The Bears offseason

[jersey cubs fan]

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[David]

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[UMFan83]

Vegas set the Bears O/U at 7.5 wins next year. Maybe I've been beaten down by reading negative Bears predictions for 2016 in the national media, but that seems fairly reasonable. Take the over though. With average luck (including average injury luck), I see the Bears winning 8 at a minimum.

[UMFan83]

Also, anyone have any idea what Jason La Canfora is talking about here:

And I'm not loving what I am hearing out of the Bears facility these days. I don't see them being poised to take what would have to be a fairly huge jump to get back to respectability. I see them bringing up the rear again.

[cubbyvirus00]

Also, anyone have any idea what Jason La Canfora is talking about here:

And I'm not loving what I am hearing out of the Bears facility these days. I don't see them being poised to take what would have to be a fairly huge jump to get back to respectability. I see them bringing up the rear again.

 

 

La Canfora is a joke. He rarely breaks accurate information and his frequent speculation is wrong. He's just spouting nonsense and it's also impossible to know how good the Bears will be.

[UMFan83]

Also, anyone have any idea what Jason La Canfora is talking about here:

And I'm not loving what I am hearing out of the Bears facility these days. I don't see them being poised to take what would have to be a fairly huge jump to get back to respectability. I see them bringing up the rear again.

 

 

La Canfora is a joke. He rarely breaks accurate information and his frequent speculation is wrong. He's just spouting nonsense and it's also impossible to know how good the Bears will be.

 

Fair enough, just concerns me when I read something that could be interpreted as chemistry issues because of what happened 2 years ago. But everything I've read about the Bears locker room seems to be positive.

[David]

Also, anyone have any idea what Jason La Canfora is talking about here:

 

 

La Canfora is a joke. He rarely breaks accurate information and his frequent speculation is wrong. He's just spouting nonsense and it's also impossible to know how good the Bears will be.

 

Fair enough, just concerns me when I read something that could be interpreted as chemistry issues because of what happened 2 years ago. But everything I've read about the Bears locker room seems to be positive.

 

only think i could think of remotely close to that is the alshon situation.

[David]

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yikes...imagine if we had picked him after what happened last year

[jersey cubs fan]

how is that even possible?

[WrigleyField 22]

how is that even possible?

I don't know, but glad we didn't draft him now.

[raw]

how is that even possible?

 

He was flagged for a shoulder issue at the combine. Had to go back for a medical re-check based on the concerns of 1 team (Jags, IIRC). He was cleared on the re-check. Obviously, there was an existing issue there with the shoulder because that would have to be one hell of a swim move to tear up his shoulder.

[UMFan83]

Have to call this one a minor surprise if true

 

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[jersey cubs fan]

Have to call this one a minor surprise if true

 

why surprise? there's been talk of the current regime liking him

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/ct-biggs-willie-young-bears-spt-1217-20151216-column.html

 

Quickly, he learned the key to success on Sunday had everything to do with work that was done on the other six days of the week. Five years later, Young has been more studious than ever even as he jokes about transitioning to outside linebacker.

 

"I have never seen a guy commit himself in terms of the meeting room and the notes he is taking," outside linebackers coach Clint Hurtt said. "He's taking notes the night before the game, just constantly writing stuff down."

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Young has 5 1/2 sacks and one in four consecutive games for the first time in his career. He's tied with McPhee for the team lead with 18 quarterback pressures. It seems a blessing the Bears didn't trade Young earlier in the year when general manager Ryan Pace was shopping a variety of players. All of a sudden it appears Young, 29, could be a part of the team's future and he's a bargain for next season when he's owed $2.5 million in the final year of a $9 million, three-year contract he got from former GM Phil Emery.

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"He is playing much better as the season wears on, and he's getting better and better," defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. "It has been a little bit each and every week. There hasn't been that one jump. It has been a gradual process for him."

 

"(Fangio and I) have a solid argument every day that I come into work about me being a defensive end or … that other thing," Young said.

 

"Right, well, whatever," Fangio said. "I don't care if he says that. I'm sure he's just having fun with you guys. He's doing what we ask him to do. It's no issue."

 

Said Hurtt: "He's an outside linebacker and you tell him I said that."

 

Young chuckled when informed. Sure, if given a choice he would prefer a 4-3 defensive front but he's enjoying the challenges in front of him and he's playing well again. That's good enough for the Bears to make him a part of the future. If Young closes strong in the final three games, it's worth wondering if he will present a case to the team that he has outplayed his contract.

 

"I don't know," he said. "I haven't really gotten to that part of it yet. I have so much stuff to do and worry about with this 3-4 I don't have time to sit down and think about anything other than when I am going to find a little window to go fishing."

[raw]

It's a surprise because Young will be 31 in Week 2 and a 2 year extension takes him thru his age 33 season, for a team that has gotten rid of almost everyone that has either been 30+ or an odd fit....Young is both.

