Friday, Sept. 9, 2011
Posted: 11:01 a.m.
By JohnMullin
CSNChicago.com BearsInsiderFollow@CSNMoonMullin
The New Orleans-Green Bay game was almost exactly what should have been expected from two of the absolutely elite offenses and, in the end, from an elite defense as the Packers stuffed Heisman-Boy Mark Ingram at the goal line to preserve the win.
It was a game that no doubt sent scares through Bears Nation because the reality is that the Bears cannot score with either of those teams.
But thats not the point. The point is whether the Bears even should try. Because they shouldnt.
You dont win by pursuing a strategy that the other guy clearly does better than you do. You play to your strength, not his.
And you begin by knowing yourself. The Bears quarterback sounds like he completely gets that.
You know, its only the second year for a lot of the guys in this offense, and we got some new guys that are just coming into it, quarterback Jay Cutler said. Were still growing, were still figuring things out, were still learning by experience, so we just got to go out there and play mistake-free football. Were going to mess up some plays, and have some mentals out there. We just got to limit them.
NFL
One thing that was graphically made clear last year is that the Bears do not have the blocking prowess to run the passing offense Mike Martz operates. Ideally, a quick-release West Coast system puts an average offensive line in its best position for success, but Martz doesnt run that. So if the Bears use a game plan that throws the ball as many times as Green Bay and New Orleans did, the only question is not whether Cutler will be sacked, but how often?
The Bears have a seventh-rounder (JMarcus Webb) at left tackle and a rookie (Gabe Carimi) at right. The Packers have second-rounder Chad Clifton at left and 2010 first-rounder Brian Bulaga on their edges. They run an offense that uses short drops, and notably, Aaron Rodgers was sacked 50 times in 2009 and 31 last season.
But right now, as impressive as Ryan Grant and James Starks were running the ball for the Packers, the Bears have a clear advantage over Green Bay in the persons of Matt Forte and, when he comes in, Marion Barber.
The point of this Bears season will not be how often they throw the football visavis Green Bay or New Orleans. If they throw the ball that often, they will finish up the track, probably without Cutler upright. Cutler doesnt have the Green Bay or New Orleans receiver group, or a tight end the equal of Jermichael Finley.
If they try to play like they do, season over.
Good perspective
Tom Thayer weighed in on Matt Fortes situation during last nights Countdown to Kickoff. '
Running backs are a dime a dozen but football players are few and far between. Matt Forte is a football player, said Thayer, former Bear and current WBBM-AM color commentator. Matt is the perfect fit for the Chicago Bears. Matt deserves an upgrade in this contract because hes a great football player, not because hes a running back.
John "Moon" Mullin is CSNChicago.com's Bears Insider and appears regularly on Bears Postgame Live and Chicago Tribune Live. Follow Moon on Twitter for up-to-the-minute Bears information.