Bears Offseason Thread (Trestman new HC, pg 37)

[Banedon]

If you want to know why the Bears used their first-round draft pick on a guard for the first time in 52 years, cast your gaze in the vicinity of Bourbon Street.

 

In New Orleans, where the Saints play a level of offense only dreamed about in Chicago, guards are more important than tackles. And the Bears are adopting the Saints' philosophy.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-0510-pompei-column-bears-chicago-20130510,0,7147631.column

 

Surprised they'd put so much emphasis on the inside of the OL and still have Garza playing center though.

[jersey cubs fan]

Zach Zaidman ‏@ZachZaidman 17m

Rutgers WR Mark Harrison (foot) failed his Bears physical.

 

UDFA?

 

EDIT: Yep.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-chicago-bears-mark-harrison-sidelined-20130510,0,268701.story

 

He has to be a camp casualty candidate.

[Banedon]

Zach Zaidman ‏@ZachZaidman 17m

Rutgers WR Mark Harrison (foot) failed his Bears physical.

 

UDFA?

 

EDIT: Yep.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-chicago-bears-mark-harrison-sidelined-20130510,0,268701.story

 

He has to be a camp casualty candidate.

 

I'd say any UDFA probably is, but it sounds like the reason he was a UDFA was because of the injury, so it's not like it was a surprise.

[Tracer Bullet]

Not sure what the point is of pretending like their degrees matter anymore once they've been drafted and sign a contract in the NFL.

 

Some are UDAs and some won't get another contract after their first one. Most could give a [expletive] about finishing college but it's [expletive] stupid to make those that care choose between the two.

[Banedon]

Not sure what the point is of pretending like their degrees matter anymore once they've been drafted and sign a contract in the NFL.

 

Some are UDAs and some won't get another contract after their first one. Most could give a [expletive] about finishing college but it's [expletive] stupid to make those that care choose between the two.

 

#firstworldproblems

[jersey cubs fan]

Not sure what the point is of pretending like their degrees matter anymore once they've been drafted and sign a contract in the NFL.

 

Some are UDAs and some won't get another contract after their first one. Most could give a [expletive] about finishing college but it's [expletive] stupid to make those that care choose between the two.

 

What's so stupid about it? They let them choose between staying in school or coming out early.

 

I think it's stupid to have a catch-all rule like this to treat paid professional adults like 8th graders, but only have that rule affect those whose schools choose to operate on a different schedule than most.

[Banedon]

Are we ok with players having to choose whether or not to come back to school for an entire senior year? Do we need a rule so that they don't have to choose?

[rawaction]

If you want to know why the Bears used their first-round draft pick on a guard for the first time in 52 years, cast your gaze in the vicinity of Bourbon Street.

 

In New Orleans, where the Saints play a level of offense only dreamed about in Chicago, guards are more important than tackles. And the Bears are adopting the Saints' philosophy.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-0510-pompei-column-bears-chicago-20130510,0,7147631.column

 

Surprised they'd put so much emphasis on the inside of the OL and still have Garza playing center though.

Saints (where Kromer came from) always had replacement level centers but high level guards. Of course, a couple of their Cs have eventually developed into pro bowlers

[Tracer Bullet]

Not sure what the point is of pretending like their degrees matter anymore once they've been drafted and sign a contract in the NFL.

 

Some are UDAs and some won't get another contract after their first one. Most could give a [expletive] about finishing college but it's [expletive] stupid to make those that care choose between the two.

 

What's so stupid about it? They let them choose between staying in school or coming out early.

 

I think it's stupid to have a catch-all rule like this to treat paid professional adults like 8th graders, but only have that rule affect those whose schools choose to operate on a different schedule than most.

 

If the choice is take finals and graduate or skip finals to attend mini camp it's stupid.

[jersey cubs fan]

Brad Biggs ‏@BradBiggs 1m

#Bears have released LB Dom DeCicco and CB LeQuan Lewis.

 

Brad Biggs ‏@BradBiggs 2m

#Bears announce signing of DT's Corvey Irvin & Christian Tupou, CB Maurice Jones and WR Demetrius Fields from rookie minicamp.

 

Brad Biggs ‏@BradBiggs 1m

Check that #Bears agreed to terms with CB Maurice Jones. So, they will have to release a player to officially add him.

[jersey cubs fan]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking/chi-chicago-bears-jay-cutler-20130514,0,5531572.story

 

Chicago Bears quarterbacks coach Matt Cavanaugh has been able to oversee Jay Cutler for all of four offseason practices. But already, he likes what he sees. And hears.

 

"Very impressed with Jay,” Cavanaugh said. “Very impressed. He’s borderline football brilliant. I think he gets it. I think he knows the game. I think he knows offensive schemes. I think he knows defenses.”

 

Cavanaugh indicated the coaching staff has been open to Cutler’s input, and Cutler has had a say in what the new Bears offense will look like.

 

"I think he’s embracing how we want to approach things,” he said. “There has been a lot of give and take. We didn’t come in here with a mandate that this is exactly how we’re doing it and there is no leeway. We wanted his feedback. He’s been willing to do that. It’s a good working relationship now.”

