Tillman had back surgery, Cutler is a “pussy,” Danieal Manning’s stint as a nickel back is over (and so too his shot at being a Pro Bowl return man), Corey Graham has to switch back to being a corner, the Bears still don’t have a wide receiver, and no one’s even in Bourbonnais yet. What the hell is going on? And to think, I didn’t even link to the most insane article currently up on the Sun-Times site, claiming that Urlacher is “jealous” like a little school girl.
First things first, though: the secondary. This is the position that has me waking in cold sweats, yelling at the ceiling about Danieal Manning blowing another coverage, and wondering why the hell Lovie isn’t leaving him at the one position where he’s had any success? (Sidenote: I really did have a dream recently in which I missed the first two games of the season, and for whatever reason could not watch a replay. We lost both games by a lot, Cutler stunk, and many coverages were blown—I learned that much through in-dream Sportscenter. It was foreboding.) It seems pretty clear that Danieal Manning’s strength is running in a straight line, very quickly: He catches a kick off, he flies up the field; he lines up as a nickel back and blitzes, flying kamakazee-like into the line. But when you make him run in more than on direction—say, to his left, right, or, god forbid, backwards—he is completely lost (see Super Bowl, 2006 or vs. Texans, 2008). And beyond all that, if the plan is to play him at safety for 1st and 2nd downs, and then switch him to nickel for 3rd downs, how is he going to have fresh legs for kick-offs? Isn’t this sort of overuse the exact thing that ended Hester’s productivity as a punt returner?
I guess this is really like insulting the little Dutch boy for having his finger in the dike; it’s not his fault the sea level is rising. The entire reason for Manning’s switch is because Tillman is beginning to break down. I’ve always loved his aggressive playing style, but it seems that after multiple knee injuries, two shoulder surgeries, and now this back injury, that Tillman may soon go the way of Mike Brown. Perhaps it’s too early to say that, but I just can’t see how back and shoulder surgeries in the same offseason will lead to a productive, 16-game season. So, up steps Corey Graham, the Tillman clone who should have been starting in front of Vasher heading into training camp anyways. It really is the lone bright spot from this whole shuffle, as Graham was a much better tackler than Vasher last season—which is to say, he attempted to tackle the opposing player often. This also gives us a good opportunity to see Bowman and DJ Moore get some reps, and with some practice against the Bears’ sorry excuse for a receiving corps, they should have a lot of confidence going into preseason.
I could’ve been posting for the past 6 weeks—or really, the past 10 years—about how terrible the Bears receivers are, but in the end, I think what I broke down a few weeks ago is still accurate. It won’t matter, for two reasons: 1) Cutler made the receivers in Denver better, and will do the same in Chicago. There’s no way Eddie Royal is going to have 91 catches with Orton at the helm, and I’d be surprised if Brandon Marshall puts up the same numbers too. Cutler even squeezed some good production from Brandon Stokley, which bodes well for my nemesis, Rashied Davis. And 2) the Bears will rely heavily on Clark, Olsen, and Forte, which will make up for the receivers. The non-receiver supporting cast is way better than Cutler had in Denver—hell, we may even see the fabled Garrett Wolfe make a 3rd down appearance now that there is someone back there to draw defenders downfield. Imagine this: a 2-TE, 2-RB formation, with Olsen splitting out wide and Wolfe moving into the slot. Hester would be the only receiver needed on the field!
Canis Garrettus Wolfeus, a rare species native to the Chicagoland area, will hopefully be seen more in the open this Fall, wildlife biologists say.
On a more personal note, we (there is a lady who puts up with me, believe it or not) got a dog a few months ago, named Walter. One of the first few times I took him to the park, he befriended a boxer. They wrestled, barked, and did whatever it is that dogs do, and then got distracted until, for whatever reason, Walter decided he was interested in the boxer again. Problem is, they were 50 yards apart. So, naturally, Walter needed to cover that ground as fast as possible. In a big white furry blur, he sprinted toward the boxer, and without so much as breaking stride, Walter barreled through his cohort, leaving them both tumbling in the grass for a solid 10 yards. Walter stood up, shook a little, and trotted back to me, ready for the next play. Good dog. There’s been talk that we may get a bulldog. If we do, we’ll name him Suhey.
Walter sniffing Suhey's dingleberries
Isn’t there something else I’m forgetting to cover? Oh, right, Urlacher’s supposed insult about Cutler, which may or may not have come in a drunken rant in Las Vegas. (Isn’t that the exact sort of thing that’s supposed to “stay in Vegas”?) Whatever, I’m not writing about that. They need to both get over it. What a couple of pussies.
