SB Nation - Chris Harris

My man, Randy Moss

MaPatsFan — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:56:27 -0000

After a tough few weeks, Randy Moss is getting slammed for perceived poor play, for quitting on his team, teammates, and fans. Moss has carried around this albatross for many years; as soon as production drops, he's labeled a malcontent. The problem with this is that Moss is already so far above most receivers that a drop to merely above average is viewed with disdain, kind of like superman in the presence of kryptonite.

The recent spat of invective started when losing Panthers CB Chris Gamble said Moss gave up:

"Some of his body language let me know it was a run, and that’s how I got a feel on when to help out on the run," Gamble said. "I think if he came off the ball and had a little Wes Welker in him, you wouldn’t know what was coming. That’s what I think Moss needs to do -- be like Wes and go hard every play. I’m going to respect him, and every other [defensive back] is going to respect him if he comes off the ball hard."

To which the often stoic and reserved Belichick replied:

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- In distinct Bill Belichick style, the Patriots coach defended receiver Randy Moss on Monday when asked about critical comments made by Panthers defenders Chris Gamble and Chris Harris that Moss didn't give an all-out effort in Sunday's game.

"My response would be that's a lot of conversation coming from a team that just lost another game," Belichick said.

A few minutes later in his press conference, Belichick added another dig.

"I have a lot of respect for Randy, I think he's one of our best players and I think if you watch other teams defend him and watch other teams play against him, they think the same way -- other than these two guys from Carolina after they lost another game. I guess they don't think that way. They haven't won a lot of games now."

Ouch...

Two of the mediums used to watch a matchup, television and actually attending the game, are probably the absolute WORST ways to analyze a game and garner any kind of an informed opinion about the on field play. Hence why I dismiss, with absolute disdain, the talking heads who are proclaiming Randy Moss a quitter. It got so bad on WEEI's Felger and Mazz show that I had to turn it off. Any caller defending Moss was labeled an idiot and a massive homer by Felger. I guess that's why I dismiss Felger. Granted he's nothing like "Joe Longneck" wearing a stained beater watching the game on his mother's 19" Magnavox because he's too cheap to buy a real TV yet he'll spring thousands on rims for his 1998 F150 because it's a "classic". No, he's nothing like Joe Longneck. He's worse. He actually has a microphone, hence the ability to spew the kind of garbage he so often does to thousands. A microphone and credentials does not a sports analyst make. To be a sports analyst you have to, you know, analyze.

I wish us little people had access to game film. Then we could see what the coaches see, not what the broadcasters want us to see. Such is the case with ESPN analyst Merril Hoge. Hoge actually watched the game film and had this to say:

"When you get caught up watching TV, you might think you know things," he said. "But when you put on [coaches] tape, that's the real story."

Regarding Moss quitting and what opposing players had to say, Hoge said:

"I didn't see one play where he was sitting around, quit, or was 'useless.' If you're going to use the words 'useless' and 'quit', I'd need to see some stronger evidence than words that come out of a losing locker room," Hoge said. "After I looked at the tape, based on the things I had heard, I expected to see the dog days of Randy Moss. But there was nothing of the sort. He played his tail off.

And to show what a class act Randy Moss is, he kept his mouth shut when he had every right to be furious:

"This one was wrong. He needed a voice. I was a player, and if I went in to watch tape of myself, saw what I saw, and then read the things that were out there, I would be so furious and upset, asking 'Are you kidding me?'"

Yup, he kept his mouth shut and carried himself like the leader he is. While every player around him, every player that matters stood up for him. Class act. However, aside from the above statements, the most interesting thing that came out of Hoge's analysis was a description of what was going on OFF CAMERA during the game, angles that were only visible in the game film:

"They would ride up a corner and press him at the line of scrimmage and then play a safety to that side anywhere from 20-25 yards over the top, which is a pre-snap indicator that you can forget the long ball, don’t even think about it. Give or take a little, I would say about 60 percent of the time, Tom Brady didn’t work to his side because of that. You can start there, because the coverage dictated not to throw there.

And the interception?

"The interception that so many people are talking about, it looks like he didn’t run a very good route. It wasn’t spectacular. He could have come out of his break sharper. But when you start watching coaching tape, two things pop out over the bad route. First, you look at where the corner is playing. He’s already playing outside technique, sitting where the route is going. So you could argue that you don’t want to make the throw because of how the corner is playing.

"On top of that, when you look at the end zone angle, Julius Peppers gets inside pressure right away and is getting his hands near the face of Brady when he’s about to step into his throw. Brady pulls his left leg and wheels on the throw. When you wheel on that, the ball sails and you can’t be accurate and decisive like that.

You can argue all you want with Hoge's interpretation, but at least his opinion is based on actually watching the only source that matters - the game film. Until Felger has access to the game film, his opinion means little more than our opinion as fans. Until then, he's just another talking head with a microphone, credentials and an opinion. The most dangerous kind of talking head, I might add.

Major props to Merril Hoge for coming out in defense of Moss. When he felt something was wrong, he had the gumption to stand up and say so.

How the Bears can move up in the 2010 NFL Draft

Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 16:00:16 -0000

by Jason DeCrow - AP

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With no first or second round picks thanks to the Jay Cutler and Gaines Adams deals, getting an impact rookie will be challenging, but not impossible. The Bears need to find a way to get into the first or second round, and then of course, not whiff on the picks. The Bears currently have one pick in the third through seventh rounds for a total of five picks. As far as I can tell the most picks you can start draft day with is ten, but you can wheel and deal once the draft starts to get as many as you want. The Bears need to do what ever they can to get ten draft choices before draft day in order to maximize their dealing capabilities.

