dawhizz

In summary: 1) Jerry won't even entertain signing a FA QB before the draft, but doesn't love Orton, Hanie, and Basanaz to start the year and is hoping someone is miraculously released after the draft. 2) Trades are hard, so why try? 3) Your first round pick is Maclin, Nicks, or Britt (or maybe Heyward-Bey). But if Crabtree starts falling, JA might trade up. I'm also curious how Jerry can feel comfortable with his "nucleus" of 2-6 WRs when there are only two WRs currently on the roster who caught a pass last year. Apparently we can expect big things this year from Rudy Carpenter, John Broussard, and Devin Aromashodu. So that's somethin to look forward to...

The ironic thing is, I think Jerry would argue that it is better to not go after people (and not even to appear to go after people) because if you do and you don't get the guy, your fan base will be upset. In reality, I think the opposite is true. For instance, say the papers reported that the Bears were "interested in" Housh, were "intrigued" by Cassel, "exchanged figures" with Michael Clayton, and had "contacted" Stacey Andrews. At the very least, that sends the impression to your fans that you are actively trying to get better. I think most of us would agree that the prices paid for those players didn't really work for the Bears (with the possible exception of Cassel), but that, had we heard reports like that, we would have had increased faith in Jerry's dedication to upgrading this team. As it is, I don't understand how he expects people to be excited when you imply, without a hint of sarcasm, that Rod Marinelli will be your big free agent pickup.

Given that we are obviously looking to upgrade on the cheap (and not go after someone like Deverey Henderson who I think could actually be really helpful here), here's the guys I would go after, in order: Ronald Curry - After 7 seasons in Oakland, do we know what he can do with a competent QB? I'd be willing to find out because he's got the size and speed to do well. The downside is he doesn't have great hands, but in terms of low risk and possible high reward, I actually think he's the best option available. David Patten - I've mentioned him before, but he's sure-handed and he plays hard. Even last year, the Bears didn't have that guy who could get open on third down. Patten may have lost a step (or two), but he can still find the soft spot in the zone and move the chains. Darrell Jackson - He didn't do much last season in Denver (or in SF the year before that), but it's easy to forget he's only 30. He was so productive in Seattle that I'd be willing to take a flier on him. At least he's someone who has been a #1 WR before (unlike most of the rest of the available FA WRs). Amani Toomer - He's actually been strangely productive even as he's declined physically. I don't love him, but I'm certain he could outproduce what Booker did last year.

Hoo boy, does JA have an answer for you: Darren Sharper. If only it was 2004. http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune....ears-radar.html

Would you say the Manning switch has worked? And if so, what's the position that works for him?

``We told him that we wanted to look at him at guard first,'' Angelo said of Omiyale. ``But we're not going to limit him in terms of reps only at guard. ... We'll expose him to tackle, which is where he's been predominately playing. But we want to expose him to guard as well.'' http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune....e-at-guard.html Anyone care to remind me the last time a position switch worked for this team (besides Devin Hester, when they technically just corrected their original position switch mistake)? This is so GD stupid.

From USA Today, who does a really nice job of summarizing every team's free agents: —OT Frank Omiyale started one game at left tackle for the Panthers and did well. With Jordan Gross and Jeff Otah ahead of him, Omiyale knows his chances of starting here depend solely on injuries to the players ahead of him. That might prompt him to explore the market and look for a place to compete for a starting job. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nf...nthers/home.htm

I would disagree that tackle is one of the Bears' least needed positions. We have Tommie Harris, who is one of your franchise players, but who I'm still worried about stamina/health wise. You can't count on Dvoracek at all. Harrison showed flashes, and maybe he's starting caliber next year. Adams is a decent rotation tackle, but that's about it. I think King can plug in anywhere on the line and upgrade the entire unit. I don't love Buckhalter either, but if you're looking for a guy who can back up your bell cow on a regular basis, step in and start a couple games and provide a modest amount of production, and will actually sign knowing he won't be the starter for a reasonable amount, I don't see anyone else out there who fits the bill better. You could certainly go RB in the draft, but I haven't been particularly impressed with the crop this year. At S, you would have Fuller, Payne, Steltz, and Worrell/McGowan (resign one). Maybe Manning (who I still think theoretically works better as a safety than a CB if he can ever get his head out of his a$$). The FA veteran safeties don't really impress me, for the most part. I would be open to getting a safety in the draft (several have mentioned David Bruton, for instance), but I think no matter what you sign a FA safety like Fuller.

