2014 Chicago Bears Offseason Thread

[UMFan83]

PFF says that the Bears BY FAR had the least amount of production from their rookies in the league this year. It sounds like the main reason for that is that they had lower round and undrafted players playing big roles for the team due to injuries.

 

The Worst

1. Chicago Bears (-76.0)

The Bears are an example of a transition team that got their rookies a lot of experience -- much more than they probably would have liked -- and that ultimately played a part in them not making the playoffs. They only used nine rookies but two saw nearly every down and three more had significant roles as injuries hit. The right side of their offensive line was the most notable injection of youth, and while Kyle Long had an up and down year, right tackle Jordan Mills just couldn't get going. His struggles with speed off the edge insured his QB was hurried in the pocket. No lineman allowed more pressure than the 78 combined sacks, hits and hurries he did. On defense the team wasn't expecting Jon Bostic and Khaseem Greene to see a combined 850 snaps, nor David Bass to play 317 snaps of his own. But with Henry Melton going down and Lance Briggs and D.J. Williams battling injuries that's exactly what happened. It didn't go well with Bostic, our second lowest ranked middle linebacker. Greene earned the sixth lowest grade of all 4-3 outside linebackers on a fraction of the snaps of those above him, and Bass finished in the bottom 10 at the defensive end spot. This team will be better for their experiences, but it killed them in 2013.

 

Bucaneers (-46.2) were 2nd worst, and Patriots (-38.7) were 3rd. Best 3 were Arizona (+34.3), Detroit (+30.0) and Carolina (+21.2)

 

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10306488/teams-most-least-production-2013-draft-picks-nfl

[jersey cubs fan]

PFF says that the Bears BY FAR had the least amount of production from their rookies in the league this year. It sounds like the main reason for that is that they had lower round and undrafted players playing big roles for the team due to injuries.

 

They only used nine rookies

 

Is that a small amount?

[rawaction]

PFF says that the Bears BY FAR had the least amount of production from their rookies in the league this year. It sounds like the main reason for that is that they had lower round and undrafted players playing big roles for the team due to injuries.

 

The Worst

1. Chicago Bears (-76.0)

The Bears are an example of a transition team that got their rookies a lot of experience -- much more than they probably would have liked -- and that ultimately played a part in them not making the playoffs. They only used nine rookies but two saw nearly every down and three more had significant roles as injuries hit. The right side of their offensive line was the most notable injection of youth, and while Kyle Long had an up and down year, right tackle Jordan Mills just couldn't get going. His struggles with speed off the edge insured his QB was hurried in the pocket. No lineman allowed more pressure than the 78 combined sacks, hits and hurries he did. On defense the team wasn't expecting Jon Bostic and Khaseem Greene to see a combined 850 snaps, nor David Bass to play 317 snaps of his own. But with Henry Melton going down and Lance Briggs and D.J. Williams battling injuries that's exactly what happened. It didn't go well with Bostic, our second lowest ranked middle linebacker. Greene earned the sixth lowest grade of all 4-3 outside linebackers on a fraction of the snaps of those above him, and Bass finished in the bottom 10 at the defensive end spot. This team will be better for their experiences, but it killed them in 2013.

 

Bucaneers (-46.2) were 2nd worst, and Patriots (-38.7) were 3rd. Best 3 were Arizona (+34.3), Detroit (+30.0) and Carolina (+21.2)

 

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10306488/teams-most-least-production-2013-draft-picks-nfl

 

It's because Bostic, Mills, and Greene were among the worst at their positions according to their scoring. I think Mills' lack of success is overblown. They have him as the worst OT in the league. He gave up a lot of pressures, but only 3 sacks. They basically equate sacks and pressures the same.

 

Off the top of my head, I don't think he gave up a sack of Cutler at all. All his sacks allowed came AFTER the Washington game. Maybe he gave up 1 in the Philly game, but I remember Forte being responsible for about 2-3 and Kyle Long for 1.

[jersey cubs fan]

Off the top of my head, I don't think he gave up a sack of Cutler at all. All his sacks allowed came AFTER the Washington game. Maybe he gave up 1 in the Philly game, but I remember Forte being responsible for about 2-3 and Kyle Long for 1.