Looking over the Bears roster you'll see plenty of players under contract that shouldn't be a part of their future. Some players will have to be cut, but some have enough value to pick up a late round pick. Jerry Angelo (if he's still the GM this off season) has to deal away some dead weight. Just remember, making trades in the NFL isn't like other sports, player movement through trades just doesn't happen that often, but Angelo will have to thoroughly explore all possibilities. And the biggest thing he must consider is he may be drafting for the last time in Chicago, so if the opportunity arises use some of the 2011 draft choices to help get some picks in 2010.

One thing to keep in mind when dealing away some of your depth is the special teams will suffer. But with Dave Toub coordinating that phase of the team it's a chance you have to take. I'll speculate on some possible moves the Bears could make.

A) Nathan Vasher has a big money deal, but could be moved because he has had some past success. All you need is one GM to think a change of scenery could revive his career. Someone will want a former Pro Bowl corner, and a change just may do him good. Depending on the timing of the deal you could possibly get a fifth or sixth round pick for him. If the Bears could squeak out a few reps at free safety for the "Interceptor" it could help his trade value or if he fills in adequately at corner for a game or two they'll see his value go up, maybe as high as a fourth round pick.

B) I know the Bears were burned by trading away a safety a few years ago in Chris Harris, but it's clear the Bears are moving forward with Al Afalava as the strong safety. He outplayed Kevin Payne to win the job, but Payne has starting experience on his resume. He has some value around the league. The Bears seem comfortable with Craig Steltz backing up SS, so moving Payne makes sense right now. Depending on team needs this off season the Bears might end up with as high as a fifth round pick for him.

C) With Greg Olsen winning the starting tight end job from Desmond Clark, and with the emergence of Kellen Davis as a serviceable back up, Des Clark is expendable. Neither Olsen or Davis can block as well as Clark, but blocking is something they can improve on. Remember Clark was a wide receiver at Wake Forest and worked to become a better than average blocker. You need your reserve tight ends to be core special teamers and Clark doesn't fit that. If he fully recovers from this years injuries and finishes strong he might bring you a fourth round pick. Besides this season, he's been a reliable starting tight end for the Bears, and even though Clark is an 11 year vet he could be a starter for another team.

D) Garrett Wolfe, currently on IR because of a lacerated kidney, is expected to be ready for full participation come this off season. It should be with another team. For what ever reason the Bears have never been able to find a way to fit him into the game plan. He's excelled on special teams the last couple years and in his limited time with the ball in his hands this year he's been ok. With Jones expected back next year in some role and Khalil Bell able to fill the special teams spot of Wolfe, the Bears need to float Wolfe's name out there to gauge his value. At most I think they could get a fifth round pick for him, but their probably more likely to get a sixth.

The next two players I'll throw out there I really can't see traded, but you never know. Trading away players of their stature is difficult because one side will never feel truly compensated in any deals that may get to the table.

E) A popular name that is mentioned in trade speculation by many fans is Tommie Harris. With his production coming no where near his contract, moving him could be next to impossible. He has however, started playing better of late. Here's the question to ponder; If Harris is 100% and playing like the Tommie of old do you still want to trade him? If he has a strong finish to the year and they decide he isn't worth the risk, they could get a third (maybe a second) round pick for him if the right situation arises.

F) Before the recent drama surrounding Brian Urlacher I never would have even considered trading him away. But with him dropping those quotes for the Yahoo Sports piece, I could see him moved. Now finding someone that would want to take on that contract is another thing entirely. With his recent injury history teams may shy away from him, but there will be a few organizations that'll show interest. If his wrist heals properly, and all indications are that it will, he could fetch as high as a second round pick.

* Of course any of these players and any future draft choices could be used to pick up a legit number one wide receiver. In that case, picking up a guy like Brandon Marshall or Anquan Boldin would trump any plans I touched on above.

But if the Bears do stockpile lower round picks they'll then need to be used to move up in the draft, something Jerry Angelo hasn't done much of in the past. Using an NFL Draft Pick Value Chart, one of which every GM in the league uses, you can see the points needed to move up in the draft. If you've never seen the chart go take a look so what I say next makes sense (well... I'll try and make sense).

There are always teams looking to trade down, whether to save on the first round draft pick contract or because of how the draft is falling they realize "their guy" will be available later. The Bears would need between 600-900 points to get into the bottom half of round one. Many times the team trading up will have to overpay to make the move. I won't take into consideration any picks potentially obtained by moving Harris or Urlacher (like I said, it's unlikely they'll be moved).

OK, so in the scenarios outlined above the Bears would have their own 3rd-7th round picks plus two 4's a 5 and a 6. I'll look at some draft day deals that could move them into day 1 (1st round) or day 2 (2nd and 3rd round) of the 2010 NFL Draft.

1) The three 4th round picks (approximately worth 200 points) could get them into the 3rd round.

2) They Bears could package their third and fourth round picks (about 300 pts.) and move into the lower end of round two.

3) To get into the latter part of the 2010 1st round they could always move their '11 #1 pick and a handful of late '10 picks. There seems to always be a team picking in the late 1st round that is looking to get out of that pick.

