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Review: Paramount Room
Things are not looking very good for the Bears. With Sunday's 37-27 loss to the Detroit Lions, the Bears showed their weaknesses on both sides of the ball.
The first game of the Brian Griese era was no more successful than the Bears under Rex Grossman. Supposedly the safe game manager, Griese threw three interceptions — two while the Bears were in the "red zone." The other one was returned 64 yards for a touchdown. Add in two fumbles and six sacks, and we really began to wonder if Grossman was on the field in a different jersey. The rest of the offense didn't offer much help. Bernard Berrian continued to have trouble grabbing catchable passes, including one that was picked off. Cedric Benson continued to prove that the Bears made a huge mistake by trading Thomas Jones, with 50 yards on 15 carries. A Bears team with no running game is not going to be successful.
Unlike previous games over the past few years, the Bears could not rely on their defense to make big plays and either score or set up the offense with short fields. The once-feared defense played Sunday's game missing six starters from the beginning of the season — and not a single original starter in the secondary played. In addition to Mike Brown — lost for the year in Week 1 — the Bears played without Nathan Vasher, Charles "Peanut" Tillman and Adam Archuleta. Not exactly an ideal situation when facing NFL's top-ranked passing offense. Lance Briggs also missed the game, as did Dusty Dvoracek — who is also gone for the year. The depleted defense made a valiant effort and held the Lions to just three points through the first three quarters, after which the Bears held a 13-3 lead.
Then the Lions exploded in the final period to score 34 points in the fourth quarter — an NFL record. They drove with ease against a gassed Bears defense for three touchdowns. The Lions ran an interception back for a TD. And then, to seal the deal, they ran back an on-side kick attempt for a TD. Five forth-quarter possessions, five touchdowns. Ouch! The only bright spot for the Bears was their special teams, the TD on the on-side kick attempt aside. The Bears blocked a field goal attempt and an extra point. Devin Hester returned yet another kickoff for a touchdown, this time a 97-yard return.
With the loss, the Bears fall to 1-3 and have already equaled their loss total from last year. In 2005, the Bears lost three of their first four and finished 11-5. Can this team make a similar turnaround? Do we want Kyle Orton under center? Will any of this matter when the Bears head into Green Bay to face the 4-0 Packers next week? Sadly, we believe it won't.
Photo by REUTERS/Rebecca Cook.
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I'd give Griese another couple starts before resorting to Orton. QBs in football are like closers in baseball. You can't just switch them around pell mell based on the prevailing winds of public opinion—that's a great way for a coach to paint himself into a corner. Griese was throwing the ball behind his receivers all day. That's a fixable problem, so let's wait and see if he can fix it.
save for the pickoffs he played rather well. I'm not too concerned about him. I am concerned about benson and our O-line. terrible.
also berrian needs to stop greasing himself in butter before games.
The ball management from Griese was lacking but he deserves some time to find a rhythm. It was encouraging to see him involve Muhammad. Benson is awful. I don't get what Angelo saw in him to think Thomas Jones was expendable.
Where was Greg Olsen? No receptions -- is he in the doghouse? With a new QB and no running game you want safe targets. Put Olsen in the slot, move him to WR for a play or two, shake things up.
go packers!
I'll give Griese a get-out-of-jail-free card this time around, since he just got the starting job last Wednesday; the next two games will determine whether or not Smith made the right choice in starting Griese over Orton.
Recall that at one point in time (albeit a long time ago), Orton was a leading candidate for the Heisman trophy. I'd love to see him get more snaps.
What bums me out is that we're 1/4th into the season and already it feels like a rebuilding year. :-(
Stephen, the jury is still out on Matt Lienart, but of the last 11 Heisman QBs only one, Carson Palmer, has had any lasting NFL success. Competing for the Heisman in college means next to nothing in the NFL.
i think you got the date wrong on this post!