11/05/24
December 20, 2005
10-4 Chicago Bears Name Grossman Starter against Packers: Lake Forest, IL Chicago Bears Head Coach Lovie Smith ended all speculation and named Rex Grossman the starting quarterback against Rival Green Bay on Christmas Day.
posted by skydivedad to football at 10:08 AM - 42 comments
I couldn't take 2 Post on the same day, back to back, about the Packers without responding with a Bears Post. I apologize for calling a spade a spade, but that's a really lame reason to post. Also, most everyone realizes the Bears will destroy the Packers next week. There's not really anything to discuss about it, unless the Packers somehow win, which won't happen.
posted by rocketman at 10:33 AM on December 20, 2005
You really think the Bears are scary? Can I have some of that spiked egg nog you must be drinking? The Steelers game proved that the Bears are easily beatable. Explain why Grossman should scare any team? "For his career, the three-year veteran is 94-of-172 for 1,137 yards with three touchdowns and five interceptions in only eight games." [emphasis mine] It wasn't Grossman who got the Bears to 10-4, it was Orton. Well, more specifically, it was the Bears' coaches providing a game plan that tried to limit mistakes with a rookie QB, sort of like the Steelers last year. I also agree with rocketman, revenge is no reason to post to the front page. Enjoy that drink while it lasts, skydivedad.
posted by scully at 10:38 AM on December 20, 2005
rocketman I totally disagree with you. I did not in anyway disparage the Packers or suggest the Bears will Destroy the Packers. I think you have alot of nerve telling me what I can post. It is clearly well within the guidlines for an FPP Post. To say I have no right to discuss a 1st place Team in the NFL is out of bounds as far as I'm concerned. My opinions were placed in the comment not in the FPP. I also included several areas worthy of "intelligent discussion" in the comment I posted. Such as Lovie Smith as Coach of the Year or the validity of Grossman as a starting quaterback or The Bears in 1st place possibly controling this Division for years to come! I can take a post like Terrapins which includes some great points. So take a hike ya wad!
posted by skydivedad at 10:45 AM on December 20, 2005
Explain why Grossman should scare any team? "For his career, the three-year veteran is 94-of-172 for 1,137 yards with three touchdowns and five interceptions in only eight games." [emphasis mine] posted by terrapin at 10:38 AM CST on December 20 Sorry for some reason i can't get this to italicize. And it's not that Grossman scares anyone it's that defense that scares people, especially when coupled with a decent QB(or at least a QB that the team is confident in). I think Grossman is an obvious upgrade, and that's scary when a team's already 10-4 and won 9 of there last 10 games(or 8 of 9 I forget).
posted by tron7 at 11:07 AM on December 20, 2005
I think you have alot of nerve telling me what I can post. I didn't say you couldn't post it; I just summoned "alot" of nerve and commented that your stated reasoning for doing it was lame. I don't care if it's on the front page or not. So take a hike ya wad! Intelligent discussion, indeed. I'm no Packers fan, so I take no offense by your Chicago homerism. The fact is that Green Bay has been destroyed by injuries this year, and Mike Sherman's inadequate stint as GM left them without any depth. And now, decimated by injuries and without depth, most any team with its act together will have its way with Green Bay. Lovie Smith has done a decent job in Chicago, and it's a credit to him that the Bears are now ascendant, but I wouldn't call him Coach of the Year.
posted by rocketman at 11:24 AM on December 20, 2005
When the Patriots win their 4th SB in 5 years and their 3rd in a row, you can hand the Coach of the Decade (not just year) over to Belechick. Lovie is good, but he is no Bill.
posted by grabofsky74 at 11:31 AM on December 20, 2005
I watched the game Sunday night and I'll tell ya what...the surge in energy with the offense, the defense and the fans was remarkably evident as soon as Grossman stepped out there. I know Orton got the Bears this far but I was never confident the Bears would go anywhere in the playoffs with that anemic offense. Grossman has a faster release, puts much more zip on the ball, doesn't stare down his reciever and makes better decisions. With the way the Bears D has been playing (with the exception of the Steelers game...that was an anomoly), any hint in an increase of offensive output should scare the shit out of most teams. The D is only giving up a little over 10 points a game and that's with a secondary that has seen it's fair share of injuries.
