2024-25 NFL Thread

[jesmu84]

Some advice for any bears opponent - the OL can't handle 5+ rushers or 4 rushers who run a stunt.

[Lennys Tap]

DJ Moore misses Justin Fields. Tyson Bagent, too.

[Pakuni]

The Bears D is for real. The OL is good ....... for the SunBelt Conference.

(I know, the SunBelt doesn't deserve that)

The O line wasn't good by any stretch, but Houston was rushing 5-6 guys a ton because they (correctly) figured that Caleb wouldn't be able to make them pay for it, at least not at this stage of his development.
Honestly, it's the same playbook Notre Dame used against him last year.

[WhiteTrash]

He would get laughed out of the league if the bears pulled him for that reason.

The Bears OL will get laughed out of the league.

[Dish]

Houston had 36 (!!!) recorded pressures tonight on 37 Bears pass attempts.

For comparisons sake, Titans had 8 last week.

[WhiteTrash]

The O line wasn't good by any stretch, but Houston was rushing 5-6 guys a ton because they (correctly) figured that Caleb wouldn't be able to make them pay for it, at least not at this stage of his development.
Honestly, it's the same playbook Notre Dame used against him last year.

He will get better, but it will take longer behind that line. Just competent O-line play would help a lot.

[Lennys Tap]

He will get better, but it will take longer behind that line. Just competent O-line play would help a lot.

Who are the Bears missing from their O line of last year - honest question, don't follow them that closely.

[WhiteTrash]

Who are the Bears missing from their O line of last year - honest question, don't follow them that closely.

New center. Not sure about the rest of them. They were pitiful last year. Hard to believe but they maybe better this year. Kind of like the Sox could be better next year losing 120 games.

[WhiteTrash]

Houston had 36 (!!!) recorded pressures tonight on 37 Bears pass attempts.

For comparisons sake, Titans had 8 last week.

Why would an ex-lineman, put so little value on the O-line?

[The Sultan]

I actually really liked what I saw from Williams. He has a zip on the ball and is accurate. The OL isn't helping him, and he's getting confused by what defenses are throwing at him like a lot of rookies do, but IMO he's going to be fine as long as he stays healthy.

[TallTitan34]

Sweet Jesus.  Bears D looks like garbage..

Terrible defense.

Thought the defense was great.  Single handedly kept them in two games they had no business being in.

The O-Line isn't doing Caleb or the running game any favors.

[MUBurrow]

I thought Caleb looked as good as he could have last night.  Hard to imagine coming out of a game where a guy gets sacked 7 times and saying "I thought he had a good feel for pressure and the pocket" - but here we are.  The main critical area (over which Caleb plays some part) was that the Bears looked HORRIBLE at understanding and picking up disguised blitzes and even just stunts on the line.  A more experienced QB calls some of that out and adjusts his protection, but someone has got to help until he gets to that level.

[MuggsyB]

Thought the defense was great.  Single handedly kept them in two games they had no business being in.

The O-Line isn't doing Caleb or the running game any favors.

The D was good in the 2nd half.  The offensive line is among the worst I have ever seen in professional football.

[Uncle Rico]

I thought Caleb looked as good as he could have last night.  Hard to imagine coming out of a game where a guy gets sacked 7 times and saying "I thought he had a good feel for pressure and the pocket" - but here we are.  The main critical area (over which Caleb plays some part) was that the Bears looked HORRIBLE at understanding and picking up disguised blitzes and even just stunts on the line.  A more experienced QB calls some of that out and adjusts his protection, but someone has got to help until he gets to that level.

He has met expectations thus far

[Pakuni]

@NextGenStats

Caleb Williams struggled against the Texans blitz, completing only 3 of 12 attempts for 15 yards and an interception (-21.0% CPOE), including 5 of his 7 sacks.

When not blitzed, Williams completed 20 of 25 passes for 159 yards & INT (+4.6% CPOE).

[tower912]

So, blitz Chicago.

[Uncle Rico]

@NextGenStats

Caleb Williams struggled against the Texans blitz, completing only 3 of 12 attempts for 15 yards and an interception (-21.0% CPOE), including 5 of his 7 sacks.

When not blitzed, Williams completed 20 of 25 passes for 159 yards & INT (+4.6% CPOE).

6.36 YPA. 

Yeah, Waldron sucks

[wadesworld]

One of the other amazing things about Long Field Goals ( or any for that matter) is how the two on field referees synchronize their Field Goal is Good Signal. I had never thought about that until today. They must have some understanding of how long they take before they raise their arms.

This is truly one of the world's greatest mysteries.  I'm glad you brought this up.  It's not talked about enough.

[WhiteTrash]

Who are the Bears missing from their O line of last year - honest question, don't follow them that closely.