 

But didn't he have a ton of help, including another tackle playing off his right side? The lack of actual sacks wasn't due to protection, it was due to scheme, help and Cutler clearing out.

[rawaction]

Off the top of my head, I don't think he gave up a sack of Cutler at all. All his sacks allowed came AFTER the Washington game. Maybe he gave up 1 in the Philly game, but I remember Forte being responsible for about 2-3 and Kyle Long for 1.

 

But didn't he have a ton of help, including another tackle playing off his right side? The lack of actual sacks wasn't due to protection, it was due to scheme, help and Cutler clearing out.

 

A ton? Britton only played on 22% of the snaps, and basically played a full game in the finale. Plus (again off the top of my head) I remember him playing a bunch on the left side to help Bushrod with especially strong pass rushers.

 

Not saying Mills was great, even good. Hell, he was clearly below average based on the eye test, but no way he was the worst OT in football the way PFF ratings indicate.

[jersey cubs fan]

Off the top of my head, I don't think he gave up a sack of Cutler at all. All his sacks allowed came AFTER the Washington game. Maybe he gave up 1 in the Philly game, but I remember Forte being responsible for about 2-3 and Kyle Long for 1.

 

But didn't he have a ton of help, including another tackle playing off his right side? The lack of actual sacks wasn't due to protection, it was due to scheme, help and Cutler clearing out.

 

A ton? Britton only played on 22% of the snaps, and basically played a full game in the finale. Plus (again off the top of my head) I remember him playing a bunch on the left side to help Bushrod with especially strong pass rushers.

 

Not saying Mills was great, even good. Hell, he was clearly below average based on the eye test, but no way he was the worst OT in football the way PFF ratings indicate.

 

Well, that last part may be true. Those rankings are incredibly flawed for a variety of reasons.

 

But I swear I saw Britton out there all the time. At the Philly game we were behind the end zone and I saw that dude's name all too often for a game with no protection.

[BigSlick]

PFF says that the Bears BY FAR had the least amount of production from their rookies in the league this year. It sounds like the main reason for that is that they had lower round and undrafted players playing big roles for the team due to injuries.

 

The Worst

1. Chicago Bears (-76.0)

The Bears are an example of a transition team that got their rookies a lot of experience -- much more than they probably would have liked -- and that ultimately played a part in them not making the playoffs. They only used nine rookies but two saw nearly every down and three more had significant roles as injuries hit. The right side of their offensive line was the most notable injection of youth, and while Kyle Long had an up and down year, right tackle Jordan Mills just couldn't get going. His struggles with speed off the edge insured his QB was hurried in the pocket. No lineman allowed more pressure than the 78 combined sacks, hits and hurries he did. On defense the team wasn't expecting Jon Bostic and Khaseem Greene to see a combined 850 snaps, nor David Bass to play 317 snaps of his own. But with Henry Melton going down and Lance Briggs and D.J. Williams battling injuries that's exactly what happened. It didn't go well with Bostic, our second lowest ranked middle linebacker. Greene earned the sixth lowest grade of all 4-3 outside linebackers on a fraction of the snaps of those above him, and Bass finished in the bottom 10 at the defensive end spot. This team will be better for their experiences, but it killed them in 2013.

 

Bucaneers (-46.2) were 2nd worst, and Patriots (-38.7) were 3rd. Best 3 were Arizona (+34.3), Detroit (+30.0) and Carolina (+21.2)

 

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/10306488/teams-most-least-production-2013-draft-picks-nfl

 

It's because Bostic, Mills, and Greene were among the worst at their positions according to their scoring. I think Mills' lack of success is overblown. They have him as the worst OT in the league. He gave up a lot of pressures, but only 3 sacks. They basically equate sacks and pressures the same.

 

Off the top of my head, I don't think he gave up a sack of Cutler at all. All his sacks allowed came AFTER the Washington game. Maybe he gave up 1 in the Philly game, but I remember Forte being responsible for about 2-3 and Kyle Long for 1.

