2015 Bears Offseason (Foxy new Head Coach page 104)

[rawaction]

http://deadspin.com/jay-cutler-is-one-fed-up-dad-1681815046

celebrities, their just like us.

 

Yeah, good for them not relying on nannies all the time, I guess. But, my kids are the same exact age and if I had that kind of money, I would have a nanny on hand at just about all times that there was only 1 parent for more than a few hours.

 

Bunch of good Twitter jokes when I read that yesterday. The typical, "doesn't she know Jay can't handle pressure situations?" and "Jay can't handle his responsibilities on or off the field".

 

But I called out this dude for making a joke that made no sense. His "joke" was, "i'd throw jay some sympathy, but it would probably just get intercepted". So, I called him out because why would HE throw an INT, and not Jay. He called me a butthurt Bears fan. Still he blew the joke and I made sure he knew it.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Dr. Kane, report to the burn unit.

To help a patient who’s been burned?

[Banedon]

@ThayerEvansSI

 

Former Chicago Bears DC Mel Tucker will be Alabama's new secondary coach per sources.

[RynoRules]

@ThayerEvansSI

 

Former Chicago Bears DC Mel Tucker will be Alabama's new secondary coach per sources.

 

Wow

[rawaction]

Briggs on NBCSN live. Said Fox is a great hire for the Bears. Excited about Fangio getting the most out of the talent. Nothing major. But then when asked what his ideal scenario would be, Briggs said that he would like to have John Fox on speed dial and get something done to bring him back to Chicago.

 

He's been pretty realistic about his chances of coming back, and had previously been pretty non committal on where he wanted to be. So this is something.

[minnesotacubsfan]

http://deadspin.com/jay-cutler-is-one-fed-up-dad-1681815046

 

Sounds like a great father

[minnesotacubsfan]

http://deadspin.com/jay-cutler-is-one-fed-up-dad-1681815046

celebrities, their just like us.

 

They're

[dew1679666265]

When healthy, was Jay Clocker any good? Different style of play than Jake Utler, though, but I wasn't sure.

 

He showed flashes, but no he's never been very good. Scouts love him, though, because of a big arm and very good athleticism. Just terribly inaccurate.

[dew1679666265]

Locker wasn't even a good QB in college. I don't know why people expected him to amount to anything in the NFL.

 

I never thought he'd be great, but I expected kinda league average. Not a complete flameout.

 

A lot of Titans fans pulled for him because he's a good kid and he's not Vince Young.

[wvcbxl]

http://deadspin.com/jay-cutler-is-one-fed-up-dad-1681815046

celebrities, their just like us.

 

They're

 

I think that was intentional :wink:

[jersey cubs fan]

Bears going back to that deep and fruitful Canadian well.

 

Chicago Bears ‏@ChicagoBears 17s17 seconds ago

#Bears have signed WR John Chiles to a reserve/future contract; he has spent time w/ Saints & Rams and played in CFL w/ Toronto Argonauts.

[Banedon]

Bears going back to that deep and fruitful Canadian well.

 

Chicago Bears ‏@ChicagoBears 17s17 seconds ago

#Bears have signed WR John Chiles to a reserve/future contract; he has spent time w/ Saints & Rams and played in CFL w/ Toronto Argonauts.

 

Hasn't actually played in an NFL game.

[Guest]

A nice read on how the 49ers under Vic Fangio weren't strictly a 3-4 team and how they ran a 4-3 under with 3-4 personnel: http://www.ninersnation.com/2013/5/2/4294242/football-university-49ers-defensive-fronts-vic-fangio-3-4-nickel-4-3-under

 

John Fox is also a 4-3 under guy. I'm pretty interested in seeing what they do on defense, especially with so many edge rushers and Danny Shelton potentially available at the 7th pick.

[jersey cubs fan]

Chicago Bears ‏@ChicagoBears 23s23 seconds ago

#Bears have reached agreement w/ Clint Hurtt to be their outside LBs coach; he served as assistant defensive line coach w/ Bears in 2014.

 

 

Former assistant defensive line coach becoming outside LB coach. Does this indicate what sort of scheme they may be looking at? Maybe, or maybe not...

[Banedon]

Chicago Bears ‏@ChicagoBears 23s23 seconds ago

#Bears have reached agreement w/ Clint Hurtt to be their outside LBs coach; he served as assistant defensive line coach w/ Bears in 2014.

 

 

Former assistant defensive line coach becoming outside LB coach. Does this indicate what sort of scheme they may be looking at? Maybe, or maybe not...

Rich Campbell thinking the same....

 

It's particularly interesting that Bears are distinguishing between inside & outside LB coaches. That's more common on teams that run a 3-4.

