Re: The Chicago Bears Offseason Thread

[Banedon]

Not really an analysis of the Bears per se, however, yahoo explains just how worthless Bears offensive players are for fantasy purposes.

 

This just reinforces what we already know, the Bears are only going to go as far as the defense takes them, they will need outstanding contributions from the young guys to have any semblence of an offense, and any success this year will be viewed as a major surprise.

 

The over/under for wins is actually 8. I could see them falling apart into a 4 win team, with the possibility they have an historically bad offense. On the upside maybe they score at league average and pull off a miraculous 9-10 win season.

 

It's tough to put this on the rookie, but Matt Forte is really going to decide a lot as far as what this offense can do. If the run game is a threat, the rest of it could all fall into place...somewhat.

[jersey cubs fan]

Why Angelo won't take a chance on a guy like Kevin Jones is absurd. Going into the season with a 2nd round rookie, Adrian Petrerson(the bad one), and Garret Wolfe, is beyond stupid. Jerry Angelo has been a terribe GM since the SB loss.

 

Yeah, I couldnt believe he decided to injure mike brown, dusty divorcek, nate vasher, charles tillman, kevin payne, ruben brown, lance briggs, darwin walker, rex grossman, cedric benson.....

 

Maybe you can believe then that he had a very poor draft, traded Thomas Jones giving the job to a RB who had been injured in each of his 1st 2 years the starting job w/ no competition, didn't upgrade on an aging offensive line, didn't upgrade at a weak WR position, signed Adam Archuleta and traded Chris Harris to downgrade the S position, refused to address the weak QB position....

 

I know injuries played a big part, but don't act like Angelo was powerless. The Bears clearly had some minor patchwork to be done in last year's offseason in order to stay on top of the NFC and Angelo didn't do it. I don't blame him for the Jones trade and not even the QB position, though he did replace Jones by overdrafting Wolfe. But getting Archuleta, letting Moose age in front of his eyes and not doing anything about it, and staying pat with an old, mediocre line are inexcusable moves.

Simply put, if Angelo held onto Harris (who became a pretty good S in Carolina), drafted an OT in the 2nd round instead of a DE who didn't see the field (and never projected to see it much in the first place), and brought in another legit WR threat...the Bears would be in a lot better position to compete this year.

 

The big problem I have is the lack of improvement on the line, when I was begging for it for over 2 years. I hated the Benson pick, because they had Jones, but I did not have a problem with the Jones trade, nor do I have a problem with it now. TJ simply isn't that good. Of course QB remains an issue, and the easiest thing to pick on Angelo for. However, he did build a team that was able to be among the elite with Grossman at the helm.

 

I think it all boils down to the offensive line. Had he done something about it earlier, the 2007 team probably contends for the division and still makes the playoffs. And they would probably be poised to contend for the NFC crown again this year if that vital part of the team was more settled. An offensive line makes every skill position player look a heck of a lot better.

[jersey cubs fan]

Not really an analysis of the Bears per se, however, yahoo explains just how worthless Bears offensive players are for fantasy purposes.

 

This just reinforces what we already know, the Bears are only going to go as far as the defense takes them, they will need outstanding contributions from the young guys to have any semblence of an offense, and any success this year will be viewed as a major surprise.

 

The over/under for wins is actually 8. I could see them falling apart into a 4 win team, with the possibility they have an historically bad offense. On the upside maybe they score at league average and pull off a miraculous 9-10 win season.

 

It's tough to put this on the rookie, but Matt Forte is really going to decide a lot as far as what this offense can do. If the run game is a threat, the rest of it could all fall into place...somewhat.

 

Right concept, wrong rookie. The season is going to depend most heavily on what improvements to the line come from Williams starting on the left and moving Tait to the right.

[Banedon]

Not really an analysis of the Bears per se, however, yahoo explains just how worthless Bears offensive players are for fantasy purposes.

 

This just reinforces what we already know, the Bears are only going to go as far as the defense takes them, they will need outstanding contributions from the young guys to have any semblence of an offense, and any success this year will be viewed as a major surprise.

