Mice And Men - Bears

[Pugger]

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.

This.

[BobDobbs]

- 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.

I'm feelin you on all that.

I don't like DJ Smith as the dime backer. It's the slow and short factor. But, I did like alot of the other things he does. The opening snap sack was fantastic. He came with a few other nice blitzes, too. He knows where he's going and he loves contact. I'm loving the Linebacker rotation. It's not even like they are just switching guys out. They are moving them all over the formation depending on what they are trying to do. Can we have Matthews, Perry, Moses, and Walden all on the field at the same time. Yes, Please.

Super excited for the young guys to get on the field. I felt like one of the benefits of last week was to get Bush and Dr. Jennings off the field week 1. I never got why they were with the starters. So now its in with the new. Daniels got his first playing time and Worthy looked active and even made a couple of nice run stops. I'm looking forward to seeing those guys on turf next week.

Remember when McCarthy used to say that he didn't like one back to get a ton of carries? Guess he changed his mind. Benson is our feature back.

I just rewatched the game in condensed form. Newhouse had his moments, but he's not that good. I think we can win with him, but he's got some issues.

Just a side note, everyone who is worried about Rodgers right now is going to feel dumb when the media narrative changes in weeks four and five when he magically has monster games. It's the defenses we're playing along with some early season rust. He's gonna tear it up this year.

[Patler]

I watched again the replay of Finley's fumble. Finley was carrying the ball very loosely. It didn't take much to knock it out. Finley knew contact was coming, and he had time to secure the ball. He didn't do a very good job of it. Maybe Tillman would have knocked it out anyway, but it was still a poor performance by Finley.

[Smeefers]

I watched again the replay of Finley's fumble. Finley was carrying the ball very loosely. It didn't take much to knock it out. Finley knew contact was coming, and he had time to secure the ball. He didn't do a very good job of it. Maybe Tillman would have knocked it out anyway, but it was still a poor performance by Finley.

Stole my thunder.

[RashanGary]

I watched again the replay of Finley's fumble. Finley was carrying the ball very loosely. It didn't take much to knock it out. Finley knew contact was coming, and he had time to secure the ball. He didn't do a very good job of it. Maybe Tillman would have knocked it out anyway, but it was still a poor performance by Finley.

I don't give that guy man passes, but he was really fighting for that first down. He had to give everything he had to get it. The way that game was going, a punt wouldn't have been the end of the world. He's completely undisciplined, but that was a very natural thing for a competitor to do. One play, he gets a pass. PRoblem is, he never learns, never adjusts. Long term, it's one more reason to doubt that guy.

[Patler]

I don't give that guy man passes, but he was really fighting for that first down. He had to give everything he had to get it. The way that game was going, a punt wouldn't have been the end of the world. He's completely undisciplined, but that was a very natural thing for a competitor to do. One play, he gets a pass. PRoblem is, he never learns, never adjusts. Long term, it's one more reason to doubt that guy.

I understand your argument, but just want to point out that the play started with the ball at the Chicago 23, so it wasn't get a first down or punt, it was get a first down or kick a field goal, hopefully.

[mraynrand]

The Packers know all about Tillman. They should have all been on high alert to secure the football. Finley just blew it.

[mission]

The ball was down horizontally near Finley's waist on that play. If he was carrying it high and tight vertically then I'd say it was just a great play by Tillman. Still a nice play by Tillman but most guys go for the ball on every tackle and rarely does it come out secured properly.

I don't hate Finley though. Everyone expects him to be Jimmy Graham or Gronkowski, and he's not. That's OK. Maybe not worth 7 mil a year but probably not a lot less. He's a gameplan nightmare and will make some big plays for us. Despite what he thinks, he's the not best and won't ever be the best. And I'm OK with him being a Packer, not being the best.

[Pugger]

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.

I'm hoping he'll be even better with a few extra practices this coming week too. If he continues to give us a legit running game our offense will be even more of a terror to opposing defenses once AR gets in sync with our WRs.

