Pixote

Good deal, we can even go to Logli for a cup of coffee (they have a cafateria now) LOL

I have no reason to question you, was just hoping you still lived there, heck, even with my cane and bum hip, I could have walked to that address, LOL.

I do not know where you live now, really none of my business, but I am less than 1/2 mile from the address you just gave, in Loves Park.

You are from Loves Park?

Wow, I love this article, I am really pulling for this kid!

The way I see it the off-season preparation for the year is in three phases: Phase I You start with Free Agency and try and fill at least 1 major need, realizing money may restrict you from making more than one HUGE acquisition. In this case although I think they wanted Mario Williams big time, they realized they could not afford 100 Million to get him. So they moved onto their second on the wish list and got a great deal in Brandon Marshall. Once you get the "Big Fish" you wanted to land, you start adding key backups and role players. The 2 key ones we picked up was Campbell & Bush. If we had had these 2 on our roster last year, we would have been in the playoffs. Then you add depth at positions of need and to replace free agents that you lost to other teams. Of course, you have to be somewhat on the fence as you do not know what you may be able to get in the draft. Phase II The Draft. To me it seems like Emery is one who will choose who he feels, not Smith, not a Bears Forum, but who he feels is the Best available player. This is what most of us wanted. Now if he feels that player also fills a need and he might not be there when the Bears are on the Clock, he trades up, like he did with Jeffery. If he feels he has a winner that he can get by saying put (McClellin), then he does so. Now he refuses to bend to needs just to fill it unless the player grades out to his system of grading. ie, OL was a concern of ours and probably his but we needed a LOT, that is our biggest need on the OL, and there was just a lousy crop of LOTs in this draft. Reiff, Massey, etc... were all considered ROT or G prospects, not LOTs. So he passed. Instead of "reaching" for a need, he stayed with BPA and rolled the dice in a few cases, which every GM needs to do in later rounds. Then, of course, undrafted free agents. Phase III Which leads to Phase III, you come out of the draft, see what you have done in Phase I & II and talk things over with the coaches and see what needs to be done to finish off the preseason before Training Camp opens up. As an example, you know they wanted DTs, no secret there. We are the thinnest there that we have been in some time. So look for us to find a few FAs to bring in. I like what he did in Phase I I am a little nervous about Phase II simply because of the last decade of drafts under Angelo but need to wait to make judgement. Potentially, it could be a great draft. There is no way to tell at this point. Now let's see what he does in Phase III. I want to see some more needs filled in Phase III and still keeping my fingers crossed that we can have a happy Forte signed to a long term contract at a reasonable price for the Bears and a good deal for Matt. The only way a GM is going to make a fan base happy is if he takes a poll of the fans and gets their picks for the draft. Al Davis is the only Owner/GM that I know of who use to actually go on the internet and read fan pages to get their take. I think that is why some of his drafts were so bizarre. However, he was one crazy guy in the draft room. I kind of miss him, which I never thought I would say when he was alive. We need to give Emery a chance, he has not even had a chance to finish preparations for year 1 of his regime, I am willing to give him some time to prove his skills as a GM, I think he has had a good start.

Congratulations bradjock, good job!

After looking at it on paper, I think you are about right. Out of the 16 games I see 7 games that will be tough, the turning points, the other 9 should be easy enough to win without any "traps" The 7 Big games: @ GBP DET @ DAL HOU @ SFO GBP DET Now I figure - or at least hope - we can be at least 4/3 in those 7 games. Then the 9 easier games, supposedly: IND STL @ JAX CAR @ TEN MIN SEA @ MIN @ ARI Teams always seem to lose one or 2 they should have won, call it a "trap game". Therefore I am hoping for 8/1 from these games. That would total 12 & 4 for the season and pretty much guarantee being in the playoffs. That is my take.

Whoever merged it would need to explain why, I did not merge it, but I know it is done on occasion so that we do not have multiple threads all on the exact same topic, to sort of consolidate all responses into one thread. I assume that was the thinking but as I did not touch your thread I cannot say for sure.

I think he was joking around, I do not believe he is an admin.

The only one I have found like that is this one started by another poster: Round 4: Bears Select Evan Rodriguez, TE/FB, Temple Now threads can be merged but I did not touch your thread. If another admin did merge it without letting you know I am sorry. Check out this thread and see if it was merged within this thread.

Can you remember the title of the "thread"

I checked the Admin area, when a post is deleted it is archived there for reference, and I see no threads by you that were deleted.

What posts threads are missing?

Nah, I say we draft a guy straight out of High School -

I would not mind seeing them trade away the 6th & 7th if necessary to move up if we can get a kick butt player in the 4th and call it a day. Remember, the off-season is not over after the draft, more free agents might be on the horizon once the draft is completed and additional needs can be filled.

Yes, I admit, I was praying someone would pick this guy before we drafted but he was there and we got him. Afterwords, instead of pouting I started researching the guy, something I should have done before the draft but did not have the time to do so, and found I understood why they selected him. I have no doubt this will play out again tonight and tomorrow, LOL.

I think he will be an every down DE and will never see special teams duty. I also do not believe any conspiracy theory that he was drafted as a LB for a 3-4 in anticipation of Lovies departure. Sorry, but I do not think Lovie will go anywhere after we win the SB this year!

I read that there was I believe over 700 snaps taken by the two DTs that left that need to be made up for. That makes DT a priority in my mind.

Well it is not the first thing that comes to mind with me. I compare athletes and their skill sets and quite frankly could give a damn about skin color, race, religion, etc... I have no problems comparing Urlacher to Ray Lewis based solely on skill sets and history of production on the field. The fact that this type of stereotyping exists does not make it right. One of the first things another poster said as to why he did not like the selection was a mention of how he was white, as if it mattered? I find it troublesome some people think this way.

I am with you on this one, I had doubts at first, but after reading everything I could get my hands on, watching as much video as I could, I am liking this pick more and more. I predicted everyone would be pissed off after we made out selection, I was right, and now I predict everyone will love this guy once he gets a chance to play for us. Now, let's see what else Emery has up his sleeve.

I agree, I am tired of people making reference to race / color, lets stop that crap right now. It is not something I want to see in these forums. Why the hell does anyone have to use that as an argument.

If we had chosen Whitney Mercilus few would be making the argument that he is too small as a DE for out system. Mercilus is 6'3" 260 lbs. Shea McClellin is 6'3" 260 lbs. The big difference? Combine numbers very similar, with Shea better in items requiring speed The main difference I see is Shea was an outstanding player for 3 years and Mercilus had one good year Yes, Boise State is not a powerhouse, but is ASU? Let's give this guy a chance and for now let's give Emery some credit for filling a need.

I have a feeling listing to some shows that Fleener will be the pick for INDY as he played with Luck and would help give him a security blanket, an outlet who he is familiar with. Makes sense to me.

Emery says he is a 4 down player, and after watching the videos of him, I agree. He has great technique, is fast, and plenty strong enough to play every down. I like the way he wraps up on every tackle, many rookies, hell, even pros, get sloppy and do not wrap up.