By David HaughI am watching Sunday's first offensive play for the Packers, and running back Ryan Grant is slithering through a hole wide enough for a snowplow on his way to a 62-yard touchdown run, and I immediately wonder.
Where the heck was Jamar Williams?
Neither the question nor the answer is as irrelevant as it seems.
Williams is the reserve outside linebacker who made 20 tackles starting in place of the injured Lance Briggs last week against St. Louis. It was the best individual performance by a Bears linebacker since Brian Urlacher's 25-tackle game in 2006.
For that effort, Williams earned a seat on the bench.
Photo: The Packers' Ryan Grant outruns Kevin Payne for a first-quarter touchdown. (Nam Y. Huh/AP)
Nobody's suggesting a Pro Bowl player such as Briggs shouldn't get his
job back at weak-side linebacker, but if the linebacker jobs are as
interchangeable as the Bears say, Williams should have started ahead of
Nick Roach on the strong side.
Roach was out of position on Grant's TD. So was Briggs. Safety Kevin Payne took a terrible angle. Josh Bullocks, on the field in the three-safety alignment the Bears use against two-tight end sets, whiffed too -- and why exactly was he on the field for what turned into the biggest play of the first half?
It was a group failure.
And Williams might not have made the stop either. But we will never know because of the Bears' season-long, mind-blowing stubbornness to alter the pre-existing plan based on performance.
Kahlil Bell had the team's longest run by a running back in 20 years against the Eagles and didn't carry the ball a week later. Williams makes 20 tackles and doesn't enter the game until the end of the first quarter.
And in Week 14, the Bears finally start Devin Aromashodu and Jay Cutler looks to him on nearly every pass and even threw an interception forcing it to Aromashodu. If he is that integral a part of the offense, a guy Cutler favors to the extent he does, why did it take until the 13th game for him to start?
The more Cutler looked for Aromashodu, the more it indicted the coaching staff for not turning to him earlier.
These are the symptoms of a much deeper problem with overall judgment. These are the type off odd personnel decisions that have helped the Bears get to 5-7, the evidence that will be used against Lovie Smith when the case is made that he needs to go.
Less than two minutes into the game against the so-called rival, the Bears trailed 7-0. Too easily it became 10-0...and then 13-0...and so on. It's 13-7 thanks to a nifty 19-yard TD throw-and-catch from Cutler to Johnny Knox with 1:48 left.
So it's still a one-possession game, but the Packers appeared to be toying with the Bears, converting fourth-down conversions and finding receivers whenever Aaron Rodgers needed. That's what a playoff team does -- they come out with purpose and focus.
Meanwhile, the Bears looked early on like a bad team getting worse. Arizona can embarrass the Bears at home and it can be lumped into a big pile of disappointment. But when the most important team on the schedule -- as designated by Smith -- does the same thing, it cuts even deeper. It no longer can be rationalized or ignored. It screams for change.
Until the final two minutes, in every phase, the Bears looked lost. Defensively, they burned two timeouts. Offensively, a 21-yard Cutler scramble was wiped out by a Frank Omiyale holding penalty and the interception was unforced. Other penalties were continued examples of an undisciplined team.
By the way, why take a knee with eight seconds left in the first half with the ball on the Bears' 30 instead of taking a chance and letting Cutler show how far he can throw it? What was the worst thing that could happen?
One more question in a half full of them: Can anybody name one thing the Bears do well?
Through two quarters against the Packers -- heck, through 14 weeks of the regular-season -- nothing has been apparent. Cutler to Knox? Maybe. And maybe more things will be obvious in the second half.
But so far, the Bears have given us little reason to expect they can rally to beat a good team.
Roach was out of position on Grant's TD. So was Briggs. Safety Kevin Payne took a terrible angle. Josh Bullocks, on the field in the three-safety alignment the Bears use against two-tight end sets, whiffed too -- and why exactly was he on the field for what turned into the biggest play of the first half?
It was a group failure.
And Williams might not have made the stop either. But we will never know because of the Bears' season-long, mind-blowing stubbornness to alter the pre-existing plan based on performance.
Kahlil Bell had the team's longest run by a running back in 20 years against the Eagles and didn't carry the ball a week later. Williams makes 20 tackles and doesn't enter the game until the end of the first quarter.
And in Week 14, the Bears finally start Devin Aromashodu and Jay Cutler looks to him on nearly every pass and even threw an interception forcing it to Aromashodu. If he is that integral a part of the offense, a guy Cutler favors to the extent he does, why did it take until the 13th game for him to start?
The more Cutler looked for Aromashodu, the more it indicted the coaching staff for not turning to him earlier.