[pbmax]

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.

He needed the four points of contact. Had he carried it up high and against his body, its not coming out. Instead, he was trying to get yardage and that when the Bears get those fumbles.

[Deputy Nutz]

DJ Smith had a tough game in coverage, and if they are going to use him in the dime they should only have him covering running backs, or fullbacks out of the backfield, although not many fullbacks play on 3rd and long. Hawk should probably take over at least he understands where he needs to be in zone coverage. I have to give Capers credit for playing a lot of man under zone with safety help over the top. This could also have been the issue with the coverage problems in regards to Smith, he had a bit more coverage responsibilities with the safeties playing over the top on the outside.

I know there are a lot of Hawk bashers on this forum but Hawk is do quite well at this point in the season. He is making really good reads off the snap and is not waiting around to be engulfed by linemen. The best quality at this level for an inside linebacker is the ability to take in the presnap read and react at the snap of the ball, offensive linemen are too big and too fast to slow play anything in a 3-4 defense. Hawk is doing a better job early in the season.

The worst thing that happened two years ago was that BJ Raji started to believe that he was a pass rusher, and big play maker. He is constantly standing up and looking in the back field. He needs to take up blockers at the point of attack and make plays on the line of scrimmage. I am not at this point impressed by his play.

Aaron Rodgers is a good qb, but he will never have a season like the one he had last year. That was a magic carpet ride like season, he is good if not borderline great but if he is going to be held to the expectations of last year, every year after will be considered a disappointment or a down year. McCarthy's play calling will be the best thing for Rodgers, if he continues to run Benson, and get the ball in Benson's hands 20-25 times a game this offense will be successful, maybe not as dynamic as it was last year, but successful none the less.

[mission]

DJ Smith had a tough game in coverage, and if they are going to use him in the dime they should only have him covering running backs, or fullbacks out of the backfield, although not many fullbacks play on 3rd and long. Hawk should probably take over at least he understands where he needs to be in zone coverage. I have to give Capers credit for playing a lot of man under zone with safety help over the top. This could also have been the issue with the coverage problems in regards to Smith, he had a bit more coverage responsibilities with the safeties playing over the top on the outside.

I know there are a lot of Hawk bashers on this forum but Hawk is do quite well at this point in the season. He is making really good reads off the snap and is not waiting around to be engulfed by linemen. The best quality at this level for an inside linebacker is the ability to take in the presnap read and react at the snap of the ball, offensive linemen are too big and too fast to slow play anything in a 3-4 defense. Hawk is doing a better job early in the season.

The worst thing that happened two years ago was that BJ Raji started to believe that he was a pass rusher, and big play maker. He is constantly standing up and looking in the back field. He needs to take up blockers at the point of attack and make plays on the line of scrimmage. I am not at this point impressed by his play.

Aaron Rodgers is a good qb, but he will never have a season like the one he had last year. That was a magic carpet ride like season, he is good if not borderline great but if he is going to be held to the expectations of last year, every year after will be considered a disappointment or a down year. McCarthy's play calling will be the best thing for Rodgers, if he continues to run Benson, and get the ball in Benson's hands 20-25 times a game this offense will be successful, maybe not as dynamic as it was last year, but successful none the less.

Bolded is garbage. Matt Ryan is a good QB, Joe Flacco is a good QB.

[Smeefers]

Bolded is garbage. Matt Ryan is a good QB, Joe Flacco is a good QB.

Yeah. Rodgers couldn't even wash their jock straps...

hehehe

[ThunderDan]

Studs-

The old lady sitting next to us on Thursday night. We had 4 Bears fans sitting right in front of us. They were yapping the whole first half. When the Packers went up 23-3 the old lady, probably late 60s-early 70s, taps one of the guys on the shoulder. She says very loudly so that people within 5 rows can hear, "It sure is mighty quite up there now. It's like crickets."