The Bears Offseason Thread

[Balsa]

When do those "We Trusty in Angelo" shirts go on sale? :lol:

[BigSlick]

Angelo was on NBC 5 for a draft special last night, and he said that they were looking at Olsen going into the draft and they really liked him. He said at the time of the pick they had offers to trade out of 31 and 37, but he said it made the most sense to take Olsen. He obviously isn't going to say much different now.

 

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070430/capt.64c9207ed2cb4015a4a72d67f23ca1fd.bears_olsen_football_cx105.jpg

 

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070430/capt.b9a328e4cb3a47c8abee4172b26e7c65.bears_olsen_football_cx103.jpg

 

He's so devilishly handsome.

[Brian]

Lovie sure seems intrigued by his looks :lol:

[Balsa]

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/168/479242875_5405304fcc_o.jpg

[texascub]

Yall might find this article quite interesting. Dr. Z's grade for the Bears' draft was by far the lowest given to them. Overall their GPA was 2.5.

[Soriano12]

Man Carol Sleezak and Jay Mariotti are just bashing Olsen in the Sun Times today...HEY NEWS FLASH MORONS!....College Football players get alot of ass.

[UMFan83]

Who do the Bears cut, Desmond Clark, who has to be more then a little upset that after his sold season we drafted a TE, or John Gilmore, by far the best blocking TE of the 3 and doesn't deserve to be demoted to third string?

 

Apologize if this was already discussed

[rawaction]

Yall might find this article quite interesting. Dr. Z's grade for the Bears' draft was by far the lowest given to them. Overall their GPA was 2.5.

 

I thought Minnesota, Carolina, and San Francisco had the best draft.

 

Dolphins got an A+ from sportingnews, but also got 3 Ds and an F. Cleveland got a 4.0.

[jersey cubs fan]

Who do the Bears cut, Desmond Clark, who has to be more then a little upset that after his sold season we drafted a TE, or John Gilmore, by far the best blocking TE of the 3 and doesn't deserve to be demoted to third string?

 

Apologize if this was already discussed

 

Can't they keep all 3? It's not unheard of to have 3 TE's is it? As long as Clark and Gilmore can fill in on special teams this should work. If Reid beats one of them out, fine. But I like having the blocking TE, the all-around TE (Clark) and the pass catching threat in Olsen. Only Olsen will be making serious coin, and his salary cap number can be partially taken from the WR position, since they only have one guy making a lot of money, and Olse's role will be similar to what they'd get from a receiver.

[CubColtPacer]

Who do the Bears cut, Desmond Clark, who has to be more then a little upset that after his sold season we drafted a TE, or John Gilmore, by far the best blocking TE of the 3 and doesn't deserve to be demoted to third string?

 

Apologize if this was already discussed

 

Can't they keep all 3? It's not unheard of to have 3 TE's is it? As long as Clark and Gilmore can fill in on special teams this should work. If Reid beats one of them out, fine. But I like having the blocking TE, the all-around TE (Clark) and the pass catching threat in Olsen. Only Olsen will be making serious coin, and his salary cap number can be partially taken from the WR position, since they only have one guy making a lot of money, and Olse's role will be similar to what they'd get from a receiver.

 

It's not unusual at all to have 3 TE's on the roster. Typically, a team will keep 3, and some teams keep 4 occasionally.

 

I don't think drafting Olsen signifies the end for Clark. The Bears will be able to do a lot out of a 2 TE formation, and Clark will be quite valuable in that because he can both stay in and block or go out on a route. The Bears ability to mix up their plays got quite better with the pick of Olsen, and that can only help Grossman.

[Chocolate Milk]

Jerry said there were going to draft a TE somewhere because there was only 2 on the roster.

[jersey cubs fan]

It's not unusual at all to have 3 TE's on the roster. Typically, a team will keep 3, and some teams keep 4 occasionally.

 

Yeah, I'm pretty sure the Bears had 3 all last year.

 

I don't think drafting Olsen signifies the end for Clark. The Bears will be able to do a lot out of a 2 TE formation, and Clark will be quite valuable in that because he can both stay in and block or go out on a route. The Bears ability to mix up their plays got quite better with the pick of Olsen, and that can only help Grossman.

 

I could see a lot of 3rd down situations where they have Clark and Olsen, Muhammed and Berrian, and Wolfe in the backfield providing a solid mix of deep, intermediate and short passing options while keeping the option of having one TE stay in to block.

 

This already was going to be make or break time for Rex, and I think they've done a pretty good job of giving him solid tools to make the most of his skills.

[jersey cubs fan]

Jerry said there were going to draft a TE somewhere because there was only 2 on the roster.

 

Reid, Gilmore, Clark and another guy named Angulo are on the roster.

