Re: Bears Offseason Thread

[Magnetic Curses]

i want an offensive coordinator that runs a lot of shotgun sets, i want to see it on first and second downs. i want cutler to be encouraged to call his own plays, if need be. but most of all, i want to see a pocket like the one tom brady gets.

 

go sign logan [expletive] mankins, plz.

[Tyrant]

"Cutler has more talent than anybody I've ever seen," Martz said. "When he came out I gave him the best grade of any quarterback I've ever graded. But I don't know him. Until you sit down and work with a guy, you don't really know him."

 

:rotfl:

 

Can someone get Mr. Martz a Kleenex? He has something on his nose.

 

Yes, he does. He wears glasses.

[Sosa21MVP]

http://blogs.nfl.com/category/jason-la-canfora/

 

Perry Fewell is the premier candidate to take over as the Bears’ defensive coordinator, according to a league source.

 

Fewell is very close to Bears coach Lovie Smith, having worked with him before as the defensive backs coach in St. Louis and Chicago, and is well versed in the Tampa 2 system that Chicago runs. Fewell also is well respected by the Bears’ staff as a coach and motivator.

[WrigleyField 22]

http://blogs.nfl.com/category/jason-la-canfora/

 

Perry Fewell is the premier candidate to take over as the Bears’ defensive coordinator, according to a league source.

 

Fewell is very close to Bears coach Lovie Smith, having worked with him before as the defensive backs coach in St. Louis and Chicago, and is well versed in the Tampa 2 system that Chicago runs. Fewell also is well respected by the Bears’ staff as a coach and motivator.

So nothing new.

 

We'll see what happens, but I'm thinking Lovie is definitely a lame duck until next season.

[Guest]

i want an offensive coordinator that runs a lot of shotgun sets, i want to see it on first and second downs. i want cutler to be encouraged to call his own plays, if need be. but most of all, i want to see a pocket like the one tom brady gets.

 

go sign logan [expletive] mankins, plz.

 

Jahri Evans.

[Mark Priors Calves]

The Lovie Smith deathwatch will be in high gear as soon as training camp gets started.

[Tracer Bullet]

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/news/story?id=4799863

 

pleasepleaseplease

[DivineBovine]

Ron Turner:

I did the best job I could with what I had.'

 

Taking a shot on the way out. I'm so sick of this loser. It's bad enough that he has done a horrible job for years, he is making excuses yet again.

 

We can debate run-first vs a pass-first philosophy all we want. I just want a real offensive coach. Not an imposter who probably couldn't coach a high school team to win.

 

The offense just got drastically better.

[Magnetic Curses]

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/news/story?id=4799863

 

pleasepleaseplease

 

yep, i'd rather have weis than martz.

[minnesotacubsfan]

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/news/story?id=4799863

 

pleasepleaseplease

 

yep, i'd rather have weis than martz.

 

 

just came to post this. It's nice to see interest in the Bears by top candidates

[Butterscup1679666578]

Weis would be so awesome.

 

and I hope Ron Turner gets hit by a bus. What a [expletive] jackoff.

[SpongeWorthy]

Hopefully Weis would check the ego at the door and know his role. Not that I think Lovie should be unassailable but I don't want Weis lobbying for the top job if the offense starts humming.

[Tracer Bullet]

Hopefully Weis would check the ego at the door and know his role. Not that I think Lovie should be unassailable but I don't want Weis lobbying for the top job if the offense starts humming.

 

Yeah, he spent so much time in NE rocking the boat...

[minnesotacubsfan]

Hopefully Weis would check the ego at the door and know his role. Not that I think Lovie should be unassailable but I don't want Weis lobbying for the top job if the offense starts humming.

 

Yeah, he spent so much time in NE rocking the boat...

 

he was CLEARLY hated there

[SpongeWorthy]

Hopefully Weis would check the ego at the door and know his role. Not that I think Lovie should be unassailable but I don't want Weis lobbying for the top job if the offense starts humming.

 

Yeah, he spent so much time in NE rocking the boat...

 

Lovie ain't Belichick.

 

As down as the Weis brand is right now, I wouldn't be shocked at all for Bears fans to quickly forget his ND tenure and start angling for him to be HC if the offense clicks.

[rawaction]

Weis would be interesting. I don't think he's a guy that will ever be and maybe not ever want to be an NFL head coach. Failing at Notre Dame is so public. I don't know if he wants to be a head coach anytime soon, especially for a team so close to South Bend.

 

As for his credentials, you can't really ask for more. He essentially developed Brady. Sixth round pick who he helped send on his way to the Hall of Fame. Claussen went from a shaky QB to a guy that left early and will be a 1st rounder. He also put Brady Quinn in the NFL. So, he has worked with young QBs and helped them take the next step at 2 different levels, in 2 different job capacities.

 

Also, let's not forget the WR talent this guy had. The NE WRs he coached weren't the Moss/Welker combo they have now. Deion Branch and Jabar Gaffney have proven to be mediocre journeymen without Weis. Jeff Samardzija and Maurice Stovall were raw WRs that he got a ton out of at ND. Golden Tate and Floyd were really talented, but flourished under Weis also.

[WrigleyField 22]

Alright, here's my shot at an offseason plan. Subject to major changes, obviously.

 

Coordinators:

Offense- Definitely would look into bringing someone good enough to stick around even if Lovie/Angelo get the can. Weis is interesting, but I'm going to take a chance on the less established Jeremy Bates. He mainly gets the edge because of Cutler.

Defense- This I'm actually kind of apathetic on. I would love to say it would be interesting to get some new ideas in, but I don't see that working well with Lovie still head coach. So I'm actually going to take the safe/boring/annoying route and go for Perry Fewell. I don't really expect much except for the opportunity to bring in a brand new defensive scheme in 2011. If I wanted to be imaginative, I'm not sure who I'd hire, but I'd look for a positional coach from a 3-4 scheme, and force him and Lovie to implement aspects of both schemes.

 

Free Agency:

Any restricted free agents are pretty much off limits because we don't have picks and the whole FA process is in huge question. The one area I look at though is OL. Evans sounds real nice, but unrealistic, so I'm going for Mankins. I'm not a big fan of building through FA, and since this should be a weak class anyways, thats my one big splash. I also would look for a RT to compete with Shaffer. I also look for a RB. Sproles, Washington, and Norwood are all names I'd consider. For the rest of offense, I'd love to make a splash with a big WR like Marshall or Jackson, but I don't see it happening. On defense I'd like to see some depth on the line, but I don't see any big spashes being made. In the secondary I see if I can get a bargain on OJ Atogowe who is coming off injury.

 

Trades:

Hester for a second round pick. Allows us to address some other issues with a higher pick. Knox can do most of what Hester can.

I'd also consider shopping Briggs, but would probably only do it as a draft day trade if we could trade him for a first rounder when some player slips.

 

Draft (still early, so this in mainly a positional thing because player draft stocks will obviously change)

2- DT- Tyson Alualu- Cal - Put up some good numbers, and looks to have good size and speed for a DT in our system. Also a message to Harris to perform or get out. (Also consider OL)

3- CB- Kyle Wilson- Boise- Good speed and some decent size adds some depth to our secondary (Also consider OL)

4- OG- Mitch Petrus- Arkansas - Couldn't ignore the OL anymore. Looks like a good prospect. Would also consider a OT here.

5- WR- Marcus Easley- UConn- There are some concerns as he has only had one big year, so he's not high on draft boards now. At 6'2" 215 with 4.4 speed that may change by the draft. If it doesn't I take a chance here.

6- OLB- Rico McCoy- Tenn- LB is one of our deepest positions, but also one of the older units. Bring in some youth since our attempt at a LB pick last year failed.

7- OT- Will Barker- Virginia - Bringing in some more line depth is all. Big body could become RT.

 

Depth Chart

QB- Cutler, Hanie (You could bring someone else besides Hanie if you want, but if Cutler goes down I don't really think it matters.)

RB- Forte, Washington(FA), Bell

FB- Will Ta'ufo'ou (McKie is old, so yea, I'm going with the youth here)

WR- Aromashodu, Knox, Bennett, Iglesias, Easley (Yea we still lack the #1 we need, but bring in a real OC and get it to work)

TE- Olsen, Clark, Davis (there is room for improvement, but this is one of our most solid units, don't mess with it)

OT- Williams, Shaffer/FA, Louis

OG- Mankins, Petrus, Garza, Omilaye

C- Beekman

(See ya Olin. Time for the Beekman era at C, with two new G. Tackles don't change much)

 

DE- Brown, Adams, Gilbert, Melton (Brown is one of our most dependable players. I move Gilbert to DE. Him and Adams offer some different things. Marinelli has a whole offseason to mold them. A big risk, but one I'm taking. Don't bring back Anderson and Ogunleye)

DT- Harris, Alualu, Idonije

NT- Harrison, Adams

OLB- Briggs, Roach, Williams, Shaw (Pisa would also be nice, but there are injury concerns)

ILB- Urlacher, Hillenmeyer (Hunter surprisingly earned his spot on the team this season)

CB- Tillman, Graham, Bowman, Wilson, Moore (See ya Vasher. What happened to Graham this season? I think he could still be starter material)

FS- Atogowe, Manning (Manning is useful as long as its a nickleback and return man)

SS- Payne, Afalava

LS- Mannelly (Our second best player this year)

K- Gould (Our best player this year)

P- Maynard (He annoys me at times, but is still solid enough)

 

Thats only 49, which actually leaves room for 4 more spots. Will probably need another DB. Could bring in a 3rd string QB to develop (especially if we get a OC who can develop QBs). Other than that, maybe you do make another big FA splash with a #1 WR or a good DE. Otherwise its all about those fringe players and you're pretty open as to what positions you fill.

