[CBFF] ST - Bears must recapture September magic

[mom2iancal]

I didn't realize he left the game w/an injury!

I can't decide which is worse this morning....thinking about that loss to 
the packers or this horrible hangover!!!  Ugh!

teri
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jerry Madsen" <jerrywm at gmail.com>
To: "CBFF" <post at chicagobearsfanforum.com>
Sent: Monday, January 01, 2007 6:46 AM
Subject: [CBFF] ST - Bears must recapture September magic


> This article was a good read by Mully.  It has overtones of hope, but
> I think the underlying message is, 'You've got two weeks to fix things
> or else.'
>
> I also didn't realize that Devon Hester left the game with a leg injury. 
> Geez.
>
> Jerry
>
> ---------------------------------------------------
>
> Bears must recapture September magic
>
> January 1, 2007
> BY MIKE MULLIGAN Staff Reporter
>
> Way back four months ago, when this endless season first began, no
> less an authority than Brett Favre marveled at the Bears' defense. He
> said no team ever had run the cover-2 better than the Bears during a
> 26-0 shutout of the Packers at Lambeau Field on that September
> afternoon.
>
> That's the same Favre, mind you, who battled so many times against
> Tampa Bay in the old NFC Central. And those are the same Buccaneers
> who rode that cover-2 defense to Super Bowl glory. Favre may have been
> shellshocked after that game. After all, he never had been shut out in
> his NFL career, something that would happen again later in the season
> against New England.
>
> The promise of that first game still hasn't been broken. Regardless of
> how miserable the starting unit looked Sunday night in the
> regular-season finale, the only way the promise of the season is
> broken is if the Bears falter in the playoffs. Again.
>
> If they somehow lose in the divisional round to the lowest seed the
> NFL's inferior conference can send to Soldier Field, well, you have to
> wonder if they'll ever win a playoff game. Whichever opponent arrives
> to challenge the Bears -- the Giants, Cowboys or Seahawks -- stumbled
> down the stretch to get there.
>
> Regardless, Sunday's performance was further proof that the halcyon
> days early in the season -- a time when the defense was being compared
> to that of the 1985 team and Rex Grossman was the NFL's Mr. September
> -- seem to have given way to an extended winter solstice. Can a team
> that finishes with a 13-3 record really have fallen into a bottomless
> pit?
>
> In fairness, the Bears didn't need anything out of Sunday's game, and
> they haven't needed much for a few games. The end of the season has
> had the feeling of playing out the string -- as if the NFC
> regular-season champions actually were eliminated and had nothing left
> to play for but building for next year. There were injuries,
> especially in the secondary, that led to playing reserves.
>
> ''We kind of relaxed a little bit in the last couple of games,''
> cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. said. ''It's tough. It's a long season in
> the NFL, and that is going to happen to anybody, especially around
> this time of year. We'll get back on track, get guys some rest and get
> healthy and get ready for the playoffs.''
>
> Despite all the evidence to the contrary, Manning insists the Bears'
> defense is getting better as the season comes to an end. He said the
> playing time that he, Chris Harris, Devin Hester and Cameron Worrell
> have gotten in the secondary only will improve the depth in the
> playoffs. That logic also would apply to tackles Israel Idonije and
> Alfonso Boone, who've been a regular part of the rotation.
>
> Tank Johnson's return after missing two games was interesting, as
> well. He played both tackle positions but lined up most often at the
> three-technique spot that was vacated by Tommie Harris. Johnson was
> moved to nose tackle this season to get him on the field with Harris
> so the Bears would have pass rushers at every position. When Harris
> went down, the Bears opted to keep Johnson at nose tackle because they
> didn't want to make two changes for one injury. But since he has been
> out and Ian Scott has moved into the nose tackle spot, where he
> previously started, it was deemed time to move Johnson.
>
> ''Wherever the coaches line me up, I will play,'' Johnson said. ''I
> just want to play consistent, play hard and play fast. Anytime you
> miss a game for any reason, when you come back, you appreciate the
> game more.''
>
> In the ultimate irony of the night, the decision to play starters in a
> meaningless game -- something coach Lovie Smith opted not to do last
> season at Minnesota -- essentially forced Smith to give them an
> extended run because of how badly the Packers were beating them. Green
> Bay built a 23-0 lead in the first half when Grossman was on the field
> and being booed off it. Grossman threw three interceptions, two of
> which were returned for touchdowns. The beating should've been worse,
> but the Packers missed an extra point and a short field goal.
>
> The Bears have taken exception to the criticism they've received for
> victories over Tampa Bay and Detroit, saying they're being judged on
> style points like a college football team looking to move up the
> rankings. But the criticism came because it seemed like they were
> headed to this sort of defeat -- one in which every one-time strength
> seemed in question.
>
> Now a busy bye week just got even busier. The Bears will need to give
> Grossman another lesson on the horror of turnovers. They'll have to
> set up a spot in the training room for star returner Hester, who left
> the game with a leg injury. They'll have to rebuild the confidence of
> a defense that once looked capable of an all-time season but now might
> be a liability.
>
> It's an interesting checklist at a time when Smith may get his
> contract extension and defensive coordinator Ron Rivera seems certain
> to have a job interview or two.
>
> If only it were September again.
>
>
>
> -- 
> http://www.globalrichlist.com/
> http://www.xxxchurch.com/
>
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