A Gameplan For The Bears

[HarveyWallbangers]

How was they fortunate last year? They played well. Defense ripped teams a new one. Comparing this team to 2001 is like comparing this defense to the 85 Bears.

They beat a horrible Lions team in OT on an interception return.

They beat a horrible Saints team on a last second FG. The Saints had a chance to take control, but failed on a 3rd and 1 with a few minutes left.

They beat a horrible 49ers team by just 8 points--in a game that Nathan Vasher had a fluke 108 yard return on a missed FG.

They beat a solid Buccaneers team by 3 points--thanks in large part due to missed, chip shot (29 yards) FG by the Bucs with under 3 minutes left.

Those are fluke victories. Narrow victories over mostly bad teams mostly because of bad plays made by those bad teams. Only a Bear homer would fail to realize the similarities between the 2001 team and the 2005 team.

I noticed most Pack fans just keep saying the Bears will be one and done. But I gaurantee if you ask any players on any team would they rather make the playoffs and be one and done or only win 4 or 5 games----none would take the latter.

Congratulations! For the second time in 15 years your Bears did better than the Pack. We're happy for you. Nobody cares though. Nobody remembers teams that lose their first playoff game. "A fart in the wind" is what Ron Wolf would call them.

[Packers4Glory]

i'm sorry....vasher is NOT a good cover corner. he was in the right place at the right time last yr to get some tipped passes and such, but as far as a cover corner, he sucks.

[Bretsky]

I'm sitting out the pool this year, but 7 sounds like a good choice.

I don't have time to get into the PR pool; only one I'm in has an entry of 175 and purse over 1G for first. This week there are a lot of tweener games. It was rough.

[Partial]

I didn't read the thread, but I cannot sleep, and the key to beating the bears is pounding the ball over and over again and taking your 2.5-3 yards per carry into 3rd down conversions on short slants and screens. The key is to minimize mistakes through the air by nuetralizing their pass rush. Obviously, putting up big points against them isn't likely, but I don't think they'll be capable of scoring a lot of offensive points either.

Some things they're going to want to gameplan for:

Higher, shorter punts from Jon Ryan to take the away the return game. Same can be said about Raynor on the kickoffs.

Run exclusively short passes and keep the tight ends in the game. This way, they won't know if you're running or passing using play action.

Run the ball 40 times, even if its not effective, do not abadon it. Those 3rd and 5 is going to be a heck of a lot easier than 3rd and 10. It will also cut down on mistakes and will keep the pass rush honest.

Play Hodge and the Cole Train every 1st down of the game. Also, every 2nd and short.

[Bretsky]

I didn't read the thread, but I cannot sleep, and the key to beating the bears is pounding the ball over and over again and taking your 2.5-3 yards per carry into 3rd down conversions on short slants and screens. The key is to minimize mistakes through the air by nuetralizing their pass rush. Obviously, putting up big points against them isn't likely, but I don't think they'll be capable of scoring a lot of offensive points either.

Some things they're going to want to gameplan for:

Higher, shorter punts from Jon Ryan to take the away the return game. Same can be said about Raynor on the kickoffs.

Run exclusively short passes and keep the tight ends in the game. This way, they won't know if you're running or passing using play action.

Run the ball 40 times, even if its not effective, do not abadon it. Those 3rd and 5 is going to be a heck of a lot easier than 3rd and 10. It will also cut down on mistakes and will keep the pass rush honest.

Play Hodge and the Cole Train every 1st down of the game. Also, every 2nd and short.

We think the opposite on this one.

With our poor OL we aren't going to average near 3yds per carry.

So high % passes on first down to set up 2nd and shorts so we don't get in trouble. Take a couple deep ball flyers. But high percentage plays to get out of 3rd and long and go at least even on the turnover battle.

B

[Partial]

I didn't read the thread, but I cannot sleep, and the key to beating the bears is pounding the ball over and over again and taking your 2.5-3 yards per carry into 3rd down conversions on short slants and screens. The key is to minimize mistakes through the air by nuetralizing their pass rush. Obviously, putting up big points against them isn't likely, but I don't think they'll be capable of scoring a lot of offensive points either.

