I don't love Benson either but.....

bearsfan_51 · 10-07-2007, 11:36 PM

I'm not so sure that we made the "wrong" decision by letting Jones go like everyone in the media keeps saying.

Jones has 290 yards with a 3.3 avg with no touchdowns. Their receptions stats are similar and I haven't had a problem with Benson's pass blocking.

It would seem if anything that both players benefitted greatly by playing with each other. Jones was never as good before Benson, and he hasn't been as good after.

Given the fact that they couldn't coexist any longer, Jones had threatened to hold out, and he only had one year left on his contract anyway, why the hell wouldn't they trade him?

Clearly Benson hasn't lived up to the billing of a top 5 pick, but trading Jones has nothing to do with that.

What we need to do, I think, is either get AP/Wolfe more involved in the offense, or find a better complimentary back to Benson that will take the pressure off of him to be the whole running game. He might not ever be what we want him to be, but that doesn't make him useless.

Then again the media was saying we should put Grossman back in after they said how terrible he was for 2 years so what do they know?

k0ng · 10-08-2007, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bearsfan_51

I'm not so sure that we made the "wrong" decision by letting Jones go like everyone in the media keeps saying.

Jones has 290 yards with a 3.3 avg with no touchdowns. Their receptions stats are similar and I haven't had a problem with Benson's pass blocking.

It would seem if anything that both players benefitted greatly by playing with each other. Jones was never as good before Benson, and he hasn't been as good after.

Given the fact that they couldn't coexist any longer, Jones had threatened to hold out, and he only had one year left on his contract anyway, why the hell wouldn't they trade him?

Clearly Benson hasn't lived up to the billing of a top 5 pick, but trading Jones has nothing to do with that.

What we need to do, I think, is either get AP/Wolfe more involved in the offense, or find a better complimentary back to Benson that will take the pressure off of him to be the whole running game. He might not ever be what we want him to be, but that doesn't make him useless.

Then again the media was saying we should put Grossman back in after they said how terrible he was for 2 years so what do they know?

I was a firm believer in Benson, but after what they said in the game(about him and Jones not getting along) and the way he carries himself on the field, I'm really starting to dislike the guy. He talked all this ish all over the radio and in interviews about how he needs 25 carries a game, need to be the workhorse, the guy, blah blah blah. Then, tonight, carry after carry he looks like he is barely trying. On top of it he barely pulls his sorry ass up AND then takes himself out of the game. He also got that 25th carry tonight and looked like he was absolutely worn down. He will never be a featured back. They need to work Wolfe in more or start thinking about drafting a RB on the first day.

SFbear · 10-08-2007, 01:03 AM

I wonder if he gets benched or we bring someone else in, whether he'll blame it on "politics".

BUSTKUNTLAWL · 10-08-2007, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by k0ng

I was a firm believer in Benson, but after what they said in the game(about him and Jones not getting along) and the way he carries himself on the field, I'm really starting to dislike the guy. He talked all this ish all over the radio and in interviews about how he needs 25 carries a game, need to be the workhorse, the guy, blah blah blah. Then, tonight, carry after carry he looks like he is barely trying. On top of it he barely pulls his sorry ass up AND then takes himself out of the game. He also got that 25th carry tonight and looked like he was absolutely worn down. He will never be a featured back. They need to work Wolfe in more or start thinking about drafting a RB on the first day.

Thomas Jones punched him in the face last year.

It wasn't just Benson's fault they didn't get along.

Race for the Heisman · 10-08-2007, 11:26 AM

I think the general lack of o-line play (which was okay last night) and his running style are hurting him. If Benson has a hole, count on him for 6 because he'll just plow through it. Other, shiftier runners, however, might be able to conform with a shifting opportunity (read: hole), but Benson doesn't, and only gets two or three where a different back might get three or four. What I mean is that while he can take contact in terms of the physical abuse, it isn't especially conducive to his running style. I guess you could say that makes him not so good, or he really needs to make adjustments. Kind of late for that I suppose.

bearsfan_51 · 10-08-2007, 11:29 AM

Exactly. Benson is what he is, but that doesn't mean he can't be a productive asset for this team. I'm just not sure that running him up the middle 25-30 times a game is the way to do that.

k0ng · 10-08-2007, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BUSTKUNTLAWL

Thomas Jones punched him in the face last year.

It wasn't just Benson's fault they didn't get along.

Yea, I'm sure Benson had nothing to do with it.

TJ doesn't seem like the type of guy that goes around clockin people.

dabears10 · 10-08-2007, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bearsfan_51

Exactly. Benson is what he is, but that doesn't mean he can't be a productive asset for this team. I'm just not sure that running him up the middle 25-30 times a game is the way to do that.

Yeah his best two runs of the night were that toss to the right in the 4th and that stretch play for the TD. Variation in run calls would be real nice.

bearsfan_51 · 10-08-2007, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by k0ng

Yea, I'm sure Benson had nothing to do with it.

TJ doesn't seem like the type of guy that goes around clockin people.

Based on what? Have you ever read Jones' public comments? I've always thought he came off like an asshole.

That doesn't excuse Benson's diva attitude or heightened sense of self-important, but I'm tired of people acting like Jones is totally guilt free in this. He tried to turn the team against Benson from the get-go.

BUSTKUNTLAWL · 10-08-2007, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bearsfan_51

Based on what? Have you ever read Jones' public comments? I've always thought he came off like an asshole.

That doesn't excuse Benson's diva attitude or heightened sense of self-important, but I'm tired of people acting like Jones is totally guilt free in this. He tried to turn the team against Benson from the get-go.

Exactly my impression of Jones & my take on the situation.

Smokey Joe · 10-08-2007, 07:58 PM

Hey, Benson perhaps threw the game winning block on a blitz last night. Benson doesn't block the guy, Griese gets sacked, which means no TD to Clark. And if that happened who know what the result would have been.

k0ng · 10-08-2007, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bearsfan_51

Based on what? Have you ever read Jones' public comments? I've always thought he came off like an asshole.

That doesn't excuse Benson's diva attitude or heightened sense of self-important, but I'm tired of people acting like Jones is totally guilt free in this. He tried to turn the team against Benson from the get-go.

Well, I guess I never thought about it like that before. I'd just would prefer to still have them both. They could have been a great duo.

I know it's only been five games and the o-line is absolute garbage, so I haven't given up on Benson yet. The guy definitely has the talent to be a good back. He just needs to adjust his mentality.