DO...The Chicago Bears have the pieces to be Super Bowl winner?

[wist43]

When it's bad play from Flynn, yeah, it's pretty easy to rationalize. The game at least was close until the battle of attrition finally started sliding the Lions way.

The Packers drives went:

Punt, FG (after an out out of bounds KO), punt, punt, punt, punt, turnover, turnover, punt, punt, turnover. I'm pretty sure they could manage a little better than that under Rodgers.

Like every team in the NFL, the Packers do have flaws. But I think they have decidedly fewer than the rest of the division, and they have the QB to make up for them.

I agree that we have fewer flaws than anyone else in the division, and that we should win the division... but we are not an invincible juggernaut.

Our defense has been a disaster for 3 years running - one of the worst in the league... as "flaws" go, that's a pretty glaring one.

Did TT do enough to right the ship on that side of the ball?? We'll see... but in no way do I think we whistle a happy tune all the way to the division championship.

[Striker]

I agree that we have fewer flaws than anyone else in the division, and that we should win the division... but we are not an invincible juggernaut.

Our defense has been a disaster for 3 years running - one of the worst in the league... as "flaws" go, that's a pretty glaring one.

Did TT do enough to right the ship on that side of the ball?? We'll see... but in no way do I think we whistle a happy tune all the way to the division championship.

I don't the defense will be top 10 this season. But I think there's enough in place to get up to the top half of the league which, combined with the offense, should be enough to bring Super Bowl contention into the conversation.

We were only sweating last season because of the Rodgers injury. Otherwise the team finishes in the 11-5/10-6 range and would not have been worried about the NFC North at all.

[The Shadow]

When it's bad play from Flynn, yeah, it's pretty easy to rationalize. The game at least was close until the battle of attrition finally started sliding the Lions way.

The Packers drives went:

Punt, FG (after an out out of bounds KO), punt, punt, punt, punt, turnover, turnover, punt, punt, turnover. I'm pretty sure they could manage a little better than that under Rodgers.

Like every team in the NFL, the Packers do have flaws. But I think they have decidedly fewer than the rest of the division, and they have the QB to make up for them.

Agree.

[Fritz]

To me, it's all about injuries and the performance of this re-tooled defense. If this team stays relatively injury free (especially at key positions), and if the defense plays to its apparent talent level (assuming the "little" guys up front perform), this team can go all the way.

If, though, this is a typical-lately Packer defense, it'll be another hollow NFC North title and an early exit in the playoffs.

So tonight I am looking for some sign that this defense can step it up. Of course, they played lights-out early last season, but that was one of those fart-in-the-wind deals.

Except if it were one of my farts in the wind, it would stay....and stay.....and stay.

[woodbuck27]

NO !

Surprisingly I believe that Jay Cutler is on some kind of record pace this season.

I need to check that.

Otherwise the Bears are a very sick team. A very sick team on 'D'.

[pbmax]

Bears OC Aaron Kromer was the source of Ian Rapaport's story about Cutler killing the Bear offense by not checking out of bad run plays. He denies he was the one who said the franchise has buyer's remorse.

He apologized to the team today.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-biggs-aaron-kromer-bears-spt-1212-20141211-story.html

[KYPack]

Bears OC Aaron Kromer was the source of Ian Rapaport's story about Cutler killing the Bear offense by not checking out of bad run plays. He denies he was the one who said the franchise has buyer's remorse.

He apologized to the team today.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports...211-story.html

OHHH.

I thought OC meant offensive center, not offensive coordinator.

That goof is so fired.

Now Trestman has a scapegoat, if this will help him a bit.

[Patler]

The Bears really are a mess. Saw this in the article, which states why I was so glad when the Bears signed Cutler to a big contract:

Cutler leads the NFL with 21 turnovers and the offense has been mired in a season-long slump, unable to reach 30 points in a game.

Cutler has a history of going through coaches in quick order. In his sixth season since coming over in a 2009 trade with the Broncos, he is on his second head coach, fourth offensive coordinator and fourth quarterbacks coach.

Even if Trestman manages to keep his job, it is difficult to see anyway that Kromer can keep his and have the faith and trust of his players.

[Fritz]

Bears OC Aaron "Stormy" Kromer was the source of Ian Rapaport's story about Cutler killing the Bear offense by not checking out of bad run plays. He denies he was the one who said the franchise has buyer's remorse.

He apologized to the team today.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports...211-story.html

Fixed his name for ya. Da Yoopers will get dis one, der.

[pbmax]

While Cutler is definitely part of the problem, Lovie Smith is more for so many coordinators in Chicago than the QB is. He lost his job mainly because he couldn't find someone capable. While the defense was the best unit on the team (dominating at times), it didn't have as profound an effect. But as the talent slid to the offensive side, it became more of an issue.

If I remember correctly, the GM had a hand in sacking one OC, right before Martz got hired and the whole thing fell apart.

[woodbuck27]

They just upgraded their safeties with MD Jennings. Hardly similar D

http://www.nfl.com/player/m.d.jennings/2530703/profile

Vanished !

[MadScientist]

Bears OC Aaron Kromer was the source of Ian Rapaport's story about Cutler killing the Bear offense by not checking out of bad run plays. He denies he was the one who said the franchise has buyer's remorse.

He apologized to the team today.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports...211-story.html

There's actually a way to work around Cuttler for this. All they have to do is get the play in and line up very quickly (more than 15 seconds remaining). If the formation is not favorable, the OC can yell over the mike - "Hey dumbass, check to this play".

OHHH.

I thought OC meant offensive center, not offensive coordinator.

That goof is so fired.

Now Trestman has a scapegoat, if this will help him a bit.

Good news for the Packers if they buy into the scapgoat idea and keep Trestman.

[Joemailman]

Bears bench Cutler. Jimmy Clausen to start. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300...-jimmy-clausen

[denverYooper]

Wow.

McGinn sure has been capable of some stinkers.

[woodbuck27]

Bears bench Cutler. Jimmy Clausen to start. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300...-jimmy-clausen

That is great news.