2009 Chicago Bears offseason

[chuckywang]

Torry Holt's agent said he "doesn't see" the free agent wide receiver seriously considering the Bears.

"We have several other teams that are interested," Kennard McGuire said. "Torry has a process and he is going through that process. We will [have another visit] it is just a matter of time." Holt would make sense for Chicago, but it doesn't sound like he's interested.

Source: Chicago Sun Times

 

I hate attitudes like that.

 

I think the truth is Holt doesn't want to play in the cold, and he doesn't want to play on grass. Both will tend to slow him down and make him look older. I'll bet he's willing to take a significantly less attractive situation to play inside, on turf.

 

We'll see if it falls that way.

 

Does anybody have splits with Holt in indoor/warm weather vs. cold weather?

[rawaction]

I kind of want a guy who can bust through the bump n' run more, get those intermediate routes without being knocked off his path. I'm not sure Holt was ever that guy.

 

I think he pans out to be mostly a slot guy now. I certainly can't see him blowing by CBs on fly routes.

 

Yeah, that's the kind of receiver I'd like too. We can stretch vertically with Hester and attack the seams with Clark and Olsen. I think we need that guy who can take over in the red zone and pick up big chunks of intermediate yardage so there's effective players at all levels of the defense.

 

Britt would be amazing. What about Robiskie? I'm pretty sure he will be around.

 

I wonder if Murphy will be there in the 3rd round...

 

Murphy won't last til the 99th pick. It may have been a reach with the Bears original 3rd rounder. He may go late 2nd, the comp pick that the Bears have as their only 3rd now, is essentially a 4th round pick , as it is after every team has already picked 3 times (if there were no trades).

[rawaction]

One thing that bothers me about Cutler is the high number of INTs. He led all non-should've retired QBs (aka Favre) in picks.

 

But after looking into them further, 13 of his 18 INTs came in losses. Of those 13, 7 came in clear situations where he was trying to do too much.

 

5 INTs came with his team down by the scores:

 

27-0

13-0, after his team fumbled twice vs. NE

24-6

33-14

24-10

 

1 more came down a TD late in the 4th quarter.

 

1 more INT came on the 1st play of the 4th quarter after having the game tying 77-yard TD called back.

 

I think if he can cut down on his INTs, he will be up there w/ the best QBs in the league, a notch below Peyton, Brady, Brees and probably Warner. I think the Bears defense keeping the team in the game should minimize a few of his bad decisions.

[UK1679666180]

New potential Bears pickup available.

 

Giants just cut Plaxico Burress.

 

I was thinking Reggie Williams (JAX) as far as a WR. Big WR, good hands, possession type that is good in the red zone, still young and improving despite being considered 1st rd. bust by the Jaguars. To me, he's a #2 WR with the slim chance of becoming a #1 if he improves his route running.

[brinoch]

Actually, in a completely circular way, I think Cutler (and the upgraded O-Line) helps both the defense and himself become better. One problem the Bears clearly had last year was time of possession -- they were in the bottom five (27th in the NFL) in the category. Even the anemic Broncos were better (25th) with their RB challenged offense and abysmal defense. Cutler will help keep drives alive for the offense. That will help the defense stay fresh and effective -- keeping the opponent's scoring down and (hopefully) leading to more turnovers and better field position. So, by helping the defense keep the score down, Cutler helps himself and the offense stay out of situations where he needs to force the ball into coverage, which will help keep his INTs low.

[UMFan83]

One thing that bothers me about Cutler is the high number of INTs. He led all non-should've retired QBs (aka Favre) in picks.

 

But after looking into them further, 13 of his 18 INTs came in losses. Of those 13, 7 came in clear situations where he was trying to do too much.

 

5 INTs came with his team down by the scores:

 

27-0

13-0, after his team fumbled twice vs. NE

24-6

33-14

24-10

 

1 more came down a TD late in the 4th quarter.

 

1 more INT came on the 1st play of the 4th quarter after having the game tying 77-yard TD called back.

 

I think if he can cut down on his INTs, he will be up there w/ the best QBs in the league, a notch below Peyton, Brady, Brees and probably Warner. I think the Bears defense keeping the team in the game should minimize a few of his bad decisions.

 

He also threw over 600 passes last year, so his actual % of passes that led to an INT is lower. But then I guess using that logic somewhat discredits his 25 TD.

 

You also gotta think that next year is his third full season starting as a QB. Here is what some other prominent NFL QBs did between their second and third seasons.

 

Drew Brees:

2nd year: 11 TD, 15 INT (11 games)

3rd year: 27 TD, 7 INT (15 games)

 

Peyton Manning:

2nd year: 26 TD, 15 INT (16 games)

3rd year: 33 TD, 15 INT (16 games)

 

Brett Favre:

2nd year: 19 TD, 24 INT (16 games)

3rd year: 33 TD, 14 INT (16 games)

 

Jay Cutler:

2nd year: 25 TD, 18 INT (16 games)

3rd year: ???

