Preaseason Game #1: Notes

I meant to post these the day after the game, but a flooded basement and the headaches that come with it got in the way. Here's my stream of consciousness as I watched the first game of the preseason:

Brandon McGowan is a stud ... 3rd down and long play McGowan separated receiver from ball but no one caught it. The missed call lead to the opening drive touchdown.

Trumain McBride looks absolutely terrible. I mean FUCKING terrible. He has regressed badly since last season.

Matt Forte looks ok ... Definite upgrade the way he hits the hole and sheds people. He also doesn't fall down after 2 yards so Jerry Angelo will probably try and trade him soon.

Grossman is Grossman ... Orton is safe but never going to be an all-star.

The d-line was consistently beat off the line in that first drive ... They recovered later but only showed some flashes. Including Mark Anderson putting good pressure on the QB in at least two occassions.

Rookie Marcus(?) Harrison looked good, but will he be consistent? And will he behave off the field?

Big fucking surprise, we wasted a pick on Chris Williams and his disc injury (more to follow in an article later) ... Rashard Mendenhall anyone?

Garret Wolfe made a statement that he belongs in the NFL ... He's got many detractors but you cannot dismiss his big play ability even though he's a gadget player.

Return guys were unimpressive .. no one can match Hester ,... Wolfe was drafted with that idea so let's use him when we're keeping Devin Hester safe.

Mike Hass once again showed why fans are clamoring for him making another great catch on a tough throw ... He later makes an uncharacteristic drop.

Hanie showed some feet when the play breaks down ... A mobile QB with good pocket awareness in Chicago is as rare as a good M. Night Shyamalan film.

PJ Pope continues to be a preseason rockstar ... why not give him a chance?

Rookie QB Caleb Hanie shows off some touch and some arm with a pass to fellow rookie Kellen Davis and follows up with a gun to to Brandon Rideau for the TD.

Rookie Zack Bowman with a good hit on kickoff return submarining the Chiefs returner.

3rd and short with a QB Hanie who is on fire and Bears run a FB ... Is that the coaches desperate effort to not add Hanie to the QB competition?

Something to Talk About

It started as rumblings but is quicly gaining ground. Cedric "Two yards and a cloud of bust" Benson may not be long in the Windy City. For a guy who should wear a mask and have Maurice Clarett ride shotgun every time he picks up his paycheck, this is long overdue. There are several schools of thought going about so I will try to summarize all of them.

First: Some believe Benson is not responding well to rehab. Should we be surprised that a guy whose work ethic rivals your brother-in-law who "can't find work" is having trouble putting in the hours to bounce back from a leg injury.

Second: Some believe rehab or not Benson is gone. Benson hasn't been able to pickup pass protection for the last 3 years; Forte comes into minicamp and the first thing he says he needs to do to make it to the field is pickup pass protection. The 2nd-string RB on any team has to be able to provide support for special teams. Benson can't block and he can't be a 3-down back (see Adrian Peterson). If Forte is worse than Benson, a step above Peterson, and picks up the pass protection ... Buh-bye Ced, don't let the blue and orange door hit ya in the ass on the way out.

Third: It's a combo of the two and Garret Wolfe. Wolfe was picked in the 3rd round last season and showed some flashes in the regular season as a change-of-pace back. Jerry Angelo isn't going to pull the plug on Wolfe after one year. Forte was drafted to be a feature back. Benson is not responding to rehab and wasn't very good on two healthy legs as it was.

Either way, it should be interesting. Here's to hoping that Forte is the real deal, and Wolfe evolves into a change-of-pace big play threat.

Coach hear our prayer.