Mice And Men - Bears

[Smidgeon]

Here's my take for this week.

Mice (Duds):

DJ Smith - What's the point of having an ILB on the field on obvious passing downs when he can't cover worth a lick?...Capers better instill the Zero-Sum package over the mini-bye...Not talking about Nash equilibrium...Imagine the Packers playing with 7 DBs and ZERO ILB...Replace Smith with Woodson to go along with Williams, Burnett, McMillan, House, Shields and Hayward.

J-Mike - Did he drop a pass? Fumble was inexcusable.

3rd Down Offense - Was so bad, I could swear Harrell was playing instead of Rodgers.

Rodgers - Another mediocre showing...a bit inaccurate...held the ball too long on a couple of sacks...pick was inexcusable...the Bear cb jumped the route...Rodgers should get together with his receivers over the mini-bye and start a boy band...call themselves "Out-of-Sync" b/c that's what Rodgers and his receivers are, out of sync...I don't wanna say Rodgers played like a rookie or that JORDAN Rodgers would've played better against the Bears...Don't want to turn off my new forum buddy, Ayn Rand.

Men (Studs):

Special teams - Fake fg td was well executed...unit neutralized a stallion named Hester...Crosby was perfect.

Matthews - Whoever said Matthews was his "BEEAASSTTT" on the NFL Network pre-game show...genius.

Defense as a whole - 7 sacks, 4 picks...made Cutler look like a rookie...won the game.

Cutler - Threw 4 picks but the 4th one was one of those "pouring salt on the wound" pick...McMillian clearly dropped the pick...the replacement refs decided that its only fitting that those who unwittingly started Cutler on their FF team(s), myself included, suffer even more.

And this time the assessment is accurate.

[Upnorth]

Did I miss an injury to Perry? He is showing no tackles. I thought I saw him on the field getting some pressure at one point, but might have been my imagination.

[Smidgeon]

not excusing the inaccuracy but Rodgers has went up against a couple good defenses right out of the gate. Tough for anyone to start the season. Hopefully he can settle in and get it rolling so when he has to face the better D's, he'll be sharp.

THey have got to find a LB who can cover a TE.

we need to work on 3rd and short. IDK what it is, but it shouldn't be so difficult to gain a yard. Is it blocking scheme? our O-line has to be able to win enough to get a frick'n yard.


the good is the secondary looked really good. we had some pressures and sacks in large part due to great coverage. this was a huge turn around.

Hawk has made some plays and caused some problems behind the line on some runs this yr. Walden looked like he had a decent game as well.

ST limited Hester aside from one decent return.

You know, I'm not as unimpressed with TE coverage as everyone else seems to be. I still remember a few years ago when that TE would have 100 yards instead of 1 reception for 21 yards.

[Smidgeon]

Did I miss an injury to Perry? He is showing no tackles. I thought I saw him on the field getting some pressure at one point, but might have been my imagination.

JS had a quote by Walden saying he was in the game because "the rookie had his hands banged up" or something to that effect.

[Smidgeon]

Men - Dom Capers. In a short week he made Shields the starter and dropped Bush to ST only, put McMillan in for Jennings and Walden in for Perry. Along with the changes in people, the scheme was adjusted to take advantage of the player's strengths. That was quite a bit to be done in so short a week. Apparently he is not a senile old goat after all.

I know that his previous stops have been expansion teams, but the stat showing his defenses getting worse and worse the longer he's with a team still concerns me. I wouldn't go as far as senile old goat, but I'm still concerned.

Hopefully the pressure stays good enough, but I asked it in the Niners thread: why is Fangio (who was the d-coordinator for Capers on one of his stops) running such a better defense than Capers? I'd give the CB edge and OLB edge to the Packers between the two and ILB and DE to the Niners, but I really don't know enough to say. Is it the players or the scheme?

[Zool]

Clay had a fantastic game and really the whole line did too. Daniels looks to be a major find IMO although I'll take it all with a grain of salt because the Bears really are that bad. Walden even looked like an all-pro.

Aaron had a misleadingly good game I'd say. All his best throws went through the hands of Nelson twice, Jones once, and Finley once. At the very least I think he played much better than his stats would indicate. This was a much better game for him than on Sunday.

John Kuhn is a real weapon in this league. A truly do-all player for his body type. Great special teams hit on Hester, several catches, and carry that went nowhere, but more importantly Kuhn is phenomenal in pass protection.

