Bears/Cardinals Preseason Game 2

I was actually at the game here in Arizona last night, it was one of the more entertaining preseason games I have watched in a long time. Here are a few things I saw which goes along with some of the others have said here:

- Mike Giraffe stinks, the fact that they have to coddle him along and give him easy, quick throws is just a joke. The reason you pay the turd $15 million is so that he can step in and play without a learning curve you get with a rookie. Instead, you have to give him safe throws to build his confidence. He is a worthless piece of shit.

- While I understand giving the Giraffe snaps, I have no idea at this point why Sanchez is taking snaps from Trubisky. Sanchez is nothing more than a backup so his development is irrelevant. I don't give a shit if he doesnt get to play in preseason he shouldn't take away one freaking snap from Trubisky.

- I'm trying to figure out Fox's angle in burying Trubisky on the depth chart. He has shown enough in both games where he should be given more of a chance but Fox seems to be fighting that. I'm not saying he has to start but you would be foolish not to give him some time with the 1's in the next game to see what he can do. The Eagles and Cowboys had a "plan" for Wentz and Prescott last season too but both them proved worthy to play and rewarded their teams for doing so.

- The defense that Fangio has completely rebuilt and developed from a 4-3 to a 3-4 is starting to show signs of being very good. The defense looked very good at times last night and look ready to compete. Regardless of what happens to Fox, I really hope Fangio stays.

- Jonathan Bullard was a force to be reckon with last night and was in game 1 as well. Glad to see his development, heard he got hurt and hope its not serious because he looks to be finally hitting his stride.

- I'm not sure what the Colts were thinking when they let Jerrell Freeman go from a team that lacked defensive playmakers but I'm sure glad they did. I love this guy at MLB he is a great tackler and always around the ball.

- Cohen is exciting. He was the lone bright spot in the 1st string offense. Arians was ripping his defense locally here for poor tackling but Cohen was a big reason for that. Tough as nails and fast as f*ck. HIm and Howard are going to be a great duo.

- I really like Eddie Jackson. He made a few rookie mistakes but I think after 15 years straight of drafting a Safety, the blind squirrel that has been the Bears GM's have finally found a nut.

- Bears fans are great. The stadium was easily more than half full of Bears fans, they were out in force last night and was great to see. If only the team would give us a team worthy of our loyalty.

 

Whitehair had one play he wanted back on an outside zone run to Ka’Deem Carey when the offense was backed up deep in its own end. Other than that, he felt as if things went pretty well. The move was presented to Whitehair on Wednesday when offensive line coach Jeremiah Washburn asked him if he would move. The motive?


“I have no idea,” Whitehair said. “I couldn’t tell you. They just came to me and asked me if I would do the move and I was happy to do it.


“It was fine. There was one play I wish I would have had back, down there backed up (near the goalline). Just kind of got beat off the ball a little bit one of our outside zones to the right there. I’ve got to clean that up but overall I thought it was a productive game. I don’t see it being any issue.”

Fox has been so clear about the plan that Whitehair didn't know until Wednesday that he would be starting at LG.

And I am the one who claims to know everything. How about you argue the football point. What did you think of the line with Grasu at C and Whitehair at LG?

 

Whitehair had one play he wanted back on an outside zone run to Ka’Deem Carey when the offense was backed up deep in its own end. Other than that, he felt as if things went pretty well. The move was presented to Whitehair on Wednesday when offensive line coach Jeremiah Washburn asked him if he would move. The motive?


“I have no idea,” Whitehair said. “I couldn’t tell you. They just came to me and asked me if I would do the move and I was happy to do it.


“It was fine. There was one play I wish I would have had back, down there backed up (near the goalline). Just kind of got beat off the ball a little bit one of our outside zones to the right there. I’ve got to clean that up but overall I thought it was a productive game. I don’t see it being any issue.”

Fox has been so clear about the plan that Whitehair didn't know until Wednesday that he would be starting at LG.

And I am the one who claims to know everything. How about you argue the football point. What did you think of the line with Grasu at C and Whitehair at LG?

 

There's no reason to argue any football point with you because you'll just argue to argue despite what the subject is.

The rest of us here....have known that Whitehair is option #1 at center and option #2 at guard in case Sitton or Long can't go. It's more than somewhat obvious the right thing to do.

