OT: NFL 2006 Season Discussion

Kazuya · Post by **Kazuya** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 12:28 am

Not sure why anyone would be down on the Bears... they're 9 and friggin' 2. They lost in New England and to the Dolphins (which is likely when it's all said and done going to go down as a lot tougher game than earlier believed). The Bears are terrific.

As for the Cowboys, the biggest thing that Romo has brought to the team is that the offense can finally be run the way it was meant to be. TO is really the key, as he's causing all kinds of havoc and it's filtering down to every one. All Romo really is doing it making the correct reads and delivering the ball. You don't complete 70% of your passes unless receivers are consistently open, and in the Cowboys case they have been WIDE open.

Romo has a quick release, a decent but not overpowering arm, and is surprisingly accurate. He really has been phenomenal, and is off to a just about unprecedented start that the NFL has never seen... with the obvious exception of Kurt Warner. In 1999 Warner probably had the most amazing individual season in the history of American sports when you consider all of the factors. But Romo has actually been done a fair Warner impersonation.

XXXIV · Post by **XXXIV** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 12:38 am

The Bears are the class of the NFC.

bdunn13 · Post by **bdunn13** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 1:37 am

XXXIV wrote:The Bears are the class of the NFC.

Which is not saying alot.

Inuyasha · Post by **Inuyasha** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 1:50 am

Thought the Pats/Bears game was one of the best games I've seen this year even though there were 9 turnovers. I think Bear fans don't have to worry about their team. They showed up vs the Pats and it's not like they were manhandled in the loss. I remember last year I saw the bears in a simliar situation at the Steelers that was also a big game and they got dominated. This year it wasn't the case.

The only thing holding the bears back to a superbowl lock is the erratic play of grossman. You dont know which grossman will show up week to week.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 2:08 am

Kazuya wrote:Not sure why anyone would be down on the Bears... they're 9 and friggin' 2.

I don't think people are putting them down, but rather thinking ahead of the season and into the playoffs and rather thinking that they won't go very far there. At least that's what I think of CHI.

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 9:22 am

Inuyasha wrote:Thought the Pats/Bears game was one of the best games I've seen this year even though there were 9 turnovers. I think Bear fans don't have to worry about their team. They showed up vs the Pats and it's not like they were manhandled in the loss. I remember last year I saw the bears in a simliar situation at the Steelers that was also a big game and they got dominated. This year it wasn't the case.

The only thing holding the bears back to a superbowl lock is the erratic play of grossman. You dont know which grossman will show up week to week.

This was basically what I was going to say. Completely agree.

One added thing about the Bears and their "D"...They need more pressure on the QB. I'd be curious to see where the Bears rank in the league for QB sacks. It must be low or maybe it just feels that way.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 10:44 am

As disappointed as I was with the Bears loss -- a game they should have won -- they were on the third game of a three-game road trip, went into Foxboro, and played the Pats very tough. They had trouble getting to Brady but kept him from dominating the game. They're 9-2 and I have no doubt that, Grossman or Griese, they're beating anyone at Soldier Field in the playoffs.

The one thing that's overrated is saying teams are overrated. The Bears have flaws, but I think their flaws are considerably less than nearly every other team. Grossman is not Kyle Orton or Trent Dilfer. He can play brilliantly, and he needs to keep working to minimize the mistakes.

As for the rest of the NFC, Dallas is the only team that looks good to me, as they are peaking at the right time and have a very complete team. The Saints? This is real football, not fantasy football, and they're not going far with that Swiss cheese defense. The Panthers crapped the bed against a terrible Redskins team, the Giants are imploding, and the Seahawks are banged up.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 10:45 am

Spooky wrote:I'd be curious to see where the Bears rank in the league for QB sacks. It must be low or maybe it just feels that way.

14th as of this morning. They do need to get more pressure on the QB.

jondiehl · Post by **jondiehl** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 12:35 pm

bdunn13 wrote:
XXXIV wrote:The Bears are the class of the NFC.
Which is not saying alot.

That's what they said about the National League in MLB this year too.

wco81 · Post by **wco81** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 12:45 pm

Things could change in the last 5 weeks still.

About this time last year, there was a lot of optimism for the Bears because Grossman came back from injury and had some good games.

It seems like the Bears' coaching staff is pretty aggressive with the offensive game plan, rather than relying on their defense to shut down opponents and going conservative with the run and managing the game from the QB.

When it was working early in the year, Grossman was hitting some big passes down field. Now, when they need the offense to generate points, he's having some problems.

It seems like when he was doing some ball control lately, taking what the defense gives you and not turning it over, they were in good shape. But people might accuse that of being the Shoop offense all over again.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 12:53 pm

wco81 wrote:
It seems like when he was doing some ball control lately, taking what the defense gives you and not turning it over, they were in good shape. But people might accuse that of being the Shoop offense all over again.

No, the Shoop offense is one which lacks a single vertical passing play and relies on having multiple dump-off routes. 'Twas a thing of beauty.

Kazuya · Post by **Kazuya** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 1:27 pm

Grossman has been very good at times too... six games with a rating of 98.6 or better. It's just that when he has been bad, he has been really, really bad. I honestly don't see how a quarterback can play worse than that "performance" against the Cardinals. Worst that I can remember at any level. Still, the Bears goal was to have a better offense this year and for the most part they've done that, and that includes QB.

My biggest problem with the Bears (and why I don't think they'll make the Super Bowl) is that playmakers win in the playoffs and all of their playmakers are on one side of the ball. And I have my doubts about even the defensive playmakers in a big game... can they stop a team when it counts, or will it slip away like the Barry Sanders-like Tom Brady from the clutches of Urlacher? They were great in the regular season last year too, then some real playmakers like Jake Delhomme and Steve Smith came to town and sent the Bears home to play Madden.

