Is The North Still Up For the Taking?

[bears51/40]

True, but they upgraded their O and Dlines this offseason. I think they will still have a strong run game behind Jones, and their defense will keep the scores low.

Doubt Jones will be a Viking in 2025, They just signed Jordan Mason from the 9ers

 

[nc0gnet0]

Is regression defined by wins and losses?
So, if the Lions go 13-4, they have "regressed"?

 

[hebs]

Doubt Jones will be a Viking in 2025, They just signed Jordan Mason from the 9ers

You sure about that??

Sources: Vikes keep RB Jones with $20M deal

Running back Aaron Jones is re-signing with the Vikings on a two-year, $20 million deal that includes $13 million guaranteed, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

www.espn.com

 

[gpphat]

You sure about that??

Sources: Vikes keep RB Jones with $20M deal

Running back Aaron Jones is re-signing with the Vikings on a two-year, $20 million deal that includes $13 million guaranteed, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

www.espn.com

What makes that post so funny/awful is the fact they re-signed Jones before they traded for Mason

 

[Xplosive]

Yes the NFC North is up for the taking....it's just not up for the taking by the Bears

Only Detroit can truly claim to be superior to the Bears in talent and they have lost so much leadership there is no way of being sure they will remain on track.

Minny was a lucky mirage last season that turned into a pumpkin in the playoffs. They have talent and so do the Bears, QB play will determine who is better.

GB hasnt improved this offseason and is primed for a step back, I wouldn't be shocked to see them finally crumble under the pressure and expectations. They will be in last place.

 

[hebs]

Is regression defined by wins and losses?
So, if the Lions go 13-4, they have "regressed"?

If they don't go as deep or deeper in the playoffs, yes it's a regression.

 

[gpphat]

Only Detroit can truly claim to be superior to the Bears in talent and they have lost so much leadership there is no way of being sure they will remain on track.

Minny was a lucky mirage last season that turned into a pumpkin in the playoffs. They have talent and so do the Bears, QB play will determine who is better.

GB hasnt improved this offseason and is primed for a step back, I wouldn't be shocked to see them finally crumble under the pressure and expectations. They will be in last place.

Nearly every year we hear the same reasoning from the Meatballs on how this will be the year....all because everyone else in the NFC North seem to have gotten worse and the Bears were the only team to improve. And then the season begins and then we start hearing how it is the OC's fault or the DC's fault or it is the OL's fault, or the Defenses fault, or the lack of weapons, or it being a new system, or the QB isn't as good as we originally thought, etc etc etc. Dont believe me that everyone likes to talk up how this is the year because everyone else sucked? You don't have to search that far, hell you can use your own profile if you like:

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The Packers had a trash draft, Vikings were mediocre, and Lions got slightly better at corner...

All in all, the North will belong to... Da 's

Not trying to shit in your fruit loops, but I have seen this script before....in a couple months we are gonna have the same meatballs claiming the Bears were the only ones who had a great draft in the NFC North and that it is a lock for the Bears.

This was a division that sent 3 teams to the playoffs last year and the bears collapsed after the Hail Mary game....and I'm supposed to believe that the Bears improved that much over the teams that the Bears went 1-5 against and the 1 win was a 2 point victory over a backup QB?

 

[Xplosive]

Nearly every year we hear the same reasoning from the Meatballs on how this will be the year....all because everyone else in the NFC North seem to have gotten worse and the Bears were the only team to improve. And then the season begins and then we start hearing how it is the OC's fault or the DC's fault or it is the OL's fault, or the Defenses fault, or the lack of weapons, or it being a new system, or the QB isn't as good as we originally thought, etc etc etc. Dont believe me that everyone likes to talk up how this is the year because everyone else sucked? You don't have to search that far, hell you can use your own profile if you like:



Not trying to shit in your fruit loops, but I have seen this script before....in a couple months we are gonna have the same meatballs claiming the Bears were the only ones who had a great draft in the NFC North and that it is a lock for the Bears.

