Greg Olsen

ensive as the season goes on, right?

-I was pretty surprised the Panthers didn’t try to get Greg Olsen more involved. Aside from a few garbage time catches and a score, he didn’t make much of an impact. Shoddy game-planning on their part.

Continue reading "Joe's 2011 Gameday Recap: Bears 34, Panthers 29"

Jeremy Shockey and familiar face Greg Olsen have been making life much easier on the rookie. As we all know, Olsen is a redzone threat. While I’m SURE today has no significant meaning to him (not that the Bears traded him, thinking he was useless to them), Olsen warrants watching.

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spite that, I’m all ready to analyze the Bears’ flurry of transactions thus far.Trades: Greg Olsen to Carolina for a 3rd round pick

The most personally infuriating move by the Bears in this shortened free agency period, trading

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For whatever reason, Greg Olsen was nowhere to be found, unlike the game against Seattle, which took away Jay's safety net. While the defense stuffed the Pack in the second half and forced two turnovers, the game was over as soon as Jay went down. From there Green Bay had to fend off a late miracle comeback, but they were the better team that day. (But not by much, they never seemed to be able to step on Chicago’s jugular, which could cause problems against Pittsburgh.)

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Williams and Woodson should see time on Knox, Hester and Bennett most of the game, but Greg Olsen could have another explosion on Sunday. Green bay has given up big yards to tight ends this season and Olsen has the speed to capitalize on their man-to-man coverages. Aside from Matthews, Green Bay’s linebackers aren’t extraordinarily speedy. And if they waste Matthews by putting him on Olsen on passing downs the Bears win that match-up by default. Erik Walden came on late in the season, but he’s not consistent enough in pass coverage to be a game-changer. A.J. Hawk is as solid as they come, but he’s a bruiser, not a flier. If Martz gets Olsen involved early like he did against Seattle (but never came back to), Green Bay’s defense could be loosened up for runs on the edges.

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le game.

(12-5) Chicago Bears 35
(8-10) Seattle Seahawks 24

I guess Mike Martz was keeping Greg Olsen under wrap all season so he could save his break-out game for the playoffs. It was a plan that came to fruition on Sunday as

Continue reading "Joe's GameDay Recap: Bears 35, Seahawks 24"

turns, the Bears had the Eagles where they wanted them all day and took advantage of their corners. Greg Olsen may have had only one catch, but he was in the thick of plenty of scuffles and recovered a Knox fumble that would have stalled a scoring drive.

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rlos Dansby is a great coverage linebacker, so look for him to be matched up on Greg Olsen. (If the recently-signed Al Harris can get on the field, that depth is slightly improved.) Regardless of how the passing game thrives or not, the Bears cannot give up on the run. Matt Forte and Chester Taylor are going to find running lanes against a middle of the road rush defense.

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If Martz can work it into his one-dimensional gameplan, Greg Olsen needs to be utilized over the middle to take advantage of the linebackers. Oh if only Mike could figure it out...

Oddly enough, the Bears match-up well with the Vikings on defense. Julius Peppers ate left tackle Bryant McKinnie alive last year when he was with the Panthers, so I'm sure he's frothing at the mouth for an opportunity to sack Brett Favre. Israel Idonije gets run-blocker Phil Loadholt on the right side, but Loadholt commits at least a few penalties a game, so don't forget about the other side. More than anyone else, the Bears must shut down Adrian Peterson early to get a win. If they can get help from the offense, Peterson will become less of a factor and won't be able to wear down Bear defenders as the game goes on. Peterson is so dangerous and his running style always gives the Bears fits, so let's avoid giving up record yardage today. Is that okay with you Lovie?

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Chicago got on the board early in the second quarter with an awkward pass to Greg Olsen in the end zone on a 14-play, 81-yard drive. I say awkward because Earl Bennett was right next to Olsen and nearly made his own play on the ball. Bennett had to over-run his coverage which put him in an odd position. Regardless, it was great to see Olsen get on the board after being forgotten these past few weeks.

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st few weeks, so I would expect their rust to get knocked off this afternoon with a ton of carries. Greg Olsen should factor heavily into what I hope is a limited passing attack, getting past the soft Bill linebackers and sitting in front the secondary. Speaking of which, the Buffalo back four are the only players with which the Bears should be fairly concerned. Jairus Byrd is a play-maker at safety, even if he gambles a bit too much and is overrated because of his interception numbers. Drayton Florence shouldn't be over-looked at corner either.

