A Gameplan For The Bears

[mmmdk]

All these schemes to the Bears...great! The Packers running game/ZBS hasn't been doing so well in preseason but I still believe Packers should run, run & run to eventually plough the pigskin down into Bear territory. Make no mistakes/turnovers, yup sounds like cliché, but it works. Bears are a better team in week one than the Packers, so Packers must be smart and cut down mistakes to a minimum. The play calling is up to the Packer coaches and I expect MM to call approximately 50/50 run/pass plays. The defense might be up to some tricks but a 3-4 defense with no true NT is insane! I think Packers will dare Grossman to beat them. Please don't turn Grossman into Montana just like Boller last season.

[Terry]

One good thing about the Bears game is that it is the Bears. If there is a team that can screw it up, it is the Bears. The Lions might run a close second.

Oh, let's be fair. I don't know if anyone on earth, from one's worst enemy to one's mother-in-law, can screw up a game as well as the Vikings, the Raiders, and Peyton Manning. Not necessarily in that order.

Let's not confuse 'screw-ups' with 'screwing up'.

[Dabaddestbear]

First of all I must congradulate most of you guys for actually being mostly realistic aside from the final scores you all have posted. Not used to this on a Packers board.

Now to the subject at hand. The Packers can beat the Bears only IF Grossman turns the ball over. Other than that the Bears will be solid in every phase of the game. To point out what a fellow Bear fan said about the Packers being slow on defense, I think he was referring to the fact that the LB's have been terrible in pass coverage in the preseason games and practice.

You all talk about what the Packers must do on offense , but I think it is more on defense. You all assume that since the Bears offense has struggled the Packers just have to play solid O and not turn it over and a win will be dropped in their laps. Not so.

The projected starting LB's Hawk, Poppinga(spelling?), Barnett will be fast no doubt, but their ability to react to playaction and drop back to read the pass will leave Packer fans screaming "What the F%@$!!"
They all will overrun plays and struggle to get off blocks. No Middle LB in the NFC north misreads what holes to hit more than Barnett, the leader of the group. Hawk will be good in the future but it is clear he is thinking more than playing. He will get it together by midseason but not in time for game one. Poppinga is very aggresive and can easily get caught out of position on a play fake. And the possible #1 backup at LB Hodges is solid in run support but he should never be on the field in obvious pass plays.

Now the CB's are actually looking more questionable than the Bears group. This was not to be expected by alot of Packer fans once they signed "run like a lumber Jack" Woodson. But after his limited preseason showing he has shown exactly what many teams thought he would be---a shell of his former self about 3-4 years ago. He whiffs on easy tackles as if the opposing WR's have Wolverine claws sticking out there jerseys. Every said(aside from Packer fans) said Woodson has lost more than a step, and well----- he did nothing to discount that theory. Second and third tier WR was easily beating him on simple fly and post routes. Al Harris has been better but that is nothing to be proud of. He tackles better but pass coverage is still suspect at times. And Marquis Manuel the safety and other prized free agent pickup that you guys had high hopes for has shown why he was let walk by Seattle. The packers defensive line is the most solid part on this team overall. But dont confuse that with the idea that that means they are good. They get blown off the ball easily and play out of assignment too often. The Bears will run to set up the pass. And stopping the run is not the Packers forte. As erractic as Grossman can be at times, he sells the playaction very well. If he can put the ball where his WR's can get it there will be big gains because they(WR's) will be open.

Bears 20
Packers 6
laugh now, cry later.

[Willard]

badbear,

All in all a reasonable analysis from a bear fan (much moreso than your comrade in arms who has posted on this thread). I agree on your first point that turnovers will be crucial in this game. I doubt Favre will throw 6 completions to bears players this year as he did last year. Controlling this charity should keep the Pack in the game. Our chances to win grow exponentially with every turnover by Grossman (as you stated).

