Chip Shots: Reed Between the Lines: Bears Steel Victory

Chip Shots
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I'm Chip Ramsey a career broadcaster who has been a sports radio program director in Milwaukee and Nashville. I've covered everything from high school and college sports (including the SEC, Big Ten, MVC and OVC) to Major League Baseball, The NFL and the NHL. I have a few things to say, and when I want to say them, I say them here.

I mostly talk about my teams, which would be the White Sox, Bears, and Blackhawks, but I do talk about other things as well. Thanks for dropping by. I hope you will bookmark this site and visit often!

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Chip Shots: Reed Between the Lines: Bears Steel Victory

Reed Between the Lines: Bears Steel Victory

My free flowing stream of consciousness while watching Sunday's Bears 17-14 win over Pittsburgh:

The Bears MVP yesterday? Steelers kicker Jeff Reed who had more shanks than a guy in a maximum security prison has under his mattress. The Steelers drove the ball down the field, put themselves in a position to go up 10 points and Reed blew his second field goal attempt of the game from relatively close range. If the Steelers were Amish, they would have shunned him. Sorry, Big Ben just looks Amish.
The Bears simplified their offense yesterday and it helped Jay Cutler and Johnny Knox adjust. Cutler didn't seem committed to airing it out downfield, but rather to managing the game and keeping his passes short and surgical.
Johnny Knox improved 300% since last week. By the end of the year, the kid could be the Bears biggest receiving threat.
The offensive line still looks shaky, especially Chris Williams and Frank Omiyale.
The Bears only attempted to run the ball 18 times and gained only 43 yards. These are Bears we are talking about. You wonder if Lovie Smith ought to call plays for the offense too because I have no clue what Ron Turner is thinking.
Peanut Tillman had a great game yesterday including a pick and a breakup of an almost touchdown in the far corner of the end zone.
Al Afalava needs to learn not to grab a jersey while blocking on special teams. His rookie mistake cost the Bears a pretty good kick return by Johnny Knox. By the way, the Bears have several kick return weapons besides Devon Hester. They include Knox, Garrett Wolfe and Danieal Manning. Interesting that two out of the four (Knox, Manning) came out of Abilene Christian.
Speaking of Afalava, he played a pretty good game in the defensive backfield. In fact, the Bears entire defensive backfield really stepped it up this week.
It appears that Tommie Harris has gone into the witness protection program. I think he took Adewale Ugunleye with him.
Here's hopeing the ankle injury to Alex Brown isn't serious. He has been the Bears most effective down lineman this season. Mark Anderson couldn't hold Brown's helmet at this point. The Bears need a lot more push from their interior defensive linemen.
Kellen Davis is making Des Howard odd man out. Both Davis and Greg Olsen had pretty good games, especially Olsen who got his bell rung in the second quarter.
Hunter Hillenmeyer is no Brian Urlacher, but played a respectable game in the middle for the Bears. Considering that two of the three starters at linebacker are injured, kudos are in order for the entire linebacking corps.
Phil Sims said the Bears have the receivers to win now. Yeah, right, Phil.
Next week, the Bears take on Seattle. Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck bruised his ribs yesterday and left their loss to the Niners in the second quarter. Seneca Wallace is the backup.