Chicago Bears Offseason 2012

[RynoRules]

Might as well get this party started.

 

On the "to-do" list:

 

Offense

- OL depth.

- Fix The Bear Jew's knee, because he looked really good when healthy.

- Two WR's, one FA (Vicent Jackson? DeSean Jackson? Pierre Gracon?) and one draft pick (Michael Floyd? Dwight Jones (UNC)) to go with Earl Bennett.

- Allow Roy Williams to transition to the gig he has long-coveted: lockeroom reporter for Longhorns football.

- DO NOT count on a return by Johnn Knox. Even when he was healthy he should have been the third receiver, at best.

- Re-sign McCown. He has a good arm, steps-up in the pocket, and makes some pretty good decisions. Sign another veteran back-up as well. (Shaun Hill?)

- Re-sign Marion Barber and Khalil Bell. Consider adding a speedy, change of pace type RB in the 4th or 5th round of draft (Gray from TA&M? Pead from Cinci?)

- And of course - bring back Forte.

 

Defense

- Time to draft some high-quality depth behind aging Briggs and aged Urlacher. (see below for a couple of ideas)

- Re-sign Israel if possible, but if not (he may receive big money that I'd prefer to spend on a top-flight WR), may need to use the second round pick at DE (Andre Branch from Clemson jumps to mind). If you go this direction, you could still get a very talented LB in 3rd round (Trevathan from UK is highly thought of; Keenan Robinson of UT could be a value pick in 4th round).

- Say goodbye to Zach Bowman.

- Bring back Jennings, Steltz, and Graham.

- Add secondary depth via FA class or draft in 4th, 5th and/or 6th rounds, depending on approach you take.

 

Oh, and this just in! Cutler is really good!

 

http://espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/story/_/id/7411736/chicago-bears-jay-cutler-really-good :roll:

[JonJayCutler]

I might be worrying over nothing but is anyone else a little concerned about Cutler? I'm not sure what permanent screws and a "loss of flexibility" in the thumb does to one throwing a football, but for someone who throws as hard as Cutler does, I am a bit anxious about it.

[Theo]

So winning that meaningless game yesterday dropped us from 13th, to 19th in the draft. FML.

[ctcf]

Yay!

[Mark Priors Calves]

Dave Toub is going to interview for the Miami HC position.

[UMFan83]

I didn't see anyone post the Bears schedule of opponents for next year

 

HOME

Green Bay

Detroit

Minnesota

Indianapolis

Houston

St. Louis

Seattle

Carolina

 

AWAY

Green Bay

Detroit

Minnesota

Jacksonville

Tennessee

San Francisco

Arizona

Dallas

 

Probably the 2 of the 3 worst divisions in football this year (AFC South, NFC West along with AFC West), although I'd prefer the home and road games for the NFC West Switched (SF and Arizona at home instead of on road)

 

Overall looks like a fairly easy schedule, but obviously every year things change dramatically.

[rawaction]

Might as well get this party started.

 

On the "to-do" list:

 

Offense

- OL depth.

- Fix The Bear Jew's knee, because he looked really good when healthy.

- Two WR's, one FA (Vicent Jackson? DeSean Jackson? Pierre Gracon?) and one draft pick (Michael Floyd? Dwight Jones (UNC)) to go with Earl Bennett.

- Allow Roy Williams to transition to the gig he has long-coveted: lockeroom reporter for Longhorns football.

- DO NOT count on a return by Johnn Knox. Even when he was healthy he should have been the third receiver, at best.

- Re-sign McCown. He has a good arm, steps-up in the pocket, and makes some pretty good decisions. Sign another veteran back-up as well. (Shaun Hill?)

- Re-sign Marion Barber and Khalil Bell. Consider adding a speedy, change of pace type RB in the 4th or 5th round of draft (Gray from TA&M? Pead from Cinci?)

- And of course - bring back Forte.

 

Defense

- Time to draft some high-quality depth behind aging Briggs and aged Urlacher. (see below for a couple of ideas)

- Re-sign Israel if possible, but if not (he may receive big money that I'd prefer to spend on a top-flight WR), may need to use the second round pick at DE (Andre Branch from Clemson jumps to mind). If you go this direction, you could still get a very talented LB in 3rd round (Trevathan from UK is highly thought of; Keenan Robinson of UT could be a value pick in 4th round).

- Say goodbye to Zach Bowman.

- Bring back Jennings, Steltz, and Graham.

- Add secondary depth via FA class or draft in 4th, 5th and/or 6th rounds, depending on approach you take.

 

Oh, and this just in! Cutler is really good!

 

http://espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/story/_/id/7411736/chicago-bears-jay-cutler-really-good :roll:

 

Agree on most. I don't want Idonije back. We know what the Bears pass rush does with him on the field. They play inconsistently. I'd really like to see the Bears throw some more money at this position. Cliff Avril would be ideal. He's 26, a great pass rusher, and would weaken a division rival. But there's also guys like Anthony Spencer (move from 3-4 OLB to DE in 4-3) or Robert Mathis, but he is over 30.

 

Also Barber is under contract for next year already. I'd cut him and use that 1.9Mil elsewhere. Bell is a good enough #2. I'd probably draft a guy in the 4th-5th like you said, and then pick up a UDFA to compete for practice squad.

