2009 Chicago Bears offseason

[rawaction]

I was upset the day the Bears got Olsen in the draft, but then a lot of the stud physical specimen TE's who were productive in college didn't pan out. He could make a huge jump this year.

 

NFC North will be a battle. How would you rank the position groups in the division offensively?

 

QB

1. Bears

2. Packers

3. Vikings

4. Lions (could be

 

RB

1. Vikings

2. Bears

3. Packers

4. Lions but could move up to 3

 

OL

1. Vikings

2. Packers

3. Bears could move up to 2 if Pace stays healthy and Williams is legit

4. Lions

 

WR

1. Packers

2. Lions just because of Calvin.

3. Vikings could jump the Lions as a group if Harvin is as advertised

4. Bears

 

TE

1. Bears

2. Vikings

3. Lions

4. Packers

 

Defensively as a whole:

1. Vikings

2. Bears

3. Packers

4. Lions

 

Vikings have the best DL, Packers have the best secondary. Every team has a good linebacking group and really it's pretty tough to rank as a unit. Packers throw a wrinkle into things with the 3-4.

 

Bears easily have the best LBs. Of course, I think the Vikings advantage on the DLine is as big of an advantage as there is at any position in the division.

 

QB- Bears, Packers, Vikings, Lions

RB- Vikings, Bears, Lions, Packers - I like Kevin Smith a lot, and I'd take him and Rudi slightly over Grant and Brandon Jackson

WR- Packers, Lions, Vikings, Bears- if you include TEs and RBs in the pass game, the Bears pass the Vikings

OL- Vikings, Bears, Packers, Lions - Bears OL will be improved, Packers OL gave up more sacks run games were similar

 

DL- Vikings, Bears, Lions, Packers

LB- Bears, Vikings, Packers, Lions

DB- Packers, Vikings, Bears, Lions

 

I will say though, that ranking like this really does nothing. The key is not who is better, but by how much. What if a team is so far better at a couple positions but a close 3rd everywhere else? Is it fair to give equal weight to having the best OL in the division and having the best DBs?

[ELCABALLO45]

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/glauber-s-nfl-hot-reads-1.811959/jay-cutler-wants-a-say-on-final-roster-1.1367134

[David]

http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/glauber-s-nfl-hot-reads-1.811959/jay-cutler-wants-a-say-on-final-roster-1.1367134

 

 

Already saw that... it's pretty ridiculous how some "journalists" will take something that most Bears fans take as a huge positive and attempt to bash him for it.

[Magnetic Curses]

i'm convinced, the bears are going to suck and the packers are going to be awesome.

[UMFan83]

I love reading good things about the Bears, but I fear this much fluff. For instance, its nice hearing that Cutler/Olsen is the best thing Mortenson's seen in training camp or whatever was said, but I remember before the 2007 season, Clayton said the most fascinating thing he saw was the Bears offense, and we know how that turned out. Grossman was benched by week 4 and Benson had an awful season as the offense struggled.

 

In my life it seems like every team that I like that has big expectations and hype surrounding it has fallen flat on its face. The Cubs in 04 and 09, the 04 team didn't even make the playoffs, and the 09 team is acting like its not going either. The 07 Bears, coming off a Super Bowl everyone expected more of the same, they finished 7-9. The 07-08 Bulls, coming off a second round playoff performance, many people were picking them as the Eastern Conference's Finals participant that year, and they completely flopped, Skiles was fired in December and the team finished 33-49.

 

So while I'm excited, I'm taking a "see it to believe it" approach to the season as I can't handle being burned again.

[ELCABALLO45]

That wasn't random at all

[UMFan83]

That wasn't random at all

 

What wasn't random?

[hawkeyecub]

I've heard bad things about the Vikings' new center...

 

Where?

 

He's practiced against 2 of the best d-tackles in the league quite a bit and from all reports he's held his own. Everyone seems to say his understanding is off the charts and physicality is the only question.

[hawkeyecub]

 

I will say though, that ranking like this really does nothing. The key is not who is better, but by how much. What if a team is so far better at a couple positions but a close 3rd everywhere else? Is it fair to give equal weight to having the best OL in the division and having the best DBs?

 

Agreed. It's similar to comparing lineups position by position.

 

Just discussion to have during preseason.

[ELCABALLO45]

That wasn't random at all

 

What wasn't random?

 

Not your post, Sulleys

[Magnetic Curses]

oh

[UMFan83]

I just heard on NFL Live that the Broncos led the NFL in turnovers in the Red Zone last year. That sounds a big concerning, but I guess that's definitely not all on Cutler, there are a number of factors that lead to turnovers. Also I'd like to see how many were INTs and how many were fumbles lost.

[DivineBovine]

When does football season start? Because baseball season is over.

[David]

I love reading good things about the Bears, but I fear this much fluff. For instance, its nice hearing that Cutler/Olsen is the best thing Mortenson's seen in training camp or whatever was said, but I remember before the 2007 season, Clayton said the most fascinating thing he saw was the Bears offense, and we know how that turned out. Grossman was benched by week 4 and Benson had an awful season as the offense struggled.