 

The over/under for wins is actually 8. I could see them falling apart into a 4 win team, with the possibility they have an historically bad offense. On the upside maybe they score at league average and pull off a miraculous 9-10 win season.

 

It's tough to put this on the rookie, but Matt Forte is really going to decide a lot as far as what this offense can do. If the run game is a threat, the rest of it could all fall into place...somewhat.

 

Right concept, wrong rookie. The season is going to depend most heavily on what improvements to the line come from Williams starting on the left and moving Tait to the right.

 

Lets agree that both Williams and Forte need to step up. :)

[jersey cubs fan]

Not really an analysis of the Bears per se, however, yahoo explains just how worthless Bears offensive players are for fantasy purposes.

 

This just reinforces what we already know, the Bears are only going to go as far as the defense takes them, they will need outstanding contributions from the young guys to have any semblence of an offense, and any success this year will be viewed as a major surprise.

 

The over/under for wins is actually 8. I could see them falling apart into a 4 win team, with the possibility they have an historically bad offense. On the upside maybe they score at league average and pull off a miraculous 9-10 win season.

 

It's tough to put this on the rookie, but Matt Forte is really going to decide a lot as far as what this offense can do. If the run game is a threat, the rest of it could all fall into place...somewhat.

 

Right concept, wrong rookie. The season is going to depend most heavily on what improvements to the line come from Williams starting on the left and moving Tait to the right.

 

Lets agree that both Williams and Forte need to step up. :)

 

Agreed.

 

Obviously Forte is going to need to put up solid numbers. But his ability to do so will depend most heavily on the line, at least that's my opinion.

[bukie]

I'm definitely of the mindset that almost anyone can be a good RB if the line can block correctly and well. So, Forte's (and the rest of the running game) success will depend more on the line than it will on the backs themselves.

[Guest]

The lack of upgrading an aging offensive line two seasons ago was inexcusable. The line still hasn't improved enough, imo.

[Banedon]

The lack of upgrading an aging offensive line two seasons ago was inexcusable. The line still hasn't improved enough, imo.

 

It was to the point though that you almost can't rebuild the O-line in one offseason without spending overly heavy in that one area. You're right, it should have started 2 years ago, and now they're just starting it, so they're about 2 years behind.

[jersey cubs fan]

The lack of upgrading an aging offensive line two seasons ago was inexcusable. The line still hasn't improved enough, imo.

 

It was to the point though that you almost can't rebuild the O-line in one offseason without spending overly heavy in that one area. You're right, it should have started 2 years ago, and now they're just starting it, so they're about 2 years behind.

 

I realize this is nitpicky, but the rebuilding of the O-line never should have "started", rather, it should have always been an ongoing thing. Kreutz has been the only constant, but he's been slipping from elite to second tier status. Brown and Tait came over in 2004, Brown supposedly as a short-term help, Tait as the longterm RT. Tait moved to LT in 2005, another short-term fix, and Fred Miller, another short-term help (cut by Tennessee and contemplating retirement), was brought in for RT.

 

The problem was they kept bringing in short-term help without any thoughts of a longterm solution. It's as if the initial backlash to the Colombo pick, and his subsequent failure to provide stability, spooked Angelo from drafting lineman.

[Guest]

The lack of upgrading an aging offensive line two seasons ago was inexcusable. The line still hasn't improved enough, imo.

 

It was to the point though that you almost can't rebuild the O-line in one offseason without spending overly heavy in that one area. You're right, it should have started 2 years ago, and now they're just starting it, so they're about 2 years behind.

 

I realize this is nitpicky, but the rebuilding of the O-line never should have "started", rather, it should have always been an ongoing thing. Kreutz has been the only constant, but he's been slipping from elite to second tier status. Brown and Tait came over in 2004, Brown supposedly as a short-term help, Tait as the longterm RT. Tait moved to LT in 2005, another short-term fix, and Fred Miller, another short-term help (cut by Tennessee and contemplating retirement), was brought in for RT.