The motto of the offseason is "Get Younger & Get Better." Sign WR Reggie Williams - Still young with a great skill set, just hasn't lived up to the hype. Given the Bears desperate need for a big WR, I'm willing to give him a shot. Sign WR David Patten - Still has good hands and knows how to get open, and he doesn't seem to be the kind of player to pout if he doesn't get PT at this point in his career. I think Hester could learn a ton from him, at the very least, and he could be a nice "go-to" guy on third down if he can stay healthy. Sign OT Ray Willis - Player RG and RT in Seattle last year. Pencil him in at RT unless a stud we draft is clearly ready, in which case he can compete for a job inside. Sign RB Correll Buckhalter - Not flashy anywhere, but knows his role as a backup and can do a bit of everything. I think the Bears would do well to rachet Forte's carries a little more next year and Buckhalter makes me feel better getting spot carries or starting if Forte gets hurt. Sign DB Vincent Fuller - Not sure what his market is, but he was a nickel/safety on one of the best defenses in football, and I'm a big fan of getting backup players on really good units. I say sign him and hand him a starting safety spot. DRAFT 1. Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss - The other tackle of the future. He takes over either this year or next at RT for the next 10 years. 2. Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers - Brings the deep threat size the Bears are lacking with good route running. 3. Pat White, QB, West Virginia - I'm a believer. He may need work, but he's a guy you can utilize this year no matter what on wildcat plays, or split him out. I think he can eventually develop into a starting QB in this league. 4. Mitch King, DE/DT, Iowa - Maybe not the fastest DL in the draft, but great at using his hands to get free and get into the backfield. He can step in at DT or DE in the Bears scheme. 5. Tyronne Green, OG, Auburn - Guards always seem to drop in the draft, so I have no problem taking Green here. He won't wow at the combine, but he gets the job done. 6. Domonique Johnson, CB, Jackson St. - He may not be ready to really contribute for a year or two, but he's got a lot of the kind of natural athleticism Rodgers-Cromartie had when he was coming out, and coult really break out at the next level (or be the next Roosevelt Williams, which is why he's being drafted here). 7. Stryker Sulak, DE, Missouri - Displayed good speed at the combine and had a productive season. He's worth a look to compete with Ervin Baldwin as a practice squad/rotation guy. Thoughts?

I voted Nicks/Loadholt/Gilbert. I would rather add a RB in FA than spend an early pick on one, and I like Gilbert to play at both DT and DE.

Except I fear our defense is closer to the Texans than the Ravens...

What about Galloway? He was hurt last year, but had 1,000 yards each of the previous three years and he's still pretty fast.

Does this plan upgrade us anywhere? QB is about the same. RB is about the same, except if Forte gets hurt, we have no legitimate back-up for him. WR is demonstrably worse, which is saying something. I didn't love Booker and Lloyd, but I certainly have more confidence in them at this point than a 2nd year player who didn't catch a pass, a couple rookies, and Rashied Davis. OL is the same or worse, depending on how Williams does in his first real season. DL is essentially the same, except Sidbury has apparently killed Mark Anderson. LB is about the same with Williams instead of Hillenmeyer. CB may be a bit of an upgrade if you LOVE Byrd. S is OK, as long as you feel comfortable replacing the leader of the defense who just couldn't move as well as he used to with a guy who can fly but is a bust so far. Unless you're planning on tanking, this plan doesn't make much sense to me.

I think the best compliment back is Correll Buckhalter, a guy who actually seems comfortable coming off the bench and can do everything pretty well (run, block, catch). That's the guy I would go after if I was the Bears.

Not sure that deserved caps...

My guess is the Bears go after a guy like Reggie Williams (who has a contract option in Jacksonville, but probably won't be back). There's not a lot to be excited about out there, but I think the Bears have been hurt by not having a guy with size who can, at least theoretically, go up and get a jump ball. He's a young guy who could still develop, IMO.

Am I the only one who would have no problem whatsoever giving up a 1st and 4th THIS YEAR for Boldin? This team is in desperate need of a stud WR, and while the Bears have their share of problems, I don't a see a glaring 1st round need. If that's what it will take, I'm fine with it, especially if we end up with a decent comp pick for Berrian.

