Chicago Bears Week 8 Milk Carton
For those new to the site, when a player or coach doesn’t really show up during a Bear’s game, they get put on the Milk Carton. As most of you know, people’s pictures used to be put at the back of milk cartons when they went missing. So the Milk Carton for the Bears is more about who went missing or played terribly during the game. Here are the nominees
What a joke. This season has gone to the dogs and it’s about to get worse against Mr. Rodgers. As for the Milk Carton, everyone deserves it, with the exception of Pat O’donnell, Martellus Bennett, and Matt Forte. No one else came to play. However, the cover of the carton belongs to the failing coach Marc Trestman for coaching another terrible game.
Oct 26, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte (22) carries the ball as New England Patriots defensive end Rob Ninkovich (50) chases during the second quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
On his radio show, Tom Waddle perfectly summed up what Trestman should have done going into the Bears game. He wrote a speech as if he was Trestman, telling the team they were going to “run the effing ball”, taking some of the pressure off of Jay Cutler and the receivers. It would have been a perfect strategy, keeping the mediocre defense and the great Tom Brady on the sidelines. Matt Forte, the team’s best player, would get a bunch of carries and the same would be true for Kadeem Carey. The running game would have had a great day against the Patriots 24th ranked run defense and they would have stayed in the game. The run opens up the pass; it’s been that way for years. But what were Forte’s halftime stats? 39 yards on SIX CARRIES. That’s a great average. Why wouldn’t they run more? The whole idea of leaving the game in the right arm of the inconsistent Jay Cutler is a terrible one. Waddle mentioned how great the outside receivers were at blocking. This is a true statement. Too bad they did not do it that much. They spent too much time trying to get open against a great pass defense.
Two weeks from now against Green Bay, thing will have to change. At the front office and on the field, things must be different. Mel Tucker should be gone. Lamarr Houston should be out (What a dumb thing to do). And Matt Forte should RUN THE DAMN BALL AT LEAST 28 TIMES.
Unless your team has an elite quarterback, you cannot be successful in the NFL without either a great ground game or a great defense (or both, see 1985 Bears). How is Tony Romo doing so well this season? The Cowboys are a run-first team with an elite running back. The running game opens up the passing game by keeping the defense honest and Romo is able to use his rifle arm make the throws he needs to when he needs to. Having an elite receiver helps. The annoying thing is that the Bears have all of that. An elite running back, two great receivers and an outstanding tight end. Their line is not as good, but it is not entirely fair to judge them just yet because they have not had a chance to run block much at all this season. If the Bears are able to get a consistent ground game going, where they do not abandon it until the defense proves they can stop it, the defense and Cutler will play better and the Bears will not be dominated in games. I have faith that the Bears have the ability to do this. But they will not because Trestman just doesn’t do it right. Until then, the milk carton cover will be a popular place for him.
Oct 26, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Marc Trestman looks on from the side line during the third quarter against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots won 51-23. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports