I don't often feel good when a player gets injured. When Nomar pulled his groin about 15 seconds into the Cubs 2005 season, I felt bad for the guy even though I loved that it happened to the Cubs. Even though I'm a huge Kevin Durant fan and I told everyone I know he'll be better than Greg Oden, I didn't want to see Oden miss his entire rookie campaign.
But this Milton Bradley thing is too much. How perfect is it that a guy who can't control his temper or stay healthy tears his ACL during a tantrum? That was scripted, right? He called time out so he could yell at the ump?!?
Bradley should retire now and the Hall of Fame should immediately induct him. I don't care that he's only a .273 career hitter with 81 home runs. NEVER has one player had one play sum up his entire career. This is like Albert Belle hitting a double, running over a kid and screaming down the press in one play. It just doesn't happen.
It doesn't even matter that the umpire may have instigated the whole thing. Bradley has to know that this will define the rest of his life. Congratulations Milton, see you in Cooperstown.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Monday, September 10, 2007
Lovie and Ron the ones to blame
Rex Grossman, Cedric Benson, and the entire offense clearly were a part of the problem in yesterday's loss to the San Diego Chargers. But the thing that should most bother Bears fans from this first regular season game – just as in the Super Bowl – is the game plan. In the Super Bowl, when Benson went down, the Bears appeared to give up on the running game too quickly despite Thomas Jones running pretty well on the Colts' defense.
In the middle of Sunday's fourth quarter, the Bears were in a key situation on second and short – they ran the ball. On third down, they ran the ball. Then on fourth down, when everyone in the stadium not named Ron Turner or Lovie Smith knew the Bears would run, Benson was sent into the welcoming arms of white jerseys.
Three consecutive running plays that didn't work. The Bears were also down 11 points at the time. This should have been when the Bears opened the play book and threw into the end zone, or even run a reverse with Devin Hester. Anything to try and get this offense going.
The players are, of course, responsible for the fumbles and the turnovers, but Smith and Turner have done a poor job of putting the players in the best position to win. There was never a sense of urgency from this offense. There hasn't been a sense of urgency in Chicago's offense in a very long time – certainly not since the 80s.
Bears fans deserve to see a Super Bowl winner, especially with how good this defense looked against a very potent San Diego offense. Sadly, unless there are some changes made, it appears the Bears are only setting themselves up to fail once again.
In the middle of Sunday's fourth quarter, the Bears were in a key situation on second and short – they ran the ball. On third down, they ran the ball. Then on fourth down, when everyone in the stadium not named Ron Turner or Lovie Smith knew the Bears would run, Benson was sent into the welcoming arms of white jerseys.
Three consecutive running plays that didn't work. The Bears were also down 11 points at the time. This should have been when the Bears opened the play book and threw into the end zone, or even run a reverse with Devin Hester. Anything to try and get this offense going.
The players are, of course, responsible for the fumbles and the turnovers, but Smith and Turner have done a poor job of putting the players in the best position to win. There was never a sense of urgency from this offense. There hasn't been a sense of urgency in Chicago's offense in a very long time – certainly not since the 80s.
Bears fans deserve to see a Super Bowl winner, especially with how good this defense looked against a very potent San Diego offense. Sadly, unless there are some changes made, it appears the Bears are only setting themselves up to fail once again.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Grossman isn't the problem, just part of the problem
It really wasn't Rex Grossman's fault. Well, it wasn't entirely Rex Grossman's fault. Even though it was just one game against a team that won 14 games last season, Sunday's game was enough to show that this year is going to be a tough one for the Bears offense.
Last year the Bears built a very good offense around Rex, with two quality running backs, a good receiving core and one of the leagues top offensive lines. This year, the team did upgrade their receivers by adding Greg Olsen and moving Devin Hester to offense (though we don't know what either of them is truly capable of yet), but none of it will matter because of their inability to run the ball or get consistent quarterback play.
The Bears are still going to win their division and they still have a good chance of returning to the Super Bowl because of their fantastic defense. But what was made clear on Sunday is that as long as Rex and Cedric Benson are leading this team, an NFC championship is their ceiling.
Last year the Bears built a very good offense around Rex, with two quality running backs, a good receiving core and one of the leagues top offensive lines. This year, the team did upgrade their receivers by adding Greg Olsen and moving Devin Hester to offense (though we don't know what either of them is truly capable of yet), but none of it will matter because of their inability to run the ball or get consistent quarterback play.
The Bears are still going to win their division and they still have a good chance of returning to the Super Bowl because of their fantastic defense. But what was made clear on Sunday is that as long as Rex and Cedric Benson are leading this team, an NFC championship is their ceiling.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)