Chicago Bears Offseason 2012

[davell]

That'd be a damn good offseason. Looking at Offensive Tackles, it's basically take one in the 1st, or add one in FA. Someone like Demetrius Bell, Marcus McNeill, or Jason Smith represents a decent upgrade for us.

[rawaction]

i'm kind of sold on taking mike adams. walterfootball has jonathan martin falling to 18, though, which is kind of intriguing.

 

i think i'd take either martin or adams in the first, and wait to see if jeffery falls to the second and try to package that extra third rounder to move up and grab him. even that happens or not, i like zeitler in the third.

 

in FA, i go hard after vincent jackson and accept nothing less than a #1 receiver.

 

if it works out, we get:

 

FA WR- Jackson

OT- Martin/Adams

WR- Jeffery

OG- Zeitler

 

they fill immediate needs, but this whole thing may be a pipe dream, obviously. best case scenario.

 

I'm not a huge fan of Jon Martin. He's extremely finesse. More of a zone blocking scheme run blocker. Can be bullrushed as a pass blocker. He does have the upside to be able to handle elite speed rushers, but just not a huge fan of his style of play. I'd take Mike Adams over him easily. Less athletic ability, but more size, strength, and toughness.

 

As for Jeffery, that's a tough sell for me. At the 50th pick, he's definitely worth a long look, but I wouldn't trade up for him. He just scares me a ton. The fact that rumors about his weight and speed came out and they were very believable doesn't help his cause. And that's what scares me about him. There's not a lot of positive history with guys his size unless they have elite speed. If not, you're talking about upside of Brandon Marshall (who is probably a little leaner and faster than Jeffery) or downside of Detroit's Mike Williams (out of the league after 3 years before making a mediocre comeback in Seattle). If the Bears go VJack in free agency, I'd probably wait til the 3rd to draft a WR and look at guys like Chris Givens, Joe Adams or Marvin Jones. All 3 guys could give you a solid #2 or 3 and contribute right away. Tommy Streeter and DeVier Posey would be interesting options as developmental WRs.

 

Zeitler, I do really like. And I'm sure Tice likes him. But I think he goes before the 3rd for one. Secondly, I don't know if the Bears would take a G that early. They have 5 players on the roster that can play guard already (Garza, C Williams, Spencer, E Williams, Louis). Maybe you cut Spencer and draft Zeitler, but I don't know how likely that is.

[minnesotacubsfan]

I like Toon more the Jeffries, even in the second rd

[Guest]

There are some questions with regards to Martin's ability to play RT.

[Magnetic Curses]

ok,so take adams. either he, mcneil, or gaither are musts.

 

i'd rather focus on making our offense a top tier unit than reinforcing the defense with early-round talent.

[jersey cubs fan]

i'd rather focus on making our offense a top tier unit than reinforcing the defense with early-round talent.

 

If you sign a receiver, draft an end in the 1st and solidy O line in the 2nd/3rd you can easily make your offense a top tier unit while reinforcing your defense at the same time.

[Magnetic Curses]

i wouldn't mind mercilus

[davell]

Resign Jennings and Okoye. Extend Forte. Sign Mario,McNeill, Meachem, and Carlson. Draft Floyd, Osemele or Zeitler, Broyles, and Tim Lewis.

[rawaction]

Resign Jennings and Okoye. Extend Forte. Sign Mario,McNeill, Meachem, and Carlson. Draft Floyd, Osemele or Zeitler, Broyles, and Tim Lewis.

 

Re-sign Jennings, Okoye, and Forte.

Sign Avril, Meachem, Tyvon Branch

Draft Floyd, CB, Orson Charles, Matt McCants in 1st 3 rounds. DE or OLB in the 4th.

[bukie]

Football Outsiders on the Bears' offseason needs:

 

For the past two seasons, we have been privileged to see what happens when you take an ostensibly elite quarterback and surround him with no talent whatsoever.

[davell]

Whatever type of big moves we make this offseason, I didn't even include it in my own personal offseason hopes........But, we better not skimp out on a backup QB. McCown looked OK last year for us, but whatever we do, we better have him or someone better than him ready to go, if Cutler gets hurt.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Football Outsiders on the Bears' offseason needs:

 

For the past two seasons, we have been privileged to see what happens when you take an ostensibly elite quarterback and surround him with no talent whatsoever.

