dawhizz

Never been, but had a nice time Friday afternoon. It's hard to come away with much after two hours in shorts, but here's what I saw: 1) Bell makes this team, Chester Taylor does not. Bell consistently hit the holes hard. Taylor, on the other hand, was on the ground way too much. Considering his salary and the way Barber is playing (impressive in person as well), I don't see how Taylor stays. 2) Mike Holmes is doing everything he can to make this team. He was one of the most fan-friendly players I saw, talking to fans on his way out and signing a bunch on his way back from the locker room. On the field he was returning punts (along with DJ Moore and, for some reason, Henry Melton) and did a nice job in coverage with the second unit. I know people have been talking up Joshua Moore, but don't be surprised if Holmes sticks as well. 3) Andy Fantuz is slow. Really slow. Slow running his routes. Slow out of his breaks. Slow with the ball. No way he makes the team. 4) Sam Hurd will get a good number of reps at WR. He may be the 5th receiver on the depth chart, but he caught the ball well all day and gives the team a nice combination of size and speed in the slot. 5) The Bears have a nice group of safeties. Major Wright is going to be a really good safety and was constantly around the ball. Chris Harris is fine and is a good veteran presence out there. Chris Conte doesn't quite have the instincts yet, but he's fast to the ball and has nice size. And the forgotten man, Craig Steltz, looked really good running with the second team, getting his hands on a lot of passes and reacting well to the plays. He's going to get some reps when the Bears go to 3 safeties.

Originally Davenport, IA. Currently living in O'Fallon, IL, near St. Louis.

The thing you have to realize is that I believe they were operating under the assumption that 5 teams who made the postseason last year wouldn't this year (since that has been the disturbing trend in the NFL). If you had to pick 5 teams who made the playoffs last year and wouldn't this year, you would be crazy if you DIDN'T pick the Bears, given their O-line troubles, Cutler's occasional struggles, and the fact that they were seen by many as a big of a fluke in several games last year (see Detroit).

Multiple sources on twitter saying the Bears are close to a deal with ex-Seahawks C Chris Spencer. I actually like this. The O-line has been under the "leadership" of Kreutz for the last two years and has been an unholy mess, due in part to his poor play. I'd like to see these guys grow up a little bit and become leaders themselves, and that was never gonna happen with Kreutz.

This. What did Olsen have, 500 yards receiving last year? Got to believe Davis could approximate that. I don't have a problem with this (depending on the compensation).

Double post

He's a reputation player at this point, and his feistiness is turning into him just being a dirty player, IMO. I thought he was as bad as anyone on the line last year and have advocated a change. I have no problem with this, depending on how the Bears respond to the loss.

While I get the frustration, I can't say that I've seen a single FA sing who I wish the Bears had signed (with the possible exception of Sidney Rice). I'm convinced we'll start to see movement today and tomorrow.

The Mike Hass Memorial "WR Who Can Run Good Routes and Catch and Will Therefore Never Get a Chance" signing.

Plus, it seems we have a nice 3-man rotation at DE with Peppers, Idonije, and Wootton. I can understand bringing a body in at DE, but I have to believe Babin would rather sign somewhere where he can be penciled in as the starter (and get starter money). No comprende.

Alex Linnenkohl, OG/C, Oregon State Dom DiCicco, LB, Pitt Andre Smith, TE, Virginia Tech http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bears/post...ohl-bears-agree

I've never been particularly impressed by Weddle. I'd rather see what Conte and Wright can do.

Here's a little overview from ChicagoBears.com: http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=7826

My guess at what the Bears actually end up doing: -Malcolm Floyd, WR - They want a big WR, but won't pay to get Rice. -Marshal Yanda, OG - Versatile guard who can also play tackle. -Quincy Black, LB - The Bears loved him coming out of college and should be able to get him now. -Derek Landri, DT - Good fit as a rotational tackle in the Bears' scheme. Then bring back Iwuh, Kreutz, Adams, and Maynard. I'd like another CB, but unfortunately with Tillman, Jennings, Bowman, and the two Moore, I doubt the Bears think they need another one.

I also think they'll add a starting weakside LB. They loved Quincy Black coming out of college and there are plenty of other good candidates (Thomas Howard, Rocky McIntosh, Justin Durant).

I was just thinking this as well. I'd love to see it.

Do tell.

I don't love him, but we knew the Bears were planning to take a developmental QB and he was probably the next one off the board. Good size and arm.

Promise?

Kedric Burney is a very good fit in this Bears defense, IMO. I could also see Terence Toliver, WR, LSU. I'd personally like to see Brandon Fusco, C, Slippery Rock.

The Bears were talking like they wanted to draft a developmental QB. It'll be interesting to see if that's still a priority after they traded one of their 3rd day picks.

I would have liked a guard as well, but it seems like every year guards get pushed down and guys who are projected to go in the 2nd-3rd round get drafted in the 5th to 7th round. Mitch Petrus, Roy Schuening, and Trevor Canfield spring to mind. I also wonder if this means the Bears are dedicated to going after a guard in free agency. JA said something interesting at the press conference last night when asked about LB, saying something to the effect that it's not something they looked at hard there because they like a number of possibilities in free agency. Obviously free agency threw a wrench in everyone's plan, but maybe this sheds some light on the Bears' free agency plans.

Some praise from Pro Football Weekly as well: 29 (93) Chicago Bears: S Chris Conte, California With the high amount of collisions required at the safety position in Lovie Smith's preferred defense, GM Jerry Angelo seemingly must address the position every year. There's a chance Danieal Manning could depart, as well. Conte was a late riser who really impressed secondary coaches in the evaluation process. He plays like a poor man's John Lynch and elevated on draftboards in a weak safety class.

Apparently, there was some talk of Conte being picked as high as the second round: http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/13682485/28926957 "California FS Chris Conte -- Overshadowed in the Pac-10 by UCLA's Rahim Moore, but some teams view Conte as the better prospect. Former cornerback who proved to be a reliable open field tackler. Viewed as an ascending talent."

I'm not convinced this isn't a CB pick. He was a converted CB to safety and was announced as a "DB". Initial opinion is that this is another Todd Johnson/Craig Steltz pick, but I have been wanting a safety with size for a long time, and he was an All Pac-10 safety in a conference that thows it a bunch, so I'm willing to give him a chance.