2009 Chicago Bears offseason

[Guest]

I think I read or heard recently that his court case begins June 13th. But, don't quote me on that.

 

ETA: Looks like David beat me to it and his date is probably the correct one. Especially considering that the 13th is a Saturday.

[David]

Holmes and Hampton will have Zach Zaidman (WSCR Bears beat guy) to talk about the Plaxico possibility after the 11 o'clock update.

[Banedon]

Holmes and Hampton will have Zach Zaidman (WSCR Bears beat guy) to talk about the Plaxico possibility after the 11 o'clock update.

 

I'd be shocked if it was anything more than Zach's opinion.

[David]

Zaidman -

 

Cutler looks great

 

Team speed that has been missing the last couple of years is back

 

Bennett looks fluid, catching everything in sight

 

Johnny Knox is standing out the most among rookies (Note - Yesterday, Turner made a point of saying that he's been working with Cutler on timing, after saying that Cutler was working predominantly with the 1's on offense)

 

Zaidman was the one who ran into Plax and found out that Cutler had been making overtures to him... Plax told him to tell the people in Chicago that he loves Giordanos and Garrett Popcorn... Bears would like to have him. Obviously, a lot of obstacles along the way.

 

If Corey Graham "gets" the position of free safety, Steltz could wind up moving to strong.

[David]

Holmes and Hampton will have Zach Zaidman (WSCR Bears beat guy) to talk about the Plaxico possibility after the 11 o'clock update.

 

I'd be shocked if it was anything more than Zach's opinion.

 

Pretty much.

[David]

He believes the Bears are DEFINITELY interested in Plaxico. They've had internal discussions and all that.

 

 

The only hope if Burress goes to trial is that the trial gets pushed until after the season. Plax has a high powered lawyer who had defended P. Diddy, and the lawyer worked the plea deal that was mentioned earlier (2 months, 1 month probation after) and Plaxico turned it down because he doesn't want to go to jail at all.

[David]

More Knox praise...

 

http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/2091

 

Forte was clearly the Bears’ top rookie last season. Based on early returns in OTA’s, this year’s top Bears rookie has been wide receiver Johnny Knox, the fifth-round pick from Abilene Christian.

 

Knox, who is arguably the fastest player on the field, has shown sticky fingers in almost every practice, catching anything within his grasp and rarely having a bobble let alone a drop. He’s still got a long way to go before he gets on the field once the regular season begins, but Knox will challenge for playing time in three and four-wide receiver sets if he continues to show the same sure hands and run-after-the-catch ability.

[Banedon]

More Knox praise...

 

http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/2091

 

Forte was clearly the Bears’ top rookie last season. Based on early returns in OTA’s, this year’s top Bears rookie has been wide receiver Johnny Knox, the fifth-round pick from Abilene Christian.

 

Knox, who is arguably the fastest player on the field, has shown sticky fingers in almost every practice, catching anything within his grasp and rarely having a bobble let alone a drop. He’s still got a long way to go before he gets on the field once the regular season begins, but Knox will challenge for playing time in three and four-wide receiver sets if he continues to show the same sure hands and run-after-the-catch ability.

 

I want to see how he does with some contact before I get too excited. It's too easy for him to get to full speed in these non-contact OTA's.

[cubweiser03]

Omayile is working on 1st at LG. Beekman is working out as backup C. Im curious where Shaffer is working out, at RG or second team RT. Im not going to panic but im not liking the idea of Garza at RG again.

 

Good for Knox. He has great hands by all scouting reports. I hope he challenges Davis for the slot receiver.

[Banedon]

Bears running back Matt Forte is scheduled to undergo a MRI on Thursday after suffering what appeared to be a lower left leg injury Wednesday, according to an NFL source.

 

Forte complained about pain behind his knee, possibly in his hamstring or calf. Forte felt a pop Wednesday and limped off the field before the Bears' organized team activities concluded.

 

Offensive coordinator Ron Turner sounded positive when asked about Forte's status.

 

"I don't think there's any concern," Turner said. "I think he'll be fine."

[Soul]

Bears running back Matt Forte is scheduled to undergo a MRI on Thursday after suffering what appeared to be a lower left leg injury Wednesday, according to an NFL source.

 

Forte complained about pain behind his knee, possibly in his hamstring or calf. Forte felt a pop Wednesday and limped off the field before the Bears' organized team activities concluded.

 

Offensive coordinator Ron Turner sounded positive when asked about Forte's status.

 

"I don't think there's any concern," Turner said. "I think he'll be fine."

 

I think Turner's full of it. The guy has pain behind his knee and felt a pop. That's not normal. Color me concerned.

 

They rode the guy like crazy last year. To think there's not going to be wear & tear from that is hallucinatory.

[rawaction]

Bears running back Matt Forte is scheduled to undergo a MRI on Thursday after suffering what appeared to be a lower left leg injury Wednesday, according to an NFL source.

 

Forte complained about pain behind his knee, possibly in his hamstring or calf. Forte felt a pop Wednesday and limped off the field before the Bears' organized team activities concluded.

 

Offensive coordinator Ron Turner sounded positive when asked about Forte's status.

 

"I don't think there's any concern," Turner said. "I think he'll be fine."

 

I think Turner's full of it. The guy has pain behind his knee and felt a pop. That's not normal. Color me concerned.

 

They rode the guy like crazy last year. To think there's not going to be wear & tear from that is hallucinatory.

 

Granted, Forte got a lot of carries at Tulane too, but I don't think you can assume the work last year is completely destroying a 23-year old. A couple more years of the same usage and there is a serious problem. Even if it is a tear of some sort, he has 8 weeks before camp and should be healthy in time to start the season. Less work at camp probably won't hurt him much either.

