macbob
  • macbob
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14 years ago
Posted on FoxSports, so some lovin' from them, too...

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/two-teams-two-roads-to-today-41428980 

two teams, two roads to today

sean jensen. sjensen@suntimes.com , Chicago Sun-Times

The headquarters of the Bears and Green Bay Packers are separated by only three hours of highway, but the storied franchises traveled vastly different paths to the NFC Championship Game.

The Bears put a league-low two players on injured reserve and fielded a veteran lineup that remained remarkably healthy. The Packers, meanwhile, put 15 players on IR - tied for fifth-most in the NFL - and had 11 opening-day starters miss a combined 96 games. ''I think it's really a great credit to [Packers general manager] Ted Thompson and his staff that they've been able to weather that storm,'' said former Packers GM Ron Wolf, who led the team to back-to-back Super Bowls during the 1990s, including one victory. ''To me, that's a mind-set.'' One Thompson credited, naturally, to Wolf.

''That's where we all learned our business,'' Thompson said. Regardless, the Packers brilliantly have scouted the blue-chip players and found the diamonds in the rough. First-round picks such as quarterback Aaron Rodgers, linebacker Clay Matthews and defensive tackle B.J. Raji are cornerstones. But the Packers also have done well with players such as receiver Greg Jennings (second round), tight end Jermichael Finley (third), linebacker Desmond Bishop (sixth) and safety Nick Collins (second) and with unheralded players such as running back John Kuhn, linebacker Eric Walden and cornerback Tramon Williams. Williams, in fact, initially signed with the Houston Texans out of Louisiana Tech in May 2006. But the Texans didn't even think enough of him to carry him on their practice squad. The Packers worked him out in September 2006 but passed, then Williams got workouts with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers. The Packers eventually signed him to their practice squad in November 2006. Williams was rewarded with a handsome contract extension in November, tormented the Falcons - a team that, ironically, was short-handed in the secondary - last weekend and was named to the Pro Bowl. ''I'm proud of our team, with what we've been able to do,'' Thompson said. ''Hopefully, we're not done yet. I'm proud of our coaching staff because it's not an easy thing . . . to keep bringing new guys in and getting them ready. But our coaches and new players have handled this extraordinary well.'' Last week, veteran linebackers Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher were asked if they thought the window was closing on the Bears because they had so many 30-or-older players, particularly on defense. ''No, I'm 30; I'm not dead,'' Briggs quipped. The Bears have 15 players older than 30, and their average age on defense is 29. The offense, though, is considerably younger, with an average age of 27. The Bears haven't denied that they've been blessed with good health, but they've bristled at suggestions that they're too old. There were questions about their depth heading into the season, but young players such as cornerback D.J. Moore, defensive lineman Henry Melton, linebacker Nick Roach and defensive tackle Matt Toeaina have made meaningful contributions, while rookies such as safety Major Wright, defensive end Corey Wootton and offensive tackle J'Marcus Webb also have provided encouragement. In fact, one NFC North personnel director said Webb, a seventh-round pick, might emerge as the Bears' best offensive lineman by next season. ''He still makes a lot of mental mistakes,'' the director said. ''But it's [been] trial under fire, and he's played better.'' That isn't saying a whole lot because there's not leaguewide respect for the talent on the Bears' offensive line. But Frank Omiyale, 28, steadily has improved his play, and the Bears are encouraged by the potential of some of the young linemen on the bench. Most encouraging, though, is their offensive core. Quarterback Jay Cutler, running back Matt Forte, tight end Greg Olsen and receivers Earl Bennett, Devin Hester and Johnny Knox are all 28 or younger. There's no denying, however, that the Packers' roster is in better overall shape. With 15 players on IR, the Packers have a lot of quality players under contract, and they'll have the good fortune of being able to dump some. That's always a good problem. The Packers have only eight players on their roster older than 30, and 27 - more than half - are 25 or younger. The Packers might start two rookies today in right tackle Brian Bulaga and tight end Andrew Quarless. Just don't expect the Packers to get comfortable. ''Just when you think you know everything, the game comes back and bites you in the fanny and lets you know that you don't know everything,'' Wolf said. ''That's a magnificent part of the game. There are all these supposed geniuses, and when you think you're one, something lets you know that you're not. ''The best quarterback in the NFL [New England Patriots star Tom Brady] is the second player picked by a team in the sixth round.''