 

Overall, not a huge difference, but that puts it on the coaching staff. Put up the results or get out.

[Keener98]

My 1st plan come free agency is offer Vincent Jackson whatever it takes to get him here.

[Tracer Bullet]

Weis would be interesting. I don't think he's a guy that will ever be and maybe not ever want to be an NFL head coach. Failing at Notre Dame is so public. I don't know if he wants to be a head coach anytime soon, especially for a team so close to South Bend.

 

As for his credentials, you can't really ask for more. He essentially developed Brady. Sixth round pick who he helped send on his way to the Hall of Fame. Claussen went from a shaky QB to a guy that left early and will be a 1st rounder. He also put Brady Quinn in the NFL. So, he has worked with young QBs and helped them take the next step at 2 different levels, in 2 different job capacities.

 

Also, let's not forget the WR talent this guy had. The NE WRs he coached weren't the Moss/Welker combo they have now. Deion Branch and Jabar Gaffney have proven to be mediocre journeymen without Weis. Jeff Samardzija and Maurice Stovall were raw WRs that he got a ton out of at ND. Golden Tate and Floyd were really talented, but flourished under Weis also.

 

Other than Floyd, who was probably the best route runner on the team as soon as he set foot on the field, you're right that Weis developed all those WRs. Look at where Tate is now from his first game as a freshman when Weis told him from the sideline to run a "go" and Tate looked back and asked what that was. Weis pointed to the MSU DB and said "see that guy, run past him a catch the ball." The CB looked back in shock. Tate caught the next pass on a go route. He's now a Biletnikoff winner.

 

Weis has a lot of faults, but I think you're exactly right that he's not looking to be the head coach anywhere any time soon. He would likely want to clearly be the head honcho on offense, so having a defensive-minded HC would be a good fit.

[Tracer Bullet]

Hopefully Weis would check the ego at the door and know his role. Not that I think Lovie should be unassailable but I don't want Weis lobbying for the top job if the offense starts humming.

 

Yeah, he spent so much time in NE rocking the boat...

 

Lovie ain't Belichick.

 

As down as the Weis brand is right now, I wouldn't be shocked at all for Bears fans to quickly forget his ND tenure and start angling for him to be HC if the offense clicks.

 

why would you want to forget his tenure at ND? His offenses (when he had any talent at all) were very good. He developed QBs and WRs (his 1 RB that left in his time at ND also has been in and out of the league; though Aldridge never did recover from his leg injury in HS and won't sniff the NFL). He wouldn't be responsible for hiring (and, more importantly, firing) the OL coach if he sucked, so one of his biggest faults is removed from the equation.

 

And who hated him in NE? Belichick loves him. Brady loves him. If he gets along with Lovie and Cutler and we win 4 Super Bowls, everyone else can **** my ****.

[Soul]

It's kind of an interesting dynamic with Weis in Chicago. Many ND fans are in the city, and while they definitely wanted him gone as coach of ND, the feeling is he's still a decent fit as a OC. I wonder if Weis would be a good PR pick for the Bears in light of that.

 

Yesterday's press conference was a complete disaster. They need to move on someone who will make people forget what a bunch of incompetent morons they are. Martz isn't going to do that -- he would be seen as just another Lovie "buddy hire."

[Magnetic Curses]

It's kind of an interesting dynamic with Weis in Chicago. Many ND fans are in the city, and while they definitely wanted him gone as coach of ND, the feeling is he's still a decent fit as a OC. I wonder if Weis would be a good PR pick for the Bears in light of that.

 

Yesterday's press conference was a complete disaster. They need to move on someone who will make people forget what a bunch of incompetent morons they are. Martz isn't going to do that -- he would be seen as just another Lovie "buddy hire."

 

i think weis would be an awesome hire, but i thought turner would be a great hire and his was much the same situation.

[biittner77]

i think weis would be an awesome hire, but i thought turner would be a great hire and his was much the same situation.

 

Really? It's hard to believe any Illinois fan would think Ron Turner was a great hire.

 

Weis would be the type of guy that the new head coach will want to keep around after they fire the rest of Lovie Smith's staff.

[jersey cubs fan]

I like the USC guy but the more I think about it the more I think I'd prefer him to be the QB coach with somebody else as OC. I'm not afraid of a young guy calling plays, but I think it's important to have an OC and QB coach, and if this guy is so close with Cutler, I think it's important to also have somebody in there that can be all business, and not as much of a buddy with Cutler. Jay still has to improve, and he needs somebody to push him for that. I'd be afraid that Bates would all but owe Jay for his job, and be less interested in critiquing him when necessary.

[jersey cubs fan]

i think weis would be an awesome hire, but i thought turner would be a great hire and his was much the same situation.

 

Really? It's hard to believe any Illinois fan would think Ron Turner was a great hire.

 

I thought he was adequate, back when I thought the defense first strategy made sense. But in two decades of working including the QB strong Big Ten he's never produced a quality NFL quarterback.