The New Chicago Bears Looked A Lot Like The Old Chicago Bears
Published by Max Kienzler on August 16, 2009
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
Well let’s see:
Our starting QB went 5-10 for 64 yards. He had one interception when he under threw to “No. 1” receiver Devin Hester, and almost had another when one of his passes hit a defender square between the numbers, but was dropped.
Our backup quarterback looked impressive and composed despite many questioning his ability and maturity.
The receivers were almost non-existent with a couple drops and one bobble that turned into an interception for the third-string QB.
The defense forced only two three-and-outs the entire time and consistently got burned on third downs.
The defensive line generated little to no pressure. Of course, the one exception was Alex Brown, who recorded the only sack of the game for the Bears.
And the defensive backfield was once again, torched. The Bills QB’s went a combined 29/34 for 265 yards with a TD and an INT. That equals an over 85% completion rate… Seriously?
Of course, the special teams had what few highlights there were recovering a muffed punt and Robbie Gould booting a 50-yard field goal.
Call me crazy, but this really sounds like a game from last year’s preseason, right?
I know, I know. I don’t want to be Mr. Negativity and I do not intend to be. It is the first preseason game. It was the Bears’ first chance to play together with their new signal caller and they were without both Matt Forte and Greg Olsen, so of course there is a learning curve.
And no, Cutler did not throw as many interceptions as Kyle Orton did (but they did throw the same number of touchdowns: 0).
But that said, the Bears defense did not look any different than the one we saw last year and that is bad sign.
Again, I realize it was the first preseason game, but I was looking for signs of improvement, for changes the Bears were trying to implement…
And all I saw was more of the same. No pressure on the QB, third down conversions and poor pass defense. Where was Rod Marinelli’s magic? Where was the intensity that was supposed to come with the D when Lovie took over?
Maybe I am asking for too much too soon. I was just hoping, like many other Bear fans, that we would see something different than what we saw last season, from both the offense and defense.
And we didn’t. I am not losing faith, but I refuse to ignore the obvious. The Bears played bad. They looked like the same exact team last year.
Is it the end of the world? By no means. But does it raise red flags? Very much so.
