AZ54

It's all true but you can't always isolate on one reason for things to go poorly in the NFL. It's just too complex or we wouldn't have teams spending all this money on large coaching staffs. Andy Reid was fired for the same reason...didn't run the ball enough. Now he's headed to the Hall of Fame. People learn and evolve and that's what you hope for when you hire someone with experience. All I meant with Lazor is that he's had years of good success running the football. Some without. We'll see what he draws up for the Bears and if Nagy can call those plays.

Stop calling me surely.

At some point along the line everybody coaching in the NFL was fired from a previous job....see Andy Reid. That does not mean they didn't have success in their previous roles. We have two key coaches on offense who have proven they can put together a good running game and they've done so across multiple seasons. https://www.chicagobears.com/team/coaches/bill-lazor https://www.chicagobears.com/team/coaches/juan-castillo "Lazor most recently served as the offensive coordinator with the Cincinnati Bengals from 2017-18 and as the quarterbacks coach in 2016. Under his leadership, the Bengals' offense in 2018 finished third in the NFL in red zone scoring at 71.1%. The Bengals rushing attack averaged 4.69 yards per carry, which was fourth in the AFC." "Prior to Cincinnati Lazor spent two seasons as the offensive coordinator with the Miami Dolphins from 2014-15. In his first season in Miami, his rushing attack averaged 4.7 yards per attempt, ranking second in the NFL, led by Lamar Miller's 1,000-yard campaign. The Dolphins averaged 24.3 points per game and 350.1 yards per game, which was the franchise's most in both categories since 1995." "Castillo most recently served as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator with the Buffalo Bills from 2017-18. Under his watch, the Bills' rushing attack ranked in the top 10 both seasons. Buffalo finished sixth in the NFL and second in the AFC with 126.1 yards per game in 2017 and fifth in the NFL with 124.0 yards per game on the ground in 2018. Prior to Buffalo he spent four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, serving as the run game coordinator in 2013 and offensive line coach from 2014-16. In 2015 Castillo guided an offensive line that helped produce a then-franchise-record 4,271 net passing yards and the second-most total net yards (5,749) in team history. In 2014, Castillo led an offensive line that allowed just 19 sacks, the second fewest in team history at the time, ranking behind only Denver (17) that year with the fewest in the NFL. From 2014-15 the Ravens allowed the fewest sacks in the NFL (43). He originally joined the team as a consultant prior to Super Bowl XLVII in January 2013."

Foles restructured his deal too but not sure what this means for his cap hit. https://bearswire.usatoday.com/2020/03/18/chicago-bears-breaking-down-quarterback-nick-foles-restructured-contract/ ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Foles has already restructured his contract with the Bears, which includes three more years and $21 million in guaranteed money. Foles also re-worked his contract so that could void the deal with the Bears after either of the first two seasons. --------------- For Foles if Trubisky performs and becomes our starter long term he has the option to leave the team, which is fair. Otherwise it appears Foles is our bridge QB until we draft or sign our next QB. If that happens in 2021 Foles can then void the deal and leave the team after the season.

Because it's funny..who is to blame for Brady leaving NE? https://twitter.com/i/status/1240483951258591232

Found this... https://bearswire.usatoday.com/2020/03/19/chicago-bears-restructure-offensive-lineman-cody-whitehair-contract/ Whitehair’s base salary in 2020 is $5.1 million, which means that with a restructure the most they could save would be $3.352 million.

Completely missed this news yesterday. Anyone know any details? https://twitter.com/FieldYates/status/1240451182209859584

Jimmy Graham blocking. Love the second one where he puts the DE airborne into his own bench.

Strange but true.

Without the injury Bars was reportedly a 3rd Rd prospect. If we had drafted him there I think there'd be more confidence in him. Many are hoping we draft someone at RG in Rd 2/3/4 this year to fill the spot so it could be a similar skill player with some question marks. Regardless I agree he needs good competition for the job.

Packers lost Bulaga. He's been fighting through injuries in recent years so on the downside of his career but he's been really good for them for years and they don't have a replacement on the roster. I know they'll find someone else who can hold just as well the question is will they be flagged for it.