4) If the Bears finish 10th worst this year their 3rd round pick (220 pts.), their 4th round pick (82 pts.), and their 5th round pick (37 pts.) could move them up to the bottom third of the 2nd round. That 2nd plus their 2011 2nd could get them into the 2010 1st round.

5) We'll call this the "Ditka Deal"; If the Bears trade every single one of their 2010 picks, their 3rd-7th (375 pts.), plus their 4 picks acquired in my moves above (approximately 200 points), they could jump up near the top of the 2nd round.

You can see how a creative GM could work the phones to move up. All you need is a willing partner and the guts to pull the trigger on numerous deals. With day 1 of the draft limited to the 1st round this year there will be more time to work the phones before day 2 and the 2nd and 3rd rounds.

Jets Ground the Panthers 17-6

Jaxon — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 22:31:42 -0000

More photos » by Seth Wenig - AP

25 days ago: Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme (17) is sacked by New York Jets linebacker David Harris (52) in the first quarter during an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

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This story line is getting old: The Panther defense plays well enough for the win but the offense turns the ball over repeatedly and can't finish drives when they do manage to get in the red zone. The Panthers tried a new wrinkle this week as they opened the game using the no huddle. It makes me wonder if they Panther brass has been reading this blog as many here have been asking for that. Of course if that were true Jake wouldn't be the starter week to week. Yet rather than create an edge for the offense it created confusion, last minute play changes and sloppy play.

So here's the Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

The Good

The good was the defense holing the Jets offense to 10 points for the game. Though they were constantly being put back ont he field due to turnovers they limited the Jets to 154 yards passing and created 3 turnovers. Chris Gamble had a very nice INT and Julius Peppers and Chris Harris forced fumbles. Though the rush defense was not spectacular giving up 138 yards on the ground they played well enough, giving up a long run of 16 yards to the #2 rushing offense in the league.

The Bad

The bad has to go to the Panthers offense line, where Double Trouble managed only 75 yards between the two of them. They also allowed three sacks and let defenders get penetration all day. I'm sure part of the blame falls with the offensive game plan but in the end simply running the ball would not have been enough today. The Jets played fast on defense and seemed to always have the underneath routes well covered. In spite of the absence of Kris Jenkins the Panthers still cound not manage much running off the guards.

The Ugly

The ugly is obvious and that is the QB play of Jake Delhomme. The Panthers again chose to let Jake heave it long and every time he did it got picked as the ball was underthrown. Sure the first one, a pick 6 was a fluke bounce, but the point is it was a busted route due to play change at the LOS. What aggravated me most was the chinese fire drill at the LOS constantly which in the end didn;t seem to fool the Jets at all.

So the Panthers season is all but dead at 4-7 and playing like total crap on offense. It is time for the Panthers to look inward and start planning for the future. Once this last disappointment is digested the Panthers will have some tough decisions to make on both sides of the ball. The first has got to be who starts under center because this is gettong too painful to watch, but of course I will watch it anyway.

Honorable Mention

Captain Munnerlyn had a very nice punt return of 37 yards as special teams played well on returns and coverage outside of one kick off return for 38 yards. A better day for special teams.

DE Tyler Brayton had one of his best days as a Panther with 7 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

So what else does Panther Nation have to say about this latest defeat?

Poll

The Panthers game baal int he loss to the Jets goes to:

Jon Beason - 11 Tackles

58 votes

Tyler Brayton - 7 Tackles, 1.5 sacks

42 votes

Dante Rosario - 4 Rec for 62 yards

13 votes

No Game Ball for a Crappy Loss

145 votes

258 votes | Poll has closed

New York Jets Pass Offense vs. Carolina Panthers Pass Defense

John B — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:14:53 -0000

More photos » by Greg Trot - AP

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The Panthers enter this game with a top five pass defense, giving up only 185 yards per game under first year coordinator Ron Meeks. Meeks is a disciple of Tony Dungy and favors the Tampa 2 defense. This scheme depends a lot on the front four to generate a pass rush. There is very little blitzing. In fact, the Panthers only have 2 sacks all year from non linemen. It is primarily an execution based defense. You more or less know what is coming, but it is not all that easy to beat.

Julius Peppers is Carolina's best pass rusher. The 6'7" 283 pound end could probably fit on the line in either a 4-3 or a 3-4 system. He leads the team with 7 sacks on the year. He is being slowed by an undisclosed hand injury, which has limited his playing time recently. His play has been somewhat up and down this year. Tyler Branton also plays end for the Panthers. He has 2.5 sacks and 16 pressures. Rookie Everette Brown from Florida State will also see time at end. He spent a lot of time subbing for Peppers last week. Charles Johnson, a part of Carolina's nickle package on the pass rush, is battling a pectoral injury. His status is unclear. No Carolina tackle has a sack this year. Based on this, the key matchup will be Peppers against D'Brickashaw Ferguson. Peppers has 7 of his team's 18 sacks this year. If D'Brickashaw does his job, there's a good chance the Jets will keep Mark Sanchez clean.

Linebackers and secondary players in a system like this play a lot of zone coverage. The middle linebacker in particular must be very athletic and cover a lot of ground. The safeties are playing Cover 2 deep, which means everything in front of them in the middle of the field falls to him. Jon Beason mans this role for the Panthers. He's been good near the line, leading the team in tackles and been solid in coverage. Carolina is thinner at outside linebacker. Standout Thomas Davis, who was excellent this year in zone coverage, is on injured reserve. So in backup Landon Johnson. Another starting outside linebacker, Na'il Diggs, is banged up with injured ribs and quite possibly could be out Sunday. That could leave young players James Anderson and Dan Connor outside. They both have been adequate against the pass, but it could leave Dustin Keller opportunities to find seams.