Unfortunately there is some truth in your assessment of the LB unit. Barnett does go to the wrong hole too often, and Hawk & Poppinga's physical play will be somewhat tempered by their inexperience. Still, this unit has a lot more big play potential than any LB corps in GB in the last few years so I will be patient with them, and hope they pop the ball loose with some big hits. My biggest critique of your analysis is regarding our secondary, and Al Harris in particular. Al held Muhammad without a single catch last year, the first time in 51 games that Muhammad had no receptions. He held Steve Smith to 10 yards on 2 catches last year. I don't think it is a stretch to say the bears would have won their playoff game last year had Al Harris been your starting cornerback (God forbid). So is he washed up? Not according to Chad Johnson who was shutout by Al Harris in one of the few bright spots of last MNF's disaster. Johnson considers Al one of the top3 cover CBs in the NFL (by the way, neither of the other 2 are bears). I would be lying if I said I wasn't worried about Woodson & Manuel. THe fact is I just don't know what to expect. Can Woodson turn it on when he needs to? Don't know. Manuel will be fine. He barely practiced before the MNF meltdown so I am not panicking. I know he looked good when he started in Seattle, and I know he is better than our SS last year. Overall the starting personnel in our secondary, as well as the nickel package is better than they were last year. How good they will be won't be known until after the bears game. [/img]

[Creepy]

Everybodys expectations are pretty high. The Bears fans feel that they will be better as they will have Grossman in at QB and be able to throw better. They state the running game is in full force and will make it easier for Grossman.

Packer fans, on th ewhole are wary of teh team. The talent isthere for a good offense and a good defense. The question is will it come together. The Falcons game gave GB hope things were improving. The Bengal game became flasbacks of last year s play. I think the team that played against the Falcons is more than likely. The problem is that the team that played the Bengal game is still lurking.

So here is my assesment.

Number one, both Bear RBs are dinged up. They have not played much in the pre-season and have not practiced as much. So the Bears running game is suspect for week one. The Bear WR have not really improved that much since last year. That leaves Muhamed to be the biggest target. Mushin has never been a threat where he needs to be triple covered and in most cases he will be doubled but he wil alos be in single coverage a lot more than you would expect. The Bears brought no-one in or has any other receiver developed to put pressure on the young GB secondary.

Right now I give the advantage to the GB defense to stop the Bears and the only sore spot is GBs pass rush, but amazingly enough it does seem to work against the Bears.

Now the Bear defense has had to revamp it's secondary a little this year. It has been chewed up by prime receivers and could be so again. You can't look at last year and say that the GB OL has went down. We had two crappy guards and our center was playing after a hernia operation. So the OL play will be a little better his year. The addition of Jennings will give the Bears more to cover than just Driver (Walker was out for both games). Franks will also be at 100% and that means the LBs will have more work to do than just stuff the run and blitz.

GB has Green returning and I have already mentioned Jennings, Franks & Driver. Should Green have an average day with 50+ yards rushing (3.5+ avg) and receive about 5 passes for 35-50 yards then the Bears will be hurting. They will have to committ to stopping and covering Green which may open up Franks, or one of the WRs for a good day. The young line may not move the middle, but GB did look average to above average on sweeps. Don't expect GB to just run up the middle all day.

The advantage here is the Bear defense. GBs OL is still unstable and the Bears defense is good. The one thing that could kill the Bears is if they decide the only WR that can hurt them is Driver. If the safeties sit waiting for that slant pattern, they may get burned by a deep crossong pattern by Jennings.

Overall, these two teams are pretty even. The win here is going to the team that wins the TO battle. Should the GB offense stick with the WC style offense it will have a better chance of winning this battle.

My prediction is GB 17 Chicago 13 with GB getting a FG in the fourth to secure the victory.

[Packnut]

Mistake

First of all I must congradulate most of you guys for actually being mostly realistic aside from the final scores you all have posted. Not used to this on a Packers board.

Now to the subject at hand. The Packers can beat the Bears only IF Grossman turns the ball over. Other than that the Bears will be solid in every phase of the game. To point out what a fellow Bear fan said about the Packers being slow on defense, I think he was referring to the fact that the LB's have been terrible in pass coverage in the preseason games and practice.

You all talk about what the Packers must do on offense , but I think it is more on defense. You all assume that since the Bears offense has struggled the Packers just have to play solid O and not turn it over and a win will be dropped in their laps. Not so.

The projected starting LB's Hawk, Poppinga(spelling?), Barnett will be fast no doubt, but their ability to react to playaction and drop back to read the pass will leave Packer fans screaming "What the F%@$!!"
They all will overrun plays and struggle to get off blocks. No Middle LB in the NFC north misreads what holes to hit more than Barnett, the leader of the group. Hawk will be good in the future but it is clear he is thinking more than playing. He will get it together by midseason but not in time for game one. Poppinga is very aggresive and can easily get caught out of position on a play fake. And the possible #1 backup at LB Hodges is solid in run support but he should never be on the field in obvious pass plays.