 

Yeah, honestly I didn't find Mills to be glaring at all. Maybe its because of how accustomed I've gotten to simply disastrous O-line play but I felt like both Long and Mills were serviceable at worst and that means a lot of good things to look forward to. Now, Cutler and especially McCown were deft in the pocket, but that's all you gotta do, give em a chance to get the ball out.

 

The run blocking was disappointing, especially as evidenced by how poorly they did on short yardage plays, but I think some of that goes to Garza being pushed around and Long mostly being out of position.

[UMFan83]

The Bears defense has a Pro Bowler on it. Tim Jennings was named today, probably replacing Richard Sherman.

[cubbyvirus00]

FWIW all the NFL.com draft analysts have the Bears going DT with the 14th pick. Three of them have DT Timmy Jernigan and 1 has DT Louis Nix.

 

I think they go safety personally, but who knows.

[bukie]

No safety is worth a top 15 pick in the NFL draft. The position simply isn't that important.

[sweetpeteman]

No safety is worth a top 15 pick in the NFL draft. The position simply isn't that important.

 

 

I don't know if I'd say it isn't that important, but it's definitely after d-line.

 

 

The good thing is that this draft has some really good defensive back depth, so there will be value in later rounds.

[bukie]

No safety is worth a top 15 pick in the NFL draft. The position simply isn't that important.

 

 

I don't know if I'd say it isn't that important, but it's definitely after d-line.

 

 

The good thing is that this draft has some really good defensive back depth, so there will be value in later rounds.

I'd say in terms of absolute importance, it comes after both lines, offensive skill players, and corners for sure, and possibly linebackers also. Above special teams players, though, most definitely.

 

I'd say the Bears are set at starting QB, RB, WRs, three OL, one LB, and one CB. Beyond that, they're not above help anywhere, and starting safety is pretty far down the list of important places to find players, and safeties aren't a difficult position to fill with draft depth.

 

EDIT: Or shouldn't be, if you aren't the Bears recent draft history, but I don't think drafting them earlier is the solution.

[davell]

I definitely want a SS signed in FA, preferrably a very, very good one. And either bring in a league minimum vet or a middle round pick to compete with(hopefully beat out) Conte.

[Guest]

Long made the Pro Bowl

[cubbyvirus00]

Long made the Pro Bowl

 

I love it, but I can admit that he probably didn't play at a Pro Bowl level the majority of last season.

[Guest]

Long made the Pro Bowl

 

I love it, but I can admit that he probably didn't play at a Pro Bowl level the majority of last season.

 

he is a guard

[ConstableRabbit]

Long made the Pro Bowl

 

I love it, but I can admit that he probably didn't play at a Pro Bowl level the majority of last season.

#insidejob

[ctcf]

The Bears have hired Rick Herring, formerly of the Houston Texans, as their LB coach.

[bukie]

Is his nickname 'Red'? If it wasn't, it is now.

[davell]

The Bears have hired Rick Herring, formerly of the Houston Texans, as their LB coach.

 

Isn't he a 3-4 guy?

[Guest]

The Bears have hired Rick Herring, formerly of the Houston Texans, as their LB coach.

 

Isn't he a 3-4 guy?

 

Yes. As if we needed more evidence of what's coming.

[Splendid Splinter]

The Bears have hired Rick Herring, formerly of the Houston Texans, as their LB coach.

 

Isn't he a 3-4 guy?

 

Yes at the NFL level, but I'm not about when he was at the college level.

[davell]

The Bears have hired Rick Herring, formerly of the Houston Texans, as their LB coach.

 

Isn't he a 3-4 guy?

 

Yes. As if we needed more evidence of what's coming.

 

Just a hybrid, right? I don't see a full switch immediately or am I missing something?

[Guest]

The Bears have hired Rick Herring, formerly of the Houston Texans, as their LB coach.

 

Isn't he a 3-4 guy?

 

Yes. As if we needed more evidence of what's coming.

 

Just a hybrid, right? I don't see a full switch immediately or am I missing something?

 

Yeah, I don't think they can convert to a 3-4 in one season. Definitely a hybrid defense next season

[cubbyvirus00]

Long made the Pro Bowl

 

I love it, but I can admit that he probably didn't play at a Pro Bowl level the majority of last season.

#insidejob

 

#pointsandlaughs