This was a division that sent 3 teams to the playoffs last year and the bears collapsed after the Hail Mary game....and I'm supposed to believe that the Bears improved that much over the teams that the Bears went 1-5 against and the 1 win was a 2 point victory over a backup QB?

The easiest position to defend in a sports debate is the "History of Futility" approach. It's very safe and lazy ground to simply say "I'll believe it when I see it". I think anyone that has been a Bears fan long enough has seen and heard it all. YES we have blamed the OC's and DC's for the team's shortcomings, so do you have a long list of successful OC's & DC's that went on to greatness after leaving the Bears??? I mean that would at least be proof that we were wrong, but if you don't then all that proves is that we were right and management was wrong.

Go look at what Lions have lost and then tell me where they improved, same goes for the Packers. I think it's pretty clear that Vikings and Bears are the teams that improved their weaknesses. The problem for that Vikings is first that they were lucky last season and second that they lost the QB that was leading them and don't have any idea if McCarthy is ready or can play.

My fruit loops are fresh and soggy the way I prefer them, Bears have clearly improved most of the holes on the offensive line which was the main issue with the offense and that has nothing to do with being a meatball but hey you have the advantage of "I've see it before" which no one can argue against what happened in past. I choose not to live in the past or use it as an excuse to pessimistic is the difference.

 

[gpphat]

The easiest position to defend in a sports debate is the "History of Futility" approach. It's very safe and lazy ground to simply say "I'll believe it when I see it". I think anyone that has been a Bears fan long enough has seen and heard it all. YES we have blamed the OC's and DC's for the team's shortcomings, so do you have a long list of successful OC's & DC's that went on to greatness after leaving the Bears??? I mean that would at least be proof that we were wrong, but if you don't then all that proves is that we were right and management was wrong.

Go look at what Lions have lost and then tell me where they improved, same goes for the Packers. I think it's pretty clear that Vikings and Bears are the teams that improved their weaknesses. The problem for that Vikings is first that they were lucky last season and second that they lost the QB that was leading them and don't have any idea if McCarthy is ready or can play.

My fruit loops are fresh and soggy the way I prefer them, Bears have clearly improved most of the holes on the offensive line which was the main issue with the offense and that has nothing to do with being a meatball but hey you have the advantage of "I've see it before" which no one can argue against what happened in past. I choose not to live in the past or use it as an excuse to pessimistic is the difference.

It's an easy position to defend because this has been the theme for the Bears for how many years now...the Bears have been in a constant loop of how to stay mediocre or bad. It has been like this since the firing of Lovie Smith. When have the Bears in the last 20 years made a coaching move that panned out? It's like if someone were to tell you they are going to fake kick you in the balls as a joke but they won't actually do it....then after they actually kick you in the balls, they tell you that they really won't do it this time. And sure enough it happens again and you are assured that it won't happen the next time. You can keep enjoying that nut kick, me I choose to step away and let meatballs like yourself take that nut kick year after year.

The difference between you and I is my expectations are zero...where you are parroting the same shit you posted last year. You can call this pessimism all you want, but to me this is having realistic expectations. I liked the Ben Johnson hiring and some of the offseason moves, but that doesn't take away the fact this is still a rookie HC with a rookie OC with a 2nd year QB who had a rocky first season. Lions still have Dan Campbell with an offense and defense that still has it's core players. The Packers still have LeFleur, and the same OC & DC from the prior year, along with the main core players on that offense. The Vikes still have O'Connell and the same coordinators from the past 2 years, still have one of the Best WR's in the game and this team made Darnold a sought after free agent. Read that last part again.

