Bleacher Report - Articles by T.W. Krems

My Farewell to Bleacher Report

T.W. Krems — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 12:45:28 -0500

Yes, that's right, this is my farewell to Bleacher Report. I am saying good bye after four of the most exciting months of my life here on the site.

I am one of those who was unfortunately in the wrong place at the wrong time, and I now I have to suffer the consequences. At this point, I am not sure how long the consequence will be, but on Feb. 4, I will be put away.

I still remember the first time I came across this site. About four months ago I was surfing my Facebook page when I came across the BR advertisement. Well I guess this is where I say the rest is history.

In my time here I have seen my star rise allowing me to become a community leader, a top 10 NFL writer, top writer for the Chicago Bears and NFC North, and many other accomplishments I am proud of. I was even nominated as 2008 Best NFL Writer.

The biggest thing I am thankful for are the writers. With out the great talent of guys like Daniel Cox, Bryn Swartz, Zach Kruse, James Williamson, Angel Navedo, Sean Crowe, David Arreola, Max Kienzler, Max Tcheyan, Sam Wenk and many others I would not have climbed the ranks without or enjoyed my time here.

I was fortunate to work on projects with many of these writers. Whether it was doing the NFC North Roundtable with Kruse, Smith, Shelton, and Rieger or the Chicago Bears Roundtable with Sheppard and Krienzler, I always enjoyed their insight and high caliber analysis.

Daniel, I still remember our first discussion over the Falcons. I was totally wrong about them, and you have came out on top in that one.

David, I remember being reamed out by you about posting my articles on your board not even five minutes after you wrote your bio. I am glad you allowed me to continue though.

Bryn, you like many others got on my case about asking for POTD. In the end, when I thought like we would be enemies on the site, you were the bigger man and became a fan and a friend.

James, I could always count on you to read my articles and comment. You stayed respectful no matter how much we disagreed and I thank you for that.

Max and Sean, you guys backed me up on my NFL awards articles and I am still greatly appreciative of it.

Those are just some of my stories in my four short months.

I believe that a second chance is deserved in life and that has sometimes been reflected in my writing. Bleacher Report has been my outlet during these tough times for me. It has introduced me to a glimpse of what I would like to pursue a career in. Without this site, I would have been lost and depressed as I awaited my incarceration.

I hope people do not judge me on the fact that I am going to be locked up, but rather on the person they came to know through my writing. Again, I thank everyone of you for making my last months and weeks as enjoyable as they could be.

One day I hope to look back and see that Bleacher Report gave me my start. This is not the end for me and I hope that BR and the writers will be here waiting for me when I return. Thank you Bleacher Report and God Bless all of you.

-TW Krems

Jim Schwartz in As Lions Head Coach

T.W. Krems — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 13:16:53 -0500

The 0-16 Detroit Lions have found their next head coach in Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. What does this mean to the team?

Schwartz's NFL career came out of the famed Bill Belichick camp. He joined the Cleveland Browns in 1993 doing research for the team. In 1996 Schwartz joined the Baltimore Ravens as a defensive assistant. 1999 brought him to the Titans fulfilling the same role as in Baltimore, and then in 2001 he was promoted to be Titans defensive coordinator.

Now the next question: “How will this help the Detroit Lions?”

Well, this might help out with the defense, but I am not sure how much. The last two seasons, Schwartz has led the Titans to a seventh-ranked defense in 2008 and a fifth-ranked defense in 2007. However, Schwartz’s defense has been sporadic over the years: 32nd (2006), 19th (2005), 27th (2004), 12th (2003), 10th (2002), and 25th (2001).

If you look at it by these numbers, Schwartz can’t do anything but improve the defense, because the Lions have finished 32nd in defense the last two seasons, but that will not fly. I do not think that Schwartz can step in and continue to have a top 10 defense. It can happen, though, because as stated earlier the Titans jumped from 32nd in 2006 to fifth in 2007.

As far as the offensive side of the ball, I don’t see how this helps the Detroit Lions team. They finished 30th in total offensive yards, 24th in passing yards, and 30th in rushing yards. The team has no clear number one rusher or QB. Jim Colletto has been retained as the offensive coordinator, and after last year's offensive numbers, I would not expect improvement.

In conclusion, it is hard to say if Jim Schwartz is the right guy. The Detroit Lions are a horrible team statistically in every facet. He may be able to improve the defense, but if the offense does not get better, how would you rate Schwartz?

The Lions could have a top 10 defense next year but still have the worst offense and have a record of 4-12. Would that be a success? I think not, but I also believe that there is not a coach in this world that can turn the Lions around on his own. It looks like that is what the Lions expect out of Schwartz, considering the people around him.

This article can also be read at fantasyfootballmaniaxs.com

Jim Caldwell In as Indianapolis Colts Head Coach

T.W. Krems — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:37:14 -0500

With the recent news of the retirement of Colts long time coach Tony Dungy, we ask ourselves who is Jim Caldwell?

Jim Caldwell has been with the Colts for the last seven seasons as a QB Coach and Assistant Head Coach. He entered the 2008 season with the expanded role of Associate Head Coach. Now the promotion was of no surprise because the Colts had previously announced that when Dungy retired, Caldwell would take over. This was similar to what the Seahawks did with Coach Mora.

Now the best information about him is that he has overseen the passing game and Peyton Manning during his time with the Colts. You should already know what that has done for the Colts offense over the years.

His coaching has helped lead the Colts to six straight top five offensive finishes in the NFL ('03,'04,'05,'06,'07,'08) and he has overseen all the passing records broken by Manning.

Caldwell has been an NFL coach since 2001 where he started with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the QB coach.

With all of that said, it is a somber day in the NFL with the retirement of Dungy, but the Colts look to be in good hands with new Head Coach Jim Caldwell.

This article is featured at fantasyfootballmaniaxs.com

Chicago Bears Hire Worst Coach in NFL History: Anyone Surprised?

T.W. Krems — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 19:06:36 -0500

Above is a photo of Rod Marinelli (left) and Lovie Smith (right).

The Chicago Bears have hired Marinelli—yes, he of coaching the only winless team in NFL history fame—to be their defensive line coach.

Now this is what leads me to my problem with this, it will also help tie in the above photo.

Why would you hire a coach that lead a team to the worst record in the history of the NFL? Well, it looks like it is because Marinelli is a friend of Smith. Do we see a trend? First Bob Babich and now Marinelli.

Bears GM Jerry Angelo had made a push to get Marinelli as their Defensive Coordinator back in 2004, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would not allow it. The, in his end of the year press conference, Angelo stated this year that he would like to hire Marinelli.

