Bears 2010 preseason thread

[jersey cubs fan]

Baseball season is over, long live football.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/columns/story?columnist=greenberg_jon&id=5417682

 

http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=6907

 

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/07/cutler-bears-have-little-bit-of-a-chip-on-shoulder.html

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2010-07/55247915.jpg

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2010-07/55244732.jpg

[Prizefight]

Wow, Garza is going to be pretty busy. Damn.

[Banedon]

Wow, Garza is going to be pretty busy. Damn.

 

Wow is right. Wouldn't wanna be his roommate.

[SpongeWorthy]

Defense better be ready to kick some ass this year. I'm confident C. Harris and Peppers produce. If that happens and Urlacher and Pisa can stay on the field this should be a pretty damn good unit.

 

Mark Anderson needs to step up and if T. Harris wants to dominate again that would be grand.

[rawaction]

48 rolls worth of dumps in 3 weeks?

[tfarks]

48 rolls worth of dumps in 3 weeks?

 

gotta think how much a lineman eats especially working out that much.

[jersey cubs fan]

Smith said all 80 players should begin training camp healthy. Center Olin Kreutz already announced he is fine coming off surgery to repair an Achilles tendon. Tight end Brandon Manumaleuna is also all the way back from arthroscopic knee surgery.

 

No word on the condition of Garza's colon.

[UMFan83]

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2010-07/55247915.jpg

 

Wow...Jay Cutler looks surly in that photo. Who'd a thunk it?

[Banedon]

Good lord....

 

"I am excited about us being able to blitz more. We'll be able to blitz more when we can get that pressure (from the front four) but also be able to cover a little bit more. That's why to see Charles Tillman and Zack Bowman, our two starting corners, play the way they are capable of doing, will help the front an awful lot."

 

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/07/lovie-says-bears-will-blitz-more.html

[UMFan83]

Good lord....

 

"I am excited about us being able to blitz more. We'll be able to blitz more when we can get that pressure (from the front four) but also be able to cover a little bit more. That's why to see Charles Tillman and Zack Bowman, our two starting corners, play the way they are capable of doing, will help the front an awful lot."

 

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/07/lovie-says-bears-will-blitz-more.html

 

Wait he's saying that they will be able to blitz more because the front 4 will provide pressure? Shouldn't that mean you need to blitz less? I'd feel a lot better about the D-line had we kept Alex Brown. I'm still extremely disappointed that we cut him for basically no reason.

[JonJayCutler]

I'd feel a lot better about the D-line had we kept Alex Brown. I'm still extremely disappointed that we cut him for basically no reason.

 

Didn't we do it for cap purposes? Oh well. I'm interested to see what Wootton can do, hopefully he'll get playing time behind Anderson.

[UMFan83]

I'd feel a lot better about the D-line had we kept Alex Brown. I'm still extremely disappointed that we cut him for basically no reason.

 

Didn't we do it for cap purposes? Oh well. I'm interested to see what Wootton can do, hopefully he'll get playing time behind Anderson.

 

Last I checked there is no cap this year. That's what annoyed me about it. You make a big improvement in signing Peppers, and then you do away with a lot of your gain by getting rid of Brown. Brown was no star, but he was a really solid player who did good things.

 

I do like Wootton a lot too...or at least am excited to see how he does. Hopefully he can make contributions this season.

[rawaction]

I'd feel a lot better about the D-line had we kept Alex Brown. I'm still extremely disappointed that we cut him for basically no reason.

 

Didn't we do it for cap purposes? Oh well. I'm interested to see what Wootton can do, hopefully he'll get playing time behind Anderson.

 

Last I checked there is no cap this year. That's what annoyed me about it. You make a big improvement in signing Peppers, and then you do away with a lot of your gain by getting rid of Brown. Brown was no star, but he was a really solid player who did good things.

 

I do like Wootton a lot too...or at least am excited to see how he does. Hopefully he can make contributions this season.

