2011-12 NFC North Division

[Dish]

I loved the Olsen trade, still do. They got (or will get) a high 3rd round choice for that swap. The Bears don't win today with Olsen still on the team.

Bears offense is the island of misfit toys, both from a personnel and philosophical stand point. Their best receiver is a running back, their tough yardage back can't get on the field, their TE's are supposed to be good blockers, and can't block. Their "top" WR is a converted college CB. The O line, outside of Carimi (jury is still out on him) is a mess.

To think of what Martz is and has been, the Bears offense lacks any true identity, even at it's worse.

[tower912]

Lions secondary hasn't been the achilles I thought it would be (yet). Lions have great schedule coming up too. Thanksgiving Day could be a hell of a game.

The secondary is adequate but not great.  The day will come when the d-line is neutralized and they have to make plays all day.   We will see what happens then.  The linebackers are better.     The D-line has yet to truly dominate a game, but the other teams have been scheming to hold off the d-line, leaving others to make plays and limiting the time the secondary has to cover.  

The larger concern is the offensive line and the running game.    Stafford has not shown the ability to take a lot of hits.

[MUMac]

Thanks...and no one seems to be complaining.

The unfortunate part was Fox' replay.  They focused in 21 being all alone - yet the flag was already on the field - at the 20 and 21 was at the 10.  So, if you listened to Fox, how could there have been a hold?  I thought that Aikman and Buck did not have one of their better days.  (BTW, I did not see the replay after that, so I have not seen if it was a hold or not either)

The return call was brilliant and executed to perfection - but for the hold.  When I saw the replay, I could only say wow and tip my cap.

[MUMac]

I thought Woodson should have been called there.  I think the referee thought they just got mixed up...but that should have been at least illegal contact right?

The Bears need some grown up receivers.  I honestly don't think a single Bear WR or TE would even make the Packers' roster.

Hester turned and ran into Woodson's back.  Woodson was running down the field.  To me, it was incidental contact and a good no calll.  Woodson did not initiate the contact.

The previous series, Jennings was interfered with on 3rd down, no call.  Bang bang play, tough for the officials to get them right all the time.

[MerrittsMustache]

Sultan's comment about the Bears' WR not even making the Packers' roster got me thinking...If you combined the rosters of the two teams, Urlacher, Briggs, Peppers and Forte would be the only Bears players who would start. In other words, the Packers have better players in 18 of the 22 positions, including 10 of 11 on offense. It's tough to win a division, or even a game, against a team with that much more talent. That's really a testament to the Packers' ability to evaluate talent and while many Bears fans want him run out of town, I actually give Lovie some credit for what he has done with the Bears considering how poorly they draft.

[MerrittsMustache]

Hester turned and ran into Woodson's back.  Woodson was running down the field.  To me, it was incidental contact and a good no calll.  Woodson did not initiate the contact.

The previous series, Jennings was interfered with on 3rd down, no call.  Bang bang play, tough for the officials to get them right all the time.

And when Hester got called for a personal foul, it should have been called on both players, not to mention Shields bumped Hester 20 yards downfield which was a clear penalty. Both sides could probably do this all day 

[NavinRJohnson]

And when Hester got called for a personal foul, it should have been called on both players, not to mention Shields bumped Hester 20 yards downfield which was a clear penalty. Both sides could probably do this all day 

Completely disagree. Rather obvious to me that the ref wasn't even gonna throw a flag, until Hester threw a shot after the ref stepped in between them.

[Bieberhole69]

The unfortunate part was Fox' replay.  They focused in 21 being all alone - yet the flag was already on the field - at the 20 and 21 was at the 10.  So, if you listened to Fox, how could there have been a hold?  I thought that Aikman and Buck did not have one of their better days.  (BTW, I did not see the replay after that, so I have not seen if it was a hold or not either)

The return call was brilliant and executed to perfection - but for the hold.  When I saw the replay, I could only say wow and tip my cap.

The flag comes out right as Know catches it and was thrown by the ref on the goal line.  That's a very late flag and called by a ref almost 50 yards off of the play.  Fox's replay combined with the spotter claiming the flag was on #29, who doesn't exist, made the whole thing really odd...Put me in the group with conspiracy theorists, i think this one was fixed.

[reinko]

The flag comes out right as Know catches it and was thrown by the ref on the goal line.  That's a very late flag and called by a ref almost 50 yards off of the play.  Fox's replay combined with the spotter claiming the flag was on #29, who doesn't exist, made the whole thing really odd...Put me in the group with conspiracy theorists, i think this one was fixed.

