Bears
- Mark Potash describes how Packers defensive tackle B.J. Raji‘s touchdown came about. Here’s a hint that will surprise no one who watched the game: It was good coaching.
- Neil Hayes at the Sun-Times writes about the Bears defensive adjustments in the second half:
“Cornerback Tim Jennings said they were more aggressive defensively in the second half, playing more man-to-man and trying to put more pressure on Rodgers in order to make him move in the pocket and get rid of the ball more quickly. [Linebacker Brian] Urlacher had a more simple explanation.
‘‘’We just hunkered down,’ he said of what changed in the second half. ‘Guys got off the line. We got takeaways, we got pressure on them and played how we play.’’’
- Even after such a brutal loss, linebacker Brian Urlacher‘s mind was still on playing general manager. Via Vaughn McClure at the Chicago Tribune:
“‘We’ve got to get Olin signed up,’ Urlacher said, referring to 13th-year center Olin Kreutz. ‘If we get him back, we should have a chance to be good again.'”
- More Urlacher via McClure with a comment that only confirms that Urlacher doesn’t understand the way the new NFL works:
“‘Julius Peppers wouldn’t say much about the helmet-to-helmet hit on Packers quarterback [Green Bay quarterback] Aaron Rodgers that resulted in a 15-yard penalty, but Urlacher spoke up. ‘It was a good hit. (Pepper is) 6-7. What is he supposed to do?'”
It was not a good hit. It was a penalty. The fact that Peppers is so tall only means that he has to try harder to lower his target. To my eye he didn’t try at all. Urlacher needs to stop complaining and get used to it.
- Dan Pompei gives an idea of what kind of day it was for Bears quarterback Jay Cutler by quoting Packers linebacker Clay Matthews after the game:
“As it turned out, Cutler was less efficient than not only Rodgers, but also Caleb Hanie, who is supposed to be a professional clipboard holder.
“‘I kind of wish we had Jay in there the whole game the way things were going,’ Packers linebacker Clay Matthews said.”
- To Cutler’s credit, he stood like a man in the locker room and faced the media. For those who question his toughness, it was the coaches that pulled the plug on his game:
- Karen Crouse at The New York Times describes Cutler after he was done:
“After the crowd around him dispersed, Cutler turned and faced his locker. His eyes grew watery as he took his time buttoning his purple jacket.
“Cutler’s car was parked inside the tunnel and he walked to it slowly, his left leg as stiff as his upper lip.”
- Urlacher did make one good point after the game via Brad Biggs at the Chicago Tribune:
“Almost instantly, Cutler was criticized across the Internet (for coming out of the game). Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew said on his Twitter account he played the entire season on a bad knee, and Cardinals safety Kerry Rhodes also chimed in.
“‘Who? Where’s he at right now?’ Urlacher said about Jones-Drew. ‘Home. It’s easy to talk (crap) about someone when you’re sitting on your couch watching their game. That’s what I am saying. I don’t understand it. I don’t get it.'”
Neither do I. Though I do have some thoughts on it here.
- Dez Clark doesn’t think he’ll be back with the Bears via Jeff Dickerson at ESPNChicago.com.
- William C. Rhoden at The New York Times says that yesterday’s game reminded him too much of his youth in Chicago.
- Pompei tries to bring us out of our depression with a little head start on the offseason personnel talk. I’m up for it:
“Either through the draft or free agency, it is likely the Bears will try to bolster their offensive line. They could use another pass rusher as well.”
Though the Bears apparently like what they have, there will be much talk amongst the fans about the need for a sizable wide receiver as well. But we’ve got all kinds of time for that. All kinds of time.
Elsewhere
- Jets linebacker Bart Scott on their loss to the Steelers yesterday: via Greg Bishop at The New York Times:
“I don’t even feel like the bridesmaid. We’re more like the flower girl, I guess. We can’t get past that last hurdle. It hurts.”
- Jets coach Rex Ryan was still vocal and still defiant in defeat (via Hank Gola at the New York Daily News):
“We almost pulled out another one, but again, our goal for next year, I got news for you … it won’t change and it will never change. We are going to chase that Super Bowl. We are going to chase it until we get it. And we’ll chase it after that again.
“But that’s it. If you want to criticize us, then go ahead, but you have no right.”
- Gola criticized them anyway.
- Green Bay is a slight favorite to win the Super Bowl.
One Final Thought
Rogers knows how the Packers got to where they are this season. Via Michael Hunt at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
“Character. Look at our roster and a number of players who were not with us or were not counted on to play a big role. The biggest difference between last year and this year is our character and that we believe in each other.”
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