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There's a reason he's only started twenty games in his lengthy career. He's just not that good. Greg Olsen and the running backs will be his best friends in the passing game. If you have any Bear receivers on your fantasy team, I'd sit them right now. The only corner to really worry about is Chris Gamble, but he's a better tackler than he is interceptor. Carolina's linebackers are their strength, but they can't make up for all their deficiencies.

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wn the field to the goal line after a good return by Devin Hester, where Jay Cutler dropped it into Greg Olsen for their first score of the game.

Getty Images

It was a veritable sack-fest early on, thanks to the Bears inability to block incoming rushers. Three sacks in the first half and plenty of QB hits gave dooming premonitions for Bear fans. On Jay Cutler's only legitimate interception on the night it was obvious

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Johnny Knox and Devin Hester need to show up tonight if the Bear offense will move the ball. Greg Olsen should be in for a huge game as well, especially if the short passing game is Martz's primary focus. Matt Forte and Chester Taylor won't find a lot of room to run against a Green Bay front seven that has four dynamic linebackers on the prowl. A.J. Hawk may not be their best linebacker anymore, but he's no slouch. It'll be rough going on the ground, so screen passes will help get the Packers on their heels.

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Hand-offs and screen passes will be Jay's Best friend. Getting Greg Olsen in mismatches against safeties or 'backers will be another outlet for Jay if he's in trouble.

From the defense's perspective, Chicago will have a noticeable advantage today. Despite tackle Marc Columbo and guard Kyle Kosier's return to the starting line-up (so no penalty-invoking Alex Barron today), defensive end Julius Peppers should have a great day coming off the edge. Columbo's is coming off a knee injury and left tackle Doug Free is still new to the position. What could be better for a skilled rusher? The trick will be getting Tony Romo on the ground, as he's extremely mobile and never stops looking for a receiver. Getting penetration up the middle from Tommie Harris could keep Romo off his game. Chicago played fairly well against the run last week, but the Cowboys have three solid runners on their roster. Marion Barber is getting older but he still punishes would-be tacklers, something the Bears' speedy but small defenders have trouble with. Safety Chris Harris will be integral in stopping Barber's runs. Felix Jones is the real issue, since his speed could make things ugly.

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t versatile of the Bears' tight ends with the ability to block as well as to go out and run routes. Greg Olsen returns after his best season as a Bear with 60 catches and eight touchdowns. His fourth year in the league, many hope Olsen takes a step forward, but it's still unclear how many passes he'll see his way in this system. Regardless, when the Bears hit the redzone, Olsen will see the ball come his way. Free agent Brandon Manumaleuna is like an extra tackle at the end of the line, signed for his blocking prowess, size and knowledge of the Martz offense. Kellen Davis luckily made it onto the roster, but provides excellent size and athleticism at the position.

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He'll make Lovie Smith sleep better at night, but let's hope nothing else.

Hey look Ma, Greg Olsen!

We finally saw some highlights from tight end Greg Olsen! After not getting enough from that position during the preseason, it was nice to see Olsen with the redzone grab. Hopefully Martz has found a well-derserved spot for Olsen in this offense.

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randon Manumaleuna (who is being reported as getting big money by Schefter) make signal the exit of Greg Olsen. I would hate that idea. Hopefully they're simply bringing Manu in to placate Mike Martz (who coached Manu during his best seasons) and keep Olsen as essentially a receiver. Keeping Olsen, Desmond Clark and Manu would make a trio of solid tight ends who can serve a variety of needs. Maybe Dez Clark could be on the move?

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That being the case, I want to see 6-8 catches from Greg Olsen and 15-20 from my wide receivers. 

Message to the team: If you're not motivated for this game, you shouldn't be in football.  You can put a roadblock in front of Green Bay's playoff hopes. You'd also be one game under .500 if you're victorious, so I'd be a fan of that too. 

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They haven't earned it. Devin Hester and Greg Olsen must continue to be reliable pass-catchers and move the chains consistently for Chicago to have a shot.

