The backup quarterback is always popular, but I expressed concerns about viewing Brian Griese as a savior earlier this year. Many people forget this is the same Brian Griese who has yet to play a 16 game season in the NFL, was bumped out of three other cities due to inconsistent play, and has durability problems – particular with past shoulder problems.
Griese is being counted on to provide the stability that Rex Grossman failed to provide at the quarterback position. While Griese has had his moments earlier in his career, he never has shown he can protect the football on a consistent basis. He doesn’t see the field well and makes questionable decisions with the football. And now the passing game also has more limitations with Griese at quarterback. He lacks ideal arm strength and has trouble pushing the ball downfield.
This was evident on Sunday in Detroit. But what puzzles me is how the Bears put the ball in the air 52 times. If you have to throw the ball 52 times with Brian Griese at quarterback, there’s trouble.
Is Devin Hester seeing more snaps on offense the answer?
No.
Hester is certainly an asset and will make big plays if they can design some plays for him, but the Bears need to find their identity again on the offensive side of the ball to find consistency.
Cedric Benson has yet to establish any consistency on the ground. Despite the presence of Cory Redding and Shaun Rogers for the Lions on Sunday, they have to work harder to create a presence on the ground. Benson just hasn’t shown the same veteran intangibles that Thomas Jones gave the Bears on the ground last season. Benson has also lacked the toughness Jones gave the backfield despite his size. Benson must step forward and become a football player not afraid to take hits inside.
If we take some focus off Benson for a moment, we should also talk about the offensive line. The line was a source of stability for the Bears the past few years, but this unit has begun to age. This is one area I discussed during the summer as a warning sign. They have some age upfront. They are a nicked up unit right now. John Tait is hurting at left tackle. Fred Miller isn't healthy right now. Ruben Brown hasn't been as effective this season. John St. Clair may have to step in at left tackle this week against Green Bay. St. Clair will struggle trying to contain Cullen Jenkins and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila this week. Benson won’t help much either in helping pick up some of the pass rush the Packers will bring.
Expect the Packers to come aggressively after Griese to force turnovers. Griese lacks the feet to escape the rush and will struggle to protect the ball under pressure.
Jeff Garcia may not have made much of a difference. Bear offensive line is horrible. Cedric Benson is fumbling while trying to make plays. Bears receivers are dropping passes and not fighting for footballs. The Bears just are not good right now.
Bears fans and talking heads need to show some patience here. Griese was destined to have a bad start coming off his last start in the late 2005-2006 season. He will do better given more practice with the first team offense. The Bears offensive line needs to focus on run blocking and Benson needs to practice protecting the ball. The Bears need to run the football, then go to play-action passing.
I don't believe Garcia would have had the same comfort level in Chicago. There's only a few situations that really fit Garcia like Tampa, Philly, Denver, etc. And on the other hand, let's see if Garcia can stay healthy and maintain this effectiveness for 16 games. It's been awhile since he's done it.
I know from my end I am just reviewing Griese's track record. He's had his moments, but he is what his past suggests. He's a backup quarterback.
I don't think Ron Turner has much confidence in his run game right now. The OL is nicked up and they are beginning to wonder whether Benson is the answer.
I'm glad to see Brian Delucia wasn't delusional like the rest of the media, especially in Chicago. Everyone from Jay Marriotti to Sean Salisbury and Mark Schlereth said, "Oh, you have to go to Griese, he will protect the football." Where have these guys been? This shows me they shoot from the hip too much and don't do any research. As Brian says, look at his track record. At least Rex has an upside. They just need to help the young QB get better and he can...it just may take some time. Remember, he came out early and started the first three years on the sidelines.
i dont think isnt going too be a quick fix ..we knew rex had his moments but when he cant get back on track and they put griese in i feel we were doom too fail..q/b hasnt much protection right now ..watching new england monday night brady had plenty of time too throw the ball ..hence offensive line stood its ground we aint getting that thats hwere they need too turn it around ..you cant blame the defence allowning 30 points in the 4th quather they were just tired
Delucia hits the nail right on the head .. the offense line is old and beat up .. which doesn't help. They have no running game .. stupid move getting rid of Jones and keeping Bensen. None of the QB's are worth spit, let's face it this team is done .. they need to start a rebuild, and we all know how long it takes for a team to come back from that.Trade Urlacher and Briggs while you can get something out of them and start your rebuild. For all the other Teams in the Division HURRAH! The Bears are toast .. Time to capatalize and kick some Bear Butt!! "GO PACKERS"
Last edited by Racebannon on October 3rd at 4:06 AM.
I agree Packattacker .. The Bears have not resembled a good football team at all!!A lot of games they won last year was pure luck and it shows this year.As for this Sunday Night .. Packers all the way. And as for the Bear Fans .. we won't be hearing from them much anymore as true to form they will go into Hibernation for the rest of the Season and probably for the next few to come!! "GO PACKERS"
Garcia is playing behind one of the youngest O lines in the league and now is going to be without the LT. His mobility makes line play a little less critical. Any mobile QB would make this offense better. Otherwise, you've got to rely on the running game and what did the Bears brass do? They let half of their running game get away and replaced him with a rookie scat back... Makes sense to me!