[Soriano12]

John Gilmore caught 2 TD passes last year in a game. Both Clark and Olsen will see plenty of time. I'm not too concerned about Olsen's blocking.

 

1) Oline coach Heistand is excellent IMO. Him and the TE coach will coach Olsen up in this area.

 

2) Blocking skills for TE's is overrated. I think the term "Great Blocking TE" gets applied often to TE's that are marginal recievers. Same goes for DE's that can't rush the passer. They get the "solid run defender" label. (see Phillip Daniels).

[Burtonbell]

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/cs-070430bearsbits,1,4250899.story?coll=cs-bears-headlines

 

This is at the end of the Olsen "rap" song article from the tribune website. Didn't know if this was posted or not.

 

Extra points

 

Left tackle John Tait underwent ankle surgery described as "minor" and is not expected to be hampered by the time training camp arrives. ... The Bears signed seven undrafted rookie free agents: wide receivers David Ball from New Hampshire, Drisan James from Boise State and Jayson Swain from Tennessee; quarterback Chris Leak from Florida; defensive end Chris Frome from Notre Dame; safety Jay Staggs from UNLV; and linebacker Danny Verdun-Wheeler from Georgia. They have had talks with and are expected to sign several additional rookies, including Missouri safety David Overstreet and Notre Dame running back Darius Walker. Overstreet's father, David, was a high school teammate of Bears coach Lovie Smith.

[rawaction]

I think the Bears will use Olsen a lot on 3rd down in the slot, ala the Colts last year with Dallas Clark. Get a big guy on a nickel-back or safety, who can just as soon outrun them also. He's a better slot option than Rashied Davis who is much smaller.

 

I'd like to see sets of Moose and Berrian outside. Olsen in the slot. Clark at TE and a RB in the backfield. I would feel pretty good with a 3-receiver pattern and max protection with Clark and RB. Or I would feel good about getting Clark into the middle by spreading the field out with the 3 wide.

[Chocolate Milk]

Jerry said there were going to draft a TE somewhere because there was only 2 on the roster.

 

Reid, Gilmore, Clark and another guy named Angulo are on the roster.

 

Maybe I misheard.

[Soul]

Who do the Bears cut, Desmond Clark, who has to be more then a little upset that after his sold season we drafted a TE, or John Gilmore, by far the best blocking TE of the 3 and doesn't deserve to be demoted to third string?

 

Apologize if this was already discussed

 

Eh? If anything I expect Dez to be happy we finally drafted another TE. He's been relied on for everything for far too long. Clark has also hinted that he might not want to play for too much longer, and just watching him he seems like the kind of guy who genuinely wants to leave the Bears in good shape.

[Jon]

I like the David Ball signing.

[Soul]

Man Carol Sleezak and Jay Mariotti are just bashing Olsen in the Sun Times today...HEY NEWS FLASH MORONS!....College Football players get alot of ass.

 

LOL, Sleezak is such a tool. She's like that mother-in-law you wish didn't exist, who's voice sounds like fingernails on a chalkboard and just won't quit.

[Z38Cubs]

G-Reg!!!!!!

[texascub]

Has anyone else seen Urlacher's new Vitaminwater commercial? I thought that the NFL told him he couldn't represent them anymore, but this is the first time I've seen the commercial.

[Jon]

Has anyone else seen Urlacher's new Vitaminwater commercial? I thought that the NFL told him he couldn't represent them anymore, but this is the first time I've seen the commercial.

The rule is only against representing rival companies of league sponsors at league events.

[texascub]

Has anyone else seen Urlacher's new Vitaminwater commercial? I thought that the NFL told him he couldn't represent them anymore, but this is the first time I've seen the commercial.

The rule is only against representing rival companies of league sponsors at league events.

 

I see...the commercial is kind of strange though. I never imagined Urlacher as a badminton player.

[Butterscup1679666578]

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/cs-070430bearsbits,1,4250899.story?coll=cs-bears-headlines

 

This is at the end of the Olsen "rap" song article from the tribune website. Didn't know if this was posted or not.

 

Extra points

 

Left tackle John Tait underwent ankle surgery described as "minor" and is not expected to be hampered by the time training camp arrives. ... The Bears signed seven undrafted rookie free agents: wide receivers David Ball from New Hampshire, Drisan James from Boise State and Jayson Swain from Tennessee; quarterback Chris Leak from Florida; defensive end Chris Frome from Notre Dame; safety Jay Staggs from UNLV; and linebacker Danny Verdun-Wheeler from Georgia. They have had talks with and are expected to sign several additional rookies, including Missouri safety David Overstreet and Notre Dame running back Darius Walker. Overstreet's father, David, was a high school teammate of Bears coach Lovie Smith.

 

Overstreet! That'd be great if the Bears give him a chance.