I had a friend whom is a Bears fan say that this defense is overrated and isn't what it's cracked up to be given it's inability to close out games. I didn't disagree entirely with his point because that has been the case at times this year because he is right. I said they closed out a Rams game whom has the best running back in the game and in spite of a dreadful performance by Trubisky on offense, the Rams only had 23 minutes of TOP. So I ask how important is it of the offense (by running Howard) to take care of the defense and maintain that TOP? He also said this Packers game means nothing and I said it means everything if you are trying to develop a culture of winning within the division. I'll be the first one to admit I'm not anywhere close to being the sharpest tool in the shed when it comes to these things but I know you guys are.
Bears lead the league in interceptions with 26 and have only been called for defensive holding once all season.
Yeah, I think this defense is doing incredible things. They've been inconsistent, and we've seen them fade in games that they should've put away. However, when it comes to serious matchups against top teams - I don't think they've shown any reason to doubt them. This defense isn't on par in all metrics with the greats of the last two decades, but damnit if they're not making plays like them. Think about it this way - it's not the offense, that's winning us games... This defense is something to behold, and really enjoy. On top of their play, they're just damn entertaining and fun. Definitely something we'll remember for years to come.
They get to the QB....they tackle well...they cover really well...they take the ball away...they score when they take the ball away. And they're coached well. The defense is strong at every level and has depth up front where you really need it. They aren't at that world beating level of an 85 Bears team or 2000 Ravens....but they are really, really good. Definitely for real.
It helps that Leonard Floyd has played better over the last month. Bottom line is this defense is good enough to win a Super Bowl. It's on Nagy and Trubs not to screw it up.
To clarify this assumes we have a healthy Eddie Jackson for the playoffs and no other injuries. The 2006 Bears were never the same defense once Mike Brown and Tommie Harris went down. And offensively they weren't good enough to overcome the hit that the defense took.
Yes they are , the difference I see in the 06 def and this years is 06 really really relied on turnovers , this years does that and more with pressures , sacks and the turnovers of course . Oh to think how dominating they can or will be " if " they get the other end on D to really play at a high level . Agree E Jackson needs to be playing at 100% come playoff time for this to all come together .. as Blang mentioned when Brown and Harris went down the 06 D was never the same unfortunately.
To not be an ass and actually reply, is this defense for real? Without question. The Rams game alone should show that but this team excels at getting after the passer and stopping the run, which are the two most critical components. Fuller has really shown up this year which I really wasn’t expecting. I would ask another thought, is this defense elite? The only thing that gives me pause here is that there have been those late game breakdowns resulting in comebacks etc. But it’s hard to argue too much as they are top 5-10 in almost ever defensive statistical category I believe. Finally, I was thinking about some posters on here, myself I think included that we’re giving Fangio grief for a lack of turnovers. I think some apologies to Vic might be in order. Or maybe I should go full homer and instead say: No! They’re not for real!! Not even one shutout, and even the shitty Packers blanked a team this year!!!
That was my buddy's point to as I mentioned earlier, and that has been the case a few times this year and I agreed with him but I stressed to him how important winning that TOP battle with him. Nagy called Howard's number more the last two games and the Bears won the TOP in both those games, and the defense survived both those games. My point is the offense needs to take care of the defense by controlling the ball, those quick drives resulting in quick scores may help the scoreboard but perhaps not the defense. This offense isn't ready or more importantly Trubisky isn't ready to get into a shootout with a Saints or Chiefs offense. Run the ball and let them breathe. Yes I agree they are for real I just wanted to hear what you guys thought.
I agree with TOP, but look at the Giants game. Bears won TOP by 30 seconds and the defense still gave up the FG in overtime. NE? Lost TOP by 18 seconds. Miami is the only loss where you can make some kind of argument since the Bears lost TOP by 3 minutes and the conditions were horrible. I still think this defense is for real. It’s very very good. I’m not sure on elite. I do know they damn well aren’t overrated like your buddy said, what is he a packers fan?