Carolina will likely start Richard Marshall and Chris Gamble on the outside at corner. They comprise a solid tandem. Gamble had a rough game against the Dolphins last week, but he has good cover skills. Marshall has been a solid performer all year. At safety Charles Godfrey is battling an ankle injury for the Panthers. If he can't go, he'll be replaced by rookie Sherrod Martin. Martin has started the last 4 games and arguably played better than Godfrey, who has struggled. Chris Harris, the other safety, has also had some lapses. Still, this defense is a Cover 2 with an emphasis on safeties playing conservatively to prevent big plays. I'm not sure I'd count on Braylon Edwards or David Clowney as vertical threats. A good route runner like Jerricho Cotchery will probably be the primary target working to find holes in the zone.

A Conversation with Sherrod Martin

Ryan Basen — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:45:07 -0000

More photos » by Ross D. Franklin - AP

Safety Sherrod Martin (23) returns an interception to set up a field goal in the fourth quarter of Sunday's win over the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin).

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With starting free safety Charles Godfrey injured against one of the NFL's most potent passing attacks, the Panthers defense figured to struggle Sunday at Arizona. Instead the unit forced six turnovers, keying a 34-21 victory over the heavily favored Cardinals.

Rookie Sherrod Martin accounted for two of those turnovers filling in for Godfrey. Making his first NFL start, Martin cleanly picked off a Kurt Warner overthrow in the second quarter to stop one drive. He intercepted another Warner again in the fourth quarter when he caught a deflected pass caused by a Chris Gamble hit.

CSR spoke to Martin after practice Wednesday about his solid first start and how his rookie season is unfolding...

The 6-foot-1, 198-pound Troy graduate was the team's second-round draft pick in April. A native of rural Griffin, Ga., he played both corner and safety in college. The Panthers planned to play him at corner, but shifted him to safety late in the preseason. That's the position he played as a senior at Troy last season, when he intercepted three passes in one quarter.

Martin, who turned 25 in October, has overcome several injuries to get to the NFL. He underwent two shoulder surgeries and broke multiple fingers in college, leading NFL Network host Rich Eisen to say during the Scouting Combine: "He looks like the guy from Operation." Martin then suffered a knee bruise that limited him in the preseason.

But Martin was in the lineup Sunday. Besides the interceptions, he has also tallied 8 tackles and 2 passes defended this season. Here are excerpts of what he had to say as he stood by his locker Wednesday:

--Strong safety Chris Harris played a big role in helping him succeed Sunday, Martin said. Harris talked to him on the field, especially harping about recognizing Arizona formations. (Both of Martin's interceptions came on plays when the Cardinals lined up in a shotgun and thew towards the sideline).

"Chris Harris is a guy I can learn a whole lot from," Martin says. He added that the Steelers' Troy Polamalu and the Ravens' Ed Reed were two safeties he admired when he was in college.

--Martin is unsure if he will start Sunday's game at New Orleans, nor does he know how much he will play. He is preparing for the game much the same way he prepared for other games this season, he says. (Godfrey did not practice Wednesday).

The strong first start boosts Martin's confidence, he says, but it has not helped him to relax. "I got something I can build off of. (But) there's a lot of things I can work on."

When asked for his take on his first start, he said: "I can't ask for another way."

--Martin won't allow the big game in Arizona to get to his head, he says. He celebrated by taking it easy when he got home (the Panthers' plane landed at 1:30 a.m. Monday and, fortunately for Panthers fans, it doesn't seem like Martin knows about the service-night parties that rage late into Charlotte Sunday evenings). The next day he went out with a few teammates to eat and watch "Monday Night Football."

Others were excited for Martin, though. Several family members and friends called, and when he turned his cellphone on after the game, he had 17 new text messages.

--Nothing about his rookie year has surprised Martin so far, he says. He was disappointed with the injury and the losses early on. "It started out not quite as I would have liked," he said.

Sunday's performance has not changed Martin's goals for his rookie season, he says. "It just helped out to be able to contribute," he says. So his objectives remain: "Finding my role on the team, being able to contribute and win games."

--Martin kept both footballs that he intercepted Sunday.

On the first pick, he started out deep in the middle of the field. Arizona was running a two-minute drill and the Panthers rushed five defenders, leaving Martin back as their last line of defense. Warner threw towards the left sideline for receiver Larry Fitzgerald, running a corner route. Martin took off for the sideline. "Once I seen (Warner's) hand come off the ball, I was out of there," he said. The ball was slightly overthrown and Martin caught it in stride, then tumbled out of bounds at the Carolina 43.

The second pick came when Gamble jarred the ball loose from tight end Jerheme Urban. Martin caught the carom at the Arizona 43 and returned it down the left sideline to the 20. "The second one was a great play by Gamble," Martin said. "It was just me being in the right place at the right time."

Of course, Martin was in the right place for the free safety to be on that play. "When you get there," he said, "things have a crazy way of happening."

--Martin is not fazed by facing so many good quarterbacks in consecutive weeks. (After playing Warner, the Panthers face All-Pro Drew Brees Sunday and last year's rookie sensation Matt Ryan Nov. 15). "It's the NFL," he said. "A quarterback is a quarterback."

