2009 Chicago Bears offseason

[Soul]

What do you guys & gals think of drafcountdown's mock that has Maclin falling to us?

 

http://www.draftcountdown.com/sub/Mock-Draft-A.php

 

I might jump on board with that, provided we address the OLine soon after or in FA. I really think we need more pass rush though.

 

I think they need to update post December 15. That has Bears at 14, aren't they 18?

Yes, unless San Diego makes the Super Bowl. Go Chargers!

 

I thought the positioning looked a little optimistic. Hey -- I'm a Charger fan now.

[minnesotacubsfan]

that mock-draft is a joke, 3 ot's picked before Oher? blech. A few mocks I've seen have da Bears taking Micheal Johnson, which I think would be a nice pick. Mays would be good too

 

 

as for Gross, he will get a Feneca-like deal, but screw it. I wanted Feneca last year, Gross would do...

[minnesotacubsfan]

Haugh wants Warner at QB next year. I think he's nuts.

 

Warner did well playing with amazing receivers in a controlled climate against the worst division in football. He fell apart when playing at some tougher opponents. He's going to be 38 next season, and as has been often said this year, older QBs don't last in cold weather. Turnover prone older QBs tend to disappoint (Favre).

 

I think Warner would get killed with this offensive line and these receivers. Orton had no time, but he was a young, relatively smart QB who did a fairly decent job protecting the ball and moving around. Warner is a statue who would not have time to wait for guys to get open, let alone the pro bowl caliber receivers he's had at his disposal.

 

Haugh is a hack. I cant think of another sports journalist who tries to use so many psuedo-witty analogies. His articles are hard to read, and his logic even harder to understand

[jersey cubs fan]

Haugh wants Warner at QB next year. I think he's nuts.

 

Warner did well playing with amazing receivers in a controlled climate against the worst division in football. He fell apart when playing at some tougher opponents. He's going to be 38 next season, and as has been often said this year, older QBs don't last in cold weather. Turnover prone older QBs tend to disappoint (Favre).

 

I think Warner would get killed with this offensive line and these receivers. Orton had no time, but he was a young, relatively smart QB who did a fairly decent job protecting the ball and moving around. Warner is a statue who would not have time to wait for guys to get open, let alone the pro bowl caliber receivers he's had at his disposal.

 

Haugh is a hack. I cant think of another sports journalist who tries to use so many psuedo-witty analogies. His articles are hard to read, and his logic even harder to understand

 

He demanded an extension for Orton around week 5 or 6.

[minnesotacubsfan]

He demanded an extension for Orton around week 5 or 6.

 

of course he did, which is why he's pining for Warner now

[Guest]

Secondary coach Steve Wilks and line coach Brick Haley already left, and the changes have been met with skepticism from veteran players who expected turnover higher up the totem pole. Their concern is that the defense isn't going to change after ranking 28th in 2007 and 21st this past season -- far off the No. 5 perch it held under Ron Rivera during the 2006 Super Bowl season.

 

http://www.post-trib.com/sports/1365563,bears.article

[jersey cubs fan]

Secondary coach Steve Wilks and line coach Brick Haley already left, and the changes have been met with skepticism from veteran players who expected turnover higher up the totem pole. Their concern is that the defense isn't going to change after ranking 28th in 2007 and 21st this past season -- far off the No. 5 perch it held under Ron Rivera during the 2006 Super Bowl season.

 

http://www.post-trib.com/sports/1365563,bears.article

 

Guys have gotten as close as they can get to asking for Babich's head, constantly questioning tactics, etc.

 

Personally, I'd like to see them consider the 3-4 going forward. They're two best defensive players are linebackers Urlacher and Briggs, and Urlacher just isn't ideal for what they are doing.

[Soul]

that mock-draft is a joke, 3 ot's picked before Oher? blech. A few mocks I've seen have da Bears taking Micheal Johnson, which I think would be a nice pick. Mays would be good too

 

He gives a pretty detailed explanation why he thinks Oher might slide. In the past, his mocks have turned out pretty good in the end, so I read it. It's one of the more popular draft sites out there.

[rchap24]

Haugh wants Warner at QB next year. I think he's nuts.

 

Warner did well playing with amazing receivers in a controlled climate against the worst division in football. He fell apart when playing at some tougher opponents. He's going to be 38 next season, and as has been often said this year, older QBs don't last in cold weather. Turnover prone older QBs tend to disappoint (Favre).

 

I think Warner would get killed with this offensive line and these receivers. Orton had no time, but he was a young, relatively smart QB who did a fairly decent job protecting the ball and moving around. Warner is a statue who would not have time to wait for guys to get open, let alone the pro bowl caliber receivers he's had at his disposal.