 

Matt Forte is a little more then "no talent whatsoever"

[rawaction]

Football Outsiders on the Bears' offseason needs:

 

For the past two seasons, we have been privileged to see what happens when you take an ostensibly elite quarterback and surround him with no talent whatsoever.

 

Matt Forte is a little more then "no talent whatsoever"

 

So is Johnny Knox.

[davell]

Obviously I agree on Forte. Knox is a 3rd/4th WR. The point though, is we have a franchise QB grouped with a skill position group that's definitely among the very worst in the NFL. Probably THE worst for a team that considers themselves a contender and possibly THE worst of any team that thinks they have a franchise QB.

[gocubs2118]

Bears need to add a minimum of two WR's this off season, probably three considering the health of Knox. He can't be counted on for next year.

[davell]

Stevie and the Bills are evidently a ways apart on contract talks, according to PFT. The WR tender is 9.7 mill, unsure if they'd franchise him or not.

[Banedon]

“We’re just going to have to wait and see,” Umenyiora said. “I can see it going either way. I can see where they would keep me, I can see where they would trade me, because it makes sense both ways. So hopefully things will work out in my interest. I know the team is going to do what’s best for them. They’ve always made the right decisions for that organization. Whether that’s keeping me or trading me, I’d love to stay, but at the end of the day I understand it’s a business and hopefully things will work out.”

 

We have a lot of needs, especially offensively, but I'd love if the Bears could somehow get Osi.

[davell]

Stanford Routt just signed with the Chiefs. Which means Bowe will be franchised, because Carr will be gone. Didn't expect Bowe to hit the market anyway, but this basically guarantees it.

[Banedon]

Looks like the Packers and Scott Wells will part ways:

 

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/packers-wells-likely-will-part-eyes-jq48tpp-139774733.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

 

Interest there? Move Garza back out to guard?

[Soul]

Maybe. Other priorities though, IMHO.

 

Also, Wells isn't the only significant center available this offseason.

 

How little we missed Olin. Actually I hadn't even thought about him from September until just now.

[Banedon]

PFT really thinks that the Steelers will have to let Mike Wallace go.

 

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/02/21/talk-heats-up-in-pittsburgh-that-mike-wallace-could-leave/

 

What are the odds that a WR picked at the Bears spot in the draft is as good as Wallace? Yeah, you'll have to pay him too...but given that we don't have any other big money WR's, I think that's an investment that needs to be made.

[Magnetic Curses]

PFT really thinks that the Steelers will have to let Mike Wallace go.

 

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/02/21/talk-heats-up-in-pittsburgh-that-mike-wallace-could-leave/

 

What are the odds that a WR picked at the Bears spot in the draft is as good as Wallace? Yeah, you'll have to pay him too...but given that we don't have any other big money WR's, I think that's an investment that needs to be made.

 

meh, i'd rather keep the pick, take mike adams and add someone like jackson via free agency. we can then take cam johnson in the 2nd and then aj jenkins in the 4th or 5th.

 

you've bookended your offensive line, grabbed a #1 receiver and a #3 receiver that can play in the slot or split out, jenkins is great at those drag routes. bennett's fine as the #2. but really, you haven't broken the bank in FA and you've addressed 3 distinct needs as you've gotten a DE to put across from peppers immediately.

Edited February 21, 2012 by Stannis

[RynoRules]

Football Outsiders on the Bears' offseason needs:

 

For the past two seasons, we have been privileged to see what happens when you take an ostensibly elite quarterback and surround him with no talent whatsoever.

 

Matt Forte is a little more then "no talent whatsoever"

 

So is Johnny Knox.

 

He's fast.

[Magnetic Curses]

1. mike adams-lt

2. cam johnson-de

3. kevin zeitler-g

3. sean spence-olb

4. shaun prater- cb

5. aj jenkins- wr

 

i think that would be an amzing draft, personally. it really boggles my mind that jenkins will probably fall into the 5th round, but he'd be an absolute steal there.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Why would Jenkins fall? I find that hard to buy