1 Week Left For the Bears

[TheRook]

I agree with that...but when they have to play from behind i think they may be in trouble....The way he delivers the ball is downright wacky.........

There is always overreaction when a team gets there first loss....But usually with a QB....you are what you are...Although a few wily vets resurrected careers after folks had given up on them

Gannon
Plunkett

Your right...when Grossman is the one that has to win the game for the bears...we are in trouble. I 100% agree with that.

He's still in his first FULL season...so I don't expect him to be perfect. I don't want them to go back to last years offense...but they REALLY need to get the running game in order...or cause some turnovers to get a short field on the Gmen.

[BillMill71]

Your right...when Grossman is the one that has to win the game for the bears...we are in trouble. I 100% agree with that.

He's still in his first FULL season...so I don't expect him to be perfect. I don't want them to go back to last years offense...but they REALLY need to get the running game in order...or cause some turnovers to get a short field on the Gmen.

You are right about your running game, averaging 3 yards a carry is not going to remove pressure from Grossman. Nor are the fumbles that keep your defense on the field. Now possibly take away Berrian and you can't stretch the field. So losing the field position battle due to turnovers, not being able to run the clock with a strong running game, and exposing the average receivers in the under 15 yard routes with no true deep receiver, and Hester being dinged up in the Special teams game, this offense may continue to struggle.

With that defense missing brown (a ball hawk who kept the Turn over ratio positive) and now the CB Wesley hurt and Urlacher dinged up they are vulnerable. They were vulnerable to a straight ahead running game I think before these injuries, noweven more so.

All this being said, The NYG are beat up as well. Should be a great game to watch!!!!!!!

[frankb03]

You are right about your running game, averaging 3 yards a carry is not going to remove pressure from Grossman.

The Bears are averaging 3 yards a carry because they are forcing Grossman to beat them.

[BillMill71]

The Bears are averaging 3 yards a carry because they are forcing Grossman to beat them.

I agree, but super bowl teams can run, period. Does not matter if there is 8 in the box. At the point of attack on any running play it is three on three or four on four, that is the battle that needs to be won. At 6 feet tall, all you have to do is fall forward to get 2 yards. Quality teams do not pass to open up the run, that is why I have always been skeptical of the Colts. You must run in the NFL and be able to control the like of scrimmage at the point of attack, no matter how many man are on the line of scrimmage.

IMHO

[frankb03]

How bout the Seattle game?

Minnesota game? He wasn't GREAT but he got the job done....

He had a good game vs Seattle. The game was a classic letdown spot for Seattle. Off a huge blowout home win vs Giants.

The Minny game was below average game. Completions of 56% with 1 TD and 2 INTs QB rating of 64. He had one good drive. The winning TD was off a turnover working with a short field.

[jmarty6969]

frank i have to saythis for grossman he has been the best qb the bears have had in a while..............he sucks to a point but greater then what they have had over the yrs now

[TwoTonTony]

I agree, but super bowl teams can run, period. Does not matter if there is 8 in the box. At the point of attack on any running play it is three on three or four on four, that is the battle that needs to be won. At 6 feet tall, all you have to do is fall forward to get 2 yards. Quality teams do not pass to open up the run, that is why I have always been skeptical of the Colts. You must run in the NFL and be able to control the like of scrimmage at the point of attack, no matter how many man are on the line of scrimmage.

IMHO

Bill....

running is not as simple as falling forward....If it were it would be easy to gain yardage every down....These are big, fast and physical men...on both sides of the ball.....Tv distorts alot of this......Do you know how big Ben R. is? He is huge and gets smacked down by these monstrous d lineman.....

Some teams did and do pass to open up the run...West Coast offense employed by the 49ers is an example that comes to mind. 1 has to work for the other to be effective i agree...

It is much harder to run with 8 men in the box.....It is not always straight ahead 4 on 4 blocking as you state...Any type of counter, sweep, crossbuck, counter-tre will require a 1 if not 2 linemen pulling....Also on many defenses there are stunts and blitzing to name a few.....Many smart people are trying to create mismatches on both sides of the ball with different schemes....It is not always talent......