[jersey cubs fan]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-clint-hurtt-linebackers-coach-20150127-story.html

 

On Tuesday, the team announced it would retain assistant coach Clint Hurtt, who had been an assistant defensive line coach under Marc Trestman last season and now will work as the outside linebackers coach under John Fox.

 

But Hurtt’s role change signals a more significant overhaul of the Bears’ defense, the latest pointer that the team will be revamping its system in 2015 and readying to transition away from its traditional 4-3 roots.

 

Last week, the Bears hired Glenn Pires to be their new linebackers coach. By keeping Hurtt on board as the outside linebackers coach, a position most often utilized by teams that run some form of a 3-4 defense, the Bears have begun to make noteworthy system alterations.

[mul21]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-clint-hurtt-linebackers-coach-20150127-story.html

 

But Hurtt’s

 

I'm 12.

[rawaction]

A nice read on how the 49ers under Vic Fangio weren't strictly a 3-4 team and how they ran a 4-3 under with 3-4 personnel: http://www.ninersnation.com/2013/5/2/4294242/football-university-49ers-defensive-fronts-vic-fangio-3-4-nickel-4-3-under

 

John Fox is also a 4-3 under guy. I'm pretty interested in seeing what they do on defense, especially with so many edge rushers and Danny Shelton potentially available at the 7th pick.

 

I've played out this scenario a bunch in my head. Here's a quick rough draft of the way I would play it, if I were GM and moving to a hybrid or 3-4.

 

I really like Paea, but he wouldn't be a good fit, so I'd let him walk and spend the money I would've paid him in a 4-3 D, to Dan Williams the Arizona NT. Don't like Shelton at 7 for a bunch of reasons. Don't want a rookie NT in a scheme everyone is learning together. Still have Ego to develop at NT. Rather use 7 on a more important edge rusher. And I don't think Shelton is one of the 7 (or 15) best players in this draft.

 

I know it doesn't save the team any money, but I'd probably cut Jared Allen. I don't see him as a good fit, although I guess he could play the Cliff Avril role in a Seahawks-like hybrid.

 

The Bears wouldn't have to change much upfront to go hybrid or 1-gap 3-4 (which is what 9ers ran). Ratliff would still play the 3-technique. His responsibilities wouldn't change from last year. Williams would the NT who gives the Bears a better run defender than Paea, but they do lose in the pass rush. Houston would play the 5-technique, probably have to add about 10lbs from the 270 he was at last year, but he could certainly do it as he's played about everywhere in the 280-300 range in the last 5 years.

 

The Bears would almost certainly have to add 2 completely different types of LBs though. They would need a potential stud pass rusher and a stout run stopper. Young would actually be pretty versatile I think. He could be on the strong side and really help shut down the run game or he could be on the weak side as the best pass rusher. On the other side, McClellin or Jones could put their versatility to use and rush the passer, cover TEs and stop the run. Bostic would be one of the inside LBs, along with either Jones or a FA or a draft pick.

 

NT- D. Williams, Ferguson

DE (3-tech)- Ratliff, Sutton

DE (5-tech)- Houston

LOLB- McClellin, Jones, 1st pick (Shane Ray?)

ROLB- Young, Ray

WILB- Bostic, Greene

SILB- Jones, FA

 

Ratliff could play some 5 with Sutton at 3. But would probably need to add another DL. Guys like Bass/Washington could get some time at OLB. In the nickel, you can have any combo of Young, Ray, McClellin, Houston, Jones, Bass/Washington all rushing from the edge.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

If the Bears are switching to a 3-4, Ratliff is likely a NT. That's the position he played in the 3-4 in Dallas. He wasn't that great on the end, but had flashes of really good play at NT.

[rawaction]

If the Bears are switching to a 3-4, Ratliff is likely a NT. That's the position he played in the 3-4 in Dallas. He wasn't that great on the end, but had flashes of really good play at NT.

 

Depends how they run it, IMO. If they run it with a DE essentially in the typical 3-technique position like a 4-3 under tackle, it would be the same thing that Ratliff did very successfully last year (and what the Niners ran a lot with Justin Smith, who is about the same size as Ratliff). If they are running the D with both ends lined up over the OTs, then I think that would be a problem for Ratliff.

[UK1679666180]

If the Bears are switching to a 3-4, Ratliff is likely a NT. That's the position he played in the 3-4 in Dallas. He wasn't that great on the end, but had flashes of really good play at NT.

 

Depends how they run it, IMO. If they run it with a DE essentially in the typical 3-technique position like a 4-3 under tackle, it would be the same thing that Ratliff did very successfully last year (and what the Niners ran a lot with Justin Smith, who is about the same size as Ratliff). If they are running the D with both ends lined up over the OTs, then I think that would be a problem for Ratliff.

