A head-scratching day in Seattle

By Mike Maguire | Nov 19, 2:11 PM

I'm sure I'm not the only person with a million questions on his mind after the Bears 30-23 week 11 loss in Seattle.

Let's dive right in with the many questions surrounding the disappearing act of Cedric Benson. 11 carries for 89 yards? How can you justify handing the ball to Benson just 7 times after his dominant first quarter? Was Ron Turner in the crapper for Cedric's first two rushes?

It's pretty rare in sports when you see a team avoid a player with the 'hot-hand'… it just doesn't happen. Even a child in the early stages of his Madden Football video game playing career knows to stick with the plays and players that are getting results. Ron Turner and Lovie Smith's decision to swap Peterson for Benson was like pinch hitting for Darryl Strawberry with Homer Simpson, only with worse results.

What can you say about a team that wants to get off the bus running the football, yet puts the brakes on the running game when it finally starts rolling? Sometimes I feel like Ron Turner is the Chicago Bears' version of 'The Cooler', but of course, there are two guilty parties in this coaching gaff. You need two people to turn the key to launch a nuclear missile (or at least you did in the movie War Games… I've never actually fired one myself). At some point, Lovie should have stepped in and realized that turning the key on the plan of establishing Peterson in the second quarter was the wrong move.

The Bears have been waiting all season for their running game to break out. When it finally got going, they pulled the rug out from under the momentum they established. I'm sure I'm not the only Bears fan who was left scratching his head.

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Another question that popped to mind as I watched Matt Hasselbeck carve my Bears apart… why did the Bears give Ricky Manning Jr. all of that money (5 yrs-$21 million signed last year)?

Sure, Manning was in the mix against the Seahawks, but it is very clear that the Bears value rookie Trumaine McBride over Manning. Hunter Hillenmeyer's inspired play against the pass has also limited Manning's time on the field this season and it seems like opponents really have to open things up for Manning to see any action at all.

If the Bears don't trust this guy over a rookie drafted in the seventh round… what's with the payday? Are the Bears trying to cultivate Manning into becoming the wealthiest 4^th cornerback on the depth chart in NFL history, or does Ricky have some photos of Jerry Angelo stashed somewhere?

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Did Lovie Smith create a monster (an evil monster) out of the Bears defense by stressing turnovers too much? Tribune writer Rick Morrissey brought up this issue Monday and I happen to think he makes a good point.

Everybody loves turnovers… but relying on them is like counting on Roulette winnings to pay your rent. The Bears defensive backfield has had some issues with tackling… is gambling on stripping the football affecting the players' ability to take down ball carriers and limit yardage? Matt Hasselbeck torched the Bears for 337 yards… is gambling on interceptions leaving receivers too wide open?

All I know is that the Bears defense is a shell of its former self, and it all happened in the blink of an eye. There is a little bit of luck in winning the turnover battle in a football game; perhaps the Bears are just running through a stretch of bad luck. Is weathering the storm the best course of action for the Bears, or is it time for a return to basics?

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And my final question of the day… why do the Bears suck on 4^th and short?

The possible answers are a) Cedric Benson, b) Ron Turner, c) the old, banged up offensive line, or d) all of the above.

I believe the answer is d) the Bears issues run deep no matter what down it is. A fall from grace like the Bears have experienced requires some poor decisions from the top, poor execution on the field, loss of personnel, and a few bites from the injury bug.

The fact of the matter is that the Bears remain a team facing a heap of questions, and the time to find the answers to save this season is running out.