--The injuries have actually helped make Martin a better player, he says. "Overall it just made my work ethic better. I always felt like I was behind." That sense of urgency "played a major part" in motivating Martin to get ready for Sunday's game and consequently snatch those two interceptions.

When asked how healthy he is now, Martin replied: "Nobody plays this game 100 percent, but I'm as good as I can be."

Are the Bears getting out-coached?

SackMan — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:00:27 -0000

More photos » by John Froschauer - AP

Chances are... Lovie Smith is probably dialing up a blitz in this picture from the sidelines in Seattle on Sept. 27, 2009. The Bears had blitzed on 45% of their opponent's drop-backs prior to that game. (AP Photo/John Froschauer)

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After Sunday night's painful loss in Atlanta, I found myself questioning the abilities of the Bears coaching staff once again. The Bears had two weeks to prepare for that game, yet they littered the field with penalties and blunders which ultimately cost them a chance at victory. Three of the biggest coaching mistakes in that game are flat out inexcusable.

1. The Roddy White TD - The Bears were caught out of position when 3 receivers were covered by only 2 defenders. The Falcons had two wideouts and TE Tony Gonzalez lined up in trips right at the LOS, and Gonzalez was MLB Nick Roach's responsibility. The Bears were running a safety blitz, and outnumbered in coverage. No timeout was called on the field by Roach... and, no timeout was called from the sidelines either. The result: Matt Ryan threw an quick screen to Roddy White, who was uncovered with two blockers, and ran for one of the easiest TDs you'll ever see in the NFL.

2. The no-huddle - The Bears defense was caught off guard by a no-huddle attack, and the Falcons finished a 12-play drive in the first half that ended with a Tony Gonzalez TD. Gonzalez was wide open in the back of the endzone, where MLB Nick Roach once again failed to cover him. When asked by reporters after the game about the Falcons no-huddle offense, Love Smith said they were unprepared for it, even though Matt Ryan said they've used the no-huddle a lot this season when he was asked a similar question. It was later discussed the the Falcons used the no-huddle very often vs New England earlier in the season. So, the Bears had two weeks to prepare for it, and were unprepared? Hmmmm... go figure.

3. Twelve men on the field - For the second time this year on Sunday Night Football, the Bears found themselves in a numbers crunch. The first time this happened, in Green Bay, the Bears were punting in the 4th quarter from their own 26 yard line with a 12-10 lead. When they thought the Packers had too many men on the field, they ran a fake to try an take advantage of a "free play." But, they were wrong, lost a challenge and a timeout, and turned it over on downs at their own 30 yard line. The Packers kicked a field goal to take a 13-12 lead.

This time, in the 4th quarter once again, the Bears had just forced the Falcons to punt on a 4th and 4 from the Bears 36 yard line. But, 12 men on the field gave the Falcons a 1st down at the Bears 31 in the 4th quarter with a 14-7 lead. Thankfully, Matt Ryan was intercepted by Nathan Vasher at the Bears 7 yard line on the very next play.

When I reflect on those 3 things... I sit here and scratch my head.

Then, I start to think of some other concerns that raise my eyebrow.

The Bears blitz
Over the past two seasons, the Bears have blitzed more than almost every team in the NFL.

Per Dan Pompei, on Sep 27th:

Last year, they blitzed on 34 percent of their opponents' drop-backs. This year, with coach Lovie Smith handling the defensive play-calling for the first time, they have blitzed on 45 percent of their opponents' drop-backs.

Only six teams -- the Jets, Bills, Steelers, Browns, Cowboys and Cardinals -- have run more blitzes than the Bears this season. And of those, only the Bills and Cardinals operate out of a four-man front as the Bears do.

I also remember it being documented that the Bears led the NFL in blitz % last season... although I can't find a source.

Sunday night vs the Falcons was no exception. The Bears blitzed Matt Ryan repeatedly in that game, however they failed to register a single sack or QB hit. Ryan's jersey never even touched the ground. When a team blitzes that many times, you'd figure they would eventually get to the QB... right? But, the Bears blitzes over the past several years have been practically useless... which raises another coaching question: Why?

Leading the league in blitz % in 2008, the Bears ranked 22nd in the league with 28 sacks. So far this season, the Bears have vastly improved their pass rush with 14 sacks... however, 10 of them are from defensive lineman. Why aren't the blitzers actually getting to the QB?

Talent has underachieved on the Bears, and excelled on other teams

Players come and go... and sometimes perform better on other teams. I get it... it's just the way it is. However, in the Bears case, there's a long list piling up. These players have had limited success as a Bear, and have left Chicago and prospered in other places. And, when you break it down... you wonder why they aren't achieving this success in Chicago?

It's not like the Bears have lacked talent... this list is proof.

QB Kyle Orton (traded) - Has led the Broncos to a 6-0 start and has a QB rating of 100.1

RB Thomas Jones (traded) - Led the AFC in rushing in 2008 with the Jets, and is currently #5 in the NFL in rushing yards

RB Cedric Benson (released) - The former #1 pick is experiencing a revival as a Bengal, and is currently #3 in the NFL in rushing yards

WR Justin Gage (released) - Led the Titans in receiving in 2007 & 2008, and is starting for them again in '09

WR Bobby Wade (released) - Led the Vikings in receiving in 2007, and is still in the league as the #3 WR for the Chiefs

WR Mark Bradley (released) - Is the 2nd leading WR for the Chiefs, and in 16 total games for Kansas City, has 45 catches for 557 yards & 4 TDs... nearly equaling his total output with the Bears in a span of 34 games over 4 seasons.

