McGINN'S VIEW

Beyond the borders of Cook County, the Bears had the look of a 9-7 season. Rex Grossman was never any good. At the behest of the coaches, Cedric Benson put on way too much weight to avoid injury and ended up running sluggishly. The offensive line was decrepit. And none of the wide receivers was a true go-to guy.

Just about everyone in the Chicago media had the Bears being right back in the Super Bowl. Not to pick on Hub Arkush, long-time publisher of Pro Football Weekly, but shortly after the Bears lost the opener in San Diego he wrote, "The Bears will still win the division." Said David Haugh in the Chicago Tribune: "The Bears are at their very best being doubted and can thank the Chargers later for their help, like maybe at the Super Bowl."

The last-place Bears are headed for the throes of 5-11 or 6-10 largely because of a defensive collapse precipitated by Lovie Smith's destructive moves. He basically forced coordinator Ron Rivera to leave, promoted linebackers coach and college roommate Bob Babich to replace him, fired defensive line coach Don Johnson and hired first-year NFL assistants to coach the D-line (Brick Haley) and linebackers (Hardy Nickerson).

Now the Bears have a defensive-oriented head coach with a long-term contract who helped ruin his own defense and isn't suited to coach offense. A rebuilding job awaits GM Jerry Angelo.

I don't know who McGinn is, but I think I'll dub him "Captain Hindsight" (or maybe Captain Hyperbole). It's pretty easy to spot the flaws in a team after the fact. If he had written this article on September 1st (when, apparently, everyone outside of Chicago was predicting the Bears to have a mediocre season ), then I'd be a little more impressed.

Sure the Bear's O-line was getting up in age, but "decrepit"? They were one of the best in the league last year. Rex Grossman was "never any good"? He must have missed about 10 of the Bears' 16 games last year. Cedric Benson's weight? Same as last year when he was effective as a part-timer. Certainly heavier than college, but I never heard anyone predict that his weight would be a hindrance, especially since he was supposed to be a between-the-tackles bruiser.

I guess I just don't appreciate the "it-should-have-been-obvious-to-anyone-that-was-paying-attention" smugness of the article. It's also overly simplistic in its assessment. For those that are interested, this is a much more encompassing and objective look at the Bear's failings this year:

What Went Wrong?

B-N-D

Bob McGinn

Writer for jsonline.com

I think McGinn did a pretty good job. He should have mentioned Adam Archuleta. I can see making the mistake trading for him because they didn't give up all that much and some trades are just going to turn out bad...that's the nature of the business. What Bear fans really have to question is why this guy was starting after the 10th week because at that point it was clearly obvious to anybody that Archuleta was one of the worst players starting in the NFL, regardless of position! He should have been benched at about week #6 if not earlier.

They will be an interesting team to watch this off-season. When you go down the list of primary need areas for the Bears, it could include everything outside of tight end, center and cornerback depending on what happens with Briggs and Brown (if they stay then you add DE and OLB to the list, if those guys go then OLB is a major need and DE is a need but not quite as pressing). Oh yeah, they have a kicker, punter, return man and a long-snapper so they are set on the special teams. I still think the first thing they have to do is rebuild the offensive line.

Everything that went wrong was discussed at the start of the season on this board. The QB question marks, the Tommy Harris factor, the unknown of Cedric Benson, and the aging OL. I thought they'd be 9-7 because I didn't think that Brown and Vasher would have this much impact after they got knocked out, but it is no surprise the Bears dropped a notch.

I heard Hub Arkush talking last night on WSCR. He cited Jim Finks, the architect of those Bears teams of the '80s that were so dominant. Finks always said that you build from the offensive and defensive lines outward and build around them; if you keep trying to hit homeruns on skill players (Benson, Grossman, etc), your whole team will suffer because getting a Favre or (the good) Adrian Peterson is so unlikely. I think they need to start rebuilding that offensive line and go drafting a la TT to rebuild the overall depth. Ron Turner should be sent packing immediately after the season is over--has he had success anywhere with this offensive system?

