NFL Week 12 in Review: Too Soon to Give Up on Caleb Hanie and the Chicago Bears
Published by Ernest Shepard on November 28, 2011
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
18 for 36 with 254 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.
These are the quarterback stats of Caleb Hanie, who made his first career start on Sunday going into Oakland to face the Raiders. Typical numbers for someone who is starting for the first time.
The review from many is that Hanie did not play well, despite losing 25-20 in a game where Oakland was limited to field goals the majority of the game.
Did anyone expect Joe Namath to walk inside the Bears locker room to suit up? Actually, the numbers tell an interesting story.
Numbers such as 27 running plays versus 36 passing attempts, and how about being inside the 20 yard line after three punts which only contributed to the poor field position for the Bears.
Punter Shane Lechler held Devin Hester in check throughout the game. The several dropped passes in the first half definitely hurt the Bears when they were trying to ease in a new starter, who is technically learning on the job. Is it his fault they lost?
Not really. Not at all.
He played better than several current and future Hall of Famers. Payton Manning’s debut stats were 302 yards on 21 completions, 37 attempts, one touchdown and three picks, while Joe Montana was 5 for 12 with 36 yards.
Not saying that Hanie is going to be Manning or Montana, but he is going to be serviceable. And two reasons for the Bears march into the playoffs is the defense will play better and Caleb Hanie seems to be a quick study..
The Bears defense showed flashes of greatness during key parts of the game when they held Oakland to six Sebastian Janokowski field goals, but the bend don’t break defense that Lovie Smith coaches must become stingier. The margin of error is a lot different with Hanie under center.
They will have to take more risks to create turnovers, and with the murderer’s row of quarterbacks they’ll be facing (Tyler Palko or Kyle Orton, Tim Tebow, Tavaris Jackson and Christian Ponder) in four out of their last five games.
Having sacked Carson Palmer four times; two of them by Julius Peppers, maybe the defensive line has found it’s groove.
The postgame conference with Hanie was telling: He was engaging and he recognized his mistakes.
After listening to him break down the last interception he threw near the end of the first half, one can tell that his memory is short when it comes to mistakes.
Also, he has a pretty decent feel for the rush, which is evidence from the 50 yards rushing that he finished the game with.
Don’t fret Bears fans, we don’t need to see Nathan Enderle just yet. The Bears will be fine.
Besides, the Lions play the Saints next.
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