S Chris Harris (traded) - Has been the starting SS for the Panthers for 3 seasons, and led the league with 8 forced fumbles in 2007.

T Mark Colombo (released) - The former #1 pick, who battled knee injuries with the Bears, has started 53 consecutive games for the Cowboys at RT

FB Lousaka Polite (released) - He joined the Bears after 3 years in Dallas, and has been the starting FB for the Miami Dolphins for the past 2 seasons

It pains me to say it, but the evidence is stacking up here against Lovie Smith and his staff. Maybe it's a narrow-minded view, since my eyes are focused so much more on the Bears, than the rest of the NFL as a comparison. But, the overall picture sure doesn't look too good.

Poll

How would you grade the Bears coaching staff?

A: Great: They give the team a very strong competitive advantage

14 votes

B: Good: They are sometimes a step ahead, but usually pretty even with the opposition

149 votes

C: Average: They don't make or break the team

266 votes

D: Below average: They get out-coached way too often

498 votes

F: Bad: They are always unprepared

82 votes

1009 votes | Poll has closed

A little chat with Cat Scratch Reader- Buc'em style!

Niko Houllis — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:00:24 -0000

carolina

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We're gonna blow up this interview Buc'Em style! We talked to the guys over at Cat Scratch Reader and asked them some questions about their team. Curious to see what they wanted to know about us? Well you should head over to the Cat Scratch Reader and check it out!

BUCWILD: DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart aren't the dynamic duo they were last year. What has changed and will they get it back on track?

It’s our unprofessional opinion that the offensive line is not performing to the lofty standards that were heaped upon it last season. The left side and the middle of the line is getting beat in pass protection and the right side isn’t opening the holes for the running game. We are not to the point of wanting to bench anybody yet but if something doesn’t improve soon who knows?

UNFNOLE: Statistically speaking, the only quarterback worse than Jake Delhomme is JaMarcus Russell (out of players with 30 plus passes he is 36th out of 37 players. Is Matt Moore (the backup) that bad or does the coaching staff believe Jake Delhomme doesn't deserve the majority of the blame?

(Our Convo is continued after the jump...)

Delhomme is only ranked 36^th because the number doesn’t include 4^th quarter comebacks and leadership ability. His intangibles were on full display on the naked bootleg he ran to seal the victory over the Redskins. It has nothing to do with Matt Moore. We ignore the stats when it comes to Delhomme and simply look at Wins and Losses.

BUCWILD: Outside of Jon Beason, what defensive players should we be on the look out for?

That’s an easy question. In Ron Meeks Cover 2 defense the WLB is the play maker and Thomas Davis (#58) hasn’t disappointed. The guy is easily leading the team in tackles and is our most effective blitzer. In the matter of importance to the defense it was nice to get SS Chris Harris back after he missed the first three games with injury. He shut down Chris Cooley so he will be important in containing Winslow. We also seem to have found a replacement for DT Maake Kemoeatu in recently signed Hollis Thomas. He’s the wide body we’ve needed up front since game one.

UNFNOLE: Who would you guys consider the most underrated player on your team that Bucs fans (and NFL fans alike) should know about?

Probably the aforementioned Thomas Davis but we have another to mention. TE Dante Rosario has absolute mad receiving skills. If he could improve his blocking he would be a Pro Bowl TE but as it stands he is mainly a red zone receiving target. He leads the team in TD receptions with two (low I know), has great hands and is good at running the seem routes down the middle of the field. I recently heard a national pundit say the Panthers still lack a TE that can stretch the middle of the field. Sorry but he’s on the roster and his name is Dante Rosario.

NIKO: If you could, who on the Bucs would you take for your team?

I’m not sure how many other fans would agree with me but from the offense I would grab WR Antonio Bryant and on defense it would be DT Chris Hovan. Both are excellent players that would fill positions of need for the Panthers.

Panthers' Hump Day Prognostication

James The Aussie — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:28:49 -0000

More photos » by Alex Brandon - AP

2 months ago: Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Aqib Talib intercepts a pass intended for Washington Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss during the fourth quarter of the NFL football game in Landover, Md., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009. Washington won 16-13. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

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Happy hump day Panther faithful! We've had a few days now to come down from our first victory of the season and there's no better time than a Wednesday to remember the previous Sunday's contest with fond memories and prepare ourselves for another battle this Sunday.

This week we head to Raymond James Stadium to take on the 0-5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa are a team clearly rebuilding in 2009 as 1^st year head coach Raheem Morris attempts to put his stamp on a franchise shaped over the years by the likes of Tony Dungy and John Gruden. Sunday will represent the third start for QB Josh Johnson, who while playing admirably, is realistically a placeholder and bridge to the future, 2009 first round pick QB Josh Freeman.

I know we're all feeling confident about this weekend's game, but any Panther fan should know that it is prudent to never nap on the Buccaneers. They have a tendency to always play bigger than they are against the Panthers (week 6, 2008). Fortunately for us, we do this same... as a 186 yard performance from DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart's steamrolling performance in week fourteen of last season showed. So, lets break it down after the jump:

Tampa Bay Offense

Last week I said that the key to our victory against the Redskins would be stopping Chris Cooley. Well, Cooley was shut down and the ‘Skins offense couldn't move the ball... at all. This week against Tampa we see our fourth exceptional tight end in a row, Kellen Winslow. Winslow is far and away the most integral element to the Bucs passing offense. He has 100 yards more than the team's next best receiver and leads the team in TD receptions with four. To shut down the pass we will need Thomas Davis and Chris Harris to monitor and shut down Kellen Winslow as they were able to do with Chris Cooley; it's as simple as that. If we force Johnson to have to rely on Michael Clayton and Antonio Bryant to get yards then the Bucs are facing a major uphill battle.