These are the symptoms of a much deeper problem with overall judgment. These are the type off odd personnel decisions that have helped the Bears get to 5-7, the evidence that will be used against Lovie Smith when the case is made that he needs to go.
Less than two minutes into the game against the so-called rival, the Bears trailed 7-0. Too easily it became 10-0...and then 13-0...and so on. It's 13-7 thanks to a nifty 19-yard TD throw-and-catch from Cutler to Johnny Knox with 1:48 left.
So it's still a one-possession game, but the Packers appeared to be toying with the Bears, converting fourth-down conversions and finding receivers whenever Aaron Rodgers needed. That's what a playoff team does -- they come out with purpose and focus.
Meanwhile, the Bears looked early on like a bad team getting worse. Arizona can embarrass the Bears at home and it can be lumped into a big pile of disappointment. But when the most important team on the schedule -- as designated by Smith -- does the same thing, it cuts even deeper. It no longer can be rationalized or ignored. It screams for change.
Until the final two minutes, in every phase, the Bears looked lost. Defensively, they burned two timeouts. Offensively, a 21-yard Cutler scramble was wiped out by a Frank Omiyale holding penalty and the interception was unforced. Other penalties were continued examples of an undisciplined team.
By the way, why take a knee with eight seconds left in the first half with the ball on the Bears' 30 instead of taking a chance and letting Cutler show how far he can throw it? What was the worst thing that could happen?
One more question in a half full of them: Can anybody name one thing the Bears do well?
Through two quarters against the Packers -- heck, through 14 weeks of the regular-season -- nothing has been apparent. Cutler to Knox? Maybe. And maybe more things will be obvious in the second half.
But so far, the Bears have given us little reason to expect they can rally to beat a good team.
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Bear Fan in Los Angeles. This football "quality" is what I pay Sunday Ticket for? To watch these Bears get outcoached and outclassed every week is sickening and disheartening especially since I love the Bears so much. Ron Turner has needed to go for three years now. Lovie can't coach. Angelo can't pick talent and was stupid to trade a 2nd round pick for that bust Gaines Adams. They have no WRs for Cutler to throw too and even if they did the Oline is so bad Cutler wouldn't have time to throw. This team probably has 3 starters that could start for other teams and that's it. Time to clean house, unfortunately knowing how cheap the McCaskeys are, we'll probably be stuck with this regime for the remainder of the contract.
Hey, good game Bares. I give you credit for making it much closer than I imagined possible. Aaron Rodgers had an off day. At least the Pack beat the spread. Don't worry...you'll be back...in 4 or 5 years....in the meantime the Packers have the youngest team in the league and will be on top for the next 10 years....
This team makes me sick. I understand it's entertainment - but for a "business" that is entrusted with the city's morale, you'd think they would take their duties a bit more responsibly. I've been a supporter of Lovie (at least, I've tried to be reasonable compared to some of you bozos), but his insistence on double speak and politicing is an insult to us fans who plan out the tailgate on Saturday, wake up early Sunday (before Lovie does) and heads to the parking lot, essentially ruining our Monday. It's as if the truth is a predator with him.
Ron,
Here is why you're wrong:
The Bears sell the vast majority of their tickets as part of season tickets.....many of which are tied into PSLs. In other words, it is not as simple as just "not showing up to the stadium". The tickets (all ten games, including preseason)are paid for by the fan in the SPRING.... many, many months prior to knowing whether or not the team is good. For a fan to turn it's back by boycotting, that means that the Bears would bypass the fan and go to the next fan on the list. This creates a problem because the fan will lose out if/when the Bears turn it around. IN the meantime, they have a PSL "investment" in the team, and don't want other to be turned off. But you're right - it's all about the money with the f@#$#@$# McCaskey's. They are a bunch of bean-counting d-bags who probably couldn't even tell you who wore #26 during the 85 season. They DON'T CARE ABOUT ANYTHING OTHER THAN $$
Ron's right. Supporting this team is exactly like supporting a bad show. (In fact, pro sports -are- part of the entertainment industry.) Fandom is a spirit carefully crafted to benefit team owners. After a few years of sparse attendance, lower shop junk sales, and lower tv revenues the McCaskeys will decide to either make more intelligent investments in the Bears or to sell the team. Either way, fans will win.
Wow Haugh took off his Honeybears uniform and called out the Bears. They must be bad.
