The Bears Offseason Thread

[Sosa21MVP]

Oh well...shouldn't have drank at all...or been out at that hour. He knew he was under a microscope.

 

Yeah. He was pushing pretty close to the legal limit. A bad lapse in judgment for a guy who had zero room for error.

[brinoch]

Am I the only one who thinks Vasher is overrated? He's a good corner but if I had to choose between him and Tillman, I would pick Tillman. I remember there were a couple of games where Vasher missed some easy tackles and it cost us. I question his tackling ability moreso than anything else.

 

I think everyone this side of Brinoch will agree that Tillman is the better player. I could get behind Vasher being overrated if people still think he's better than Tillman. This is a good contract for a good player, though. Vasher has his weaknesses in his game but he's a good #2 cornerback.

 

:D

 

Actually, I think Tillman and Vasher are both decent cornerbacks, and Tillman is better than Vasher, all in all. I don't think that Tillman is the lock down #1 corner, though, that everyone thinks he is. This is opposed to the general prevailing opinion on the board, but I think an unbiased evaluation of both of them will back me up: Tillman's good, but not great. Vasher is good, but not quite as good as Tillman.

 

Now, on the other hand, in the Cover 2 scheme, you don't need wonderful CB's; they need to be decent (and they both are fine for the Cover 2). They aren't a problem area in this defense, in my mind. The real problem in the pass defense, such as it can be called a 'problem' wasn't the CB's at all, it was recognition and reaction by the FS and SS and the nickel-back when the CB's released on routes over the middle. Secondly, the LB/DT coverage of the RB safety valve pass up the middle was absolutely terrible last season. That was the achilles heel of the Bears' passing defense. Time and again, I saw gains from this play that should have been covered; I'm not sure if the fault was with the personnel or with Rivera, but it was pathetic and they need to plug it.

 

More important than the secondary, frankly, is the penetration and pressure applied by the front four. They need to get better at applying pressure and hurrying the QB. The best CB cannot stay with a WR forever -- or even all that long once the route has been run and the WR starts coming back to relieve pressure. Good defense (like offense) starts with controlling the line of scrimmage. Without pressure from the D-Line, teams will pick apart the Cover 2 and create tremendous problems for Vasher and Tillman.

[jersey cubs fan]

I don't think that Tillman is the lock down #1 corner, though, that everyone thinks he is.

 

Wait, do people really think that? I have to say I'm in-line with your line of thinking then, I don't think there's anything shutdown about either of them.

[Banedon]

I don't think that Tillman is the lock down #1 corner, though, that everyone thinks he is.

 

Wait, do people really think that? I have to say I'm in-line with your line of thinking then, I don't think there's anything shutdown about either of them.

 

Yeah, I've certainly never thought of Tillman as that...he's just a solid CB.

[BigbadB]

So, what's going on? Is Briggs going to play this year? Is Peterson the back up for Benson? Who is going to be starting in Tank's spot? Is Anderson getting a starting gig this year at Right End? Can we get a whole season out of Mike Brown?

 

Who have the Bears added and who have they gotten rid of?

 

I need to get caught up without doing a bunch of research.

[jersey cubs fan]

So, what's going on? Is Briggs going to play this year? Is Peterson the back up for Benson? Who is going to be starting in Tank's spot? Is Anderson getting a starting gig this year at Right End? Can we get a whole season out of Mike Brown?

 

Who have the Bears added and who have they gotten rid of?

 

I need to get caught up without doing a bunch of research.

 

The Briggs situation is unclear. It makes the most sense for him financially to take the pay and play this year, after skipping training camp, but staying in shape on his own. But we won't know until September.

 

Peterson is probably the backup.

 

I'm guessing the DT starters will be Harris and Dusty, with Adams next in-line on the rotation and Idonije and Garay behind them.

 

Anderson may or may not start, but he and Bazuin are pretty good bets to challenge Brown and Ogunleye for playing time. Although, at least with Bazuin, that's just a guess.

 

They probably can't get a whole season out of Mike Brown, but it's not unrealistic to hope for 12-14 regular season starts plus a healthy playoff run by him, now that he's moved back to free safey.

 

The Bears have added their draft picks, they've added a DT in Adams from the 49ers. They added another Ayabendejo, Obafemi the full-back. They added Adam Archuleta, who they tried to get last year, before he went to the Redskins where he didn't fit in at all. Lovie seems to think he knows how to use him better in his system, where Archuleta once flourished.

