You aren't going to believe the Flus justification for call

[brasilbear]

Honestly, Flus was in a damned if he does, damned if he doesn't all based on the outcomes of the final play.

If Santos isn't blocked, we aren't complaining other than to complain that Flus should have run the ball but its OK because they won.
If they gain 5 yards and Santos is still blocked do we fell any better?
If Johnson/Swift/Williams fumbled the ball we are screaming about "WHY RUN!!!! Waste clock and kick!"
etc
etc

To me its more an issue of Flus, again, not valuing those last yards and again making a decision that ends up costing his team. Yes GB made a play (could have been a flag but...the Watson pass was incomplete so....refs.) But the issue is, Flus needs to make decisions that take away the possibility of GB making that particular play. Shorter kick, higher arc, etc.

Some of it is due to injures: 2nd LS, backup OL-men, etc....Its all tied together.

BUT, IMO Flus again had a chance to change something for the benefit of his team AND to the detriment of GB and he chickened out. The most likely outcome there with an interior run to Johnson was somewhere between -3 to 3 yards. -3 yards really doesn't change much and neither goes +3. However, the chance of +3 yards or -3 yards are way greater than Johnson/Swift fumbling. Dobbins ran through 10 defenders to score his TD from almost the exact spot in the Chargers/Bengels game. And Dobbins is not that much better than Swift or Johnson. Chargers OL is better but the DEF knew a run was coming and I'd trust almost any defense is that situation.

He Flus-ed it.....again.

[JABF]

The Packers planned for this, according to Matt LaFleur.  They expected to block a punt in this game due to seeing the weak link in the Bears blocking on FG attempts.  Wouldn't you think Eberflus' team would self-scout stuff like this?  The Green Bay Packers' coach talked about how they knew the A-gap blocking was weak on the kicking team and Santos had low trajectory kicks on longer distance kicks.  Why on earth did Eberflus not understand that the opportunity to get the ball closer for Santos mattered?  It's the same thinking that killed us in the Washington game on the Hail Mary drive.  Every play matters in the NFL.  

LINK

“Rich said to our team (Saturday) night, I will not understand if we come out of this game without a block, whether field goal or PAT,” coach Matt LaFleur said.

The Packers sent Brooks and Lukas Van Ness, the first-round draft pick in 2023 from Iowa and Barrington High School, through the A gap between guard Matt Pryor and long snapper Scott Daly.

“All week we felt like they had some weaknesses in their A gaps,” Van Ness said. “Their kicker kind of had some low balls from a little bit of a further distance. A lot of what we worked on was that A-gap pressure and it happens to work out that’s where the block was. It goes to show you a lot of that stuff we watch on film sometimes comes to life on game day.

[JABF]

Nov 18, 2024 10:29:54 GMT -6 brasilbear said:

To me its more an issue of Flus, again, not valuing those last yards and again making a decision that ends up costing his team.

+1
There is a disturbing trend though that we are seeing in Eberflus' coaching.  This isn't a one-game thing here.  I think that is what is getting Bears fans upset.  The failure in the play before the Hail Mary loss against Washington, the failure yesterday to use the plays to advance the ball... it was so opposite of Harbaugh's tactic last night that got them the win.  The Bears seem to be slow starting early in games and then fold late in games.  It is a trend.  In too many games the team clearly is not ready to play.  The teams are so undisciplined with stupid penalties that kill drives and lose games.  This is a trend here with Eberflus.  Undisciplined teams reflect bad coaching.  And also, timid coaches lose games.  

We have a problem here.  Would I feel better if the team had used every play available to win the game?  Yes.  A resounding yes.  If they had still had the blocked field goal, at least the Bears would have used their available plays to win the game.  That's just "me" though.  Don't coach scared.  That kind of coaching results in what we now see under Eberflus.  It's not good football.  It is bad coaching.

[mpbears68]

Nov 18, 2024 10:29:54 GMT -6 brasilbear said:

Honestly, Flus was in a damned if he does, damned if he doesn't all based on the outcomes of the final play.

