2011 NFL Offseason

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I would have sworn Charles Tillman was pushing 50. It seems like he's been in the league for decades.

[Guest]

The Bears defense may be aging meaning that several of them are nearing the end of their primes, but other than Urlacher, I don't see any players where their age would dictate a decline from last year's performance.

 

Idonije: 30

Toeaina: 26

Adams: 31

Peppers: 31

Briggs: 30

Urlacher: 33

Roach: 26

Tillman: 30

Jennings: 27

Harris: 29

Wright: 23

 

Would I prefer that the 3 best players on the defense be 26-27 instead of 30-33? Sure but none of those people besides Urlacher are at an age where you could reasonably expect a decline over last year. Now when evaluating the Bears defense over the next 3 years, you could say that they are aging of course.

 

In fact, assuming Wooten comes back playing at a similar level as he was in training camp, I would think the defense can be better than last year's. Major Wright has gotten mixed reviews in the preseason, but I think he can ultimately be better than Manning. Jennings should improve over last year, Wooten and Melton give the Bears some nice depth on the D-line. The thing everyone should be worried about on the Bears defense is the linebackers. If you injure any of the 3 starting linebackers on the Bears, they are immediately screwed, as there is absolutely no depth there. There is only one backup linebacker on the Bears roster currently that has ever played an NFL game before, Brian Iwuh. The other guys are almost exclusively undrafted FA rookies.

 

You don't think Okoye will make the team?

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

I would have sworn Charles Tillman was pushing 50. It seems like he's been in the league for decades.

 

I thought the same about Urlacher. He's only 33!

[UMFan83]

The Bears defense may be aging meaning that several of them are nearing the end of their primes, but other than Urlacher, I don't see any players where their age would dictate a decline from last year's performance.

 

Idonije: 30

Toeaina: 26

Adams: 31

Peppers: 31

Briggs: 30

Urlacher: 33

Roach: 26

Tillman: 30

Jennings: 27

Harris: 29

Wright: 23

 

Would I prefer that the 3 best players on the defense be 26-27 instead of 30-33? Sure but none of those people besides Urlacher are at an age where you could reasonably expect a decline over last year. Now when evaluating the Bears defense over the next 3 years, you could say that they are aging of course.

 

In fact, assuming Wooten comes back playing at a similar level as he was in training camp, I would think the defense can be better than last year's. Major Wright has gotten mixed reviews in the preseason, but I think he can ultimately be better than Manning. Jennings should improve over last year, Wooten and Melton give the Bears some nice depth on the D-line. The thing everyone should be worried about on the Bears defense is the linebackers. If you injure any of the 3 starting linebackers on the Bears, they are immediately screwed, as there is absolutely no depth there. There is only one backup linebacker on the Bears roster currently that has ever played an NFL game before, Brian Iwuh. The other guys are almost exclusively undrafted FA rookies.

 

You don't think Okoye will make the team?

 

I didn't say that. I just listed the probable starters.

[KingCubsFan]

Bears (imho) took a step back, talent-wise

 

Why do people keep saying this? It's one thing to say they didn't improve the team, but that's not the same as taking a step back. Who exactly did they lose that would help support this statement?

 

They have an aging defense and I highly doubt that they're going to be as healthy as they were last year. I think that's a fair statement.

 

More like wishful thinking on your part. If we're going to do this, then the inexperienced O-Line and WRs having another year under their belt improves the team. Also Cutler being more familiar with the offense improves the team. See, it works both ways. This defense was old last year while playing at close to an elite level.

The big thing is the injuries. The Bears were extremely healthy last year, and it's highly unlikely that happens again. With that said, I think this team is a little deeper than last year's version.

[UMFan83]

If we have another year like 2009, when Pisa, Urlacher and Hillenmeyer were out almost the entire season, we'll be screwed.

[NonProfitCow]

Chris Johnson gets 4 years 53.5 million with 30 million guaranteed.

[sneakypower]

good for him, RBs really have to strike while the iron's hot

 

look at Shaun Alexander, who had only 5-1/2 good years as a starter before essentially breaking down

[dew1679666265]

I'm just glad to have CJ back in camp. That's a ton of money to pay a RB, but with his running style he may have more longevity than most do. At his best, he's arguably the best RB in the game, though, so he certainly deserves a huge payday.

 

Now, I'm concerned about keeping him healthy. I'd be perfectly fine with holding him out for the first week (or more if needed) to ensure that he's fully back to game shape before going out there. I really don't want to see him not be in the best conditioning and shred a hamstring or ACL because of it.

[Flames24Rulz]

The Chiefs have kept in all of their starters besides Cassel, who left the game because he got injured.

 

There's two minutes left in the game. I've never seen this before.

[NonProfitCow]

The Chiefs have kept in all of their starters besides Cassel, who left the game because he got injured.

 

There's two minutes left in the game. I've never seen this before.

They've worked them in and out all game. There hasn't been a single starter playing this drive.

[Flames24Rulz]

The Chiefs have kept in all of their starters besides Cassel, who left the game because he got injured.

 

There's two minutes left in the game. I've never seen this before.

They've worked them in and out all game. There hasn't been a single starter playing this drive.

 

Yep, the last drive there weren't any. What was the reasoning behind that tonight?

