ChicagoSportsBlogs : Non Compete

I rushed home tonight. Bears games will do that to a man in this town. Even for preseason games. Tonight's game was against the 49ers. Aaaah the Niners! They should have been an easy victory for us. But alas, the Bears lost this meaningless game 37-30. Don't let the score fool you. As I write this sentence, Hanie unloaded a hail mary that was actually caught to bring the Bears within 7 points. Too bad there is no more time on the clock.

There are some interesting comparisons between the beloved Bear and the Niners. Both teams are struggling to figure out which way is up. Both have quarterback issues. The 49ers, like the Bears, have decided to go away from their highly drafted (first round) QB. Alex Smith is the west coast version of Rex Grossman. Ok, that's not fair. Grossman is worse. Tonight proved that point. Smith and Grossman have amounted to pretty much nothing. (all you Grossman lovers who want to remind me that Alex Smith NEVER ONCE sniffed a Superbowl should just shut the F up already. Grossman COST US the Superbowl win.) Smith's best year was when Norv Turner was the offensive coordinator for the 49ers. Today, the offensive coordinator/ hired gun Mike Martz is in San Francisco and he wants no part of Alex Smith. It's so bad in Niners land that JT O'Sullivan is going to be named their starting quarterback. Remember him? O'Sullivan was once a Bears quarterback. He never really got a chance here, so I guess we shouldn't be too bitter if he turns out to be the next Tony Romo. (slow down, I know...)

The Bears looked like a completely different team when Grossman was at the helm. A bad team. Orton won this job with ease as far as I am concerned. I can't believe that this was even a true competition after watching Orton hit Davis for 2 nice touchdowns tonight. If you wanted to get picky, that first touchdown was all Rashied. Orton stepped into the pocket while feeling the rush (good), but he threw that pass into triple coverage (bad). I guess we'll have to take it.

So the good news is that Orton showed his potential tonight. The line held up much better, and Matt Forte actually moves FORWARD when he runs. I can't tell you the last time I saw a Bears quarterback actually gain 7 yards on a single carry. Neil Anderson maybe? Forte is going to be great, if we don't get him killed out there. He is another night and day difference when compared to last year's pathetic running back, Cedric Benson. So what did we learn from this preseason game against the Niners? Here is the list of takeaways:

• Alex Smith and Rex Grossman have to be traded. Their careers are over in each respective city. Perhaps we should do a "change of scenery" trade and swap the two for each other. (This is actually a CDub idea, I can't take credit)
• Orton isn't bad. He actually has a good looking arm on the short routes. Since that is all Ron Turner calls, we might as well go with Orton.
• Forte is an upgrade at running back. A dramatic upgrade. He needs to stay healthy. I consider him the only true bright spot on this offense
• Our offensive line is old. It shows. We need to plan accordingly.
• Rashied Davis is the best wide receiver on this team. Davis and Hester should start with Booker. We actually may be able to make some plays with these guys. (if we can protect Orton)
• The defense isn't as good as we think. Did you see the Pam Oliver, sideline interview of old # 54? He told the nation that the Bears defense just SUCKED tonight. And that was against the Niners and JT O'Freaking-Sullivan! If the defense is this bad, we are in serious, serious trouble this year.
• It is confirmed, no one is going to kick to Devin Hester
• Hanie came back down to earth tonight, but then again he still looked better than Grossman
• So Norv Turner made Alex Smith look good (even with a career best 16 TDs and 16 INTs) and Ron Turner made Grossman look like, well...me. What would happen if we swapped Turners?
• Does anyone have any idea why it took so long for Troy Aikman to find Wrigley field?

That does it for me. My nice extended summer break is over. It's time to get ready for football (both Northwestern and Bears) So Bear Down and spread the word.