TOP doesn’t only come from running the ball to control the clock. https://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/drivestatsoff2018 This is where I got the following stats. The Bears defense is for real. They rank 1st in yards per drive, points per drive, turnovers per drive, 3 and outs per drive and TOP per drive. The offense is not bad but not great. They rank 15th in yards per drive, 11th in points per drive, 24th in turnovers per drive, 9th in 3 and outs per drive and 14th in TOP per drive. The Bears are currently 4th in TOP but it’s not because they pound the ball with Howard to keep the ball away from the other team. They are playing complimentary football. The defense is getting off the field and the offense is doing enough when the defense gets them the ball back to keep them fresh. As for Trubisky not being ready to get into a shootout I am not sure I agree with that. There just haven’t been many opportunities where the Bears have needed to keep up with an opposing teams offense. The price you pay for a great defense. The closest game I can recall to that situation was the Dolphins and Patriots games. And although he wasn’t perfect Mitch showed he can rev up the offense when it’s needed. I guess we will see.
That was my point those big plays and those 4 or 5 play drives look good on the highlight reel but they don't help the defense. There is the experience factor and regardless of how well he seems to do, he just isn't there yet. I'm talking about "betting the house confidence" and I can tell you I'm not there yet. To me he's still a Mitch don't screw this up type QB rather than a Mitch let's get this QB.
Short answer: Yes. Long answer: still yes. ^ This Except my train of thought now comes to Vic Fangio. Bears have had a lot of primetime games, and his defense has been all of the above. Are we going to lose Fangio? Lots of coaching vacancies. Arizona expected to fire Wilkes after 1 year, NYJ, GBP, possibly Cleveland, possibly Baltimore, possibly Jacksonville (that team quit on Doug Marrone fast), Tampa, Possibly Ron Rivera, and maybe a few others. The trend is hire the smart offensive guy, because if you go with a defensive guy, who brings a smart OC, you'll lose the OC. See Adam Gase and John Fox. There aren't enough talented offensive minds available. The new Andy Reid OC who's name slips me, McDaniels--but teams will cross him off list after the BS he pulled with Indy last year. Mike McCarthy being another. Good news is, if Rivera is fired, Vic wont be the first defensive guy taken. But, there could be a lot of openings, and Vic wants to be a head coach. Who takes the defense if he leaves for continuity? Because the buck doesn't stop this year with this team.
Damn right vv. People on here blame Fangio for their socks being mismatched. I dunno if its that our fanbase has just been spoiled rotten by the exploits of Defenses past. Or if folk still think its the 80's/90's where D's give up 150pass yards a game, but sometimes it feels like all people do is complain about Fangio, with no grasp of how lucky this team is to have him. There's not a gamethread goes by without someone calling for a pick6. I mean really?? We're expecting pick6's now? Geez. As for the thread title. Tuna, i love ya man but this shouldn't even be a discussion. The least you can say about this D is they are top 2 or 3 in the league. Realistically if we don't accept that this D is legit then there aren't any legit Defenses in the league anymore. Relative to the 31 other D's in the league today there is just no question they are elite. In this day and age Defensive football really doesn't get any better than that Rams game. Do you think its even possible to have a Defense that dominant anymore tho, given how much the deck is stacked in favour of Offenses now?
That was a question I posed to you guys to see where you guys were with it because as you know the people in here seem to be hypercritical in terms of everything. I told my neighbor during the preseason that this defense would be a top 5, and he doubted me I mean steadfastly doubted me, but he has told me since he happens to like crow. I told my buddy at work they were, but I agreed with him that the inability to close out games is maddening, and because of that I'm with V2 that they just aren't elite just yet. If you want to lump them in with all the other defenses and call them elite I get it, but the bottom line with me is I want a defense I classify as elite to finish games on the scoreboard where it counts not just on the stat board. Hell I think this team because of a more balanced offense and gaining more experience in the system can be much better than that 85 team, will they be? who knows until I see more consistency from Trubisky and hopefully that will come with experience.
That's a really good question. I'd say that as long as you have the right mix of scheme and talent it's possible. Not easy though.
No. When healthy....that team in 2005 and 2006 up until Tommie Harris went down was better, IMO. DL - Harris, Ogunleye, Brown, Scott/Johnson LB - Briggs, Urlacher, Hillenmeyer Secondary - Vasher, Tillman, Harris/Manning, M Brown, I don't think the current group has yet eclipsed those guys. But....I think they're capable.