Realistically, the Bears will likely finish last in the division again and that is not a knock on the Bears. They are a young team that will need a little time. The NFC North was the best division in football last year, the question shouldn't be if the Bears can take the NFC North....the question should be how much can CW and this team improve from last year

 

[HeHateMe]

It's an easy position to defend because this has been the theme for the Bears for how many years now...the Bears have been in a constant loop of how to stay mediocre or bad. It has been like this since the firing of Lovie Smith. When have the Bears in the last 20 years made a coaching move that panned out? It's like if someone were to tell you they are going to fake kick you in the balls as a joke but they won't actually do it....then after they actually kick you in the balls, they tell you that they really won't do it this time. And sure enough it happens again and you are assured that it won't happen the next time. You can keep enjoying that nut kick, me I choose to step away and let meatballs like yourself take that nut kick year after year.

The difference between you and I is my expectations are zero...where you are parroting the same shit you posted last year. You can call this pessimism all you want, but to me this is having realistic expectations. I liked the Ben Johnson hiring and some of the offseason moves, but that doesn't take away the fact this is still a rookie HC with a rookie OC with a 2nd year QB who had a rocky first season. Lions still have Dan Campbell with an offense and defense that still has it's core players. The Packers still have LeFleur, and the same OC & DC from the prior year, along with the main core players on that offense. The Vikes still have O'Connell and the same coordinators from the past 2 years, still have one of the Best WR's in the game and this team made Darnold a sought after free agent. Read that last part again.

Realistically, the Bears will likely finish last in the division again and that is not a knock on the Bears. They are a young team that will need a little time. The NFC North was the best division in football last year, the question shouldn't be if the Bears can take the NFC North....the question should be how much can CW and this team improve from last year

Lions will probably finish 1st again but might not, and bears could surprise, or finish last. But I can guarantee u that if @hyatt151 isn't dead, and @nc0gnet0 isn't arrested by DNR, both those guys will be on here angrily posting and f5ing all day after the Lions choke in the playoffs.

 

[bears51/40]

Is regression defined by wins and losses?
So, if the Lions go 13-4, they have "regressed"?

Doubt any team in the North is going 13-4 this season, much tougher schedule this year for all the teams.

 

[bears51/40]

What makes that post so funny/awful is the fact they re-signed Jones before they traded for Mason

Didn't know that thanks for the info.

 

[Szlachcic]

Is regression defined by wins and losses?
So, if the Lions go 13-4, they have "regressed"?

Lions go 13-4 ? Forget about it. They may win it, but will lose 5 games minimum..

 

[Xplosive]

It's an easy position to defend because this has been the theme for the Bears for how many years now...the Bears have been in a constant loop of how to stay mediocre or bad. It has been like this since the firing of Lovie Smith. When have the Bears in the last 20 years made a coaching move that panned out? It's like if someone were to tell you they are going to fake kick you in the balls as a joke but they won't actually do it....then after they actually kick you in the balls, they tell you that they really won't do it this time. And sure enough it happens again and you are assured that it won't happen the next time. You can keep enjoying that nut kick, me I choose to step away and let meatballs like yourself take that nut kick year after year.

The difference between you and I is my expectations are zero...where you are parroting the same shit you posted last year. You can call this pessimism all you want, but to me this is having realistic expectations. I liked the Ben Johnson hiring and some of the offseason moves, but that doesn't take away the fact this is still a rookie HC with a rookie OC with a 2nd year QB who had a rocky first season. Lions still have Dan Campbell with an offense and defense that still has it's core players. The Packers still have LeFleur, and the same OC & DC from the prior year, along with the main core players on that offense. The Vikes still have O'Connell and the same coordinators from the past 2 years, still have one of the Best WR's in the game and this team made Darnold a sought after free agent. Read that last part again.

Realistically, the Bears will likely finish last in the division again and that is not a knock on the Bears. They are a young team that will need a little time. The NFC North was the best division in football last year, the question shouldn't be if the Bears can take the NFC North....the question should be how much can CW and this team improve from last year

It's easy to defend because it doesn't require any effort. Nothing that you said about the past 20... I mean 30 years is incorrect as far as this franchise goes. The difference between you and I is that if I really didn't care and had a blah attitude about the team I wouldn't even watch or maybe find another team rather than have low expectations at the very moment when hope and expectation should be at its highest.