My next question is did Angelo see the Detroit Lions this year? I mean when your D-line consists of Tommie Harris, Alex Brown, and Mark Anderson, its not coaching that is going to better these proven vets.

I know it is NFL policy for teams to interview minorities for coaching vacancies, but when did become policy that you have to hire a friend who is a crappy coach?

The Associated Press reported this as "not a surprise" because Smith and Marinelli are friends. They also use the line "family ties". I do not care if they are friends! How does that relate to football in any way?

Oh, yeah, here's the kicker. Marinelli is also the Chicago Bears Assistant Head Coach.

This marks the beginning of a dismal off season for my beloved Bears.

This article can also be read at fantasyfootballmaniaxs.com.

An Afternoon with Da Bears at Halas Hall(Satire)

T.W. Krems — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 10:55:12 -0500

Recently I was lucky enough to visit with some of the Chicago Bears players and coaches at their Halas Hall Headquarters in Lake Forrest, Ill.

I was visiting family in the Chicago area when I decided to take a trip down there to see if I could score an interview for Bleacher Report. I think the easiest way to share my experience is to start from the beginning and work our way from there, so here we go.

I showed up at the great Halas Hall around noon. "Wow," I thought to myself as I pulled up. Walking to the front door, I recognized the guy there waiting for me. It was none other than Bears safety Mike Brown.

I could barely hold in my excitement.

"It is a honor to meet you, Mr. Brown," as I gave him a firm handshake. "Ouch! Damn it!" Brown shouted. Simply put, the handshake was a little too firm, and now Mike will be on IR for 2009.

After I apologized, Brown was gracious enough to continue showing me around.

Just then, three men were walking toward us carrying boxes and what looked like personal belongings. "Who are they?" I asked.

"Who, them?" Brown replied. "There just the entire defensive staff that was fired today."

As a Bears fan, I was elated. "What about defensive coordinator Bob Babich?" I quickly said.

"No, he is still here; him and Lovie are friends. Friends stick together," Brown replied.

My heart sank.

Moving on, I was able to have a conversation in the film room with cornerback Charles Tillman. He spent his time with me trying to show it was someone else's fault that Bernard Berrian scored a 99-yard touchdown on him. It was to no avail.

We came across wide receiver Rashied Davis. He did not have time for us because he was to busy learning how to catch a football. Next we saw quarterbacks Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton playing Madden.

Again, they did not have time for me as they were in the midst of a quarterback controversy. They could not decide which of them will play quarterback in their franchise.

I let them in on a little secret, something no one on the Bears staff would dare tell them. "You both suck; look in the free agent pool or make a trade." They both stopped and stared at me like deer in the headlights.

Bears rookie running back Matt Forte passed me in the hall and I was able to chat with him for a little. I asked him how he has managed to stay under the radar and not be outspoken after his superb rookie season.

His response was that he did not want to be the next Anthony Thomas, Rashan Salaam, Curtis Enis, and so on. I told him I don't think he has to worry about that.

I was disappointed to find out that Brian Urlacher, Tommie Harris, and Devin Hester were unavailable due to more contract negotiations. Lance Briggs was training by himself for the Pro Bowl, so we did not bother him. Bears running back Adrian Peterson came up to me in the hallway wanting to give me an interview, but I just ignored him.

Smith and Babich were said to be on vacation somewhere with their other buddy, former Lions coach Rod Marinelli, discussing Marinelli joining the team as the D-line coach. I did not even want to get into that. So all that was left was Bears GM Jerry Angelo.

Unfortunately, he was too busy. In one ear, he had Mike Ditka yelling at him to fire Babich and in the other he was on the phone with every and any washed up free agent quarterback to bring in for competition with the other two. I think Joey Harrington was No. 1 on his list.

The day was looking to be a bust, something the Bears are used to, but with Brown still at my side, he guided me to the trophy room.

Now, I had seen one before (five, to be exact), but not the one of my beloved Bears. It was the Lombardi Trophy. It was surrounded by the history of the Bears franchise and the all-time greats. Seeing that made up for the lack of an interview and the struggles of the recent Bears organization. It just goes to show that things will turn around.

Well, it was about 5 p.m. and time for me to go. I again apologized to Brown for breaking his hand, but he said not to worry. He even gave me an autograph, which I put up on eBay.

I hope you enjoyed my recap of an afternoon at Halas Hall. It was an experience I will never forget.

This article can also be read at www.fantasyfootballmaniaxs.com.

From Best to Worst: NFL's Biggest Collapses from 2007 to 2008

T.W. Krems — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:05:35 -0500

When you look back at the 2008 season, you can't help but notice that many of the teams from the 2007 playoffs or not there this year. Now the Cowboys are truly one of those teams. They suffered one of the worst collapses the 2008 season has seen. However, the Cowboys did not make my top five. Take a minute and join me as we take a look at the biggest team collapses from 2007 to 2008.

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Bleacher Report's NFL Regular Season Awards: As Voted by the Writers

T.W. Krems — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 10:08:09 -0500

It is that time of year. The NFL season end awards have already began with the Offensive Rookie and Defensive Rookie of the Year awards going out. Also Comeback Player of the Year was awarded this afternoon. Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan and New England Patriots LB Jerod Mayo have been the first two to take home the hardware. Then Miami Dolphins QB Chad Pennington followed up with his second NFL Comeback Player of the Year award. Now we wait to see how will take home the MVP, Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year, and Coach of the Year Awards. Bleacher Report held voting for each award. Over the weeks the votes poured in and the results have gone final. Here are the 2008 NFL Regular Season Awards result, as voted on by the talented Bleacher Report writers.

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BREAKING NEWS: Jerod Mayo AP Defensive Rookie of the Year

T.W. Krems — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 03:02:15 -0500

New England Patriots LB Jerod Mayo has earned the Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.

Mayo recevied 49 of the 50 votes Wednesday, voted on the sportswriters and broadcasters.

Mayo recorded 128 tackles this season, which was 10th in the league.

Be sure to look for Bleacher Reports NFL Regular Season Awards as voted on by the writers, coming today!

Bears GM; "Orton Will Have to Earn Starting Job in 2009"

T.W. Krems — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:52:57 -0500

That's right, the Chicago Bears GM Jerry Angelo said they are in the market for a QB going into 2009. This and many other subjects were touched upon during his end-season press conference.

After going 9-7 and just missing the playoffs, Angelo voiced his frustration with the team's performance.