That TD would have covered the over (46), and the Bears would then most likely cover the -4 too...

[Bieberhole69]

That TD would have covered the over (46), and the Bears would then most likely cover the -4 too...

Exactly

[mu03eng]

The flag comes out right as Know catches it and was thrown by the ref on the goal line.  That's a very late flag and called by a ref almost 50 yards off of the play.  Fox's replay combined with the spotter claiming the flag was on #29, who doesn't exist, made the whole thing really odd...Put me in the group with conspiracy theorists, i think this one was fixed.

Admittedly a fishy situation, but in the wide angle you can see the ref digging in his pocket for a good 10 seconds before he found the flag.  The penalty was for a jersey pull by 21 on Jarrett Bush about 10 yards past the line of scrimmage.  Given how the play worked out, did it have an impact?  Absolutely not.  But at that point the official doesn't know the trick is on, additionally you have to put that on 21....he knew what the call was, there is NO reason to commit a penalty there.

Kudos to the Bears that was a brilliant call and scheme.  Too bad they shot their wad for no satisfaction.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Graham was stunned.

"It's unfortunate that something we worked so hard on would be called back because of a play by me," he said. "It was maybe 30, 40 yards away from the play. It wasn't blatant but it was just a bad play by me. I should have just let him go, just don't even touch him. He had nothing to do with the play.

"It worked just the way we planned on it."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-0926-bears-side-defense-special-teams--20110926,0,6025170.story

[GGGG]

Fixed? GMAFB. The player admitted it and no one on the bears argued about the call.

[Hards Alumni]

Fixed? GMAFB. The player admitted it and no one on the bears argued about the call.

Also, we never landed on the moon.

[Bieberhole69]

Fixed? GMAFB. The player admitted it and no one on the bears argued about the call.

Graham is on it on too

[Bieberhole69]

Fixed? GMAFB. The player admitted it and no one on the bears argued about the call.

Also, +1 on the acronym

[GGGG]

Ok...is this one of those "can't see teal on a mobile device" things?  Or "I'm apparently half-witted" things?

[MUMac]

And when Hester got called for a personal foul, it should have been called on both players, not to mention Shields bumped Hester 20 yards downfield which was a clear penalty. Both sides could probably do this all day 

Agreed, though, Hester was an idiot for taking the punch when he did.  They let them push and were going to go without a call.  Hester made a really boneheaded play, though, to punch Shields with the official right there.  It was a no call until then.  Hester lost his cool.  I am guessing he gets a fine for that, as it was a punch to the facemask.

[MUMac]

Ok...is this one of those "can't see teal on a mobile device" things?  Or "I'm apparently half-witted" things?

I can't see teal on the PC either.

[MUMac]

Admittedly a fishy situation, but in the wide angle you can see the ref digging in his pocket for a good 10 seconds before he found the flag.  The penalty was for a jersey pull by 21 on Jarrett Bush about 10 yards past the line of scrimmage.  Given how the play worked out, did it have an impact?  Absolutely not.  But at that point the official doesn't know the trick is on, additionally you have to put that on 21....he knew what the call was, there is NO reason to commit a penalty there.

Kudos to the Bears that was a brilliant call and scheme.  Too bad they shot their wad for no satisfaction.

I just saw the replay.  It was early on in the play.  21 does grab Bush's shoulder pad from behind.  You see Bush jerk backwards as he is running.  Really a foolish play by 21.  That play deserved better, the way it was drawn up and executed by everyone else.

[BrewCity83]

Here are a few photos of the hold by 21:

http://imgur.com/a/MLKx2

They do not conclusively show a holding penalty, but you can see what was happening.

[MerrittsMustache]

The refs should have just picked up the flag as soon as they realized how awesome that play was. 

(Yes, this is in teal)

[Spotcheck Billy]

so now besides using teal for sarcasm we have to indicate in text that we used teal for those checking in on the cellphones?

(not in teal)

[MerrittsMustache]

so now besides using teal for sarcasm we have to indicate in text that we used teal for those checking in on the cellphones?

(not in teal)

Apparently.

It seems as though some people can't tell sarcasm without being told it's sarcasm.

[MUMac]

so now besides using teal for sarcasm we have to indicate in text that we used teal for those checking in on the cellphones?

(not in teal)

LOL!!  I am not a fan of teal anyway and refuse to use it.  Ruins good/great sarcasm (which I am a huge fan of)!