Notes on a 30-6 win over the Browns …

When is a win not a win?

When you squander a couple red-zone opportunities against the worst defense in the NFL, your quarterback has an average day at best, your offensive line continues to struggle as your quarterback gets sacked four times while hurried another seven, that’s when.

Sure, the scoreboard read 30-6, but anyone watching the game yesterday knows the Bears should have had another couple touchdowns. This was not the emphatic victory they needed to regain some confidence heading into the crucial stretch of the season; it was just a mirage of success against one of the worst teams in the league.

That being said …

… you can’t knock what the defense brought yesterday. I know the Browns’ defense is equally as anemic as their other side of the ball, but the Bears’ defense made all those statement plays the offense could have, but didn’t: there were strips, fumble recoveries, interceptions, interceptions for a score. All and all, the defense recovered three fumbles, and intercepted the Browns twice. Props to Danieal Manning, who had a terrific interception in the first quarter, and followed it up with a fumble recovery in the third quarter.

Matt Forte sighting.

Forte didn’t break the 100-yard barrier, as he carried 26 times for 90 yards. That’s about 3.4-3.5 yards a carry, so right at his season average. But he did get into the end zone twice, so fantasy owners that expected him to do a lot more this year should be happy. Subbing in Josh Beekman for Frank Omiyale at left guard didn’t do anything to open up the run game more. And yeah, remember: this was all against the Browns.

Keep reading →

The Bears preseason drags on. If it’s not the perpetual struggle of Rex Grossman, or injured first-round picks, it’s front-office stupidity of the highest order. Today’s example? The Bears cut Ricky Manning Jr., one of their best nickleback, after Manning Jr. dared to request a trade in the face of reduced playing time. Ricky Manning’s spot will now go to Danieal Manning, the still-developing youngster who, thanks to injuries and instability, has been forced to play seven or eight different positions in his short time with the Bears.

Cutting the veteran to make way for the youngster is one thing. If rebuilding and wiggling cap space is the philosophy, by all means, Jerry Angelo: wiggle. But cutting one veteran while you show interest in another, far-less competent veteran — Fred Miller — is just disengenous. Especially when it’s Fred Miller.

In the meantime, the Bears received news of yet another Manning today, Peyton, who, instead of sitting out Week 1 against the Bears, is suddenly ready to play through that dastardly bursa sac injury he mended in the offseason. So, to recap: The Bears cut their best nickleback, Ricky Manning, right before they have to play one of the best quarterbacks of all-time, Peyton Manning. If these names weren’t so confusing, I’d be really angry right now.