From Don Banks' "Snap Judgments" at cnnsi.com: By some estimates, it's going to be a double-digit year in terms of NFL head coaching changes. But if there's any silver lining to all that impending turnover, it's that teams looking for an upgrade at defensive coordinator might find an unbelievably deep buyer's market to choose from. How so? Well, consider the potential defensive coordinator prospects if there's a bloodbath in the head coaching ranks: Wade Phillips, Romeo Crennel, Marvin Lewis, Rod Marinelli, Jim Haslett, Dick Jauron, Herman Edwards and Mike Singletary are all ex-defensive coaches who are thought to be in varying degrees of jeopardy. And then there are the current defensive coordinators who could be free if the head coach they work for gets canned: Oakland's Rob Ryan, Philadelphia's Jim Johnson, Cincinnati's Mike Zimmer, Minnesota's Leslie Frazier, Kansas City's Gunther Cunningham, and San Diego's Ron Rivera. Throw into that group one more name: Ex-San Diego defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell, who was fired and replaced by Rivera in October. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ With the Bears defense clearly not getting it done against the pass, I wonder if a change at defensive coordinator would be in order considering the strong crop Banks mentions. I know the name everyone will jump on is Singletary, but that seems like it would be a horrible idea if you're someone who actually wants Lovie to succeed, because after the first loss, everyone in Chicago will be clamoring for Singletary as head coach. But a guy like Crennel or Lewis, if they just had to focus on defense, could be as important an addition as the Bears can make this offseason.

This is probably bad news for one of the on-the-bubble receivers (Monk, Hass, etc.). If the BEars had gone in with Forte, AP & Wolfe, you'd think an extra receiver would be retained for special teams purposes, since AP would presumably be the primary back-up to Forte and you'd want him on the field for ST less. Now, they can use AP more on ST, which helps to justify keeping 4 RBs (unless Wolfe is horrible), and that extra receiver is out of luck.

Yes, you're right. Two productive first day picks in the last three years is a super job. Look, I've given JA plenty of slack in the past, but his draft record is not looking good. Tommie Harris is the only first round pick who has really lived up to what you expect a first round pick to be (I like Olson, but it's still early). Has he done well in the middle rounds sometimes, sure he has. But so has every team. Finding diamonds in the rough is a great attribute for a scout. But I expect the GM to do a little bit more than that.

This puts the vomit on the crap sandwich that is Jerry Angelo's draft record.

My guess is that they see McBride's size and quickness as a better slot matchup than Graham, who is bigger and better matchup on the outside receivers. So they want to keep McBride in the slot to give him reps there and give Graham reps on the outside, particularly with their problems with injuries to Tillman and Vasher in recent years. I wouldn't read it as seeing Graham as better than McBride, but as a better matchup given what they ask those spots to do.

http://www.pastapadre.com/2645/madden-09-p...tings#more-2645 Arguably OT, but interesting reading for those who care. The Bears overall are rated 80 (3rd in the division ahead of the Lions at 78). Depth Charts look like this: QB: Grossman (79), Orton (76) RB: Benson (80), Forte (80), Peterson (78) FB: McKie (84) WR: Booker (82), Hester (81), Bennett (79) TE: Clark (86), Olson (85), Davis (72) LT: Williams (79), St Clair (73) LG: Metcalf (78), Beekman (78) C: Kreutz (93) RG: Garza (85), Beekman (76) RT: Tait (86), Barton (70) LE: Ogun (89), Anderson (83), Idonije (76) RE: Brown (85), Anderson (84), Bazuin (76) DT: Harris (95), Dvoracek (79), Harrison (77) LOLB: Hillenmeyer (79), Okwo (70) MLB: Urlacher (98), Wilson (69) ROLB: Briggs (95), Williams (73) CB: Tillman (91), Vasher (91), McBride (78) FS: Brown (87), Manning (82), Gattis (73) SS: McGowan (83), Steltz (73)

According to the SCORE, he had his knee scoped and he'll be out for a bit. Didn't hear specifics on the injury. In other breaking news, William Perry is fat.

Pro Football Weekly seems to be only one who reported it, and seem to also be the only ones continuing to reference it (check out their review of the Bears draft). But there's been no report or confirmation of where it came from or why anyone's giving it more credence than the people who said there was a team in the teens who wanted Chad Henne. You can also dispute the who "short arms" argument PFW is also trying to keep alive. His arms are short than some others (32 7/8), but they're the EXACT SAME LENGTH as Jake Long's. For anyone to think that concerns about short arms would never arise until the week before the draft is silly, considering most prospects, especially offensive linemen, have had their arms measured probably 5 times in the last three months. Not sure what PFW's deal is, but they need to get over it.