2011 Bears Offseason thread

[Soul]

Tommie was such a bad ass before the knee problems. A rare dominating pass rushing DT. Imagine a healthy Tommie with a Peppers last year or the years to come. Visions of Sapp and Rice creating havok. Oh well, the story of football. Lightning in a bottle, catch it while you can....get Cutler some Oline help.

 

 

I know, it's painful to think of the possibilities that couldn't happen because of Tommie's injuries.

 

I agree -- let's focus on getting Jay the protection he needs and see how far he can take us.

[XZero771679666304]

Tommie was such a bad ass before the knee problems. A rare dominating pass rushing DT. Imagine a healthy Tommie with a Peppers last year or the years to come. Visions of Sapp and Rice creating havok. Oh well, the story of football. Lightning in a bottle, catch it while you can....get Cutler some Oline help.

 

 

I know, it's painful to think of the possibilities that couldn't happen because of Tommie's injuries.

 

I agree -- let's focus on getting Jay the protection he needs and see how far he can take us.

 

 

If Angelo doesn't focus on the o-line (and probably WR after that), people need to gather pitchforks and torches.

[davell]

I don't think a WR through the draft is gonna help personally, due to how long they usually take to develop. Address it in FA. Agree about OL in round 1 though for sure.

[Banedon]

Have you thought about replacing the grass at Soldier Field with an infill surface?

 

We won't do that. We've had great success at Soldier Field in December and January. The grass field there will never be top-notch late in the season, but it's more of a perception issue than a real negative issue. The players know how to play on it, and frankly, it's been part of our home-field advantage. If the time ever comes that the technology gives us an infill surface that plays like grass, and more importantly the studies about lower-extremity injuries show there are not quite the discrepancies that they show now, we'll consider making a switch at that time. I don't know that time will ever come. I admit there is no completely conclusive study that's been done, but the tendency in the studies I've seen is that there is too high of an incidence of ankle and knee injuries on infill surfaces versus grass. We have too many millions of dollars tied up in our players to risk that right now.

 

What about the argument that the style of football the Bears play is more conducive to an infill surface?

 

I understand it. I would just say we've had a winning percentage when the field is not top-notch late in the year. And you have to weigh that with the health and safety of the players. I guess I put a little more emphasis on the health and safety of the players versus the need to have a field that is more conducive to speed.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-0321-nfl-meetings--20110320,0,4757522.story

[Soul]

I don't get how he says it will never be good, as if there's no possible way.

 

Green Bay manages to do this acceptably, in arguably worse weather conditions. Nobody calls for them to go to field turf. Stop saying it's impossible when it's not impossible. The Bears & Park District are simply doing a bad job of it, that's all.

[Mark Priors Calves]

Jay Cutler Speaks:

 

“I was gone, and I stayed away from it all,” Cutler said. “But I can’t say it didn’t bother me that people questioned my toughness and desire to play.

 

“I think I’ve been through a lot here in Chicago, and I would have loved to play.”

 

As for active players who railed against him, Cutler said, “They can think what they want.”

Cutler said he appreciated the support, especially from his teammates.

 

“Those are the guys you are with a lot of the time,” he said, “and those guys didn’t flinch. I’ve got to thank them for that.”

 

Cutler added that he would be fine —“as long as the guys in my locker room have my back.”

 

So how is Cutler’s knee?

 

“I’m good,” he said. “It’s one of those things that heals on its own.”

 

Cutler figured he was fine after about six weeks, though he hasn’t really tested his knee yet.

[Mark Priors Calves]

Bears are reportedly playing 5 pre-seasons games next year and traveling to London for the international game. yuck.

[UMFan83]

Bears are reportedly playing 5 pre-seasons games next year and traveling to London for the international game. yuck.

 

Just saw that. Any word on whether the London game is a home game or a road game yet?

[NCCubFan]

Bears are reportedly playing 5 pre-seasons games next year and traveling to London for the international game. yuck.

 

Just saw that. Any word on whether the London game is a home game or a road game yet?

Road game against Tampa Bay.

[rawaction]

Bears are reportedly playing 5 pre-seasons games next year and traveling to London for the international game. yuck.