On defense, Chicago will not be looking at Brian Westbrook catching passes out of the backfield, as he will sit out with another concussion. Unfortunately, that still leaves LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin and Brent Celek as targets for Donovan McNabb throws. Pressure on McNabb will be paramount or all of those weapons will have time to get open downfield for big plays like they have all season. With safety Kevin Payne doubtful with an injured back, Chicago's secondary will have its hands full.

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ile Forte didn’t rush well, he did catch 8 passes for 120 yards, mostly off of screen passes. Greg Olsen and Devin Hester added another 7 receptions each.  

And the blame goes to: the offensive line. I’m sorry, but even five interceptions can’t get me to blame Cutler. Maybe he wouldn’t have to force throws if the line wouldn’t commit so many infractions or introduce defenders to him.

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Welcome to a newly streamlined and revamped Gameday Preview! I figured the prior incarnation was just too filled with stats and useless analysis. From now on the preview will be more akin to extended Opening or Final Drive commentary. This week sees the Bears heading to San Francisco to take on the 49ers on Thursday Night Football. Let’s get to it!

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s well as he has all season, completing 29 passes for a whopping 369 yards and three scores, all to Greg Olsen. Unfortunately, an interception with a little less than seven minutes to go sealed the victory for Arizona. He was under pressure all day again, sacked four times and hit eight more. At this rate, Cutler won’t last all season, especially if the Bears have to keep abandoning the running game.

Continue reading "Bears can't catch up to Cardinals, lose 41-21"

nox need to establish themselves as dangerous downfield threats so they can take coverage away from Greg Olsen and free up Matt Forte and the running game. Without pass-rusher Antwan Odom, who was lost for the season with an Achilles tear, the Bengals are going to struggle to get to the quarterback. If Jay Cutler gets enough protection from his O-line, he can put up points in a hurry.

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Cutler also overthrew Greg Olsen early in the second quarter in the middle of the field to end another Chicago drive. Cutler needs to keep his red zone mistakes down and Forte MUST curb this fumbling problem he’s discovered. 

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 Receivers Hester, Knox and Earl Bennett will see plenty of throws from Cutler, but Greg Olsen is the key to tonight’s match-up. He can take advantage of the Falcon’s linebackers and/or safeties, forcing coverage his way. That will free up the receivers on the outside.  

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ford pass on the Lions following drive to set up another touchdown, this time on fourth and goal to Greg Olsen. (For the second week in a row.) Still, the Lions were not out. 

With 14 points in the first quarter, and a short Kevin Smith TD run to close out the half, the Lions held their ground. That would end when halftime was over. 

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been a pleasant surprise after the fervor from writers (including me) over the off-season. 

Greg Olsen should see less double coverage as the receivers threaten more, and getting him open is paramount to Chicago’s success. Thankfully, tight end Desmond Clark is expected to return to action on Sunday, lessening the burden on Olsen’s shoulders.  

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Seattle’s DB’s will have to respect their speed and Cutler’s arm. Greg Olsen and Kellen Davis will have all the space they need to make catches over the middle. Olsen’s size and speed should give Seattle’s secondary fits.

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Chicago’s offense went 41 yards (including a gorgeous deep pass over the middle to Greg Olsen) and drained the clock, setting up a 44 yard field goal by Robbie "Better than Platinum" Gould to win the game. On the following kickoff, the Steelers fumbled, securing the victory and a 1-1 record for the Bears.

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With tight end Desmond Clark out with a rib injury, Greg Olsen will be the focal point of the defense for the second straight week. He’ll see plenty of double coverage unless a wide receiver can alter their thinking. Kellen Davis will be sliding into that second tight end spot, giving a bigger and younger alternative to Clark.

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If not, look for Cutler to rely heavily on Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark, who have proven they are game-changers at the tight end position. I’m expecting 7-9 combined catches from those two.A gunslinger of a quarterback, Cutler will need ample protection so Hester can stretch the field and keep Green Bay from stacking the box against Forte. A couple of deep completions could lead to a big day on the ground as well. 

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What have we learned from this Bears preseason?

-Jay Cutler is as good as advertised.

-Greg Olsen is ready for a break-out year.

-The secondary is in flux thanks to a slew of injuries. Who knows what we’re going to see?

Continue reading "Bears Answer Few Questions in Victory Over Browns"

Jay Cutler was about to leave Broncos fans restless.