"When you're not playing consistent football, your job is not good enough," Angelo said. "You have to be consistent in this league. If you're going to win, you have to be consistent. We weren't consistent. Those are things we'll get into. I don't want to go further than that because we haven't talked about anything...I can't say all the things I feel to you today. We'll be very honest. We see what you see. We'll be very objective. And things that need to be changed will be changed."

As for the QB issue, Angelo stated that Kyle Orton has made improvement, but there is room for more.

"I don't want anybody coming out of this thinking we don't believe in Kyle; we do believe in Kyle," Angelo said. "Kyle has got to take another step and that's the bottom line."

Another topic was Devin Hester and the number one WR spot, but Angelo reverted back to the issue at QB.

"I think we have to have competition at that position," Angelo said. "We have to get that position right. I know there's going to be a lot of talk about a No. 1 receiver. Guys, it starts with the quarterback. It's all about the quarterback. You don't win because of wide receivers. You don't win because of running backs. You win because of the quarterback. We've got to get the quarterback position stabilized."

The final topic discussed was that of defensive coordinator Bob Babich. Angelo formally put Babich on notice and went on to talk about recently fired Lions Head Coach Rod Marinelli.

"I think the world of Rod Marinelli," Angelo said. "I would love to have Rod Marinelli on our staff, and I think Lovie would say the same thing."

What does it mean?

Well the fact that the Bears organization has already cleared up that they are going to go after another QB is great and answers that question for all fans. The next issue is what I have been stressing all year and that is that Devin Hester can't be a number one receiver until they have consistent play at QB.

Finally, they have pretty much signaled the end for defensive coordinator Bob Babich. It looks like Rod Marinelli may take that spot.

If the Bears hire Marinelli, it will not be until next season that we know if it was a good move. I think they can only improve from how they performed this year. Marinelli may be the type that is a great coordinator but not a great head coach, like a Norv Turner.

Press Conference information was first reported by chicagobears.com.

Be sure to check out last week's Chicago Bears Roundtable featuring talented Bleacher Report Chicago Bears writers Ian Sheppard and Max Kienzler. Also look for this week's discussion where Senior Writer Bob Warja will be joining the team.

BREAKING NEWS: Matt Ryan Named AP Offensive Rookie of the Year

T.W. Krems — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 04:41:31 -0500

Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan has been named the Associated Press's Offensive Rookie of the Year.

He one in a landslide on the ballot voted by 50 broadcasters and sportswriters.

Ryan has led the Falcons to an 11-5 record just one year after winning four games. This season, the Falcons opened the season with a new starter at QB and RB, as well as many other positions.

Matt Ryan threw for 3,440 yards, 16 TDs, 11 INTs, and had a QB rating of 87.7.

The Falcons will face the Arizona Cardinals this weekend in the NFC Wild Card playoff round.

Be sure to look for Bleacher Reports NFL Regular Season Awards as voted on by the writers, comming tomorrow!

Bears-Texans: Chicago Falls Short of the Finish Line

T.W. Krems — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 13:18:44 -0500

It came down to this game for the Bears and they proved why are one of the most consistent teams in the league—consistent at getting ahead early then giving up more unanswered points than they scored.

Like many games this season, the Bears drove down the field and scored on their first drive. Like many games it was looking like it would be all Chicago after they went up 10-0 over the Texans Sunday.

Like many games the Bears lost due to the conservative play calling of the coaches once they were ahead. One example was not getting the ball to Matt Forte. Another was on the third drive in the third quarter down 21-17, quarterback Kyle Orton was allowed to throw three straight times, resulting in three straight incomplete passes.

Forte has been the bread and butter of this teams offense this year and in a game that contained so much, Forte was used so little. 16 touches too little. Forte ended the season fourth in the NFL in carries, averaging 20 a game. Sunday he had only 13.

Chicago gave up 21 unanswered points and they seemed to wonder why.

The Bears gave up the momentum and the lead after two inexcusable mistakes by Danieal Manning. The third year pro, who replaced the injured Mike Brown at strong safety, got burned for a 43-yard touchdown pass from Matt Schaub to Andre Johnson. Manning, and everyone else on the Bears defense, bit hard on a fake hand-off, allowing Johnson to race by him into the clear.

“It wasn’t a miscommunication,” said defensive coordinator Bob Babich. “It was just a misread, and it ended up being a big play for them. Obviously that was something that hurt us.”

That seems to be the story for the Bears secondary this season.

The score, 31-24, seems closer than it really was. With nine minutes left in the fourth quarter and down by seven points, the Bears allowed the Texans to drive 89 yards for the score that put the nail in the coffin.

“We wanted to go ahead and keep the field position,” Babich said. “For them to take it down and score was a big blow to us. At that time they were passing the ball very well. We were stopping the run pretty good at that time. That was one that hurt us.”

Looking Ahead

Well it is time to look ahead at the state of the franchise. One thing will be on what the Bears plan to do with their league worst pass defense. Another will be what will happen with the coaching staff. These are the things that will be discussed in the Chicago Bears Roundtables and my articles throughout the offseason.

One thing that has already been stated is that Kyle Orton will be the starter in 2009.

Be sure to check out last weeks Chicago Bears Roundtable featuring talented Bleacher Report Chicago Bears writers Ian Sheppard and Max Kienzler. Also look for this weeks discussion where Senior Writer Bob Warja will be joining the team.

Chicago Bears Roundtable: Can We Survive Another Week?

T.W. Krems — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 07:15:57 -0500

Well, that is how the last two Bears games have been, unbearable to watch.

Now, not in a bad way, but in order to remain in good health, it was a heart attack waiting to happen.

Welcome to the Week 17 edition of the Chicago Bears roundtable. For this week's discussion, we will have the following talented Chicago Bears writers; Ian Sheppard, Max Kienzler, and T.W. Krems, who will also be moderating this discussion. Let's get to it.

Alright Ian and Max, on to our topics.

After witnessing a less than stellar performance from Kyle Orton and the Chicago Bears receiver corps. . . what is the key problem when it comes to the passing game?

MK - The problem is inconsistency. Dropped balls that should have been catches (like the normally sure handed Marty Booker) some bad passes from KO (with the exception of the one pass that KO threw that hit Charles Woodson right in the numbers ... Nice one) and just bad conditions that caused a lot of short passes to Olsen and Forte and when they did go long, the players slipped or just have trouble getting their routes down.