I'm afraid we can cancel this season. Management will let the problems ride and Lovie will take the heat. Nice scenario...
The whole Jones vs. Benson thing is stupid. This isn't fantasy football. It's not always as simple as just who should we keep vs. who should we trade. There are contracts involved, salary caps, etc. When the Bears drafted Benson, Jones had proved nothing. When you draft someone with the #4 overall pick, that's going to be a big contract. The moment they drafted Benson, Jones' days were numbered. I'm surprised that they hung onto him as long as they did.
So if you want to bicker about them letting Jones go, don't be an ####. Bicker as to why they drafted Benson, not why they let Jones go.
They had no choice in the matter. They couldn't afford what Jones was asking, and they wouldn't have been able to get their money in trading Benson. They would have suffered cap hits in cutting him, and nobody would have picked up Benson's contract from them.
Let's not forget that this is a business, and that not all decisions are for the immediate betterment of the team.
Let's just go over this one more time; If you are going to complain about the current RB situation in Chicago, don't be a simpleton, and pine as to why they let Jones go. Complain as to why they drafted Benson in the first place.
For the Bears to right the ship they must get some improvement out of the O-line. The O-line is where everything starts for the team. The Defense stays off the field and stops getting hurt, the QB has time to throw the ball, and the RB is given holes to create some yardage. The recievers need to fight off the line better to get open. Its only been four games. There is still time.
look im a die-hard bears fan and from my prospective i feel instead of blaming the players for poor or lack of performance blame turner's play calling he didn't excel in the past and he won't in the present nor the future it's too predictable and he doesn't utilize players strong points ie: benson running east-west 1st qtr vs. detroit and the 3 plays wolfe was in he ran up the gut ????? try again ron
f... all that....we need to buy a new QB or else...let the season end and look for next year, but hey.....as long as my CUBS are in the playoff...lets just forget about football for now....GO CUBS...and DA BEARS
Bears you have to be able to run the ball before you can throw it and you also have to support your deffense by letting them rest.No excuse step up and man up Cedric you were a 1st round pick act like one,Rex enough said good luck Brian Griese.Coach Lovie Smith it is okay to get pissed and show it God will forgive you players will repect you and fans well they will hate you or love you
OK lets not forget how great eveyone built the bears up to be coming into this year! It is very sad that the specail teams out did the offense for chicago. But we must all remember that it is a divisinal matchup this week. Bear Packers are always a toss up. The packers suck with the running game and the bears just cant get anything but specail teams going kick away from hester and packers 21 - 6
just because they wasted a high draft pick on a running back means that they should get rid o####uy who went well over 1,000 yards last season? even though he gives them the best chance to win?
so in the bears management was essentially saying that they would try to justify their bad decision of drafting benson by making another bad decision in trading Jones away for basically nothing. those kind of moves make sense if you want to be in last place.
and when it does become just a business you end up in the situation that the bears are in now.
the goal should always be to make decisions that better the team
You have gracefully missed my entire point. Putting your team in the hole for the next decade, does not warrant keeping a RB who went for barely 1300 yds. Do you have any comrehension of cantractual agreements, salary cap infringements, or the penalties therefrom? As I've previously stated, that while I don't entirely disagree that DRAFTING Benson may have been a mistake, the fact is, that they did draft him, and by drafting him, they chose Benson instead of Jones. That was two years ago. Jones now, after two succesful seasons wanted big money, Benson already had a big money contract, and once again, who picks up Benson's contract with no guarantee of production. What would his trade value be? What cap hits do you take by trading him? How much money has already been invested in Benson? And so on, and so on. The Bears had made their bed, albeit, maybe not very well, but made nonetheless, and yes, sometimes you have to lay in that bed.
The Bears certainly has there problems and the Rex mess has really done it. I do believe that the media pushed the Bears to make the change and it was the wrong change. Turner has had a terrible time calling a great game and it seems when Rex had his first terrible game last year they decided to chock Rex so bad they had the effect of hurting his development. Now they have this mess. Benson is too slow and seems to lack desire, they don't use there tight ends, Moose is not getting separation, Berrian is dropping too many balls, the whole defensive back field is down, and the Bears should have been replacing the offensive line with new blood, like higher draft picks. Olsen was excellent, but after that, reach after reach. They did have the opportunity to get Petersen if they were willing to trade Briggs....
Hind Sight is always 20/20.
Rex.....gone
Cedric..........gone
Briggs.........gone (But he should be kept give the man the cash)
Brown........gone
o-line........gone
Lets face it, next year is a re-build for the Bears.
Brian DeLucia has been a widely respected NFL Analyst for several years including six-years on FOXSports.com
Brian analyzes players, coaches, and personnel guys from a unique front office perspective. You can email Brian DeLucia at bjd@enter.net
Griese is being counted on to provide the stability that Rex Grossman failed to provide at the quarterback position. While Griese has had his moments earlier in his career, he never has shown he can protect the football on a consistent basis. He doesn’t see the field well and makes questionable decisions with the football. And now the passing game also has more limitations with Griese at quarterback. He lacks ideal arm strength and has trouble pushing the ball downfield. 