The term meatball doesn't fit me at all, homer perhaps but there is no reason to go through life expecting the worst case scenario based on past experiences and then try to pass that off as "realism". The team has a lot of new pieces and exciting hires so I compare those changes to what was there before and consider them upgrades. The offensive line was horrible and has been since Olin Kreutz left. I have no reason to look at all these new players and still expect horrible play just because "It's the Bears"

This is the perfect time to think positive, but apparently your nuts are sore and the bitterness about it still stings. As a Bears fan I completely understand. Things are still different and different is an opportunity to be good so I will hope for the best for now and protect my nuts at the same time.

 

[HeHateMe]

It's easy to defend because it doesn't require any effort. Nothing that you said about the past 20... I mean 30 years is incorrect as far as this franchise goes. The difference between you and I is that if I really didn't care and had a blah attitude about the team I wouldn't even watch or maybe find another team rather than have low expectations at the very moment when hope and expectation should be at its highest.

The term meatball doesn't fit me at all, homer perhaps but there is no reason to go through life expecting the worst case scenario based on past experiences and then try to pass that off as "realism". The team has a lot of new pieces and exciting hires so I compare those changes to what was there before and consider them upgrades. The offensive line was horrible and has been since Olin Kreutz left. I have no reason to look at all these new players and still expect horrible play just because "It's the Bears"

This is the perfect time to think positive, but apparently your nuts are sore and the bitterness about it still stings. As a Bears fan I completely understand. Things are still different and different is an opportunity to be good so I will hope for the best for now and protect my nuts at the same time.

I agree. And I don't care if someone calls me a meatball for wanting to draft that 350 lb dt who is also an rb with a wicked spin move, because that's something I want even if it's a 4th or 6th rounder. I also want him to learn longsnapping. Let's go!!!

 

[TheEarlofRobin]

The team has a lot of new pieces and exciting hires so I compare those changes to what was there before and consider them upgrades.

But that's part of the constant loop. Expectations are raised with the hiring of a new coach. They are raised even higher with the signing of new players. 10 game losing streaks are forgotten. 10-11 wins are expected, QB is an MVP candidate, etc. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me to think things will turn around sight unseen.

I'm seeing articles of the Bears being 'most improved' and so forth....well, when you have needs everywhere and you have cap space due to the fact that you don't have any good players, that's the normal process. If that wasn't the case, then the Bears would be in serious trouble. Ben Johnson has won zero games as a HC....Poles averages about 5 wins a year....Caleb ranked 25th in passer rating and 34th in QBR. There is a lot you have to take on faith.

 

[HeHateMe]

I agree. And I don't care if someone calls me a meatball for wanting to draft that 350 lb dt who is also an rb with a wicked spin move, because that's something I want even if it's a 4th or 6th rounder. I also want him to learn longsnapping. Let's go!!!

J.J. Pegues 5th Rd (DT/#BEEFBACK)??

J.J. Pegues 6'2.5" 309 BeefBack that also gets QB Sacks...

forum.chicitysports.com

 

[HeHateMe]

But that's part of the constant loop. Expectations are raised with the hiring of a new coach. They are raised even higher with the signing of new players. 10 game losing streaks are forgotten. 10-11 wins are expected, QB is an MVP candidate, etc. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me to think things will turn around sight unseen.

I'm seeing articles of the Bears being 'most improved' and so forth....well, when you have needs everywhere and you have cap space due to the fact that you don't have any good players, that's the normal process. If that wasn't the case, then the Bears would be in serious trouble. Ben Johnson has won zero games as a HC....Poles averages about 5 wins a year....Caleb ranked 25th in passer rating and 34th in QBR. There is a lot you have to take on faith.

But what does @ILoveDick think?

 

[Xplosive]

But that's part of the constant loop. Expectations are raised with the hiring of a new coach. They are raised even higher with the signing of new players. 10 game losing streaks are forgotten. 10-11 wins are expected, QB is an MVP candidate, etc. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me to think things will turn around sight unseen.