posted by willthrill72 at 11:35 AM on December 20, 2005
Terrapin I agree the Steelers embarrassed the Bears but not for the reason you stated. It's not because the Bears are a noncontending team. It's that the Steelers are a scary Team also, I site their play against the Bears at home in a snow storm and the complete dismantling of the Vikings on the road. Alot of people think the Pats are the team no one in the AFC wants to play in the playoffs. I feel its a Steelers team that can beat anyone (not withstanding their performance in Indy) and are being overlooked currently. They have a great candidate for Defensive Player of the year (Palumayo or however you spell it) and a bruising running game that can run lots of clock and score points (Lots of points against Cinni). The Bears loss at Pittsburg showed how good a team the Steelers can be, especially with Big Ben, so beware, you don't want to face the Steelers in the playoffs in the AFC nor do you want to have to go into Chicago in the dead of winter to face the Bears Defense and a more competant offense now in the hands of a clearlly better quaterback in Rex Grossman. So actually the eggnog taste pretty good.
posted by skydivedad at 11:39 AM on December 20, 2005
It's a fairly sad commentary on the state of quarterbacking in the NFL when Rex Grossman is considered an upgrade over anyone. I still see the Bears being a tough out for some team early in the playoffs. Orton's done a decent job of not screwing things up, though, which is usually all a young (first year) quarterback can be expected to do.
posted by dyams at 11:47 AM on December 20, 2005
I'm completely with rocketman on this. One shitty post should not beget another. Rex Grossman strikes fear into the hearts of 1-AA coaches and maybe his agent.
posted by yerfatma at 11:48 AM on December 20, 2005
Yeah, the post is okay; rationale behind it is shoddy. I don't think Rex Grossman's performance-to-date strikes fear into the hearts of any team but his potential will at least make some D-coordinators second guess the Bears offensive gameplan going into the playoffs. Up until this point defenses only had to stack the box and play man coverage underneath; the deep-pass threat has been non-existent.
"...the surge in energy with the offense, the defense and the fans was remarkably evident as soon as Grossman stepped out there."
Right on, willthrill72. The morale boost was more of a factor than Grossman's far-from-stellar performance.
posted by redsnare at 12:01 PM on December 20, 2005
tron7: It wasn't I who claimed that Grossman was the reason teams would be afraid of the Bears. I agree with you that the defense (and special teams) is carrying the team, which is why I think skydivedad may be a bit too full of holiday cheer to be thinking straight ;)
posted by scully at 12:05 PM on December 20, 2005
Allright, OK, you guys are right! My motivation for posting this was misplaced. My Bad. However I believe replacing a quarterback on a 1st place team in the NFL is absolutely a worthy discussion. It's not so much that I see Grossman as a savior, after all the Bears were 9-4 with Orton. It's the idea that Lovie had the Gumpion to make a change. I believe this puts the Bears in a much better position to make a run in the playoffs.
posted by skydivedad at 12:08 PM on December 20, 2005
"Lovie Smith finally made the switch at quaterback that should scare the crap out of any playoff NFC contender! " When I first read this, I thought that skydive meant that it was the making of the change that was scary, to Coach Smith, not the other teams. Are we sure he meant that it was a reason for the other teams to be afraid, be very afraid?
posted by elovrich at 12:14 PM on December 20, 2005
Go Bears
posted by timdawg at 12:40 PM on December 20, 2005
I don't think it matters who starts against Green Bay these days. That is one sorry football team. I would think any Bears fan would be salivating at the thought of getting their secondary in there against Favre. Personally, I think he's gone colour-blind and can't tell the jerseys apart anymore. That said, I can't see the Bears actually doing anything come playoff time. They simply have no offence to speak of.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 12:49 PM on December 20, 2005
I like the Bears but let's face it, they are pretenders not contenders. Yes they will win a very weak division. Yes they have a decent defense but one that has compiled good stats for not giving up points against weak teams that can't score. When they play a good offense in decent weather they will be destroyed. It isn't that hard to get 10 wins and allow a low points scored total when you get the Lions, Packers and Vikings twice in a season, and you get to play in weather that is defense friendly. The season is an improvement for them and they have something to build on but don't get you hopes up. The fact that some are comparing them to the 85 Bears is ridiculous.
