Bears Studs n Duds

[rmontro]

MLF does deserve credit for the relatively seamless transition from Rodgers to Love. I didn't think that was possible. But Love has improved each year as a starter.

But the Packers haven't.

 

[rmontro]

Easier said than done of course, the Bears are legit. But Johnson has given the Packers a lifetime's worth of bulletin-board material. There will be no exuses for anything but an all out effort going forward to pummel Da Bearz.

They had a chance to act on "bulletin board material" in the wild card round.

 

[OldSchool101]

I actually thought that was a strength of the team, that Rodgers knew what would and wouldn't work and would change the play immediately if the defense called for it.

I hate to say this, since right now it's looking like GB is probably going to keep LaFleur, but maybe Rodgers made MLF look good for those three 13 win seasons. When Rodgers left, it seemed like a good thing that LaFleur was going to get to run the offense the way he wanted to, but maybe it hasn't been.

You brought up a good point that the overall strength was O to begin with.

That reminded me of the 2014 season. Leading up to it we had several successful seasons but mostly Defenses letting us down. I recall in the 2014 lead up saying that based on some rough calculations, we needed a top 12 scoring Defense to turn the tide. We started slow and made the debatable CM3 change mid season around the Bye week. Regardless of any argument statistical “rushing” argument against that move, it was brilliant by Dom.

When you have an explosive and balanced passing and rushing Offense, it’s really hard for an opponent to keep up. We know the general idea is to control the clock and run the ball to keep the possession count down. Maybe hope to get a turnover. THAT is what caused the lopsided rushing yards increase by that Defense. but it didn’work and it’s a failed argument. GB scored 33pts per game down the stretch. Our opponent scored 21pts per game. Doesn’t sound like a winning strategy to me to run the Ball towards CM3 no matter how it’s spun. 7-1 is the result and that’s not something to argue against. GB went from a #21 scoring Defense and finished at #13 scoring. The Scoring argument will always trump a yards argument.
We finished at #13 scoring Defense and we lost in OT in playoffs. Our D was just a smidge too loose.

 

[OldSchool101]

I never thought I would dislike a North team as much as I have disliked the Vi-queens. But Ben Johnson and the Bears took the crown this year. Johnson made it personal. But he clearly outcoached MLF Saturday night. I look forward to the Packers sticking it to Johnson next season, and beyond.

Easier said than done of course, the Bears are legit. But Johnson has given the Packers a lifetime's worth of bulletin-board material. There will be no exuses for anything but an all out effort going forward to pummel Da Bearz.

Yes. The argument we often use against ourselves to set our standard is the same I’d argue to other teams.
The reason it’s hard to repeat is opponents adapt and they get more and more film. A great DC studies tendencies. Both on film and live. Both individual player tendencies and global team tendencies. What worked last week often becomes kryptonite. We use the term stale. Coaches get stale when they underestimate the opponent and assume last years game plan should be duplicated. Some coaches are wise and have a game plan, other coaches are superior and have contingency game plans and they roster the players accordingly and can switch from one possession to another.

 

[rmontro]

We finished at #13 scoring Defense and we lost in OT in playoffs. Our D was just a smidge too loose.

Agree with the main point of your post, but that was the year of the Seahawks debacle in the NFCCG. Can't blame that loss solely on the defense, everybody had a hand in it (except Crosby).

 

[Pugger]

Agree with the main point of your post, but that was the year of the Seahawks debacle in the NFCCG. Can't blame that loss solely on the defense, everybody had a hand in it (except Crosby).

I believe everyone had a hand in the WC loss in Chicago. Love played well but had some brain farts too.

 

[OldSchool101]

Agree with the main point of your post, but that was the year of the Seahawks debacle in the NFCCG. Can't blame that loss solely on the defense, everybody had a hand in it (except Crosby).

Sure. Yet if we recall, once again we started strong at 16-0 Halftime
Then our Defense came unraveled. Allowing 22pts in Q3-4 (regulation) Plus another 6pts in OT. Kinda hard to deny the D didn’t dramatically falter. Should’ve really never come down to a 22-22 tie on an Onside Kick to begin with imo.
We allowed 242 yards and 22 points across 2Qtrs. I’m not even counting Seattle’s 87 yard TD drive in the first 3 minutes of OT. Very equivalent to the last pair of Bears meltdowns.