 

Haugh is a hack. I cant think of another sports journalist who tries to use so many psuedo-witty analogies. His articles are hard to read, and his logic even harder to understand

 

Warner is good because of the weapons he has...He'd get eaten alive on the Bears

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

One name I haven't seen tossed around as a possiblity for the Bears is Alex Smith. If he is cut by the 49ers(Which might happen if they decide to go with Shaun Hill as their QB of the future), why not take a shot?

 

He is a talented kid, and while probably didn't deserve to be the #1 overall pick, you have to consider the 2005 draft was a pretty poor at the top talent wise. That being said he still would have been a first rounder in any year. I don't think there is any worse way to handle a young QB that what Mike Nolan did with him questioning his toughness. If available, I'd bring him in and have him compete with Orton for the starting job.

[jmajew]

Secondary coach Steve Wilks and line coach Brick Haley already left, and the changes have been met with skepticism from veteran players who expected turnover higher up the totem pole. Their concern is that the defense isn't going to change after ranking 28th in 2007 and 21st this past season -- far off the No. 5 perch it held under Ron Rivera during the 2006 Super Bowl season.

 

http://www.post-trib.com/sports/1365563,bears.article

 

Guys have gotten as close as they can get to asking for Babich's head, constantly questioning tactics, etc.

 

Personally, I'd like to see them consider the 3-4 going forward. They're two best defensive players are linebackers Urlacher and Briggs, and Urlacher just isn't ideal for what they are doing.

 

 

Babich isn't going anywhere, thus making it much more difficult for the defense to improve. I'm not saying it is impossible but it will be much more difficult. The problem with the Bears coaching staff is that they are erogant. They did not recognize that the players we have cannot do everything that is asked of them. The coaches did not accept this and would not make adjustments. You don't need to have Urlacher dropping back in coverage everyplay, you don't have the safeties start 15-20 yards from the line of scrimmage, and you don't need 8 men in the box at all times. You can create pressure not only by blizting but by switching up who will be rushing the QB. You can sometimes drop Ogunleye into coverage and rush Briggs, drop Harris and rush Urlacher, etc. This will cause confusion for the o-line, instead of the basic lets have all 3 linebacker sitting in the gaps at the line an occassionally blitz.

 

Edit: One name I would look at as a possible Babich replacement is Mike Nolan. He isn't a cover 2 guy and thus may allow us to adapt it more adequately to our personel.

Edited January 7, 2009 by jmajew

[rchap24]

One name I haven't seen tossed around as a possiblity for the Bears is Alex Smith. If he is cut by the 49ers(Which might happen if they decide to go with Shaun Hill as their QB of the future), why not take a shot?

 

He is a talented kid, and while probably didn't deserve to be the #1 overall pick, you have to consider the 2005 draft was a pretty poor at the top talent wise. That being said he still would have been a first rounder in any year. I don't think there is any worse way to handle a young QB that what Mike Nolan did with him questioning his toughness. If available, I'd bring him in and have him compete with Orton for the starting job.

 

I wouldn't mind him...he is extremely talented, but I think he might just be a headcase though

[Handlebar McSkullet]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-090106-lloyd-lee-chicago-bears,0,6522837.story

 

Linebacker coach Lloyd Lee out too. Marinelli has been offered the DL job but he's got DC offers from elsewhere in the league.

 

Still nothing about Babich being on his way out. :evil:

 

The Cowardly Bears story continues. From the absurd punts inside opponents territory when the team desperately needed to score, to the GM laying the blame almost entirely on the QB position despite total lack of talent anywhere else on offense, to everybody's job being in danger except for the boss man and the guys making the most money. This is pretty disgusting. LB and DB coaches are taking the blame while Lovie's BFF gets to stay on and continue the leadership of a declining defense. So far I've seen no evidence that Lovie's authority has dwindled in the least, and that's incredibly disappointing.

 

The team has gotten worse since the super bowl, and the guys most responsible - Lovie, Turner, Babich and Angelo - are going to keep their jobs while their underlings take the hits.

 

Lloyd Lee should not have been fired. Making Nick Roach look respectable is enough to earn a raise. Speaking of raises. Please explain how you include Ron Turner as a person to blame? Turner should get a raise a well for making something out of the garbage they put on the field at o-line and wide reciever.

 

Jordan Gross would be great, count me in.

 

BUT LET ME OFFICIALLY START THE TAYLOR MAYS IN A BEARS UNIFORM FAN CLUB!!! (pending declaring for the draft)

 

If you want Taylor Mays to be a Bear, you'll need to plant some drugs on him. He's not going to fall that low.

