1. STOP TRYING TO TACKLE THE FOOTBALL and tackle the player first please! I'm getting sick of this already. I know stripping the ball worked well with Chris Harris back there but he is gone now. Tillman's focus is on this instead of actually covering someone. Bottom line, tackling is atrocious on this team and it needs to improve pronto. Angles of pursuit (especially against A. Peterson and Grant from G.B. are horrible as well.)
2. Why do they insist on putting Urlacher 20 yards back by the safeties all the time?? Sometimes it works when it's 3rd and 30. 3rd and 10 it rarely works. Keep him by the sticks please or at least near them. Can Briggs and Urlacher switch positions from time to time on coverages confusing the offense a bit? Does Urlacher always need to be in the middle? I love how they put them both on the line and then make them both backpedal away like you can cover somebody well doing that! Even if they rush the QB how much momentum can you get from a standstill up on the line? Doesn't this make it easier for the opposing o-lineman to call out who they are blocking? Bottom line, our blitz packages suck.
3. When we have an all-out blitz called can our corners move up just a little bit more?????????? They always seem to be 2-3 yards away from the receiver when WE all know the Qb HAS to get rid of the ball quickly. I'm sick of the "afraid to give up the big play" mantra. Make the opposing QB's have to thread the needle and take your chances more often. We must attack the other team if we are going to succeed. If we get burned then kudos to them for making a great play. But giving up yards all over the field and long touchdown drives is unnacceptable. This defense isn't built to be on the field all day....Hello!?!? Can we run a little bit more press coverage or did we overpay both our corners to just sit back all day? ***! I would rather our guys get burned man to man than blowing a coverage in zone and getting burned. I know you can't run man coverage all the time but it needs to increase.
4. Maybe some personnel changes are in order for next season. For example, is it just me, or does Israel Idonije deserve to be on the field more than he is now? That guy could potentially reak havoc at defensive end or tackle. I'm just ticked at Ogunleye I guess and am sick of his antics and the fact he's only had ONE double digit sack season since being here. Actually, I'm quite miffed at a few players on defense this year. Not Lance Briggs, Mike Brown, Idonije, Alex Brown, and Dvoracek (tho he got injured again) Also like what rookie Harrison has done so far.
Offense:
1. We still need a bonified QB. Orton is better than Rex, but he won't ever be better than average in this offense. The o-line looks to be coming around again IF ChrisWilliams can play well next year. He doesn't need to be Walter Jones or Jonathon Ogden, but he needs to be solid. St. Clair is a better guard but has been okay for the most part. Interested to see if Buenning has anything in store for us next year? Add a RT in the next draft and we should have a solid o-line. Garza doesn't thrill me at RG. Beekman is a little smallish for a guard but has exceeded expectations.
2. Ron Turner needs to go ASAP! The fullback dives are getting old dude, okay. Orton could be better possibly if we had say....someone like.... I dunno? But anyone is better as long as it isn't John Shoop. A better offensive coordinator could elevate Orton's game with a better o-line. If Ron Turner stays we need to get McNabb or make a crazy trade. Why does Turner call a pass play 2 yards parallel behind the l.o.s. towards the sideline on 3rd and 2 against the Vikings?? Totally killed the drive we had going, which may have changed the game if we get a only field goal there even. Anyway, sick of drive killers like that one, he needs to go.
3. We need a big time receiver. Somehow, someway, we need to get a pass catcher that can move the chains. Hester is okay for the number 2 spot, but I think he lacks the total package to be a number 1 guy. Keep feeding the ball to Forte. He is a stud muffin. At least Ron Turner got that one right. Turner is just not consistent enough with his game plans and play calls. He'll call a game well and then the next horrible. He'll make a decent gameplan and then the next weeks will be crap.
Anyhoo, my two cents as I see the current situation.
"Every time Butkus hit you he tried to put you in the morgue, not the hospital." -Deacon Jones