Cutler calmly rocketed passes to Greg Olsen, Devin Hester, and Matt Forte along the drive, capped off with a TD pass to Forte. Things got tense after a roughing the passer call on Elvis Dumervil on that final drive, giving the Bears fifteen free yards and lighting a fire under their collective butt.

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In Buffalo, he was missing his two best weapons, Matt Forte and Greg Olsen. For Chicago’s home preseason opener, both players were available and anxious to make plays for their new franchise QB.

Continue reading "Cutler and Bears Dominate Giants"

running back Matt Forte was held out of the game on a coach’s decision and starting tight end Greg Olsen was kept in street clothes due to a minor hip injury. No sense in risking our key cogs in a meaningless preseason game.

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n he lets on, but he still found a way to lead his team on late scoring drives that set up the win. Greg Olsen made plenty of key grabs, catching eight of Orton’s 24 completions. Matt Forte left the field after his very first carry with a toe injury, but returned to score a touchdown in the second quarter. Chicago only rushed for 55 yards total, choosing to abandon the run as the game progressed. Devin Hester was the real threat for Chicago, despite catching only four passes for 46 yards. He drew two significant pass interference calls on Saint defenders downfield, the last of which put Gould in perfect position the kick another game-winner. The Bears only scored six points in the final half plus overtime, continuing their trend of letting up on beaten squads. Ron Turner needs to get creative in these final weeks. 

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d go on to score 13 more in the first half, thanks to two Robbie Gould field goals and a stretching Greg Olsen touchdown. The score was 20-3 at halftime so it was all but over for the offensively-challenged Jaguars. Devin Hester had another sound performance at wide receiver, pulling in a 31 yard reception, as well as a punt return for 22 yards to the Jacksonville 22 that set up one of the first half field goals. Conversely, he also fumbled twice on punt returns, which is unacceptable whether he recovered them or not. Kyle Orton threw an interception early in the third quarter, but the Jags couldn’t capitalize, keeping the victory intact. Matt Forte only rushed for 69 yards on 21 carries, but he also caught five passes for 37 yards as he passed Gale Sayers for most scrimmage yards by a rookie in Bears history. So even on a quiet day, Forte made a loud statement. Still, even amidst a solid outing, the Bears had their troubles. They only converted on 5 of 15 third downs, a growing concern for Ron Turner and the offensive staff. The second half was an offensive dry spell, as the Bears had one interception, one field goal, and four punts. They won’t defeat playoff opponents if they can’t keep drives alive late in games.  

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Following an incompletion over the middle to Greg Olsen, a Matt Forte run off left tackle, a Jason Davis run up the middle, and a Forte run up the middle, the Bears turned the ball over on downs. On the very next play, Gus Frerotte found ex-Bear Bernard Berrian on the sideline behind broken Charles Tillman coverage for a 99-yard touchdown pass. Minnesota went up 10-7 and proceeded to humiliate the “Mediocre of the Midway” for the rest of the night. 

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Devin Hester (who left the game with a quad injury), Rashied Davis, and Greg Olsen have emerged as significant offensive threats, which is perfect for a young signal-caller like Orton. Olsen has especially proved worthy of a first-round selection, making up for his fumbles of a few games past. I’m not saying the quarterback situation in Chicago is completely settled, but it certainly looks better than it has in the past.

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Tight end Greg Olsen broke free of coverage for 52 yards on the first play on the Bears’ second drive of the game, the first one of many downfield plays by Kyle Orton.

The few negatives on the field were outweighed by the positive production. Kyle Orton should use this game to keep working on his deep throws. He could have hit a few targets in stride on Sunday, but overthrew when there was close coverage. His completions generally came when his receivers found the gaps in Detroit’s cover two scheme. Devin Hester must continue to improve his grip on the ball as well as his decision-making process. Normally Hester has no qualms about running out of bounds, but on this particular punt return he stayed inbounds to fight for what would have been a minimal gain. He was engaged with a defender when another Lion rushed in and jarred the ball loose, recovered by the Detroit. It set up their only score of the game, as they only need to traverse 22 yards to the end zone.

Continue reading "Bears Maul the Defenseless Lions"

on, DON”T KICK IT TO DEVIN HESTER!!! The tight end position is headlined by Desmond Clark and Greg Olsen. Clark is a long time Bears tight end and will most likely get the ball, but Olsen is looking better and better each game and I believe he will play a big part in the Bear’s offense this year.

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