2014 Chicago Bears Offseason Thread

[jersey cubs fan]

Wasn't Allen just barely better than Peppers last season and not very good in general among DE?

I think he was consensus better than Peppers and pretty decent. Not a stud, but good.

[rawaction]

I've been pretty quiet on the Allen front. I honestly didn't want him for the longest time because he's old. But the more I thought about it, this was almost a "must" move for the Bears. Once the Packers got Peppers, the Bears had to make the next move. As it stood, the Packers + Peppers increased their advantage over the Bears by a decent amount, if only for the fact that Peppers almost certainly will beast against the team that cut him. Allen is a big splash move, and it just so happens he has dominated the GB O-line in his career. He missed the 1st game against them this past year, and was just coming back by the 2nd game. But he had at least 3 sacks against them in 2011 and 2012. And has had more success vs. the GB OTs than he's had against anybody not named J'Marcus Webb.

[jersey cubs fan]

He's older, but he's young enough to have stuff in the tank. I was interested in keeping Peppers with legit ends on the other side. Now they get a younger better end at a cheaper price to play that role.

[Old Style]

DE - Jared Allen, Lamarr Houston, Willie Young

DT - Jeremiah Ratliff, Stephen Paea, Nate Collins, Israel Idonije

LB - Lance Briggs, DJ Williams, Jonathan Bostic, Shea McClellen, Khaseem Greene

CB - Charles Tillman, Tim Jennings, Kelvin Hayden, Isaiah Frey

S - Ryan Mundy, MD Jennings, Chris Conte, Craig Steltz

 

Still need big help at safety but that's some overhaul without even getting to the draft.

This has been a very good offseason. I still want to see us draft a DT (or 2), S, and LB but the D is looking much improved. If this team stays healthy we will be watching them play well into 2015.

[Banedon]

So...Bears for Hard Knocks this year? :beg:

[UMFan83]

Bears will wait until next Monday to introduce Allen

[rawaction]

Oh and I really want to play Seattle. I just have so much animosity for them. Between the crappy loss to them to basically keep the Bears out of the playoffs in 2012, the [expletive] talking they did all playoffs long this year, and now the Michael Bennett and Jared Allen stuff (both players were reported to signing with the opposite team)....I really want the Bears to play them ASAP.

 

Last time they played, Brandon Marshall destroyed the Legion of Boom to the tune of 10 catches, 150 yards. Sherman ducked Marshall all game and covered then #2 WR, Devin Hester most of the game (Jeffery was hurt). While Marshall was on the opposite side. When Sherman did cover Marshall, Brandon beat him for the big jump ball hail mary play that got the Bears in range for the game-tying FG. Now the Bears got Jeffery, Sherman can't duck a good WR. The Bears OC was also Mike Tice that year, enough said.

 

I personally think it would be a helluva game and the Bears can beat them if they contain Wilson in the pocket, which was the main reason they lost in 2012.

[pitchcs]

Wasn't Allen just barely better than Peppers last season and not very good in general among DE?

I think he was consensus better than Peppers and pretty decent. Not a stud, but good.

 

Well they need the pass rush so if nothing else he'll be decent there.

 

Does this signing make it more likely they go DB in Round 1?

Edited March 26, 2014 by pitchcs

[JonJayCutler]

Allen is only 31? Could have swore he was at least 33-34.

 

Houston on one side, Allen on the other, #1 pick at DT.

 

Fantastic way to start the day.

[rawaction]

DE - Jared Allen, Lamarr Houston, Willie Young

DT - Jeremiah Ratliff, Stephen Paea, Nate Collins, Israel Idonije

LB - Lance Briggs, DJ Williams, Jonathan Bostic, Shea McClellen, Khaseem Greene

CB - Charles Tillman, Tim Jennings, Kelvin Hayden, Isaiah Frey

S - Ryan Mundy, MD Jennings, Chris Conte, Craig Steltz

 

Still need big help at safety but that's some overhaul without even getting to the draft.

This has been a very good offseason. I still want to see us draft a DT (or 2), S, and LB but the D is looking much improved. If this team stays healthy we will be watching them play well into 2015.

 

Yeah, I'd imagine DT, S, LB, CB will be 4 of the first 5 picks. Probably in that order.

 

I love the thought of a 1st round pick like Hageman or Nix on run downs with Houston, Young and Paea. But I also love the thought of a 1st round interior pass rusher like Aaron Donald with Allen, Houston, and Young

[Guest]

Extremely happy with what the Bears have done so far this offseason. I think the Allen pickup increases the likelihood that they trade down or out of the 1st round to load up on picks.