[BillMill71]

Bill....

running is not as simple as falling forward....If it were it would be easy to gain yardage every down....These are big, fast and physical men...on both sides of the ball.....Tv distorts alot of this......Do you know how big Ben R. is? He is huge and gets smacked down by these monstrous d lineman.....

Some teams did and do pass to open up the run...West Coast offense employed by the 49ers is an example that comes to mind. 1 has to work for the other to be effective i agree...

It is much harder to run with 8 men in the box.....It is not always straight ahead 4 on 4 blocking as you state...Any type of counter, sweep, crossbuck, counter-tre will require a 1 if not 2 linemen pulling....Also on many defenses there are stunts and blitzing to name a few.....Many smart people are trying to create mismatches on both sides of the ball with different schemes....It is not always talent......

Once again I agree with you TTT, but when it comes to true contenders, when good teams play good teams, it is winning the point of attack either straight ahead, or the counter or sweep, etc. I am not saying run staight ahead, but determine where your point of attack is and win that. These different running attacks are to offset the many fronts, stunts and defensive alignments built to stop the run. Even the teams in the West coast offense could dominate the line of scrimmage when they needed to, SF would plow Rathman in the middle behind pro bowl offensive linemen and sweep craig outside when the middle was stacked. I think if we go back over the last 10 years of super bowls you will see teams that could run against any scheme, even the patriots which you would not consider a huge rushing team.

You are right, you need both, no doubt, but without running the ball consistently for 3+ yards, I just feel you cannot win when it comes to quality on quality teams.

[TwoTonTony]

Once again I agree with you TTT, but when it comes to true contenders, when good teams play good teams, it is winning the point of attack either straight ahead, or the counter or sweep, etc. I am not saying run staight ahead, but determine where your point of attack is and win that. These different running attacks are to offset the many fronts, stunts and defensive alignments built to stop the run. Even the teams in the West coast offense could dominate the line of scrimmage when they needed to, SF would plow Rathman in the middle behind pro bowl offensive linemen and sweep craig outside when the middle was stacked. I think if we go back over the last 10 years of super bowls you will see teams that could run against any scheme, even the patriots which you would not consider a huge rushing team.

You are right, you need both, no doubt, but without running the ball consistently for 3+ yards, I just feel you cannot win when it comes to quality on quality teams.

Bill,

As simple as that sounds i believe that you are correct....If you can not run the ball consistently you will find it hard to win.....Especially in some of the divisions (NFC East especially when the weather turns ugly).....When you have a lead and need to eat clock........

I also believe that when you refer to the 49ers you maintain that no team can win without a running attack, which i agree with....It seems you must have some type of balance to win......

Take care and GL

[Three Jack]

Strahan told FOXSports.com on the way back from his mid-morning MRI that doctors have told him he'll be on crutches for at least the next week because of sprained ligaments in his right foot.
"They told me anywhere from two to eight weeks, they don't know for sure," said a very somber Strahan, who suffered the injury during the second quarter of the Giants' 14-10 win over the Texans Sunday. "It's really up to how long it takes to heal. It's not torn but it's similar to the injury that I had as a rookie that kept me out for several weeks."

Strahan has been told to keep off his foot for at least the next week and doctors will take another look at the foot after the Bears game next Sunday.

"They said the way I got it I was lucky because if I injured it by someone coming down on the back of my heel, that would have been much worse," he said. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see how fast I can come back from this. I want to get back in there as soon as I can."

The Bears-Giants matchup will certainly be without one star due to a foot injury and now we may have to wait a little to see if it will be without another. Brian Urlacher told FOXSports.com that an MRI this morning showed he too has a sprained ligament.

Unlike Strahan, however, Urlacher sounds like he's planning to play in Week 10.

"If it's up to me I will," Urlacher said. "They told me it all depends on how much pain I can take. I can deal with that."