 

In my life it seems like every team that I like that has big expectations and hype surrounding it has fallen flat on its face. The Cubs in 04 and 09, the 04 team didn't even make the playoffs, and the 09 team is acting like its not going either. The 07 Bears, coming off a Super Bowl everyone expected more of the same, they finished 7-9. The 07-08 Bulls, coming off a second round playoff performance, many people were picking them as the Eastern Conference's Finals participant that year, and they completely flopped, Skiles was fired in December and the team finished 33-49.

 

So while I'm excited, I'm taking a "see it to believe it" approach to the season as I can't handle being burned again.

 

 

There were pretty huge expectations and hype around every Jordan Bulls team in the 90s. Theory debunked.

[David]

I've heard bad things about the Vikings' new center...

 

Where?

 

He's practiced against 2 of the best d-tackles in the league quite a bit and from all reports he's held his own. Everyone seems to say his understanding is off the charts and physicality is the only question.

 

 

Seifert on the radio. Also mentioned that Pat Williams didn't seemed too enthused about him.

[ELCABALLO45]

I just heard on NFL Live that the Broncos led the NFL in turnovers in the Red Zone last year. That sounds a big concerning, but I guess that's definitely not all on Cutler, there are a number of factors that lead to turnovers. Also I'd like to see how many were INTs and how many were fumbles lost.

 

Im not here to hate on Cutler but sometimes he will make some terrible terrible throws (Brett Favreish).

[hawkeyecub]

I've heard bad things about the Vikings' new center...

 

Where?

 

He's practiced against 2 of the best d-tackles in the league quite a bit and from all reports he's held his own. Everyone seems to say his understanding is off the charts and physicality is the only question.

 

 

Seifert on the radio. Also mentioned that Pat Williams didn't seemed too enthused about him.

 

That may be he hasn't written anything like that on his blog and it goes against the article he just linked two days ago: http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nfcnorth/0-13-70/Black-and-Blue-all-over--Barnett-antsy.html

Pat probably did have some trash talk but he was also talking about how quick he was and can't be baited into anything.

 

I have no idea how good he'll be, I just hadn't been reading or hearing any of these negatives and I follow it about as closely as anyone.

[Banedon]

I just heard on NFL Live that the Broncos led the NFL in turnovers in the Red Zone last year. That sounds a big concerning, but I guess that's definitely not all on Cutler, there are a number of factors that lead to turnovers. Also I'd like to see how many were INTs and how many were fumbles lost.

 

It's also when they were made. If they were made late, and when they were behind and trying to force things because the defense couldn't keep the other team from moving the ball, well that's different too.

[UMFan83]

I love reading good things about the Bears, but I fear this much fluff. For instance, its nice hearing that Cutler/Olsen is the best thing Mortenson's seen in training camp or whatever was said, but I remember before the 2007 season, Clayton said the most fascinating thing he saw was the Bears offense, and we know how that turned out. Grossman was benched by week 4 and Benson had an awful season as the offense struggled.

 

In my life it seems like every team that I like that has big expectations and hype surrounding it has fallen flat on its face. The Cubs in 04 and 09, the 04 team didn't even make the playoffs, and the 09 team is acting like its not going either. The 07 Bears, coming off a Super Bowl everyone expected more of the same, they finished 7-9. The 07-08 Bulls, coming off a second round playoff performance, many people were picking them as the Eastern Conference's Finals participant that year, and they completely flopped, Skiles was fired in December and the team finished 33-49.

 

So while I'm excited, I'm taking a "see it to believe it" approach to the season as I can't handle being burned again.

 

 

There were pretty huge expectations and hype around every Jordan Bulls team in the 90s. Theory debunked.

 

oh come on. We all know that Jordan trumps all trends and curses. If Jordan had joined the Cubs instead of the White Sox after his first retirement, they would have won a championship by now.

[Magnetic Curses]

I just heard on NFL Live that the Broncos led the NFL in turnovers in the Red Zone last year. That sounds a big concerning, but I guess that's definitely not all on Cutler, there are a number of factors that lead to turnovers. Also I'd like to see how many were INTs and how many were fumbles lost.

 

Im not here to hate on Cutler but sometimes he will make some terrible terrible throws (Brett Favreish).

 

that's not true. of course you're here to hate on cutler.

[Soul]

Yeah, that article is pretty much the equivalent of a board troll. Just some idiot trying & hoping to stir up trouble. It's too bad the media feels the need to try to upend the Bears this year, but I think so far this team has done a great job just letting it all roll off.

[Magnetic Curses]

i'm worried about the injuries in the secondary, but not any thing else.

[Soul]

The secondary is at the top of my list as well. To me that's a legitimate concern. Funny how some of these guys don't even want to talk about that. They just want to continue ranting about how much of a cancer Cutler is going to be.

[David]

i'm worried about the injuries in the secondary, but not any thing else.

 

 

Not the line? I am just because so much rides on it... the difference between pretty good and greatness depends on how the line performs...

[Sosa21MVP]

Personally I love having high expectations for the Bears. The number of times I've had any kind of preseason confidence in them has been few and far between since the 80's. I had a lot of confidence going into 2006 too. Hey that did not turn out too badly. Granted I felt strongly the following season too and 2007 was a mess but whatever. Expecting greatness is kind of fun sometimes. If I get let down, oh well. I don't let sports get me down too much anymore. When I was younger I would take the results of my teams almost personally.