2009 Chicago Bears offseason

[David]

hahaha that too

[Soul]

1 week to camp!

[David]

Can't friggin wait.

[Soul]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-22-bears-haugh-chicago-jul22,0,4256690.column

 

Here's some stuff from Haugh to chew on.

 

I like to see this:

 

5 I know that if Brian Urlacher doesn't bounce back from a disappointing 2008, it won't be because of his off-season approach to conditioning. General manager Jerry Angelo became the latest to note Urlacher's renewed commitment during an interview on the team's Web site, saying he expects the middle linebacker to return to elite form as a result.

 

"Brian spent the whole off-season here, and that's a big thing for me to have him train with us," Angelo said. "I feel he can get back to a Pro Bowl level."

 

I hope it translates into improved play for him. We will need it.

[Jon]

I did pretty well. 2 tickets to the Rams game (internet), 4 to the Browns (automated line), and 2 to the Lions (automated line).

[Soul]

I did pretty well. 2 tickets to the Rams game (internet), 4 to the Browns (automated line), and 2 to the Lions (automated line).

 

It's the aftermarket for me, if I want to see the Bears this year. I'll probably break down and pony up for one game.

[Banedon]

First ESPN Power rankings of the season out.....Bears are #13

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/powerranking?season=2009&week=0

 

Jay Cutler can't do it alone. The Bears need to show they have legitimate WRs before they enter the top 10. (Chadiha)

 

Vikings are #9

 

They're ranked this high in anticipation of Brett Favre joining them. (Chadiha)

[Banedon]

Foxsports.com has them 20th.

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/powerRankings

[UMFan83]

Love flying under the radar.

[UMFan83]

Looking at the ESPN rankings, I don't think it would be a reach to suggest that 4 of their top 10 teams won't be in the top 15 by the end of the season. That's exactly what happened last year, as only 4 of the preseason top 10 remained in the top 10 at the end of the year (Patriots, Colts, Giants, Steelers), while 2 of them fell to a spot in the top 15 (Chargers, Cowboys), and 4 plummeted to amongst the bottom 10 of the league (Jaguars, Packers, Seahawks, Browns).

 

If you accepted this logic (that 4 of the top 10 teams aren't in the top 15 at the end of the year), which 4 teams would you choose?

 

The teams are:

1. Steelers

2. Patriots

3. Giants

4. Eagles

5. Colts

6. Chargers

7. Titans

8. Falcons

9. Vikings

10. Ravens

 

The 4 I'd pick are....

-Falcons. I think they have a great shot of being a good team, but a lot of times when a team makes such a huge leap like the Falcons did last year, they have a difficult time sustaining that momentum in the second year. 2nd place schedule + losing the 'lack of respect' element means they are more likely to take a step back than other teams on this list.

 

-Vikings. In case the Bears really are the world beaters us homer Bears fans think/hope we are, and taking into the account the possibility that Favre isn't a lifesaver in MN, and taking into account the possible Williams wall suspensions occuring, I could see a drop back here

 

-Eagles. They have a solid team, but I feel people are giving them a little too much praise for their playoff run. This team always seems to have turmoil midseason keeping them from being amongst the NFLs elite. Add in that 2 of their most important offensive players are injury liabilities, and the fact that the NFC East is never a picnic, I can see the Eagles taking a tumble next season. (FYI, I wanted to consider the Giants as well, but I don't think two NFC-E teams will tumble into the bottom 17)

 

-Colts. I am tempted to pick a team like Tennessee or Baltimore (the every other year thing), but when thinking about it, usually at least one of the NFL's top tier teams falls from grace each year due primarily to injuries. Last year the Packers and Seahawks were greatly affected by injuries that caused their seasons to tank (more GBs case than Seattle's). So when I look at some of the safer team's in the top 10 (Patriots, Steelers, Colts) I think about which team could least withstand a case of serious injuries. I think the Colts seem like that team the most. Granted although I am an NFL fan, I don't know the ins and outs of every teams depth charts outside of the skill positions for the most part, so some Colts fan here might correct me on this. But the Patriots and Steelers have shown in recent seasons that they can withstand an injury from their top players. Thus by process of elimination I put the Colts up there.

 

Feel free to disagree/agree

[rawaction]

Falcons, Ravens, Vikings, Titans.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm picking the Giants to take a step back this year. They skated through the start of last offseason and then stumbled hard down the stretch. I don't think Eli has shown that he's a consistent pro bowl caliber type QB that would seem to eliminate worries about letdown seasons, but they are still riding the wave of the 18-1 upset and I don't see a sense of urgency to be elite.

 

One of Baltimore/Tennessee is going to decline. Relying on defense as heavily as they both do, with minimal offense, I'm going to guess the team that has a 37 year old alcohol QB and who just lost their best defensive player is going to stumble.

 

I think the Colts are a great candidate to falter, with a whole new staff and Peyton showing signs of aging, but because of that I'm going to guess they don't. So back to Baltimore for my 3rd pick, and the 4th is Atlanta.

[burnt out cubbie fan]

ESPN jerking off to Farve. That never happens.

 

For the record I think he is going to make them a worse team.

[Soul]

Please don't pick us. I want us to go into the season doubted and criticized.

[Jon]

Tillman is expected to miss most of the preseason after undergoing back surgery.

[Banedon]

Tillman is expected to miss most of the preseason after undergoing back surgery.

 

CSN says 4-10 weeks. That's more than just preseason. That's gonna hurt. Why the hell would he wait until 3 days before training camp to have this surgery?

[rawaction]

I don't know what to think of the Tillman injury. Ten weeks would put him out until the Week 4 Detroit game. However, I don't think he will be out that long. He has had this surgery before in 2006, but it was to end the season. So, while we don't know how long the recovery will take, Peanut should.

 

I don't think this has to mean Graham moves back to CB and Steltz is the starter at FS. I don't think this means the season is shot. I figure at best, Tillman is ready for the opener. At worst, he's back after missing the first 2 games. If Bowman has been as good as advertised in OTAs, he should have no problem filling in for a couple weeks. Would mean DJ Moore will probably have to step up very fast though.

[jersey cubs fan]

shameless ploy to miss training camp. All the better though as this team probably needs to be ready to get rid of Tillman by next season anyway.

[Soul]

It makes no sense to wait until 3 days before TC to do this. We aren't hearing the whole story.

 

I'd be surprised to see him only miss preseason. I think this is more serious than we are being told, and besides -- he's not going to be training with everyone. So when he's back it's going to take time to get back into game shape. I can't give a specific time frame of course, but I'll believe the timeline they've given when I see it.

[YearofDaCubs]

Tillman has had a lot of injuries the past couple of years. I truly wonder how effective he will be when he comes back from his recent one?

[Soul]

What helps him is that he knows the defense already, and the other people on the defense know him. So I guess much depends on how much physical activity he will be able to engage in to stay in shape. If he can't do anything, then once he gets back he will still need work.

 

I could see it being a week 3, week 4 kind of thing. I don't like our CBs really to begin with, and without Tillman it looks even more shaky to me.

[rawaction]

I assume this is a more minor surgery than what Chris Williams and Brian Urlacher have had in recent years. If it is at all similar, Williams missed much more than 10 weeks. Urlacher was able to play, but wasn't as effective.

 

And I agree Goony, this may be the last year Peanut Tillman is a Bear. The only problem with that is you could be looking at a new CB on the other side and another new FS if that doesn't work out.

[Soul]

I think CB/S needs to be seriously addressed after this season, but none of that will help us this year. Obviously it's early, but I'm thinking unless we get a big boost of pressure from Marinelli's supahgenius, we're going to struggle against the pass again.

[brinoch]

Tillman sucks. [/Raisin baiting]

[Guest]

Tillman sucks. [/Raisin baiting]

 

Says the crack addict.