Though the stats don't show it overall, Tampa Bay are running the football quite well and have a good stable of backs. Lead by the resurgent Cadillac Williams who is averaging 4.1 ypc and offseason acquisition Derrick Ward, also averaging 4.1 ypc they are able to move the ball effectively. However, I don't see Williams or Ward to be the true threat on the ground. That distinction belongs to Josh Johnson.

Carolina is historically bad dealing with running QBs, and Johnson seems to be emerging as a major threat. Though Johnson does look for the pass first he has been able to be the team's third leading rusher while averaging 7.4 yards per carry, rushing most recently for 8 ypc against a very potent Philadelphia Eagles defense.

I see the key to Carolina getting the defensive edge this Sunday to be this: Evaluating and monitoring both Kellen Winslow's ability on passing downs and Josh Johnson's ability on the ground.

Unfortunately, both of these roles normally fall to Thomas Davis. Davis is our spy to deal with rushing QBs and our primary pass defense against opposing TE's. We can't risk spying Johnson with Beason, so it will be incumbent upon Chris Harris to handle Winslow, allowing Davis to watch the QB.

This will leave Charles Godfrey out on an island for a lot of the game, and while Tampa's WR's are mediocre, we can't sleep on them. It will be up to Richard Marshall and Chris Gamble to lock down their WR's and allow Godfrey to excel in a cover 1 while Harris watches Winslow. If the Panther's secondary can hold while the d-line and LBs blitz then we win the battle, simple as that.

Tampa Bay Defense

Defensively, Tampa Bay has several weapons and some effective players but as a unit they are not playing up to their potential. While they have some big names on defense (Barrett Ruud, Ronde Barber, Gaines Adams) it's a player you may not have heard of who represents their true defensive threat, 7^th year pro DE Jimmy Wilkerson.

Wilkerson is having a dominant season at RE for the Bucs, with 5 sacks, 2 FF and 20 tackles. He's exceeded his totals from 2008 in 5 games and is proving to be a difference maker. Jeff Otah will need to be sure that he's able to keep him in check and our offensive line in general will need to play far better than they did last week.

Outside of Wilkerson the Panthers will have to watch out for ball hawk Aqib Talib. The second year pro is coming into his own and proving he has shut down potential at corner. With three interceptions and six passes defended he's not afraid to play the ball in the air and is excellent at breaking up routes. The Panthers and Steve Smith should utilize a lot of double moves, quick slants, screens and hitches to try and throw off Talib's ability to jump the route. If plays are being calling for 15 yard posts, slants and digs then Talib will eat us alive, we have to throw him off by running quick plays.

Those are the major threats on the Buccaneers' defense. Barrett Ruud is an excellent linebacker who will make some plays on our RBs but he's not a major threat on the blitz and doesn't penetrate as much as some of the other LBs we've seen this season.

Final Prognosis

On paper this could be a very, very big game for the Panthers. Simply put, we have more skill at almost every position than Tampa Bay. However, you just never know which way the ball can bounce in these divisional games. I said after week one that I would be putting a personal moratorium on guessing scores until we get a win, well, we got our win so I am now lifting my self imposed ban.

It's going to be a good, smash mouth game at Raymond James and fireworks will fly just as they do every Panthers v. Bucs game. Ultimately though, they don't have enough defensive tools to counter our offensive weapons, and the Panthers match up well against their offensive strengths.

Carolina Panthers 28 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10

Panthers vs. Bucs: Blogger Q&A

Jaxon — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:37:49 -0000

More photos » by Mel Evans - AP

2 months ago: Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Johnson (11) is sacked by Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Chris Gocong (57) in the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

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It's Wednesday Panther fans and that means its time to move past last weeks game and onto the match-up at hand. This week the Panthers travel to the Big Sombrero that is Tampa Stadium, home of the Buccaneers. The blogger team from SBN’s Buc ‘em blog joins us this week for the next installment of blogger Q&A. Providing the answers to my five questions is Niko, BucWild and UNFNole who blog quite robustly about the Tampa Bay Bucs. Be sure to check out my answers to their questions over at Buc em.

If you should have a question or two as well feel free to post it in the comments and we’ll see if we can get one of the guys to come over and answer it by the end of the week.

Let’s get this party started:

Question 1: We might as well start at the top. So what is your impression on new HC Raheem Morris at this point? Is there anything about him that has surprised you? Still happy?

Buc ‘em: I'm one of the people who actually knew about Raheem Morris before February of 2009. When he came back from one year at Kansas State, he immediately repaired a great deal of damage from the 2006 secondary, which became a fantastic 2007 defensive backfield. Has Morris made mistakes? Yes. The Training Camp, OTAs, Preseason battle between McCown and Leftwich, all wasted. The Offensive coordinator shambles, and perhaps even the choice of defensive coordinator, which we won’t know for some time if that was a mistake. Cutting Derrick Brooks and his leadership could be another one. There are many Bucs fans who want him removed ASAP. But the knowledgeable football fans understand that the real problem of the Bucs is a lack of experience and talent. Instead of retooling, Jon Gruden and Bruce Allen repaired holes with band-aids, aging veterans and castoffs that are no longer in the league.

