Re: Bears Offseason Thread

[soapy]

It may be ideal, but I don't see how it's going to happen. Bates has already done the QB coach thing. I'm sure he was hoping parlay the college OC job into a NFL OC job. I'm not at all familiar with what his options were last year when he was let go from Denver, so maybe it is something he still wants to do, I guess. Just doesn't seem to make sense to me.

[jersey cubs fan]

It may be ideal, but I don't see how it's going to happen. Bates has already done the QB coach thing. I'm sure he was hoping parlay the college OC job into a NFL OC job. I'm not at all familiar with what his options were last year when he was let go from Denver, so maybe it is something he still wants to do, I guess. Just doesn't seem to make sense to me.

 

It's hard to say. College OC is not necessarily a direct route to NFL OC. After a few years as an NFL offensive assistant and one year as a college OC, QB coach on a team desperate for somebody to develop their star QB might be the best option to be a OC within a year or two, and possibly head coach even sooner. Unless he's getting a lot of calls from other teams for OC, this might be his best option.

[soapy]

It may be ideal, but I don't see how it's going to happen. Bates has already done the QB coach thing. I'm sure he was hoping parlay the college OC job into a NFL OC job. I'm not at all familiar with what his options were last year when he was let go from Denver, so maybe it is something he still wants to do, I guess. Just doesn't seem to make sense to me.

 

It's hard to say. College OC is not necessarily a direct route to NFL OC. After a few years as an NFL offensive assistant and one year as a college OC, QB coach on a team desperate for somebody to develop their star QB might be the best option to be a OC within a year or two, and possibly head coach even sooner. Unless he's getting a lot of calls from other teams for OC, this might be his best option.

 

Well, I suppose he could see it as an inroad to a future OC job with the Bears if Lovie gets removed and Martz becomes the Head Coach or something.

[Banedon]

Phillips denies Martz has been hired...

 

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/01/ted-phillips.html

 

"Nobody has been hired at either (coordinator) position or any of the other open positions," Phillips said on "The Mully & Hanley Show" on WSCR-AM 670. "Jerry (Angelo) and Lovie (Smith) are spending a lot of time now going over candidates. Obviously, we'd like to get it done as soon as possible. But it's also possible that there may be candidates on teams that are going into the playoffs, so it might take a little longer."

[JonJayCutler]

The more I read about Martz, the less I want him as OC. But anyone is better than Turner I suppose, except for Shoop and Shea.

[Magnetic Curses]

It may be ideal, but I don't see how it's going to happen. Bates has already done the QB coach thing. I'm sure he was hoping parlay the college OC job into a NFL OC job. I'm not at all familiar with what his options were last year when he was let go from Denver, so maybe it is something he still wants to do, I guess. Just doesn't seem to make sense to me.

 

It's hard to say. College OC is not necessarily a direct route to NFL OC. After a few years as an NFL offensive assistant and one year as a college OC, QB coach on a team desperate for somebody to develop their star QB might be the best option to be a OC within a year or two, and possibly head coach even sooner. Unless he's getting a lot of calls from other teams for OC, this might be his best option.

 

maybe offer him an assistant head coach/qb coach position like tampa did with marinelli.

[jersey cubs fan]

It may be ideal, but I don't see how it's going to happen. Bates has already done the QB coach thing. I'm sure he was hoping parlay the college OC job into a NFL OC job. I'm not at all familiar with what his options were last year when he was let go from Denver, so maybe it is something he still wants to do, I guess. Just doesn't seem to make sense to me.

 

It's hard to say. College OC is not necessarily a direct route to NFL OC. After a few years as an NFL offensive assistant and one year as a college OC, QB coach on a team desperate for somebody to develop their star QB might be the best option to be a OC within a year or two, and possibly head coach even sooner. Unless he's getting a lot of calls from other teams for OC, this might be his best option.

 

maybe offer him an assistant head coach/qb coach position like tampa did with marinelli.

 

You could, but Marinelli is asst head coach with the Bears already, and that could be weird with whoever the OC is. That worked in Tampa because Kiffin was obviously only going to ever be a DC.

[Magnetic Curses]

forgot that marinelli was assistant hc with us, too.

[DivineBovine]

Oh, apparently something thinks Bates would be good because Cutler "likes" him.

 

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/01/bates.html

 

I'm so sick of the media's talk about Cutler this, Cutler that, Cutler needs to get along with the OC.

 

How about this for a thought? How about getting someone who can DESIGN A DAMN PLAY? or CALL A DAMN PLAY? I could care less about whether Cutler "likes" a guy or not. If the offense is scoring points, I'm sure they will get along just fine.

 

USC wasn't very good this year. And this dude was a QB coach in Denver. How about a guy who can run an offense?

[Magnetic Curses]

The more I read about Martz, the less I want him as OC. But anyone is better than Turner I suppose, except for Shoop and Shea.