 

Sorry but Sitton started against Denver. Only Long was out.

Get your shit straight man.

 

Great write up Aggie. Agree with every point you made. I would also add that the starting receivers were unimpressive on game film. Watching back, we had guys getting open. A lot.

But because our QB can't make an accurate pass beyond 3 yards and the primary was never the medium routes, they were never targeted.

So, while yesterday I was kinda pissed about starting WR's not showing up again, I now tend to think it has more to do with the guy throwing the ball than them.

 

Ev, you're missing the point.

I have zero issues with letting Trubisky air it out - pre-season or otherwise.

The point is that it's a meaningless game - why not let both air it out????

And why waste the 4th Q trying to run out the clock to preserve a win in fucking pre-season? No one with a brain cares about the final score of a pre-season game. People with brains care how the players played.

And why put Trubisky in with the 3rd string Oline? And who in the living fuck is Rounds?

There was a reason they did this.

And the reason is crystal clear. He (Fox/Pace) was manipulating the playcalling and personnel in an attempt to make the statistics prettier for one player and shittier for another. In other words, they are trying to jedi mind fuck the fans (us) to believe there shouldn't be a QB controversy.


I'm not sure if you got to watch the game. But I'd ask you to do so if possible.


But also read this article.

https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...rs-sandbag-mitchell-trubisky-glennon-fox-pace

 

I think you answered your own question here.

They ran the ball behind the 3rd string Oline to limit hits on the QB. Nobody was complaining when Trubisky was playing behind the same Oline and with the same RB last week. If Trubisky would have connected on a bomb instead of getting rolled up on nobody would be mentioning him being in the game that late behind that Oline.

It is Fox's job to stick to the plan despite public opinion. Once they make the switch there is no going back so they better be dam sure its the right move.

 

The point is they coddled Glennon in an effort to make him look better.......quick, easy passes....rather than letting him throw the ball down the field.

It is Fox's job to put the team in the best possible position to win a football game. While two preseason games can't possibly tell the whole story......does in anyone in their right mind believe the best QB on the Bears roster is currently sitting number 1 on the depth chart?

 

The point is that it's a meaningless game - why not let both air it out????

My opinion on this is they are trying to prepare Glennon for the regular season. A crucial part of any QB's game is psyche and confidence levels. Its very obvious that Glennon is playing with very little confidence right now. He is actually better than this. Just a guess, but maybe the Bears aren't taking a short-term, preseason game-by-preseason game approach to this, maybe they're looking at preseason as a whole and trying to prep Glennon over multiple games.

Having Glennon throw bad passes 40-50 yards is pointless. If they're trying to prep Glennon for week 1 for his AND Trubisky's sake.... then im on board with that.

And why waste the 4th Q trying to run out the clock to preserve a win in fucking pre-season? No one with a brain cares about the final score of a pre-season game. People with brains care how the players played.

I totally agree with this. Fox would prob point to a win is a win/build confidence & momentum etc. But im with you on that, trying to run th eclock for a meaningless preseason win was dumb.

And why put Trubisky in with the 3rd string Oline? And who in the living fuck is Rounds?

I was critical of this too, but talked more about how late in the game it was. Prob could've put it better.

And the reason is crystal clear. He (Fox/Pace) was manipulating the playcalling and personnel in an attempt to make the statistics prettier for one player and shittier for another. In other words, they are trying to jedi mind fuck the fans (us) to believe there shouldn't be a QB controversy.

Here we part ways considerably. Im just not having that statement at all personally. This statement relies solely on the premise that management gives two sh_ts what we the fans think.

If there's one thing we know, its that this regime does not give a flying F_CK what the fans think. Or the media too for that matter. This is the regime that:

- Trotted out dogsh_t for two years all the while bullsh_tting about "winning now", only to finally start owning up to an actual rebuild and in the process effectively flush this season.

- Talked about the importance of the QB position virtually day 1 then did nothing for two years!!! Even worse actually, they inlflicted Jay f_cking Cutler on us another two years needlessly!

- Went into FA this year with holes everywhere, a sh_t ton of cap space and success starved fanbase. And who were the two big signings? MIKE GLENNON AND DION SIMMS!!!

-Worst secondary in the league and they give us Prince, a 32year old journeyman S and a 5th round pick.

-AND jack up season ticket prices.

