Bears off-season thread 2022

[UMFan83]

I know people are looking at it as Fields isn't going to be able to succeed with a bad OL and without weapons. But we've seen guys have success in similar situations before. Josh Allen had a very similar "supporting cast" in year 2. Joe Burrow's OL led to a torn ACL and then he led them to a Superbowl despite them still not being that good. \.

 

Im rather skeptical that Cincinnati will ever make it back to the SB with their current build. Even with massive upgrades to the OL and skill players on offense, talent wise they would only start to be online with the together AFC leaders like Buffalo or KC. They were a fluke, and LA showed the world that in end

 

such a weird comment. they maybe did go on a bit of a fortunate run but they have a ton of great skill players and won at KC in the playoffs. You make it seem like the Rams exposed the Bengals and crushed them in the Super Bowl when the Bengals were leading the game the entire second half and didn't lose the lead until 90 seconds were left in the game, but even still were within 8-9 yards of a FG to send it to OT. Burrow got sacked 7 times so it did expose their OLine issues...no one is disputing that this was a glaring weakness for them, but it doesn't make them a fluke

[raw]

. But usually, having the highest paid DT, CB, high paid WRs and OL

 

The Bears dont have any of this. They have cap space, but instated of committing one way or the other Poles has chose the center lane of blah

 

I mean, yeah...that's the point of what I'm saying. He didn't go full rebuild because he potentially has a QB and didn't have the draft picks. And he didn't go all-in in free agency, because he potentially doesn't have a QB.

 

There's a chance Fields is great. If he is, then 2022 will be a step in that direction then you commit to him.

There's a chance Fields is not great. If he isn't, then 2022 will be a step in the wrong direction, but you aren't magnifying that by having committed to him by spending a ton on players to surround him with.

 

Think of what the Dolphins will be if Tua isn't good this season. Think of what the Eagles will be if Hurts isn't good. Poles doesn't want to become that.

[minnesotacubsfan]

I know people are looking at it as Fields isn't going to be able to succeed with a bad OL and without weapons. But we've seen guys have success in similar situations before. Josh Allen had a very similar "supporting cast" in year 2. Joe Burrow's OL led to a torn ACL and then he led them to a Superbowl despite them still not being that good. \.

 

Im rather skeptical that Cincinnati will ever make it back to the SB with their current build. Even with massive upgrades to the OL and skill players on offense, talent wise they would only start to be online with the together AFC leaders like Buffalo or KC. They were a fluke, and LA showed the world that in end

 

uh they have joe burrow, joe mixon, ja'marr chase, tee higgins... tyler boyd is their 3rd best WR.

 

what massive upgrades do they need to their skill players?

 

Mixon isn't much of an upgrade over Montgomery, 4.1 ypc. receiving wise, they are very similar. I'll chalk that up to the waning importance of RB's in the NFL in general, but its certainly an area where Cincy could be better.

 

Burrow, Chase, and Higgins are their best assets. They still need massive upgrades to the OL and probably TE - although I type this not knowing what they did in the draft and offseason. Did they improve?

[mul21]

. But usually, having the highest paid DT, CB, high paid WRs and OL

 

The Bears dont have any of this. They have cap space, but instated of committing one way or the other Poles has chose the center lane of blah

 

I mean, yeah...that's the point of what I'm saying. He didn't go full rebuild because he potentially has a QB and didn't have the draft picks. And he didn't go all-in in free agency, because he potentially doesn't have a QB.

 

There's a chance Fields is great. If he is, then 2022 will be a step in that direction then you commit to him.

There's a chance Fields is not great. If he isn't, then 2022 will be a step in the wrong direction, but you aren't magnifying that by having committed to him by spending a ton on players to surround him with.

 

Think of what the Dolphins will be if Tua isn't good this season. Think of what the Eagles will be if Hurts isn't good. Poles doesn't want to become that.

 

This logic confuses me. "Let's be bad everywhere to make the QB prove he's worth supporting" makes no sense at all. I get not signing one final piece that you overpay for to get you to a Super Bowl in this situation, but having Swiss cheese for an O line and the sisters of the poor at WR just keeps you that much farther away from contending. We all know this doesn't happen in a one year switch flip so being completely barren of good players at important positions just seems really short sighted to me. You get as good as you can everywhere and if the QB doesn't work out, you go find a new one.

[PackLandVA]

Ted Karras at C, Alex Cappa at RG, and La'el Collins at RT might be some improvement on the O-line for the Bungles.

 

I think their issues will be on the other side of the ball.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Ted Karras at C, Alex Cappa at RG, and La'el Collins at RT might be some improvement on the O-line for the Bungles.

 

I think their issues will be on the other side of the ball.

