tfarks

They should have cut vasher

SMOKE & MIRRORS

I LOL'd

Exactly how I feel. Can't complain about bringing in Peppers and Taylor. Because Lovie came out and said the S position needs to be upgraded I'm fairly confident with the money they're throwing around one of them will be brought in, especially since they already were in negotiations with Rolle.

Well if the Cubs have a good season then bring him in for September.

I'd still to see them get a S like Clark or Sharper. I really want to see an upgrade at S, the play there has been killing them. But yeah it would be hard to complain if they landed 2 players like that. There has been zero links to any OL however, which is troubling. Unless I missed something.

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/news/story?id=4957834 Cutting Pace. Saw that coming.

Wow. If the Bears got Rolle and Kampman I would wet myself.

I feel like this post is missing a word somewhere. Dead:

Aaaand Troy Murphy will be on the Pacers until the end of time. I actually like the fact that he will stay, because expiring contracts are pure gold and the Pacers will have plenty next season. However, now how do they fix their luxury tax situation? Simon can't possibly want to take that hit on the books.

Desmond Clark is signed through 2010 right? There was speculation of the Bears cutting him but when hes healthy hes a good blocker and almost a lock for 40 catches. I think they should hold on to him. This way Olsen can share some of his tight end duties and still line up in the slot. Would Martz put him in the slot though? You hear names like Az-Hakim and Hester, so I'm assuming Olsen might be limited to the TE position almost exclusively? Don't know what Martz did in San Fran and Detroit. I would like to see him used like Dallas Clark, which I think Turner was sorta trying to do with him. Even if hes been a bit of a disappointment I think he's on the right track, especially with Cutler throwing him the ball. He just needs to run more routes than those 5 yard hitches and outs so that he can use his speed to seperate. I can't think of one good seam route from Cutler to Olsen last year.

When I was a kid growing up in the 90's and we would play ball in the yard there were usually only 2 options. If you were batting right handed you were the Big Hurt. Left handed you were Griffey.

I am more optimistic with the receivers than others. A lot of what they need to improve upon is coachable, better route running, not giving up on the route, more experience overall and with Cutler. They have plenty of speed, which is always dangerous. And if DA continues to improve they have a sizable target alongside Olsen whom Cutler is comfortable with. They just need Martz to instill those improvements, as well as an offense that puts them in space and allows them to run after the catch and use their speed downfield. The best thing for that is better pass protection. The run game won't flourish, it has regressed and with Martz in town I doubt it improves...unless Forte gets more aggressive and harder to bring down. Forte will need to catch balls and block, two things he is solid at. Kreutz has said Forte is tied for the best blocking RB's he has ever played with. Martz and Cutler will make the passing game work without a legit #1. Offensively, what they need is an upgrade at OL with one of the guard positions and solidifying someone in the RT spot. Cutler is going to need time, Martz will use a lot of 3 wide sets with Hester in the slot. I'll be interested to see how he incorporates Olsen into the offense. Outside of OL, the defense must improve substantially. The Bears were absolutely blown out what 4 times last year? Just didn't have a chance to stop the opposing team. Since Marinelli is strongly in Lovie's philosophy, unfortunately we won't see the Ron Rivera version of the Cover 2. This defense needs a serious injection of talent, mostly with the DL and safeties. We have to hope Angelo can strike his 2nd day defensive draft choices. He has to find a defensive starter in rounds 3 or 4. Maybe Alafava can improve enough to be that starter but the safety play has really hurt this team since Brown left. That's why we saw Lovie changing things up back there late in the season, it was obvious. Concerning the DL, Briggs reported that they are in negotiations with Ogunleye to bring him back. Which is a smart move provided they don't pay too much. Adams passed away and Anderson is relatively useless. But that leaves us with the same group, not to mention Ogunleye is 33 and coming off a season where he got 6 1/2 sacks all season, and 2 were in the first game against the now backup RT for the Packers. Looking at this FA list article: http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d81423860&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true I don't know who the Bears would bring in and what they are willing to pay, especially if the go FA for the OL. Gonna have to hit a strike in the draft or expect big things from Jarron Gilbert who is admittedly a wildcard with his talent and Marinelli's coaching. Perhaps a boost for the pass rush there? Basically my ramble is me thinking the offense will be fine, pretty good depending on the improvement with the OL. But the defense has a lot more to worry about. How much can an aging Urlacher bring back to the D? We got too comfortable having a strong D from year to year, a lot of pieces need to fall in place for this unit to achieve. Facing the Packers and Vikings next year, this offseason likely won't cut it. Hopefully we are all underrating Marinelli as DC. This offseason is huge for Lovie & Angelo, hopefully that makes good things happen.

I'd do it.

Saints will have an early lead. Bush will showboat. Colts will comeback in the 2nd half like clockwork. Everyone in New Orleans will be drunk regardless.

The NFL Network Super Bowl telecasts are in their entirety. I'm recording it tonight so I can suffer through it again tomorrow night. Yeah I don't know why I put myself through that. It's probably because I watched the game at a bar and never going to hear commentary and get the full "Bears in the Super Bowl" experience that I get when I watch other SB's at home or at a friends house. It was cool to watch and realize that the Bears were actually in this huge event that half the world watches and is a huge spectacle. In any event, the first quarter was fun to watch...the rest not so much. Been watching the Colts since 95', when I was only like 10. I was born in Chicago and my parents grew up there, so the Bears were always my #1 team. It was cool to see them both make it, at least this time around I don't have to cheer against the Colts. The first year they decide to not choke in the playoffs is when the Bears made it of course.

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/news/story?id=4881901 DeBord new TE coach. Was with Seattle the last 2 years.

Yes, this needs to happen. Obviously a Dungy guy, which fits into Lovie's scheme. But also had amazing success with the Colts' DBs, with 3 of the 4 starters (including a former defensive MVP) missing at least 1/2 of the season. Exactly the type of coach the Bears should be hiring, especially if they are going to stick with the same scheme. That does sound like a good hire. Besides the fact that he says neat.

Colts 27 Saints 24 Peyton will end his career as the best QB of all time.

With the pats and chargers knocked off Im definitely predicting colts all the way. This is as much as they could have hoped to have happen. Though the NFC looks strong, the colts just barely lose. Gotta bet on Manning.

I don't mind Martz, and I mind him less if Bates goes to Seattle. Coming out of this with Martz and Fewell, it could be a hell of a lot worse. I'd prefer Bates, but Martz should be a significant improvement over the Shoop/Shea/Turners of the world. If Angelo fixes the O-line with at least 1 premium talent and they pluck some good defenders out of the draft my optimism is gonna jump right back up for this team.

http://www.gq.com/sports/profiles/200706/william-wesley-worldwide-wes-nba-basketball?currentPage=1 Great article on Worldwide Wes, "the most powerful man in sports." It's old so some of you may have read it but I had never heard of the guy until today.

DA's a given but I hope we get to see Iglesias in the season finale. And Turner is not coming back. Bring in Weis.

As a pacers fan watching this Bulls-Pacers game I have to say Rose is awesome and the Pacers bench gives me hope for the future. Roy Hibbert looks like he could become one of the best centers in the game one day provided he makes a big leap forward defensively. Noah definitely can't guard him.

Sick was perhaps a bad word. But with a lineup of Reyes, Wright, Beltran and Bay I would say very good.