Re: Bears Offseason Thread

[RedFlash]

So this is currently the chart of projected starters I think:

 

 
                     McKie         Taylor
                            Cutler
Hester      Shaffer-Garza-Kreutz-Beekman-Williams           Bennett




                   Peppers-Harris-Adams-Brown
Tillman             Tinoisamoa-Urlacher-Briggs               Bowman
                       Afalava-Manning

 

you've got peppers on the wrong side.

 

 

Peppers, and Lovie/Angelo were asked that question at the press conference today and it did not get answered. Peppers says he feels comfortable at both sides.

 

I expect him to play both sides, but ultimately he will line up on the right side, imo.

[Banedon]

You guys are deluding yourself if you think that Forte is gonna start over Taylor. They didn't go spend that much money for a backup RB. He's gonna be the main guy, and Forte is gonna be the "complimentary" back.

[Magnetic Curses]

You guys are deluding yourself if you think that Forte is gonna start over Taylor. They didn't go spend that much money for a backup RB. He's gonna be the main guy, and Forte is gonna be the "complimentary" back.

 

taylor's comments at the pc lead me to believe that he's under the impression that he will be the starter, as well.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Is Tinoisamoa still on the team? I was under the impression it was a one-year deal, though I have no idea why I thought that.

[salukifudd]

I can't find a link, but I did hear a radio report that the Bears are expected to keep Pisa.

[Soul]

You guys are deluding yourself if you think that Forte is gonna start over Taylor. They didn't go spend that much money for a backup RB. He's gonna be the main guy, and Forte is gonna be the "complimentary" back.

 

taylor's comments at the pc lead me to believe that he's under the impression that he will be the starter, as well.

 

The money speaks. He will at least be given every opportunity to be the starter. I think the Bears were very, very disappointed in Forte last season.

[JonJayCutler]

You guys are deluding yourself if you think that Forte is gonna start over Taylor. They didn't go spend that much money for a backup RB. He's gonna be the main guy, and Forte is gonna be the "complimentary" back.

 

If this is true then I don't really see the Bears' logic. Taylor and Forte have had around the same ypc the past two seasons, with Taylor running behind a better O-Line. Taylor is also six years older, and excels more in the passing game which screams third down back. I suppose one could argue that Taylor has taken less of a beating the past two years due to having half as many carries as Forte, but I'll still take the guy who is 24 as my starter with there not being a large difference in talent.

[NCCubFan]

My feeling is that they'll probably split carries much like Williams and Stewart in Carolina, and it probably doesn't make that much difference which one is officially the starter.

[Banedon]

Yep...they'll both get carries, but I'd put heavy money that, barring injury, Taylor ends up with more carries than Forte on the season.

[Soul]

It does make sense to have a couple backs with skills in the passing game, given Martz's history of using RBs that way.

 

Also, my understanding is that Taylor is highly regarded as an extra pass blocker.

 

From what I've seen, despite his age Taylor has more quickness than Forte.

 

Again, I think a big part of this is the Bears losing confidence in Forte's ability to be a featured back like he has been the past couple seasons.

[SpongeWorthy]

I'll give Forte the benefit of the doubt because he had his knee scoped right after the season was over. He had been playing on a sprained MCL almost the entire year. But yeah, even if he is 100% going into the season I would expect a fairly even workload for him and Taylor.

[KaiserCesar]

the good news is taylor and forte are both good pass catchers and should be pretty interchangeable. part of forte's 09 was injury, but he definitely was expected to make at least some kind of leap from 08. both will get time and the bears will have a better offense as a result

[Soul]

Forte's knee injury wasn't serious enough to keep him out. Having the knee scoped doesn't mean he's going to suddenly develop quickness that frankly he's never shown.

 

I'm less optimistic. I suspect we've been seeing what Matt Forte really is. He has some skills but should not be considered a feature back and is simply never going to be a guy who can make a quick first cut to hit the hole before it is gone.

[David]

 

you've got peppers on the wrong side.

 

 

Peppers, and Lovie/Angelo were asked that question at the press conference today and it did not get answered. Peppers says he feels comfortable at both sides.

 

I expect him to play both sides, but ultimately he will line up on the right side, imo.

 

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-0307-bears-defense-chicago--20100306,0,5180529.story

 

 

A host of reasons make the left side his likely destination. Of most importance, Smith's history is to use his best pass rusher at that position. It's what he did with the Rams with Leonard Little and it's why when he came to the Bears in 2004 he made acquiring a pass rusher for that side the No. 1 priority. That's what led to the trade for Adewale Ogunleye. The strategy is an elite pass rusher on the left side can have a greater impact because typically he's facing a less athletic offensive tackle.

 

Peppers effectively replaces Ogunleye on the roster, and with a 6-foot-7, 283-pound frame, Peppers is easily big enough to hold up in run support on the strong side. Consider Alex Brown has played almost exclusively at right end and, given his preference, he would like to stay put. Brown, who finished last season as a team captain, was thrilled with the moves on the busiest day of free agency in club history.

[ctcf]

So... which safety will they sign?

[jersey cubs fan]

Did I see that the TE's contract was for 5 years $17m? Forget Taylor's deal, that's a lot of money for a blocking tight end.

[Banedon]

Did I see that the TE's contract was for 5 years $17m? Forget Taylor's deal, that's a lot of money for a blocking tight end.

