Morning After Thoughts *Week 4 Holy Crap Edition*

That game where they hung a 50 burger on the Titans about 5years ago, that was a lot of fun. But this was even better than that. This was one of those games that I soak right up, enjoy to the max and log in the memory banks. Because with this team, unfortunately, they tend to be few and far between. Its games like yesterday that get a fan thru the tough times.

- Watching Trubisky ball out was just a pure joy. Cutler did actually have a few moments in his time(100+ games he damn well should have), but I can't remember enjoying it this much. I must confess, while i'll always be critical when its due, im pulling hard for Trubisky to make it. By all accounts he's a very down to earth guy and great team mate. He's working his ass off trying to get better and holds himself to a high standard. Those are players I like to see succeed.

The thing that impressed me most about Trubs was how many of his intermediate throws were touch passes. He hardly drove the ball once. The touch he displayed on those plays was superb. Some passes were virtual layups maybe, but it took special arm talent to make some of those throws. Trubisky does have real arm talent.

But one note of caution, this was prob as close to a perfect setup from an opponent as your gonna see. And im not just talking about the woeful pass coverage. As great as the OL did(more later), was it me or did the Bucs hardly ever bring pressure? Its great that Trubisky did so well, but he's gonna face waaaaay more pressure than he faced on sunday. His numbers against the blitz are far worse, there's plenty still to work on.

But still, just an amazing day for watching a Bears QB play.


- Nagy deserves a ton of credit for sunday. I know some didn't like the 2 QB at the goalline play, im trying to take it as it is. This is what we're gonna get from Nagy. But he did exactly what he needed to sunday, which was ditch kid gloves approach and send Trubisky out there to run his Offense, the real Offense. When you let go of the seat, you never really know that the kid learning to ride the bike isn't gonna veer straight off into a hedge somewhere, but you have to let go and put it in their hands. This was the most favourable matchup to do that on the entire schedule. Week4 was early, but it was the right time.

Also, just to touch on something bww said in the game thread, this team is pretty damned disciplined. They are smart too. That comes from the HC. Hicks was undisciplined of course, but did you notice he had a face like a smacked arse the moment he sat on the bench. He knew he'd f_ucked up. Marcus Cooper didn't know he'd f'd up against Pit cos everyone was too busy high 5'ing him and none of his coaches pulled him up. This team, with many of the same players, was a joke under Fox. You've gotta hand it to Nagy and his staff for the way they've turned that around.


- The OL was outstanding yesterday. The deep passes, the wheel routes, the out & ups, these are plays that take time to develop. Yes Trubisky made great throws, but he did it cos he was given all day back there. Our OL was up against a good 4 man DL.... and they kicked their asses.


- I was concerned pretty much right from the start about how Howard was gonna fare in this Offense. 4games in, it doesn't look good. He wasn't seeing the field enough weeks 1-3 cos Nagy was overegging his dink and dunk shit. He didn't see the field enough yesterday cos Cohen basically took his job.

It doesn't look promising right now for Howard, but I have to believe Nagy doesn't think the way forward from now on is to send Cohen on the between the Tackles runs all the time. Surely he sees that'll kill him over the course of a season. There needs to be a role for Howard, but im not sure how significant its gonna be. He looks low on confidence too. Howard will never be a sparky runner, but by his own standards he doesn't look that sharp.


- How sad is it that all we can get excited about from the #7 overall pick is that he put in a couple of big blocks? Well, enjoy those blocks, cos you wont be seeing them from him next season.


- You guys have covered Floyd so won't say much, but he's been a real disappointment so far. The biggest disappointment on the Defense by a mile. Biggest on the team actually imo. At least with Howard we know most of it is lack of opportunity. Floyd sure can't say that. He's logging lots of playing time and is in a great situation.


- When I saw Kevin Toliver jawing at Mike Evans early on, all I could think was the guy has a death wish. Think he did lose DJax for one big completion later on but overall that went far better than I expected. Pass rush was a major help of course, but still, he was much more solid than in Arizona. Or preseason. Or any other time ive seen him since April.

The kid might just become good enough to back up that big mouth of his. One day.

I remember in the offseason it was his contract that prob raised our eyes the most. Gotta say, its not looking nearly as crazy now.