Doubtful. He knows he has to fill out a roster and they won't all be Pro Bowl players. He just signed a $15mil backup for his starting QB. He cut Floyd immediately after signing Quinn. I"m pretty sure he'd make other cuts if it were feasible (i.e. Leno) but we still have to field a team. He built a top 5 defense and they might have been back in the top 5 last year without the injuries to key players. Even with that our defense was 4th in points given up last year and 8th best in yards given up/game. Quinn makes the pass D much better. Now about that offense and the running game. Lots of coaches lost their jobs and were replaced with proven experienced coaches who hopefully can get a running game going to mitigate the risks at QB. If Trubisky regains his form from the just the 2nd half of 2018 season we'll be ok. That wasn't great but we won with it and nearly won a playoff game. In 2019 Trubisky played as if he was still suffering from the two concussions on that FG kick.

I think it was predicted but Jacksonville had to eat a big cap hit and that wasn't entirely clear they would do that. Plus there was a ton of smoke on the Derek Carr or Andy Dalton to Chicago deal that stayed above the fold (for those old enough to have actually read a newspaper). I think if Carr was available he'd be here and Trubisky would be gone. With that off the table it meant we figure out best deal for Dalton or Foles. Anyone asking for Cam only remembers him when he won the MVP and not the broken down version who couldn't throw. Anytime you have no option but to make a QB change his throwing motion after shoulder surgery it's not a good sign. How many of us can change a lifetime sports habit?

They have $39mil in cap space why let go of a backup who can get 7 sacks? Is there something that isn't public knowledge yet? He seems like a good guy and they once though enough of him to give him a mid-level contract extension. https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2020/03/17/detroit-lions-reportedly-parting-ways-devon-kennard/5068700002/

Get a veteran SS in there to compliment Ejack and those ILBs and we're in a very good spot even with Tolliver at CB. We have enough to do that. Would you add a year to Akiem Hicks contract and throw a guarantee at him of $15mil? I would and I'm pretty we sure can find a way to drop his cap hit off the $11.8mil this year by at least 3 or more. Extend Cordarelle Patterson for a year or two? Likewise with ARob. Cut Braunecker, Shaheen frees up $2mil and of course that money gets spent on low level replacements but it's a chance on someone else who can be more productive, someone who could hardly be less productive. Trade Cohen for a 4th Rd pick? None of it is big $$ but can give us enough to sign a FA SS and RG for depth and to challenge Bars for the position. One of the 2nd Rd picks is a trade back for sure and with 3 picks in Rd 2/3 and 5 picks on day 3. Day 2 we can grab an OT, WR to replace Cohen, and CB. Day 3 gets us a RB, TE, Edge, IOL, and Safety help. I'm wondering if there is more confidence in the young TEs Horsted and Holtz than we know. Not high expectations but enough to jettison a player like Braunecker, and possibly Burton.

...and all they got for it was to give up one future Hall of Fame player on the Dline and a bunch of chatter about how badly they needed to trade JimmyG to the Patriots and sign Brady. FWIW they got the Superbowl on the strength of that defense and a running game.

Read an article that made a good point. There is potential for much of the offseason training (minicamps/OTAs) to get canceled this year. Having a QB walk in the door who already knows the system is a big plus.

I'm ok with Foles as the backup. He's ideal in a way considering he knows the scheme and has had some success in it and he will not be a distraction in the locker room. He's just enough to push Trubisky to get better and just enough to jump in and keep the offense serviceable should he fail. Really hate losing the 4th Rd pick and not happy about spending $15mil. There is a rumor the Bears are restructuring some contracts to make cap space. First up would seem to be ARob.

The wildcard in the QB shuffle is now the New England Patriots. All we know is that Belichick had a plan if he lost Brady. I saw one article speculate that Dalton could be their target.

OT seems likely with one of the 2nd Rd picks but I wouldn't discount a BPA choice if someone falls at CB or OLB. I still like Zach Baun and don't mind adding another pass rusher/ILB. We can't go into the season with just Quinn and Mack. Same thing goes for adding a really good talent at CB. We just have to wait and see how the draft falls. With so much WR depth there could be a run on OTs which might leave a really good prospect at another position we need.

Definite good sign we're sniffing around the SS market.

Me too.

I agree with you assessment of both Winston and Cam. I don't see either helping us and I'm still waiting on Andy Dalton to show up with some significant cap space discount.

Hmm...scanning the FA news I see Bulaga has left the Packers and is now a Charger. Must have been an interesting day for Mr. Rodgers.

So much for the backup plan. https://bearswire.usatoday.com/2020/03/17/washington-redskins-to-sign-former-chicago-bears-linebacker-kevin-pierre-louis/