Some things they're going to want to gameplan for:

Higher, shorter punts from Jon Ryan to take the away the return game. Same can be said about Raynor on the kickoffs.

Run exclusively short passes and keep the tight ends in the game. This way, they won't know if you're running or passing using play action.

Run the ball 40 times, even if its not effective, do not abadon it. Those 3rd and 5 is going to be a heck of a lot easier than 3rd and 10. It will also cut down on mistakes and will keep the pass rush honest.

Play Hodge and the Cole Train every 1st down of the game. Also, every 2nd and short.

We think the opposite on this one.

With our poor OL we aren't going to average near 3yds per carry.

So high % passes on first down to set up 2nd and shorts so we don't get in trouble. Take a couple deep ball flyers. But high percentage plays to get out of 3rd and long and go at least even on the turnover battle.

B

I thought this at first too, but the strength of the Bears pass rush is from the inside with Tommy Harris collasping every pocket. Harris against Spitz or Moll worries me greatly, and I think it'd be our best interest to keep the ball out of Brett's hands. I hate to say it, but when the pressure is on, sometimes he tries to do too much. I feel much more confident pounding the ball over and over again. Harris isn't especially great against the run, and Ogunleye is like KGB. I would run behind Taush and Moll all game, and hoping for the best on 3rd and 4-5. If they don't get it, higher, shorter kicks to keep them from scoring with their special teams.

[Tarlam!]

Posted September 9, 2006

4 keys to beating the Bears Sunday

By Dylan B. Tomlinson
PackersNews.com

This may be asking a lot, considering Packers quarterback Brett Favre threw 29 interceptions last season, the most in the NFL since Vinny Testaverde threw 35 in 1988. Six of Favre's interceptions came in the two games against the Bears. The number is even more alarming considering Favre did not throw a touchdown pass in either game. If the Packers are going to have any chance to upset the Bears, Favre is going to have to be more cautious with the ball, because if the Bears are able to force turnovers like they did last season, the Packers will have no chance to win the game.


Intercept the ball

This may sound simple, but when the Packers intercepted only 10 passes last season and only eight the year before, it's easy to see why this is a major concern. The addition of Charles Woodson should help tremendously. Woodson's presence guarantees that Al Harris will see more balls thrown his direction, something that became rare in the last two years when Ahmad Carroll was starting at cornerback. The Packers' biggest problem in this area the last two years was holding on to potential interceptions. Against a young, inexperienced quarterback like Rex Grossman, the Packers should have the chance for at least one or two interceptions, and when those chances arise, they have to make sure they make the most of them.


Go for the big play

Twice during the preseason, the Packers were able to find rookie receiver Greg Jennings for 80-yard-plus gains. To beat a defensively sound team like the Bears, the Packers are going to have to control the clock, which means running the ball effectively. One of the ways to do that is by throwing long early, which will prevent the Bears' secondary from focusing on the run. If the Packers are able to strike first with a deep throw, the running game will open up.


No mistakes on special teams

With inexperience at punter and kicker, this may be asking a lot. Dave Rayner did everything that was asked of him during the preseason, but he never was tested during games. While Jon Ryan showed he had the ability to punt well, he frequently lacked hangtime, which allowed several big returns. The Packers are going to have enough trouble matching up with the Bears on offense and defense that they can't afford to have anything go wrong on special teams.

[MJZiggy]

Just curious, is there anyone here who did not already know all this? Is there anyone in GB who didn't?

[BananaMan]

Well, it's always good to have it confirmed.

