ASHKUM BEAR

Spoke about the OLT too soon. We just extended Leno Jr to a 4 year contract at 9 million per year. That will shake up the early draft boards to CB, WR, and OLB now.

The last two drafts have given the Bears some great pieces to look forward to for years. RB is a position I never thought we would take especially back to back years. Those two RB's look to be special and big factors on future success for this team. With that said, you never know what Pace has in mind. Right now, I am penciling in a OLT to protect Mitch and pave lanes for the stable of throughbreds, but I can see him nabbing another OLB too.

Remember when people were saying they would be okay if Mitch sat for a year or two. I wonder what those people are saying now. I think he should sit at least 4 games. Prepare him as the #2 and let him get a few snaps each game so he can get a feel. It may not be nice to Glennon, but if be can step up his game he can prolong his starting career.

Love the excitement he brings. Would love to see Trubisky get a shot with the first string to see how this offense can really move. Glennon gives the WRs no chance and the running game could be that much better if they had that threat.

I am on the consistency wagon also. No more regime changes. I don't think it is the coach that brought us the past two losing records but more so the personnel. We are at the point we could use one more draft to solidify the LT, then the offensive core is set for years.

That is it. I think we are getting close in that department. Run the ball we will be fine. If we can get good play action our passing may be fine too. Wouldn't mind seeing a rd one & two of OTs this draft. McGlinchey and Crosby

I think it is great. Jay may not have been liked but the man took more hits and got back up and then took hits from the media/world. Now he has the opportunity to show who he is. Glad we get an early look into his next chapter.

5th Best in Illinois!

Mitch Trubisky signed today! Lets get camp started

Connorbear is right, last year was a tough sell and it was hard to give tixs away. The Bears were marching out a bunch of no names with 19 players out.

Exactly. Sanchez shouldn't take much time to get the system down and then he can shift back to the 3rd string. He is more so the mentor. If something happens to Glennon early on,, then I'd expect him to jump to the 1st string.

He would fit in with the rest of the corp we brought in. Wheaton, Wright, Cruz all seem about the same.

He has done a fine job at filling needs without hurting the long term outlook with this philosophy. That gives him a lot of flexibility when the draft comes to find special talents or move up to get a need like qb like he did this year. Hopefully his way works. Since OTs rarely hit the fa market, they will most likely target one early. If the draft fails to produce that position, it is possible Kyle Long slides over as he will start getting accumulated to playing on the left side this season. The rest of the needs will be a crap shoot but it is highly likely CB and WR are regarded.

Ha! Wonder if Sanchez hurt his knee on a snapped fumble?

I know most Bear fans like me cannot wait until the Bears dedicate building the D back into the Monster we have seen. The current roster situation seems to dictate at least one more trip to the well for offense. There will be defensive additions but I forecast offense early in the next draft. My forecasted needs as of now will be OLT, CB, WR, DT, and LB. RD1- OLT - this depends on how well Charles Leno Jr performs on his final year under contract, but his mediocre performances may sway Pace to find a superior blindside protector for his prize QB. For Trubisky to be his best, he will need a clean pocket. Names to watch: Mike McGlinchey ND, Connor Williams Tex, and Orlando Bloom Okl. RD2 -WR/CB - depends on bpa. At WR the Bears only have Kevin White and Markus Wheaton under contract (besides Tanner Gentry and Seales) past this season. The rest of the corp are on one year prove it deals. At CB the Bears only have Marcus Cooper and Cre'von LeBlanc (also depends on what they do with D Hall) after this season. Both positions are important and equally needed for success, hopefully we have some luck and land a Tillman or Jeffery. RD3- no pick RD4- DT -Unless we re-sign Hicks, we will be down to Goldman, Bullard, and RRH under contract. I project it will get done but finding another body to rotate will be a need. RD4- CB/WR - depends on what we do in round 2, have to nail the other need here. RD5-CB - doubling down on the CB. No more cast offs or udfa's. Time to draft and groom our own. RD6 -WR Austin Proehl NC -Ricky Proehls son anda familiar target for MT. RD7- ILB - We have Freeman, Trevathan and Kwitkowski for a few more years but Timu, Anderson, and Jones will be FA. My very early Fanspeak mock draft: 1- Mike McGlinchey OLT ND 2-Courtland Sutton WR SMU 4-Michael Hill DT OSU 4- MJ Stewart CB NC 5-Shaq Wiggins CB LSU 6-Austin Proehl WR NC (Jake Wieneke SD ST) 7-Keishawn Bierra ILB WAS