posted by Atheist at 01:01 PM on December 20, 2005
"That said, I can't see the Bears actually doing anything come playoff time. They simply have no offence to speak of." I agee, the bears had a great year considering nobody would have thought at the begining of the season that they would have been a factor at all (Grossman or no Grossman). I dont think they will be able to hang in the playoffs with a seattle or new york team that can score. Now defense can win you superbowls if you have a mediocore offense, Baltimore for example, but the Bears are not as dominent as that on defense. Go Steelers!
posted by steelcityguy at 01:10 PM on December 20, 2005
When they play a good offense in decent weather they will be destroyed. They held Atlanta, the fifth best offense in the NFC, to 3 points. That's pretty good defense, regardless of the weather. I mean, the Bears were playing in the same weather with an inferior offense against a decent defence and still mustered 16 points. The most points they have allowed this season was 24 and that was to the third ranked offense in the NFL (Cinci) the third week into the season. So I Can't see how you would say they would be "destroyed". Also, I agree the division is pretty horrible this year, but they have played Minnesota and Green Bay only once so far so it's not entirely accurate to say they have mostly padded their stats against division rivals or all 10 of their victories have come against poor teams.
posted by willthrill72 at 02:38 PM on December 20, 2005
No these aren't the '85 Bears, however they are good and Grossman is a marked improvement from Orton. Believe you me, Orton is not responsible for their 10-4 mark, rather their opportunistic hard hitting defense is. I have seen every game (I am a Chicagoan ofcourse)and Orton can't hit the side of barn with a beach ball. He is a good manager and that's it. Oh and by the way the Bears beat Carolina in decent weather with just defense so with Grossman they should at least improve by 10-14 ppg so say the least.
posted by Jazzdriver at 02:56 PM on December 20, 2005
Yeah, the '00 Ravens offense was "mediocre" (314 yds/game & 20.8 pts/game). The '05 Bears offense, however, is "awful" (254 yds/game & 16.1 pts/game). Also, the Bears are near the bottom of the league in time of possession (28:41) which does not bode well for a team looking to carry themselves into the play-offs on the backs of their defense. I continue to have hope for this scrappy team, though; home-field advantage (I can hope, can't I?), a healthy back-field, and a new look at QB goes a long way. on preview - yeah, don't forget that Cinci game of 24 points was diner-day for Kyle Orton with his 5 pickles.
posted by redsnare at 02:56 PM on December 20, 2005
Bears are near the top of the NFC this year, and good for them and their fans for a change, but there's no team in the NFC that can stand up to the top AFC clubs: NE, Indy, Pitt, Denver and SD. And Green Bay, they're just having a sad year, especially if a TV commentator can make the comment "They made Kyle Boller look like a first round draft pick tonight."
posted by billsaysthis at 03:50 PM on December 20, 2005
However I believe replacing a quarterback on a 1st place team in the NFL is absolutely a worthy discussion. posted by skydivedad at 12:08 PM CST on December 20 It might have been had the team risen to 1st place on the play of their QB. In this case, we have a very good opportunistic defense, a RB who is pissed that they drafted a 1st round RB, and a division that nobody else wants to win. If you take a 3rd or 4th team from any another NFC division and let them play in the NORSE this year and they compete strongly if not win it. Look at the south and east in NFC beating the crap out of each other and in the west and north are mediocre at best with exception of Seattle, Minnesota and Chicago. All I'm saying is this: Chicago is pretty good, but that has nothing to do with any QB on their roster. I'm suprised how long this thread is and even more suprised that I am responding. You can't swing a dead cat in the NFC north without hitting a sorry team.
posted by sumokenobi at 05:35 PM on December 20, 2005
I'm suprised how long this thread is and even more suprised that I am responding. Means it wasn't such a bad thread in my estimation, so maybe we should hop off skydad's back. Just keep your motives hidden in the future, my man. I think this is a relatively significant move simply because of the response of the Chicago offense when Grossman entered the game. Suddenly there was pop coming out of the huddle and zip in the feet of the receivers. Perhaps it's only a temporary lift, but anything has to better than watching Orton throw balls into the ground.