[The Shadow]

After reading all the responses, I still think my original offering makes the most sense for our Packers on Sunday :

Offense : Our running game is a true work in progress on the interior & 1 & 2 yard runs will only lead to 2nd & longs & 3rd & longs, which invite turnovers.
I would go with a very unorthodox approach.
I would have the Packers TRULY using the pass to set up the run, and basically abandon the run through the first quarter in lieu of slants, quick outs, and screens. I would keep at least one back in at all times to protect Favre in the middle (I think Clifton & Tausch can handle the Bears ends very well - plus Alex Brown is hurting). The Bears will focus blitzes through the interior of our line, so even steady max-protection might be in order.
In effect, I would pit Driver, Jennings, Franks, Ferguson, & Green against the Bears secondary. Giving Favre a little time to throw, for me, represents our best chance to win the game.
Only once the Bear linebackers were at least a bit tentative about charging the gaps in run defense, would I start mixing in the run.
Slants, screens, & shallow crossing patterns - with 3 step drops to nullify the pass rush - would be the steady diet I would feed the Bears defense.
They are used to stopping the run on first down and then pinning their ears back, so why not avoid playing into their hands?
The Bear secondary is not nearly as good as the front seven, so let's attack there. Mike Brown has lost even more than a step - more than he can afford. The corners can be beaten (anyone remember the Carolina game?

Defense : I would jam the Bears receivers hard at the line. I wouldn't be so concerned about blitzes, and when I did, I would bring a cornerback, to keep Grossman anxious.
I would be more concerned with stopping the run & making Grossman have to beat us. In that setup, I like our chances a lot! Our linebackers should patiently troll the short/medium areas & wait for Grossman's inevitable mistakes.
The Bears never have adapted well to anything out of the ordinary. They simply don't seem, under Lovie, to adjust to things they are not expecting.

Go Packers!

[red]

we absolutely can not turn the ball over. we need to be patient and play the field position game

let their o make the big mistakes, and just take what they can give us.

we got green back, so lets do some screens, and quick passes to avoid the rush. get the ball out of breets hand quick to start the game so he doesn't get knocked around right off the bat and start getting jumpy

DO NOT THROW TO DAVID MARTIN. the last thing we need is for a perfect pass to get knocked up into the air against the bears d so it can be picked off and returned for a TD. sit his ass on the bench the whole game

and if we drop one punt or kickoff, then the ST coach should be fired on monday

[Terry]

By Dylan B. Tomlinson
PackersNews.com
With inexperience at punter and kicker, this may be asking a lot. Dave Rayner did everything that was asked of him during the preseason, but he never was tested during games. While Jon Ryan showed he had the ability to punt well, he frequently lacked hangtime, which allowed several big returns. The Packers are going to have enough trouble matching up with the Bears on offense and defense that they can't afford to have anything go wrong on special teams.

I'm not sure this is entirely fair. Ryan had 8 punts and even with one of them being shanked, he averaged 53.6 yds - more than 10 yds more than his opponent. The returns for those 8 punts were 165 yds, approx 21 yd/ave. If my memory is right, one of them was for around 40 yds. But they ALL were pretty good returns. Yet, about half the punts had good hangtime.

I don't know why the tendency is to automatically blame the punter for returns; nor why the returner is blamed or credited so much for the return yardage. I sensed that the problem with returns (from the Titans) was not so much the punts as the special team play.

What I don't think is fair is saying Ryan frequently lacked hangtime - because he frequently had good hangtime as well. It was more of a pretty evenly mixed bag on the punts themselves. Yet still, hangtime or not, the returners got good return yardage, by and large.

[The Shadow]

Also : the Bear's first pass plays will be slants - confidence builders for Grossman. Harris & Woodson should definitely play up close enough to bounce them off the routes imm. Collins & the strong safety should have responsibility for backing them up; I think the linebackers can effectively cover Desmond Clark.

[woodbuck27]

We're not going to beat the Bears. I just hope Favre comes out alive.

Yup. That's the kind of karma we need.

NOT

[woodbuck27]

If I'm the bears I put 8 men in the box and make Brett beat me. brett will give you chances to get turnovers or defensive TD's. I pressure him and make him become patient, I don't think he likes being patient and will force the ball and eventually hurt the offense which will in turn kill the defense.

Are YOU really a Packer fan?

GG Man !

Ohh! The Devil's Advocate role b bulldog. I get it.

Yea. . . Right !!