IS - This is tough to say. One thing that has hurt the Bears a lot (particularly a few weeks ago against Minnesota) was drops by the receivers. Another issue is the lack of big plays by all the receivers. The Bears currently rank 28th in receiving average, tied for 25th in 20-plus yard receptions, and tied for 29th in 40-plus yard receptions.

Maybe the wide-receiver by committee just isn't working out at the moment. This is a pretty tough call.

TK - It is equally both. Orton does not have the ability to go through all of his options. If his first option is not available, that's when we usually see him throw a pick to the safety or linebacker in zone coverage as he tries to check down to a back or tight end. As for the receivers, Davis needs to be cut for dropping so many passes, Booker is old, and Hester is not quite there. I think if Brandon Lloyd is healthy, he is the clear No. 1 guy.

The Bears need to win this week and have the Giants beat the Vikings to win the NFC North. Do the 2008 Chicago Bears DESERVE to go to the playoffs, and if they do, do they deserve to have the No. 3 seed?

MK - Well, no. Not really. They were incapable of closing games early in the year (Panthers, Bucs, Falcons) and the pass defense has been simply awful for most of the season. The offense has been spotty and while the special teams have been all right. Ask Bears fans if they are happy with only one kickoff return for a TD and they will not respond positively.

IS - This is a really good question. To answer the first one, I'm not sure the Bears deserve to go to the playoffs this year. Three of the four losses against the NFC South (Bucs, Panthers, and Falcons) were one thing. But when they had a chance of getting ahead in the race for their own division, it just seemed like they didn't really care. That's why the 37-3 loss to Green Bay (at Lambeau, no less) and the 31-14 loss at Minnesota really makes me think this team just doesn't care. However, if the Bears do get in, I think it's Minnesota's fault for not winning to take the division. The Bears can consider that their gift of the season (if they beat the Texans, that is).

Going into the match up against the Texans, which player does the defense need to stop most to have a chance in winning this game?

MK - Andre Johnson. Steve Slaton has had a fantastic rookie season at running back and Matt Schaub has been improving, but overall, Andre Johnson is one of the top five receivers in the game and the way our pass defense has been, he should be our biggest focus. If we can shut down their passing attack, we should have a decent shot at winning this game and putting us in a solid position for the playoffs.

IS - My pick is Matt Schaub. Sure, he's on a downward skid after passing for 414 yards and two touchdowns in a 24-21 win against Green Bay, but this defense has been prone to allowing quarterbacks to excel against them this season.

There isn't any doubt that Steve Slaton and Andre Johnson are threats, but I figure that stopping the passing game should be a number one priority...especially to make up for the fact that teams are going to pass on them during the playoffs (if they get there).

TK - I agree with Max. Andre Johnson will be able to exploit the Bears pass defense, especially now with two first-year starters at safety. They also need to keep an eye on Steve Slaton.

Assuming the Bears beat the Texans, which do you think is more likely: The Vikings losing to the New York Giants or the Buccaneers and Cowboys losing their respective games?

MK - The Vikings losing is more likely. The Cowboys losing to the Eagles is fairly possible, especially since Romo has been missing practices. But if the Bucs are fighting for the playoffs, I am not betting on the Raiders bringing it. Especially since you know Gruden doesn't want to lose to Al Davis.

The Vikes are fighting for the playoff lives and without those 4 turnovers in the first half, they probably could have taken the Falcons last week. But the Giants are coming off a big win against the Panthers, and I am hoping that they want to go into the playoffs with a couple wins rather than having lost three of their last four. Only problem is if Coughlin wants to rest up his players...

IS - I'm going to say the Giants beating the Vikings. This will be an interesting game because even though the Giants are assured home-field advantage, Tom Coughlin is apparently set on playing his players to try and win this game. Just look at last year's regular season finale.

The Giants played against the Patriots...and though they were already assured a playoff spot, they came up three points short to allow the Patriots to be the first team in NFL history to go undefeated in the 16 game regular season.

Obviously, things worked out well for the Giants—as they are the defending Super Bowl Champions. I don't see this being an easy game for Minnesota to win.

TK - Well the question asks which is more likely so I have to say the Giants beating the Vikes. I think both scenarios are long shots, but I favor one team winning with a Bears win over two teams losing and a Bears win.

If the aforementioned scenarios play out, do the Bears have a chance to win in the playoffs?

MK - They have a chance to win a game or two in the playoffs if they make it. They will get the three seed and be facing either the Cowboys, Bucs, or Eagles (I think). If we have made the playoffs, I think we could surprise a few teams.

Plus with the three seed, we will have a game at home, which benefits us if we face the Boys or Bucs. But I don't see us as capable of beating the Panthers or Giants. Sorry.

IS - Really good question. From the past few years, we have seen someone other than the No. 1 seed win the Super Bowl in the playoffs (The Steelers No. 5 seed in 2005, the Colts No. 3 seed in 2006, and the Giants No. 4 seed in 2007). So, I certainly think the Bears have a chance to win.

But, games against the Panthers, Falcons, or the Buccaneers are going to be real tough. And the Bears will need to be a completely different team if they expect to run the table and beat the Cardinals or the New York Giants.

TK - I think they can only if they win the division. That would give them a home playoff game, probably against the Falcons that Chicago almost beat in Atlanta. If they get in the wildcard, the Bears would have to travel to Minnesota or Atlanta and that would be a crap shoot.

Will Kyle Orton and Rex Grossman be back in a Bears uniform next season?

MK - Kyle Orton will be. Rex Grossman will be gone, and I wish him the best. The Bears management needs to let him go out and start some place new, because the fans of Chicago will never be fully behind him and that is a shame.

Orton still has a contract so it makes absolutely no sense for him NOT being on the team next year. End for the record, Kyle Orton will be the starter next year also.

IS - For sure, Orton will be back (barring a really terrible injury) as a Bear in 2009 since he is signed through that season. Grossman, on the other hand, is an interesting prospect.

Rex is slated to be a free agent in 2009, and I would presume that he would look to sign with a team that will give him an opportunity to win the starting job. My understanding is that while the Bears organization hasn't really addressed the issue, Grossman will most likely not be a Bear in 2009.

TK- I hope not, but they will. Orton will because he will go into the off-season as the starter and I think Rex will get another contract because the Bears will know what he gives them as a backup.

Which area do you think the Bears need to improve in most in anticipation for 2009?

MK - It comes down to three positions: offensive line, receivers and defensive line. Offensive line is still getting old, although with Beekman and Williams coming along they are better.

The receivers...well, Rashied Davis has had some big drops, Hester is still developing, Marty is not getting any younger, Earl Bennett saw the field for a couple plays last game! only problem was that they were running plays, and Mark Bradley is still gone.