 

They lost Boone and Scott, basically their DT depth. They lost Johnson and Worrell from the safety positions and special teams. They lost Jones.

 

They pretty much return their offense more or less intact, with the same offensive line, WR group and QBs. The only change being Jones.

 

The core of the defense is back, but there's a few noticable changes at each of the three levels, with a change at safety, uncertainty and LB and questions at DT.

 

 

****won't let me type full back without the space****

Edited July 3, 2007 by jersey cubs fan

[rawaction]

So, what's going on? Is Briggs going to play this year? Is Peterson the back up for Benson? Who is going to be starting in Tank's spot? Is Anderson getting a starting gig this year at Right End? Can we get a whole season out of Mike Brown?

 

Who have the Bears added and who have they gotten rid of?

 

I need to get caught up without doing a bunch of research.

 

At this point, it looks as if Briggs will sit out 10 games unless the Bears trade him, which I don't see happening. AP is the backup for Benson, with Garrett Wolfe likely being the 3rd down back. Anthony Adams signed from SF will start for Tank. Mark Anderson will likely start at RE, unless Alex outperforms Wale in camp and then Mark will start at LE, with Alex back in his normal spot. No, we probably won't get a full season out of Mike Brown.

 

The Bears got rid of Thomas Jones, all the backup safeties from last year, Tank recently, and not much else. The Bears picked up Adams-DT (solid player sleeper, with great potential next to Tommie), Adam Archuleta-SS, and not too much else, although they did draft a DE, LB, and RB who should all get significant time. Daneial Manning will get time at CB. Devin Hester will see action at WR.

[killthegoat06]

Who would start in Briggs' place? Archuleta?

[jersey cubs fan]

Who would start in Briggs' place? Archuleta?

 

Not likely.

 

Probably Jamar Wilson, with Okwo as the dark horse rookie candidate.

[rawaction]

Who would start in Briggs' place? Archuleta?

 

Michael Okwo- draft pick from Stanford or Jamar Williams- 2nd year out of Arizona St.

[BigbadB]

Are they still projecting Hillenmeyer as a starting outside linebacker? I think he's the weakest link.

[BigbadB]

Oh, and thanks for the info. Good stuff.

[Chocolate Milk]

Are they still projecting Hillenmeyer as a starting outside linebacker? I think he's the weakest link.

 

I thought Hunter had his best season as a Bear last year. He's not great, but he's solid and isn't on the field all that much.

[jersey cubs fan]

Are they still projecting Hillenmeyer as a starting outside linebacker? I think he's the weakest link.

 

As far as I know, they are. And while I agree to an extent, I think they believe he's a stable presence there, and don't want to surround Urlacher with two unknowns, assuming Briggs doesn't play.

[rawaction]

Are they still projecting Hillenmeyer as a starting outside linebacker? I think he's the weakest link.

 

I thought Hunter had his best season as a Bear last year. He's not great, but he's solid and isn't on the field all that much.

 

I thought he was much better in 2005. He was decent last year. A better than average LB, but he played at a Pro Bowl level in 05.....just my opinion.

[Banedon]

****won't let me type full back without the space****

 

Ha....the filter is set up to filter any word starting with FU and ending with CK...full back is an unfortunate casualty.

[rawaction]

Are they still projecting Hillenmeyer as a starting outside linebacker? I think he's the weakest link.

 

I thought Hunter had his best season as a Bear last year. He's not great, but he's solid and isn't on the field all that much.

 

I thought he was much better in 2005. He was decent last year. A better than average LB, but he played at a Pro Bowl level in 05.....just my opinion.

 

I may have my years mixed up. Maybe it was 04 that he was at the PB level. Lots of career highs that year, and he missed the last 3 games.

[BigbadB]

I'm sorta happy to see Adrian get his opportunity this year. He's been very good on special teams and I couldn't be happier with how he filled in as the starting halfback in 2005.

[Guest]

I don't think that Tillman is the lock down #1 corner, though, that everyone thinks he is.

 

Wait, do people really think that? I have to say I'm in-line with your line of thinking then, I don't think there's anything shutdown about either of them.

 

Yeah, I've certainly never thought of Tillman as that...he's just a solid CB.

 

I don't know who's said he's a lock down #1 corner. :? I certainly don't think so and haven't read much of that anywhere (Tillman actually gets trashed a lot here and at other message boards). I think he's at the top of the second tier of corners but certainly not a shut down corner.