 

i agree. martz just runs a more complicated and larger version of the turner system. i don't think cutler's a good fit, as he's like the exact opposite of a martz qb. we ran enough 3-step drops this season and cutler doesn't make his progressions fast enough to prove to be very effective in it. the martz system also doesn't move the pocket or roll the quarterback out, which are cutler's strengths.

 

cutler needs to be in a wide-open, non-restrictive system that plays to his arm-strength and athleticism while allowing him to develop in terms of recognizing defenses and changing protections. eventually, as he develops into his potential as a great quarterback in the league, the OC should have less and less of a role.

[Tyrant]

USC wasn't very good this year. And this dude was a QB coach in Denver. How about a guy who can run an offense?

 

Bates called the offensive plays during Cutler's last year in Denver.

[Banedon]

Oh, apparently something thinks Bates would be good because Cutler "likes" him.

 

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/01/bates.html

 

I'm so sick of the media's talk about Cutler this, Cutler that, Cutler needs to get along with the OC.

 

How about this for a thought? How about getting someone who can DESIGN A DAMN PLAY? or CALL A DAMN PLAY? I could care less about whether Cutler "likes" a guy or not. If the offense is scoring points, I'm sure they will get along just fine.

 

USC wasn't very good this year. And this dude was a QB coach in Denver. How about a guy who can run an offense?

 

Like it or not, the Bears success in the next few years is going to live and die by Cutler's success or lack thereof. It behooves the Bears to build this offense around him, and what works for him. Bates called plays while Cutler was in Denver, so there's a familiarity there, and at least some experience there as well.

 

It's clear you're not a Cutler fan, and that's fine. But to pretend that taking some kind of hardline "you'll get along with whoever we pick, and you'll like it" stance with him is going to lead to anything positive is just fooling yourself. It's going to lead to more drama, and less wins.

[WrigleyField 22]

So I'm not the only eager person doing 7 round mocks already. So I did looked around and have a list of some possible names being thrown around for the Bears right now.

 

Jason Fox - T - Miami (3rd Rd)

Matt Tennant - OL - Boston College (3)

Lamarr Houston - DT - Texas (3)

Kam Chancellor - FS - Virginia Tech (3)

Tyson Alualu - DT - California (4th Rd)

Dezmon Briscoe - WR - Kansas (4)

Jamar Wall - CB - Texas Tech (4)

Austen Lane - DE - Murray State (4)

Tim Hiller - QB - Western Michigan (5th Rd)

Rodderick Muckelroy - LB - Texas (5)

Brandon Carter - OG - Texas Tech (5)

Ran Stamper - OLB - Florida (6)

John Skelton - QB - Fordham (6)

Stevie Brown - S - Michigan (7)

LeGarrette Blount - RB - Oregon (7)

 

I see a lot of suggestions for OL and DL, which I like to see. Also I found this tidbit that was interesting from RealGM:

"One overriding trend I've picked up from a lot of different scouts and personnel people this year is that height in WRs is being vastly overrated by lay people. It's all about short-area quickness and getting separation, a la Desean Jackson, Donnie Avery, Wes Welker, Percy Harvin, etc. This has a big-time negative impact on guys like Demaryius Thomas, Damian Williams, Dezmon Briscoe, even LaFell somewhat."

So apparently, height is out and its all about quickness. Means we could maybe see a good return from Hester while not really missing a beat because we still have Knox.

[jersey cubs fan]

They might have to look into RB before the 7th round.

[David]

double post Edited January 7, 2010 by David

[David]

A name I heard on the radio today was Jim Fassel. Whats everybodys opinoin of him?

 

Oh and Ive got a few Steeler fan friends that HATE Arian.

 

Yeah, but the Steeler fans I know are really whiny. I wouldn't put all that much stock in that.

 

Fassel's another guy who I would like, but again Bears probably can't lure him here for just a season. They'd need to lay some kind of post-Lovie scenario on the table. And if you do that, you're saying Lovie's gone. That's not what I heard yesterday.

 

Bears fans aren't?

 

It's really not even close. Or at least, the justification for the whining isn't close. Pittsburgh just won a Super Bowl, and they won another not too long ago. Yet their fans have been whining all year about a myriad of topics.

 

 

Is winning a Super Bowl the difference maker? There was plenty of whining among Chicago fans during the 2006 season (which came right after another very good season) about grossman and about the defense down the stretch... I couldn't believe how much complaining I heard during what was basically the most fun period of time I've ever experienced watching football (I was 2 in 1985). Chicago fans love to complain. You might not see it when you're not in the area, but it's more than tiresome.

[WrigleyField 22]

They might have to look into RB before the 7th round.

There are some decent options in Free Agency. I think we can get a RB there and go with Forte, FA, and Bell.

[jersey cubs fan]

Is winning a Super Bowl the difference maker? There was plenty of whining among Chicago fans during the 2006 season (which came right after another very good season) about grossman and about the defense down the stretch... I couldn't believe how much complaining I heard during what was basically the most fun period of time I've ever experienced watching football (I was 2 in 1985). Chicago fans love to complain. You might not see it when you're not in the area, but it's more than tiresome.

