[CBFF] Game Comments - Seattle 10/1/06

[Tom Shannon]

Well, I finally watched the tape.  Interesting game.  Not what I expected.

Offense

1)  It looked to me like the Seattle defense got a handle on the fact that
the Bears like to go to their TEs and FBs.  Still, they did a poor job on
Clark despite John Madden's point about him only being in to catch passes.
They did try to key a bit on McKee but he still managed a catch or two.
Eventually teams are going to catch up with this.

2)  Grossman did a nice job with the hard count drawing a couple offsides
penalties.

3)  The Seahawks obviously were committed to stopping the run, just like the
last three opponents.  They were regularly throwing 8 in the box from the
get go.  This is leaving the passing game wide open and leaving opponents
more than usually susceptible to play action.  Eventually, opponents are
going to have to respect the pass and that's when Jones will really break
out for some very big games.

4) Very nice job by the offensive line in pass protection.  They're still
susceptible to stunts on the line, though, and there were a number of times
the Seahawks managed to bring pressure without the blitz.

5)  Nice job by the receivers but there were some drops that may eventually
cost them if they continue.

Defense

1) The Seahawks were regularly going for that soft spot behind the CB along
the sideline before the safety can get over.  They did it with some success
and would have scored a TD on it if the receiver hadn't dropped the pass.

2)  Urlacher interfered on 3rd and goal from the 6 in the first quarter.  It
might have been a different game had they scored the TD, there.

3)  Matt Hasselback obviously had a rough game.  I think there were times
when his emotions got the best of him.  He also wasn't particularly accurate
and made some dumb decisions.

4)  Anyone hear Nate Burleson's name tonight?  This is what happens when you
go after a FA for revenge.

5)  The Seahawks simply didn't make plays tonight.  They didn't take
advantage of what opportunities they got, dropping passes at crucial times
and doing stupid things.  Not a good game for them.

Miscellaneous
1)  Devin Hester is a time bomb.  There are times when he just seems to lose
his mind out there.  Its bad enough when you're returning punts but what if
he has to play CB?

2)  I watched this game expecting the Bears to have been very dominant.  But
the truth is that it was the stupid turnovers that made the difference.
Thos 10 points were the difference between 10-3 and 20-3 at half.  Add the
first TD drive in the second half and the Seahawks were in trouble too deep
to get out of.  I have to think that this Seattle loss was largely their own
doing.

3)  The Bears had some dumb penatlies tonight at crucial times.  That was th
ecase last week, too.  It has to stop.

4)  The special teams wre not particularly good.  Other than Gould's FGs,
the kicking wasn't that great.  Punts were short.  Seattle returns were too
long.  I already mentioned Hester.  This must be improved.  Not everyone is
going to implode like Seattle did.

5)  John Madden and the broadcating team were absolutely superb.  What a
pleasure the game was to watch.  Usually when I go through a game on tape I
fast forward in between plays but I couldn't do it this time.  The comments
were timely and interesting and they provided insight.  For instance, Madden
pointed out early on that the Seahawks were selling out to the run very
early.  He had obviously done his homework and seen that all three of the
first opponents had done the same.  He pointed out the fact that Clark was
in for the pass only very early as well.  The game story was told in a very
coherent way.   They complimented the city nicely.  The entire thing was all
class.

6)  I'll tell you what really bothered me about this game.  Seattle reminds
me way too much of the Carolina Panthers last year.  Hasselback reminds me a
lot of Delhomme.  The Bears beat Carolina, a very good team, the first time
during the season and Carolina didn't play particuly well.  They then came
back to beat them in the playoffs.

Similarly, the Bears are probably going to see Seattle again in the
playoffs.  The Bears can't allow themselves to get comfortable because sure
as heck, Seattle will do the same thing Carolina did.  They'll play well and
beat them unless they look at this game realistically and understand that
next time it won't be like this.

The real test for the Bears may well be the next time they see Seattle, not
this time.

Tom S.

The generation of random numbers is too important to be left to chance.
            -- Robert R. Coveyou, Oak Ridge National Laboratory