[jersey cubs fan]

Well, they have the space and need for bodies on defense and the coaches don't seem to view him as an odd fit.

Not sure what's odd

[UMFan83]

Well, they have the space and need for bodies on defense and the coaches don't seem to view him as an odd fit.

Not sure what's odd

 

Didn't he ask for a trade last year? That's why I thought it was odd.

[jersey cubs fan]

some "alshon better get into camp soon" talk recently.

 

[tweet]https://twitter.com/TeamJeffery_/status/733314898017443843[/tweet]

[raw]

Well, they have the space and need for bodies on defense and the coaches don't seem to view him as an odd fit.

Not sure what's odd

 

Didn't he ask for a trade last year? That's why I thought it was odd.

 

Yeah, I meant more of a perceived bad fit. He's a 4-3 DE by trade, has stated he prefers that scheme, and has been involved in trade/cut rumors the last 12 months. I personally think he's a fine fit. He's a pass rusher. You can do that in any defense.

[jersey cubs fan]

Well, they have the space and need for bodies on defense and the coaches don't seem to view him as an odd fit.

Not sure what's odd

 

Didn't he ask for a trade last year? That's why I thought it was odd.

There were reports he asked for a trade after Jared Allen was traded. But the glowing/growing relationship stories came a couple months later, which should tell you that the team was feeding this to the beat guys and positive on him in general. I think the fact that it's May now should put a rest to there being any real surprise to them looking at an extension with him. They kept him at cut time and through the draft and are seemingly trying to build a competitive 2016 team on the strength of a rejuvenated defense. They've cut ties with plenty of other guys, and while teams often clean house in a system overhaul, that doesn't always mean everything/everybody must go. And the fact that they haven't cut ties with him yet, have cap space, still need bodies and fed positive stories to the press last December should at least make it plausible that they'd want to keep him past this season. That said, this could just be a negotiating tool with Alshon showing that the Bears are willing to extend established Emery era players. And maybe they cut him next week.

[David]

Fun exchange between the Bears and Panthers Twitter accounts over the past couple hours. Edited May 26, 2016 by David

[jersey cubs fan]

Fun exchange between the Bears and Panthers Twitter accounts of the past couple hours.

I was lost

[UMFan83]

Fun exchange between the Bears and Panthers Twitter accounts over the past couple hours.

 

These team twitter account exchanges are amusing until you think about the fact that its just 2 bored social media guys tweeting gifs and memes to each other.

[Butterscup]

Fun exchange between the Bears and Panthers Twitter accounts over the past couple hours.

 

These team twitter account exchanges are amusing until you think about the fact that its just 2 bored social media guys tweeting gifs and memes to each other.

 

basically all of us on this message board

[David]

Figured PFF would be relatively high on us...8th in NFC

 

https://www.profootballfocus.com/pro-cardinals-own-top-spot-in-first-nfc-projections-of-2016/

 

8. Chicago Bears (8-8)

After a 6-10 season, the Bears should be one of the most-improved teams, thanks to a completely revamped front-seven. After adding Eddie Goldman and Pernell McPhee a year ago, they completed the renovation with inside linebackers Jerrell Freeman and Danny Trevathan, defensive ends Akiem Hicks and rookie Johnathan Bullard, and rookie outside linebacker Leonard Floyd. On offense, they have WR Kevin White returning from injury. The downside is that they lost Matt Forte (signed with the Jets), the league’s highest-graded running back from Week 12 and on, as well as long-time tight end Martellus Bennett (now with the Patriots). Kyle Long is the only projected O-line starter who played above a replacement level in 2015. Put that all together, and you might only have baby steps in the right direction, but Chicago is trending upwards.

[KrisBryantisaBeast]

Figured PFF would be relatively high on us...8th in NFC

 

https://www.profootballfocus.com/pro-cardinals-own-top-spot-in-first-nfc-projections-of-2016/

 

8. Chicago Bears (8-8)

After a 6-10 season, the Bears should be one of the most-improved teams, thanks to a completely revamped front-seven. After adding Eddie Goldman and Pernell McPhee a year ago, they completed the renovation with inside linebackers Jerrell Freeman and Danny Trevathan, defensive ends Akiem Hicks and rookie Johnathan Bullard, and rookie outside linebacker Leonard Floyd. On offense, they have WR Kevin White returning from injury. The downside is that they lost Matt Forte (signed with the Jets), the league’s highest-graded running back from Week 12 and on, as well as long-time tight end Martellus Bennett (now with the Patriots). Kyle Long is the only projected O-line starter who played above a replacement level in 2015. Put that all together, and you might only have baby steps in the right direction, but Chicago is trending upwards.

 

I wouldn't say that 8-8 is relatively high that sounds about right.