 

The problem was they kept bringing in short-term help without any thoughts of a longterm solution. It's as if the initial backlash to the Colombo pick, and his subsequent failure to provide stability, spooked Angelo from drafting lineman.

 

Exactly right. OL as a whole given the number of starters and the depth needed is a perfect position to focus on adding 1 player every offseason. The Bears have been forced to sign overpriced players, take short-term veteran help because they haven't addressed OL on day 1 since Columbo, it finally blew up. Even then, the OL was looking ripe for a major blow uplast offseason and Angelo never addressed it. The OL is going to be in a bigger mess as Kreutz continues his decline, hopefully Beekman and Williams can step it up this year.

[jersey cubs fan]

Exactly right. OL as a whole given the number of starters and the depth needed is a perfect position to focus on adding 1 player every offseason.

 

Very true. QB is the most important single position. But O Line is the most important position group. And there are 5 of them at all times, with frequent substitutions for health reasons. I'm all for drafting a QB every other year, even if you have a star. They definitely should have put more focus on drafting early lineman. At the very least that saves you from overpaying for guys like Miller.

[jersey cubs fan]

Bears sign second-round pick Forte

ChicagoSports.com

4:15 PM CDT, July 2, 2008

The Bears today agreed to terms on a four-year contract with second-round draft pick Matt Forte.

 

The running back from Tulane becomes the 11th of the Bears' 12 2008 draft draft picks to either sign or agree to contract terms. The only remaining unsigned draft pick is first-round selection Chris Williams, an offensive tackle from Vanderbilt.

 

Forte, who became just the 11th player in Division I history last season to rush for 2,000 yards with 2,127, could enter training camp as the Bears' No. 1 running back if the team doesn't sign a veteran free agent.

[Jon]

For those interested, the NFL Network is playing a one-hour version of the 2001 game against SF:

 

Thursday, 7/17 @ 7 PM CDT

Friday, 7/18 @ Noon CDT

Friday, 7/18 @ 4 PM CDT

[Butterscup1679666578]

For those interested, the NFL Network is playing a one-hour version of the 2001 game against SF:

 

Thursday, 7/17 @ 7 PM CDT

Friday, 7/18 @ Noon CDT

Friday, 7/18 @ 4 PM CDT

 

I was at that game. Unbelievable.

[Soul]

Bears sign second-round pick Forte

ChicagoSports.com

4:15 PM CDT, July 2, 2008

The Bears today agreed to terms on a four-year contract with second-round draft pick Matt Forte.

 

The running back from Tulane becomes the 11th of the Bears' 12 2008 draft draft picks to either sign or agree to contract terms. The only remaining unsigned draft pick is first-round selection Chris Williams, an offensive tackle from Vanderbilt.

 

Forte, who became just the 11th player in Division I history last season to rush for 2,000 yards with 2,127, could enter training camp as the Bears' No. 1 running back if the team doesn't sign a veteran free agent.

 

And with that, Forte gives himself a much bigger advantage than Benson did when he came in late and got started off on the wrong foot.

[SpongeWorthy]

For those interested, the NFL Network is playing a one-hour version of the 2001 game against SF:

 

Thursday, 7/17 @ 7 PM CDT

Friday, 7/18 @ Noon CDT

Friday, 7/18 @ 4 PM CDT

 

This and the Cleveland game from that year still has to be the most unbelievable back to back stretch in NFL history.

[wekse]

For those interested, the NFL Network is playing a one-hour version of the 2001 game against SF:

 

Thursday, 7/17 @ 7 PM CDT

Friday, 7/18 @ Noon CDT

Friday, 7/18 @ 4 PM CDT

 

This and the Cleveland game from that year still has to be the most unbelievable back to back stretch in NFL history.

 

i still owe my cousin a crap in the pants for that game...i was telling him to change the channel while saying "i'll ish my pants if they come back to win this one."

