2015 Bears Offseason (Foxy new Head Coach page 104)

[apete6]

If you don't trust your new GM to find a QB, then you've hired the wrong guy. Being satisfied with a QB that is clearly between 10-20 in the NFL with no real chance of being a top-5 QB, then you HAVE to have great talent around him and a great defense. That's the thing with Cutler, if he were on the Texans, wouldn't they be easily in the playoffs? But when it's basically all on him, it doesn't seem to be working well.

this is a pretty emphatic no

 

he's earning $15m more than Fitzpatrick, who can easily be argued has outproduced him...without the benefit of hindsight, try cutting $13m in players off the Texans and then look at their roster with Cutler

 

saying Cutler's a top-20 QB and it's not his fault the defense is so bad misses a huge component of the problem; similarly productive QBs like Orton, Fitzpatrick, Hill usually don't take up much cap space at all and you're left with so much more capability to fill in holes

 

And to be specific on the Texans here, If they had Cutler, they probably HAD to trade Andre or something to be able to extend Watt. I don't think they would've been able to give Watt that deal if Cutler was with the Texans on the same deal.

 

All fair points, especially the money, though Cutler is far better than Orton/Fitz/Hill. Aren't the Cardinals paying Carson Palmer about the same as Cutler? Cutler could do just as well as Palmer, if not better, with the Cardinals D and Bruce Arians as the coach.

[Guest]

I think offensively, we need better coaching, and a fast WR option...too easy to sit on our big WR/TE's, especially when they're playing gimpy. Need someone to stretch the field.

 

Defense obviously needs talent upgrades in addition to the coaching overhaul.

 

 

Isn't Wilson supposed to be that deep threat?

He's got pretty good speed but is definitely no burner. I'm thinking Eddie Royal, Johnny Knox type. Either of those guys in their prime (which is basically like 24-25 for those types) would open this offense so much.

 

This draft looks better for bigger WR, but I'm sure we can get one late still. Bonus points if he can return kicks.

 

 

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I love Tyler Lockett of K-State.

He's probably the best of the bunch but as such may get overvalued for teams looking for that skillset. It's a much better spot to be in if you need any type of receiver.

 

 

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I imagine you can get Dres Anderson (Utah), Byron Marshall (Oregon) or Pig Howard (Tennessee) lower in the draft to play a similar role though I think only Anderson is advanced enough to step into a contributor role next season itself.

[Guest]

If you don't trust your new GM to find a QB, then you've hired the wrong guy. Being satisfied with a QB that is clearly between 10-20 in the NFL with no real chance of being a top-5 QB, then you HAVE to have great talent around him and a great defense. That's the thing with Cutler, if he were on the Texans, wouldn't they be easily in the playoffs? But when it's basically all on him, it doesn't seem to be working well.

this is a pretty emphatic no

 

he's earning $15m more than Fitzpatrick, who can easily be argued has outproduced him...without the benefit of hindsight, try cutting $13m in players off the Texans and then look at their roster with Cutler

 

saying Cutler's a top-20 QB and it's not his fault the defense is so bad misses a huge component of the problem; similarly productive QBs like Orton, Fitzpatrick, Hill usually don't take up much cap space at all and you're left with so much more capability to fill in holes

 

And to be specific on the Texans here, If they had Cutler, they probably HAD to trade Andre or something to be able to extend Watt. I don't think they would've been able to give Watt that deal if Cutler was with the Texans on the same deal.

 

All fair points, especially the money, though Cutler is far better than Orton/Fitz/Hill. Aren't the Cardinals paying Carson Palmer about the same as Cutler? Cutler could do just as well as Palmer, if not better, with the Cardinals D and Bruce Arians as the coach.

Not sure what they're paying Palmer now but they did extend him. Thing with the Cardinals is they project to be over the cap right now. I assume it can't be too bad otherwise they wouldn't have extended Palmer but I imagine they'll have at least one or two tough cuts themselves.

 

 

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[cubbyvirus00]

I'm leaning towards drafting a quality OLineman and trying to do some of what the Cowboys do. Lean on a power run game a bit more letting Cutler take more calculated shots down field as opposed to letting him throw 30-40 times a game.

[Splendid Splinter]

Running good routes is just another way to be faster than your competition. Call it quick or anything you want, but vertical separation is what's being talked about. I would agree you can't just get a track star.