Not really on topic, but why is it that our two teams never seem to be competitive at the same time? I've been following the Bears since the early 80s and I can only think of two years, 1995 and 2001, where both the Packers and Bears had winning records. That's amazing, especially considering that during that stretch our teams have each been to the playoffs 10+ times and the Super Bowl twice apiece.

I guess it doesn't REALLY matter--our games are exciting and competitive regardless of record--but I really thought this year might be the start of a thrilling 2-3 year stretch where the Bears and Pack would be duking it out for the North tile. The Packers were on the rise and the Bears, with the exception of the O-line, were still a young team.

Pity...

B-N-D

Agreed, BND, and it is kind of a bummer. Having both teams good at the same time would bring the shine back to what seemingly few football fans realize is the premier rivalry in the NFL. Yes, the games are always hard-fought, but if these two teams ever had a stretch where their games had a lot at stake, folks would be reminded that this rivalry is really one of the foundations of the NFL.

In my unqualified opinion, it looks like the Bears are in need of a rebuild, as they've seemingly crumbled at their foundation right before our eyes. That said, GB has shown that with the right people in place calling the shots, the rebuilding job in the NFL these days can be accomplished quickly, so perhaps that'll happen for the Bears as well.

I'd like to retract my jeenyus comment.

quote:

Originally posted by JJSD:

In my unqualified opinion, it looks like the Bears are in need of a rebuild, as they've seemingly crumbled at their foundation right before our eyes. That said, GB has shown that with the right people in place calling the shots, the rebuilding job in the NFL these days can be accomplished quickly, so perhaps that'll happen for the Bears as well.

I hope so. I've had the misfortune of being a Bears' fan through some pretty hopeless stretches. I remember a five-year period, from about 1996-2000, where we didn't have a single Pro Bowl player and were mathematically eliminated by the second exhibition game. I don't want to go through that again.

Fortunately, as you mentioned, a quick turnaround is certainly possible in today's NFL. We've got a nucleus of about 15 Pro Bowl caliber players when healthy (not including older guys in obvious decline like Muhammed and Ruben Brown). That's at least a good start. If we can get healthy on the defensive side of the ball in the off-season, while upgrading the offensive line and replacing Cedric Benson, we could be back in the mix pretty quick.

B-N-D

quote:

Originally posted by Hungry5:
I'd like to retract my jeenyus comment.

It's OK to speak reasonably with reasonable people. Ewe, on the other hand, shouldn't right another word about jeenyous, Mr., Mr....I can't even insult you - your two dam nice.

The Bears are a poorly run organization. The Packers WERE a poorly run organization. This is the constant- when the Bears are run by morons, the Packers have the right guys, and they benifit. When the Packers are poor, vice versa.

quote:

Not really on topic, but why is it that our two teams never seem to be competitive at the same time? I've been following the Bears since the early 80s and I can only think of two years, 1995 and 2001, where both the Packers and Bears had winning records. That's amazing, especially considering that during that stretch our teams have each been to the playoffs 10+ times and the Super Bowl twice apiece.

I think in the 80's the Bears were extremely good for the most part, and we all know the Packers sucked.

Although, Since Favre arrived in GB I think the Bears have only made the playoffs in 4 or 5 seasons. In 2001 and 2006 they had really good seasons but the reality is that Chicago hasn't been that competitive the last 15 years or so. People will hate to hear this but Minnesota has been far more competitive over that span than Chicago.

quote:

Not really on topic, but why is it that our two teams never seem to be competitive at the same time? I've been following the Bears since the early 80s and I can only think of two years, 1995 and 2001, where both the Packers and Bears had winning records. That's amazing, especially considering that during that stretch our teams have each been to the playoffs 10+ times and the Super Bowl twice apiece.

