Chicago Bears Offseason 2012

[Theo]

Hub Arkush is full of [expletive]. They think so much of Carimi's knee that Chris Williams was taking first team reps at right tackle the other day. Chris Wililams is a valuable, versatile, rather inexpensive backup this year. He's going nowhere.

[rawaction]

Devin Thomas retired today, at 25.

 

Was having a good camp, from what I hear. Had basically earned a roster spot as the 5th or 6th WR and a gunner on special teams. He went out on top though, getting a Superbowl ring last year w/ the Giants and getting credit for 2 cost fumbles on special teams that led to the NFC championship win in SF.

[Soul]

Hub should just leave and go run his magazine, or whatever the heck he does these days. His reporting is laughable.

[UMFan83]

Hub should just leave and go run his magazine, or whatever the heck he does these days. His reporting is laughable.

 

It wasn't really reporting as much as it was his guess of how things will shake out at the end of camp. Still a genuinely stupid theory though. He was basically saying that Williams has been terrible at camp, and not much better at RG last year. I actually wonder about that. Pretty much every other source besides Football Outsiders thinks that Williams was mediocre at best last year, while FO thinks that he was one of the best guards in football last year until his injury. I would generally trust FO's data over anyone else's, but when everyone else is leaning one direction (not just beat writers and lesser football minds), it makes me wonder.

[Soul]

I'll give Hub full marks if Williams doesn't make the roster.

 

People tend to forget these early camp remarks, and in my estimation Hub has had more than his share over the years. Let's just wait until camp & preseason develops, then make judgements about players.

[rawaction]

I would think that if Chris Williams isn't going to make the roster, that the Bears would be able to at least trade him for the 7th they gave up to get Price. I don't see how he doesn't make the team unless James Brown is really killing it out there. Even then, it's hard to justify there being 8-9 OL on this roster better than Chris Williams.

[Soul]

I don't buy it will happen. If it does, naturally I'll give Hub credit for calling it out early. I just don't think it's all that valuable to make full roster predictions this early in camp. It really can't be anything other than guesswork, barring some kind of injury insight.

[Guest]

This seems relevant.

 

Now the Bears have another 26-year-old former first-round pick that doesn't look to be a part of the plan, at least beyond this season. It makes you wonder about the future of Chris Williams now that the left tackle job has been all but officially given to J'Marcus Webb.

 

At least one NFL team is curious if the Bears will part ways with Williams before the season begins based on an inquiry from a personnel man. But Williams could be too valuable as a reserve to trade entering a season that has everyone in camp believing this team will be a top NFC contender.

 

Offensive coordinator Mike Tice said the loser of the left tackle job would become the swing tackle, but Williams can play every position on the line but center considering his experience at left guard, where he started most of the last two seasons.

 

The Bears would be unlikely to fetch anything close to the third-round pick they got for Olsen from the Panthers last July. And Williams is a bargain as a swing tackle as he earns only $1 million this season, less than half of what Frank Omiyale was paid a year ago. While there are some developmental prospects in camp at Olivet Nazarene University, such as James Brown and Cory Brandon, they are undrafted free agents, not players the team would want to plug into a game situation to protect Jay Cutler in a pinch. Williams represents an upgrade over Omiyale.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-0806-bears-chicago--20120806,0,993210.story

[minnesotacubsfan]

completely dumbfounded

[Soul]

Again, not so much as a single preseason game has been played.

[bjam12]

Devin Thomas retired today, at 25.

 

This was a surprise. He did have a neck injury last season and that played a part in the decision.

 

I also found this quote amusing:

 

"It's something I meditated on for some time. But as I was preparing for the upcoming season, my spirit was telling me it was time to turn over a new leaf and put away this childish game idolized by so many people."

[Banedon]

This seems relevant.

 

Now the Bears have another 26-year-old former first-round pick that doesn't look to be a part of the plan, at least beyond this season. It makes you wonder about the future of Chris Williams now that the left tackle job has been all but officially given to J'Marcus Webb.