 

I'm hoping Ego can bulk up to possibly be able to make it in the traditional NT mold, even if they run the 3 technique, Ratliff likely won't hold up. They'll likely go with some sort of hybrid with both 3-4 and 4-3 fronts. It would give Sutton a chance to have an impact.

 

If they can get one of...

 

 

Williams-AZ

Knighton

 

Ratliff with his age and the 1+mil will likely come off the books.

[ctcf]

So what's the Bears payroll/cap situation for this off-season looking like?

[Guest]

A nice read on how the 49ers under Vic Fangio weren't strictly a 3-4 team and how they ran a 4-3 under with 3-4 personnel: http://www.ninersnation.com/2013/5/2/4294242/football-university-49ers-defensive-fronts-vic-fangio-3-4-nickel-4-3-under

 

John Fox is also a 4-3 under guy. I'm pretty interested in seeing what they do on defense, especially with so many edge rushers and Danny Shelton potentially available at the 7th pick.

 

I've played out this scenario a bunch in my head. Here's a quick rough draft of the way I would play it, if I were GM and moving to a hybrid or 3-4.

 

I really like Paea, but he wouldn't be a good fit, so I'd let him walk and spend the money I would've paid him in a 4-3 D, to Dan Williams the Arizona NT. Don't like Shelton at 7 for a bunch of reasons. Don't want a rookie NT in a scheme everyone is learning together. Still have Ego to develop at NT. Rather use 7 on a more important edge rusher. And I don't think Shelton is one of the 7 (or 15) best players in this draft.

 

I know it doesn't save the team any money, but I'd probably cut Jared Allen. I don't see him as a good fit, although I guess he could play the Cliff Avril role in a Seahawks-like hybrid.

 

The Bears wouldn't have to change much upfront to go hybrid or 1-gap 3-4 (which is what 9ers ran). Ratliff would still play the 3-technique. His responsibilities wouldn't change from last year. Williams would the NT who gives the Bears a better run defender than Paea, but they do lose in the pass rush. Houston would play the 5-technique, probably have to add about 10lbs from the 270 he was at last year, but he could certainly do it as he's played about everywhere in the 280-300 range in the last 5 years.

 

The Bears would almost certainly have to add 2 completely different types of LBs though. They would need a potential stud pass rusher and a stout run stopper. Young would actually be pretty versatile I think. He could be on the strong side and really help shut down the run game or he could be on the weak side as the best pass rusher. On the other side, McClellin or Jones could put their versatility to use and rush the passer, cover TEs and stop the run. Bostic would be one of the inside LBs, along with either Jones or a FA or a draft pick.

 

NT- D. Williams, Ferguson

DE (3-tech)- Ratliff, Sutton

DE (5-tech)- Houston

LOLB- McClellin, Jones, 1st pick (Shane Ray?)

ROLB- Young, Ray

WILB- Bostic, Greene

SILB- Jones, FA

 

Ratliff could play some 5 with Sutton at 3. But would probably need to add another DL. Guys like Bass/Washington could get some time at OLB. In the nickel, you can have any combo of Young, Ray, McClellin, Houston, Jones, Bass/Washington all rushing from the edge.

If you're plan is to have Ratliff as a 3T and not NT, not sure why you'd essentially choose him over Paea in that role. You could walk fully away from Ratliff and pay the younger Paea instead to play the 3T spot.

[Banedon]

So what's the Bears payroll/cap situation for this off-season looking like?

 

http://overthecap.com/salary-cap/chicago-bears

 

And here's a calculator to play around with:

 

http://overthecap.com/calculator/chicago-bears/

[rawaction]

If the Bears are switching to a 3-4, Ratliff is likely a NT. That's the position he played in the 3-4 in Dallas. He wasn't that great on the end, but had flashes of really good play at NT.

 

Depends how they run it, IMO. If they run it with a DE essentially in the typical 3-technique position like a 4-3 under tackle, it would be the same thing that Ratliff did very successfully last year (and what the Niners ran a lot with Justin Smith, who is about the same size as Ratliff). If they are running the D with both ends lined up over the OTs, then I think that would be a problem for Ratliff.

 

I'm hoping Ego can bulk up to possibly be able to make it in the traditional NT mold, even if they run the 3 technique, Ratliff likely won't hold up. They'll likely go with some sort of hybrid with both 3-4 and 4-3 fronts. It would give Sutton a chance to have an impact.

 

If they can get one of...

 

 

Williams-AZ

Knighton

 

Ratliff with his age and the 1+mil will likely come off the books.

 

Ratliff was really good last year, he needs to stay on the roster for next year. I do think you gotta worry about him holding up for 16 games, as he hasn't played 16 in about 4 years, but there's not reason to cut him for $1Mil in savings.