 

I'd also take a CB early. I would bring Jennings back, and try for Graham, but don't know if he would stay to be a backup again. But the Bears still need someone to eventually replace Tillman.

[SpongeWorthy]

Isn't Okoye an FA too? I'd bring him back.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Bell is horrible. He can't hold onto the ball, pass. Barber/Allen are fine as Fortes backups.

 

If Amobi is a FA we have to resign him. He, Paea, and Melton are a solid rotation.

[JonJayCutler]

Wow that is a pretty cake schedule assuming none of those teams improve drastically. Four of our six division games will be tougher than any of the others though.

 

When's the last time Dallas came to Chicago? I swear everytime we play them we go there.

[UMFan83]

Wow that is a pretty cake schedule assuming none of those teams improve drastically. Four of our six division games will be tougher than any of the others though.

 

When's the last time Dallas came to Chicago? I swear everytime we play them we go there.

 

2007 when they stomped us in a Sunday night game that was kind of the first signal that the Bears would not be going back to the Super Bowl. The game was so bad that Grossman was benched as the starter in favor of Griese after the game.

 

Strangely enough the Bears and Cowboys have only met 3 times since 1998, with the 2007 game being the only one in Chicago. Strange because we've played teams like the Eagles like 7-8 times over the same span

[Old Style]

Got a text from an old HS friend still in Chicago saying Angelo has been fired. Anyone have confirmation of this glorious news?

[Banedon]

YEP

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-jerry-angelo-out-as-bears-gm-20120103,0,3365211.story

[Old Style]

Should have checked the Tribune site first.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-jerry-angelo-out-as-bears-gm-20120103,0,3365211.story

 

CAN LOVIE BE NEXT?!?!?!?!

[Banedon]

You'd think that a new GM would want his own coach.

[SpongeWorthy]

Nicccceeee

 

But Lovie isnt going anywhere...I was 99.9% sure on thay until Angelo got canned now I'm like 95%.

[Mark Priors Calves]

YEP

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-jerry-angelo-out-as-bears-gm-20120103,0,3365211.story

I was skeptical they were going to pull the trigger, but hopefully this is a sign tat George McCaskey is taking the organization in a whole new direction. Bring in a new brain trust and start replenishing the roster through the draft.

[Flames24Rulz]

You'd think that a new GM would want his own coach.

 

Yeah, I don't see how Lovie's going to stay with a new boss in charge.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Well, that's a start. I'm way more excited for the draft now.

[Pushfrog98]

So who replaces Angelo? Can Theo pull double duty?

[Old Style]

- Re-sign Marion Barber and Khalil Bell. Consider adding a speedy, change of pace type RB in the 4th or 5th round of draft (Gray from TA&M? Pead from Cinci?)

I would not bring Barber back. And if Cyrus Gray is still on the board in the 4th round you absolutely take him IMO. I know I am biased, but that kid is a beast.

[UMFan83]

Merry Xmas Bears fans!

 

It sucked to go through the last 6 weeks but there seems to be some long term benefit from the ordeal.

 

Going to be really interesting to see who they hire.

[apete6]

You'd think that a new GM would want his own coach.

 

Yeah, I don't see how Lovie's going to stay with a new boss in charge.

 

Why the hell not? The year after the Super Bowl is the only year he underachieved based on the talent of his roster. You could argue this year, but if Jay doesn't get hurt, they win 10 or 11 games.

 

Why pay 2 coaches when Lovie is probably a top 10 or at least top 15 coach in the NFL? That would be dumb. Let Lovie hang on as long as Urlacher & the rest of the defense and then when it is time to rebuild the defense, think about it if he has another bad season.

[Banedon]

You'd think that a new GM would want his own coach.

 

Yeah, I don't see how Lovie's going to stay with a new boss in charge.

 

Why the hell not? The year after the Super Bowl is the only year he underachieved based on the talent of his roster. You could argue this year, but if Jay doesn't get hurt, they win 10 or 11 games.

 

Why pay 2 coaches when Lovie is probably a top 10 or at least top 15 coach in the NFL? That would be dumb. Let Lovie hang on as long as Urlacher & the rest of the defense and then when it is time to rebuild the defense, think about it if he has another bad season.

 

I'm not against the idea of Lovie. I think he's overachieved with some of the teams he's been given. But you would think a new GM would want his own guy in there, that's all.

[jersey cubs fan]

- Re-sign McCown. He has a good arm, steps-up in the pocket, and makes some pretty good decisions. Sign another veteran back-up as well. (Shaun Hill?)

 

That's called overkill. You don't need to go into the season with a veteran backup and another veteran to back him up. I'm much more interested in constantly replenishing the QB position through mid-to-late round draft picks. Cutler is in-line for a substantial raise soon, and I don't want to spend too much of the cap on backup QBs.

 

 

I'm not all that ecstatic about Angelo being gone, he was no Hendry. The Bears were pretty good under his watch, and they would have had a great season this year if his biggest acquisition, Cutler, didn't get hurt. But there is definitely plenty of room for improvement throughout the organization. I'd hate to see the new group try and go the Cubs way and unnecessarily start from scratch. I'm also skeptical about "the new group" being anything more than a slight transition from within. Ted Philips is to the Bears what so many people think Crane Kenney is to the Cubs. He's an accountant who has too much impact on the football side of the business.