It doesn’t sound an ideal first season for the Morris regime.

Question 2. So is your offense now a passing offense or are you still a running offense? Which should the Panthers plan for the most?

Buc ‘em: It depends on how fast and much of a lead you get on us! The Bucs have been passing a lot because they have fallen behind a lot. Also, they have run the ball well at home. You can expect a heavy dose of Cadillac and Ward, but if you get 14 points spotted on us early that might change that prediction. Or if you’re able to shut down the run like Philly Was, that too could put the ball more in Josh Johnson hands.

The Panthers will certainly want to force the Bucs to play catch up and throw the ball. SS Chris Harris has a big match-up with TE Kellen Winslow.

Question 3. Tell us about the QB situation. Are you happy with Josh Johnson at QB? Do you expect rookie QB Josh Freeman to get a start soon?

Buc ‘em: Josh Johnson has really shown remarkable improvement in just the two games he has played in so far. Bucs fans know Josh Freeman is supposed to be the future of this franchise, but Coach Morris has said this is Johnson's team until Freeman is ready. Freeman has the physical tools to be successful, but Johnson has the ability to stretch the play with his feet, and has a quick release and accurate/ strong arm. As long as he is not part of the problem, Bucs fans are cheering for JJ.

For those Johnson fans it sounds like this kid could become available in the future. He is just the kind of player the Panthers would target in free agency.

Question 4. How have the big Free Agent acquisitions RB Derrick Ward and TE Kellen Winslow met expectations? How do you rate those moves so far?

Buc ‘em: They came after the failure to secure arguably the biggest prize in free agency, Albert Haynesworth. They were met with immediate applause, which turned to some little boos as K2 got a contract extension and did not show up for all the OTAs. However, with his 100+ yard game last week, Bucs fans got to see that K2 can be Josh Johnson's best friend in the passing game, and Derrick Ward simply hasn’t had a chance because quick 14 point deficits have had the Bucs offense more in passing mode. When he has gotten the chance, Ward has made the best of it, and Bucs fans know that no matter what, the running back position is the deepest on the team, and not a major cause for concern.

We know that Derrick Ward and Warrick Dunn can hurt us so there’s even more emphasis on getting an early lead.

Question 5. Has perennial Pro Bowl LB Derrick Brooks been adequately replaced? Who's your defensive MVP to date?

Buc ‘em: There is no way to replace a sure-fire first ballot Hall of Famer like Derrick Brooks. You just try to do your best to refill in the position. Geno Hayes was Brooks’ protégé last season, and still gets text pointers from ESPN's newest member. Hayes, like Brooks, is considered a little on the small size, but what Hayes mostly lacks is the experience Derrick brought to the position. One such example is the Slow It Down play you can see on our site from Wednesday. Brooks would have sniffed that play out; instead the Eagles used it to trick Hayes. Defensive End Jimmy Wilkerson had three sacks vs. the Eagles, and has been the lone standout on the Defensive line which needs a complete overhaul in the offseason.

I’m still surprised Brooks hasn’t landed somewhere else. I’m also surprised to hear the DL needs an overhaul. It sounds like RT Jeff Otah may have his hands full with Wilkerson.

Score prediction:

Buc ‘em: Probably a close game as most Carolina/Tampa Bay games seem to go. Probably not a whole lot of defense, nor offense either for that matter. 50 total points seems about right any way you want to slice them up. 23-21 should be the score, and for the last time this season, I will pick Tampa Bay.

I'm thinking its more like 31-17 Panthers.

Panthers Rebound to Beat Redskins 20 - 17

Jaxon — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 20:37:26 -0000

More photos » by Chuck Burton - AP

2 months ago: Washington Redskins' Jason Campbell (17) loses the ball as he is hit by Carolina Panthers' Everette Brown (91) during the first half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009. The Redskins recovered the fumble. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)

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The Panthers didn't exactly light it up in this game but they did just enough to pull out a gutty victory over the Redskins. Here's my quick hits on the game:

I have to first give credit to QB Jake Delhomme for getting it done in the end, particularly his hard-nosed bootleg for a 1^st down to seal the win
Special teams made two huge plays, first with a nice kick off return to ignite the Panthers first scoring drive and the second creating a key turnover on a punt return that resulted in the go-ahead score
The Panthers pass rush came to life with five sacks and managed pressure on Redskins QB Jason Campbell most of the day
DE Julius Peppers responded with 4 tackles and 2 sacks, including a 2^nd quarter safety where he blew past the RT to nail RB Clinton Portis a yard deep in the end zone
SS Chris Harris returned in a big way, logging 7 tackles and holding ‘Skins TE Chris Cooley to ZERO catches. Wow, I never imagined how much of a difference this guy could make
TE's Jeff King and Dante Rosario proved the Panthers can go down the middle of the field with 3 catches, 52 yards and a TD. King made a nice catch for the Panthers first TD

There's plenty of negative to discuss later but let's savor the win and the salvaging of our season at least for a week.

Poll

Who was the Panthers player of the game vs the Redskins?

Jake Delhomme

83 votes

Julius Peppers

110 votes

Jonathan Stewart

22 votes

Jon Beason

35 votes

Chris Harris

26 votes

Everette Brown

7 votes

Quinton Teal

14 votes

Steve Smith

13 votes

Other

16 votes

326 votes | Poll has closed