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Chicago Bears Offseason 2012

RynoRules

By RynoRules,
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rawaction Chicago Cubs

rawaction

Old-Timey Member
Posted
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Breaking down by position isn't that telling, as the key is the difference between the 2 positions and who has the biggest advantage overall.

 

That being said, the Bears and Lions are probably about as even as they can be at this point. If not for the Bears injuries, both teams probably make the playoffs last year. Head-to-head was 1-1. The Lions won a home game that was almost impossible for the Bears to win (first MNF game in Detroit in a decade). The Lions got blown out in a road game that was an anomaly for the season (Stafford implosion). The Bears probably upgraded more simply by bringing in Marshall and getting healthy. The Lions have a young core of players that can possibly improve as individuals.

 

I think the biggest thing is that the Bears improved one of their biggest weaknesses by getting Brandon Marshall. They're gambling on the increase of bodies and for improvement on OL, DL, DBs. The Lions didn't really do a lot to upgrade their biggest weakness (pass D), but again have young players that could improve. I'd probably give the edge to the Bears based on the fact that I feel they were the slightly better team last year when healthy, and the fact that I think they upgraded more than Detroit this offseason.

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Magnetic Curses College Ball

Magnetic Curses

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
So I'm skipping around to some other teams forums today seeing what other teams' fans are thinking about the Bears. And man, this thread on a Lions board is just super funny. But it was this line at the top of page 5 that made me have to post it...

 

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=93&f=1801&t=9182965

 

I am not sure at this point how effective brandon marshall will be.I think titus Young is evry bit as good as marshall

 

This argument actually continues for about 3-4 pages.

 

ugh, most of those posts are barely english

Magnetic Curses College Ball

Magnetic Curses

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
I'm sorry but our Dline looks to be a disaster this season, with the exception of Peppers it's a bag of questions. Melton isn't as good as his stats were last season and Shea won't contribute enough this year for this line to be any good.

Paea should have a good season.

 

i am as optimistic about paea going into this season as i was pessimistic about him at the same time last year. he showed my some things, and as long as all he has to do is be stronger than guys blocking him, he'll do well.

cubbyvirus00 ACL Cubs

cubbyvirus00

Verified Member
Posted
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I'm sorry but our Dline looks to be a disaster this season, with the exception of Peppers it's a bag of questions. Melton isn't as good as his stats were last season and Shea won't contribute enough this year for this line to be any good.

Paea should have a good season.

 

i am as optimistic about paea going into this season as i was pessimistic about him at the same time last year. he showed my some things, and as long as all he has to do is be stronger than guys blocking him, he'll do well.

 

Need one of Paea, Price and Melton to really have a big season. Our entire Dline as it stands hinges on Peppers which makes me extremely worried.

Banedon GOAT

Banedon

Community Moderator
Posted
Posted

Kelvin Hayden is apparently having quite the nice camp so far. Might be pushing Jennings for the starter spot.

 

New defensive tackle Brian Price showed some progress but still had a tough time one-on-one against offensive lineman Edwin Williams in pass-rush drills.
rawaction Chicago Cubs

rawaction

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
Kelvin Hayden is apparently having quite the nice camp so far. Might be pushing Jennings for the starter spot.

 

New defensive tackle Brian Price showed some progress but still had a tough time one-on-one against offensive lineman Edwin Williams in pass-rush drills.

 

Problem for Hayden is that Jennings is having a really good camp too. Lovie came out and said that both Tillman and Jennings have been impressive. I wonder if we might see both on the field at times to either give the aging Tillman a rest or give a different look at nickel from DJ Moore.

 

Also, by all indications Chris Williams is losing out at LT. The team has come out and said to "not read anything into this", but he hasn't played a snap there in 2 days, instead playing RT with the 2s (and with 1s, with Carimi getting some rest), while James Brown playing LT with the 2's. If it is also true what the team is saying that the loser of the LT battle will be the swing OT, then that means Chris Williams is on the bench. My point is, why isn't Edwin Williams then getting more of a chance to run with the 1s at LG....or even RG? At this point, I think I'd take him over any of Spencer, Rachal, or Louis. I'd take him over Garza at C, but that's not happening. At least 1 of the Williamses should be in the lineup at LG.

rawaction Chicago Cubs

rawaction

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
Was Chris Williams worse at guard last year than I thought he was? I'm just not sure what the story is there.

 

I thought both Williamses did an excellent job at LG. Chris was one of the top 5-10 OGs in football when he was healthy last year. Edwin saw very little dropoff, especially in run blocking.

Magnetic Curses College Ball

Magnetic Curses

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted
Was Chris Williams worse at guard last year than I thought he was? I'm just not sure what the story is there.

 

if Chris Williams loses the LT battle, he will be the LG, i'm not believing that he will be the swing tackle.

 

I've seen what Webb can do at LT, we've all seen it, and it hasn't been a small sample size, either. sending Jay back out there with him watching his back is asking for disaster again. It's maybe time to go with James Brown with the 1s.

jersey cubs fan GOAT

jersey cubs fan

Old-Timey Member
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good piece.

 

The only reason the Bears have thrived with it for so long is they’ve had an incredibly talented front seven that not only fits the scheme but also understands its every nuance.

 

That front seven remains as strong as ever.

 

That's just not true.

UMFan83 GOAT

UMFan83

Old-Timey Member
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good piece.

