William Hillock

http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?STORY_ID=5015

All I can add to this folks, is here goes nothing.  Thoughts?

Will

William Hillock

As the quarterback battle continues, QB Rex Grossman will get the opportunity to prove his worth tonight when the Chicago Bears play their second pre-season game against the Seattle Seahawks.  Grossman was able to score last week, hopefully he can continue the trend in addition to the Bears offense improving as a whole.  It will be interesting to see 3rd string QB Caleb Hanie’s performance this week.  Although there is a very slim chance Hanie would surpass Orton and Grossman, another quality performance will benefit him greatly in the long run.

In an interesting turn of events, Adrian Peterson may not be the incumbent RB come the start of the season.  Rookie RB Matt Forte and Garrett Wolfe have been very impressive in camp, which could significantly cut the amount of reps Peterson will see during the season.  Word has it Peterson could become a kick returner with his reduced RB duties.  Kevin Jones is still kicking around, however he has not stood out as some had come to expect.

Looking at the Wide Receivers, the positions are still wide open, however Rashied Davis is making a name for himself in camp, which could affect the playing time of veteran WR Marty Booker.  However, at Booker’s age, he is more of a leader in the dressing room than an impact player.  Devin Hester has been consistent in camp, although he did not receive many passes against the Chiefs (hopefully he is used more often so the Bears can get their money out of him.)

The Bears defense, an admiration across the league, got off to a very slow start in the first pre-season game, however by the second half they looked to be in fine form.  There are no new injuries to report for the Bears, and by the looks of it, there is only one way to go and that is up!

Check out the articles by fellow blogger Terry Shilton for a Seahawks perspective on tonight’s game and the team’s status.

From the deep dish pizzeria,

Will

William Hillock

Disappointment is the name of the game this year folks, at least that is what I am setting myself up for this season concerning the Chicago Bears. Last night, the Bears blew their lead late in the 4th quarter, losing to the Kansas City Chiefs 24-20 in their first pre-season game. To poor some salt onto the wounds, the Bears also found out rookie Chris Williams would have to undergo surgery to repair a herniated disc in his lower back. There is no timeline as to when he will return, however coach Lovie Smith is keeping him on the main roster. His chances to start this season however, are about as good as having Rex Grossman or Kyle Orton step up finally and take the reigns of the offense.

Both QBs looked moderate at best last night, neither of them playing better than 3rd string QB Caleb Hanie! Can anyone say 3-way competition for the starting job? Heck why not. Orton (who started the game) was 7-10, while Hanie was 9-16 garnering one touchdown. Orton ended up fumbling the ball that lead to a lost touchdown opportunity, leading to the Bears settling for 3 points thanks to K Robbie Gould. T-Rex Grossman was 4-8 with a touchdown (yes, Baby Rex got one into the endzone). Yes I know this is only the first game of the pre-season, but would anyone else feel reassured when your third string is playing up to par with the big boys…that’s what I thought.

The running game doesn’t seemed to be resolved either, Adrian Peterson looked decent with 28 yards on 3 carries, however the bigger surprise was Garrett Wolfe, another third stringer, carrying 7 times for 68 yards, obliterating the 25 yards Matt Forte was able to garner on his 7 carries.

Looking at the receivers last night, Brandon Lloyd, Devin Hester, Rashied Davis, and Marty Booker were all splitting duties last night. Davis, Hester, and Lloyd all had 1 reception for under 20 yards each, while Booker didn’t even get the ball last night.

And that great Bears defense you ask, they were strong at times but had some really week sets, looking vulnerable against both the passing and running game.

All in all, a very frustrating opening game for the Bears, who are lining themselves up to be completely slaughtered by the Indianapolis Colts in Week One. I understand this is only Game 1, but there weren’t many positives that came out of the game, so hopefully Lovie Smith and the Bears can recoup for next Saturday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks, where Rex Grossman will get the call for the Bears.

From the deep dish pizzeria,

Will