I think the credit for the Finley fumble should go less to Finley and more to Charles Tillman. He didn't drop it like a dumbass, he wasn't just putting it up on a platter, and its not the first time Charles Tillman has punched out a football. He's a good player.

I thought Hawk quietly has had 2 good games in a row. Is this the year?

McMillian looks like a nice find. I didn't expect such ball skills from him. Very instinctive and very fast. Reminds me of a young Nick Collins. By the end of the year I bet he moves Woodson into his more traditional role.

I think the opinions on here about DJ Smith will take a 180 before the end of the year. I like his attitude, I love his speed, I think he's got the hips to be successful covering a zone in the middle of the field. Playing man on a TE I'm not such a fan. I think as McMillan improves it should free up Burnett and Woodson to take on some more of those responsibilities so that Smith doesn't find himself in so many mismatches. I think he's holding up rather well though and it was nice to see he's got some potential as a blitzer.

I'm with you on most of this except Finley should definitely have 2 hands on that ball.

Also Smith was responsible for I think 2 of those long catch and runs by Forte.

[rbaloha1]

Overall the defense played like men.

The d-line provided good penetration. Worthy's pad level is improved but wish he would play with better leverage.

The lb play was much improved. Hawk is playing with more fire. Smith was solid. Walden is playing as expected. Unsure about Perry -- is it injury? Playing too tentative. Maybe needs to bulk-up and take over for Pickett next season? Matthews was off the the charts.

The secondary should always play cover 2. Open field tackling was nice. SS finally stepped up. Mcmillian should be in the nickel. Heyward should be in the dime. Thank goodness JB and Jennings are on the sidelines.

The offense is more mice mainly due to AR's timing issues -- which is easily fixable. IMO a big part of it was during the preseason the main playmakers did not play together. Expect the timing issue to be fixed by the Monday night game. CB is the man and whoever called pass receiving a weakness was misinformed.

[Cheesehead Craig]

Rodgers wasn't a Mouse but wasn't fully up to Man status either. He held onto the ball too long on too many occassions but his receivers gotta catch those passes. They do and we're talking a 3 TD game from him.

Benson was definately a Man last night. Much more decisive running from him, got involved in the passing game rather nicely. He is looking to be a massive weapon if he keeps improving like he has.

[run pMc]

Is it the players or the scheme?

Good question. I think the 49ers are MUCH better at S and ILB and that really helps defend the middle of the field. Carlos Rogers is a halfway decent CB (I'd take him over Shields or Bush, but NOT Tramon). The Niner D is no pushover.

I'm still unsure if Rodgers looking off is because of the defenses he's faced, if there's preseason rust, or regression to the mean after a crazy season last year. I know this is a Capt. Obvious statement but he just seems less accurate vs. last year. WRs and Finley dropped some throws that wouldn't have been easy but they usually catch. Offense still seems out of sync.

Not converting two 3rd-and-1's in the 2nd half (runs by Benson and Kuhn) bugs me. Gotta get those.

McMillian seemed to have a good game. I recall him being a willing tackler and showed some range. Only one game, so jury's out on whether he can keep it up. I thought the secondary played better. Then again, Cutler takes chances and he was running for his life behind a leaky OL. CM3 and Walden really brought it last night.

Perry got snaps, didn't get any tackles so he didn't show up in the box score. I read elsewhere that he was pushing Carimi into the pocket enough to make Cutler uncomfortable but I wasn't watching for him so don't know if that's true or if he played well. I hope he's not hurt -- splitting time with Walden is a good way to keep them both fresh, and Walden always plays well vs. CHI.

Worthy was up and down -- he could've been called for a block in the back on the Crabtree TD but 97 wasn't going to catch Crabtree and it was an iffy call so I think the refs let it go. Saw him get after Cutler some, also seemed to get turned by the OL occasionally. He's a work in progress but he didn't hurt GB.

[Bossman641]

Overall the defense played like men.

The d-line provided good penetration. Worthy's pad level is improved but wish he would play with better leverage.

The lb play was much improved. Hawk is playing with more fire. Smith was solid. Walden is playing as expected. Unsure about Perry -- is it injury? Playing too tentative. Maybe needs to bulk-up and take over for Pickett next season? Matthews was off the the charts.

The secondary should always play cover 2. Open field tackling was nice. SS finally stepped up. Mcmillian should be in the nickel. Heyward should be in the dime. Thank goodness JB and Jennings are on the sidelines.

The offense is more mice mainly due to AR's timing issues -- which is easily fixable. IMO a big part of it was during the preseason the main playmakers did not play together. Expect the timing issue to be fixed by the Monday night game. CB is the man and whoever called pass receiving a weakness was misinformed.

