Chicago Bears vs Minnesota Vikings "5 Keys to the Game" October 16 2011

by Joe Perisnger
@Brew_Mastr_Joe on Twitter

This is a big divisional game for the Bears.  They already have 2 losses in the division and a third could be devastating.  Since 2003, the Bears are 7-1 at home and the home team has won 15 of the last 18 times.  It's going to take a big game from the defense and the offensive line has to show up to the game.  Here are the "5 Keys to the Game" for the Bears to beat the Vikings Sunday Night:


1.  Shut Down AP

This is easier said than done.  The Bear's have been gashed by teams all season with wide open running lanes.  They made the Lions look like a power run team in the second half, and have bascially given one (or more) big running plays to the opposing offense each week this season.  But this is the Minnesota Vikings.  They Vikings depend on the run like the Bear's do their defense.  The Vikings have the 3rd best rushing offense and in 149 rushing plays, the Vikings have 800 yards with a 5.4 avg per carry.  The Bear's have yet to face a top ten rushing offense, so this could be "the real" test for Lovie Smith's Monster's of the Midway and chance to redeem themselves and show the league that the Cover 2 Def can still be effective.  AP has had a pretty good career against the Bears running 784 yards with 11 TD's in 7 games in 156 rushing attempts so stopping him will be crucial. It's a challenge the Bear's are now going to have to take on without their star DE Julius Peppers listed as doubtful for the game.  


2.  Takeaways

This is one part of Lovie's Cover 2 defense that is missing this year.  Without the ability to take the ball away, the defense is on the field longer and is worn down by the fourth quarter (the offense doesn't help either by being ranked 29th in 3rd down conversions).  However this week they are playing a struggling Donovan McNabb and an offense that is ranked 24th.  McNabb hasn't been the most accurate QB this year averaging only a 56.8% completion rate, so if the Bears secondary has no blown assignments getting the ball back via INT won't be a problem.    


3.  Offensive Line needs to "Earn their paychecks"

This O-line is just a a mess.  Roberto Garza has been the right guard since 2005 and is now the center.  Chris Spencer  played center in Seattle and is now playing right guard.  Chris Williams was drafted as the "Left Tackle of the future".  Now he's their left guard.  J'Marcus Webb, a natural right tackle is now playing left tackle.  The Lion's front four was so dominating it seemed like it was just Jay Cutler and Matt Forte taking on the entire Lion's front seven.  Webb needs to have a huge game and show last week was just a loud building and  MNF nerves.  If not, Jared Allen will make it a long day.   

4.  3 Step Drop Quick Passes

I'm not saying the Vikings D-line stacks up to the Lion's, but if Cutler is going to make it through this season Mike Martz (who we will refer to as Potato Head Pants) is going to have to implement 3 step drops into this offense.  Even rolling Cutler out to the right (or away from Jared Allen in this weeks case) would be ideal.  Implementing quick throws this week will give the Bear's less predictability, and will help against pass rushes (And Cutler will actually have a chance to make it to 30).  The only question is, will Potato Head Pants actually put these plays in the rotation Sunday Night.  It's not like the Bear's dont have the talent at WR to pull this off.  


5.  Game Management

This is going to fall on Jay Cutler and Lovie Smith.  Last week in detroit Lovie opted to run on a fourth and short.  Then, when Forte was clearly short of the first down, he challenged the play.  This left many of us scratching our heads thinking "what the hell is he doing down there?".  And then there is Potato Head Pants.  On consecutive weeks he has struggled to get a play down to the field in time for Jay Cutler.  Many of us have seen Cutler throw his arms up in frustration and take a timeout because a play has yet to be called in his ear.   It also doesn't help when Potato Head Pants starts blaming it on the equipment.  If you can't set the table for your players, you can't blame them because they are using a spoon instead of a fork (think about it).  Cutler's success Sunday night will be dictated on what the O-line gives him, but he cannot turn the ball over.  He did a fantastic job against the Lions and managed to keep the Bears in the game because of that.  


