Walter Brzeski, Bears Superfan

Here are two posts I had two years ago on my blog, "Open Your Eyes"...

Does anyone see any similarities and tendencies with 2007 Bears?

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Thursday, September 15, 2005
Olin Not Rollin' for Bears..................................................(www.cbc.ca)
I believe if the Bears are going to be successful on offense, they need to start improving from the middle of the line and work out, not the opposite. Instead of worrying about the play of tackles Fred Miller and John Tait, Harry Hiestand should first focus on Olin Kreutz. While, Kreutz may have been to the Pro-Bowl in the past, his play is starting to become Dan Jiggetts-ish.

Kreutz is continually being pushed back into the backfield by mammoth defensive tackles and needs help on every run play from the Reuben Brown or Terrence Metcalfe. Kreutz is big problem is that he doesn't step to the man he's going to block. He snaps the ball, waits for the defensive tackle to engage him, and then tries to use only his upper body; most often he fails to block his man this way.
..................................(www.chicagosuntimes.com)
If he has to block on the run by himself, Kreutz's man is most often the guy making the tackle or moving the line of scrimmage two yards back. And, when he has to slide off on a linebacker or safety after working a combination block with a guard, he rarely gets there and ends up standing around. (A good way to see if a offensive lineman is blocking his man is for his name and number to not be read. You can read his on practically every play)

On pass plays, he constantly turns his shoulders creating creases in the protection and does a terrible job picking up stunts and blitzes. In the Washington game, his man was responsible for flattening Kyle Orton three occasions.

Unless, Kreutz gets help or improves, I would roll Kyle Orton out every play and forget about doing anything up the middle on run plays.

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(2007 NAMES PLUGGED-IN NEXT TO 2005 NAMES)
Monday, August 29, 2005
NOT ALL CHAD'S FAULT

Before the injury to Rex Grossman, the Bears had a good shot of winning 10 games and possibly the playoffs. Now, they'll be hard pressed not to finish last in their division, regardless if the quarterback is Kyle Orton, Jeff Blake, or Kurt Kittner.(Brian Griese, Rex Grossman, or Kyle Orton)
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However, the Bears are way ahead of schedule of last season in putting the blame on someone for their offensive woes. Last year, it was Terry Shea (Wade Wilson) and Jonathan Quinn (Rex Grossman). And, this year, it's Chad Hutchinson (only Rex Grossman). Hutchinson (Grossman) has problems with holding onto to the ball too long, finding a secondary receiver and throwing into double coverage, tipping off his throws, and throwing on the run. But, he shouldn't be held responsible for the whole offense. And, I hope Orton (Griese) can overcome the inept play of his teammates better than Hutchinson (Grossman) and make something out of nothing.
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If I was Chad Hutchinson (Rex Grossman), I would accept his share of blame for his play and give out some credit to others as well, including:

Jerry Angelo, for not bringing in another veteran quarterback earlier to compete for the backup spot. (NOT VALID IN 2007)

Ron Turner's play-calling. I would think he found it hard to find a receiver when only three receivers would go out for passes against 7 defenders and as Turner continued to call long developing pass plays when the line wasn't giving him time to throw.(VALID IN 2007)

Offensive Linemen, for letting the defense get to the pocket before him, forgetting their assignments, false starts, and missing blitzes.(VALID IN 2007 minus false starts and ad not getting a run game together)

Wide Receivers, for not getting to their routes faster, dropping balls in their hands, and not coming back to help him when he was under pressure.(VALID IN 2007)

Tight Ends, for being held up by linebackers on pass plays, loafing through their routes, and allowing pressure to get to him on pass plays.(VALID IN 2007)

Running Backs, for deflecting passes into defender's hands, missing blocks on pass protection, and failing to get out on pass plays fast enough to the flats to give him another option when other receivers weren't open.(VALID IN 2007, include fumbles and blitz pickup, but, minus pass deflections)

Special Teams, for getting a penalty on most of the returns and pinning the Bears back inside their own 20 yard line.(NOT VALID IN 2007)

Goodbye, Chad (Rex). Hopefully, the next team you go to will not make you the 'scapegoat' for all their troubles.
............................................(www.deadspin.com)

Labels: Olin Kreutz