Re: The Chicago Bears Offseason Thread

[Banedon]

the packers are vastly superior to the bears, and are a young team with a lot of talent that is likely to improve. unless rodgers is unspeakably atrocious - like ryan leaf bad - the bears are very unlikely to be as good as the packers next year, regardless of what moves they make in the next few months.

 

 

This is a very stupid post displaying an extreme lack of knowledge regarding NFL.

 

this is a very stupid post. i know teams in the nfl can flop places quickly. but most of the meaningful free agents are already signed, and it was a thin free agent crop to begin with. given what the bears have done, or more accurately haven't done, how can you say that the bears are going to make up the gap on the packers in the next six months? please, enlighten us with another stupid post.

 

So is the draft being skipped this year?

[Magnetic Curses]

He's definitely fast, but in the NFL the defenders are much, much faster than Wisconsin's (or anyone else's in the Big Ten). What I want to see in a college back is both speed and elusiveness. Mendenhall runs very upright and doesn't really make people miss. He runs straight ahead as fast as he can. That's great in college, but just doesn't work well in the NFL.

 

where do you get that? it's worked fine in the nfl, from eddie george to larry johnson to shaun alexander.

 

what doesn't play well is garrett wolfe-type backs, or, rather on donw which aren't 3rd. mendenhall will be just fine.

[Outshined_One]

Remind me again of the Packers' superiority, given how well they did against the Bears last season. :D

 

With that said, if Adrian Peterson is healthy all season, I'll go with the Vikings to take the North. He's one of the most eye-popping RBs I've ever seen. The guy runs like the opposing team owes him money.

[CuseCubFan69]

Remind me again of the Packers' superiority, given how well they did against the Bears last season. :D

 

With that said, if Adrian Peterson is healthy all season, I'll go with the Vikings to take the North. He's one of the most eye-popping RBs I've ever seen. The guy runs like the opposing team owes him money.

 

Or trashed his car.

[Magnetic Curses]

there was a lot larger gap between the bears and packers going from 06 to 07 than there will be going forward, especially with the departure of favre.

 

truffle is just a hater of non-cub chicago sports.

[RedFlash]

Remind me again of the Packers' superiority, given how well they did against the Bears last season. :D

 

With that said, if Adrian Peterson is healthy all season, I'll go with the Vikings to take the North. He's one of the most eye-popping RBs I've ever seen. The guy runs like the opposing team owes him money.

 

That's the kicker in the NFC North, there isn't ONE TEAM that stands out. Every team has serious holes. The Vikes have a hole at QB. The Lions are....the Lions....the Bears have no O, and the Packers---as of right now, until proven otherwise---have a hole at QB.

 

As of right now, the Packers are the favorites in the North, only because they are the defending NFC North champs. But that title is very weak at the moment. The Vikes and APete will be BIG busts in 2008, unless Tavaris Jackson can prove he is an legit NFL QB, or the Vikes acquire Dante Culpepper. Otherwise, I could see the League clamped down on APete, like they did with Carnell Williams.

 

So there really shouldn't be a favorite to win the North just yet.

[Rex Buckingham]

He's definitely fast, but in the NFL the defenders are much, much faster than Wisconsin's (or anyone else's in the Big Ten). What I want to see in a college back is both speed and elusiveness. Mendenhall runs very upright and doesn't really make people miss. He runs straight ahead as fast as he can. That's great in college, but just doesn't work well in the NFL.

 

where do you get that? it's worked fine in the nfl, from eddie george to larry johnson to shaun alexander.

 

what doesn't play well is garrett wolfe-type backs, or, rather on donw which aren't 3rd. mendenhall will be just fine.

 

He certainly can make people miss... if you watch the highlight video posted a little ways back you will see that, especially against Penn State (I'm pretty sure it's Dan Connor he jukes out of his cleats on one play)

 

And people also said Adrian Peterson runs upright...doesn't seem to hurt him

[cbbryan]

He's definitely fast, but in the NFL the defenders are much, much faster than Wisconsin's (or anyone else's in the Big Ten). What I want to see in a college back is both speed and elusiveness. Mendenhall runs very upright and doesn't really make people miss. He runs straight ahead as fast as he can. That's great in college, but just doesn't work well in the NFL.

 

 

What? Watch some video.

[brinoch]

He's definitely fast, but in the NFL the defenders are much, much faster than Wisconsin's (or anyone else's in the Big Ten). What I want to see in a college back is both speed and elusiveness. Mendenhall runs very upright and doesn't really make people miss. He runs straight ahead as fast as he can. That's great in college, but just doesn't work well in the NFL.

 

 

What? Watch some video.

 

I've watched plenty of video, I've seen the guy quite a bit (thank you Big Ten network for letting me see just about every Big Ten game this year). Mendenhall has an excellent burst and is very fast -- great acceleration. But he's not great at making guys miss or shedding good tacklers. Tacklers in the NFL hit hard and fast, and if Mendenhall can't make guys miss, well, he'll be a faster Benson.

 

I realize that you all are UI homers, but seriously, watch how upright he runs. I'm not saying he won't be a solid RB; but he's no AP.

[brinoch]

He's definitely fast, but in the NFL the defenders are much, much faster than Wisconsin's (or anyone else's in the Big Ten). What I want to see in a college back is both speed and elusiveness. Mendenhall runs very upright and doesn't really make people miss. He runs straight ahead as fast as he can. That's great in college, but just doesn't work well in the NFL.

 

where do you get that? it's worked fine in the nfl, from eddie george to larry johnson to shaun alexander.

 

what doesn't play well is garrett wolfe-type backs, or, rather on donw which aren't 3rd. mendenhall will be just fine.

 

Ummm... yeah. Shaun Alexander never makes people miss. And Eddie George never cut back. Oh, that LJ guy runs at full speed without utilizing his blockers properly. You picked three guys who make people miss and miss consistently. If running over people worked, Cedric Benson would be the best.

 

Speed and elusiveness are critical (size is also a healthy asset, of course).

 

For a communist, you seem to like Potemkin arguments since I never mentioned anything about Wolfe. :wink:

[WrigleyField 22]

The Bears are gonna need to take some big chances on positions if they want the offense to be good enough to sneak into the playoffs.

 

If I was filling out the depth chart

LT-

G-Garza, Beekman, Metcalf

C-Kruetz

Rt-Tait

WR1-

WR2-Hester/Bradley/Davis

RB1-

RB2-Benson/Peterson

QB-Grossman/Orton

TE-Olsen/Clark

 

So we have holes at LT, #1 WR, and #1 RB. Now since we have a lot of money tied up with Benson at RB and its probably the easiest spot to find a diamond in the rough, I'll just assume they bring in a late round draft pick or salary cap cut casualty to compete. Guard could also use some more competition, but that can probably be filled with day two of the draft.

 

We'll need to go LT and WR rounds one and two. I also think we need a safety on day one too. But It would also be nice to get a project QB around round 3/4.

 

There is no doubt that our offense will be below average. But if we can take a bunch of top picks this year and round out our holes with some patch work of outcasts from other teams, we can sneak back into the playoffs with our defense and special teams. Then we'll have another go around at improving our offense in 09.

 

A free agent WR would have been nice, but that doesn't look like it will happen.

[jaydee]

He's definitely fast, but in the NFL the defenders are much, much faster than Wisconsin's (or anyone else's in the Big Ten). What I want to see in a college back is both speed and elusiveness. Mendenhall runs very upright and doesn't really make people miss. He runs straight ahead as fast as he can. That's great in college, but just doesn't work well in the NFL.

 

 

What? Watch some video.

 

I've watched plenty of video, I've seen the guy quite a bit (thank you Big Ten network for letting me see just about every Big Ten game this year). Mendenhall has an excellent burst and is very fast -- great acceleration. But he's not great at making guys miss or shedding good tacklers. Tacklers in the NFL hit hard and fast, and if Mendenhall can't make guys miss, well, he'll be a faster Benson.

 

I realize that you all are UI homers, but seriously, watch how upright he runs. I'm not saying he won't be a solid RB; but he's no AP.

 

lol he doesn't even run upright compared to guys like mcfadden or AP, who don't know how to bend their knees. and hes great at breaking tackles and making people miss. your description of him is about as far from reality as they come, i mean hes not the most elusive or instinctive guy but to say he doesn't break tackles well? cmon he broke tackles from guys who are gonna be pro bowlers in 5 years against USC

Edited March 5, 2008 by jaydee

[apete6]

The Bears are gonna need to take some big chances on positions if they want the offense to be good enough to sneak into the playoffs.