[pitchcs]

Wasn't Allen just barely better than Peppers last season and not very good in general among DE?

I think he was consensus better than Peppers and pretty decent. Not a stud, but good.

 

Well they need the pass rush so if nothing else he'll be decent there.

 

Does this signing make it more likely they go DB in Round 1?

 

Yeah nevermind, I didn't realize DT was still that weak.

[Guest]

Allen is only 31? Could have swore he was at least 33-34.

 

Houston on one side, Allen on the other, #1 pick at DT.

 

Fantastic way to start the day.

 

I figured Allen and Young would be on the ends in passing situations with Houston inside.

 

 

All depends on what we do in the draft. Donald or Jernigan plz.

[Guest]

He's older, but he's young enough to have stuff in the tank. I was interested in keeping Peppers with legit ends on the other side. Now they get a younger better end at a cheaper price to play that role.

 

Yeah, and effort won't be a question like it sometimes is with Peppers.

 

Did not see this coming.

[Banedon]

http://i.imgur.com/evfP5om.jpg

[JonJayCutler]

Pete Prisco ‏@PriscoCBS · 1h

I thought Jared Allen wanted to play for a contender

[Guest]

DE - Jared Allen, Lamarr Houston, Willie Young

DT - Jeremiah Ratliff, Stephen Paea, Nate Collins, Israel Idonije

LB - Lance Briggs, DJ Williams, Jonathan Bostic, Shea McClellen, Khaseem Greene

CB - Charles Tillman, Tim Jennings, Kelvin Hayden, Isaiah Frey

S - Ryan Mundy, MD Jennings, Chris Conte, Craig Steltz

 

Still need big help at safety but that's some overhaul without even getting to the draft.

 

Houston can move inside too, right?

 

Yup the Raiders played him inside often. Good point I wouldnt be surprised if he was the 3 technique when the Bears are playing traditional 4-3

 

If Houston is 270 and Young 250, I expect they'll only do that on passing downs.

[Banedon]

Pete Prisco ‏@PriscoCBS · 1h

I thought Jared Allen wanted to play for a contender

 

Hahaha...Prisco loves to hate on the Bears.

[ctcf]

Hahaha go [expletive] yourself, Prisco.

[jersey cubs fan]

we will be watching them play well into 2015.

 

Probably at least into late December.

[Rex Buckingham]

DE - Jared Allen, Lamarr Houston, Willie Young

DT - Jeremiah Ratliff, Stephen Paea, Nate Collins, Israel Idonije

LB - Lance Briggs, DJ Williams, Jonathan Bostic, Shea McClellen, Khaseem Greene

CB - Charles Tillman, Tim Jennings, Kelvin Hayden, Isaiah Frey

S - Ryan Mundy, MD Jennings, Chris Conte, Craig Steltz

 

Still need big help at safety but that's some overhaul without even getting to the draft.

 

Houston can move inside too, right?

 

Yup the Raiders played him inside often. Good point I wouldnt be surprised if he was the 3 technique when the Bears are playing traditional 4-3

 

If Houston is 270 and Young 250, I expect they'll only do that on passing downs.

 

Houston's nfl.com bio has him at 300 http://www.nfl.com/player/lamarrhouston/496794/profile

[tfarks]

To see this much improvement before the draft, with a pretty high pick none the less, is very encouraging. This defense should convincingly have the pieces in place to make the necessary turnaround.

[jersey cubs fan]

Pete Prisco ‏@PriscoCBS · 1h

I thought Jared Allen wanted to play for a contender

 

Hahaha...Prisco loves to hate on the Bears.

 

He might just dislike Allen. Going by cbs free agent rankins, prisco had Allen rated much lower than Kirwan had him rated.

[Banedon]

Pete Prisco ‏@PriscoCBS · 1h

I thought Jared Allen wanted to play for a contender

 

Hahaha...Prisco loves to hate on the Bears.

 

He might just dislike Allen. Going by cbs free agent rankins, prisco had Allen rated much lower than Kirwan had him rated.

 

Well, he might dislike Allen, but he's long had a dislike for the Bears too.

[hawkeyecub]

Wasn't Allen just barely better than Peppers last season and not very good in general among DE?

I think he was consensus better than Peppers and pretty decent. Not a stud, but good.

 

He's declined quite a bit the last two years, especially last year. He still plays his ass off and never wants to come off the field but he was completely shut down against good LT's. A lot of his sacks last year came on cleanup after forced hurries from Robison or blitzes. Also seemed like he was taken advantage of more in the run game than the past.

 

If they use him right I'm sure he can still be effective, I just don't think he's a difference maker as a full-time guy anymore.