 

all 3 were backups or cast off by their former team...its not like Cincy made huge strides there

[David]

Ted Karras at C, Alex Cappa at RG, and La'el Collins at RT might be some improvement on the O-line for the Bungles.

 

I think their issues will be on the other side of the ball.

 

all 3 were backups or cast off by their former team...its not like Cincy made huge strides there

 

Ted Karras - https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/ted-karras/10855

 

Alex Cappa - https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/alex-cappa/66578

 

La'el Collins - https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/lael-collins/9719

 

https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-most-improved-unimproved-position-groups-2022-nfl-free-agency

 

but hey pull some more stuff out of your ass

[PackLandVA]

Ted Karras at C, Alex Cappa at RG, and La'el Collins at RT might be some improvement on the O-line for the Bungles.

 

I think their issues will be on the other side of the ball.

 

all 3 were backups or cast off by their former team...its not like Cincy made huge strides there

 

So, a couple of things:

 

-Don't know if you skimmed my reply or not, but the key word is might, might be some improvement.

 

-All three were not backups or castoffs. Ted Karras started the season as a backup but became the starter within a few weeks and started the remaining 13 games for the Pats. And he started every game the previous two seasons in the NFL. Alex Cappa has started every game at G for TB the last 3 seasons. And La'el Collins was the Cowboys starter at T for the last 4 years not counting the 5 games he was suspended last year for substance abuse.

 

-I would imagine there could be a variety of reasons each was let go/allowed to sign with a new team - contract demands, free up cap space, younger player waiting in the wings, drug suspensions, whatever. But because a player was "cast off" by another team doesn't mean it was performance based. Collins is one of the best T in the NFL. And Karras and Cappa add a tone of starting experience.

 

- I don't know how much stock you put into ProFootballFocus. Some love it, some hate it. It's certainly not an exact science. But here are the grades of the 3 players above, just from last year compared to the Bengals player:

 

La'el Collins - 84.0 v Riley Reiff - 67.3

Alex Cappa - 74.2 v Hakeem Adenji - 48.4

Ted Karras (at LG) - 73.0 v Trey Hopkins - 51.4

 

Just based on those alone, I'd say on paper it might be an improvement. Guess time will tell.

[PackLandVA]

Ted Karras at C, Alex Cappa at RG, and La'el Collins at RT might be some improvement on the O-line for the Bungles.

 

I think their issues will be on the other side of the ball.

 

all 3 were backups or cast off by their former team...its not like Cincy made huge strides there

 

Ted Karras - https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/ted-karras/10855

 

Alex Cappa - https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/alex-cappa/66578

 

La'el Collins - https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/lael-collins/9719

 

https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-most-improved-unimproved-position-groups-2022-nfl-free-agency

 

but hey pull some more stuff out of your ass

 

 

LOL!! You beat me to the punch!!

[minnesotacubsfan]

Ted Karras at C, Alex Cappa at RG, and La'el Collins at RT might be some improvement on the O-line for the Bungles.

 

I think their issues will be on the other side of the ball.

 

all 3 were backups or cast off by their former team...its not like Cincy made huge strides there

 

So, a couple of things:

 

-Don't know if you skimmed my reply or not, but the key word is might, might be some improvement.

 

-All three were not backups or castoffs. Ted Karras started the season as a backup but became the starter within a few weeks and started the remaining 13 games for the Pats. And he started every game the previous two seasons in the NFL. Alex Cappa has started every game at G for TB the last 3 seasons. And La'el Collins was the Cowboys starter at T for the last 4 years not counting the 5 games he was suspended last year for substance abuse.

 

-I would imagine there could be a variety of reasons each was let go/allowed to sign with a new team - contract demands, free up cap space, younger player waiting in the wings, drug suspensions, whatever. But because a player was "cast off" by another team doesn't mean it was performance based. Collins is one of the best T in the NFL. And Karras and Cappa add a tone of starting experience.

 

- I don't know how much stock you put into ProFootballFocus. Some love it, some hate it. It's certainly not an exact science. But here are the grades of the 3 players above, just from last year compared to the Bengals player:

 

La'el Collins - 84.0 v Riley Reiff - 67.3

Alex Cappa - 74.2 v Hakeem Adenji - 48.4

Ted Karras (at LG) - 73.0 v Trey Hopkins - 51.4

 

Just based on those alone, I'd say on paper it might be an improvement. Guess time will tell.

