rawaction

You think Damien Wilkins is a who? You may have heard of his dad, Dominique AKA The human highlight reel.

Yeah heard this on ESPN1000 earlier today. I'm also hearing Williams may be on the hot seat to get Shaffer in there to help the run game.

I understand the reasoning, however, he's shown no ability to actually find OL and it was a fair value trade. Plus, they are in need of linemen as well. Tommie Harris may not play with the Bears after this year. This is three straight seasons of wondering if he'll ever be the same, and he's being held out as a coach's decision. They didn't have any franchise caliber ends, and the tackles are basically all depth. It's not like he was unnecessarily adding to a stacked position. If it was April 2010, and Jerry spent the first pick on a defensive end, it would not be outlandish by any stretch. Any non-1st round OL isn't like to start in year 1 anyway, And I understand your point as well, but I see OL as a bigger problem than the DLine right now. After all, the Bears O-tackles features 1 guy who has played 6 games at a mediocre level in 2 years and the other may not have 6 mediocre games left in him. The 3rd tackle's #6 comes from the number of sacks he gave up in preseason games against 2nd and 3rd team defenders. They don't have franchise DEs, but don't have franchise OTs. Have basically depth at the interior of the DL, same thing with the interior of the OL. And plenty of non-1st round OL start in their rookie seasons. In fact, of the 6 linemen drafted in the 2nd round of the 2009 draft, all 6 have started at least 1 game so far. Four of the 6 are full-time starters and were so from opening day. It is far less likely for a non-1st round DL to contribute right away, that's why spending a 1st round pick on a DE would not be outlandish and may even be desirable.

Way too late in the game. This line needed help in 2006/2007 and it wasn't until 2008 that he spent a significant draft pick on a lineman. Between the Columbo and Williams selections he ignored it far too long. And then this offseason he went crazy for a bunch of backups. Omiyale was a joke from the start. I still don't get why people thought he was quality when there was absolutely zero evidence to suggest so. He was a backup who never played. Shaffer is just depth, and Pace was well past his prime. He's washed up. He's much like Fred Miller was when they got him. He was contemplating retirement when they threw a bunch of cash at him. It's a 5 position group. The largest of any on the field. Buying an occasional free agent or draft pick is not addressing the position, it's putting your finger in the [expletive]. You need to invest heavily on the line every year. People talk about needing to draft a QB every season, but OL is much more important since there are always 5 positions to fill and nearly always 6-8 guys used in a season. Even if you hit big on one lineman, you still have 4 others positions. And this team has been relying on Kreutz to be the steady force in the middle for far too long. And it doesn't help that every time they draft a 6th/7th round lineman, he's the first casualty of roster cutdowns. They need to develop these guys. Right on. I can't believe Angelo's OL selections would be considered in a positive light. He's selected three day one linemen - Colombo and Metcalf in 2002 and Williams in 2008. Don't tell me the Bears didn't need OL for those 6 years. And we can toss 2010 into the list of non-first day linemen picks. Which is my problem with the Gaines Adams trade. To me, that trade was another case of Angelo spitting on the theory that the team needs OL help. And it's not like the Bears need depth on the OL. They need a franchise player on the OL. They need a day 1 pick at either tackle or guard spot...AT LEAST. The best hope right now is that Williams is average to slightly above, Beekman is slightly above, and Omiyale is developed into an average lineman. There's not much hope that Pace, Kruetz, or Shaffer will ever be better than just servicable again.

This should be similar to the Detroit game in which there should be some big plays available in the run game. Cleveland has allowed 170 yards per game on the ground. The Browns can't throw the ball at all, but that could change if the Bears DL decides to just watch the QB sit in the pocket again. This hasn't looked like a team that's motivated the last couple years. Didn't play motivated by getting back after the bye. Didn't play motivated defensively after a tough loss for the 2nd year in a row in ATL (gave up 41 to MIN last year after losing to ATL). Didn't play motivated with a chance to sneak into the playoffs in Houston last year. If this team has any pride, it will beat Cleveland by at least 3 TDs.

They had their chance to beat a decent team against Atlanta, but they pissed it away on turnovers. Had a chance doesn't put a notch in the W column. They had a chance in GB too. It still amounts to 1-3 on the road against teams not missing 7 or more players.

Wow, this is a fun thread. I'm not completely down on this team, but you can't make the playoffs without being able to beat a decent team away from Chicago. Even if they do get into the playoffs, it's all but a given they will need to win a playoff game on the road to even get to the NFC championship. The next 3 on the road are SF (short week), Baltimore, and Minnesota. Gotta sweep at home and win @ Detroit to have a shot at the playoffs.

I think the Bears need CB more than safeties. But last week they also needed DE help.

I would hate to trade Jennings at such a low value point. If I were you I would actually start Larry Johnson this week. Call me insane but he had a solid game last week and faces a bottom third run defense this week. I just can't see trading Jennings for a bye week replacement, he will rebound in that offense. I don't look at it as a 1-week replacement with Thomas. I will have RB by committee with my top 3 (Rice, Williams, Thomas) and play the best matchups. I've played by-committee so far (two games per week 9-3 record), but it was a lot easier with Jackson starting 3 games and Coffee starting the previous 2 with Gore hurt. Now that both of those guys are worthless, I don't want to be stuck in a situation with Rice vs. the Steelers (which will happen 2x) or Williams vs. a good D and have a chance of one of them getting very few points. I do like Larry Johnson this week vs. SD, though.