The defensive line has not generated any sort of pass rush with the exception of Alex Brown. Wale has not shown up most games, Tommie has not been playing well. Dusty got hurt again. Although Adams and Harrison have been a pleasant surprise.

IS - This is a hard question for me to answer. It's easy to just say everything, but I'm going to go towards the offensive side of the ball. There are three critical things that the Bears need to improve on offensively—playoffs or not.

The first is they need a No. 1 receiver to emerge. Whether they draft a receiver in the first or second round or they seek after a free agent (which might be better with Jerry Angelo around), it's pretty obvious that the Bears need to get a go-to receiver that can change the complexion (or lack thereof) of the offense.

The second is the Bears offense needs to cut down their three-and-out drives. While the offense is improving by not turning over the ball as much (though these last few weeks haven't been great in that area), the offense needs to be able to do more with the football than just have three plays that get stopped. This offense has shown it's capable, and it's time for them to take the next step.

The third is that the offense needs to improve on scoring off of turnovers. With how bad the defense has been this season, they still are tied for second in interceptions (22). But like Monday night's game against the Packers showed, the Bears struggled to get points off of turnovers.

If the offense is able to capitalize, the defense will then look very daunting as teams will have to operate under the pressure of trying to come back against them...and very few offenses can do this without making more mistakes.

This way, the Bears could create a cycle of making other teams make mistakes (Defense), and the offense can make teams pay for it.

TK- Wow, where to start? They need to address the QB situation. Whether it is go out and find someone or work with what you got. They need to find that clear No. 1 receiver, address the aging players, mainly their secondary. I think this will be a great topic to focus on in next week's roundtable.

Take on the Bears

Chicago is still alive in the playoff hunt, not just in the division, but also the wild card. Now in order to make the playoffs, the Bears need to win the last game. Other than that, all they can do is pray.

To get in, they need a loss by the Vikings and the other wild card contenders. All we can ask of them is to win the last one.

At 9-6, it is very possible that the Bears can miss the playoffs with a final record of 10-6. That will make it an even harder blow, considering the multiple last-second games the Bears let slip through their hands this season.

Join us next week as we update the playoff picture and where the Bears stand in it. Thanks again to Max and Ian, another great round of discussion.

From Worst to Best: NFL's Biggest Turnarounds from 2007 to 2008

T.W. Krems — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:30:08 -0500

Here we will examine the miraculous turnarounds of two of the worst teams from the 2007 season. The Miami Dolphins, 1-15, and the Atlanta Falcons, 4-12, have both done the impossible considering their individual circumstances. The Dolphins are now 10-5 and hold their fate in their hand to the play offs. Atlanta has already locked up a playoff birth at 10-5 in the NFC. I hope you enjoy this edition of Best to Worst.

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Bleacher Report's NFL MVP: Vote Here

T.W. Krems — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 10:02:12 -0500

Bleacher Report has decided to hold their own voting for the NFL Awards this year. The voters are our valued writers.

Please take the time to look over the nominees. Here is the voting page for the NFL MVP. The nominees are found in the following article:

T.W. Krems Presents: Bleacher Report's NFL MVP

You will find the link below. There you will find the nominees with a rundown of stats and what they have brought to their team this season.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/96370-tw-krems-presents-bleacher-reports-nfl-mvp-nominees

Express your voice and happy voting!

T.W. Krems

T.W. Krems Presents: Bleacher Report's NFL MVP Nominees

T.W. Krems — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 09:50:57 -0500

It has been a great season this year in the NFL, and an especially great season for some of the the best in the league. Whether it has been DeAngelo Williams with the Panthers or Peyton Manning with the resurgent Colts, we will find out who the Bleacher Report writers think deserves this award. Here are the best from the 2008 season, where we will see who has performed well enough to be nominated as the NFL 2008 MVP. Once you have seen the nominees, please submit your vote by following this link.

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Bears-Packers: The Hand of God Came Down From the Heavens

T.W. Krems — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:33:47 -0500

As if it were right out of the Bible, Bears DE Alex Brown blocked the game winning field goal attempt by Green Bay.

In a game that was all Packers, Chicago made good on a couple of miscues by Green Bay and won in their second over-time game in two weeks.

Chicago was down 14-3 at the half and it did not look like they could bounce back. In the second half, Chicago was able to drive down the field and score a touchdown on an Orton-to-Olsen TD pass, after a muffed punt by Green Bay. This was then followed by a FG by the Packers, putting them up 17-10.

It looked over when Bears QB Kyle Orton threw two consecutive interceptions, one deep in Packers territory.

Chicago was then able to drive down the field late in the fourth quarter to tie the game on a Matt Forte TD run.

On the ensuing kickoff, Robbie Gould squib kicked the ball and it was returned to midfield. However, the Packers set up at the 35-yard line of Chicago after a horse collar tackle by Adrian Peterson.

It looked over again when Packers kicker Mason Crosby lined up for the game winning field goal.

I said to myself, "He could miss it."

Well, it was actually blocked by the giant, god-like hand of Alex Brown.

Chicago took a knee and went to over time.

Divine Intervention?

It was time for the coin toss. Green Bay called tails. The coin was flipped. Then it some how found it's way above Bears LB Brian Urlacher's head. After flipping off of Urlacher's head, the coin came to rest on the heads side. Urlacher could do nothing but smile, the crowd went wild as the Packers stood in disbelief.

Chicago drove down field with a catch by TE Greg Olsen, who drew a horse-collar tackle call, setting the Bears up at the Packers 35-yard line. Matt Forte then made good on a third down, 14-yard catch from Kyle Orton.

It was over when Bears kicker Robbie Gould nailed the game winning kick right down the pike from 38 yards.

Game Ball

DE Alex Brown came up with one of the biggest plays of the year, blocking the game winning FG attempt by the Packers. Also RB Matt Forte showed up when they needed it the most, finishing with 101 total yards and one TD.

Looking Ahead

With the win, the Chicago Bears are still in the playoff hunt. The scenarios are as follows.

- If Minnesota loses next week to the Giants and Chicago wins, the Bears win the NFC North.

-If Chicago wins next week and Minnesota wins, the Bears need the Cowboys and the Buccaneers to lose to get in the wild card.

I do not see them winning the division because the Giants have already earned the number one seed and will most likely sit their starters next week against the Vikings.

I think the only way Chicago gets in is if Dallas and Tampa Bay lose next week.