Chicago Sun Times wrote:

Greg C.
14 years ago
The Bears have a lot of players over the age of 30, but I don't see why that age is being used as a benchmark for decline in play. It is a significant age for running backs, but for other positions, players are usually productive for several years after age 30--maybe up to 35 or so. I just checked the Bears roster, and here are their oldest starters, in order of age:

Brad Maynard, punter--37
Patrick Mannelly, long snapper--35
Olin Kreutz, center--33
Brian Urlacher, LB--32
Julius Peppers, DE--31
Charles Tillman, CB--30
Lance Briggs, LB--30
Israel Idonjie, DT--30

I just don't see this as that big a deal. The Bears' REAL problem is trying to put together enough offensive talent to make a run at a Super Bowl within the next three or four years, when age really does become a problem for several of their key players. Then again, they got to the NFC championship game this year and only lost by seven points to the eventual Super Bowl champion, so maybe they are not so far away after all.
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Dexter_Sinister
14 years ago
Regardless of the score, the got out played by the eventual super bowl winners and were lucky it was even close.

That TD that was taken away from Detroit would have also knocked them out of the playoffs. Just like in '96.

They were not as good as their record. They don't have any weapons for Cutler who is inconsistent and has no line.
I want to go out like my Grandpa did. Peacefully in his sleep.
Not screaming in terror like his passengers.
nerdmann
14 years ago

Regardless of the score, the got out played by the eventual super bowl winners and were lucky it was even close.

That TD that was taken away from Detroit would have also knocked them out of the playoffs. Just like in '96.

They were not as good as their record. They don't have any weapons for Cutler who is inconsistent and has no line.

"Dexter_Sinister" wrote:




I agree, they weren't even close to as good as their record would suggest. Keep in mind that their team is also one put together out of desperation. Two years in a row Lovey has had to grasp at straws in order to save his job. They traded for Cutler one year and signed Peppers the next year. An aging team being held together with duct tape.
“Winning is not a sometime thing, it is an all the time thing. You don't do things right once in a while…you do them right all the time.”
millertime
14 years ago
I have a hard time bashing the Bears. They always keep things close against the Pack. I don't think they're close to being a Super Bowl team, but they definitely step up against the Pack.
Dexter_Sinister
14 years ago
The Bears didn't keep it close or step up. The Packers kept it close playing down to their level.

If it were not for getting handed the game, they would have been embearassed by 21 or more points.

It isn't bashing, they just are who they are.
I want to go out like my Grandpa did. Peacefully in his sleep.
Not screaming in terror like his passengers.
Greg C.
14 years ago

The Bears didn't keep it close or step up. The Packers kept it close playing down to their level.

If it were not for getting handed the game, they would have been embearassed by 21 or more points.

It isn't bashing, they just are who they are.

"Dexter_Sinister" wrote:



Maybe you're thinking of that first Packers-Bears game, where the Packers committed 17 penalties. In the NFC championship game, the Bears played tough defense in the second half and caught a spark from their third string QB. It was not a comedy of errors for the Packers, like it was in that first game. It was legitimately close.
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warhawk
14 years ago
The Bears don't have the depth that the Packers have. Had they not been extremely healthy well beyond what most teams experience injury wise they could not have kept their play at the level it was.

Where as Thompson holds onto his draft picks to create depth and counter injuries the Bears traded away picks for Cutler and Peppers. Not saying that was a bad move but it will affect the quality of depth on the team. Of course that doesn't show up or bite you in the butt when very few players are injured.

We'll see how it goes for them if players start going down. It's very unusual to see a defensive unit pretty much intact late in the year and that was a break they needed.
"The train is leaving the station."
Zero2Cool
14 years ago
What picks did the Bears trade for Julius Peppers? I thought he was a Free Agent signing. That's awesome if they gave up picks too!
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Tezzy
14 years ago

The Bears have a lot of players over the age of 30, but I don't see why that age is being used as a benchmark for decline in play. It is a significant age for running backs, but for other positions, players are usually productive for several years after age 30--maybe up to 35 or so. I just checked the Bears roster, and here are their oldest starters, in order of age:

Brad Maynard, punter--37
Patrick Mannelly, long snapper--35
Olin Kreutz, center--33
Brian Urlacher, LB--32
Julius Peppers, DE--31
Charles Tillman, CB--30
Lance Briggs, LB--30
Israel Idonjie, DT--30

I just don't see this as that big a deal. The Bears' REAL problem is trying to put together enough offensive talent to make a run at a Super Bowl within the next three or four years, when age really does become a problem for several of their key players. Then again, they got to the NFC championship game this year and only lost by seven points to the eventual Super Bowl champion, so maybe they are not so far away after all.