Yep, exactly.

Acho was always a high effort guy, and wasn't he the one getting nominated for those high character awards year after year? Good guy for the locker/ST, but always limited. The talent level in that LB room has just passed him way by.

 

I really enjoyed reading that Ev.

 

Whichever dumbfuck troll that kept comparing Mitch to Mirer...



Go ahead, look it up, show me where Mirer ever had a game like that.

Don’t worry, I won’t hold my breath.

 

I too noticed being at the game the cavalcade of wide open receivers, it was like a buffet to choose from so I ask what had changed? Then I ask How much different does a defense approach defending against a Cohen type RB as compared to Howard type RB? I suspect the LB's mostly play tighter to the box to keep him from gaining space and leave the WR's mostly in man coverage. While I questioned where Howard was during the game I couldn't deny the results without him. I'm an idiot when it comes to this shit so what are your thoughts?

I appreciate the effort, I really do, but we already have one Dion Sims on the roster do we really need two?

It's only one game and while Nagy said in his presser you can't get too high or too low after games, and that's good to keep them focused and moving forward. I actually enjoy listening to him he seems open but not condescending. The fact that he said stressed the importance of defending the home field and Trubisky, and Cohen both expressed those same things tells me this team has bought into this staff. There will be plenty of bumps along the way with this QB no doubt like how well he responds to constant pressure, or coming from behind and those are two big hurdles, and it will take a quality defense to survive in the NFL week in and week out after hitting those bumps.
I agree with Mongo when he said a few weeks ago this feels like 1984 all over again, because I'm starting to feel it too.

 

That was firehalo I believe, but probably won't be in this week because the Rapist was beaten by a Wacko Flacco.

 

This one was the closest I could find.

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199511120jax.htm

Trubisky had the game of his life.

 

I'm really hoping yesterday was a matchup thing and Cohen gave us an advantage all day and Nagy recognized that. We will really need Howard running well as the season progresses, particularly when the weather gets bad. He's a patient, solid, durable runner that can eat up yards and clock and wear down a defense. This better not be lost on Nagy. A couple more run plays to Howard on our second to last drive of the Packers game could have put that game away. Seems like Nagy was the only one who didn't see that.

As far as Cohen, since he debuted last year I've worried about overusing him and exposing him to too many hits. He's definitely a tough SOB but size is not in his favor. If he's going to be getting this many touches on offense, it makes sense to take him off the punt return team as he's taken some big hits there. Plus we have Eddie Jackson who is a capable returner.

Maybe there will be games where Cohen will shine and others where it will be Howard. Or games where both star. But I really hope Nagy is not giving up on Howard nor thinking that Cohen is an every down back going forward.

 

Just announced last night that Hicks wont be suspended against Miami.

 

Do you think that perhaps Cohen's ability to run routes given how much he lined up other than in the backfield. While Howard might be a better RB, Cohen gives them another dimension.

 

For sure. I just mean to point out I don't think he's an every down back nor do I want to overuse him and risk injury.

Also since the beginning of last season I've often wondered why the hell we don't put both of them in the backfield at the same time, one on either side of the QB. I can imagine that being tough for defenses to gauge, and given Nagy's penchant for trickery, you would think we might have seen it by now. I guess he feels more comfortable with 2 QBs in the backfield than 2 standout RBs. Go figure.

 

Absolutely. Then put one or both in motion and watch the defense not know whether to shit or go blind.

 

We did see this a little bit in the first game, but it's tapered off more from there. I know some of us, myself absolutely included, were calling for him to simplify things for Trubisky, to let the kid execute more and have to think about less (more traditional, less trickery kind of stuff). Maybe, if Trubisky is getting more of a handle on things, we'll start to see more of it. I think having two of your best weapons on the field at a time, especially when they present both a running and passing threat, is a great thing. I'm sure we'll see it more once Trubisky is more in command of the offense...

 

LMAO It sure beats sitting at home watching the Bears the last bunch of years, and getting blind drunk and shitting ourselves.

 

I never shit myself

Broke a lot of shit though

Threw my tv remote through a window last night watching the Cubs....

 

Then you weren't trying hard enough

 

Hicks not getting a suspension.

https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...y-buccaneers-official-miami-dolphins-nfl-2018