Green Bay's woes continue

Aaron Rodgers did all he could do in this one. He is 0-8 this season with his team tied or behind by eight or more points in the fourth quarter or overtime. To his credit, he did not miss the field goal.

Stats

Chicago: QB Kyle Orton 14/27 142 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs. RB Matt Forte 101 total yards and a TD. TE Greg Olsen five catches for 49 yards and a TD. DB Corey Graham lead the team with nine huge tackles.

Green Bay: QB Aaron Rodgers 24/39 260 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT. RB Ryan Grant 81 total yards and a TD. WR Donald Driver caught six balls for 63 yards.

T.W. Krems Presents: Most Memorable Photos from the 2008 NFL Season

T.W. Krems — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 09:32:06 -0500

This was one of, if not the best, photos from the 2007 NFL Season. Here we will run down the top 10 photos in the NFL this season. This is the 2008 year in review most memorable photos in the NFL. Whether it was Jay Cutlers empty hand or the Titans going 10-0, these are my picks. I hope you enjoy them.

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Bleacher Report's NFL Defensive Player of the Year: Vote Here

T.W. Krems — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:01:04 -0500

Bleacher Report has decided to hold their own voting for the NFL Awards this year. The voters are our valued writers.

Please take the time to look over the nominees. Here is the voting page for the NFL Offensive Player of the Year. The nominees are found in the following article:

T.W. Krems Presents: Bleacher Report's NFL Defensive Player of the Year Nominees

You will find the link below. There you will find the nominees with a rundown of stats and what they have brought to their team this season.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/95044-tw-krems-presents-bleacher-reports-nfl-defensive-player-of-the-year-nominees

Express your voice and happy voting!

T.W. Krems

If you would like to vote for James Harrison, Submit his name in the comment thread.

T.W. Krems Presents: Bleacher Report's NFL Defensive Player of the Year Nominees

T.W. Krems — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:02:27 -0500

It has been a great season this year in the NFL, and an especially great season for some of the defensive all-stars. Whether it has been Jon Beason with the Panthers or Ed Reed with the Ravens, we will find out who the Bleacher Report writers think deserves this award. Here are the best from the 2008 season, where we will see who has performed well enough to be nominated as the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Once you have seen the nominees, please submit your vote by following this link.

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Bleacher Report's NFL Offensive Player of the Year: Vote Here

T.W. Krems — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 09:08:54 -0500

Bleacher Report has decided to hold their own voting for the NFL Awards this year. The voters are our valued writers.

Please take the time to look over the nominees. Here is the voting page for the NFL Offensive Player of the Year. The nominees are found in the following article:

T.W. Krems Presents: Bleacher Report's NFL Offensive Player of the Year Nominees

You will find the link below. There you will find the nominees with a rundown of stats and what they have brought to their team this season.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/94862-tw-krems-presents-bleacher-reports-nfl-offensive-player-of-the-year-nominees

Express your voice and happy voting!

T.W. Krems

T.W. Krems Presents: Bleacher Report's NFL Offensive Player of the Year Nominees

T.W. Krems — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 07:52:00 -0500

It has been a great season this year in the NFL, and an especially great season for some of the offensive all-stars. Whether it has been Kurt Warner with the Cardinals or Adrian Peterson with the VIkings, we will find out who the Bleacher Report writers think deserves this award. Here are the best from the 2008 season, where we will see who has performed well enough to be nominated as the NFL Offensive Player of the Year. Once you have seen the nominees, please submit your vote by following this link

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Bleacher Report's NFL Comeback Player of the Year: Vote Here

T.W. Krems — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 05:35:58 -0500

Bleacher Report has decided to hold their own voting for the NFL Awards this year. The voters are our valued writers.

Please take the time to look over the nominees. Here is the voting page for the NFL Coach of the Year. The nominees are found in the following article:

T.W. Krems Presents: Bleacher Reports NFL Comeback Player of the Year Nominees.

There you will find the nominees with a rundown of stats and what they have brought to their team this season.

Express your voice and happy voting!

T.W. Krems

Bleacher Report's NFL Coach of the Year Nominees: Vote Here

T.W. Krems — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 05:24:22 -0500

Bleacher Report has decided to hold their own voting for the NFL Awards this year. The voters are our valued writers.

Please take the time to look over the nominees. Here is the voting page for the NFL Coach of the Year. The nominees are found in the following article:

T.W. Krems Presents: Bleacher Reports NFL Coach of the Year Nominees.

There you will find the nominees with a rundown of stats and what they have brought to their team this season.

Express your voice and happy voting!

Bleacher Report's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year: Vote Here

T.W. Krems — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 05:00:15 -0500

Bleacher Report has decided to hold their own voting for the NFL Awards this year. The voters are our valued writers.

Please take the time to look over the nominees. Here is the voting page for the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. The nominees are found in the following article:

T.W. Krems Presents: Bleacher Reports NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Nominees.

The link is provided below. There you will find the nominees with a rundown of stats and what they have brought to their team this season.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/91946-tw-krems-presents-bleacher-reports-nfl-defensive-rookie-of-the-year-nominees

Express your voice and happy voting!

Bleacher Report's NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year: Vote Here

T.W. Krems — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 04:44:12 -0500

Bleacher Report has decided to hold its own voting for the NFL Awards this year. The voters are our valued writers.

Please take the time to look over the nominees. Here is the voting page for the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. The nominees are found in the following article: T.W. Krems Presents: Bleacher Report's NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Nominees.

The link is provided below. There you will find the nominees with a rundown of stats and what they have brought to their teams this season.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/91832-tw-krems-presents-bleacher-reports-nfl-offensive-rookie-of-the-year-nominees

Express your voice and happy voting!

T.W. Krems

2008 NFL Year in Review: Presented by the Fans

T.W. Krems — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:44:29 -0500

The year of 2008 was an exciting one starting back in January. From the end of last years playoffs to the end of the 2008 regular season, the fans have been on the edge of their seats. Now as we continue to hang on the edge of our seats and wait for the finall playoff spots to be taken, we look back at what made the year of 2008 a great one in the NFL.

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Live Poker to Online Poker: A User's Guide

T.W. Krems — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:11:57 -0500

Yeah, I know this is not a mainstream topic on Bleacher Report, but I like to consider myself a bit of a poker nut.

Lately, I have found myself playing a lot of online Texas Hold 'em and Omaha. My site of choice is Full Tilt, but that is beside the point. I have played in many hold 'em tournaments and have had great success. Unfortunately, I have not found the time to go out and play at local bars and cash game holes. That is why I have turned to online play.

