jammin481 wrote:1. O-Line is a HUGE issue
2. Running game is non-existent (see #1)
3. Cutler actually looked poised (although very limited time)
4. Major Wright will become the starting safety before year-end
5. Roach should not be starting LB
6. Bears have no depth

jammin481 wrote:With this o-line, Cutler NEEDS 7 steps...

The Stache wrote:

jammin481 wrote:With this o-line, Cutler NEEDS 7 steps...

With a bad O-Line you need to go to quick 3 step drops. Its too bad Martz's offense has nothing like that in his playbook. All 5 and 7 foot drops. Cutler might not make it out of week 1.

jammin481 wrote:With this o-line, Cutler NEEDS 7 steps...

Indianplaya17 wrote:The 7 step drop offense doesn't look good for this team. It was weird watching that. Cutler didn't look comfortable doing it, maybe cuz it was his first game in this offense.

gtriv420 wrote:

Indianplaya17 wrote:The 7 step drop offense doesn't look good for this team. It was weird watching that. Cutler didn't look comfortable doing it, maybe cuz it was his first game in this offense.

I actually thought Cutler looked very comfortable last night.

jammin481 wrote:

gtriv420 wrote:

Indianplaya17 wrote:The 7 step drop offense doesn't look good for this team. It was weird watching that. Cutler didn't look comfortable doing it, maybe cuz it was his first game in this offense.

I actually thought Cutler looked very comfortable last night.

I agree. Cutler looked fine, the running game the backup QBs are were the issues were. Cutler seemed comfortable, and poised. Something he completely lacked last year.

The defense NEEDS the line to create pressure. And the 3-step drops will make our defense look amateur.

CHICAGO -- Chicago Bears backup quarterback Caleb Hanie and safeties Major Wright and Craig Steltz have been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Oakland Raiders.

Wright will have surgery on his broken left index finger this week, but he's not expected to miss any regular-season action.

Hanie, who has a right shoulder sprain, was driven to the turf in the third quarter by two San Diego Chargers defenders. He fumbled and did not return.

"It's not [painful] all the time," he said. "It's just some minor pain, and I just have to make sure I'm pain free while I'm throwing. That's the main concern.

"If I'm not pain free and able to throw, then I'm not able to play. As soon as I am [pain free], I'll be ready to go."

The Bears may explore bringing in another quarterback. After the game, coach Lovie Smith said it was too early for the club to start looking at alternative backup quarterback options.

"It's out of my hands," Hanie said. "What they do is what they do. It'll be best for the team whatever they do.

"The only way I could see that [happening] would be if I ... was possibly not going to be back for the first game. Then you obviously understand why they would bring somebody in, because you can't just go in with two quarterbacks, one being a rookie [on top of it]."

Steltz has a right ankle sprain.

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/n ... id=5467359

CHICAGO -- Brian Urlacher's newfound good health didn't last long, as the veteran left Saturday's exhibition game against the Raiders with a left calf injury.

The extent of Urlacher's injury isn't yet known, but Bears coach Lovie Smith didn't sound too concerned.

"We don't think it's anything serious," Smith said.

Urlacher suffered the injury during Oakland's opening series, a 10-play drive resulting in a 1-yard touchdown on a quarterback sneak by Jason Campbell.

Urlacher wasn't on the field for the Raiders' touchdown. He came out on the fourth play from scrimmage, with Hunter Hillenmeyer replacing him.

Team officials announced at the conclusion of the scoring drive that the linebacker would miss the remainder of the game. Shortly after that drive, Urlacher was spotted on the sidelines with an ice pack on his injured calf.

Urlacher missed all but one game last season after suffering a fractured wrist in the opener.

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/n ... id=5482462

CHICAGO -- With two preseason games now in the books, here are five things we learned Saturday night against Oakland.

Chris Williams is a major work in progress: For all the criticism directed towards right tackle Frank Omiyale at camp, no Bears offensive lineman looked worse than Williams in the first half. The former first-round pick was torched, repeatedly, putting starting quarterback Jay Cutler at risk on numerous occasions. In this offense, the left tackle can't be average, he needs to be good. Williams is talented, but his poor performance versus the Raiders raises numerous red flags.

Chris Harris is a strong safety: We all knew it, but the second preseason game reaffirmed the belief Harris is much better suited to play in the box. Near the line of scrimmage Harris looks quick and aggressive. Back in deeper coverage, the veteran appears hesitant and a tad on the slow side. Danieal Manning had a few good moments and a few not-so-good moments in his preseason debut. The easy thing for coach Lovie Smith to do would be move Harris into the box and start Manning or Major Wright at free safety. With the way Wright performed in camp -- before the finger surgery -- that choice may be easy when the rookie is ready to return. It's hard to ignore the incredible amount of praise heaped on Wright by Smith and Bears defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli.

Matt Forte is ready to roll: In case you weren't totally convinced, Forte proved once and for all his rough sophomore year was caused by injuries. The third-year back showed incredible burst on his 89-yard touchdown run -- helped by key blocks from Olin Kreutz and Kellen Davis -- showing everybody there's plenty of juice left in those young legs. Besides the long touchdown play, Forte also averaged five yards on four other attempts. While other problems cropped up for the offense, their ability to run the ball with Forte and Chester Taylor was very encouraging.

Julius Peppers looks like the real deal: Bears fans across the country breathed a sigh of relief when Peppers checked out OK after being hit in the eye in the first quarter. The defensive end was all over the place in the first 30 minutes, recording five tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and a pass defense. The problem is Peppers can't do it all by himself, and the Bears would really benefit from decent play from their other end spot.

Patrick Mannelly needs a new contract: You rarely notice the long snapper unless something goes wrong. Unfortunately, Desmond Clark got noticed a ton Saturday night. Mannelly has been a model of consistency over the course of his 12-year career, missing only three games. It's hard to remember Mannelly making any errors in a Bears uniform, with the exception of calling for an ill-advised fake punt last season. Mannelly's contract is up after this season, so maybe the Bears should consider signing him to an extension soon... like tomorrow.