 

I know it was a 5 year deal (which of course means nothing in the NFL), but I hadn't heard the money.

 

EDIT: Found it. Yep...5/$17 million....$6million guaranteed.

[jersey cubs fan]

Did I see that the TE's contract was for 5 years $17m? Forget Taylor's deal, that's a lot of money for a blocking tight end.

 

I know it was a 5 year deal (which of course means nothing in the NFL), but I hadn't heard the money.

 

I heard it the other day on TV, and here's the Sun-Times:

 

Manumaleuna, 6-2, 295, is a bruising tight end who played under Martz in St. Louis. His deal is reportedly for five years, $17 million with $6 million guaranteed

 

Compare that to the extension Desmond Clark signed when he was 30, 3/6, with 2m guaranteed. I don't know how this deal breaks down, but with $6m guaranteed I would assume the "real portion" of the contract is something like 3 years for $10-12m for a guy who is strictly a blocker and offers no threat in the passing game.

[ConstableRabbit]

Hope that means he's a really good blocker

[sneakypower]

Hope that means he's a really good blocker

PFF seems to think his run blocking, once elite, has slipped and that his pass blocking was never very good

 

but last year could just be an anomaly; his previous two seasons were great in run blocking

[Soul]

This year is uncapped. So I really don't care as long as it won't affect the ability of the Bears to improve the team moving forward.

 

But I don't know how a big contract will affect things if (and I suppose it is an 'if' at this point) the salary cap comes back.

 

What this mainly shows me is that the Bears have the money, and they can spend it. The question is, do they spend it well. I have no idea, but my sense is that we're seeing the result of some desperate people trying to save their jobs.

[jersey cubs fan]

This year is uncapped. So I really don't care as long as it won't affect the ability of the Bears to improve the team moving forward.

 

But I don't know how a big contract will affect things if (and I suppose it is an 'if' at this point) the salary cap comes back.

 

What this mainly shows me is that the Bears have the money, and they can spend it. The question is, do they spend it well. I have no idea, but my sense is that we're seeing the result of some desperate people trying to save their jobs.

 

I have no concern whatsoever on how this affects the 2010 payroll structure. The fact that contracts can be broken makes most of this easier to manage. However, it's almost a lock that there will be a cap if/when the CBA is finalized, and my concern is that they will be in a tough spot 2 years from now because they've guaranteed so much to these guys. The desperation is obvious, and necessary. However, desperate decision makers are dangerous, and somewhat like what happened with the Cubs a couple years ago, a sudden splurge in spending may have a lasting effect when those purse strings are tightened later on. And you can guarantee the Bears won't always be this aggressive with the money.

[Soul]

This year is uncapped. So I really don't care as long as it won't affect the ability of the Bears to improve the team moving forward.

 

But I don't know how a big contract will affect things if (and I suppose it is an 'if' at this point) the salary cap comes back.

 

What this mainly shows me is that the Bears have the money, and they can spend it. The question is, do they spend it well. I have no idea, but my sense is that we're seeing the result of some desperate people trying to save their jobs.

 

I have no concern whatsoever on how this affects the 2010 payroll structure. The fact that contracts can be broken makes most of this easier to manage. However, it's almost a lock that there will be a cap if/when the CBA is finalized, and my concern is that they will be in a tough spot 2 years from now because they've guaranteed so much to these guys. The desperation is obvious, and necessary. However, desperate decision makers are dangerous, and somewhat like what happened with the Cubs a couple years ago, a sudden splurge in spending may have a lasting effect when those purse strings are tightened later on. And you can guarantee the Bears won't always be this aggressive with the money.

 

Yes, that's what I was implying. We could easily see a new coach/GM in here with little flexibility. Hopefully that won't be for too many years. I could probably live with a dead year where we need to ride out some contracts. But not 2, 3 years.

[KaiserCesar]

This year is uncapped. So I really don't care as long as it won't affect the ability of the Bears to improve the team moving forward.

 

But I don't know how a big contract will affect things if (and I suppose it is an 'if' at this point) the salary cap comes back.

 

What this mainly shows me is that the Bears have the money, and they can spend it. The question is, do they spend it well. I have no idea, but my sense is that we're seeing the result of some desperate people trying to save their jobs.

 

I have no concern whatsoever on how this affects the 2010 payroll structure. The fact that contracts can be broken makes most of this easier to manage. However, it's almost a lock that there will be a cap if/when the CBA is finalized, and my concern is that they will be in a tough spot 2 years from now because they've guaranteed so much to these guys. The desperation is obvious, and necessary. However, desperate decision makers are dangerous, and somewhat like what happened with the Cubs a couple years ago, a sudden splurge in spending may have a lasting effect when those purse strings are tightened later on. And you can guarantee the Bears won't always be this aggressive with the money.

 

Remember, though, that we don't have two draft picks this year which typically tie up a lot of money over 4-5 years.

[jersey cubs fan]

Remember, though, that we don't have two draft picks this year which typically tie up a lot of money over 4-5 years.

 

The 2nd rounders don't tie up much. Forte is still a cheap player. But if he does have any sort of resurgence this season, he's going to be looking at a big payday next offseason (not that I would mind such a dilemma).

 

Also, Olsen is cheap right now, but if they don't trade him, and he goes through a year of being under utilized, those negotations could get ugley next year.

 

Actually, look at the contract Williams signed as an earlier first rounder, it's much smaller than what this blocking tight end just signed.