Bearstalk

State of the Bears by the Ashkum Bear With the 2008 draft completed, the Bears have added alot of pieces. Many highly regarded analysts and scouts have given the Bears mixed reviews. The one big question asked by all is why didn't the Bears select a QB when they have started a gazillion different ones in the tenure of Favres career. They could have selected Henne or Brohm with there second round pick as both were considered low first round talent. They could have taken Brennan or Woodson with there fifth round pick also. The only reason I could see is maybe adding another developmental project when your other two are still obviously developments would have dil…

A video is out on ESPN.com with Mel Kiper and Todd McShay discussing the draft. Surprisingly, Kiper picked the Bears as the team that helped itself the most for this year. He also said we had the best UDFA signing in Caleb Hanie, saying he has an NFL arm and could be a quality starter in the future. You know me, I could give a crap what Kiper says, but it was nice to see the good pub.

It's an old article about both Kevin Smith and Matt Forte, but it does state why I think the Bears regarded Forte so high. Forte, Smith have taken similar paths to stardom What makes Forte's production so impressive is that Forte was Tulane's only weapon last year.

The draft is over and the Bears did not address QB until afterwards with Hanie and Hill. Let's discuss what they should do now. My thoughts: - Rex and Kyle are going to battle it out for starter. Whomever wins out gets extended if they succeed. - Wait for FA Qbs to hit the market from teams like Tampa (Simms, McCown, and Gradkowski may all be released) and bring in a 3rd stringer. - Put Hill and Hanie both on the practice squad. We have 8 spots and 1 to 2 should be devoted to QB going forward. Going forward, the Bears should bring in an asst QB coach (we have an asst DB coach, why not one for our most important position). Finally, the Bears o…

Pre-Draft: "Bottom line: Monk is one of the biggest wide receiver prospects in the 2008 senior class, he moves well for his size and he's just fast enough to stretch the field. In fact, he projected to go as early as the third round at the start of the season but injuries hindered him all year and he didn't show the same knack for making big plays when he was on the field. At this point, Monk projects as a sixth or seventh round pick." 7th round pick, steal for sure. Is the hype going to show in the NFL though? Discuss.

The ESPN jock ask's Angelo about the ongoing dispute with Brian Urlacher "Is Brian Urlacher holding a gun to your head?" Angelo's response is, "if he is, it's filled with water." Sounds like Urlacher will just have to make do with what he's got!!

i gave not only this draft a D+ but angelo's history of drafting in chicago as a GM a D as a whole. here is the one of the biggest problems our franchise faces... short sightedness. if the qb's you have a chance to draft project as being starters you make the pick even if you have a franchise qb on the team (which we don't). you don't want perrenial backups drafted EVER! you groom them to be #1's. this gives you leverage in actually having valuable players you can trade in the future if it warrants or at the least a future starter/star if your qb goes down. it doesn't mean jack if he is going to push the guys ahead of him. that is what you WANT. this now leaves …

Draft Picks: LT Chris Williams = #74 RB Matt Forte = #22 WR Earl Bennett = #85 DT Marcus Harrison = #94 S Craig Steltz = #27 CB Zack Bowman = #35 TE Kellen Davis = #87 DE Ervin Baldwin = #99 OG Chester Adams = #72 LB Joey LaRocque = #90 OT Kirk Barton = #69 WR Marcus Monk = #19 UDFA: QB Nick Hill = #17 QB Caleb Hanie = #12 WR Curtis Hamilton = #14 OT Cody Balaugh = #79 DE Joe Clermond = #72 DT David Faateete = #79 DE Nick Osborn = #67 CB Trey Brown = #49 CB Leslie Majors = #46 K Shane Longest = #2

With all the bashing of the draft picks we got and the UDFA we signed our team just got better, for this year. I'll start off with the TE pick of Davis. If you look at the year we lost Gilmore who was nothing to write home about just a blocker and could catch sometimes. We got Davis who is taller and faster.. The thinking here is that he and Olsen could be on the field at the same time creating such a mismatch against small LB'S and DB'S(advantage Bears).We then turn to the WR spot. We lost Moose and Berrian and gained Bennet,Lloyd,Booker and Monk. How many time did you see Moose and Berrian drop passes and couldn't get awsy from defenders? IMHO Monk will be a steal, big…

All right, this is just for fun… Here are the scenario’s: 1) Trade future picks for Brady Quinn. What would it take? Maybe a 1st and a 4th. 2) Grab a veteran FA. I’ve heard Simms potentially mentioned, but Culpepper looks to be finally healthy. Here’s the ceiling and floor of it all. Quinn is an unknown by NFL standards, yet has the ability to become the franchise QB we have been dreaming of for decades. Pepp and Simms are damaged goods, but have the ability to become serviceable stop gaps with arguable skills possibly not adding up to Orton and Rex. You are the GM and the clock is ticking…

I'd like to see us cut our losses with Ced and go after Dominic Rhodes.

http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/10808112

Bears offense: >[WR]Booker [WR]Bennett[RT]Tait [RG]Garza [C]Kreutz [LG]St. Clair [LT]Williams [TE]Olsen[WR]Hester [QB] Grossman [RB] Forte If the Offensive line can hold there own, I see this line up being one that could put up some points. Hester to stretch the field and pull a safety deep Olsen matched up against a LB running a intermediate route Forte sits back on a delayed play action, helps on a chip block and sits for a dump off Bennett working the slot coming accross the middle Booker on a curl or slant

I know it has been awhile for me to post, But I have a perdicament that is bothering me. At the end of last season Orton was Qb'ing the Bears, He was 2-1 as starter and the team averaged well over 25 points game. To me the team played a lot better with him in then both Rex and griese combined. Here I been reading almost all the posts of the upcomming season and most have Rex ahead Orton. Is there something you guys read somewhere or what?

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/be...-bear02.article Peace

Just click the thumbnail for the larger pic.

http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?STORY_ID=4659

There's not a lot of info about Hanie's abilities so I thought I'd post this from the Bears' website. Sounds a little like the next Rex Grossman but 2in taller. However, despite those INTs, if he did have that much of a lack of talent around him then completing 64% of his passes is pretty good depending of course on the system they ran at Col State. http://www.chicagobears.com/news/ChalkTalkStory.asp?story_id=4660 During the draft I heard Mel Kiper Jr. say that Caleb Hanie had the second strongest arm of the quarterbacks this year next to Joe Flacco. What is the scouting report on Caleb and what were his college statistics? Brent S. …

Any info? I read some post from another forum that the score reported today that benson's injury is worse than everyone thought and that his career with the bears is over and it will be announced publically in a few days? Is this true? If it is, do they bring in some vet with experience. I think forte will be a good back, but we can't possibly try going into the season with no experience at all can we? I'd make a trade like a 6th rd pick in next years draft for lamont jordan, or try for alexander if he's affordable.