"Greg C." wrote:



I think the concern here in Chicago is that when you have core defensive players at those ages, especially all of your defensive superstars, without any younger talent being breed at the moment. That's the complete opposite of the Packers. So I do understand their concern. Their defense played lights out last season. That window is quickly closing for them and would be a concern if it were my team of interest.
On top of every beard grows a man.
"The Bears are shell-shocked... and it's breaking my heart."
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Martha Careful (14h) : ty bboystyle...fat fingers
bboystyle (14h) : Tom*
Martha Careful (22h) : RIP Packer Safety Tim Brown
beast (27-Apr) : Yeah, but also some of the wording suggestions Jax only pranked called the QB, not the others... and if he had an open spreadsheet & 3 calls
beast (27-Apr) : Thank goodness he's not leaving the Turtle in the Red Tide
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : Cowboys 1st round pick Tyler Booker will indeed be bringing his pet turtle to Dallas with him
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : that contained all prospects info and contact
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : beast, according the Falcons statement Jax came across it on an ipad. If I had to guess, probably an open spread sheet or something
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : Simmons put up an emoji with cheese.
beast (27-Apr) : Not sure anyone is interested in Isaiah Simmons... Collin Oliver might of taken his potential slot
beast (27-Apr) : I'm going with Jax Ulbrich is not telling the whole truth... he accidentally came across it? Why would a defensive coordinator have a QB #?
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : He's not that great, but final piece of the script.\
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : If we add Isaiah Simmons, book your Super Bowl tickets
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : Colts 1st round TE Tyler Warren also got prank called, was that Jax Ulbrich as well?
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : Jax Ulbrich, Jeff Ulbrich’s son, released an apology for his role in the Shedeur Sanders prank call.
Martha Careful (27-Apr) : apparently he did not participate in practice or play on the east west shrine game nor the NFL combine. The kid was a mediocre spoiled brat
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : Yeah that one that was a super wounded duck that Sanders supporters are highlighting to prove a point
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : Shough is the guy who missed guys at combine isn't he?
beast (27-Apr) : It's not official until I'm dead! I have a chance still! (Not really)
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : I could feel my body decomposing in real time when I read that
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : @MIKEYSAINRISTIL Tyler Shough will officially be the last person drafted to the NFL born in the 1900’s
Mucky Tundra (26-Apr) : saw the tweet, he meant the city
Mucky Tundra (26-Apr) : Was that for the team or the city?
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter · 3m Draft grade is in: Green Bay gets an A. The people, the city, the venue were all superb. NFL Draft’s next
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Matt LaFleur says Jaire Alexander is participating in #Packers offseason program, which has been conducted virtually during this first week
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : ✅ ...
buckeyepackfan (26-Apr) : Check
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Matthew Golden cahanged 81 to 22??
TheKanataThrilla (26-Apr) : Sam Howell to Vikings...guess no Aaron
Martha Careful (26-Apr) : 1 round 7 min, with one extra minute if there is a trade. 2nd round 4 minutes, 3rd -3, 2 thereafter IMO
Martha Careful (26-Apr) : Agree
dfosterf (26-Apr) : Great idea imo
dfosterf (26-Apr) : 1st round to 7 minutes with one extension
dfosterf (26-Apr) : NFL comissioner wants to shorten the 2st
Mucky Tundra (26-Apr) : @jalenreagors They’re discussing if Sheduer can go back to college on NFL Network LMFAOOOOO
beast (26-Apr) : Great point Martha
beast (26-Apr) : Buddy Ryan used to say if a candy bar goes missing, there are two to blame, Rex and Rob 🤪 jk 😁
Martha Careful (26-Apr) : Bum Phillips used to say there are two ways to get better. Get better players or get players to play better. We have a new DL coach
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Yes. Look at the losses last year. They can win.
beast (26-Apr) : Can Packers win with their current DL?
bboystyle (26-Apr) : waiting for a pass rusher.
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 5 minutes between picks in the 3rd
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 3rd. Hate this phone
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 4rd
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 5 minutes in the 4
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 7 minutes between picks in the 2nd round
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