 

Are they still projecting Hillenmeyer as a starting outside linebacker? I think he's the weakest link.

 

Of the LBs, certainly. But that's not saying much when Briggs and Urlacher are the other LBs. He's suitable and dependable, he's played with Briggs and Urlacher for a few years and honestly, his position doesn't require him to stay on the field a lot (though we'll see if that changes if Briggs holds out).

[rawaction]

Am I the only one who thinks Vasher is overrated? He's a good corner but if I had to choose between him and Tillman, I would pick Tillman. I remember there were a couple of games where Vasher missed some easy tackles and it cost us. I question his tackling ability moreso than anything else.

 

I think everyone this side of Brinoch will agree that Tillman is the better player. I could get behind Vasher being overrated if people still think he's better than Tillman. This is a good contract for a good player, though. Vasher has his weaknesses in his game but he's a good #2 cornerback.

 

:D

 

Actually, I think Tillman and Vasher are both decent cornerbacks, and Tillman is better than Vasher, all in all. I don't think that Tillman is the lock down #1 corner, though, that everyone thinks he is. This is opposed to the general prevailing opinion on the board, but I think an unbiased evaluation of both of them will back me up: Tillman's good, but not great. Vasher is good, but not quite as good as Tillman.

 

Now, on the other hand, in the Cover 2 scheme, you don't need wonderful CB's; they need to be decent (and they both are fine for the Cover 2). They aren't a problem area in this defense, in my mind. The real problem in the pass defense, such as it can be called a 'problem' wasn't the CB's at all, it was recognition and reaction by the FS and SS and the nickel-back when the CB's released on routes over the middle. Secondly, the LB/DT coverage of the RB safety valve pass up the middle was absolutely terrible last season. That was the achilles heel of the Bears' passing defense. Time and again, I saw gains from this play that should have been covered; I'm not sure if the fault was with the personnel or with Rivera, but it was pathetic and they need to plug it.

 

More important than the secondary, frankly, is the penetration and pressure applied by the front four. They need to get better at applying pressure and hurrying the QB. The best CB cannot stay with a WR forever -- or even all that long once the route has been run and the WR starts coming back to relieve pressure. Good defense (like offense) starts with controlling the line of scrimmage. Without pressure from the D-Line, teams will pick apart the Cover 2 and create tremendous problems for Vasher and Tillman.

 

I agree with a lot of what you said. Tillman is as you described him. I think the reason the LBs allowed a lot of passes underneath is because they are so good in pass coverage and because the safeties were so bad. The LBs were forced to get more depth than they should to help out downfield. With Mike Brown back there this year, I think you will see the LBs around the line more and rushing the passer more than they did in 06.

[MPC]

bears signed greg olsen.

[Handlebar McSkullet]

bears signed greg olsen.

 

here is the link:

http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=3576

 

well done everyone involved

[Soriano12]

Good to see the Bears working well with Roshenhaus, outside of the Briggs situation. We need to get a deal done for Tommie too.

[Banedon]

Big change from the Benson holdout. Angelo's comments are telling:

 

“It’s a big relief given the fact that Greg has been with us throughout the offseason program,” Angelo said. “I mentioned to him and his family that he really built up a lot of good karma with the players and the coaches and now this allows him to continue that momentum going into camp.

 

“When you don’t get a deal done or it drags on and you take it into training camp, all that good will gets lost and now it has to be rebuilt. So now he can just continue to build on all the good things that he’s done thus far, and obviously we’re really excited about that.”

 

I wonder if he's referring to Benson at all, and how he had to rebuild his good karma with the team after his holdout?

[Butterscup1679666578]

Big change from the Benson holdout. Angelo's comments are telling:

 

“It’s a big relief given the fact that Greg has been with us throughout the offseason program,” Angelo said. “I mentioned to him and his family that he really built up a lot of good karma with the players and the coaches and now this allows him to continue that momentum going into camp.

 

“When you don’t get a deal done or it drags on and you take it into training camp, all that good will gets lost and now it has to be rebuilt. So now he can just continue to build on all the good things that he’s done thus far, and obviously we’re really excited about that.”

 

I wonder if he's referring to Benson at all, and how he had to rebuild his good karma with the team after his holdout?

 

I don't know if he's referring to Benson directly, maybe moreso just holdouts in general. But the Benson situation certainly came to my mind at first too.