It wasn't so much the score that left me feeling ill, but rather the coaching - or lack of it - from the Bears. They reverted to the stubborn, bull-headed play calling that is as much a staple of this coaching staff as Lovie Smith's southern drawl. Let's get to the body count...
Offense : Remember when I said that I was concerned about the offensive line last week? Games like this were exactly the reason I was concerned. Not only are they inexperienced, but now they're officially thin too, with rookie Right Tackle Gabe Carimi going down with a yet to be determined knee injury. They provided very little protection for Jay Cutler, didn't blow anyone off the ball to springing Matt Forte once for a 42 yard gain, committed several penalties while allowing 6 sacks and multiple hits on Cutler all afternoon.
None of that really makes me that mad however. What really chaps my ass, is the lack of preparation and adjustments from Mike Martz. If he didn't believe that his offensive line was vulnerable before the game, he had to know they were getting killed by halftime right? Where were the hot routes? Why keep calling 7 step drops when you know the line can handle the blitz packages? Why get away from the running plays so easily?
Don't get me wrong, Cutler is culpable for these lack of adjustments too. Cutler played like absolute crap, even when he had time to throw. Still, when Mike Martz is called "The Mad Scientist" as often as he is, he must be raked over the coals with vitriol when he doesn't live up to that billing, especially against a One Trick Pony defense like New Orleans. A defense that was missing people in it's secondary I might add...
Defense : I guess the people in Canton, Ohio can stop carving that bust of Henry Melton for one week. Not that Melton was alone in being invisible in pass rushing situations. The lack of sacks isn't a big deal as long as the defense generates turnovers, but the Bears put up a big Goose Egg in that category.
Another category the Bears got burned were third down conversions. The Saints converted 8-17 third downs on the day, while rattling off chunks of yards, mixed with occasional deep passes. One of those deep shots proved to be particularly fatal, as Drew Brees split the Bears safeties in the cover two, for a 79 yard touchdown to Devery Henderson early in the second quarter. That play gave the Saints the lead for the first time, and they didn't look back, carving up the Bears defense for 382 total yards.
Special Teams : Hey Devin.....you still here?
Where Do We Go From Here : The Packers are coming to town. Don't need to remind anyone what happened last time they played at Soldier Field. If the Bears had their hands full with the Saints high speed offense, and blitz happy defense, then it stands to reason that they're going to have an even tougher time with the Packers.
Green Bay is a better version of the Saints in both offense and defense. While historically the Bears defense has done OK against Aaron Rodgers, he still gives the Bears plenty of things to deal with. Defensively, Green Bay is the worst possible match up for the Bears right now. New Orleans showed just how inept this Bears offensive line is, and I'd expect Dom Capers to turn the dogs loose immediately, especially if Carimi is injured for the game.
The only hope I have, is that Martz comes to his senses like he did a year ago, and realize that the Bears best chance to win, is to chew up clock with balanced play calling, mixed with short to intermediate passing attempts.
I kinda doubt that's going to happen though...
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