If Santos isn't blocked, we aren't complaining other than to complain that Flus should have run the ball but its OK because they won.
If they gain 5 yards and Santos is still blocked do we fell any better?
If Johnson/Swift/Williams fumbled the ball we are screaming about "WHY RUN!!!! Waste clock and kick!"
etc
etc

To me its more an issue of Flus, again, not valuing those last yards and again making a decision that ends up costing his team. Yes GB made a play (could have been a flag but...the Watson pass was incomplete so....refs.) But the issue is, Flus needs to make decisions that take away the possibility of GB making that particular play. Shorter kick, higher arc, etc.

Some of it is due to injures: 2nd LS, backup OL-men, etc....Its all tied together.

BUT, IMO Flus again had a chance to change something for the benefit of his team AND to the detriment of GB and he chickened out. The most likely outcome there with an interior run to Johnson was somewhere between -3 to 3 yards. -3 yards really doesn't change much and neither goes +3. However, the chance of +3 yards or -3 yards are way greater than Johnson/Swift fumbling. Dobbins ran through 10 defenders to score his TD from almost the exact spot in the Chargers/Bengels game. And Dobbins is not that much better than Swift or Johnson. Chargers OL is better but the DEF knew a run was coming and I'd trust almost any defense is that situation.

He Flus-ed it.....again.

The point is NOT the blocked FG.  

The point is the PROCESS.  If Flus had handled the process properly and the kicked still got blocked, then well that's on the ST unit and Matt Pryor in particular.

Matt LaFleur actually did you a favor by calling TO after the Keenan catch.  There was 36 seconds left and you had a timeout.  Patrick Mahomes could score 2 TDs with that.  

Flus completely turtled up and played scared.  At the very least you could have run the ball twice.  You could have run, spiked it, run again, then called TO for the kick.  You could have run it twice and then called TO.  Your QB just made 3 straight great passes and you took the ball away from him.  You could have rolled him out with a high low read (Kmet low, Rome or DJ high).  If open, throw the ball.  If not open, run OOB or throw it away.  You could have called a go route to Rome who had 1 on 1 with them stacking the box.  Throw it to the corner of the EZ--its either a TD or incomplete.  

The point is you go for the kill shot just like Harbaugh did last night.  You don't turtle up and just settle for a 48 yard FG attempt.  You could have had 2, maybe even 3, more plays to shorten the kick.  You had the GB defense back on its heels and demoralized after giving up 3 big plays on a 3rd and 19.

The PROCESS is what was wrong.  And that's what happens when you keep a crap coach who is just hoping to eke out a win to save his job.  Nagy and Trestman both did the exact same thing with the same failed result.  Good opponents aren't gonna hand you the game.  You gotta TAKE IT.  Eberflus coaches like the bare minimum of offense is all that he wants.  Any coach worth his salt would drive the dagger in there.

He's the MVC

Most Vaginal Coach

[shark86]

Nov 18, 2024 9:59:33 GMT -6 JABF said:

Nov 18, 2024 7:30:52 GMT -6 brasilbear said:

People are trying to defend this call, funny most of them are Lions and Packers fans, two teams with aggressive coaches. Line Rome or Moore up at the numbers, bring in Everett, Lewis, Kmet and an OL-man on the line. Johnson is the back. Either give the ball to Johnson or run playaction and throw it up to Rome/Moore. You have the timeout. If its incomplete, try again with a run. Take every yard you need to get closer.

My heart sank when I realized they were pissing away two downs there.  Yes, if they had managed the clock right during that final drive they would have had two more solid opportunities.  And how "Bears like" was it that they could not block for that field goal?  I've watched and re-watched that failed block a number of times since the loss.  Bears just can't get it done blocking.  

----

Watching that Chargers game last night it's clear that Harbaugh values the dudes in the trenches.  He hasn't been there very long at all but he already has a better OL than what Poles/Eberflus have done here in 3 years.  The announcers last night were talking about how they now have Rashawn Slater and Joe Ald (drafted this year with their 5th overall pick of the draft) as their tackles - and how they will be the best bookend tackles in the entire NFL.  Guys who can actually block dudes. 

maybe it's coaching that those 5th rounders are quality tackles? Chris Morgan should join Waldron in the unemployment line.

