Bears/Saints Things to Watch (Or don't watch)

ARob is in concussion protocol.

Bears will very likely lose this game.

That's all I've got.

 

Awesome. Who needs Mongo when we get insight and breakdowns like this?

My main thought on this game is we probably have to endure one more offensive humiliation before Nagy is forced to relinquish play calling duties for good, whether its by a mutiny of his coaching staff, the players losing him, Pace, or some combination of those things.

My bold prediction is that Nagy is not calling plays in Nashville a week from Sunday, with our record sitting at 5-3.

 

I was never great at breaking down x's and o's and matchups. Mongo, pat, and others are way better.

And it just seems fucking futile right now. We know where we will get beat...

Bears defense struggles to contain the run...especially on the edges.

Offensive line play is god awful and we will likely have a rookie starting at center.

Nagy calls plays like an 11 year old playing Madden, only worse.

Penalties.

Stupidity.

Topped off by another awful Nagy press conference.

 

I meant no disrespect. Glad we have a thread going.

Funny I was thinking about my Madden history a lot this week. My offensive routine: i-formation, pro set, single back 3 wide or 4 wide, minimal pre-snap motion. HB dive behind the fullback, toss sweep with pulling guards and fullback lead blocker, draw play up the middle with 4 WR set, The occasional curl or crossing route. No play action cuz my o-line (the Bears could never block for that long). As basic as all that is, my teenage self from the late 90s early 00s could call a better game than Nagy. Another thing I'm 100% certain of, I could clock manage way better than him.

The one thing I'd like to see, which I know we won't, is more no-huddle. Let Foles get into the flow of the game and just go. Fuck Nagy's sub packages and need to look over 500+ goddamn plays before suggesting a 3 yard pass to Harris. Hand the reins over to Foles, at least for a few drives.

 

I know you didn't.

I was at my best when Michael Vick was in his prime. Call any shotgun pass play and hit an edge on the QB rollout.

Never playaction...you were gonna get sacked before the fake.

Curls and slants all day if I was gonna throw.

Agree and when Foles goes no huddle don't interrupt him. Completely right on this.

 

If Madden ever brings back the ability to design your own plays....I will purchase it again.

I lost countless hours of my life to that.

 

For Madden 2003 or 04 my friends and I would do highly competitive Madden seasons against each other (money wagered, friendships ruined) and we had to stop allowing guys to play as the Falcons because of how insane Vick was in the game that year. But yes, I would play as him too and it was basically really fun cheating. You could rush for 200+ yards a game with him but when you did throw it was always pinpoint accuracy to any receiver on the field.

Same. At some point about a decade ago the controls got more complicated with passing and such and I gradually lost interest.

 

Yeah the game lost me a few years ago because they just don't put the effort in anymore.

I'm not a big basketball fan but I love playing NBA2K. That series is good and I feel they are still challenging themselves year after year.

 

When I went abroad after college I sold my Xbox 360 and haven't owned a gaming system since. So not too familiar with the games these days. I've flirted with getting one but then realized I'd waste even more time than I waste now. And I waste plenty. Maybe in retirement.

That's impressive to know an AARP member is still slaying on NBA2K. I can't keep up. Well done sir. But I'm guessing I could beat you in NBA Jam for SNES.

 

Bring it on junior.

 

My first console was a Magnavox Odyssey.

And have bought a ton since then. I’m a PS4, soon to be 5, these days.

 

When I was real young (late 80s) I could only play Reader Rabbit on my Apple 2e.

From there: Gameboy, SNES, Playstation, PS2, Xbox, Xbox 360. Most of my friends had N64 so that's where I honed the Super Smash Bros and Goldeneye skillset.

In terms of graphics and gaming experience, it seems like it can only get so good to a point where each new system only marginally increases the experience? I guess I don't game enough anymore to know.

 

Fucking essay writers.

Wow that is real optimism blang buddy!

I think we're still weeks away from this happening. For one thing the Vikes are on the horizon and they currently rank 3rd worst in PPG and 4th worst in Pass D. By the time we get there Nagy will be foaming at the mouth, no way he gives that one up. Packers after the bye? Not sure the optics of that would do him any favours. Honestly id be amazed if he did it while they were still in contention, your idea seems way more palatable so lets go with that.


Once again the Bears find themselves going up against a stout run D. The Bears running game has become so shitty that i don't see the point in being pissed off about Nagy not using it anymore.

The Bears have had pretty considerable luck this season with opponents missing key players when they've faced them. Injury report hasnt come out yet but that might actually continue here with Michael Thomas being out. Possibly Emmanuel Sanders too. Of course stopping Kamara, and to a lesser extent Murray, will be a big enough problem for sure. 26points is the most this D has given up so far this season. That record could be in jeopardy sunday.

Also whats with this bullshit of the Bears kicking off at 4.25EST for home games? Happened twice this season now. Not a fan.

 

Huh. I figured Madden '47 was more your heyday. Bet Luckman was a beast.

 

You don’t think defense when you think NO but they’re not too shabby this year so it’s not like the offense will be getting a break this week. Especially running the ball where currently the Saints rank 4th.

Against the pass the Saints are pedestrian ranking 17th. They’re average when it comes to sacking the QB. So maybe Foles and co. man up and do a little something impressive.

As for our defense if both Sanders and Thomas don’t play you would have to think that would be a big advantage. After getting destroyed in the run game maybe they show some self respect and show up mad.

I’m not convinced this is a loss only because the Saints just aren’t what they used to be. Let’s see if Nagy can rally the troops and show some heart after an embarrassing defeat.

 

Picking a play to run was simpler in those days. Tecmo Bowl style...2 runs and 2 passes.

Also...go fuck yourself.

 

Anyone want to take an avatar bet on this? There is zero chance Nagy gives up playcalling, honestly I think through the end of the season. This guys hubris knows no bounds.

This is pure poetry. And as a conversation starter, it's far better than the "should we go back to Trubisky" nonsense floating around. As though THAT solves our problems, fucking hell.

The Saints losses have come to the Bucs/Raiders/Packers, ALL of whom are good to great teams. I am befuddled how the line on the Rams game got to -6.5 for them, but the Saints are only -4. Drew Brees is still Drew Brees, and their Defense will likely look like world beaters against this offense.

Despite all of that:

I still see a loss, but I don't think it will be a blowout. Sean Payton is smart enough to give a heavy dose of Kamara (oof, and in the flat against Trevathan, yikes), but there is a chance the Bears can win this as one of their "we beat a team better than us" upsets - I still think we're due for another, even if we did get TB this year already.

Then again, I figured the Rams for a tight game too, and it was through a half. And then the doors fucking came off.

Found this interesting bit from Olin Kreutz: "Part of the Bears’ problems is when you watch their film is that Cody’s not doing a very good job recognizing these run blitzes coming at them…When you play a game wrecker, you just have to always account for where he is. You’re going to change protections a little bit. A lot of that comes down the center. Like, OK, if I’m supposed to slide away from Aaron Donald here but the linebacker doesn’t look like he’s coming that I’m sliding to, I’m just going to change the protection and make maybe a middle call and sit right here in the middle so I can take my help to Aaron Donald, especially if he’s matched up on Rashaad Coward."

 

Does Lamar Miller ever get activated? Do we ever activate anyone from the practice squad? Outside of LG and possibly TE, we are going to need to address every other position on offense in the offseason.

 

Well, I'm going to try and frame a steaming bowl full of horse manure that will be the bears on Sunday to be a bouquet of roses. Am I drunk at 10:50 AM while "working from home" while I type this? No. But I've been thinking about cracking one open since 6:15...

Drew Brees had regressed and cant throw 25+ yard dimes anymore, but he's still very good and the Saints offense are just doing big damage with RB/TE heavy plays (Hill, Trautman, and Jared Cook are balling). Yeah, New Orleans is decimated with injuries. Thomas and Sanders are banged up and may not go at WR. Former Bear preseason bum Bennie Fowler is getting snaps because they're that thin (but he's also banged up). TreQuan Smith and Marques Callaway aren't special, but both are 6'3 targets, Cook, Trautman, and Hill are all 6'5.

That means I don't want to see 5'10 Buster Skrine anywhere on my television trying to cover one of these guys. Then I remember that I'm not allowed to have nice things...

They are the #1 team in the league on 3rd down so I'm ready to cringe whether its 3rd and 2 or 3rd and 22. I struggle to think about watching this defense try and stop Alvin Kamara and Latavius Murray.

Even with the injuries and regressions, the Saints can still drop 30 a game.

Kevin Fishbain of the Athletic says Whitehair is likely out of this game, meaning Sam Mustipher is starting center. Well that's fun. Get Rashad Coward off my television. And Ifedi? Not that he's Aaron Donald level good--but Cam Jordan is one of the better interior beast DLinemen in the league. So nothing to feel fantastic about there.

Good chance of no Allen Robinson, which means more Patterson and Miller. Yay!

The one positive I have going for the bears? Its in Chicago, at Soldier Field. Per Weather.com, Sunday's high is supposed to be 37 degrees, low of 28 with wind gusts of 15-25 mph (please have Cairos Santos kicking at Soldier field all week for practice, its cold and windy all week). The Saints and cold weather don't always mix. Regardless, the defense is going to need to pitch a fantastic game, which is hard to keep asking them to do week after week.. If the bears have one chance, its slogging a low penalty, multiple turnover (that leads to points) ugly fucking game that ends 20-17.

But there's a great chance Saints win 35-6 because I dont know how the offense is going to move the ball. Cam Jordan, Demario Davis and half of their secondary are studs and Matt Nagy is the only guy who thinks Cordarrelle Patterson and Demetrius Harris are hidden gems. And he still calls plays.

Yeah. Buncha assholes

Wait...

 

The injury news is...pretty fucking dire. I have no faith in Nagy under the best of circumstances, to think he'll be able to make something out of now missing major pieces like our starting center and #1 WR?

Bold prediction: Foles gets injured in the 2nd quarter and we see the return of Trubsiky, who throws 3 4th Quarter TDs to rally the team back ala the Lions game. Nagy learns that all he needs to do is switch up QBs mid game every week. QB by committee!