After watching another semi pro football game (on the Bears side of the ball) I will address my comment to the fans in the stand. The owners have a full stadium and is seling $7.00 day old hot dogs and dixie cup beers for $6.00. Now why would he want to get a net coahcing staff or new players? EMPTY THE STADIUM GUYS. HE'S A BEAN COUNTER AND HE WILL BE GOING TO THE BANK WITH AN EMPTY BAG INSTEAD OF THE STUFFED ONE HE HAS NOW. YOU GOTTA DO IT, YOU GOTTA MAKE THE SACRAFICE. Let him see a blacked out game and I guarantee all of you that Angelo, Lovie and the rest of the underachievers will be long gone. BALL IN YOUR COURT, HOW ABOUT IT?
David, Case in point to prove your current and past evaluations of the Bears decision making,,,compare the current Bears versus the New Orleans Saints. Two teams going in opposite directions and season. Two teams that played in the NFC Championship game several years ago.
Just a question for the McCaskeys. How many times does this team have to show up unprepared, unemotional, flat as a fax fresh off the machine, to force a change to happen. Losing is one thing. Being embarrassed, flat out not competing as many times as they have this season, is destroying the image and credibility of this once proud franchise. Please, Mrs. McCaskey, make it stop. Pay the money to send this failed regime packing, and pay the money to bring in Bill Cowher, or Mike Shanahan to fix a talented quarterback like Jay Cutler, who this staff is destroying. Please, do it for the fans who come out and sit in cold weather, or pay money like I do for DirecTV to watch this team.
It's more than time for Lovie and his pathetic excuse for a staff to go. What exactly are they experts on? Nothing is the answer to that. We've watched Ron Turner ruin the Illini and now he's helping ruin the Bears not to mention Jay Cutler. Lovie doesn't know anything about defense. This is his specialty? Please help me if I have to watch this defense anymore. Jay Cutler is fine and everybody needs to quit blaming him for everything. If he had some coaching and weapons then he'd be excellent. He needs receivers badly. Matt Forte can't be blamed for anything either. If he had a decent offensive line then he'd be awesome. The defense doesn't have a decent safety or cornerback or defensive lineman to count on. These guys need to be replaced. Let's not leave out Jerry Angelo either. He assembled the coaching staff and the entire roster. So he needs to be fired too. Fire everybody from Angelo through the coaching staff. Then hire somebody that is an actual evaluator of talent and get some players that can play on this roster. I'm one fed up lifelong Bears fan. Thanks for the time.
David asks "One more question in a half full of them: Can anybody name one thing the Bears do well?"
Yes. Disappoint their fans. They consistently exceed all expectations on that one.
I've not been one of the masses screaming for Lovie's head but today it was so clearly on display that either the coaches aren't coaching or the players aren't listening - or both. Why, this late in the season, can you still make money betting the Don't Pass line on whether the receiver is going to finish their route? Why was Aromashodu not a part of the offense until now - when even in preseason Cutler was lobbying for him to get more reps? If you gamble your future by trading your top draft picks for a stud QB to turn your team around shouldn't you maybe, I don't know, listen to him when he says he needs this guy in his passing game?
This is a badly run team . . . and it shows in every aspect except the ticket prices, which no doubt will go up again next year. We all know quality comes with a price but ineptitude is REALLY expensive.
Wait until next week in Baltimore
I must be an idiot to follow a team that is so bad. Why do I continue to give my time and money to this team? If I was making money off this mess like lovie and angelo and all the Mcaskies that would be different. Then I'd feel pretty clever, getting paid big bucks for nothing. Giving the fans garbage for years and still getting paid. If I was getting rich off the fans I wouldn't feel so stupid.
The wasting of two timeouts with yet another blown challenge by Lovie--my goodness, has he ever heard of multitasking? Football is a chess game: you gotta be able to walk and chew gum at the same time. This team's coaching staff is too awful for words, and every time the Bears take the field, you can see the tentativeness with which they play: no confidence, no grit, no pride. Sad, really...but as long as the McCaskeys are making money off this venture, NOTHING WILL CHANGE.
BEARS FANS: Give up your season tickets, don't buy as much as a pair of Bears-branded earmuffs. Lost revenue is the ONLY thing this tightwad family will understand.
i agree! coaching has ruined our promising season!! im sure its also sucking the morale and hope right out of the locker room. ITS TIME FOR A NEW COACHES AND COORDINATORS DAMMIT!!!!!
I am like many other long time bears fans.We have endured enough.I live in canada across the river from detroit and when they fired Marinelli you could hear the applause in windsor.So what do the bears do but praise this guy and hire him.This proves to me that no one in the organization has got their head on straight.Even in the bad years the bears still had pride ,we need it back, this is too painful for all of us. Everybody hated playing the bears, now the teams mark a W on their schedule .
What do the Bears do well?
Make excuses!
Ignore talent!
Make excuses!
Disappoint!
The Bears coaching staff is blind,deaf,and ignorant.
This group of fools should send the city of Chicago an apology note.