Should I trade Greg Jennings for Pierre Thomas? My RBs are Deangelo Williams and Ray Rice, but Rice is on a BYE this week and Williams is off/on. My backups are Glen Coffee (backup), Fred Jackson (backup), and Larry Johnson (has been). My WRs and flex (TE/WR) are Roddy White, Dallas Clark, and Vincent Jackson....along w/ Jennings. Jennings is on my bench right now, and my 3 starters have all had their BYES. It is a PPR league.

I think Roach was OK Sunday night. He's getting a really bad rap online, but he was fine. Question is, if Pisa is out for the year (which he's stupid if he doesn't elect surgery), then what do you do? I like Roach better in the middle than Hunter. But I also like Roach better at SLB. I think the difference is greater at SLB, therefore, I'd move Hunter back to the middle if he can play this week.

Yet, you have no problem watching Penn St? this doesn't make any sense. Penn St. is mediocre, they just win 10 games because they schedule middle school teams.

Yet, you have no problem watching Penn St?

Hey the IU/Northwestern game could essentially be for the final bowl bid from the Big Ten conference. The winner just needs to win one more game to be eligible, and IU end at home vs. Purdue (same scenario as 2007 when we went to our last bowl) and NW has @ Illinois in the next to last week. Both teams have Iowa, Penn St, and Wisconsin still, so barring a major upset this game will be the big 5th win for either team.

I don't know why they would replace Pace. Despite the dumbarse penalties, he probably had his best game as a Bear. Of course, that is pretty sad considering he got lit up in the 4th quarter. Williams shouldn't go anywhere, and I think Garza has been the best lineman on the team so far...which is also pretty sad.

It all starts with the OL and until they get that fixed Forte's going to continue to struggle. The OL isn't very good, but some of it is on Forte. He is very tentative hitting the hole now. He has been popped quite a bit this year, and I think he is a little gunshy. What happened to his ability to slip tackles? What happened to his cutback? Hell, he can't even hold onto the ball anymore, with 3-4 fumbles this year.

Play calling in the redzone was pretty bad. Sure Forte and Cutler screwed up a couple plays, but the Bears had like 12 other redzone plays that they didn't come close to scoring on. The offensive line is a waste of space right now.

I really like the Bears offense's newly found speed in this game vs. the Falcons. Devin Hester's last 4 games on turf surfaces he has gone for 19 catches and 277 yards, with 2 TDs. He also has 3 return TDs in 7 games on turf. Manning has also had some strong games returning the ball indoors. Add Bennett (who is faster than any non-Hester WR from last year), Knox, and Olsen; and I think the Bears speed offensively will be too much for the Falcons to handle. As for the Bears on defense, I think they have to get pressure from the front 4 on Ryan. Ryan has killed teams that try to blitz him. I see no reason NOT to play Adams today. He has experience in a similar system in Tampa. He has played the Falcons twice a year each year he's been in the league, and had 2 sacks against them last year. I think NE showed the formula to stop the Falcons offense. You have to use a LB and a safety to bracket Gonzalez, and hopefully take him out of the game. They you let Tillman follow Roddy White around the field all day. Tillman doesn't typically get beat deep (Berrian's 99 yarder aside), so I think the Bears will let him get the short stuff all day toward the sidelines. They also need to help the pass rush efforts out by stopping Turner and making the Falcons one-dimensional. I think it can be done.

Why not wait until the offseason? Maybe a player of Gaines' potential and upside isn't available in the offseason. Trade deadline is Tuesday. Adams himself would have been available in the offseason had the deal not been made with in the next 3 days.

Well, on this team you have to love the young nucleus on offense. The top skilled players (Cutler, Forte, Knox, Hester, Bennett, Olsen) are all 26 or under. Williams, Beekman and Omiyale are 26 or under on the OL. Afalava, Payne, and Manning are young safeties. Roach is young at LB and there are a couple young backup DL. But other than that the team is aging, especially on defense.

Why not wait until the offseason?

Adams was already in "our" system in Tampa.

Nope. The Bears potentially won't have a pick until 96th, if they win the Superbowl.

I think this move stinks. You can't look at it as Adams being a better player than whoever the Bears would pick in the 2nd round. You have to factor in Adams' contract, the 2nd rounder pick's contract, and where else the money saved could have been spent. This move may very well help the Bears this year and every year under Adams' tenure as a Bear. But will it help them more than a 2nd round pick and the extra money to play with? You are still looking at a team that will need a RT for next year (assuming Williams moves to LT on 2010), because Pace looks done. You are still looking at a team that has a C on his last legs, and mediocrity at both OG spots. You are still looking at a team that has an aging MLB who will have played 30 minutes of football in 20 months coming into the 2010 season. The starting SLB is on a 1-year deal. You still need depth at CB, the safety positions, and the D-line. And a big WR wouldn't hurt either. But now, you won't have a 1st day pick to get an impact player, preferably on the line. And you won't have the money to go out and get one.

Yes, he's shown he can be a factor. But he's a tiny WR with limited abilities, and some people are overstating how good he's been. How does he have limited abilities? Fastest player on the team, shown good hands so far, has shown he's can make a play in the open field. He's not going to win jump balls or fight through double teams or ever be an elite receiver. He's a nice player, I really like him, I'm just saying some of the love went to the extreme really fast. As I edited, you could say the same thing about Hester and Bennett. The love is a bit much, though, I agree. After seeing the plays Braylon made for the Jets, that's what's missing from the Bears offense. A big WR that can get the ball in traffic.