Now the CB's are actually looking more questionable than the Bears group. This was not to be expected by alot of Packer fans once they signed "run like a lumber Jack" Woodson. But after his limited preseason showing he has shown exactly what many teams thought he would be---a shell of his former self about 3-4 years ago. He whiffs on easy tackles as if the opposing WR's have Wolverine claws sticking out there jerseys. Every said(aside from Packer fans) said Woodson has lost more than a step, and well----- he did nothing to discount that theory. Second and third tier WR was easily beating him on simple fly and post routes. Al Harris has been better but that is nothing to be proud of. He tackles better but pass coverage is still suspect at times. And Marquis Manuel the safety and other prized free agent pickup that you guys had high hopes for has shown why he was let walk by Seattle. The packers defensive line is the most solid part on this team overall. But dont confuse that with the idea that that means they are good. They get blown off the ball easily and play out of assignment too often. The Bears will run to set up the pass. And stopping the run is not the Packers forte. As erractic as Grossman can be at times, he sells the playaction very well. If he can put the ball where his WR's can get it there will be big gains because they(WR's) will be open.

Bears 20
Packers 6
laugh now, cry later.

You should feel ashamed for your lack of knowledge and feel pretty foolish about your comment on Harris. This is the same Al Harris who shut down Chad Johnson. Now does'nt common sense tell you that if he could shut down the best WR in the game, he can handle your guy? As for Woodson, he'll have no trouble with your #2 who would be #4 on most teams.

That leaves your running game. As bad as the Pack run D is, you just can't show up the 1st game and believe it will gel after very little practice.

May I also remind you that a pathetic talent-less offense rolled up 726 yds against your vaunted D last season. We had no red zone offense, but that will be a different story come Sunday.

One last thought- a certain QB who wears #4 and has been nick-named "the Bear Killer" might just prove his death was a bit pre-mature and he just might rise up and bitch slap your team like he has done so many times in the past!

[Packnut]

Mistake

First of all I must congradulate most of you guys for actually being mostly realistic aside from the final scores you all have posted. Not used to this on a Packers board.

Now to the subject at hand. The Packers can beat the Bears only IF Grossman turns the ball over. Other than that the Bears will be solid in every phase of the game. To point out what a fellow Bear fan said about the Packers being slow on defense, I think he was referring to the fact that the LB's have been terrible in pass coverage in the preseason games and practice.

You all talk about what the Packers must do on offense , but I think it is more on defense. You all assume that since the Bears offense has struggled the Packers just have to play solid O and not turn it over and a win will be dropped in their laps. Not so.

The projected starting LB's Hawk, Poppinga(spelling?), Barnett will be fast no doubt, but their ability to react to playaction and drop back to read the pass will leave Packer fans screaming "What the F%@$!!"
They all will overrun plays and struggle to get off blocks. No Middle LB in the NFC north misreads what holes to hit more than Barnett, the leader of the group. Hawk will be good in the future but it is clear he is thinking more than playing. He will get it together by midseason but not in time for game one. Poppinga is very aggresive and can easily get caught out of position on a play fake. And the possible #1 backup at LB Hodges is solid in run support but he should never be on the field in obvious pass plays.

Now the CB's are actually looking more questionable than the Bears group. This was not to be expected by alot of Packer fans once they signed "run like a lumber Jack" Woodson. But after his limited preseason showing he has shown exactly what many teams thought he would be---a shell of his former self about 3-4 years ago. He whiffs on easy tackles as if the opposing WR's have Wolverine claws sticking out there jerseys. Every said(aside from Packer fans) said Woodson has lost more than a step, and well----- he did nothing to discount that theory. Second and third tier WR was easily beating him on simple fly and post routes. Al Harris has been better but that is nothing to be proud of. He tackles better but pass coverage is still suspect at times. And Marquis Manuel the safety and other prized free agent pickup that you guys had high hopes for has shown why he was let walk by Seattle. The packers defensive line is the most solid part on this team overall. But dont confuse that with the idea that that means they are good. They get blown off the ball easily and play out of assignment too often. The Bears will run to set up the pass. And stopping the run is not the Packers forte. As erractic as Grossman can be at times, he sells the playaction very well. If he can put the ball where his WR's can get it there will be big gains because they(WR's) will be open.

Bears 20
Packers 6
laugh now, cry later.

You should feel ashamed for your lack of knowledge and feel pretty foolish about your comment on Harris. This is the same Al Harris who shut down Chad Johnson. Now does'nt common sense tell you that if he could shut down the best WR in the game, he can handle your guy? As for Woodson, he'll have no trouble with your #2 who would be #4 on most teams.