 

Just because there is no cap, doesn't mean there is a lack of financial responsibility. They got rid of Alex to save money. I didn't mind it at the time because I thought that money would be used for OL help. But yeah, Peppers is nice and all, but there's question marks everywhere else on the line. I can't say for sure that any of Harris, Adams, Harrison, Gilbert, Melton, Idonije, Anderson, or Wootton will get as many as 3 sacks. I can't say for sure that any of them will play the run well. At least Alex provided stability and leadership. He didn't put up the flashy numbers, but he was a stout run defender and unlike the rest of the group doesn't have a season of 3.5 sacks or fewer in at least 1 of the last 2 years.

[Wilson A2000]

While the Bears do have a ton of question marks going into the season, I don't think many aspects of their team have regressed. The coaching is a push. I don't trust Marinelli as a defensive coordinator cause he has never done it before and Martz's system might not fit the team. But Tice was a great hire and brings results. Lovie is not going to feel out players but will make quicker roster moves since his job is on the line. The offensive line should be better now that Olin has had surgery. Williams will be at LT, his natural position, for the entire season. And now the Bears have a full-time blocking TE. The receivers will be marginally better if Aromoshadu steps it up. The running game is improved with Taylor who could be the starter. Cutler can't get any worse. The TEs will be the same. The defensive line is only slightly better in my opinion because Brown was let go. Peppers will allow the defense not to blitz as much, no matter what Lovie said today (he said they will blitz MORE now that Peppers is where - why?). Tommie Harris, for the first time in three years, is going to practice everyday in training camp and looks to be in his best health in years. He is probably the key to the defense. The linebacking crew could be very good if they stay healthy. I have been waiting the last two stinking years to see what Pisa will do here. The safeties have been strongly upgraded. From what I have beard, Major Wright won't start. True or is it a training camp battle? Your third round draft pick has to start when your safeties were absolutely terrible last year. The corners will be just as good as last year which is a touch under average. Gould has a substandard year as far as Gould's standards go. I expect the old Robbie. Maynard is Maynard. Devin has to have a huge year for the special teams. He has to break a few.

 

The Bears are much improved from last year, but they are still a borderline playoff team if most things go right because the division is killer. I think they go 8-8 and Lovie and his staff are fired. Cowher is hired in the offseason.

[Sammy Sofa]

Wow, Garza is going to be pretty busy. Damn.

 

Wow is right. Wouldn't wanna be his roommate.

 

[hack]It's for when the team shits the bed of the season after about week 6.[/hack]

[ELCABALLO45]

Found myself watching a ton of NFL network today. Football season needs to get here ASAP.

[UMFan83]

I'd feel a lot better about the D-line had we kept Alex Brown. I'm still extremely disappointed that we cut him for basically no reason.

 

Didn't we do it for cap purposes? Oh well. I'm interested to see what Wootton can do, hopefully he'll get playing time behind Anderson.

 

Last I checked there is no cap this year. That's what annoyed me about it. You make a big improvement in signing Peppers, and then you do away with a lot of your gain by getting rid of Brown. Brown was no star, but he was a really solid player who did good things.

 

I do like Wootton a lot too...or at least am excited to see how he does. Hopefully he can make contributions this season.

 

Just because there is no cap, doesn't mean there is a lack of financial responsibility. They got rid of Alex to save money.

 

I dunno, the Bears have been called cheap for years, and it seems like they make more than enough money to handle Brown's contract, if they are really "going for it". But it's not my money so I guess I shouldn't hold it against them.