 

[Half Empty]

Yes. It took YEARS before we recovered from that mess.

If you don't count the sort-of-OK years at the end of the stretch, you're really talking more about decades than years.

 

[Thirteen Below]

It really was a desperation trade, and a bad one at that. If I remember, Hadl was in his early 30s, so his best days were behind him. That's what made that period between Lombardi and Holmgren so painful. That trade alone probably set the team back 3 to 4 years.

I completely agree. It ranks right up there with the Herschel Walker trade - we gave them our 1st three picks in 75, and our first two picks in 76. One of the stupidest trades in NFL history. Even Hadl was shocked - he said, "I really couldn't believe it... I never thought anyone could be that desperate." The Rams finished 1st in their division for the next 4 years and went to a Super Bowl in 1981 with those picks.

What a lot of people don't realize is that we had originally agreed to trade with the Saints for Archie Manning, but it fell apart literally moments before the trade was finalized. Director of scouting Bill Tobin flew to New Orleans on October 19th, and attended the Saints game on the 20th. The plan was that Tobin would sign the paperwork immediately after the game.

The Saints started their backup quarterback (Bobby Scott) that day, so that Manning wasn't in danger of being injured, but Scott suffered a knee injury. It wasn't until after the game was over that the Saints realized Scott would miss at least a month. Tobin was waiting outside the Saints' locker room after the game to sign the paperwork, when the chief scout for New Orleans came out and told him, "Bill, I'm sorry, but we can't go through with the agreement. We just lost our quarterback."

Tobin obviously was shocked, but what could he do? He flew back to Green Bay and met with Devine, who was in a panic. He got on the phone calling around for another trade partner, and the Rams understood how desperate he was, so the next day they bent him over for the 5 high draft picks. All for a 34 year old quarterback who (just a few days earlier) had been benched for going 6/16 for 59 yards and 3 interceptions - in a game against the Packers.

 

[rmontro]

I believe everyone had a hand in the WC loss in Chicago. Love played well but had some brain farts too.

Totally agree. There have been a few "Seattle-like" chokes this year. These losses were once incredibly outrageous and painful, but it seems like this year they've become the norm. Not good.

Sure. Yet if we recall, once again we started strong at 16-0 Halftime
Then our Defense came unraveled. Allowing 22pts in Q3-4 (regulation) Plus another 6pts in OT. Kinda hard to deny the D didn’t dramatically falter. Should’ve really never come down to a 22-22 tie on an Onside Kick to begin with imo.
We allowed 242 yards and 22 points across 2Qtrs. I’m not even counting Seattle’s 87 yard TD drive in the first 3 minutes of OT. Very equivalent to the last pair of Bears meltdowns.

Totally agree the defense had their hand in it along with everyone else (except Crosby). Part of that was the offense going conservative (the playing not to lose again), the poor red zone performance, and that decision to punt on 4th down which netted them 17 yards or whatever it was.

 

[milani]

It really was a desperation trade, and a bad one at that. If I remember, Hadl was in his early 30s, so his best days were behind him. That's what made that period between Lombardi and Holmgren so painful. That trade alone probably set the team back 3 to 4 years.

It made Bart Starr's team weaker for longer.

 

[Packers4ever]

Interesting thought experiment OS.

I'm with Packers4ever on this. Johnson just out-coached MLF, and it wasn't even close. The mistakes MLF made in the 2H were similar to the Denver game, going for a kill shot in the 2H, and being unable to adjust when that fails. MLF couldn't adjust to the Bears' 2H blitzing, even though it was obvious they were gonna do it.

I'm firmly on the fence as to MLF's future. The players love him, and firing him means everyone has to pick up a new game plan and a new style. Neither option makes me optimistic for the team's future - and that's a shame because when healthy, they have enough talent to go after a SB. And those windows close fast. And I'm not getting any younger.

And none of the retreads on the market, Harbaugh, Stenafski, others are very exciting. I'd rather see an up-and-coming talent, kinda like MLF when he was hired.