 

I think McShay had him going 14th, but no matter what, you would probably have to trade up for him.

[jersey cubs fan]

ESPN says Marinelli is taking bears d line job, and asst head coach. As bad as he was as a head coach in detroit, it's nice to actually have some NFL coaches on this staff.

 

I'd bet his son in law takes LB job.

[rawaction]

The Asst. Head coach part of the title leads me to believe that Babich better watch his back. Bringing in such a "name" as the DL coach leads me to believe that the Bears will draft a DE in the 1st. A step in the right direction, IMO.

[burnt out cubbie fan]

And just a confirmation from rotoworld.

NFL Network's Adam Schefter reports the Bears have hired ex-Lions coach Rod Marinelli as assistant head coach/defensive line.

The Texans and Seahawks also pursued Marinelli, but neither had offered him the defensive coordinator position. The Bears next move may be to bring in Marinelli's son-in-law Joe Barry as linebackers coach.

[MPC]

there will be plenty of negative meatball reaction to marinelli's hiring because of his time in detroit, but i this is a solid move by the organizatoin. he's somebody who has coached fantastic d-linemen, both interior and ends, in tampa bay. hopefully he can help tommie harris return to form.

[burnt out cubbie fan]

I dunno, everything I have heard on the radio the last couple of weeks about him has been really positive. I think that most people realize that there wasn't really a whole lot that he could have done with that team in detroit and that he was always a good dline coach in tampa ect. I'm pretty sure that it is going to be a mostly warm reception.

[salukifudd]

there will be plenty of negative meatball reaction to marinelli's hiring because of his time in detroit, but i this is a solid move by the organizatoin. he's somebody who has coached fantastic d-linemen, both interior and ends, in tampa bay. hopefully he can help tommie harris return to form.

 

Tommie's health has more to do with getting back to form than a coach. I don't think his legs are ever going to be healthy enough to be his old self.

[jersey cubs fan]

The Asst. Head coach part of the title leads me to believe that Babich better watch his back. Bringing in such a "name" as the DL coach leads me to believe that the Bears will draft a DE in the 1st. A step in the right direction, IMO.

 

Bringing in a name dl coach could also be indicative of the team hoping that coaching will make the difference rather than 1st round talent.

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

Probably a good signing, at least they have an NFL Dline coach and wont' be running an internship program again, but still, some of these statements just baffle me...

 

From the Sun Times...

 

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/bears/index.html

 

If Rod Marinelli can have the impact on Tommie Harris that he did on Warren Sapp, the Bears’ defense might be just fine.

 

Come on now...Warren Sapp was one of the best DT's to ever come out of college and fell in the draft because he like to smoke some weed. I'm pretty sure Sapp would have been great in any situation.

[rawaction]

Probably a good signing, at least they have an NFL Dline coach and wont' be running an internship program again, but still, some of these statements just baffle me...

 

From the Sun Times...

 

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/bears/index.html

 

If Rod Marinelli can have the impact on Tommie Harris that he did on Warren Sapp, the Bears’ defense might be just fine.

 

Come on now...Warren Sapp was one of the best DT's to ever come out of college and fell in the draft because he like to smoke some weed. I'm pretty sure Sapp would have been great in any situation.

 

Tommie Harris is no Warren Sapp (maybe the best DT ever), but he's pretty good. Maybe Marinelli can get him back to that level. If nothing else, it's worth the shot.

[RedFlash]

Probably a good signing, at least they have an NFL Dline coach and wont' be running an internship program again, but still, some of these statements just baffle me...

 

From the Sun Times...

 

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/bears/index.html

 

If Rod Marinelli can have the impact on Tommie Harris that he did on Warren Sapp, the Bears’ defense might be just fine.

 

Come on now...Warren Sapp was one of the best DT's to ever come out of college and fell in the draft because he like to smoke some weed. I'm pretty sure Sapp would have been great in any situation.

 

Tommie Harris is no Warren Sapp (maybe the best DT ever), but he's pretty good. Maybe Marinelli can get him back to that level. If nothing else, it's worth the shot.

 

To be fair, when Tommie playing like he did the last couple of yrs, he is as close to be Warren Sapp as anybody in the NFL.

It is so fun to watch Tommie at full peak, because talent wise, he equals Warren Sapp. The difference to me between the two is/was focus. Is Marinelli can get Tommie to focus on every play, I think the Bears defense improves two fold.

[Guest]

Great hire.

[Magnetic Curses]

The Asst. Head coach part of the title leads me to believe that Babich better watch his back. Bringing in such a "name" as the DL coach leads me to believe that the Bears will draft a DE in the 1st. A step in the right direction, IMO.

 

orakpo, plz. trade up, do anything.