 

At least one NFL team is curious if the Bears will part ways with Williams before the season begins based on an inquiry from a personnel man. But Williams could be too valuable as a reserve to trade entering a season that has everyone in camp believing this team will be a top NFC contender.

 

Offensive coordinator Mike Tice said the loser of the left tackle job would become the swing tackle, but Williams can play every position on the line but center considering his experience at left guard, where he started most of the last two seasons.

 

The Bears would be unlikely to fetch anything close to the third-round pick they got for Olsen from the Panthers last July. And Williams is a bargain as a swing tackle as he earns only $1 million this season, less than half of what Frank Omiyale was paid a year ago. While there are some developmental prospects in camp at Olivet Nazarene University, such as James Brown and Cory Brandon, they are undrafted free agents, not players the team would want to plug into a game situation to protect Jay Cutler in a pinch. Williams represents an upgrade over Omiyale.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-0806-bears-chicago--20120806,0,993210.story

 

My guess is that this article was written specifically to discuss Hub's "theory", even if Hub isn't mentioned by name. The internet probably started asking Brad a lot of questions, and it seemed like a good article topic. I still don't see any reason for Williams to get cut. None.

[jersey cubs fan]

My guess is that this article was written specifically to discuss Hub's "theory", even if Hub isn't mentioned by name. The internet probably started asking Brad a lot of questions, and it seemed like a good article topic. I still don't see any reason for Williams to get cut. None.

 

Football coaches like to part ways with guys they don't see as part of the program. While many people see value in keeping a guy around or maybe maximize his trade value. But when a guy was a starter and gets leapfrogged, or the coaches feel the guy just isn't "part of the team", they will cut them.

[rawaction]

My guess is that this article was written specifically to discuss Hub's "theory", even if Hub isn't mentioned by name. The internet probably started asking Brad a lot of questions, and it seemed like a good article topic. I still don't see any reason for Williams to get cut. None.

 

Football coaches like to part ways with guys they don't see as part of the program. While many people see value in keeping a guy around or maybe maximize his trade value. But when a guy was a starter and gets leapfrogged, or the coaches feel the guy just isn't "part of the team", they will cut them.

 

I understand that, but that doesn't seem to be logical in this case. They kept Omiyale around, who was in the same situation, but worse, and made much more money. And you're talking about an undrafted rookie getting major time if Carimi, who missed basically the whole season last year, gets hurt again.

 

I guess one scenario could be Lance Louis going back to swing tackle if they don't feel comfortable with James Brown, if he's not the starter at RG (which it looks like he WILL be). Brown is going to have to get a spot on the 53 because I don't think he will slide thru waivers to get on the p-squad. So, you're looking at an OL of:

 

Webb, Spencer, Garza, Louis, Carimi....with at least Edwin Williams and Brown on the bench for sure. If they keep 8 OL like last year, that leaves 1 spot for Chris Williams, Rachal, or Brandon (who could probably fall to practice squad). I'd imagine they'd keep 9 OL though due to past injuries of this group and the fact that they don't have to keep 12 safeties like last year.

[jersey cubs fan]

My guess is that this article was written specifically to discuss Hub's "theory", even if Hub isn't mentioned by name. The internet probably started asking Brad a lot of questions, and it seemed like a good article topic. I still don't see any reason for Williams to get cut. None.

 

Football coaches like to part ways with guys they don't see as part of the program. While many people see value in keeping a guy around or maybe maximize his trade value. But when a guy was a starter and gets leapfrogged, or the coaches feel the guy just isn't "part of the team", they will cut them.

 

I understand that, but that doesn't seem to be logical in this case. They kept Omiyale around, who was in the same situation, but worse, and made much more money. And you're talking about an undrafted rookie getting major time if Carimi, who missed basically the whole season last year, gets hurt again.

 

I'm not sure it's the same situation. Chris Williams was a first round draft pick that hasn't lived up to billing and has missed a lot of time to injury. Coaches hate guy who disappoint them and spend too much time in the trainers room.

 

It may not be completely logical, but in the world of football it is certainly a possibility and should not be that surprising. Although I'm against it, personally.

