balta1701-A

Roach is reportedly visiting the Raiders

The problem there continues to be the system. When a guy gets cold, but has help, then the fact that he made a mistake or two isn't going to kill. When a guy misses a block, has the RG next to him looking the wrong way, has a QB who is holding the ball trying to throw it 40 yards every play, it's not going to end well.

And I can't complain about them making that call when they already hired a guy like Kromer.

It means he let a lot of guys past him last year, but Brees didn't hit the turf that much because Brees gets the ball out faster.

I'm still not a fan, but it's a warm body at the tackle position.

The only way he adds no value to the roster is if: 1. The Bears think he won't be healthy at all this season 2. The Bears have a minimum salary RB who can replace his goal line/short yardage production. Matt Forte is still, IMO, remarkably bad in short yardage situations. I've just come to accept that's his weakness. When he can get into space, he's lethal, but when everything gets compressed, he can't get around people, and he can't get through them. Bush can get through them and get that yard, if he's healthy enough to play. If the Bears don't have him, they would have to go and spend money + Cap space, or a draft pick, on a short yardage back.

Some non-bear moves:

Worth considering that if Garza was an average center, it's possible moving him back to guard could reveal him to be a very below average guard? i.e. maybe the reason he's only an average center is age, not that he was moved to the position.

It's Duke. They won't mind. You can call Indiana a small school in football and I won't mind. We got the banner I wanted today.

If the Bears have contacted Wallace and Jennings, then they have some idea for how to clear a lot more space than we're thinking they have. Wallace will still be a dolphin, there's just no way that doesn't happen with the space they have.

I have zero problem with adding a veteran to the inside of the line as long as he can still contribute.

Matt Forte has never been good in short yardage/goal line situations. That's been the case across 3 different OC's now. Like it or not, he needs a touchdown hog, because he runs into the defense and goes down a yard short.

If someone wanted the first pick I'm sure they'd be open to it, but they're not likely to see the kind of demand for it that there was last year.

If it's a sample size issue, then there's deeper problems. You can't sign a guy to be a plausible backup and then blame sample size. If you're a coach, you cant' blame sample size when your backup is worse than an average replacement. The people who made the decisions there, who signed him and put him in that spot, are gone, for a reason. If he needs 16 games to look average, go find me someone else, there's better uses for that money.

A backup has to be tolerable in a limited amount of PT. With a rookie or a 2nd year player, you tell yourself "Maybe I can still develop him". Spencer was 30 last year. If he can't come out of the gate and do the best he can, especially with his 2nd year in the same roster, then hes' just that bad.

The Chiefs were actually close to the bottom of the league in passing attempts last year. Even if a team is always losing, if they can't convert 3rd downs, they don't rack up the attempts in the passing game. They threw the ball 475 times last year, good for 29th most attempts in the league. On top of that, they did have a successful running game sometimes (Charles single handedly beat the Saints for them, IIRC). Of course, the Bears threw the ball 485 times, good for 27th in the league, so the total attempts line up pretty well if you're comparing sacks given up.

This is the NFL. 1/2 the playoff teams turn over every year it seems.

When's the deadline on the roster bonus?

What's the schedule like for the Bears in terms of money paid out to Davis? Is there a deadline for when he needs to be cut to avoid a bonus payout of any sort?

Link

Chiefs have reached a multi-year deal with WR Bowe. This could open them up to using the Franchise Tag on Albert.

Of course, the usual question with Peppers is how much the rest of the line is opened up because of him drawing double-teamas.

There's no reason for him to sign it just yet...they can negotiate on a long term deal until the deadlines roll around.

Melton would happily sign that tag if he was being traded to a team that would complete an extension with him.

Just wondering how many people think this reflects poorly on Webb's character and also want the Bears to take a chance on the Honey Badger if he's available in say the 6th round.