[ConstableRabbit]

Is Cavanaugh related to Martz?

[jersey cubs fan]

Is Cavanaugh related to Martz?

 

no

[UMFan83]

Interesting stuff about Carimi missing the voluntary OTAs, preferring to train in Arizona. Dickerson is on ESPN 1000 and is saying that he's pretty much on the way out and he is trying to force the Bears hands to move him.

[jersey cubs fan]

Interesting stuff about Carimi missing the voluntary OTAs, preferring to train in Arizona. Dickerson is on ESPN 1000 and is saying that he's pretty much on the way out and he is trying to force the Bears hands to move him.

 

great

[RynoRules]

Interesting stuff about Carimi missing the voluntary OTAs, preferring to train in Arizona. Dickerson is on ESPN 1000 and is saying that he's pretty much on the way out and he is trying to force the Bears hands to move him.

 

great

 

I hear that Brown now feels good about his chances of making the team.

[Banedon]

Is Cavanaugh related to Martz?

 

Cavanaugh, who has been in the NFL or in major college football for the past 40 years, rates Cutler’s arm as one of the best he ever has been around. In terms of other quarterbacks Cavanaugh has worked with, he puts Cutler’s arm in a class with Randall Cunningham’s, Joe Flacco’s and Phil Simms’.

[Banedon]

According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Vikings aren’t currently interested in bringing Urlacher to Minnesota. Instead, they plan on relying on players already on the roster to fill their void at middle linebacker.

 

Brian overplayed his hand.

[Banedon]

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/0ap2000000200001/Marc-Trestman-bringing-intensity-to-Bears-camp

[jersey cubs fan]

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/0ap2000000200001/Marc-Trestman-bringing-intensity-to-Bears-camp

 

All that talk of tempo and speed in practice sounds an awful lot like what we heard when Lovie first showed up. Has Trestman gone beyond that or were Lovie's practices starting to slowdown as the roster aged?

[Banedon]

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/0ap2000000200001/Marc-Trestman-bringing-intensity-to-Bears-camp

 

All that talk of tempo and speed in practice sounds an awful lot like what we heard when Lovie first showed up. Has Trestman gone beyond that or were Lovie's practices starting to slowdown as the roster aged?

 

Lovie's pace changed pretty quickly as I recall. It got a lot more veteran friendly. I don't remember if that coincided with an injury plagued season?

[biittner77]

http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-network-total-access/0ap2000000200001/Marc-Trestman-bringing-intensity-to-Bears-camp

 

All that talk of tempo and speed in practice sounds an awful lot like what we heard when Lovie first showed up. Has Trestman gone beyond that or were Lovie's practices starting to slowdown as the roster aged?

 

That's probably what any new coach does. It's a lot easier to slow down later than speed up.

[jersey cubs fan]

I do like what Emery is saying with regards to Carimi.

 

Is it disconcerting that Gabe Carimi is not participating in OTAs or is it OK that he's opted to train on his own in Arizona?

"This is a voluntary situation and every player has to make his own decisions, and Gabe has made a decision that he wants to stay in Arizona and train. We respect that and he'll be welcomed with open arms when he comes back."

 

Obviously it is his right and so Phil probably can't saying much negative about it. But I think it's the right thing to play the good cop here. The open arms commentary puts the onus on Carimi. His contract is guaranteed so there is zero to gain from cutting him, unless you believe in the bad apple theory. And I really don't think that what he has done to date qualifies as a guy who is going to have a negative affect on others.

 

I think there is little chance his career will continue with the Bears, but they still need the depth and might as well keep him all year.

[rawaction]

I do like what Emery is saying with regards to Carimi.

 

Is it disconcerting that Gabe Carimi is not participating in OTAs or is it OK that he's opted to train on his own in Arizona?

"This is a voluntary situation and every player has to make his own decisions, and Gabe has made a decision that he wants to stay in Arizona and train. We respect that and he'll be welcomed with open arms when he comes back."

 

Obviously it is his right and so Phil probably can't saying much negative about it. But I think it's the right thing to play the good cop here. The open arms commentary puts the onus on Carimi. His contract is guaranteed so there is zero to gain from cutting him, unless you believe in the bad apple theory. And I really don't think that what he has done to date qualifies as a guy who is going to have a negative affect on others.

 

I think there is little chance his career will continue with the Bears, but they still need the depth and might as well keep him all year.

 

If he's in camp, he's a valuable player. He's played RT, RG, LT as recently as 2 years ago at a high collegiate level, and worked at LG in whatever they had a couple weeks ago. Nobody else on the roster has that type of versatility other than a guy with a handful of college games. And Carimi is the most talented OL on the team based on draft grade. I imagine he'll be on the roster or traded. Hoping for at least a 5th with an outside shot at late 4th.

[jersey cubs fan]

Hoping for at least a 5th with an outside shot at late 4th.

 

That's so incredibly frustrating but completely justifiable.