Some thoughts on this weekends game while wondering if Shannahan is having second thoughts about kicking to Hester…

• Honestly, it’s probably best for the Bears - long term - to lose out.  But if you’re going to go through the effort of going to the game, they might as well win it.
• Bears offense just couldn’t get going until late.  Fortunately, it wasn’t quite too late.
• I don’t blame Grossman for his one interception.  Those happen on long balls on occasion, and either Berrian slipped or he was pushed out by the defender (we thought it was blatent PI in the stadium).  Either way, at least it stretches the field.
• Olsen - I love ya, man, but you gotta hang on to those balls.
• Including Olsen, seven drops by receivers, if memory serves.  Grossman may or may not be the guy for the future here (it looks more like he won’t, but you can never tell), but he has certainly had help along the way.
• Cedric Benson is out for the season.  Apparantly, got so excited about his big run, he hurt himself.
• Seriously, although I am not a fan at Benson, this may actually cause the Bears to keep him around another year.  I’d rather cut the cords now, but depending on if they resign Briggs, Grossman, and a few others, they may not be able to afford the cap hit by cutting him this off-season.  But I think he’ll be gone as soon as practicality allows.
• Grossman had a beautiful pass to Olsen for a nice touchdown.  Too bad Fred ‘the Human Turnstyle’ Miller brought it back.  Honestly, Miller was the worst player on the field - by far - on Sunday.
• I never thought I’d say this, but St. Clair may be a better option than Miller.
• Defense - eh.  Still not good.  Decent job against the run, but it looks more and more like letting Rivera go was a huge mistake.  Still, I’m willing to give the new guy a second season, as sometimes it just takes awhile for the players to adjust.  Still, if the defense doesn’t improve dramatically next season, he needs to be shown the door.
• Tillman has had another good season overall.  Losing Vasher and Brown has definintely hurt the secondary.  And then, of course, there’s Archuletta.
• Honestly, I could take my father-in-law, put a ball in his hand, and I doubt AA would be able to tackle him.  And no, my father-in-law isn’t dead.  He is, however, 90 (although he moves quite well for a 90-year old).
• Also saw Harris headed for the tunnel at one point late in the game.  Hope it’s nothing serious or, if it is, sit him now for the season.  The Bears aren’t going to do anything this season, so get healthy for next year.  Same goes for Vasher.
• I will say this for the defense this week - two times, they had the ball inside the five, and only got six points out of it.  That’s not bad at all, and certainly made the difference in the game.
• Special teams - this Hester kid is pretty good, right?
• 10 kick returns for TD in about 1 1/2 seasons.  The career records is 13 by Brian Mitchell.  It took him 14 seasons to accumulate those 13 returns.
• Of course, Hester may only end up seeing about 3 more kicks to him the rest of his career.
• And finally, I’d say his 2 TD more than made up for trying to knock down the bouncing ball early on leading to a turnover.
• And his two returns also indirectly led to Tillmans punt block, since Saurbraun (sp?) was trying to kick it out of bounds.  Of course, he ends up angling the punt right at the onrushing Tillman, but Todd wasn’t exactly known for his smart
• Also on special teams - I thought the kick coverage was about as good as it’s been all season.  This looked more like last years special teams - which were special in a good way.
• As for coaching, the one comment I have is this - you have a QB that, for whatever reason, is prone to fumbling, and you call a QB draw for him that isn’t a foot or so away from the goal line?  Seriously, how stupid is that?
• Ron Turner can’t leave fast enough.  Granted, he’s been an improvement over Shoop, but I still want a GOOD OC.
• Finally, again, the Bears are not going anywhere this year, so they might as well lose out, and try and get as good a draft pick as they can.  This team needs a lot of help to get back to being the team they were last year - offensive line, running back, defensive line and secondary, and possibly a QB.  However, this ‘losing out’ I’m OK with does NOT apply to the Green Bay game (although, truthfully, I expect a slaughter that game).

Go Bears!