[shark86]

Nov 18, 2024 11:03:59 GMT -6 mpbears68 said:

Nov 18, 2024 10:29:54 GMT -6 brasilbear said:

Honestly, Flus was in a damned if he does, damned if he doesn't all based on the outcomes of the final play.

If Santos isn't blocked, we aren't complaining other than to complain that Flus should have run the ball but its OK because they won.
If they gain 5 yards and Santos is still blocked do we fell any better?
If Johnson/Swift/Williams fumbled the ball we are screaming about "WHY RUN!!!! Waste clock and kick!"
etc
etc

To me its more an issue of Flus, again, not valuing those last yards and again making a decision that ends up costing his team. Yes GB made a play (could have been a flag but...the Watson pass was incomplete so....refs.) But the issue is, Flus needs to make decisions that take away the possibility of GB making that particular play. Shorter kick, higher arc, etc.

Some of it is due to injures: 2nd LS, backup OL-men, etc....Its all tied together.

BUT, IMO Flus again had a chance to change something for the benefit of his team AND to the detriment of GB and he chickened out. The most likely outcome there with an interior run to Johnson was somewhere between -3 to 3 yards. -3 yards really doesn't change much and neither goes +3. However, the chance of +3 yards or -3 yards are way greater than Johnson/Swift fumbling. Dobbins ran through 10 defenders to score his TD from almost the exact spot in the Chargers/Bengels game. And Dobbins is not that much better than Swift or Johnson. Chargers OL is better but the DEF knew a run was coming and I'd trust almost any defense is that situation.

He Flus-ed it.....again.

The point is NOT the blocked FG.  

The point is the PROCESS.  If Flus had handled the process properly and the kicked still got blocked, then well that's on the ST unit and Matt Pryor in particular.

Matt LaFleur actually did you a favor by calling TO after the Keenan catch.  There was 36 seconds left and you had a timeout.  Patrick Mahomes could score 2 TDs with that.  

Flus completely turtled up and played scared.  At the very least you could have run the ball twice.  You could have run, spiked it, run again, then called TO for the kick.  You could have run it twice and then called TO.  Your QB just made 3 straight great passes and you took the ball away from him.  You could have rolled him out with a high low read (Kmet low, Rome or DJ high).  If open, throw the ball.  If not open, run OOB or throw it away.  You could have called a go route to Rome who had 1 on 1 with them stacking the box.  Throw it to the corner of the EZ--its either a TD or incomplete.  

The point is you go for the kill shot just like Harbaugh did last night.  You don't turtle up and just settle for a 48 yard FG attempt.  You could have had 2, maybe even 3, more plays to shorten the kick.  You had the GB defense back on its heels and demoralized after giving up 3 big plays on a 3rd and 19.

The PROCESS is what was wrong.  And that's what happens when you keep a crap coach who is just hoping to eke out a win to save his job.  Nagy and Trestman both did the exact same thing with the same failed result.  Good opponents aren't gonna hand you the game.  You gotta TAKE IT.  Eberflus coaches like the bare minimum of offense is all that he wants.  Any coach worth his salt would drive the dagger in there.

He's the MVC

Most Vaginal Coach

+824 million x 953 gazillion. 

Post of the month.

Here's a picture of Flus on the sidelines:

[mpbears68]

Nov 18, 2024 11:12:13 GMT -6 shark86 said:

Nov 18, 2024 9:59:33 GMT -6 JABF said:

My heart sank when I realized they were pissing away two downs there.  Yes, if they had managed the clock right during that final drive they would have had two more solid opportunities.  And how "Bears like" was it that they could not block for that field goal?  I've watched and re-watched that failed block a number of times since the loss.  Bears just can't get it done blocking.  

----

Watching that Chargers game last night it's clear that Harbaugh values the dudes in the trenches.  He hasn't been there very long at all but he already has a better OL than what Poles/Eberflus have done here in 3 years.  The announcers last night were talking about how they now have Rashawn Slater and Joe Ald (drafted this year with their 5th overall pick of the draft) as their tackles - and how they will be the best bookend tackles in the entire NFL.  Guys who can actually block dudes. 

maybe it's coaching that those 5th rounders are quality tackles? Chris Morgan should join Waldron in the unemployment line.

For sure

But we need talent upgrades too.  I'm about done with Braxton Jones and I had high hopes for him.  He's a good run blocker but gets blown up too much in pass pro.  That 2nd sack on the last drive was 100% on him and inexcusable with the game on the line.

I'm done with Tevin Jenkins too.  He's a FA this spring and hasn't stayed even remotely healthy in 4 seasons so its time to let him walk and go Nate Davis some other team.  

You need at least 3 upgrades on the OL this offseason

[JABF]

Nov 18, 2024 11:12:13 GMT -6 shark86 said:

Nov 18, 2024 9:59:33 GMT -6 JABF said:

My heart sank when I realized they were pissing away two downs there.  Yes, if they had managed the clock right during that final drive they would have had two more solid opportunities.  And how "Bears like" was it that they could not block for that field goal?  I've watched and re-watched that failed block a number of times since the loss.  Bears just can't get it done blocking.  

----

Watching that Chargers game last night it's clear that Harbaugh values the dudes in the trenches.  He hasn't been there very long at all but he already has a better OL than what Poles/Eberflus have done here in 3 years.  The announcers last night were talking about how they now have Rashawn Slater and Joe Ald (drafted this year with their 5th overall pick of the draft) as their tackles - and how they will be the best bookend tackles in the entire NFL.  Guys who can actually block dudes. 

maybe it's coaching that those 5th rounders are quality tackles? Chris Morgan should join Waldron in the unemployment line.

The Charger's two tackles though, are high 1st round picks.  Slater was 1st round pick #13 in 2021 draft.  Alt was 1st round pick #5 in the 2024 draft.  Their LG, Zion Johnson was a 1st round 2022 draft guy.  Pick #17.  Their RG Pipkins was a 3rd rounder.  

So they have a blue-chip offensive line.  Harbaugh can be criticized for some stuff, but not for skimping on the OL.  He 100% understands that you win with quality people in the trenches.  And it's not so much where those guys were drafted, as much as the fact they are good.  

[JABF]

Nov 18, 2024 11:22:48 GMT -6 mpbears68 said:

Nov 18, 2024 11:12:13 GMT -6 shark86 said:

maybe it's coaching that those 5th rounders are quality tackles? Chris Morgan should join Waldron in the unemployment line.

For sure

But we need talent upgrades too.  I'm about done with Braxton Jones and I had high hopes for him.  He's a good run blocker but gets blown up too much in pass pro.  That 2nd sack on the last drive was 100% on him and inexcusable with the game on the line.

I'm done with Tevin Jenkins too.  He's a FA this spring and hasn't stayed even remotely healthy in 4 seasons so its time to let him walk and go Nate Davis some other team.  

You need at least 3 upgrades on the OL this offseason

And in fairness the depth quality needs to be looked at too.  I totally get it, that backups are not starter quality.  But my hope is that the 2025 depth players on OL are the best we can get there.  Braxton Jones had one really bad game against the Rams in September.  He has had a decent season other than that game.  He's played 499 snaps (that includes the GB game) and only given up 2 sacks.  Darnell Wright has given up 5 so far, and 3 hits on Caleb and 13 hurries.  Brax is playing a lot better than Wright our 1st round pick in the 2023 draft.  We may need to move Wright to a guard position if he can't handle T work.

[shark86]

Nov 18, 2024 11:22:48 GMT -6 mpbears68 said:

Nov 18, 2024 11:12:13 GMT -6 shark86 said:

maybe it's coaching that those 5th rounders are quality tackles? Chris Morgan should join Waldron in the unemployment line.

For sure

But we need talent upgrades too.  I'm about done with Braxton Jones and I had high hopes for him.  He's a good run blocker but gets blown up too much in pass pro.  That 2nd sack on the last drive was 100% on him and inexcusable with the game on the line.

I'm done with Tevin Jenkins too.  He's a FA this spring and hasn't stayed even remotely healthy in 4 seasons so its time to let him walk and go Nate Davis some other team.  

You need at least 3 upgrades on the OL this offseason

I'm hoping for at least 5. All of them quality. I know that's hard to do, but if you don't make the effort you get nothing.

Note: I misread 5th pick as 5th round, didn't realize they were high pick guys. My bad.