thanks, dude.

Note: capitalized Bears, as a sign of respect.

Its been so long I dnt even remember, and I dont feel like google searchin it...lol.
But this team and coaching staff is alot different than the past ones. If Packer fans cant see that then I dont mind taking any of you guys money at Major Goolsbys downtown milwaukee on opening day.

[Fosco33]

Hey, daBaddestBear...tell me when was the last playoff game DaBears won?
I am seriously wondering. I'm thinking the upset of Minnesota in "94...but please correct me if I'm wrong. Thanks, dude.

Note: capitalized Bears, as a sign of respect.

Its been so long I dnt even remember, and I dont feel like google searchin it...lol.
But this team and coaching staff is alot different than the past ones. If Packer fans cant see that then I dont mind taking any of you guys money at Major Goolsbys downtown milwaukee on opening day.

From BearsHistory.com:

In the '94 season for the first time in the league's history, the NFC Central sent 4 teams to the playoffs, Minnesota, Detroit, Green Bay, and the Bears. First up for the Bears was a third matchup with Minnesota in the Metrodome, a game no one gave the Bears a possibility to win. Behind Steve Walsh's careful play, the Bears did shock Minnesota 35-18, their first road playoff win since 1984. This win allowed the Bears to advance to San Francisco in the divisional playoff. The 49ers were heavy favorites, and they demolished the Bears 44-15 en route to their Super Bowl victory.

GB took care of Detroit that year (Sanders had -1 yrds on 13 carries) and went on to lose to the Boys (again).

[OS PA]

I just don't see all the talent on the Bears that some others see.
To me, they look extremely thin overall.

They have 2 DEs better than Kampman and KGB. Both are serious pass rushers.

They have this generations warren sapp and best pass rushing tackle in the league in Harris. Their other DT is a big fatty who can stop the run. Both starters are better than anyone we have.

Urlacher and Briggs are both better than our best linebacker by a landslide.

Vasher is better than any corner we have. Brown is a better defensive back than any we have.

They're very, very, very good defensively.

(Haven't read any of the other posts but something came to my mind)

I mostly agree with you, but one thing comes to my mind. The Packers Defensive gameplan and the Bears Defensive gameplan are two completely different types of animals.

Ours is built on technique, finesse, and speed.
Theirs is built on strength, speed, and quality tackling.

The one thing we used to have in common with them was a very good defensive coaching staff, but that may change with the deletion of Bates in our scheme. My hope is that the scheme this year is completely identical to last years so the knowledge of the playbook will override the lack of coaching quality.

In your "breakdown" of the roster you are correct on many points such as

Urlacher being better than any of our LB's and their D-line having more talent.

Here are some interesting stats to look at however

Rushing Yards Allowed Per Game
Bears: 102.3
Packers: 125.6

Rushing Touchdowns Allowed
Bears: 9
Packers: 10

Runs of 20+ Yards Allowed
Bears: 8
Packers: 10

Passing Yards Allowed Per Game
Bears: 167.5
Packers: 179.5

Sacks
Bears: 41
Packers: 35

These stats show that our teams aren't very different defensively. The bears do edge us out in all categories, but all in all we're pretty even teams.

Now with all of this equality, wheres the difference that sets us apart? Turnovers and Touchdowns.

Passing Touchdowns allowed
Bears: 10
Packers: 22

Interceptions
Bears: 24
Packers: 10

Apparent eh? Chicago definitely edges us in both categories.

One More stat to give.

Defensive Plays
Bears: 1034
Packers: 969

Thats a 75 play difference. What am I getting at?
The Packers could have caught up to Chicago in those 75 plays? Hell no.
The Bears with less plays could have had lower stats? Yes.


Now, what sets us appart?
Linebackers? No
Cornerbacks? No
Secondary? No
Pass Rush, Pass Rush, Pass Rush? Yes

Pass Rush is all that matters, the Bears D-line made their secondary look like gods. Our D-line made our secondary look like Gods too.

Yes the Bears are the better defensive team, but by a smaller margin than expected.

Now lets look to 2006.

The Bears starting defense is completely the same, other than the training camp demotions they will probably perform equally to last year.

The Packer Starting defense is completely re-tooled and upgraded. Upgraded Safety, Upgraded Linebackers, Upgraded Cornerbacks, Upgraded Defensive Tackles, and last but not least people a potential run-stopping Defensive end to spell KGB.

I'm not saying that we now, because of upgrades are going to be the better defensive team next year, we should, however, be able to close the small gap to being equal.