January
Hey Lovie Smith, Play With Your Best (Packers Will Win Anyway)
The Green Bay Packers will defeat the Chicago Bears today – I just hope it’s the REAL Chicago Bears.
Bring your best, Lovie. Go all out for the win. Don’t rest anybody. It will make the Packers win that much sweeter.
I firmly believe the Packers are a better team than the Bears.
That doesn’t mean I’m disparaging the Bears, though. While we all know they have had lady luck on their side this year, that’s immaterial.
I expounded the virtues of the Bears’ defensive front seven in preseason. The pressure provided by Julius Peppers was exactly what the Bears needed to allow them to play their cover two and mask some weaknesses in their secondary. All the attention paid to Peppers has helped the “other” defensive end, Israel Idonije, who has as many sacks as Peppers (8).
On the offensive side, Mike Martz learned from his early season mistakes. You can not give Jay Cutler free reign to throw on almost every down. Run the ball effectively, force opposing safeties to move up and then take some shots downfield to your deep threats.
The Bears have done a good job of figuring out who they are and playing within their means. Having veteran assistant coaches like Mike Martz, Rod Marinelli, and Mike Tice has certainly helped Lovie Smith in this regard.
And then, of course, there’s Devin Hester.
But you know what? IT DOESN”T MATTER.