[Soul]

Bears running back Matt Forte is scheduled to undergo a MRI on Thursday after suffering what appeared to be a lower left leg injury Wednesday, according to an NFL source.

 

Forte complained about pain behind his knee, possibly in his hamstring or calf. Forte felt a pop Wednesday and limped off the field before the Bears' organized team activities concluded.

 

Offensive coordinator Ron Turner sounded positive when asked about Forte's status.

 

"I don't think there's any concern," Turner said. "I think he'll be fine."

 

I think Turner's full of it. The guy has pain behind his knee and felt a pop. That's not normal. Color me concerned.

 

They rode the guy like crazy last year. To think there's not going to be wear & tear from that is hallucinatory.

 

Granted, Forte got a lot of carries at Tulane too, but I don't think you can assume the work last year is completely destroying a 23-year old. A couple more years of the same usage and there is a serious problem. Even if it is a tear of some sort, he has 8 weeks before camp and should be healthy in time to start the season. Less work at camp probably won't hurt him much either.

I just can't see there being no concern. Of course there's concern.

[Banedon]

I just can't see there being no concern. Of course there's concern.

 

chitownforte22

I'm good!! 3:11 PM Jun 3rd

 

[David]

Forte OK; Jones ready to go

Posted by Bob LeGere on Thu, 06/04/2009 - 21:52

 

Running back Matt Forte, who limped off the field near the end of Wednesday’s OTA practice with an injury to his left hamstring, did not participate in Thursday’s workout, but that seems to be just a precautionary measure along with the obligatory MRI.

 

Forte’s practice time is likely to be limited during some or all of the remaining OTAs, which end on June 17, but he is expected to be 100 percent long before the first practice of training camp on July 31.

 

Backup running back Kevin Jones is likely to see more time with the first team next week. He could also give Forte more rest in the regular season if, as hoped, he is completely recovered from the knee injury that ended his 2007 season and limited him last season. He had 30 carries for 107 yards in the first five games, but just 4 carries for 2 yards the rest of the season.

 

“Kevin will fit in real well,” offensive coordinator Ron Turner said. “We're excited about him. He’ll have had a (full) off-season. Last year when we got him (just before camp began), he was coming off that knee injury and wasn't in the best of shape. He's had a year to learn our system and a year to get that knee better.”

 

The 6-foot, 228-pound Jones was considered a strong between-the-tackles runner and an effective option in short-yardage situations before his knee injury.

 

http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/2094

[BigSlick]

Zaidman -

 

 

If Corey Graham "gets" the position of free safety, Steltz could wind up moving to strong.

 

 

i havent been following the Bears hardcore but I'm startled and horrified to see that Craig Steltz could be a starter for this team

[rawaction]

Zaidman -

 

 

If Corey Graham "gets" the position of free safety, Steltz could wind up moving to strong.

 

 

i havent been following the Bears hardcore but I'm startled and horrified to see that Craig Steltz could be a starter for this team

 

Yeah, that's just not a good situation. Especially at free safety. He is 100% a strong safety and 100% a backup at this point.

[Soul]

That does sound pretty bad.

[David]

Who did you guys think the safeties were? :confused: Maybe I got something wrong.

 

Otherwise, it's been pretty well known that it's a position of weakness.

[Soul]

No. They signed someone. Didn't they?

 

Yeah. Glenn & Bullocks. Got to be better than Steltz.

[dew1679666265]

No. They signed someone. Didn't they?

 

Yeah. Glenn & Bullocks. Got to be better than Steltz.

 

Glenn was actually developing into a nice safety before he got hurt. It'll be interesting to see how well he comes back from the injury.

[David]

Bullocks is terrible. I have no idea who Glenn Earl is, and I don't really know if he's better, either. I know he played a few years with Houston and suffered a pretty bad injury (Linsfranc). Same one Mike Brown had at one point (lol what injury hasn't he had, amirite).

 

Right now I figure it's Steltz and Payne penciled in with the ones... and the Graham experiment at FS...

 

 

It all comes down to how our line does, though. If the front 7 does their job, our secondary will be fine.

[David]

As for Bullocks,

 

LOL

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7bCO5-69mU

 

There might be some NWS language

[rawaction]

Bullocks is terrible. I have no idea who Glenn Earl is, and I don't really know if he's better, either. I know he played a few years with Houston and suffered a pretty bad injury (Linsfranc). Same one Mike Brown had at one point (lol what injury hasn't he had, amirite).

 

Right now I figure it's Steltz and Payne penciled in with the ones... and the Graham experiment at FS...

 

 

It all comes down to how our line does, though. If the front 7 does their job, our secondary will be fine.

 

Bullocks has been working out as 2nd team SS. I still think he's a better FS than Steltz, and could be ok in the cover 2 system. Glenn Earl is also a SS, he was a pretty decent looking safety. He's easily the most experienced safety on the roster, but I don't know if the Bears keep 5 safeties, not including Manning. That would likely mean 4 CBs or leaving another position short a man.

[YearofDaCubs]

Zaidman -

 

 

If Corey Graham "gets" the position of free safety, Steltz could wind up moving to strong.

 

 

i havent been following the Bears hardcore but I'm startled and horrified to see that Craig Steltz could be a starter for this team

 

Yeah, that's just not a good situation. Especially at free safety. He is 100% a strong safety and 100% a backup at this point.

Our safety play is going to kill the team this year. I'm actually surprised we didn't make a move to improve the safety position during the offseason when help was available. Instead, we are taking huge risks implementing bottom of the barrel players or guys who haven't done it before at the position. We're screwed.