I'm just gonna say it...

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wab
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Urlacher sucks. At least this year..... Before the flames start rolling, I think it's more the defense he is being sked to play, but nonetheless he's nearly invisible. When is the last time Urlacher made a play that made you say "wow". The 2006 season maybe? I love the guy, but he's clearly not the same guy he was two years ago...I don't know if it's his age, or his back...but this is the centerpiece of our defense, and he's taken out of the game by Stephen Friggin Peterman on nearly every play.... and when he's not getting blocked out of the picture he's running 20 yards downfield covering a decoy TE on a running play.

It's bullshit.

So look like all the cash we gave to Vasher, Urlacher, and Harris is basically a waste. I'm 50/50 on Hester, but he's getting the benefit of the doubt for right now...
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Url is still one of the best in the game today, he's just not the game-changing legendary figure he once was. Urlacher at 75% is better than most every LB in the league today, unfortunately it's just not what we're used to.
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The cover 2 took Brians career and cut out any chance of him being a legendary linebacker. The cover 2 is not MLB friendly.
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Sisyphus
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Urlacher does not appear to have the same degree of quickness as he had in prior seasons. It may be that the neck injury or age has slowed him or he is succumbing to accumulating injuries hard to tell. Urlacher though has relied on his athleticism to make plays; he has not really gotten a lot smarter about the game. He still bites on things he really shouldn't and no longer can get back into position.
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I agree 110% WAB! I was shaking my head in disgust during the first half of today's game. He's slow to the ball, he half-asses it when he blitzes, and he misses more tackles than I would care to notice. Lance Briggs is the best linebacker on this team, no questions asked.

Looks like we made the "smart move" by giving him his money :roll:
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Pagan
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I commented on this today while watching the game, I've also been keenly aware of Urlachers play especially- he's been my FF D starter. I agree that the cover 2 really doesnt help with Urlachers stats (at all) but he doesnt seem to be flying around and hitting people nearly as much. His tackle totals are WAY down from what were used to seeing. He needs to improve- this whole DEFENSE needs to improve if the Bears are going to play and win a playoff game.


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Halas85
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This is, what, the fifth season in a defense based around the philosophies of the Cover-2? Yet, this year he's struggling to make any type of impact. In past seasons, he still managed to make his presence felt, racking up tackles, deflecting passes, pulling in the occasional INT, forcing the occasional fumble, etc. Now I don't expect this from him every game, but even a big tackle now and then would be nice to see. But we've basically gotten nothing from him this season that sets him apart as the great player we've come accustomed to seeing.

So I'm not buying the argument that the Cover-2 is ruining his career. In many ways, the Cover-2 plays toward his strengths: his quickness, his ability to cover the field from sidelines to sideline, etc. Urlacher never was particularly great at busting through blockers for the sack or taking on blockers head-on. He seems to be at his best in the open field when he can turn the burners on, chase down runners and cover RBs/TEs. The bottom line is there's something wrong with this guy. I'm not a big fan of the Cover-2 either, but no scheme has ever taken tackles and impact plays from Urlacher in the past.
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I'm just hoping that he gets things going. Any critisism of 54 is justified. He got the bucks and his play is below average thus far. I don't blame the cover 2 for being a hinderance on his career. I believe it's just the opposite. It appears to me the guy is either hurt and it's slowing him down or he's simply lost a step or two. He did play better the last half of last season so I'm hoping that will be the case again this yr.
3 tackles isn't getting the job done that's for sure.
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I'm not 'defending' Brian, and while I don't see him making a lot of plays, I don't see him 'missing' a bunch either. It's appeared to me that he's often been the second guy in on a play, so atleast he's been in the play 'generally'.

I think he hasn't been the playmaker we all expect, but he hasn't been a liability either.
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If you're looking for a linebacker to blame for not making plays, just look at Hunter Hillenmyer until he got hurt. He was having the worst season of his career.
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Thatguybil
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Halas85 wrote:This is, what, the fifth season in a defense based around the philosophies of the Cover-2? Yet, this year he's struggling to make any type of impact. In past seasons, he still managed to make his presence felt, racking up tackles, deflecting passes, pulling in the occasional INT, forcing the occasional fumble, etc. Now I don't expect this from him every game, but even a big tackle now and then would be nice to see. But we've basically gotten nothing from him this season that sets him apart as the great player we've come accustomed to seeing.

So I'm not buying the argument that the Cover-2 is ruining his career. In many ways, the Cover-2 plays toward his strengths: his quickness, his ability to cover the field from sidelines to sideline, etc. Urlacher never was particularly great at busting through blockers for the sack or taking on blockers head-on. He seems to be at his best in the open field when he can turn the burners on, chase down runners and cover RBs/TEs. The bottom line is there's something wrong with this guy. I'm not a big fan of the Cover-2 either, but no scheme has ever taken tackles and impact plays from Urlacher in the past.
The Cover-2 did play to his stregnths. Back when he still had that amazing lateral movement and very good recovery speed.

He no longer is anything more then above average at those things.

If this defense is going to play at a high level week to week its going to have to happen based on the play of #91. If he plays at an All-Pro level the defense will look good. If he plays inconsistant like he has for the most part, then look for the Bears Defense to be inconsistant and average.
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Thatguybil wrote:If this defense is going to play at a high level week to week its going to have to happen based on the play of #91.


So I guess we're f*cked then. :angry:
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DaDitka wrote:
Thatguybil wrote:If this defense is going to play at a high level week to week its going to have to happen based on the play of #91.


So I guess we're f*cked then. :angry:
I thought Harris played well yesterday. I believe the old Tommy is just about back.
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DaDitka
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Beardude wrote:
DaDitka wrote:

So I guess we're f*cked then. :angry:
I thought Harris played well yesterday. I believe the old Tommy is just about back.
I thought he looked 'better' but after getting the fat deal and just hearing how he's been around HH, I doubt we'll ever see the 'old' Tommie again.
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If this defense doesnt figure out how to pressure the QB without blitzing 25 times a game the Bears are going to lose 3 out of the next 4 games.


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I'm gonna say this, too...

Mark Anderson = done. Bye. He's completely been figured out, and is ineffective at d-end. Seeya, and don't you let the door hit you in the ass.
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Agree on Url... watched the game with my son ... he was wearing his #54 jersey ... and sometime around halftime he asked, "is Urlacher playing, Dad?". That sums it up.

Agree on Mark Anderson too ... should have tried to trade him while his stock was up, under the story that Alex was being re-signed & he wasn't needed.
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Glad to hear I'm not the only one who was thinking this.

Every time the D is on the field, I am wondering where the hell is Urlacher?!

Previous years, if he wasn't directly involved in the play, he was about 3 steps away.

Whatever the reason, it is a huge letdown.
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