Agree 100% Im not getting any younger either, the MLF we got now is nothing to the MLF we got at the beginning , also i agree about the up and coming talent
Of course most players like MLF , he is a nice guy he does not put pressure on them to give 100% , that is why they like him

 

[pacmaniac]

Fun Fact: The Packers are now 2-5 in their last 7 playoff games in which they have won the turnover battle.

Teams win the majority of their games in which they've won the turnover battle, but this is yet another stat where the Packers have turned it upside down.

 

[rmontro]

Teams win the majority of their games in which they've won the turnover battle, but this is yet another stat where the Packers have turned it upside down.

It's like the Packers live in bizarro world.

 

[milani]

Totally agree. There have been a few "Seattle-like" chokes this year. These losses were once incredibly outrageous and painful, but it seems like this year they've become the norm. Not good.




Totally agree the defense had their hand in it along with everyone else (except Crosby). Part of that was the offense going conservative (the playing not to lose again), the poor red zone performance, and that decision to punt on 4th down which netted them 17 yards or whatever it was.

 

[milani]

Horrific day in history.

 

[Thirteen Below]

Horrific day in history.

???

Any particular one? I can think of several in recent memory...

 

[DoURant]

At least the Bears luck finally ran out... Go Rams!!!

 

[milani]

???

Any particular one? I can think of several in recent memory...

Right. Too many. SB XXXII. 1998 Owens caught it. 2003 4th and 26. 2007 Frozen FG. 2011 No defense. 2012 Fail Mary. 2013 Another frozen FG. 2014 Flub the onside. 2019. 2020. 2021. Etc. Etc. Etc.

 

[scooter_1954]

At least the Bears luck finally ran out... Go Rams!!!

Indeed! I'm a Packer thru and thru, but ya gotta admire Stafford.

 

[scooter_1954]

I completely agree. It ranks right up there with the Herschel Walker trade - we gave them our 1st three picks in 75, and our first two picks in 76. One of the stupidest trades in NFL history. Even Hadl was shocked - he said, "I really couldn't believe it... I never thought anyone could be that desperate." The Rams finished 1st in their division for the next 4 years and went to a Super Bowl in 1981 with those picks.

What a lot of people don't realize is that we had originally agreed to trade with the Saints for Archie Manning, but it fell apart literally moments before the trade was finalized. Director of scouting Bill Tobin flew to New Orleans on October 19th, and attended the Saints game on the 20th. The plan was that Tobin would sign the paperwork immediately after the game.

The Saints started their backup quarterback (Bobby Scott) that day, so that Manning wasn't in danger of being injured, but Scott suffered a knee injury. It wasn't until after the game was over that the Saints realized Scott would miss at least a month. Tobin was waiting outside the Saints' locker room after the game to sign the paperwork, when the chief scout for New Orleans came out and told him, "Bill, I'm sorry, but we can't go through with the agreement. We just lost our quarterback."

Tobin obviously was shocked, but what could he do? He flew back to Green Bay and met with Devine, who was in a panic. He got on the phone calling around for another trade partner, and the Rams understood how desperate he was, so the next day they bent him over for the 5 high draft picks. All for a 34 year old quarterback who (just a few days earlier) had been benched for going 6/16 for 59 yards and 3 interceptions - in a game against the Packers.

Indirectly related, speaking of draft picks, in 1989, we used the number 2 pick to select Tony Mandarich. He eventually became a serviceable lineman, but never panned out for us. Anyone remember who was picked number 3 in that draft?

 

[longtimefan]

Williams stud

Williams dud

 

[scooter_1954]

Williams stud

Williams dud

Yep, he coughed up a big hairball in OT!

 

[milani]

Indirectly related, speaking of draft picks, in 1989, we used the number 2 pick to select Tony Mandarich. He eventually became a serviceable lineman, but never panned out for us. Anyone remember who was picked number 3 in that draft?

Barry Sanders. We blew it. Aikman, Deion. But we get got Tony

 

[rmontro]

At least the Bears luck finally ran out... Go Rams!!!

That pass to tie the game in the fourth quarter was insane though.