Morning After Thoughts *Doink edition*

One of the best plays we saw all season. That kid can play.

 

I wish i felt like varder but i don't. Prob not helped by the fact that last night totally did me in and work has just been a superc_nt today.

But its not just that. If i truly believed in this org like a Saints or Pats fan might then this would be easier to shake off. But this team doesn't string playoff seasons together, or at least they haven't in a very long time. I was enjoying everything for what it was in the reg season, it was all bonus. But that changed after handling the Vikes again. I felt this team had a legit stellar chance to make the NFCCG. There's a saying about expectations and disappointment....

Also as others have said, a lot of stars aligned this season. There won't be the weak schedule next season, prob wont be the good luck with health. They do have one of the youngest rosters in the league and thats a great foundation. Then again they also have no CAP space and almost no draft picks to get better. Its all very uncertain and i just can't shake the feeling they needed to make this count now.

 

They have a lot of decisions to make.

Sims has to be cut. That's 6 million. They also have the option of cutting Kyle Long to save 5.5 million....I'm not a fan of that....but it's an option.

Amos is due to be paid...but the Bears or someone else. Massie needs to be replaced. Callahan is gonna be in a different uniform I would assume.

 

Oh God. Looks like Burton is a major head case.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/trey-burton-doesnt-blame-anxiety-for-missing-playoff-game/

 

That's great....we paid this guy to be a #1 tight end and he locks up mentally due to anxiety.

 

I hope they don't do this. I know strictly speaking there is prob a case for it, particularly if it means you can pay a younger, less injury prone player like an Amos or Callahan. But ive always been a big Kyle Long fan. Love players like him.

 

I want him and Parkey both on the chopping block.

 

Burton's dead money for next season is like 3.7 million higher than his actual cap number.

 

In no way do I diminish people who have mental illness or mental issues, it runs in my family and I'm very sympathetic to it. But if this is his situation then maybe he shouldn't be playing football.

 

I don't disagree.

 

I think that’s probably the difference dude. I too started buying in after the handling of the Vikes, but I believed we had a chance to be in every game, not that we would go all the way.

I knew, KNEW Parkey would cost us a game. Is it worse that it’s the first one, rather than the Rams next week or the Saints thereafter? The result is the same. I think that’s why I’m dealing better, expectations.

For the record, still better to lose to the Eagles than let the Vikings limp in. It wasn’t meant to be and at the least we got to punch a division rival in the mouth.

 

Or, we could have punched them in the mouth twice. I'm not saying, I'm just saying... We beat that team. Don't tackle them, let them walk in for a couple scores in the last minutes. Talk your s***. Let them know that you've beaten them once, and you're going to beat them again. Does it sound silly and unrealistic in the context of a competitive football game? Absolutely. Does it make a lot of sense in the context of setting yourself up for a win in a playoff game, rather than the playing against the red hot reigning super bowl winners? Also yes.

 

No. I don't agree with this mindset at all. We did the right thing by kicking the Vikings ass. If we can't beat a 9-7 Eagles team (defending champs notwithstanding), we don't deserve to advance in the playoffs. And yes, the Eagles are better than us. Had this game been in Philly I don't think it would have been close.

 

I agree with the sentiment that it feels like someone died. Such a weird feeling all day today.

I also just can’t get on board with the “exceeded expectations” or “we’ll be back next year” Lines ofnthoufht

This fucking sucks. We didn’t exceed expectations get the fuck out of here with that. I said the moment we traded for Mack that that meant pace thought they were ready to win RIGHT NOW. and it turns out he was right. That was a super bowl caliber defense. That was an offense with big playmakers a solid o line and a qb who could make stuff happen. We were good enough to win the Super Bowl and we lost on the wildcard round.

Just look at what happened to the Vikings and jags. Super bowl caliber defenses last year both teams thought they were geared up to win this year and look what happened.

We basically aren’t gonna have any big acquisitions this offseason with tight cap and no picks till round 3. Fangio might be gone. We sure as hell aren’t gonna be as healthy as we were this year. This was the year and pace fucked it up by not replacing parkey. I’m not saying Ive given up on next season, we should be good again on paper. But who the fuck knows

I haven’t felt this way after a loss in such a long time. This feels somehow worse than when we lost to the Rodgers In the nfccg.

Ugh.

 

That's a thing of beauty Bww ...

 

That is as good a pass as an NFL QB can make.

Trubisky didn't have a great year. But when you consider how inexperienced he was coming in to this season...the limited snaps he played in college and then his games last season...mixed with the fact he was running a brand new offense with new coaches and a lot of new team mates....I walk away from his total body of work this season impressed and excited for the future.

And yeah he was errant going down the field quite a bit this season. There's no doubt about that. But he also made quite a few throws all season like the one you see above.

He needs to grow. He needs to be more than just a 1 read QB. And I don't doubt he can. I don't doubt he is surrounded by the right coaching staff. For all his fault's in gameplanning or playcalling this season I think Nagy may be the right guy at the right time for Trubisky. But the arm is good and the arm can be lethal. We know what he can do with his feet. And he...all things considered....does a better than average job protecting the football.

Just trying to find some positives in the wake of a severe gut punch. And Trubisky is definitely a positive.

 

I think so too. At the beginning of the season there was a lot of wailing and moaning about his 'deer in the headlights' look and other things that I think comes down to experience. Everyone was pretty on board when Mitch started to really throw and to execute better. But still I think everyone knows that this team is growing. You cannot come off so many poor years to an instant fantastic year. Everything of value takes time. That includes Mitch.

 

^^^This is where I'm at with him^^^. I am in no way saying he is or isn't the guy for the future, but he has come a long way this season and given his limited reps in both school and professional career I can give him somewhat of a longer leash. Has he developed as fast as I would like him to? No, but he has shown progress in that development and while his progress hasn't always been as consistent or as fast as I would of liked it is still there. I can be patient and live with it a while longer.
I still believe he left some plays out on that field this last game. I also still think he is overthinking some throws and not reacting and throwing guys open not because he can't but often won't. Once he gains that instinct, if he gains that instinct, he will be dangerous in any situation.

 

Not kidding. I had no idea Burton was not playing until I got to SF and heard something while in the pisser.

Then Tuna showed up and told me he got hurt sleeping.

My son saw this article (or something similar) today and called me at work. His exact words: "Fucking millennials".

It feels good to know I raised my kid right.