[rawaction]

While the Bears do have a ton of question marks going into the season, I don't think many aspects of their team have regressed. The coaching is a push. I don't trust Marinelli as a defensive coordinator cause he has never done it before and Martz's system might not fit the team. But Tice was a great hire and brings results. Lovie is not going to feel out players but will make quicker roster moves since his job is on the line. The offensive line should be better now that Olin has had surgery. Williams will be at LT, his natural position, for the entire season. And now the Bears have a full-time blocking TE. The receivers will be marginally better if Aromoshadu steps it up. The running game is improved with Taylor who could be the starter. Cutler can't get any worse. The TEs will be the same. The defensive line is only slightly better in my opinion because Brown was let go. Peppers will allow the defense not to blitz as much, no matter what Lovie said today (he said they will blitz MORE now that Peppers is where - why?). Tommie Harris, for the first time in three years, is going to practice everyday in training camp and looks to be in his best health in years. He is probably the key to the defense. The linebacking crew could be very good if they stay healthy. I have been waiting the last two stinking years to see what Pisa will do here. The safeties have been strongly upgraded. From what I have beard, Major Wright won't start. True or is it a training camp battle? Your third round draft pick has to start when your safeties were absolutely terrible last year. The corners will be just as good as last year which is a touch under average. Gould has a substandard year as far as Gould's standards go. I expect the old Robbie. Maynard is Maynard. Devin has to have a huge year for the special teams. He has to break a few.

 

The Bears are much improved from last year, but they are still a borderline playoff team if most things go right because the division is killer. I think they go 8-8 and Lovie and his staff are fired. Cowher is hired in the offseason.

 

Your first sentence is very true. A healthy Urlacher, Harris at the FS position, and Peppers on the DL could make all 3 levels of the defense better. A real OC, healthy Forte with a backup, full year of Aromashodu, and OL playing in their natural positions could mean the offense could be better at all phases. There is not a single unit where you can say the Bears definitely were downgraded. And on the positive side, the team was 7-9 and without some costly TOs and defensive lapses late they could have won 5 more (GB x 2, SF, ATL, PHI).

 

On the negative side, they need a whole lot to go right in order to be a playoff team in a tough division. They are counting on a lot of 30+ year olds at key positions (Urlacher, Kruetz, Garza, Peppers, and now Briggs will be 30 this year). They are counting on players who are huge injury risks (Urlacher, Harris, Tillman, Bowman). They are counting on a lot of young guys stepping up and becoming quality players (Bowman, all the WRs, Williams, Forte, Omiyale, Asiata, Manning, Anderson).

 

That's why I said that the Bears are the iffiest team in the NFL right now. Not all the above will go their way, but I think if the right ones do go their way, they are very close to being a really good team. But if those same ones don't go their way, they are very close to being one of the worst teams in the league.

[UMFan83]

I completely agree with the iffiest team designation. They Bears wouldn't surprise me if they went 12-4, but they wouldn't surprise me if they went 4-12 either. I lean more towards the latter than the former, but not by much...if I had to predict I'd say 8-8.

[Wilson A2000]

I just don't see them much worse than .500. With a bad o-line, bad receivers, bad linebackers, bad d-line, bad running backs, and bad safeties the Bears were 7-9. This team is much improved, even if heir record won't show it.

[Banedon]

DJ Moore brought the important stuff....to watch film, ya know?

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2010-07/55255365.jpg

 

Johnny Knox

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2010-07/55255367.jpg

 

Rashied Davis...he's still on this team?

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2010-07/55252323.jpg

 

Patrick Mannelly

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2010-07/55252268.jpg

 

Frank Omiyale

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2010-07/55250432.jpg

 

Greg Olsen

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2010-07/55252325.jpg

 

Olin Kreutz and Chris Williams' back

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2010-07/55244725.jpg

[Mark Priors Calves]

the pictures of players moving in are much more exciting than any other training camp pictures we'll see.

[jersey cubs fan]

Wow, Garza is going to be pretty busy. Damn.

 

Wow is right. Wouldn't wanna be his roommate.

 

[hack]It's for when the team [expletive] the bed of the season after about week 6.[/hack]

 

It's a gift for Cutler when he shits his pants as another defender blows by Garza.

[bukie]

Brad Maynard was on the radio this week saying he bought himself a nice TV and setup because camp is a pretty relaxing time for him.

[kujay]

I'm looking forward to the year, but I'm always the idiot optimistic before the season starts. The realistic in me says 10-6 would be fantastic.