[NonProfitCow]

The Chiefs have kept in all of their starters besides Cassel, who left the game because he got injured.

 

There's two minutes left in the game. I've never seen this before.

They've worked them in and out all game. There hasn't been a single starter playing this drive.

 

Yep, the last drive there weren't any. What was the reasoning behind that tonight?

If I had to guess it was because of the shortened camps and that they've looked bad so far. Part tune up part kick in the ass.

[Guest]

The Chiefs have kept in all of their starters besides Cassel, who left the game because he got injured.

 

There's two minutes left in the game. I've never seen this before.

They've worked them in and out all game. There hasn't been a single starter playing this drive.

 

Yep, the last drive there weren't any. What was the reasoning behind that tonight?

If I had to guess it was because of the shortened camps and that they've looked bad so far. Part tune up part kick in the ass.

 

They also didn't really let the starters do anything at all in the previous 3 preseason games.

[jersey cubs fan]

The Chiefs have kept in all of their starters besides Cassel, who left the game because he got injured.

 

There's two minutes left in the game. I've never seen this before.

They've worked them in and out all game. There hasn't been a single starter playing this drive.

 

Yep, the last drive there weren't any. What was the reasoning behind that tonight?

If I had to guess it was because of the shortened camps and that they've looked bad so far. Part tune up part kick in the ass.

 

They also didn't really let the starters do anything at all in the previous 3 preseason games.

 

They also have a total hard ass douche for a coach, no?

[Guest]

I had to guess it was because of the shortened camps and that they've looked bad so far. Part tune up part kick in the ass.

 

They also didn't really let the starters do anything at all in the previous 3 preseason games.

 

They also have a total hard ass douche for a coach, no?

 

It's hard to tell how much of Haley's demeanor is Haley and how much is mandated from Pioli. Listening to him deny/not comment on injuries or any player evaluations is kinda hilarious after a while.

[jersey cubs fan]

I had to guess it was because of the shortened camps and that they've looked bad so far. Part tune up part kick in the ass.

 

They also didn't really let the starters do anything at all in the previous 3 preseason games.

 

They also have a total hard ass douche for a coach, no?

 

It's hard to tell how much of Haley's demeanor is Haley and how much is mandated from Pioli. Listening to him deny/not comment on injuries or any player evaluations is kinda hilarious after a while.

 

He had the reputation long before he teamed up with Pioli.

[imb]

Bears (imho) took a step back, talent-wise

 

Why do people keep saying this? It's one thing to say they didn't improve the team, but that's not the same as taking a step back. Who exactly did they lose that would help support this statement?

 

They have an aging defense and I highly doubt that they're going to be as healthy as they were last year. I think that's a fair statement.

 

It's a misinformed statement. They failed to take a step forward, no doubt. But they didn't take a step back talent-wise. That's just silly.

 

They played above their heads last year and are basically the same team. How is that not a step back?

[SpongeWorthy]

Yeah, I think we're gonna be very middling this year. I'm afraid a 7-9 season is in the cards.

[jersey cubs fan]

They played above their heads last year and are basically the same team. How is that not a step back?

 

Step-back talent-wise was the comment, they didn't take a step back talent-wise. They stayed the same. The fact that they may have won more than they should have last year does not support the notion that they took a step back talent-wise.

[Banedon]

They played above their heads last year and are basically the same team. How is that not a step back?

 

Step-back talent-wise was the comment, they didn't take a step back talent-wise. They stayed the same. The fact that they may have won more than they should have last year does not support the notion that they took a step back talent-wise.

 

I'd argue that they actually did take a step forward, talent wise, though a small one. The O-line will be better, simply because it can't be worse. The running game looks better, and that was a strength already.

[SpongeWorthy]

In a vacuum, maybe a tiny step forward talent wise. But relative to the competition I would say no and that's before you start to factor in health. It's very reasonable to expect we won't have the same lack of health/injury concerns as last year.

 

I also think this team kills itself effort wise just to be above average and I'm not sure you can carry that intensity two seasons in a row without substantial talent upgrades. So many things have to go right for this offense to string together scoring drives consistently.

[Banedon]

In a vacuum, maybe a tiny step forward talent wise. But relative to the competition I would say no and that's before you start to factor in health. It's very reasonable to expect we won't have the same lack of health/injury concerns as last year.

 

I also think this team kills itself effort wise just to be above average and I'm not sure you can carry that intensity two seasons in a row without substantial talent upgrades. So many things have to go right for this offense to string together scoring drives consistently.

 

I don't disagree with anything you're saying. But I think talent is easily the most quantifyable part of the equation. Effort and injuries are really just blind guesses at this point. Everybody is obviously welcome to their opinion on those.

[SpongeWorthy]

The new kickoff rules won't help either.

[CubColtPacer]

The new kickoff rules won't help either.

 

I don't know if it will hurt as bad as people think. The Bears were excellent on kickoffs, but they only had a 1.6 yard difference between the average of their returns and the average they gave up. They had just under 60 kickoffs last year so just under 100 total yards advantage on kickoffs. Their punt returns while less returns (33 returns, 39 returns defended) were where they gained huge chunks. They had a 9.3 yard average difference. And the new kickoff rules should help a good punt returning team because there will be more punts from deep inside somebody's territory than there were before.