- You know what, i could list another 10 things but can't be arsed, we all know how this team has been run. The point is at no stage in this last 2+years has the regime shown the slightest inkling that they could give the tiniest fleck of sh_t what anyone outside the team thinks about how they're running things. They don't have to, cos ownership is on their side.

The idea that they're manipulating entire gameplans, personnel and playcalling so as to avoid a tiny QB controversy involving one guy who almost certainly isn't here a year from now....... im sorry i can't buy that.

 

If they're trying to prep Glennon for week 1

If you need to prep him with baby throws in preseason....you shouldn't have paid the money you did for the guy.

 

Yeah. Sickening to think they could've prob resigned/extended Hoyer instead and had an extra 13-14mil left over. But to SM's point, you have to wonder if they're so worried about a QB controversy why they would make their top draft pick and top FA both QB's in the first place?

Either way just amazes me that Pace ever thought Glennon was worth that kinda money.

 

Unless it is to protect the one guy that will be. We don't really know how far along Tribisky is in recognizing defenses and blitzes because he didn't seem to respond to the blitzes well. All Neck no doubt shit the bed so far this preseason, he is even worse than I expected and believe me that wasn't much. I can understand his (All Neck) confidence is shaken while mine is out the fucking window, but those baby steps to regain his confidence is getting desperate and if he doesn't respond they won't have much choice but to bench his leaf grazing ass.
I wonder how they felt when a guy that probably won't be in the league this season rolled up on Tribisky's knee in the end zone.

 

Nothing here to disagree with. Except I'd say this ownership has allowed the regimes to trot out dogshit for a lot longer than 2 years.

 

Agree 100%.

I equate this move by the Bears with Glennon to when the Seahawks signed Matt Flynn to a big contract, got him into camp and realized he sucked. They then ended up starting Russell Wilson, the rookie. The difference is, the Seahawks didn't stick to the plan, they played the best player and were rewarded for it. Ran the ball, played defense and let Russell Wilson be a game manager doing enough to make some plays, even if it was with his feet.

"Get off my Lawn" Fox will not deviate from what he believes, come hell or high water, the veteran plays, even if he sucks.

 

Thats a good example aggie. The only real difference you could prob point to was that the relative investment in terms of the draft pick was lower for the Seahawks. That does mean the stakes/risk was lower in a way cos a 3rd round pick is nothing like dropping 4 drafts picks to select 2nd overall.

I would also suggest that management maybe wasn't under quite the same pressure? Pace has been given plenty of rope by the Bears, but Trubisky has to succeed. Glennon is looking like a terrible decision, so if he fails with Trubisky as welly as well, Pace is gone in all likelyhood. That might lead him to be more cautious with bringing Trubs along?

But im splitting hairs a little. It was a nice example.

 

BTW aggie i meant to pick up on this and forgot

- Bears fans are great. The stadium was easily more than half full of Bears fans, they were out in force last night and was great to see. If only the team would give us a team worthy of our loyalty.

Without question one of, if not the, best most loyal fanbase in the league. But too loyal? I've wondered that many times over the last few years. It places no pressure on ownership and allows them to totally take the fanbase for granted as they trot out dogsh_t teams and rake in tons in profits.

I mean who takes over more than half a stadium on a road game after arguably one of the worst 4 year periods in team history?

 

And when you look at the talent on our offense, you realize we're actually built exactly for this style of play. I applauded the Seahawks at the time for making the bold move and being willing to admit that Flynn didn't give them the best chance to win.

Pace/Fox are stubbornly trying to not look like fools for signing/crowning Glennon rather than actually trying to give us the best chance to win.

 

Here's what I don't get. While Fox can be an idiot, he has to know he's on the hot seat. Is he still buying into Trubisky not getting more 1st team reps because he's an idiot or because he knows he has another year?

He's been around this league for a long time. He can't be blind to the past couple of years. Wouldn't he be trying everything he could to save his job? Even if it's something small like giving Trubisky more 1st team reps in practice or next preseason game?

I'd find it hard to believe Fox would go down with the ship and get fired after this year, but not do it his way or give him a guy that makes his team, well--win.

Or maybe Pace has him by the balls......

 

It sickens me to even consider that, but you may be right Patg. No point in trying to win this season since next is guaranteed, better to be stubborn till the end with Glennon cuz you crowned him in March.