Bears Blitz

Published by Max Kienzler on October 25, 2009
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears are not a playoff team.

End of story.

The Bears got destroyed today, 45-10 by Cedric Benson, Carson Palmer and the Cincinnati Bengals. This in a game that the Bears defense should have been keyed up for after all the smack talk that both Cedric Benson and Chad Johnson let loose (his name is Chad Johnson … I don’t care what is on the back of his jersey).

I am going to give you the grades for each position, but first I want to take a look at the Bengals first seven offensive possessions:

First drive: Eight plays covering 77 yards over a span of four minutes resulting in a 9-yard touchdown pass to Chris Henry.

Second drive: Eight plays covering 80 yards over the span of four minutes and nine seconds resulting in a touchdown pass to Chad Johnson.

Third drive: Seven plays covering 63 yards over the span of three minutes and four seconds resulting in a 3-yard touchdown pass to J.P. Foschi.

Fourth drive: Twelve plays, 64 yards over the span of six minutes and fifty two seconds resulting in a 8-yard Laveranues Coles touchdown reception.

Fifth drive: Four plays for six yards over the span of fifty six seconds resulting in a field goal.

Sixth drive: Nine plays covering 61 yards spanning four minutes and thirty seconds resulting in a 13-yard touchdown pass to Johnson again.

Seventh drive: Seven plays over 53 yards spanning three minutes and eight seconds ending when Cedric Benson pounded it in from one yard out.

I should also point out that to start the eighth drive, J.T. O’Sullivan took over as the QB for the Bengals.

THAT is the definition of a pathetic, uninspired performance.

But I digress…

OFFENSE:

Quarterback: Jay Cutler.

Cuter threw for 254 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. He also fumbled two snaps. Does this sound like any other former Chicago Bears quarterback of old?

It wasn’t entirely his fault. The complete lack of a defense did not allow him on the field for much time and one of his interceptions was on a batted ball. But still, an ugly performance.

GRADE: D

Running back: Matt Forte

Six carries for 24 yards and five receptions for 25 yards. There isn’t to much to say, when losing 28-0 at halftime, you can’t expect much out of your run game from there on out.

Grade: INCOMPLETE

Receivers: Devin Hester, Johnny Knox and Earl Bennett

Hester had his first 100-yard game plus a touchdown, but he also coughed up the ball once. Knox and Bennett both had four receptions. Knox for 42 yards and Bennett for 48. Again, they weren’t on the field much to really get it going.

Grade: C+ (this is because after a 45-10 blowout, no one deserves to be any higher than average)

 

Tight Ends: Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark

Did these two even play? Oh wait, they did. Although for some reason the only time I ever saw them catch a pass was on four yard out routes. Am I missing something Ron Turner? AM I? DID I MISS THE PART WHERE FOUR YARD OUT ROUTES WERE SMART PLAY CALLS WHEN FACING 3rd and 13?

Grade: C-

Offensive line:

I am not even going to bother naming each one because they all equally sucked. Chris Williams started the game with a five yard false start penalty. Kreutz had a couple low snaps, I did not hear Garza’s name all day.

Although maybe that’s a good thing because I heard Pace and Omiyale’s names called, and never for anything positive. Pace had at least one holding penalty and Omiyale couldn’t even seem to get his hands on a player long enough to hold them.

If this game did anything positive, it should be that it open’s Lovie Smith’s eyes to the fact that Omiyale is not a starting guard caliber player.

Man up, admit your mistake and make a change already Lovie. Right now, your butt is on the hot seat.

Grade: F

 

DEFENSE: (here is where it gets pretty)

Safeties: Kevin Payne, Danieal Manning and Al Afalava.

Payne and Afalava did not know what coverage they were playing at times. Manning missed more tackles than a ghost and their play made me sick to my stomach.

Want to know what else made me sick to my stomach? Carson Palmer who went 20-for-24 for 233 yards and five touchdowns. That is on you safeties…

Grade: F

Cornerbacks: Charles Tillman and Zachary Bowman

Is this on repeat? I feel like putting everything down that I just put for the safeties. On the first touchdown, Bowman pulled his best Nathan Vasher impersonation and stopped covering Chris Henry.

Charles Tillman, not wanting to be out down, was beaten twice by Chad Johnson. Even worse, Tillman was actually called for a penalty on one of the touchdowns. I mean, if you are going to get called for a penalty, at least make sure you don’t let him score.

It’s like basketball, if you are going to foul a shooter, at least make sure he isn’t going to make the shot too.

Grade: F

Linebackers: Lance Briggs, Nick Roach and Hunter Hillenmeyer

Hillenmeyer was the one who let in touchdown number three to tight end J.P. Foschi when he bit on a play action and let Foschi run right past him. Roach, for the second week in a row, looked lost at times trying to make play calls and Lance Briggs simply got trucked by Benson on more than one occasion.

I realize injuries have depleted this unit, but Benson ran up 189 yards rushing. No excuses, please.

Grade: F

Defensive line:

As with the O-line, this unit doesn’t even deserve to be separated. They all played bad. There was zero pass rush and on run plays were getting knocked backwards on the snap of the ball.

Hot Rod’s magic must have run out because not one single player distinguished himself enough to even rip on, much less praise.

Grade: F

 

Coaching:

I don’t even want to get into it but at some point, Lovie needs to pull his head out of the dark, enclosed space he has lodged it up and make changes on the offensive line and alter the scheme played by the defense. He needs to do something.

This team was not prepared, they lacked fire and looked confused for most of the game. That reflects upon the coaches.

Grade: F

 

Overall: F

I won’t even waste time trying to add up the grades and coming out with a real average. This was a team loss. They were beaten in every facet of the game. Today, after that lack of effort, it is embarrassing to be a Bears fan.

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