 

we all know how it played out....kinda fitting that it was a game against the browns.

[Handlebar McSkullet]

For those interested, the NFL Network is playing a one-hour version of the 2001 game against SF:

 

Thursday, 7/17 @ 7 PM CDT

Friday, 7/18 @ Noon CDT

Friday, 7/18 @ 4 PM CDT

 

This and the Cleveland game from that year still has to be the most unbelievable back to back stretch in NFL history.

 

i still owe my cousin a crap in the pants for that game...i was telling him to change the channel while saying "i'll ish my pants if they come back to win this one."

 

we all know how it played out....kinda fitting that it was a game against the browns.

 

I WAS AT THE BROWNS GAME... TOP MOMENT IN MY LIFE!!! STILL!!! FIRST BEARS GAME AT SOLIDER FIELD.

[NCCubFan]

For those interested, the NFL Network is playing a one-hour version of the 2001 game against SF:

 

Thursday, 7/17 @ 7 PM CDT

Friday, 7/18 @ Noon CDT

Friday, 7/18 @ 4 PM CDT

 

This and the Cleveland game from that year still has to be the most unbelievable back to back stretch in NFL history.

 

i still owe my cousin a crap in the pants for that game...i was telling him to change the channel while saying "i'll ish my pants if they come back to win this one."

 

we all know how it played out....kinda fitting that it was a game against the browns.

 

I WAS AT THE BROWNS GAME... TOP MOMENT IN MY LIFE!!! STILL!!! FIRST BEARS GAME AT SOLIDER FIELD.

Had to have been much more pleasant than my first (and only) game at Soldier Field. It was my freshman year in high school (1974) and I was in the high school band. We played in the stands at a game against the 49ers as a last-minute replacement (less than a week's notice) for a band that backed out. The weather was terrible (cold, windy, and rainy) and the Bears were getting blown out. We wound up leaving right after halftime when we were done playing.

[jersey cubs fan]

For those interested, the NFL Network is playing a one-hour version of the 2001 game against SF:

 

Thursday, 7/17 @ 7 PM CDT

Friday, 7/18 @ Noon CDT

Friday, 7/18 @ 4 PM CDT

 

This and the Cleveland game from that year still has to be the most unbelievable back to back stretch in NFL history.

 

i still owe my cousin a crap in the pants for that game...i was telling him to change the channel while saying "i'll ish my pants if they come back to win this one."

 

we all know how it played out....kinda fitting that it was a game against the browns.

 

I WAS AT THE BROWNS GAME... TOP MOMENT IN MY LIFE!!! STILL!!! FIRST BEARS GAME AT SOLIDER FIELD.

Had to have been much more pleasant than my first (and only) game at Soldier Field. It was my freshman year in high school (1974) and I was in the high school band. We played in the stands at a game against the 49ers as a last-minute replacement (less than a week's notice) for a band that backed out. The weather was terrible (cold, windy, and rainy) and the Bears were getting blown out. We wound up leaving right after halftime when we were done playing.

 

You're old.

And a band nerd. HaHa!

 

 

I was in the band too.

[Jon]

Way too many band nerds on this board.

 

I have highlights of both the 49ers and Browns games at home. Since they were removed from YouTube a while ago, I should put them up somewhere else.

[Jon]

http://s171.photobucket.com/albums/u310/nucubs/?action=view&current=bears2001.flv

[Magnetic Curses]

http://s171.photobucket.com/albums/u310/nucubs/?action=view&current=bears2001.flv

 

good times.

 

check out robinson just anihilating that left tackle on the last play of the browns game.

 

was that the beginning of the end for tim couch?

[YearofDaCubs]

According to the this Tampa blog Kevin Jones will sign with the Bears or Steelers tomorrow.

 

http://www.tboblogs.com/index.php/sports/comments/jones-to-steelers-or-bears-tuesday/

[YearofDaCubs]

and more on Jones to Chicago..

 

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/cs-080714-kevin-jones-chicago-bears-running-back,1,5064385.story