The Bears have above average and higher quality at just about every position on offense, but no playmakers. Jones won't rush for 200 yards in January, and it's highly doubtful that Grossman and the receivers will go off. Obviously they have a big play guy in Devin Hester, but circumstances of the game can greatly impact any impact he has. Still, that's why they play the games...

Spooky · Post by **Spooky** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 1:59 pm

RobVarak wrote:
wco81 wrote:
It seems like when he was doing some ball control lately, taking what the defense gives you and not turning it over, they were in good shape. But people might accuse that of being the Shoop offense all over again.
No, the Shoop offense is one which lacks a single vertical passing play and relies on having multiple dump-off routes. 'Twas a thing of beauty.

Worst...

...Offensive...

...Coordinator...

...EVAR!!!!!

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 2:32 pm

With Addai this year, the Colts have been able to put games away by running the ball down the other team's throat to run out the clock--they haven't been able to do that before.

Then again, the defense is so terrible against the run that other teams should have no problem doing the same to them in the playoffs...again.

lexbur · Post by **lexbur** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 5:48 pm

I can't decide what's worse...

the fact that after eight years since the Browns have returned this is the best group of whiny little finger-pointing quitters this half-assed, sorry excuse for a professional football organization can scrounge up to put on the field...

OR...

the fact that that our old team, the Baltiwhore Ravens, look like they may win yet ANOTHER Super Bowl...

It's embarrassing to be a Browns fan these days...

SoMisss2000 · Post by **SoMisss2000** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 6:32 pm

K Mike Vanderjagt cut by the Cowboys!

...and sign Martin Grammatica....sigh.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 7:32 pm

SoMisss2000 wrote:K Mike Vanderjagt cut by the Cowboys!

...and sign Martin Grammatica....sigh.

So they dump the idiot kicker and pick up a kicker who would celebrate his 1st quarter field goals like he won the damn super bowl. At least he stopped doing that when Bill, his brother, tore his ACL doing it. Niiiiiice.

SoMisss2000 · Post by **SoMisss2000** » Mon Nov 27, 2006 7:37 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:
SoMisss2000 wrote:K Mike Vanderjagt cut by the Cowboys!

...and sign Martin Grammatica....sigh.
So they dump the idiot kicker and pick up a kicker who would celebrate his 1st quarter field goals like he won the damn super bowl. At least he stopped doing that when Bill, his brother, tore his ACL doing it. Niiiiiice.

well, you're probably gonna get the same thing with both guys, may as well go with the budget kicker. I just hope Vandy doesn't get it together anywhere, this year. It has to be all mental with the guy as he is still hitting the ball pretty well. He had a freaking touchback on thanksgiving.

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 10:46 am

Lookout Bears, because it looks like the 'Hawks have things rolling in the right direction. Alexander finally looked like the guy we saw in 2005. The defense still needs to improve their tackling.

It's always great watching a game in the snow. Even better when your TWO favorite teams are playing. I couldn't lose last night

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 12:39 pm

Great win by SEA, Alexander was great and it took Hasselbeck a bit to get adjusted. Wow, J. Stevens finally caught a TD, even when he was rocked earlier. I sure thought it was Lambeau's field with all that snow. B. Favre is one tough SOG.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 12:50 pm

Seattle's is no slouch, but they are going to need to shore up their defense for the playoffs. I think Dallas and Chicago are better built for a playoff run, even with Grossman's flakiness.

However, Alexander clearly looked back to form and Hasselbeck should get better as his knee heals. They are definitely a contending team and I think will do better than the Saints. I like New Orleans but teams that are pass-heavy with mediocore defenses tend to have problems in the playoffs.

One question: has anyone ever rushed for 200 yards and not scored a TD?

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 12:50 pm

All due respect, but the Seahawks are much less scary to me as Bears fan than the Cowboys and the Saints. Beating up on the Packers at home is no sign that a team is healthy, and that Seahawks OL is still poor IMO.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 1:00 pm

Interesting move by Shanahan for this coming game vs Seahawks. Rookie quarterback Jay Cutler is to start for the Broncos replacing Jake Plummer

matthewk · Post by **matthewk** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 1:49 pm

Brando70 wrote:Seattle's is no slouch, but they are going to need to shore up their defense for the playoffs. I think Dallas and Chicago are better built for a playoff run, even with Grossman's flakiness.

I think an inconsistent QB can kill you in the playoffs just as easy as anything else can. One meltdown by Grossman in the playoffs and Da Bears could be knocked out.

The Bears are a lot like the 2000 Ravens. The big difference is that Dilfer was mediocre and steady, while Grossman is mediocre and inconsistent.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 1:59 pm

matthewk wrote:
Brando70 wrote:Seattle's is no slouch, but they are going to need to shore up their defense for the playoffs. I think Dallas and Chicago are better built for a playoff run, even with Grossman's flakiness.
I think an inconsistent QB can kill you in the playoffs just as easy as anything else can. One meltdown by Grossman in the playoffs and Da Bears could be knocked out.

The Bears are a lot like the 2000 Ravens. The big difference is that Dilfer was mediocre and steady, while Grossman is mediocre and inconsistent.

I don't know, he's had 5 games with a passer rating of over 100. Inconsistent, yes but I don't know about mediocre. And if Seattle's only weakness was their D, I might give be more concerned by them. But with injuries to their two best weapons and an OL that continues to be a shadow of last year's, I'd still pick the Cowboys, Saints and Bears ahead of them.