Fire Ryan Poles | Fire Ben Johnson

I will admit that when the Titans scored to go up 17-0, I shut off the TV. I thought for sure it was over. As mentioned in the previous thread, I have been fighting a shitty cold the last week and have had a lot to do. I checked the score on my phone as the day went on and refused to watch as seeing the Bears score several times to eventually win.

From what I did see in the first half, it was vintage Chicago Bears. If I’m not mistaken, I saw a 2nd and 1 play that became a 3rd and 4 because John Schoop Shane Waldron called a pass play for negative yards. You couldn’t call another run play? And from what the critics were saying after the game, “the running game couldn’t get going.” Well, it’s hard to get it going when you’re only running once every five plays. This is stupidity. Adam Gase Shane Waldron is already looking like a fool.

One thing I’d also like to mention is that I heard a bit of the postgame show on ESPN 1000. I believe Jurko was mentioning Williams’ height being a disadvantage while being scouted. He had multiple passes that were deflected. I don’t always believe that a taller quarterback results in better success. I even think Rex Grossman was shorter than 6’1. But again, this needs to be on the coaching to put him in a position to succeed. We have yet to see that.

The defense had a couple of stops on the first two drives. Then points on three of four drives? It was 17-0 pretty quickly.

As far as the rest that I saw on highlights, the defense and special teams had to do all the work. A blocked punt for a touchdown and a pick-six from Tyrique Stevenson. Then Jaylon Johnson intercepts Will Levis to seal the deal. We’ve seen this story so many times. It’s great for one game. Realistically, this is impossible to sustain. Plus, the defense was shitty at the start. So for what seems to be the 15,176th time on this website, let say the following:

2nd and 1 should be a run up the middle every single time. Not this wide-receiver screen bullshit. Talk about putting your team in a position to fail. RUN. THE. BALL. It’s not that fucking difficult. Defense, cover the receivers. Stay disciplined.

The Texans are up next on Sunday Night Football.

Sorry for the delay. I was supposed to be at this game and I’ve been under the weather the last week.

We’ll see what happens.

As we get ready to see how the Bears will do, we can’t help but notice all the idiotic changes the NFL continues to make all because Roger Goodell and majority of the owners are greedy fuckers.

First, a Friday night game to start the season? How about no? Such an inconvenience on so many levels. It’s enough we have this Thursday Night bullshit again along with Christmas games. Fridays are for high schools. Saturdays are for colleges. Sundays and Mondays are for the professionals. The only Thursday that should ever have a game is Thanksgiving. Enough.

Next up, get ready for 18 games. I understand the players have to approve of it. Too bad they couldn’t veto the 17 games. Complete oversaturation. I know. I’ll still watch and others will too. But eating gas station hot dogs at 1:00 a.m. fucking sucks and we have to eat.

Anyway, your thoughts on this and anything else is welcome.

Brett Rypien – I know. I gave this guy a lot of shit. But he did seem to try hard and play well albeit against bums. Maybe he will be on the practice squad.

Keith Randolph Jr. – Not much of a surprise. But I wanted him to get a chance because he played at Illinois and kicked ass. It didn’t seem he had a chance this preseason. Hopefully he will be on the practice squad.

As of this writing according to the website Bears Wire, they still have nine spots to cut. Updates will be in the comment section.

An up-to-date list of cuts can be found here:

I really want to believe this will be different. I want to believe that new defensive coordinator Eric Washington gets it. That these blitz packages can work when the games count. That the players are actually covering receivers and it’s resulting in takeaways like we saw tonight. If only these games did count.

I want to believe that offensive coordinator Shane Waldron gets it. That the team will run the ball when they only need a yard. That he will put the offense in a position to succeed rather than fail like this team has the last 30 years.

Tyson Bagent and Mark Rypien both played well. Bagent should be the backup. If Rypien stays, whatever. I still think the guy sucks. But if he’s the third-stringer, fine with me. He’s played very well this preseason. But again, “Caleb Hanie Syndrome” is a real thing.

We’ve seen the Bears play like world-beaters during the preseason in the past. I know I’ve said that before and it “bears” repeating.

It all starts for real in just over two weeks against the Titans at home.

The starters won’t play in this one. So the focus should be on the backup quarterbacks and how they fare.  Expect Bagent and Rypien to play most of this game. What else is there to look for?

I know. Maybe it does feel different. At the same time, we’ve seen bum teams dominate the preseason only to look like complete ass when the games counted. Even I had some excitement watching this.

Caleb Williams – I really do believe I’ve never seen a quarterback for the Bears throw passes that give you the feeling that you had when you got laid for the first time in life. That pass to Odunze down the sideline was insane. And even though it wasn’t a touchdown, that pass he threw in the endzone would have been a touchdown had Odunze been a few inches up. Regardless, he played the first half and looked pretty good after the first two series. That touchdown scramble was spectacular. This is encouraging.

Defense – Kyler Gordon showed up to play. Too bad the game didn’t mean anything. I still feel he has a lot to prove. Again, I am trying to preach calm here. But it appears that defensive coordinator Eric Washington is someone who enjoys blitzing and that was a success in this game. It’s how Gordon was able to sack Logan Woodside with ease.

Tyson Bagent – He deserves this praise. Two touchdown passes in the third quarter was fun to see.

Brett Rypien – This guy is begging to stay on the roster by tearing it up against third stringers. If he is the third stringer, I can live with that.

One preseason game remains and it’s this Thursday against the Chefs. Not sure if the starters will play in this one. But again, another quarter could help them.

Preseason game number three is here. The starters will be in again. Let’s see how Caleb Williams does for an encore. I would like the first unit to play at least into the second quarter. This team needs time to see how they play together in live games before they matter.

Late to the recap. I watched nearly the entire first half live and had to watch the rest after work.

We’ve been here before. The Bears are firing on all cylinders in the preseason. They looked dominant on defense today. But when the regular season starts, the switch is flipped in the wrong direction. So we have to remain calm on this thing and see how it plays out in the regular season.

Caleb Williams – He looked amazing. I was trying to tell myself “have I ever seen someone on the Bears throw a pass like that?” I am not getting excited just yet. But I am praying this dude is the answer and one who can do well despite being held back by incompetent coaches. When it came to the first drive, I didn’t have an issue with the run on 3rd and 1. That’s what actual offensive coordinators should do. It was shitty execution by the offensive line for not helping Khalil Herbert get that one yard. I’d do it again. Two field goals on two drives like that to start the game was very Bears-ish.

Offensive line – I’ve been out of the loop with all the players in general. But I understand that the offensive line could already be in shambles due to Nate Davis having something wrong his entire tenure with the team. So who is there? Braxton Jones, Teven Jenkins, Ryan Bates, Darnell Wright and whoever else doesn’t sound pleasing. After checking the depth chart, it’s more terrifying. I don’t know who is out there. But this team can’t succeed on offense unless the line is not only healthy, but great.

Defense – Well, they held the fort down and a pick six by practice squad player Micah Baskerville. Good work. And what’s more shocking is that they didn’t give a touchdown on the first drive of the game. Progress?

Velus Jones – Mr. Butterfingers needs to take his shitty hands somewhere else.

Tyson Bagent – MY FRENDT

Up next: Another noon start against the Bengals next Saturday.

Well, here we are. Caleb Williams will play a few snaps. Should be more (like a quarter at least).

There may be a recap later on. I’ll be busy today with work and other stuff.