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I am a multimedia nut, journalism, photography, videography, radio broadcasting and production. I’ve done it all, but I love to write and have a lot to say. I live in the Chicagoland area now and have always had an extreme love and passion for the Chicago Bears
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Written by Brett Solesky
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Friday, 09 October 2009 17:06 |
In part II of my weekly column it's once again time to review the Bears' offense versus the Lions. The offense didn't put up staggering numbers, but that's because some of the time they had a very short field to work with. The Lions could never seem to get out of the shadow of their own end zone and when they did they typically scored. The Bears' longest drive of the game was only 73-yards and that was all due to Forte's big 61-yard run. From there the Bears were either stopped or took control of the ball near the mid field mark. The nod for this level of field position undoubtedly goes to the special teams which stepped up big in this game. Led by Brad Maynard (yes I'm going with Maynard) the Bears kept the Lions pinned inside the 20 six times. Plus the Lions never started a drive beyond their 27-yard line. When your punter and special teams coverages come up that big in a game it's hard to not give them a game ball.
Bears come out on offense down 7-0 after the Lions fluke opening drive helped by a garbage 15-yard penalty:
 Bears first and 10 from their own 27-yard line, Cutler out of the shot gun with a three receiver set, a quick pass to Earl Bennett gain of eight yards on the play second and two. Love being in second and very short like this it completely opens up the play book for all sorts of great options. Bears come out next in the I-formation Jason McKie at FB with Olsen in. Bears get a great initial double team block from Frank Omiyale and Orlando Pace, Omiyale to his credit scrapes off and then gets to the LB. Omiyale's block springs Forte on his big 61-yard run, it's amazing what can happen when the Bears actually get good run blocking on a play. Not by coincidence this is easily the best run blocked play I've seen all season. Needless to say it's way overdue.
First and goal from the five the Bears come out in the I-formation again, they run nearly an identical play in the opposite direction. This time however it's not as well blocked as the 61-yard run, Omiyale completely misses on his block on the second level, Pace can't get the drive and pop he got on the first carry from Forte. Consequently Forte is stuffed by both Pace's man and Omiyale's missed LB. Lost like half a yard on the play, Bears go single back two TE set on second and goal from the six, Olsen goes in motion out wide left Cutler throws the fade to him, but it's just a little to high and long. Olsen fall out of bounds after making the catch. Third and six upcoming Cutler drops back to pass as the Lions blitz, Forte misses his block which causes Cutler to scramble. Cutler scrambles away from trouble and does his helicopter dive into the end zone for the touchdown. A little worried on this play that Forte missed his block, although most of the time he doesn't have any trouble making the block.
Lions go down and score again on a 10 play 72-yard drive. 14-7 Detroit Bears come back out on offense. Bears get a good return on the kickoff return, start on their own 41-yard line.
First and ten Chicago Cutler again out of the shot gun a quick hand off to Forte on the play. Semi good blocking but no one finishes their block. Overall it's a very slow developing running play that would have been more effective had there not been the slow hand off out of the shot gun. Greg Olsen completely misses or doesn't even attempt to block his man or didn't know who to block on the play. I'm not sure which it was with Olsen all I do know is it was ugly.
Second and seven and the director in the truck is late coming out of Brett Favre high lights and back to the game so I can't really tell what is happening where on this second and seven play. I can tell you it's a running play to Forte and it looks like Frank Omiyale missed another block so it helps Forte to be stopped pretty damn quick. Third down Cutler steps up and throws incomplete Bears are forced to punt.
Bears back out on offense down 14-7 solid field position to start.
Cutler goes play action and throws to Earl Bennett who goes up and makes an outstanding leaping grab for a gain of 25-yards on the play. Just a great catch by Bennett in traffic and puts the Bears in a nice scoring position here. Bears first and goal from the ten here to start the second quarter. I-formation two receiver set, Lions seven in the box, a quick slant throw to Johnny Knox who gets down to the one yard line. Second and goal ball is spotted at like the one and one half yard line, Bears jumbo TE package, play fake to Forte wide open Kellen Davis touchdown Bears.
Bears back out on offense after the Tommie Harris INT first and goal I-formation two TE set from the eight yard line. This first and goal play to Forte is just a shit happens type of play that you absolutely hate to see. Most people who saw this play in the game likely thought "crap Forte got no where again". But when you go back and watch the replay it's just one of those unfortunate things that happens in football. The Bears get some of the best push off the ball they've seen all season long, Omiyale big pancake block, Olin Kreutz jumps out to the second level and gets a good drive block on the LB and Forte follows that through the hole. He would likely be going in for the touchdown were it not for the drive block and pancake block that Chris Williams gets on his man. Williams pancakes his defender right into the back of Kreutz's legs which causes Kreutz to fall down and lose the block he has on the linebacker. The linebacker is then able to make the tackle on Forte because of it. Great blocking all the way around, but the result is just one of those things that happens in football. Tough break on this one and it's even helped along even more because Forte trips over the piled up blockers in front of him, guys that make pancake blocks but pile up in front of Forte leaving him no where to go.
Second and goal for the Bears two TE set, both TEs go in motion and split out wide. Looks like a four receiver set now with Forte the single back, Hester runs underneath Desmond Clarks quick slant but he doesn't run his route into the end zone like he probably should have. Hester is hit and dropped short of the goal line after making the catch. Third and goal from the shot gun three receiver set, Lions are in a goal line zone look, Cutler zings the ball into the end zone and it's partially deflected. Fourth down upcoming, Bears attempt field goal Lions jump off sides first and goal again for the Bears. Bears jumbo formation play-action to the end zone touchdown for Greg Olsen Bears now up 21-14.
Bears up 21-14 back out on offense:
 First and ten from their own 39-yard line double TE set single back is Garrett Wolfe who bangs up the middle for a minimal gain. Second and eight come the BEars three receiver set Cutler to Knox on a quick screen decent blocks down the field although Williams misses his initial block and then turns back to block a guy that Knox already got past. Williams runs into Knox slows him up and the tackle is made shortly there after. Third and two upcoming now, Bears throw a quick side line route to Johnny Knox who is left wide open because the Lions play such deep off coverage. Knox has the first down immediately and a little bit more after the catch. First and ten two TE set Cutler audibles to a pass play he has four seconds to throw but can't find anyone. Forte knocks the DE down on the block but he pops back up in time to sack Cutler and cause a fumble which Dez Clark dives on. Bears get lucky on this play. Second and 24 Cutler out of the shot gun gets pressured rolls away from it looks down field and gets rocked from behind. Orlando Pace didn't hold up well in pass protection to say the least on this one. Saying he didn't hold up was a nice way to put it, he was flat out turn styled and Cutler took a big shot because.
This type of blocking by Pace has become pretty common this year, too common in fact. It scares the shit out of me that the Bears paid good money for a guy that is so obviously on the down side of his career. Pace apparently has little to no ability left and this type of pass protection says a lot. Jared Allen will be fired up to face the Bears and it could get damn scary in the Vikings games later this season.
Third and 26 upcoming Bears run a screen to Garrett Wolfe who gets some yards back, but is tackled well short of the first down.
Lions tie the score Bears come out on offense and essentially run the clock down to close out the first half. 21-21 at the half, but not for long. 102-yards later Johnny Knox has a touchdown and the Bears have a 28-21 lead they never relinquish.
Bears come out on offense for the first time in the second half leading 28-21
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