 

Sure it's a difference maker, especially multiple ones. You're talking about an OC of a good offensive ballclub coming off a super bowl win, and a bad quarterback who was putting up unprecedently bad performances coming off a flukish all defense no offense decent season that went to crap in one playoff game.

 

That may have been the most fun season for you, but Pittsburgh fans don't even have fun watching their teams actually win Super Bowls.

[jersey cubs fan]

They might have to look into RB before the 7th round.

There are some decent options in Free Agency. I think we can get a RB there and go with Forte, FA, and Bell.

 

RB is a young man's position though. I'd much rather find a guard in free agency than a RB, although if that's where they can find a guy, fine.

[WrigleyField 22]

They might have to look into RB before the 7th round.

There are some decent options in Free Agency. I think we can get a RB there and go with Forte, FA, and Bell.

 

RB is a young man's position though. I'd much rather find a guard in free agency than a RB, although if that's where they can find a guy, fine.

I want a Guard too. There really isn't a premier RB available anyways, so I wouldn't be too worried about getting an old guy, its just a part of a 3 man unit. Besides age, you also just need to look at number of carries:

 

Jerious Norwood, Age 26, 373 carries in 4 years (5.3 avg)

Leon Washington, Age 27, 370 carries in 4 years (4.8 avg)

Pierre Thomas, Age 25, 328 carries in 3 years (5.1 avg)

Darren Sproles, Age 26, 199 carries in 5 years (4.5 avg)

Mike Bell, Age 26, 348 carries in 4 years (4.0 avg)

LenDale White, Age 25, 628 carries in 4 years (3.7 avg)

I like Norwood, Washington, and Thomas the most out of that group. And maybe one of them might find a chance at #1 role, but I don't think all of them will.

 

Also, Reggie Bush is rumored to be cut (which makes sense since he makes so much money). But he can still obviously offer a lot. Another guy who could get cut, and even though he is old with a lot of miles, I'd consider taking a chance on, is LaDainian Tomlinson.

[UMFan83]

I don't think I'd touch LT. He's well past his prime according to past RBs.

 

Here is a list of RBs that were 30 or over during this season:

 

Michael Bennett, SD (30)

Ladell Betts, WAS (29)

Correll Buckhalter, DEN (30)

Rock Cartwright, WAS (29)

Warrick Dunn, TB (34)

Heath Evans, NO (33)

Kevin Faulk, NE (33)

Ahman Green, HOU (32)

Edgerrin James, ARI (30)

Larry Johnson, KC (29)

Rudi Johnson, DET (29)

Thomas Jones, NYJ (30)

Lamont Jordan, OAK (30)

Jamal Lewis, CLE (29)

Deuce McAllister, FA (30)

Travis Minor, STL (29)

Maurice Morris, DET (29)

Sammy Morris, NE (32)

Michael Pittman, DEN (33)

Dominic Rhodes, BUF (30)

Cecil Sapp, DEN (30)

Mike Sellers, WAS (33)

Aaron Stecker, NO (33)

Chester Taylor, MIN (29)

Fred Taylor, NE (33)

LaDainian Tomlinson, SD (29)

Kenny Watson, CIN (31)

Brian Westbrook, PHI (29)

Ricky Williams, MIA (32)

 

I only count 2 of the RBs on this list that had prominent roles and did above average, Thomas Jones and Ricky Williams. Maybe Chester Taylor as well with a lesser role. Maybe LT is one of the exceptions but he hasn't shown it over the last 2 seasons.

[Soul]

Is winning a Super Bowl the difference maker? There was plenty of whining among Chicago fans during the 2006 season (which came right after another very good season) about grossman and about the defense down the stretch... I couldn't believe how much complaining I heard during what was basically the most fun period of time I've ever experienced watching football (I was 2 in 1985). Chicago fans love to complain. You might not see it when you're not in the area, but it's more than tiresome.

 

Sure it's a difference maker, especially multiple ones. You're talking about an OC of a good offensive ballclub coming off a super bowl win, and a bad quarterback who was putting up unprecedently bad performances coming off a flukish all defense no offense decent season that went to crap in one playoff game.

 

That may have been the most fun season for you, but Pittsburgh fans don't even have fun watching their teams actually win Super Bowls.

 

Yeah, there wasn't much whining going on in 1985. Steeler fans think everyone's out to get them, everything sucks, yada yada -- and they're winning the Super Bowl. They're pretty much tops in the crybaby factor category.

[jersey cubs fan]

I like Pierre Thomas.

[Magnetic Curses]

I like Pierre Thomas.

 

me, too. but not as a backup. he'd be great to split carries 50/50.

[jersey cubs fan]

I like Pierre Thomas.

 

me, too. but not as a backup. he'd be great to split carries 50/50.

 

With Forte, go ahead and give him 60/40 if you want.