[tfarks]

The Bears won't go after Burress because of the legal troubles. Kind of hypocritical after the whole Tank Johnson thing. But damn would that be the biggest turnaround in an offense that I have ever seen.

[kujay]

The Bears won't go after Burress because of the legal troubles. Kind of hypocritical after the whole Tank Johnson thing. But damn would that be the biggest turnaround in an offense that I have ever seen.

 

I don't care what Burress did, I want him. That said, I know there is no chance it will happen.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Cutler presser on ESPN now.

 

Edit: and now switched to ESPN News

[Cynosure]

It's on CSN too.

[RedFlash]

The Bears won't go after Burress because of the legal troubles. Kind of hypocritical after the whole Tank Johnson thing. But damn would that be the biggest turnaround in an offense that I have ever seen.

 

I don't care what Burress did, I want him. That said, I know there is no chance it will happen.

 

Agreed. Personality wise Plax and Tom Coughlin simply could not coexist. I think there is a good chance that Plax could be a better fit with a Lovie Smith as his head coach. With that said, I would put Plax on a short leash.

[David]

I can't seem to get any of the live video feeds online to work.

[rawaction]

New potential Bears pickup available.

 

Giants just cut Plaxico Burress.

 

I was thinking Reggie Williams (JAX) as far as a WR. Big WR, good hands, possession type that is good in the red zone, still young and improving despite being considered 1st rd. bust by the Jaguars. To me, he's a #2 WR with the slim chance of becoming a #1 if he improves his route running.

 

I was joking about Burress. I'd love him on this team if the situation was different. But picking him up does nothing for this team as he probably will be suspended for all of 2009 anyway.

 

Reggie Williams is the first person I thought of when I saw the report that Torry Holt wasn't interested. He'd be an OK fit.

[rawaction]

One thing that bothers me about Cutler is the high number of INTs. He led all non-should've retired QBs (aka Favre) in picks.

 

But after looking into them further, 13 of his 18 INTs came in losses. Of those 13, 7 came in clear situations where he was trying to do too much.

 

5 INTs came with his team down by the scores:

 

27-0

13-0, after his team fumbled twice vs. NE

24-6

33-14

24-10

 

1 more came down a TD late in the 4th quarter.

 

1 more INT came on the 1st play of the 4th quarter after having the game tying 77-yard TD called back.

 

I think if he can cut down on his INTs, he will be up there w/ the best QBs in the league, a notch below Peyton, Brady, Brees and probably Warner. I think the Bears defense keeping the team in the game should minimize a few of his bad decisions.

 

He also threw over 600 passes last year, so his actual % of passes that led to an INT is lower. But then I guess using that logic somewhat discredits his 25 TD.

 

You also gotta think that next year is his third full season starting as a QB. Here is what some other prominent NFL QBs did between their second and third seasons.

 

Drew Brees:

2nd year: 11 TD, 15 INT (11 games)

3rd year: 27 TD, 7 INT (15 games)

 

Peyton Manning:

2nd year: 26 TD, 15 INT (16 games)

3rd year: 33 TD, 15 INT (16 games)

 

Brett Favre:

2nd year: 19 TD, 24 INT (16 games)

3rd year: 33 TD, 14 INT (16 games)

 

Jay Cutler:

2nd year: 25 TD, 18 INT (16 games)

3rd year: ???

 

Exactly. Everyone assumes Cutler's numbers will be worse because he's on the Bears offense, but I'd imagine the team will let him throw the ball much more than the jokers they've had at the QB position for the last 60 years. It will be interesting to see the playcalling next year. How many times did the Bears take the ball out of Grossman's hands on 3rd downs?

[Wilson A2000]

Did Hub on the Score really say something to the effect that "the Pace signing has more significance than the Culter trade on so many levels"?

[David]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2009-04/45966690.jpg

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2009-04/45966933.jpg

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2009-04/45966943.jpg

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2009-04/45966945.jpg

[David]

nice touch on the shirt/tie combo

[Mark Priors Calves]

have he and jim hendry been dining together?

[minnesotacubsfan]

nice touch on the shirt/tie combo

 

 

a leftover from his days in Denver no doubt ;)

[Magnetic Curses]

he's about as photogenic as some of the people around here.

[manbearcub]

god he's ugly. but I wont hold it against him. :)

[stuy119]

have he and jim hendry been dining together?

 

No kidding. He needs to learn what a treadmill is.

 

Of course, maybe this goes to show the rumors about him are true - that he's a Type 1 diabetic with a drinking problem.

 

That's not a good combo for Chicago.

[rawaction]

This should be fun.

 

Week 3 of the preseason:

 

8/30- Chicago Bears at Denver Broncos.

 

Week 3 is the game where you see starters play for at least a half. So barring injury, Cutler will face his former team in his former home in the biggest tune up before the season starts.

[jersey cubs fan]

If no Holt, Matt Jones?

 

absophuckingtively

[JeffH]

Jerry Angelo? Two words - mob ties.