Weekend Diversion: Night Of The Ponies
Pedway, First Store Open At Block 37
Around Town
Around Town
Red-Light Cameras Not So Special?
Going into the game, most eyes were focused on Kyle Orton. With Rex Grossman healthy again and already having been bumped up to 2nd string QB, many wondered whether there'd be a changing of the guard running the offense before the end of the game. It never came, and it seems that Orton remains the starting QB for at least another week. Was Orton's performance a reason for the loss? His stats did improve over recent weeks. He threw for 207 yards on 17 of 35 passing, with no touchdowns but no interceptions either. On the other hand, the offense was able to only muster up 9 points. That wouldn't have won the game even if the defense held the Steelers to the 10.8 points they'd averaged this season.
The fact the defense allowed nearly double that many points has focused much of the blame on them. The front seven seemed incapable of stoping the Steelers' running game on a consistent basis, and the Steelers' early lead allowed them to run more than pass -- with passing comes sacks, fumbles and intereceptions. No big plays meant no shift in momentum. No defensive help putting points on the board. No short fields that'd allow Orton to drive the team into scoring position. Was it an off day for the defensive line? Did the defense miss it's two starting safeties that much? Are the Steelers just that much better than other Bears opponents?
This game brings us Bears fans back down to earth a little bit. It showed us that we do need a more prolific offense because the defense can't always deliver the big plays that help put points on the board. It also shows us that the defense isn't quite as invincible as we might have imagined. The Bears will need to improve if they hope to go far into the playoffs. Of course, they still need to get into the playoffs. The Minnesota Vikings, who looked like roadkill when the Bears beat them 28-3 in week 6 have gone 7-1 since then and at 8-5 are just a game behind the Bears in the NFC North standings.
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I rescind my defense of Orton from the previous Bears thread. It's time for Grossman.
Yep, it was Orton's fault that the defense couldn't defend a screen pass all day or tackle Pittsburgh's 74-year-old fullback...
And it's certainly Orton's fault that the Bears only have one wideout who's worth throwing to right now.
(I have my issues with the Bears offense, too, and I'm far from being sold on Orton, but what in the heck has Rex ever accomplished, other that getting hurt every time someone sneezes on him, to merit this kind of savior talk from some Bears fans? Orton has won three times as many games as the starter as Grossman has. Unless Rex can somehow turn Justin Gage into Marvin Harrison, I see no reason to not stick with the guy that got you here...)
That said, anytime Ron Turner wants to knock off the John Shoop-era playcalling, it's fine by me.
Good show, brain trust.
Poor Tackling! That's what's to blame, not Orton.
Orton looked better than he had in weeks. I say, keep Orton in (b/c I'm not, in any way, convinced that Grossman is any better) and start calling more plays to Desmond Clark. That guy is a monster.
Orton is and will be for the rest of the year, a ROOKIE! He will, inevitably, show bouts of stupidity and brilliance. He is NOT Ben Roethlesberger...but he could become a solid quarterback.
So the Bears won 8 in a row. And so they will still probably win the NFC North. This TEAM IS NOT BUILT FOR THIS YEAR. They are built for next year and even moreso, 2007-2008. Anything that happens this year is an appetizer. What the Bears need to do is keep on keepin'-on, pick up the run game, integrate Desmond Clark into the passing offense more, and draft a frickin' wide out.
Am I nuts or did the Bears take a penalty on a play where if they declined it it would have been 4th and 3? Instead, it was 3rd and 13 and the Bus (??) ran for 15 yards and a first down, Pittsburgh scored on the drive and put the game out of reach (especially out of reach due the powerless offense - I don't know who to blame, but Christ, that offense just sucks)
I'm back to my 8-8 prediction, losers in the first round.
/Can they lose 5 out of the next 4??? :D
2 words
Mike
Brown