 

I read your "might be an improvement", but no I don't put a lot of stock into PFF grades. Reiff, for instance, is on the downside of his career but prior was fairly standard from 2016-2020. none of these guys were thought of as being top flight OL options in the offseason. In fact, your own PFF rated Reiff as a better FA option than his replacement Collins https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-2022-nfl-free-agency-rankings-offensive-tackles

 

I reread my post, and yea it sounded snipey - I apologize for that because it wasn't meant to be. I really think Cincy got lucky/caught a wave/whatever you want to call it to the SB but ignoring the OL is not the way I'd want to build a team around Fields. To add to that, at least Cincy has done a better job than Poles by getting Burrows Higgins and Chase. Poles has.......db's? IDK. Hopefully, Poles is a genius to prove us all amateurs. I'll be happy to be a fool in that setting

[minnesotacubsfan]

Ted Karras at C, Alex Cappa at RG, and La'el Collins at RT might be some improvement on the O-line for the Bungles.

 

I think their issues will be on the other side of the ball.

 

all 3 were backups or cast off by their former team...its not like Cincy made huge strides there

 

Ted Karras - https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/ted-karras/10855

 

Alex Cappa - https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/alex-cappa/66578

 

La'el Collins - https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/lael-collins/9719

 

https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-most-improved-unimproved-position-groups-2022-nfl-free-agency

 

but hey pull some more stuff out of your ass

 

well, ok. Since you love pff so much, why are none of them here, while one of those they are replacing is(?):

https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-2022-nfl-free-agency-rankings-offensive-tackles

[David]

 

all 3 were backups or cast off by their former team...its not like Cincy made huge strides there

 

Ted Karras - https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/ted-karras/10855

 

Alex Cappa - https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/alex-cappa/66578

 

La'el Collins - https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/lael-collins/9719

 

https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-most-improved-unimproved-position-groups-2022-nfl-free-agency

 

but hey pull some more stuff out of your ass

 

well, ok. Since you love pff so much, why are none of them here, while one of those they are replacing is(?):

https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-2022-nfl-free-agency-rankings-offensive-tackles

 

well, collins wasn't available until march and that was written in january and the other two guys aren't tackles

[imb]

 

Ted Karras - https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/ted-karras/10855

 

Alex Cappa - https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/alex-cappa/66578

 

La'el Collins - https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/lael-collins/9719

 

https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-most-improved-unimproved-position-groups-2022-nfl-free-agency

 

but hey pull some more stuff out of your ass

 

well, ok. Since you love pff so much, why are none of them here, while one of those they are replacing is(?):

https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-2022-nfl-free-agency-rankings-offensive-tackles

 

well, collins wasn't available until march and that was written in january and the other two guys aren't tackles

 

other than that though!

[PackLandVA]

 

none of these guys were thought of as being top flight OL options in the offseason. In fact, your own PFF rated Reiff as a better FA option than his replacement Collins https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-2022-nfl-free-agency-rankings-offensive-tackles

 

 

I wonder if the PFF article (from Jan 2022) lists Reiff as a "top" OL free agent while La'el Collins is not even listed has anything to do with Collins not being a free agent until the middle of March (after released by the Cowboys). Collins seems like a turd of a person, but he's one of the top tier Tackles in league. So, yea, I'd say Collins is a "top flight" signing.

 

Cappa is a pretty solid option at G. Fun stat - Alex Cappa has allowed 7 sacks in 2,225 career snaps. Hakeem Adeniji allowed 9 sacks in 777 snaps in 2021. Seems like it's probably an upgrade.

[minnesotacubsfan]

 

Ted Karras - https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/ted-karras/10855

 

Alex Cappa - https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/alex-cappa/66578

 

La'el Collins - https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/lael-collins/9719

 

https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-most-improved-unimproved-position-groups-2022-nfl-free-agency

 

but hey pull some more stuff out of your ass

 

well, ok. Since you love pff so much, why are none of them here, while one of those they are replacing is(?):

https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-2022-nfl-free-agency-rankings-offensive-tackles

 

well, collins wasn't available until march and that was written in january and the other two guys aren't tackles

 

fair point, I didnt realize that about Collins.

[PackLandVA]

 

all 3 were backups or cast off by their former team...its not like Cincy made huge strides there

 

Ted Karras - https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/ted-karras/10855

 

Alex Cappa - https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/alex-cappa/66578

 

La'el Collins - https://www.pff.com/nfl/players/lael-collins/9719

 

https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-most-improved-unimproved-position-groups-2022-nfl-free-agency

 

but hey pull some more stuff out of your ass

 

well, ok. Since you love pff so much, why are none of them here, while one of those they are replacing is(?):

https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-2022-nfl-free-agency-rankings-offensive-tackles

 

 

 

DAMMIT! You beat ne to it again!