I am tired of Lovie and his ship of fools.
Bear fan forever.
It is time to clean house!
Time for Lovie and his loser regime to go. Enough also with the clown Angelo who has been a failure at GM. Bad draft pics, not getting weapons for Cutler and letting go good players. Three years now after the superbowl and three years in a row without playoffs. No excuse for this.
Bye, Lovie. Bye, Turner. Please.
I don't really care who wins. I just like watching all the players in their uniforms. They look great.
I will agree that perhaps Lovie should be replaced. I'd still take Jay Cutler over Aaron Rodgers any day. Cutler is AWESOME. His arm strength and decision-making are top-three in the NFL. He just needs some receivers.
Go Cubbies!
I will agree that perhaps Lovie should be replaced. I'd still take Jay Cutler over Aaron Rodgers any day. Cutler is AWESOME. His arm strength and decision-making are top-three in the NFL. He just needs some receivers.
Go Cubbies!
Sorry ass pathetic defensive scheme ...Lovie Dovie go caddie for the Chettah!
This was DEFINITELY a loss because of POOR Coaching. And what a shame for Cutler played damn well.
How do WR's CONTINUE to RUN WRONG ROUTES!!!
Cutler got so fed up with the two Knox made that he sat on the bench in frustration the first tiem, and the second time actually demosntrated with his hands how the IDIOT Knox SHOULD of run the route!
THIRTEEN PENALTIES? This late in the season? Most on the linemen - both O and D!!!
Williams making the SAME ONE TWICE? How do you HOLD on a SCREEN PASS? They are SUPPOSE to get thru!!!
Pep Hamilton looks like a HIGH SCHOOL KID! Where in the WORLD did HE come from? Cutler must look at him and think -you've GOTTA be kidding me!!!!
Two timeouts in a ROW? How DUMB can Lovie BE!!!!
Why wait til NOW to play Aromashodu? Cutler been BEGGING for him since OTA's!!! The guy ran a bad route that caused the first pick, but other than that he was sure better than Hester or Knox or Bennett.
This must end!
PLEASE GET COWHER! FIRE LOVIE, ANGELO, THE WHOLE LIVE CREW!
Can anyone think of a dumber QB in football history dumber than Jay Cutler?
The loss of two timeouts on the near catch by Olsen was ridiculous. Why not challenge from the get-go instead of using a timeout and then losing a timeout when you lose the challenge? And 12 penalties, many of them mental mistakes?
Bears...No discipline, poorly coached.
Clean house McCaskey. We have seen enough. You have let Jerry,Ted and Lovie run this franchise in to the joke of the NFL. Clean house now. The fall began when you allowed Lovie and his gang go to bat for Tank Johnson. This team is as dysfunctional as the Post Office.
David you finally woke up out of your coma and can now see Lovie for what he really is.
Bears do some things well... like commit moronic penalties.
Perhaps the team is simply undersized, sacrificing strength for speed, and can't compete with other teams. The only other team that I know of that runs the Tampa 2 is Tampa Bay and they're not much worse.
And Smith doesn't make any adjustments, either in game or between games. Too stubborn, or protecting bad players who were picked by Angelo... seems like whomever he inserts is singled out for bad or invisible play.
And who are the star players on offense? Bears don't have an Andre Johnson or Wes Welker or Percy Harvin or Chris Johnson (the rb for Tennessee). The same could be said for defense, although I think Tinoisamoa could've been a good player had he stayed healthy. And Briggs.
2 timeouts in a row what was lovie thinking???????
The coaching staff is primarily responsible for this loss: Bullocks running to the opposite side of the field on the first GB play...Omiyale whiffing a block on the first play, two stupid penalties - why is he starting in place of Beekman...clock mismanagement, etc. Omiyale (a carrer backup at tackle who cannot play guard), Pace (on the severe downside of a steller career)and Vasher(who cannot play effectively anymore) are in the top ten for salaries and all three need to go.
David, finally you agree that Lovie makes questionable calls. This sorry a** coach and his staff have been mailing it in since the first game of this season. Good riddance Lovie.
To Jim Lauerman: You beat me by a year. I've been getting disappointed on and off since 1939.
The firing must start with Ted Phillips. He's the guy responsible for Jerry and Lovie. He has the responsibility but wont take it and demand that they are to blame for the shambles, posing as the Bears.
I have been a Bear fan since 1938. The 2009 bear football team is a "total disaster. Without listing all of the "negatives": my solution: Start with the McCasky's and go down to the last coach and start from scratch. Find someone or a group with 700/800 million dollars who wants a winning football team!!!
We're at an end. Now the only excitement we'll get will be waiting for the announcement that Lovie has been sacked.
Tom