That leaves your running game. As bad as the Pack run D is, you just can't show up the 1st game and believe it will gel after very little practice.

May I also remind you that a pathetic talent-less offense rolled up 726 yds against your vaunted D last season. We had no red zone offense, but that will be a different story come Sunday.

One last thought- a certain QB who wears #4 and has been nick-named "the Bear Killer" might just prove his death was a bit pre-mature and he just might rise up and bitch slap your team like he has done so many times in the past!

[Scott Campbell]

BM, I call them as I see them, your team looked pathetic in preseason, and with what 13 rookies, your chance of a winning season is something like almost zilch !You are playing atleast 13 rookies, that's "young". Your LB's and DL are playing like they are "smallish". You DBs got burnt alot in preseason, along with not making very many sacks, looks to me like they are slow . So, young, smallish and slow fits IMO . You don't like that.... SO ?


GO BEARS !

I think a lot of this Bear bravado has to do with the crippling loss at home to the Panthers last year. They soothe their dissapointment and fear by trying to bully the current runt of their division. Regardless of what the Bears do or don't do to the Packers, they will be considered underachievers and chokers until they win some playoff games. Beating the worst Packer team in the last 15 years just doesn't earn you that much respect.

And Bear fans have to be questioning a coaching staff that gave away the Panther game before the players ever stepped onto the field. Give them 2 weeks to game plan and that's how they decide to defend against Steve Smith? I don't even think Slowik would have done something that stupid. The Bears should have beaten the Panthers easily. The Bears should also win this game easily. You have to wonder if they'll handle the pressure of high expectations better this weekend than they did last time.

So if the Bears win as expected, I'll be the first to say congratulations - for not choking.

If they lose, and the Packers win - I'm going to laugh my ass off.

[RashanGary]

The Bears have a really good defense, good special teams and believe it or not, they have a chance to have a good offense with a cohesive line, at least one good WR and 2 good RB's.

Grossman is young, he's been injury proned. It's easy to say he sucks and poke at Bear fans because he hasn't been able to play because that is the easiest thing to do. I think Grossman is going to surprise alot of people this year. He's got a good arm. He moves around well enough. He's a fighter and seems aware enough not to make the horrible play. The best thing he has going for him is that he won't be asked to do too much. When QB's are asked simply not to lose the game like Brady was a for a few years then they can play safe and take that shot when it opens. When QB's are asked to make things happen and be the difference in games, that is when bad things happen.

Make no mistake about it, the Bears are a legit title contender and the Packers are a bottom of the barrel rebuilding team. Hearing you guys defend the Packers and knock the Bears is embarassing as a Packer fan. We're smarter than that. We can think with our minds and not our emotions. Oh wait.....

The Packers suck.

Bears 24, Packers 10

[The Shadow]

Boy, would I love to see an Ahman Green halfback option toss to Jennings.

[gbgary]

ok........i haven't read any replys to the topic at hand but here's my take if i were in charge. defensively i'd blitz the crap out of them and dare them to beat us through the air...i think grossman will fold. offensively i'd stick to the original wco idea and throw short all day long until they start looking for the short ball and then beat them deep...but that's just me. i'll shut-up now.

[The Shadow]

...and what have they been practicing behind closed doors all week?

[MJZiggy]

...and what have they been practicing behind closed doors all week?

The Ahman Green halfback toss to Jennings!!

[BEARMAN]

Mr. Jennings, BRAVO ! I commend you on yours and my teams analysis. You Sir, are a better fan then I, or for that matter most on this board. Too often I allow my emotions to sway my better judgement. You seem have the ability to rise above the reteric and see the facts as they stand. Again, BRAVO.


GO BEARS !

[Packers4Glory]

Mr. Jennings, BRAVO ! I commend you on yours and my teams analysis. You Sir, are a better fan then I, or for that matter most on this board. Too often I allow my emotions to sway my better judgement. You seem have the ability to rise above the reteric and see the facts as they stand. Again, BRAVO.


GO BEARS !

apparently you missed the fact that Harris is one of the better shut down corners in the lg.

this game will be a tough one to win for the Pack, and alot of things willhave to break right for the pack to sneak a win. If this game was in shitcago I'd say we had almost no chance of winning this game week 1. Being at home *should* help and perhaps the youngsters are too "green" to know they aren't suppose to win. Ignorance is often bliss.