I expect the Bear's defense to hold the Vikings offense for most of the game.  However, they are prone to the big play this year and I'm sure AP will break out for a big play or two.  Matt Forte shows why he should be paid and Cutler throws 1 INT.  24-17 Bears

PRESS RELEASE: JOE PERSINGER RETIRES FROM MUSIC

Written by John D. Staff

It is to the disappointment of this reporter that Joe Persinger, guitarist and drummer, has announced his retirement from music, live at a press conference in Phoenix Arizona. Through much triumph and tribulation, he rose through the ranks as a meager guitar player trying to find his spot as a singer, song writer, and rhythm guitarist in a 2 man band. Joe Persinger and Mark Quatraro began their triumph in a small room and basement writing and arranging songs that would touch the hearts to those that were close to them. They released their first album in August of 2001. Although there wasn't much to come of the album it had some success in the local circuit. However, the band broke up and Mark decided to pursue dreams outside of music.

For the next few years Joe bounced around from band to band struggling trying to find success. It wasn't until 2003 when Joe met punk drummer, Dan Woodall, and began a new project. Due to outside commitments though, the project never came to be and Joe was back to where he started. In 2004, Mark Quatraro, Dan Woodall, and Joe Persinger teamed up to play a (small) festival in Lindenhurt Illinois on a warm summer June night. They received critical acclaim for the excellent performance, but again prior engagements stopped the trio from pursuing anything beyond that warm summer night.

In early 2005, the re-union began. Mark Quatraro and Joe Persinger teamed up to start a new project. This time with Eric "Guy" Reading as the bassist and Joe moving behind to the drums. Known as "Funked Up Soul" they again played that (small) festival in Lindenhurst. Armed with a new sound and brand new music they hit the circuit playing and hosting open mic jams throughout Chicago. Eventually, they hooked up with keyboardist and producer Bobbi Scumacci. He began to mold and record their new sound, but it was here where things went a rye. Joe was fired from the band as the drummer and was back in the limbo of surfing band to band. Over the next 4 years he pursued playing the drums and small jams here and there. On a hot sunny day in downtown Phoenix, on a stage behind a podium, he had this to say:

"It is to my disappointment that I announce my retirement from music today. I was once a young boy who spent much of his bed time listening to my father's band play through the vents on the floor. Countless times I would fall asleep to the sounds of a youthful rock band jamming away at originals and Neil Young songs. When I was 6 years old I had my first on stage experience singing 'Leaving on a Jet Plane", I performed at Carnegie hall when I was 16, had various stints in plays and musicals, and received my first guitar and microphone shortly after that. It was a few years later I then received my first drum kit as well. It was my father that made all those things possible and I thank my father for his gratitude and support for my passion of music. I thank you, Dave Levin for all your pictorial documentation of every gig I have played and the loud cheering you would always give. But that still doesn't excuse the photo ops you have missed. Just kidding buddy. I thank Dan Woodall for the countless jam sessions we've had and for putting up with all the extra recreational activities that you forced us to take outside. If it wasn't for my good friend Jason Laboy, I probably would have quit choir after my freshmen year and wouldn't be standing here. Thank you Jason, for helping me with my horrific dance moves and nasally sounding singing voice. I thank you, Kimmy Piacenza and Sam Beigler who were there the night we wrote 'Denial' and kept laughing at the lyric 'you cut me up and split me like a chive' that we wrote at 1:00am in the Highland Park High School student parking lot. To this day, I still chuckle about it. I will never forget track #5 on the first album Mark and I did where you hear me say 'I wasn't even talking about Kimmy' as she stormed out of the studio. When I listened to that track years later on a high quality stereo, you can hear Mark say 'Why'd you have to say shit?'. As the three of you know (Jason, Sam, and Kimmy) I was a jerk back then and wronged you at some point that summer. I'm sorry for my actions. I was honored to play with Mark Quatraro and Eric "Guy" Reading through the years. I got to play with them one last time last June and it was a fun week. These two have now branched out into an amazing sounding band known as Freedom Ryders. It's a great sound and I wish them the best of luck. I thank you Trevor "Tree" Shandling for putting up with my lack of musical talent when I had no clue what a guitar chord was, or how a drum beat worked, but still let me sing along and look like an idiot while we 'jammed'. I promise you all today that I am not quitting music behind closed doors. I will always strum away or pound out a new drum beat. I am however, retiring from playing publicly. A songwriter once wrote 'Denial is what made it stay alive......Denial brought it slowly to die.......Other then the gut wrenching break up that songs refers to, I never thought it would also apply to my music and talent. I no longer find myself with the same passion I used to have with lyric and song writing or musical arrangement. When writing with a group of people I found that everyone has their own opinions and the whole idea gets homogenized and it looses its edge. That does not reflect any particular scenario that I have been apart of, but is something that every musician has to deal with. You will not see me on stage at a festival, block party, or even small get together. My time has come to retire and do the things I have control over. Thank you......so....(wipes a tear).....much for all your support. I leave with this quote from legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix: 'Even Castles made of sand, fall into the sea, eventually.' Thank you so much everyone....."