 

Playing the HOF game is a positive IMO. Gives the Bears an extra week of camp (assuming there is a full camp) to work with what better be a completely revamped offensive line. Gives Cutler 1 more week with his WRs.

 

The London game as a road game works too, because the Bears will undoubtedly have many more fans at the game than Tampa.

[Flames24Rulz]

Bears are reportedly playing 5 pre-seasons games next year and traveling to London for the international game. yuck.

 

Playing the HOF game is a positive IMO. Gives the Bears an extra week of camp (assuming there is a full camp) to work with what better be a completely revamped offensive line. Gives Cutler 1 more week with his WRs.

 

The London game as a road game works too, because the Bears will undoubtedly have many more fans at the game than Tampa.

 

They'd probably have more fans than Tampa in Tampa Bay too.

[UMFan83]

http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=7757

 

Just an article about the London game. It says that if the lockout isn't resolved by August 1st the game will be played in Tampa assuming the lockout is over by that point.

 

It also says the schedules will be released tomorrow at 6pm CST, so I guess the NFL is going ahead with business as usual.

[Mark Priors Calves]

Pretty rough start for the Bears schedule in 2011:

 

Week 1 ATLANTA

Week 2 at New Orleans

Week 3 GREEN BAY

Week 4 CAROLINA

Week 5 at Detroit-MNF

Week 6 MINNESOTA-SNF

Week 7 vs. Tampa Bay at London

Week 8 OFF

Week 9 at Philadelphia-MNF

Week 10 Detroit

Week 11 SAN DIEGO

Week 12 at Oakland

Week 13 KANSAS CITY

Week 14 at Denver (Cutler's return to Denver)

Week 15 SEATTLE

Week 16 at Green Bay-SNF

Week 17 at Minnesota

[UMFan83]

That game at GB is on xmas night. Tough first 3 games. We play the entire AFC West in 4 consecutive weeks? Wow

[UMFan83]

Also, 3 of our 4 projected primetime games are on the road

[Soul]

It looks tough. The NFL has a way of turning out different than expected though.

 

I think I'd rather face NO, GB early. I feel like there's a decent chance those teams will start slow.

 

Of course, there's a decent chance we will start slow too.

[rawaction]

Pretty rough start for the Bears schedule in 2011:

 

Week 1 ATLANTA

Week 2 at New Orleans

Week 3 GREEN BAY

Week 4 CAROLINA

Week 5 at Detroit-MNF

Week 6 MINNESOTA-SNF

Week 7 vs. Tampa Bay at London

Week 8 OFF

Week 9 at Philadelphia-MNF

Week 10 Detroit

Week 11 SAN DIEGO

Week 12 at Oakland

Week 13 KANSAS CITY

Week 14 at Denver (Cutler's return to Denver)

Week 15 SEATTLE

Week 16 at Green Bay-SNF

Week 17 at Minnesota

 

 

It's not that bad of a schedule. The first 3 games are going to be tough. An 0-3 start is a possibility, but win 2 of those games and the Bears are probably a playoff team. If GB is one of those wins, the Bears are probably hosting a playoff game, as they'd have a leg up on the division race and have the tiebreaker over 1 of the 2 teams most likely to win the AFC South.

 

Detroit is going to be tough on a rare Monday night at home, but get past that and the toughest games are a neutral site game vs. Tampa, Philly after coming off a bye week, and a near meaningless non-conference game vs. San Diego.

[rawaction]

It looks tough. The NFL has a way of turning out different than expected though.

 

I think I'd rather face NO, GB early. I feel like there's a decent chance those teams will start slow.

 

Of course, there's a decent chance we will start slow too.

 

 

Good thing is the Bears typically don't start slow defensively. I trust they'll be flying around the ball early, provided everyone is healthy. And the Superbowl winner has typically had a little hangover early. Saints started off 3-2 last year, and eeked out wins vs. what turned out to be pretty bad SF and Minnesota teams. The Steelers the year before started 1-2.