[raw]

 

The Bears dont have any of this. They have cap space, but instated of committing one way or the other Poles has chose the center lane of blah

 

I mean, yeah...that's the point of what I'm saying. He didn't go full rebuild because he potentially has a QB and didn't have the draft picks. And he didn't go all-in in free agency, because he potentially doesn't have a QB.

 

There's a chance Fields is great. If he is, then 2022 will be a step in that direction then you commit to him.

There's a chance Fields is not great. If he isn't, then 2022 will be a step in the wrong direction, but you aren't magnifying that by having committed to him by spending a ton on players to surround him with.

 

Think of what the Dolphins will be if Tua isn't good this season. Think of what the Eagles will be if Hurts isn't good. Poles doesn't want to become that.

 

This logic confuses me. "Let's be bad everywhere to make the QB prove he's worth supporting" makes no sense at all. I get not signing one final piece that you overpay for to get you to a Super Bowl in this situation, but having Swiss cheese for an O line and the sisters of the poor at WR just keeps you that much farther away from contending. We all know this doesn't happen in a one year switch flip so being completely barren of good players at important positions just seems really short sighted to me. You get as good as you can everywhere and if the QB doesn't work out, you go find a new one.

 

I'm not saying that I agree with the logic. But I don't think it was necessarily Poles' intention to be bad everywhere. I think he set out to go bargain shopping (and at the time the Bears didn't really have a ton of cap and like 30 positions to fill), but the bargains were not coming the way he thought they would. He got Patrick, tried to get the RFA guy from Buffalo, and I'm sure was interested in other guys that went for much more money than he expected.

 

I think that 1 really good OL would make a huge difference on how I feel about the OL. One guy at RG that you can play and not have to worry about if he's going to give you league average play would be nice. And one really good one is obviously a building block that can be around by the time the next QB is ready to go, even if Fields isn't him. As for WR, I'm fine with that group. Obviously, it's not a good group, but it doesn't make much sense to me to have paid or traded for a big named, big money WR. I'd rather have Pringle at his cost than any other WR that changed teams at his cost (money and picks included for some). I also feel like fans would feel much better if they drafted WR in the 2nd instead of the 3rd, but at that point you're still talking about prospects and biases toward predetermined preferences plays a part here. The Bears clearly identified Jones as more of a fit than guys like Pickens, for an offense we all haven't even seen yet to determine who would be the better pick.

[UMFan83]

Another Bears FA signing got in trouble with the law before playing a game with the Bears

 

[Old Style]

[CubinNY]

Heart breaking.

[raw]

Heart breaking.

 

Yeah, at this point I want it over for him. Has to be in unbearable pain and discomfort.

[WrigleyField 22]

Heart breaking.

 

Yeah, at this point I want it over for him. Has to be in unbearable pain and discomfort.

Pain/discomfort wise it's, to my understanding, not physically so. Mentally is of course a different story. Not to minimize that aspect, but having lost a uncle to a similar disease to ALS, I'll say the emotions around end of life care and quality of life and such are generally much more complex that say, someone who's body is being wrecked by cancer.

[raw]

Heart breaking.

 

Yeah, at this point I want it over for him. Has to be in unbearable pain and discomfort.

Pain/discomfort wise it's, to my understanding, not physically so. Mentally is of course a different story. Not to minimize that aspect, but having lost a uncle to a similar disease to ALS, I'll say the emotions around end of life care and quality of life and such are generally much more complex that say, someone who's body is being wrecked by cancer.

 

Ok, I've been trying to figure out this comment but I'm really not sure what you're saying here. LOL.

[cl smooth]

 

Yeah, at this point I want it over for him. Has to be in unbearable pain and discomfort.

Pain/discomfort wise it's, to my understanding, not physically so. Mentally is of course a different story. Not to minimize that aspect, but having lost a uncle to a similar disease to ALS, I'll say the emotions around end of life care and quality of life and such are generally much more complex that say, someone who's body is being wrecked by cancer.

 

Ok, I've been trying to figure out this comment but I'm really not sure what you're saying here. LOL.

 

read an article yesterday about mcmichael having a fentanyl patch on him at all times. yeah, the dude is in constant pain.

[WrigleyField 22]

 

Yeah, at this point I want it over for him. Has to be in unbearable pain and discomfort.

Pain/discomfort wise it's, to my understanding, not physically so. Mentally is of course a different story. Not to minimize that aspect, but having lost a uncle to a similar disease to ALS, I'll say the emotions around end of life care and quality of life and such are generally much more complex that say, someone who's body is being wrecked by cancer.

 

Ok, I've been trying to figure out this comment but I'm really not sure what you're saying here. LOL.

Addressing the pain/discomfort comment. My understanding is that from a physical pain component, ALS is generally not a painful disease.