What I am doing here is comparing my experience of playing online poker and playing a live game. With that said, this can be used as a kind of guide for those who may have been wanting to get started with the game.

Online Players vs. Live Players

This has to be the most glaring difference between the two. Obviously, it is very difficult to get a read off of an online player. You can do it, but you would have to play with that person online over a long period of time to pick up their betting habits.

Playing in a live game, not only can you get a read or a "tell" off of a players betting pattern, but you can pick up a tell off of your opponents body language. Most notable example would be James Bond picking up the Villain's tell in the movie Casino Royale.

Now, if you are a player and play online, your strategies and betting habits will not work at a live table. You need to be able to put on that "poker face" and stare your opponents down. That also goes the other way. Your live game strategies will not work online. You have to be willing to get your chips in the middle pre-flop without the best hand.

Online Betting Strategies vs. Live Betting Strategies

Ok, both live and online have two kind of strategies, aggressive and conservative. Now conservative betting is pretty much the same in both games. You basically fold every hand and only play if you have a high pocket pair or any combination of an "A" and a face card; K, Q, or J.

As for the aggressive play, the betting is much different. In most online tournaments, whether play chips or real money, you will have sometimes seven of the nine players at the table go "all-in" pre-flop on the first hand. This is done because in online play players who get a hefty chip lead early will sit out most of the tournament to let everyone else defeat each other. I personally can't stand it.

When you play at a live table, you can instantly tell who is aggressive and who is not.

Online Game Flow vs Live Game Flow

This one kills me. Playing online can get very tedious and annoying. If you or the people you are playing do not have a sound Internet connection, you may have to sit and wait up to a minute and half each time they are disconnected. On top of that, there is no table chat or reads off of body language. If the cards start running dead for you, you may be in for a long night because all you can do is sit and wait.

This leads me to the next comparison.

Online Atmosphere vs. Live Atmosphere

If you enjoy the game as much as I do, you can play no matter what the atmosphere, but nothing beats having a stack of chips in front of you and the surroundings in a live game.

You can pass time by trying to "get inside your opponents head" by trying to call their hand and getting a read off them. You can also sit and talk about your playing experiences and try to one up your opponent. Another thing you can do is pick up tricks like chip shuffling, chip flipping, or rolling.

Well that's it for tonight. Whether it is your first time playing or you are a poker pro, it is always an enjoyable game. Feel free to ask me any questions about the game or my experiences. You can contact me on my BR profile or email me at tkrems@live .com.

Also, if you are ever on Fulltilt.net, look me up and we can play a game, tkrems54 is my playing name.

Be sure to always play responsibly and if you have a gambling problem, be sure to seek help. You can get gambling addiction counseling by contacting The National Council on Problem Gambling - NATIONWIDE HELPLINE 1-800-522-4700.

Chicago Bears Roundtable: One Man's Loss Is Another Man's Gain

T.W. Krems — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 07:47:01 -0500

That's right, with Daniel Manning taking over kick return duties from Devin Hester, he is proving not to disappoint.

Welcome to the Week 15 edition of the Chicago Bears roundtable. For this week's discussion, we will have the following talented Chicago Bears writers; Ian Sheppard, Max Kienzler, and T.W. Krems, who will also be moderating this discussion. Let's get to it.

Alright Ian and Max, on to our topics.

Every year, the Bears vote for an MVP of their team. Whom do you think the Bears' MVP should be and why?

IS- If there is an MVP on the Bears, I'm gonna go with a usual Bears answer: Brad Maynard. I know this seems pretty strange, but Maynard tends to get a lot of votes on the team year-in and year-out.

This season, Maynard currently leads the league in punts inside the 20-yard line. This is significant because it sets up opposing offenses in unfavorable field position—making it tougher for them to score from shorter distances.

Maynard is doing his job setting things up for his defense. It's up to the defense to step up for his sake and get the ball to the offense—who needs to score more off of turnovers.

MK- Well, it will probably be Matt Forte (as well it should be), but to go a different route, I will say John St. Clair. I know Jared Allen abused him in the Viking game. But stepping in for a hurt Chris Williams, St. Clair has been a drastic improvement over He-who-must-not-be-named...Fred Miller.

He has played against some of the top defensive ends in the game and played better than any single one of us thought and provided Kyle Orton time to have his best season statistically.

TK- I like seeing you guys go a different route, but the only thing different about this teams offense from last year is Matt Forte. You take Forte out and you still have the same QB, WRs, OL, and TEs. With that said it is not just the numbers that make Forte their MVP, but the spark he brings to this team.

With a very important re-match coming up in a couple of weeks, what is at least one thing the Bears need to do to come out on top against Green Bay?

IS- We all know how terrible the first Bears-Packers game was this season. While it pains me to mention it, I think two things (at least) are in order for this game. The first is that the Bears need to stop the Packers running game.

The last game, the Packers rushed for 200 yards and both Ryan Grant and Brandon Jackson averaged at least five yards a carry. This is just not acceptable, especially given that the Bears had stopped Tennessee the week before from rushing successfully.

The second, and more important, is the Bears need to treat this game like a playoff game. In many of the games this season, the Bears seem to slack off and not play as hard in games that probably could help them right now (if they had won them). This is what will keep them alive to reach the playoffs this year (assuming Minnesota or Atlanta fall).

MK- They must get to Aaron Rodgers. In the last game, Rodgers was hurried like once...ZERO sacks. He wasn't hit at all. It was pathetic. You can not expect a defense to keep coverage on four or five receivers for that long. You have to get to him. And you can not allow Grant to have the game he had last time. Mike Brown will have to step up in that department.

TK- I think the only thing that needs to happen is that the offense make the trip this time. Three points last game! Horrible. They need to come out very aggressive threw the air and on the ground, hold nothing back.

Even if they win this game, it looks like the only way they make the playoffs is if one of the two wild card teams starts slipping up. I do not know how Minnesota did what they did this week against the Cardinals.

The Bears seem to be a one-half team. A majority of their games this year, they have come on and completely dominated one half, but generally flopped the other. Why is this and can it be fixed in time for the MNF game against the Packers? (where last time they played two bad halves)

IS- I'm not really sure why the Bears have been struggling in playing two halves of football. But I can lay out a couple of possibilities or explanations.

The first is that this is a problem they had last season, only it was more of an issue in finishing games, as the Bears let three games slip away despite a fourth quarter league (at Detroit for a 37-27 loss, at San Diego for a 14-3 loss, and home against the Giants for a 21-16 loss).