 

 

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Yeah I was thinking of someone like Jordy Nelson. He's not "fast", but gets open a lot because of route running. He can run the whole route tree, get out of the cuts/breaks/etc cleanly, and get great separation (vertical and lateral). I don't care if the WR runs a 4.6 like Jerry Rice or whatever he ran if he can get separation like that. Isn't Boldin considered a very good route runner? I was thinking more along that line more so than a Eddie Royal or Johnny Knox type, but either one works though.

 

 

I also was thinking about this, but why don't the Bears call slants? The opposing teams does it a lot against the Bears D, but Bears rarely call those. It should replace some of the 173249845 WR screens they call each game.

[Guest]

Well my examples are a little more reasonable to obtain than the best WR ever and one of the top 10/15 in the game...

 

As a similar example though, maybe a Julian Edelman type? He only ran a 4.52 so not you're classic burner but still would get good separation and return punts.

 

 

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[Splendid Splinter]

Well my examples are a little more reasonable to obtain than the best WR ever and one of the top 10/15 in the game...

 

As a similar example though, maybe a Julian Edelman type? He only ran a 4.52 so not you're classic burner but still would get good separation and return punts.

 

 

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Yeah that'll work. I just knew Nelson ran a 4.5s so I used him. Wes Welker is another example. He ran like 4.65ish??

[Guest]

Wes Welker is also pretty ambitious also, but I get the point. Frankly I don't care if he's 4.3 with sloppy footwork or 4.5 with impeccable footwork. You're basically talking about a 4.4 guy either way in real terms.

 

ETA- not just footwork although that's like half of route running. Footwork & body control.

 

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[Guest]

Some CBS mock drafts:

 

Rob Rang has the Bears taking Florida DE Dante Fowler at 9. Passed on Notre Dame OT Ronnie Stanley who went 10 and Washington OLB Shaq Thompson who went 21: http://mweb.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/mock-draft

 

Dane Brugler has the Bears going with Alabama S Landon Collins - Dante Fowler went 14, Baylor DE Shawn Oakman went 15 and Thompson went 17: http://mweb.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/mock-draft

[rawaction]

The Bears offense was fine last year without that type of WR. That's a luxury right now. They can obviously score enough with Marshall, Jeffery, Bennett, and Forte. Wilson will help. Maybe they get something out of Bellamy next year. And I'm pretty sure they'll bring in a KR type, but it's way down the list behind DE, LBx2, S, CB, OT, OC, and backup OG and QB.

[rawaction]

Some CBS mock drafts:

 

Rob Rang has the Bears taking Florida DE Dante Fowler at 9. Passed on Notre Dame OT Ronnie Stanley who went 10 and Washington OLB Shaq Thompson who went 21: http://mweb.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/mock-draft

 

Dane Brugler has the Bears going with Alabama S Landon Collins - Dante Fowler went 14, Baylor DE Shawn Oakman went 15 and Thompson went 17: http://mweb.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/mock-draft

 

Stanley is the read deal. Tough to pass him up. Really starting to like the thought of going 3-4 and taking Fowler and then trying to get a S in the 2nd. I don't know about Collins in the top 10, plus I think the Bears need a S than can really cover.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Posted this in the lions thread, prolly belongs here: http://chi.247sports.com/Bolt/Report-Trestman-Likely-Fired-At-Seasons-End-33914574

[jersey cubs fan]

The Bears offense was fine last year without that type of WR. That's a luxury right now. They can obviously score enough with Marshall, Jeffery, Bennett, and Forte. Wilson will help. Maybe they get something out of Bellamy next year. And I'm pretty sure they'll bring in a KR type, but it's way down the list behind DE, LBx2, S, CB, OT, OC, and backup OG and QB.

 

Their older receivers were also younger last year and less slowed by age/injury. Teams adjusted to the system and that was one of the things they were able to exploit.

[jersey cubs fan]

Posted this in the lions thread, prolly belongs here: http://chi.247sports.com/Bolt/Report-Trestman-Likely-Fired-At-Seasons-End-33914574

it was mentioned in the other game thread

[Guest]

The Bears offense was fine last year without that type of WR. That's a luxury right now. They can obviously score enough with Marshall, Jeffery, Bennett, and Forte. Wilson will help. Maybe they get something out of Bellamy next year. And I'm pretty sure they'll bring in a KR type, but it's way down the list behind DE, LBx2, S, CB, OT, OC, and backup OG and QB.