Texans' Danielle Hunter: "If you dissect the O-line, the quarterback can't really do anything. One way to affect the quarterback is by beating the O-line and we did a pretty good job as a defense. I played them last year. Feel like some of the players that are still there, they still have the same tendencies."

[jesmu84]

The O line wasn't good by any stretch, but Houston was rushing 5-6 guys a ton because they (correctly) figured that Caleb wouldn't be able to make them pay for it, at least not at this stage of his development.
Honestly, it's the same playbook Notre Dame used against him last year.

So my confusion is this, granted we're only 2 games in...

The 2024 bears have a new OC, new WR, new TE, new RB, new QB, new OL but look not significantly different that 2022-24 bears on the offensive side of the ball

The OL looks bad. They can't pick up basic blitzes (letting a free rusher on 5 man blitz) or basic stunts. Lots of false starts.

The personnel groupings are strange. Why so much Gerald Everett and Travis Homer?

Why so late getting play calls in/breaking huddles? Especially out of timeouts/stoppages.

Why so much difficulty running the ball?

There's probably a bit of blame to go around for multiple folks. But I don't think it's arguable that this OL has been bad for 2 games now and the rookie QB isn't capable (at least not yet) of making up for others' short comings.

Edit: I just found out that the OL coach and run game coordinator is Chris Morgan who has been here in that position for 3 years.

[Uncle Rico]

So my confusion is this, granted we're only 2 games in...

The 2024 bears have a new OC, new WR, new TE, new RB, new QB, new OL but look not significantly different that 2022-24 bears on the offensive side of the ball

The OL looks bad. They can't pick up basic blitzes (letting a free rusher on 5 man blitz) or basic stunts. Lots of false starts.

The personnel groupings are strange. Why so much Gerald Everett and Travis Homer?

Why so late getting play calls in/breaking huddles? Especially out of timeouts/stoppages.

Why so much difficulty running the ball?

There's probably a bit of blame to go around for multiple folks. But I don't think it's arguable that this OL has been bad for 2 games now and the rookie QB isn't capable (at least not yet) of making up for others' short comings.

Edit: I just found out that the OL coach and run game coordinator is Chris Morgan who has been here in that position for 3 years.

Shane Waldron isn't very good

[wadesworld]

I know the Bears fans haven't seen very much good football in my life, but I'd be happy about where I'm at if I were the Bears.  With the OL what it is, of course there were going to be bumps to a rookie QB's first year.  But you can already see the tools that pretty much only Jay Cutler has ever had quarterbacking the Bears.

I know some are saying Justin Fields has been better so far this year.  Cool.  The guy has thrown for 1 touchdown and 0 interceptions through 2 weeks.  273 total passing yards.  Tomlin has the training wheels on big time for him.  If you want a running back who you have to throw out 3/4 of your passing game for because he's incapable of making the reads and throws, then go for it with Justin Fields.  He stinks out loud and Tomlin knows it, which is why he's not throwing the ball at all.

But with Williams you have a guy who has all the tools.  Your defense is legitimate.  Rebuild the OL in the offseason and you'll be in really good shape.

But as a Packers fan, also fire your entire coaching staff, make Caleb learn a new system, and don't rebuild your OL.  Just keep running it back.

[WhiteTrash]

So my confusion is this, granted we're only 2 games in...

The 2024 bears have a new OC, new WR, new TE, new RB, new QB, new OL but look not significantly different that 2022-24 bears on the offensive side of the ball

The OL looks bad. They can't pick up basic blitzes (letting a free rusher on 5 man blitz) or basic stunts. Lots of false starts.

The personnel groupings are strange. Why so much Gerald Everett and Travis Homer?

Why so late getting play calls in/breaking huddles? Especially out of timeouts/stoppages.

Why so much difficulty running the ball?

There's probably a bit of blame to go around for multiple folks. But I don't think it's arguable that this OL has been bad for 2 games now and the rookie QB isn't capable (at least not yet) of making up for others' short comings.

Edit: I just found out that the OL coach and run game coordinator is Chris Morgan who has been here in that position for 3 years.

Great questions. Everett and Homer are Waldron's guys 
FYI, the OL is essentially the same and Bears fans have been bitching about that all off season.

[The Sultan]

Replacing an OC when you have a head coach that is a perceived lame duck, is also a challenge.  That being said, I'm with wades on this one. They have done a really good job drafting talent. The QB situation is more promising now than it has been in years. Losing to a playoff team on the road by less than a TD is hardly a bad outcome.

[Pakuni]

Shane Waldron isn't very good

I thought everything was Luke Getsy's fault.
Or was that Mark Helfrich? Dowell Loggains? Mike Martz? John Schoop? Terry Shea? Gary Crowton?
Seems to be a theme.