 

The only reason the Bears have thrived with it for so long is they’ve had an incredibly talented front seven that not only fits the scheme but also understands its every nuance.

 

That front seven remains as strong as ever.

 

That's just not true.

 

Hmmm....3/7ths of it might

 

I was going to try to make an argument that the front 7 could be good for the scheme, but that's not the case either. Urlacher fits/fit the scheme great as a MLB that could both drop back into deep coverage and play the run (or rarely rush the passer) if needed. Peppers will fit every scheme, same with Briggs for the most part. There is no true three technique guy on the line, which I understand to be one of the most important things to have for Lovie's Cover 2 scheme. I don't see anyone on the roster that seems capable of filling that role either. The other DL's can play the run pretty well (talking Izzy, Melton, etc), but obviously there won't be enough pass rush unless someone like Paea or Wootten step up. No pass rush means LB's need to cover more ground and safeties need to make the right decisions every time so there are not blown assignments leading to wide open WRs.

 

Also, I am by no means a football strategy savant so if any of that sounds wrong, feel free to call me out, but after almost 9 years of watching this defense, that's what I understand of it.

rawaction Chicago Cubs

rawaction

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted

 

good piece.

 

The only reason the Bears have thrived with it for so long is they’ve had an incredibly talented front seven that not only fits the scheme but also understands its every nuance.

 

That front seven remains as strong as ever.

 

That's just not true.

 

Hmmm....3/7ths of it might

 

I was going to try to make an argument that the front 7 could be good for the scheme, but that's not the case either. Urlacher fits/fit the scheme great as a MLB that could both drop back into deep coverage and play the run (or rarely rush the passer) if needed. Peppers will fit every scheme, same with Briggs for the most part. There is no true three technique guy on the line, which I understand to be one of the most important things to have for Lovie's Cover 2 scheme. I don't see anyone on the roster that seems capable of filling that role either. The other DL's can play the run pretty well (talking Izzy, Melton, etc), but obviously there won't be enough pass rush unless someone like Paea or Wootten step up. No pass rush means LB's need to cover more ground and safeties need to make the right decisions every time so there are not blown assignments leading to wide open WRs.

 

Also, I am by no means a football strategy savant so if any of that sounds wrong, feel free to call me out, but after almost 9 years of watching this defense, that's what I understand of it.

 

Melton's a much better pass rusher than run defender. I believe he was at or near the league lead with 7 sacks from the DT position last year. The key for the 3-technique is to be quick off the ball and kind of make himself "skinny" to get thru the gap and wreak havoc in the backfield.

 

I agree that someone will have to step up between Paea, Wootton, or McClellin in order to make the pass rush successful, but there's no reason Melton can't be a reliable part of it. He's shown plenty of signs.

jersey cubs fan GOAT

jersey cubs fan

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted

 

 

"The Bears are one of the few teams that make special teams part of their foundation. Thirty-one other teams would do this, too, if they had a return artist like Devin Hester."

 

Not sure about that for a couple reasons. The Bears emphasized special teams before Hester showed up. It was always going to be a big part of their scheme. Additionally, they went after Hester and Manning in the same draft largely because of that emphasis on special teams.

 

I think some teams would do what the Bears have done if they had Hester. However, most would simply hope Hester would do what he does while treating the rest of their special teams unit exactly as they do now.

Banedon GOAT

Banedon

Community Moderator
Posted
Posted

 

 

"The Bears are one of the few teams that make special teams part of their foundation. Thirty-one other teams would do this, too, if they had a return artist like Devin Hester."

 

Not sure about that for a couple reasons. The Bears emphasized special teams before Hester showed up. It was always going to be a big part of their scheme. Additionally, they went after Hester and Manning in the same draft largely because of that emphasis on special teams.

 

I think some teams would do what the Bears have done if they had Hester. However, most would simply hope Hester would do what he does while treating the rest of their special teams unit exactly as they do now.

 

Yeah, the Bears have had success with other returners as well, like Vasher and Manning.

Magnetic Curses College Ball

Magnetic Curses

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted

 

good piece.

 

The only reason the Bears have thrived with it for so long is they’ve had an incredibly talented front seven that not only fits the scheme but also understands its every nuance.

 

That front seven remains as strong as ever.

 

That's just not true.

 

disagree. urlacher, briggs and peppers are still playing at a pro-bowl level and driving the defense. the other 4 are pretty interchangeable. not many teams can boast 3 flat-out stars in their front 7.

jersey cubs fan GOAT

jersey cubs fan

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted

disagree. urlacher, briggs and peppers are still playing at a pro-bowl level and driving the defense. the other 4 are pretty interchangeable. not many teams can boast 3 flat-out stars in their front 7.

 

The fact that they may still be good does not say anything about whether they are as good as ever. That is just simply not the case. They aren't as good as they were at their best, both the individuals discussed and the group as a whole.

Magnetic Curses College Ball

Magnetic Curses

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted

disagree. urlacher, briggs and peppers are still playing at a pro-bowl level and driving the defense. the other 4 are pretty interchangeable. not many teams can boast 3 flat-out stars in their front 7.

 

The fact that they may still be good does not say anything about whether they are as good as ever. That is just simply not the case. They aren't as good as they were at their best, both the individuals discussed and the group as a whole.

 

i know you have a striking distaste for anything older and believe that age in-and-of-itself is a mark of decline, but you can't make the case that there has been an appreciable, significant, or noticeable decline in urlacher, briggs, or peppers, although i can see you trying.

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