[cubweiser03]

Webb sucks. I'm skeptical that he has improved that much. I can safely say that he is the worst starter on the bears offense and defense. AND his portion is the most important on the offense line. Only reason he was ok the last part of the year in pass blocking is because they put a TE over there to help him. Why the hell do you need to help someone that is supposed to be your cornerstone to combat a pash rush....well because he sucks. LT need to be able to play on an island.

 

I'm not throwing Chris Williams out of that position battle yet, way to early to tell. This line has been shuffled a lot in the past based just on poor play alone, it's only a matter of time for Webb. I'm curious to see how he comes out and looks like in the first preseason game this year.

[Banedon]

Welcome back I guess?

 

Per Rotoworld, Rashied Davis is back to fill the hole left by Devin Thomas as a special teams playing WR.

 

EDIT: All over twitter now. Davis is really excited. Signed about an hour ago.

[jersey cubs fan]

what were the circumstances of him leaving last year? Did he get a big deal they just weren't interested in matching? He's kind of old now, isn't he? Why was he still available this summer?

[Magnetic Curses]

if angelo were still around there would be no doubt that williams would be safe. but he's not going to reflect poorly on emery no matter what.

[rawaction]

what were the circumstances of him leaving last year? Did he get a big deal they just weren't interested in matching? He's kind of old now, isn't he? Why was he still available this summer?

 

He was a FA last year, and only signed a 1-year deal with Detroit. The Bears basically picked up Sam Hurd, in what they thought would be an upgrade, instead of re-signing Davis. He's 33 now, and he was available because he's not a very good player. Kinda sucks if he makes the roster over Sanzenbacher, though he does have the special teams advantage.

[Banedon]

what were the circumstances of him leaving last year? Did he get a big deal they just weren't interested in matching? He's kind of old now, isn't he? Why was he still available this summer?

 

He was a FA last year, and only signed a 1-year deal with Detroit. The Bears basically picked up Sam Hurd, in what they thought would be an upgrade, instead of re-signing Davis. He's 33 now, and he was available because he's not a very good player. Kinda sucks if he makes the roster over Sanzenbacher, though he does have the special teams advantage.

 

Yeah, I think it's the ST thing that makes the difference here. That's where the Bears thought Devin Thomas would help. Sanzenbacher doesn't really contribute a lot there. It's TC...might as well see if Davis still has something.

[Theo]

1st "unnofficial" depth chart is out

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/depth-chart/CHI/chicago-bears

[cubbyvirus00]

1st "unnofficial" depth chart is out

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/depth-chart/CHI/chicago-bears

 

 

Man our Dline is gonna get us in trouble this year. For years, Peppers has been getting tag teamed without much help.

[RynoRules]

I guess I don't understand weighted stats then. The Bears D was on the field more plays that the Niners, which I guess would have something to do with it. But both teams equally made teams 1 dimensional. Both teams had 62/38 splits pass/run agaisnt them. The Niners have a slight edge if you include sacks 63.7% pass plays vs. 63.3% for Bears (but QB scrambles not taken into account). And the Niners were so much better at stopping the run that I wouldn't think any differences would be significant. Plus, a quick naked eye look appears that the Niners played a tougher run offense schedule.

 

they simply take into account every single variable imaginable.

 

they rate the bears slightly ahead of the niners in rush defense in terms of dvoa, which is explained everywhere you look on the site.

 

Getting back to Urlacher, the plays he made looked more scheme -based last season (positioning) vs. being a superior athlete and closing on a slant, dropping deep quicker than the QB thought possible, or shooting a gap and stuffing a RB / sacking a QB. That said, I find those things really tough to judge because of the perspective you get on t.v.

[rawaction]

1st "unnofficial" depth chart is out

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/depth-chart/CHI/chicago-bears

 

 

Man our Dline is gonna get us in trouble this year. For years, Peppers has been getting tag teamed without much help.

 

That's a different depth chart from what's on the Bears website. I'd imagine the website is more accurate. Has a lot of differences including OL, LBs, DE, DB

 

http://www.chicagobears.com/team/PreseasonDepthChart.asp