[Mark Priors Calves]

Pretty rough start for the Bears schedule in 2011:

 

Week 1 ATLANTA

Week 2 at New Orleans

Week 3 GREEN BAY

Week 4 CAROLINA

Week 5 at Detroit-MNF

Week 6 MINNESOTA-SNF

Week 7 vs. Tampa Bay at London

Week 8 OFF

Week 9 at Philadelphia-MNF

Week 10 Detroit

Week 11 SAN DIEGO

Week 12 at Oakland

Week 13 KANSAS CITY

Week 14 at Denver (Cutler's return to Denver)

Week 15 SEATTLE

Week 16 at Green Bay-SNF

Week 17 at Minnesota

Detroit is going to be tough on a rare Monday night at home, but get past that and the toughest games are a neutral site game vs. Tampa, Philly after coming off a bye week, and a near meaningless non-conference game vs. San Diego.

 

The Detroit Monday night game is in Detroit.

 

/picking nits

[Wilson A2000]

I got the Bears at 10-6. Wild Card. Why is the Minnesota game a SNF game? Expecting a Favre return?

 

Bears lose their first three. And the other GB game, at Kansas City, and Sand Diego.

[rawaction]

Pretty rough start for the Bears schedule in 2011:

 

Week 1 ATLANTA

Week 2 at New Orleans

Week 3 GREEN BAY

Week 4 CAROLINA

Week 5 at Detroit-MNF

Week 6 MINNESOTA-SNF

Week 7 vs. Tampa Bay at London

Week 8 OFF

Week 9 at Philadelphia-MNF

Week 10 Detroit

Week 11 SAN DIEGO

Week 12 at Oakland

Week 13 KANSAS CITY

Week 14 at Denver (Cutler's return to Denver)

Week 15 SEATTLE

Week 16 at Green Bay-SNF

Week 17 at Minnesota

Detroit is going to be tough on a rare Monday night at home, but get past that and the toughest games are a neutral site game vs. Tampa, Philly after coming off a bye week, and a near meaningless non-conference game vs. San Diego.

 

The Detroit Monday night game is in Detroit.

 

/picking nits

 

I meant home for them. It's not rare for the Bears to be on Monday night at home.

[Mark Priors Calves]

Pretty rough start for the Bears schedule in 2011:

 

Week 1 ATLANTA

Week 2 at New Orleans

Week 3 GREEN BAY

Week 4 CAROLINA

Week 5 at Detroit-MNF

Week 6 MINNESOTA-SNF

Week 7 vs. Tampa Bay at London

Week 8 OFF

Week 9 at Philadelphia-MNF

Week 10 Detroit

Week 11 SAN DIEGO

Week 12 at Oakland

Week 13 KANSAS CITY

Week 14 at Denver (Cutler's return to Denver)

Week 15 SEATTLE

Week 16 at Green Bay-SNF

Week 17 at Minnesota

Detroit is going to be tough on a rare Monday night at home, but get past that and the toughest games are a neutral site game vs. Tampa, Philly after coming off a bye week, and a near meaningless non-conference game vs. San Diego.

 

The Detroit Monday night game is in Detroit.

 

/picking nits

 

I meant home for them. It's not rare for the Bears to be on Monday night at home.

ah gotcha.

[rawaction]

I got the Bears at 10-6. Wild Card. Why is the Minnesota game a SNF game? Expecting a Favre return?

 

Bears lose their first three. And the other GB game, at Kansas City, and Sand Diego.

 

I don't think they can go 0-3 and expect to make the playoffs. Plus, I don't imagine it's very common for an 0-3 team to go on a 6-game winning streak.

[Wilson A2000]

Sand Diego...oops. What do you have them after their first 9?

[rawaction]

Sand Diego...oops. What do you have them after their first 9?

 

I'd like to say 6-3 also. Gotta take at least 1 of the first 3. Then I think they can win 5 of the next 6. At Philly is the tough game, but you'd hope they could win on 14 days rest there.

 

If I had a gun to my head, I'd say. W home vs. ATL. Lose @ NO, vs. GB. Beat Carolina, Minnesota, and Detroit at home. With 1 more loss coming to either Detroit on MNF, Tampa in London, or at Philly.