Its a luxury, but not an unobtainable one based on cost IMO. We should have enough cap space for at least 3 solid spots in FA with highish priced vets. Hopefully the top two picks fill two of those spots immediately. That's 5/8 of the ones you listed. All depends on how you allocate those resources but there's enough leeway on some of those spots to fill the "underrated" route as would this WR. Two of the spots you listed alone are backups who only plays during injury vs a WR who would get regular offensive and ST snaps.

[cubbyvirus00]

Collins at 9 is a slight reach IMO.

 

 

You gotta go with the stud OT or DE IMO

[Guest]

Can never go wrong with an edge rusher. Just don't [expletive] it up like with Shea. :)

 

Assuming they address DB in Free Agency though, like I think makes sense, I'll take any position among the front 7. Other than maybe DT, but I don't think there will be one there who'd make sense.

[Guest]

if we went 3-4, i'd take Collins and move him to inside linebacker.

[rawaction]

The Bears offense was fine last year without that type of WR. That's a luxury right now. They can obviously score enough with Marshall, Jeffery, Bennett, and Forte. Wilson will help. Maybe they get something out of Bellamy next year. And I'm pretty sure they'll bring in a KR type, but it's way down the list behind DE, LBx2, S, CB, OT, OC, and backup OG and QB.

Its a luxury, but not an unobtainable one based on cost IMO. We should have enough cap space for at least 3 solid spots in FA with highish priced vets. Hopefully the top two picks fill two of those spots immediately. That's 5/8 of the ones you listed. All depends on how you allocate those resources but there's enough leeway on some of those spots to fill the "underrated" route as would this WR. Two of the spots you listed alone are backups who only plays during injury vs a WR who would get regular offensive and ST snaps.

 

True. And I have a WR in the 3rd or 4th in my personal mock draft. But that's provided free agency yields dividends.

[Guest]

Also, while I'm not opposed to two LB, that's definitely a spot I'd roll the dice with only one addition, as long as it was a really solid one.

 

Bring back Sharpton and you're counting on him, Jones, and Bostic to cover 1.5 spots. I'll take my chances if I need to.

[Lenny]

I'm leaning towards drafting a quality OLineman and trying to do some of what the Cowboys do. Lean on a power run game a bit more letting Cutler take more calculated shots down field as opposed to letting him throw 30-40 times a game.

 

That absolutely would have worked (and should have been the plan) two years ago. This team is too long in the tooth to try it now.

 

What no one seems to be asking is, does he even want to be in Chicago anymore? Probably gonna get [expletive] for it here, but I found the Vandy caps the past few PCs very odd.

[rawaction]

Also, while I'm not opposed to two LB, that's definitely a spot I'd roll the dice with only one addition, as long as it was a really solid one.

 

Bring back Sharpton and you're counting on him, Jones, and Bostic to cover 1.5 spots. I'll take my chances if I need to.

 

First, the Bears are losing 2 LBs. Briggs and Williams. Second, I don't think u can count on any of the LBs left on the roster to perform next year. Bostic is bad. Jones is talented but not enough for anyone to draft him after a positive weed test. Sharpton played 2 games after not being on a team early in the year. I think u need 1 vet and 1 top 100 draft pick at the position.

[Guest]

Also, while I'm not opposed to two LB, that's definitely a spot I'd roll the dice with only one addition, as long as it was a really solid one.

 

Bring back Sharpton and you're counting on him, Jones, and Bostic to cover 1.5 spots. I'll take my chances if I need to.

 

First, the Bears are losing 2 LBs. Briggs and Williams. Second, I don't think u can count on any of the LBs left on the roster to perform next year. Bostic is bad. Jones is talented but not enough for anyone to draft him after a positive weed test. Sharpton played 2 games after not being on a team early in the year. I think u need 1 vet and 1 top 100 draft pick at the position.

I say one and a half because you're likely in nickel around half the time. I'd be okay with a vet obviously, but it doesn't necessarily need to be a very big signing. Another Sharpton type honestly and just throw up and see what sticks. However if that LB we draft is closer to 100 than 9, I wouldn't quite feel the same.

[rawaction]

I'd throw bodies at the back 7 the way the Bears did ay the front 4 last offseason. Overhaul is needed.

[Guest]

Well seven is more than four so it will be tough, but yea.

 

If I had one stud LB I'd be okay just shuffling other guys in and out with him. Feel like Bendarick McKinney or Shaq Thompson can maybe be those guys...