posted by wfrazerjr at 06:25 PM on December 20, 2005
Anything is an upgrade from Orton. Orton was useless. With the domination of their defense, if the Bears can muster even an average amount of offense under Grossman, the Bears could win the whole show. Smart move Lovie, hope it works out for you.
posted by mcstan13 at 06:42 PM on December 20, 2005
Go Packers!
posted by baxterndino at 06:49 PM on December 20, 2005
u are all penises.
posted by 15yroldkid at 07:02 PM on December 20, 2005
Well it was a good thread - Oh Well.
posted by skydivemom at 07:33 PM on December 20, 2005
u are all penises. This from someone who doesn't know the ccorrect plural is penii?
posted by billsaysthis at 11:31 PM on December 20, 2005
With the domination of their defense, if the Bears can muster even an average amount of offense under Grossman, the Bears could win the whole show. I almost choked on my breakfast laughing at that comment. Did you see the HUGE loss to the Steelers? The Bears may be able to win one game in the NFC playoffs, but Seattle will crush them (in Seattle remember) and *any* AFC playoff team will beat them. Does matter if it is Orton or Grossman.
posted by scully at 07:06 AM on December 21, 2005
Yeah, the Bears are a nice team, but they're not going anywhere.
posted by yerfatma at 09:10 AM on December 21, 2005
Hey, I'm a realist. I love my Bears but I'm just hoping for a decent showing in the playoffs. I see them possibly getting to the Conference Championship but that's about it. I do think, however, this bodes well for next season. If (and I say a big IF) Grossman can stay healthy and play an entire season, they have a great shot at the whole ball of wax. Being nostalgic though, as all Chicago sports fans are (we have to wake a loooooong time between champions), wouldn't it be cool to see Bears-Patriots rematch exactly twenty years later? Dare to dream!
posted by willthrill72 at 09:19 AM on December 21, 2005
wouldn't it be cool to see Bears-Patriots rematch exactly twenty years later? Yes. Maybe that ten year-old inside of me could finally work out some issues. Like why I ate him. The question reminds me of a Rocky & Bullwinkle where they wind up on a college football team reenacting the Civil War. I have no idea why.
posted by yerfatma at 10:34 AM on December 21, 2005
I think we should all wait to see how he plays. At the moment he has not proven he is a Quarteback who can lead a team any where. Bu he has not proven he can't either. Tom brady came on after a injured QB an played his way into the leader of the patriots. Grossman could do the same. Or he could flop. Lets wait and see.
posted by dkern at 10:58 AM on December 21, 2005
Tom brady came on after a injured QB an played his way into the leader of the patriots. Grossman could do the same. Actually, Grossman was the leader of the Bears and he got injured (again and again) and Orton took his place, so the Brady analogy doesn't really work here.
posted by willthrill72 at 12:25 PM on December 21, 2005
There's also the fact Tom Brady is 1,000x the quarterback.
posted by yerfatma at 01:10 PM on December 21, 2005
That too.
posted by willthrill72 at 01:30 PM on December 21, 2005
There's also the fact Tom Brady is 1,000x the quarterback. Prove it. :P
posted by rocketman at 01:58 PM on December 21, 2005
Brady/Grossman = 1000 You can't argue with figgers.
posted by yerfatma at 04:06 PM on December 21, 2005
The Bears may be able to win one game in the NFC playoffs, but Seattle will crush them (in Seattle remember) and *any* AFC playoff team will beat them. Does matter if it is Orton or Grossman. As far as I can see Seattle has not locked up home field advantage yet just a bye week and playoff spot. So lets not make predictions of where the playoffs are going to be held until it is secure cause alot could happen.
posted by skydivemom at 04:08 PM on December 21, 2005
Brady/Grossman = 1000 You got me there. I bow before your superior statistical analysis.
posted by rocketman at 08:42 AM on December 22, 2005
I couldn't take 2 Post on the same day, back to back, about the Packers without responding with a Bears Post. Should be a fantastic game Christmas Day and with Rex Grossman starting and a punishing Defense I like our chances. The NFC North Division 1st place Chicago Bears (God that sounds good) and my pick for Coach of the Year, Lovie Smith finally made the switch at quaterback that should scare the crap out of any playoff NFC contender! The Vikings were exposed as pretenders and with the Pack and Lions in freefall I expect the Bears to Control this Division for years to come. C,ya in Detroit!