Super Bear down
What an amazing game for the Bears yesterday. At the beginning of this season, I actually never thought that the Bears would seriously make the Super Bowl, although, of course, it was something I was hoping for. It's just that since I've been alive and able to understand the concept of sports (and stop using diapers, which, surprisingly, only recently occurred) the only team that I've ever expected to win a championship has been the Bulls. Sure in 2003 I hoped the Cubs would make the World Series in 2003, and once the Illini started kicking ass 2004-2005 they were the best team in the nation and I knew they'd make the championship game. But, hands down, beginning to end of the season World Champion expectations only come from the Bulls. Hell, the Bears have barely been able to scrap their way to a playoff win that I can remember.
But yesterday was such an awesome game on so many levels.
First, special teams was much improved. To get a turnover (Adrian Peterson is terribly underutilized on offense, but he has almost as much impact on special teams) was absolutely huge. Not only that, the coverage (on kickoffs especially) was much improved, Hester failed to fumble any kicks, and even Brad Maynard had a pretty awesome day. He did have some terrible kicks, but, as opposed to last week where he really only had 2 good kicks, he had AT LEAST 3 absolutely stellar kicks. And Robbie Gould was automatic all day.
Second, blitz protection was much better. Rex on the whole had more time to throw than he did against the Seahawks, and I think that is both a credit to the offensive line and to Cedric Benson's improvement and increase playing time.
I think playcalling was weak in the first half, especially in the first quarter. It was pretty weak all the way up until Rex overthrew Desmond Clark in the endzone. That play was perfect, and Rex just missed it. From that point on though, aside from the final two plays on that drive, the playcalling was much improved. There was, of course, the mix up at the end of the first half, and game management continues to be a weak point for either Rex, Lovie, or both, not to mention lining up with three seconds left in the first quarter, but those ultimately didn't screw us over. I guess, let me make an addendum to the playcalling. We absolutely blew in the third quarter. We get the safety, then go three and out. Our defense was the game saver in the third quarter, because offensively we played like we weren't interested in scoring any more. So, I guess if you take into account the second and fourth quarters, and parts of the first, playcalling was much improved. Or, maybe it wasn't really that improved.
But the use of both Jones and Cedric Benson was amazing. Jones was obviously ineffective on the first drive. Benson, however, was not. It seems as if the coaching staff finally realized that mixing the two up made them that much more dangerous. I think it's rare to see a player with the power of Benson who also has breakaway speed combined with a player who has the elusiveness of TJ. I still don't like him, but shit he ran well yesterday. I love mixing the two backs up.
The defensive line was just a beast yesterday. Mark Anderson continues to make Jerry Angelo look like a fucking genius, and he is just all over the place. Getting to Brees so early in the game I think was a huge factor. It was a huge momentum swing. But it wasn't just that. The line stepped up time and time again, getting TWO intentional grounding calls and overall just giving Brees more pressure than he'd seen in a while.
I think it speaks volumes about this team's versatility in that either the offense or the defense can provide a lift when the other needs it. Towards the end of the season the defense started to struggle, yet the Bears managed to win. Yesterday, the third quarter was basically non-existent for the Bears offense, and yet after that safety everything turned completely around. Well, a couple of drives after that for the offense. But with the defensive momentum came the offensive.
I for one am totally cool with being underdogs to the Colts. We were underdogs to the Saints; look how that turned out. Here's what we know about the Colts: their run defense has been pretty weak, although very solid in the playoffs. Can that continue? Also, we know that their ends are strong, but their tackles can be pretty weak. We also know that they have amazing receivers, which could play to our weakness. But, at least in my opinion, the Colts are really soft, as were the Saints receivers. If they come out and get lit up once or twice, that could impact the game in a huge way.
I'm not going to speculate much on the Super Bowl because there's tons of time for that. I was just so impressed with the way the Bears came out and took the lead early yesterday, and then, while initially letting the Saints back in, the closed the door big time. It probably helped that we could run all over them, but I'm not so sure we can't do the same thing to the Colts.
Holy shit, the Bears are in the Super Bowl.
But yesterday was such an awesome game on so many levels.
First, special teams was much improved. To get a turnover (Adrian Peterson is terribly underutilized on offense, but he has almost as much impact on special teams) was absolutely huge. Not only that, the coverage (on kickoffs especially) was much improved, Hester failed to fumble any kicks, and even Brad Maynard had a pretty awesome day. He did have some terrible kicks, but, as opposed to last week where he really only had 2 good kicks, he had AT LEAST 3 absolutely stellar kicks. And Robbie Gould was automatic all day.
Second, blitz protection was much better. Rex on the whole had more time to throw than he did against the Seahawks, and I think that is both a credit to the offensive line and to Cedric Benson's improvement and increase playing time.
I think playcalling was weak in the first half, especially in the first quarter. It was pretty weak all the way up until Rex overthrew Desmond Clark in the endzone. That play was perfect, and Rex just missed it. From that point on though, aside from the final two plays on that drive, the playcalling was much improved. There was, of course, the mix up at the end of the first half, and game management continues to be a weak point for either Rex, Lovie, or both, not to mention lining up with three seconds left in the first quarter, but those ultimately didn't screw us over. I guess, let me make an addendum to the playcalling. We absolutely blew in the third quarter. We get the safety, then go three and out. Our defense was the game saver in the third quarter, because offensively we played like we weren't interested in scoring any more. So, I guess if you take into account the second and fourth quarters, and parts of the first, playcalling was much improved. Or, maybe it wasn't really that improved.
But the use of both Jones and Cedric Benson was amazing. Jones was obviously ineffective on the first drive. Benson, however, was not. It seems as if the coaching staff finally realized that mixing the two up made them that much more dangerous. I think it's rare to see a player with the power of Benson who also has breakaway speed combined with a player who has the elusiveness of TJ. I still don't like him, but shit he ran well yesterday. I love mixing the two backs up.
The defensive line was just a beast yesterday. Mark Anderson continues to make Jerry Angelo look like a fucking genius, and he is just all over the place. Getting to Brees so early in the game I think was a huge factor. It was a huge momentum swing. But it wasn't just that. The line stepped up time and time again, getting TWO intentional grounding calls and overall just giving Brees more pressure than he'd seen in a while.
I think it speaks volumes about this team's versatility in that either the offense or the defense can provide a lift when the other needs it. Towards the end of the season the defense started to struggle, yet the Bears managed to win. Yesterday, the third quarter was basically non-existent for the Bears offense, and yet after that safety everything turned completely around. Well, a couple of drives after that for the offense. But with the defensive momentum came the offensive.
I for one am totally cool with being underdogs to the Colts. We were underdogs to the Saints; look how that turned out. Here's what we know about the Colts: their run defense has been pretty weak, although very solid in the playoffs. Can that continue? Also, we know that their ends are strong, but their tackles can be pretty weak. We also know that they have amazing receivers, which could play to our weakness. But, at least in my opinion, the Colts are really soft, as were the Saints receivers. If they come out and get lit up once or twice, that could impact the game in a huge way.
I'm not going to speculate much on the Super Bowl because there's tons of time for that. I was just so impressed with the way the Bears came out and took the lead early yesterday, and then, while initially letting the Saints back in, the closed the door big time. It probably helped that we could run all over them, but I'm not so sure we can't do the same thing to the Colts.
Holy shit, the Bears are in the Super Bowl.
Labels: Bears, I am a genius, Super Bowl
posted by Jtrouble at 11:32 AM
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