WTF. Haven't you been arguing for Bush over Shields for weeks?

[denverYooper]

Here's my take for this week.

Mice (Duds):

J-Mike - Did he drop a pass? Fumble was inexcusable.

Jermichael had a rough night. Missed a block that got Jones nearly killed, dropped one, missed another ball (that he would have caught pre-IR), and then the FF. He used to be money under the lights and vs Chicago. Hopefully this is him bottoming out before he rebounds to the stratosphere.

[denverYooper]

I thought McMillan was a man. He wasn't making huge plays all night like some of the more esteemed members of the D but whenever I saw him in he seemed to be flying to the ball and has an intensity about his approach that you don't see from other DBs on the team.

[mission]

- Agree with DY and the rest of you on McMillian. Nothing really stand out but seemed like he was always around the ball and you never saw him running to a guy 10 yards away that he was supposed to cover. So I guess he was relatively assignment sure. Great nose for the ball, should rub off on the others.
- Shields was shutdown and also seems more aggressive. Great carry over from the niners game. Dom said in his presser that it was 37's best game as a Packer.
- Perry injury is a wrist from the 49ers game (Dom presser). Nothing serious, just being cautious. MM loved the rotation at OLB (presser).
- I'd like to see what Francois or Lattimore could do in 3rd and long, super obvious passing situations. DJ Smith will get better in that role, but these guys seem better suited for it. DJ Smith bounced back.
- This feels like 2010 to me. The defense is going to get stout and it will take some time for the offense to really gel. There's something that's causing that, probably more the fact that this team is still forging its identity... trying to figure out who they are now with Benson in the backfield and Cobb adding a completely fresh element. I expect them to really gel as the year goes on.
- Loved the defense in general. Not much to say about the LB and DL that hasn't been said. The guys are stepping up, I really like the young talent.

Biggest thing overall..... personnel changes. McMillian and Shields over Bush and Jennings. Bush is just in no way an NFL starter... I like him as a Packers, in his role, but that's it. The rotation at OLB with Walden back in the mix and Moses at least holding his own. Lots of competition on that side of the ball. Capers finally growing some balls and making some changes is beautiful. Hopefully House progresses and with Hayward being solid, wow... this defense COULD be amazing by the end of the year. I know, sounds crazy and injuries could change that. I see a big turn around ... I don't think I flipped out or over-reacted over the 49ers loss. Disappointed, yes... don't think I'm over-reacting in the opposite direction here. This personnel is really going to evolve the defense especially.

[George Cumby]

- Agree with DY and the rest of you on McMillian. Nothing really stand out but seemed like he was always around the ball and you never saw him running to a guy 10 yards away that he was supposed to cover. So I guess he was relatively assignment sure. Great nose for the ball, should rub off on the others.
- Shields was shutdown and also seems more aggressive. Great carry over from the niners game. Dom said in his presser that it was 37's best game as a Packer.
- Perry injury is a wrist from the 49ers game (Dom presser). Nothing serious, just being cautious. MM loved the rotation at OLB (presser).
- I'd like to see what Francois or Lattimore could do in 3rd and long, super obvious passing situations. DJ Smith will get better in that role, but these guys seem better suited for it. DJ Smith bounced back.
- This feels like 2010 to me. The defense is going to get stout and it will take some time for the offense to really gel. There's something that's causing that, probably more the fact that this team is still forging its identity... trying to figure out who they are now with Benson in the backfield and Cobb adding a completely fresh element. I expect them to really gel as the year goes on.
- Loved the defense in general. Not much to say about the LB and DL that hasn't been said. The guys are stepping up, I really like the young talent.

Biggest thing overall..... personnel changes. McMillian and Shields over Bush and Jennings. Bush is just in no way an NFL starter... I like him as a Packers, in his role, but that's it. The rotation at OLB with Walden back in the mix and Moses at least holding his own. Lots of competition on that side of the ball. Capers finally growing some balls and making some changes is beautiful. Hopefully House progresses and with Hayward being solid, wow... this defense COULD be amazing by the end of the year. I know, sounds crazy and injuries could change that. I see a big turn around ... I don't think I flipped out or over-reacted over the 49ers loss. Disappointed, yes... don't think I'm over-reacting in the opposite direction here. This personnel is really going to evolve the defense especially.

Nice analysis. Thanks.

[Iron Mike]

Derpmichael had a rough three years.

Fixed.