I guess it doesn't REALLY matter--our games are exciting and competitive regardless of record--but I really thought this year might be the start of a thrilling 2-3 year stretch where the Bears and Pack would be duking it out for the North tile. The Packers were on the rise and the Bears, with the exception of the O-line, were still a young team.

- I agree and its about the only thing we are going to agree on.

There is nothing like the Packer-Bear rivalry because everything about it is real, Walter Payton is still one of my most liked football players ever ... he and Favre is what the NFL is all about(Tough minded, talented, unselfish, likable, kept their mouth shut, gave their all all-the-time, played hurt).

I respect the Bears as an opponent light-years more than the Vikings and Lions are even on the radar.

When the Vikings went into that dome, I lost all respect. I really loved to hate the Alan Page's, the Fran Tarkenton's, the Chuck Foreman's of yesteryear but that was some good, good stuff out in the snow and cold of the Old Met stadium. The Dome created a canned, fake, choking, loud-mouth talking pile of
garbage of an organization!

quote:

Originally posted by trump:
he and Favre is what the NFL is all about(Tough minded, talented, unselfish, likable, kept their mouth shut, gave their all all-the-time, played hurt)

Funny how Favre can go from this to a "wimp" leading the team through "Pussyville" in just 2 days.

You are wrong, and as said, if you want to continue this, feel free to send a PM. Frankly, I apologize for not handling this via PM right away myself, both to you and the other posters here. This public stuff needs to end here.

Let's put everything on the table here. According to the registered dates Trump has been here 5 1/2 more years then you have. I think you have taken your 'MOD' status and think you are God. We need a little STFU here. I know you are much more credilble then everyone else here, but frankly a lot of us are tired with your BS.

quote:

Originally posted by JJSD:
Booze will do that to a perspective, but now Mr. Favre is a POS has $500 riding on his rants assuming no one else signs up for the bet on the home page.

Enough with the "Booze" agrument. Get a new line. There are many posters on Times Four --- I feel a lot do feel the same way, but are afraid to post because of the beating they'll take for being different (or not looking through foggy 100% green and gold glasses).

Ah, Steamboat ...

Just a heads up, I've deleted my own posts.

quote:

Originally posted by trump:
Ah, Steamboat ...

Just a heads up, I've deleted my own posts.

quote:

Ah, Steamboat ...

Just a heads up, I've deleted my own posts.

- And, Oh yeah ... Almost forgot,
Iowa sucks in football and basketball and Ferentz has been exposed.

quote:

Originally posted by trump:

quote:

Ah, Steamboat ...

Just a heads up, I've deleted my own posts.

- And, Oh yeah ... Almost forgot,
Iowa sucks in football and basketball and Ferentz has been exposed.

I really don't disagree with much of that. Times will change. Merry Christmas

You are usually not too bad of a poster? Gotta know though...if it was a drunken rant after the BoB game.

I hate the BoBs more then probably anyone on this board.

quote:

I really don't disagree with much of that. Times will change. Merry Christmas

You are usually not too bad of a poster? Gotta know though...if it was a drunken rant after the BoB game.

I hate the BoBs more then probably anyone on this board.

- You agreeing with me about the Hawks?
I don't like you and Packerhawk anymore, you're part of the NFL (No Fun League).

No, it wasn't a "drunken rant" just a "rant" because IMO all the momentum that this young team had built up to get Home Field Advantage was basically thrown out the window by an element-scared team that LIVES in the elements and IMO led by our fearless leader BEFORE THE GAME EVEN STARTED.

IMO, they are not done but I had a hard time accepting that BS from Favre ... his own dad would of kicked him in the nads for that, I truly believe that.

And the part about Hillenmeyer knocking him into next week earlier in the game was not hyperbole: Hillenmeyer did knock him into next week and history has show that when Favre gets hit like that early in a game and survives, he is going to rip your heart out(I like that). Sunday we saw an old man that I was embarassed for (I don't like that)... for the pre-game comments and the showing.