 

If I was filling out the depth chart

LT-

G-Garza, Beekman, Metcalf

C-Kruetz

Rt-Tait

WR1-

WR2-Hester/Bradley/Davis

RB1-

RB2-Benson/Peterson

QB-Grossman/Orton

TE-Olsen/Clark

 

So we have holes at LT, #1 WR, and #1 RB. Now since we have a lot of money tied up with Benson at RB and its probably the easiest spot to find a diamond in the rough, I'll just assume they bring in a late round draft pick or salary cap cut casualty to compete. Guard could also use some more competition, but that can probably be filled with day two of the draft.

 

We'll need to go LT and WR rounds one and two. I also think we need a safety on day one too. But It would also be nice to get a project QB around round 3/4.

 

There is no doubt that our offense will be below average. But if we can take a bunch of top picks this year and round out our holes with some patch work of outcasts from other teams, we can sneak back into the playoffs with our defense and special teams. Then we'll have another go around at improving our offense in 09.

 

A free agent WR would have been nice, but that doesn't look like it will happen.

 

Do you guys think Turner will actually utilize the 2 TE set a lot this year? It almost seems like he has to considering that at the time, his 2 best pass catchers will be Olsen and Clark.

 

The main questions are:

Can Benson/Peterson/Mendenhall handle being in a 1 back set?

Will Hester or Bradley be able to be useful in a 1 WR set?

[cbbryan]

Do you guys think Turner will actually utilize the 2 TE set a lot this year? It almost seems like he has to considering that at the time, his 2 best pass catchers will be Olsen and Clark.

 

The main questions are:

Can Benson/Peterson/Mendenhall handle being in a 1 back set?

Will Hester or Bradley be able to be useful in a 1 WR set?

 

I see what you did there. Nice.

[WrigleyField 22]

Marty Booker coming back to the Bears.

 

How could I ever contain my excitement?

[Jon]

Marty Booker coming back to the Bears.

 

How could I ever contain my excitement?

It's a two-year contract according to the Trib.

 

It was a move they probably had to make. They need some depth at the WR position and there wasn't really a better source for it.

[bukie]

This is a move I am actually happy with. Now they can take a later round flyer on a WR if they like to test the depth, but it's not so much a glaring need anymore.

[MPC]

jevon walker signed with the raiders.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Good, I'm glad they signed Booker. They needed to add the depth, and Booker-Hester-Bradley could be just as good as Muhammad-Berrian-Hester, plus Olson should get more catches this year.

[RedFlash]

The main questions are:

Can Benson/Peterson/Mendenhall handle being in a 1 back set?

Will Hester or Bradley be able to be useful in a 1 WR set?

 

I can promise you, Meddenhall will (Dr. Cox voice) Nooooooooooot be the Bears first rd pick. That is my only guarantee for the NFL Draft.

[RedFlash]

jevon walker signed with the raiders.

 

Paying Walker, Moss type money even tho he may never come close to playing a full season or apprach 800 yrds ever again.

 

Poor Raider fans. Old Man Davis has TOTALLY lost it.

[NCCubFan]

This seems to be Back to the Future. Moose leaves the Bears and returns to Carolina, Griese is traded back to Tampa Bay, and now Booker returns to the Bears. Can the return of the A-Train be too far behind? (He's a free agent; he was recently released.)

[Derwood]

This seems to be Back to the Future. Moose leaves the Bears and returns to Carolina, Griese is traded back to Tampa Bay, and now Booker returns to the Bears. Can the return of the A-Train be too far behind? (He's a free agent; he was recently released.)

 

he was the Offensive Rookie of the Year! SIGN HIM

[mul21]

Do you guys think Turner will actually utilize the 2 TE set a lot this year? It almost seems like he has to considering that at the time, his 2 best pass catchers will be Olsen and Clark.

 

The main questions are:

Can Benson/Peterson/Mendenhall handle being in a 1 back set?

Will Hester or Bradley be able to be useful in a 1 WR set?

 

I think you'll see some 2 TE sets, but more than that, you'll see a lot of Olsen in the slot and working the middle because he can get off the line well and has solid speed. Plus, he's not much of a blocker from what I've seen/heard so having him on the end of the line isn't a real big benefit.

[Banedon]

Booker huh? Meh.