Move was made to clear space for Victor Cruz. Hopefully Cruz has something left in the tank or brings the same veteran coaching experience that Sanchez brings to the QB room. I never expected much out of Shaw other than a #2 at most. Would have enjoyed seeing one more pre-season run out of him because he has that grinder mentality and gives his all.

I like his upside also, just like I did for Washington. Hopefully he does better than Washington with staying healthy, having him in rotation would be a huge step as well as on ST. RRH establishing himself now will help make Paces life easier next season when both Hicks and Howard will both be FAs, I dont see them keeping both (most likely keep Hicks). Bullard will need to step up this season also, I think we see good things from him also.

I am glad Glennon chose the high road. That should benefit him looking long term. One thought in the back of my mind, when Trubisky finally takes the reins, do the Bears keep Glennon as a back up? Glennon will still make around 15 million a year in 2018, 2019. Trubisky will make about 7.2 million. Is 22-23 million too much to allocate for 3 years? Without looking at cap numbers with future contracts expiring, it may be feasible to have two capable QBs. If the Bears can establish this thought of holding onto Glennon throughout the league, it would put a higher value for potential trade suitors if another team needing a QB considers Glennon. If they figure he will get cut, it eliminates any value.

Hopefully they are just easing him back and reducing the risk by limiting his field practice time. I expect some bumps along the way. The photo gallery was nice along with the other articles.

I try to look at the bigger picture (that I predict). Next draft the Bears will get their OLT with their first round pick to protect their investment QB and they will want him to get accumulated to playing next to someone that will be on this team long term. Sitton slides to the RG and he will have competition from (Grasu, Whitehair, Morgan, and Kush) to take his spot. I really dont see the Bears keeping him past this season. Massie survives at RT, they may draft two OT's but unlikely because D and WR will need to be addressed also. 2018: LT McGlinchey - LG Long - C Whitehair - RG Morgan - RT Massie or if Grasu can elevate to a top C then LT McGlinchey -LG Long - C Grasu - RG Morgan RT Whitehair

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/footb...0523-story.html Looks like Kevin White missed todays OTA after participating yesterday. When Fox was asked about it, he basically said it is one practice, we are not going to worry about it. Reporters on the other hand are feeling a little deja vu and wonder if he had a set back. Others that missed:Hronis Grasu, Kyle Long, Danny Trevathan, Zach Miller, Pernell McPhee, Willie Young Most who have missed had offseason surgery. ..

Eventully they will have to either draft the backup or sign a cheap veteran. I don't see Glennon here for 3 years, maybe two. They would need to draft a guy next year if they want him up to speed to be a #2 by year 3 of Trubiskys career. Otherwise they will be signing the vet backup. It is hard to squeeze a qb in the draft again, but I see it coming in somewhere in the next two years.

If Glennon does light it up, we would have a problem. A good one to have I would add. I expect Trubisky to sit all of this season and compete to start in 2018. At some point they will need to find a solid backup that doesn't cost 15 million or whatever Glennon makes. I can see going 2 years with him but it is hard to see 3. As for drafting one, getting that steal in a year the QB class is rich would be nice. I find it hard to draft real late round guys like Enderle or Fales when their survival rate usually 2-3 years in the league, so I would go round 4 preferably or find a savy veteran that is good being a backup.

Having a QB in place is the key, Pace understands the importance and made sure this time he got his guy. If he was smart, he would hedge his bet in the next year or two with another prospect with a 3rd or 4th round prospect. Since next season is supposed to be loaded, we may get a higher valued prospect further down the draft.

This says it all. You need a leader and one that earns the position and is not annoited to it.