So he walked away from the stage and podium shaking hands and hugging those who shared the stage with him that afternoon. The crowd cheered and chanted his name as he made his way off the stage. His hand raised high in the sky as if he was waving hello and goodbye to every person in the crowd. As he walked off the stage a silence took over the crowd and the cheers went from loud to somber to an eerie quietness. A wise man once said "Hero's are never forgotten, but a legend never dies." Although that doesn't really apply to this situation, at least the man left with grace. His music touched those that heard it, made those who saw him love him, and that music and memory will play in their heads for a long time.

--John D. Staff

Mark Dan and Joe in 2004

Playing some guitar in 2003

Chicago Bears vs Detroit Lions MNF Keys to the Game

by Joe Persinger
@Brew_Mastr_Joe on Twitter


The Bears and Lions meet in the motor city in their first MNF football match up in 10 years.  The Bears find themselves looking up at the 4-0 Lions and Packers.  So if this team plans on starting to gain ground in the NFC North, it's uphill battle will start against the Lions.  Here are the Five Keys to the Bears Victory on Monday Night.

1.  Take 'Megatron' out of the Game

With two touchdowns in each of the last 4 games, Calvin Johnson has broken into that top 3 category of elite WR's in the NFL.  His ability to catch a ball in triple coverage and be 'that guy' Matthew Stafford can just throw the ball up to and hope he comes down with it, is just uncanny.  Tillman should provide the best coverage for the Bears at cornerback, and putting a safety over the top will help.  But 'Megatron' has proven (especially last week) that he is a play maker and taking him out of the game will also depend on how much pressure the Bears front four can put of Matthew Stafford.     

2.  Keep Running the Ball

Matt Forte is coming off a career high 205 yard game against a 31rst ranked Carolina Defense.  Detroit's front four is better than the Panthers so running through the middle won't be an easy task.  Detroit ranks 20th in Run Def with an average of 113 yards against so it's definitely possible for Forte to have a big day.  Although their pass def is ranked 12th, they still allow 221 yards a game.  If Forte can run the ball and set up the pass for Cutler, the Bears will find success against the Lions defense.  Expect to the Bears run outside away from Van Don Bosch and throw screen passes over the DLine.  But they have to pound the ball to establish the run to keep this Lion's defense honest.

3.  Time of Possession 

A teams best defense is keeping the other teams offense off the field.  This is crucial to the Bears success this week.  The Lions aren't running the ball well this year being ranked 29th in Rushing Offense.  The entire Lion's offense is based on the success of the passing game.  So every pass Stafford misses will stop the clock, keeping the 'time of possesion' game in the Bear's favor.  If the Bears can run the ball and keep the clock ticking with Stafford and 'Megatron' on the sidelines, they can limit the "big" plays against them and force the Lion's offense to make mistakes against a Bear's defense that forces teams to make the short throws and go the length of the field.  


4.  No Turnovers

Jay Cutler has thrown a few interceptions, but if you take away the fluke play against Atlanta and the WR's who should make those catches, he has done a good job holding onto the ball.  The offensive line will have two big tasks (Suh & Fairley) ahead of them and keeping Jay Cutler upright will be a challenge.   With a good offensive decisions and a balanced attack, Cutler and the Bears will find success against this Lion's defense.  But if Jay Cutler decides to go "Tony Romo" and throw pick sixes and hand the ball back to the Lion's, it's going to be a long Monday evening.  

5.  Jay Cutler Needs to Step Up

Last week the Bears put the load of the offense on Matt Forte's shoulders, and he delivered.  And this man has yet to be paid.  Jay Cutler signed a 2 year extension worth $30 million, but he has yet to have the 'lights out' game that brings him up to the next level.  His footwork has been shaky, and over the last two weeks he has overthrown guys (some which led to an INT), and has missed very easy throws, missing a guy low or throwing to the wrong shoulder.  This would be the perfect game for Cutler to show that he is not another "Tony Romo" and is in the upper echelon of NFL QB's.  This Lion's defense is actually respectable against the pass so if Cutler goes out there and keeps the Bears in the game with No INTs and a TD or two, you just might see him trending upward getting better and better as the year goes by.  I'll just be happy he doesn't revert and become "Tony Romo" 2.0