I'm seeing articles of the Bears being 'most improved' and so forth....well, when you have needs everywhere and you have cap space due to the fact that you don't have any good players, that's the normal process. If that wasn't the case, then the Bears would be in serious trouble. Ben Johnson has won zero games as a HC....Poles averages about 5 wins a year....Caleb ranked 25th in passer rating and 34th in QBR. There is a lot you have to take on faith.

It's not about taking anything on faith, I have seen this team lose several games because of coaching blunders, not lack of talent. Their isn't a huge gap between the talent the Bears have compared to what other teams in the division have, the difference is coaching. I have seen the players that Poles has brought in this year have high level success in the league prior to being here. That can't be said for the players he had brought in previously.

The approach to building the offensive line has changed so barring injury I don't see it magically failing just because of the "Bears always mess it up" mentality. B. Johnson is not Matt Nagy and even if he were, at least the team was fun with Nagy for a couple years. I'm willing to give the organization a clean slate because they are at least trying to do things differently. I truly believe the ownership wants to win which is more than I can say for every other organization in this damn town.

Caleb didn't play as well as we hoped but definitely not as poorly as it's portrayed in the media. I see no reason to have a sour puss outlook on the team at this point the glass is definitely half-full in my book.

 

[gpphat]

It's easy to defend because it doesn't require any effort. Nothing that you said about the past 20... I mean 30 years is incorrect as far as this franchise goes. The difference between you and I is that if I really didn't care and had a blah attitude about the team I wouldn't even watch or maybe find another team rather than have low expectations at the very moment when hope and expectation should be at its highest.

It's an easy position to defend because the Bears made it an easy position to defend...for decades now we have seen this organization make horrible picks, or letting the good players walk...we have seen numerous coordinators and position coaches just flounder and and bring nothing to the table....we have seen questionable HC hires...and GM's don't last here because of these shortcoming. But the one thing that does not change are the nimrods at the top. When I say I have seen this before I'm not just talking about this cycle the Bears are in....I live in Redskin/Commanders country, I have seen what horrible ownership can do to a team and its fanbase. Maybe it is time for high expectations but this team has not given me a reason to have high expectations.

The term meatball doesn't fit me at all, homer perhaps but there is no reason to go through life expecting the worst case scenario based on past experiences and then try to pass that off as "realism". The team has a lot of new pieces and exciting hires so I compare those changes to what was there before and consider them upgrades. The offensive line was horrible and has been since Olin Kreutz left. I have no reason to look at all these new players and still expect horrible play just because "It's the Bears"

You are the embodiment of a meatball. This isn't a situation of expecting the worse case scenario solely based on past experiences. You are claiming that Bears could have a shot because in your mind every other team in the division didn't improve or got worse and the Bears were the only ones to make any significant improvements. But you leave out the fact that 2 major defensive players missed significant time for the Lions and the offense retained it's major pieces and most importantly still has their good HC. The crux of your argument with Minnesota is they were lucky, even you have to recognize how weak of an argument that is. O'Connell has coached them to a 13 win season and a 14 win season and likely would have had another winning record season had Cousins not blown his achilles, combine that with the fact they didn't lose their coordinators and if O'Connell can resurge Darnold career, you can imagine what he can do with McCarthy. GB has a coach that has missed the playoffs once since taking over the Packers. But I am supposed to think a rookie HC, with a rookie OC, with a 2nd year QB in his 1st year in that offensive system, who has the 2 hardest current SOS can overcome the 3 teams who not only finished ahead of the Bears but made the playoffs. Trust me this isn't because "It's the Bears". Maybe if the Bears played in the AFC South or the NFC South or the NFC West I could see how there is a path for a division title.

This is the perfect time to think positive, but apparently your nuts are sore and the bitterness about it still stings. As a Bears fan I completely understand. Things are still different and different is an opportunity to be good so I will hope for the best for now and protect my nuts at the same time.

All I am saying is think realistic and match your expectations. Ryan Poles does not have a good track record and this is his last chance. So I am not holding my breath that this organization has it right.