The second, and more importantly, is that there have been some accusations that the Bears players are not conditioned enough to play for two halves. I'm not sure if it's true or not, but I can definitely say that there is something wrong with this defense's effort late in games—especially when they have a lead.

If this turns out to be true, Lovie Smith and his coaching staff (particularly Bob Babich) could see themselves possibly be getting fired during the offseason.

MK- The failure to make adjustments when winning and gaining offensive rhythm. Lovie and his assistants are awful at making half time adjustments...Period.

Week after week, Lovie is interviewed going into the locker room and every week its always the same thing, "I think we are doing some things right but we just have to make an adjustment or two and we will put ourselves in a good position to win"...And every week, the second half schemes look the exact freaking same.

TK- I think it is very simple and here it is. The Bears get ahead early and then play conservative. They need to be like the Colts or the Patriots. Put up as many points as you can and always play like your losing so that teams do not come from behind 17 points and win in the fourth quarter.

If you do that, there is a less likely chance a team will beat you from behind when they are down 21 or 27 points. Key point was the first Minnesota game. The Bears put up 48 points to win and they allowed 41. You have to fight to the finish.

Does Danieal Manning's kickoff return threaten Devin Hester as a punt returner?

IS- What a great question! I'm not sure, though, that Danieal Manning would serve well as a punt returner. He certainly has the explosive speed to break a big play whenever called upon, but he might not be an upgrade because he doesn't have the same lateral moving ability as Hester and handling punts might be an issue for him.

Personally, I would like the Bears to give Earl Bennett or Garrett Wolfe a chance at returning punts...but that's given that Hester doesn't return a touchdown this season.

MK- It shouldn't, but it might. Devin is not going to be taken off punts this year. You can't go from returning that many punts and kicks in two years to not returning kicks or punts period by the end of the following year.

But the way Devin returned that first punt, running into his own player and then backwards for a 10-yard loss, he might be feeling the pressure.

TK- No, Not yet. Manning did return that kick for a TD, but I don’t think I saw him have to make even one cut. He just ran straight up field. Not to take anything away from him, but Olin Kruetz could have taken that to the house, I mean the kicker just sat down and let him bye.

As for Hester, he still has that good given talent to make people miss, I mean many. Unless he becomes the Bears No. 1 receiver by a long shot or the Bears are out of the playoffs, I can’t see Lovie Smith take this away from him.

What was, in your opinion, the key to victory in Thursday nights win over the Saints?

IS- I think there are two things that helped the Bears beat the Saints. The first is Daniel Manning's opening kick return for a touchdown. This was very important because while the Saints offense is "good," their defense is so bad that no matter what the offense does, this team suffers and does not even become even a threat to win their division.

The second is the Saints offense. Brees threw two interceptions, and the Bears did their best to capitalize on these turnovers. But the biggest thing is that the Bears have a knack for forcing Brees to make mistakes when they need him to.

Sure, the defense nearly lost that game for the Bears, but the Saints offense is still not good enough to overcome their defensive issues. In fact, the Saints offense didn't even get the ball in overtime. Way to go, Bears!

MK- The key was Special Teams. The defense played alright. They definitely stepped up at crucial times. And the offense played pretty well the first half considering that Matt Forte was hampered by a toe injury.

The second half they disappeared off the charts. Special teams was just phenomenal. Maynard has put together a couple pretty good games. Robbie is good as Gould. And Danieal Manning started it all off with the kickoff return.

TK- Manning’s return did give them that spark, but I have to say Devin Hester. Without him drawing those two pass interference penalties, there is no way the Bears win this game. He is something special and if we can just find someone good enough to throw him the ball, who knows what will happen.

The Saints offense was 7-of-17 on third downs, but six of them were more than eight yards. Why can the Bears defense stop a team on third and short, but they can’t stop them on third and 8+?

IS- Two reasons. The first is that the Bears defense is currently ranked 28th in passing defense. There are only four teams that give up more passing yards per game than the Bears do.

The second is the Bears lead the league in passing attempts per game. This is significant because teams know they can pass on the Bears defense, and the zone of the Cover Two, cover three, or man always tends to leave something open...and relatively far down the field.

MK- The Bears can stop teams on third and short because it seems like they can half expect the run and stack the line because they can gamble the opposing team isn't going to go deep.

The problem is, when it's 3rd-and-12, the Bears drop into a Cover Two scheme and that leaves to many holes deep that can be exploited if there if the QB isn't pressured...which the Bears have had trouble doing this year. It is miserable to watch.

TK- Like Max said, it’s the cover two. When it is 3rd-and-8, the Bears go with the Tampa Two zone coverage with the safety’s deep over the top. The linebackers stay in zone between the CB’s to about seven to 10 yards deep, therefore allowing a pocket to form between them and the safety’s, which is generally 10-13 yards deep.

The problem for the Bears is that their safety's do not close fast enough or are caught out of position. Now the other problem is that the Bears have yet to get a good third and long pass rush on the season.

Take on the Bears

Chicago is still alive in the play off hunt, not just in the division, but also the wild card. Now in order to make the play offs, the Bears need to win the next two games. Other than that all they can do is pray.

To get in, they need two straight losses by the Vikings and the other wild card contenders. All we can ask of them is to win the last two.

At 8-6, it is very possible that the Bears can miss the play offs with a final record of 10-6. That will make it an even harder blow, considering the multiple last-second games the Bears let slip through their hands this season.

Join us next week as we update the play off picture and where the Bears stand in it. Thanks again to Max and Ian, another great round of discussion.

T.W. Krems Presents: Bleacher Report's NFL Comeback Player of the Year Nominees

T.W. Krems — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 03:23:06 -0500

It has been a great season this year in the NFL, and an especially great season for some of the proven veterans. Whether it has been Kurt Warne with the Cardinals or Kerry Collins with the Titans, we will find out who the Bleacher Report writers think deserves this award. Here are the best from the 2008 season, where we will see who has performed well enough to be nominated as the NFL Comeback Player of the Year. Once you have seen the nominees, please submit your vote to tkrems@live.com.

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From Best to Worst: A Look Back at the 2008 NFL Season

T.W. Krems — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 16:47:32 -0500

It is getting to be that time of year, when every game counts, win or go home. It has been an exciting season, with two games left to play, in which anything can still happen. Playoff spots to be gained, awards to be earned and records to be broken. As we prepare to enter into playoff football, we take the time to look back at what was the 2008 NFL regular season. The highs and lows, the good and the bad, the new the old, the best to the worst.

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