bradjock

While he sucks, doesn't he immediately become out best safety?

Part of the problem with all the holes is that we don't really know what we have. Do we have a SINGLE linebacker who is worthy of being an NFL starter? Or did the coaching and scheme put them in a position to fail. Either way, we are almost 30 million under the cap and we are not worried about retaining any of our own free agents. (I'm assuming Paea is gone with the likely change of scheme) With 30 million, we can make ONE helluva a signing and still fill several other needs. (the fact we don't have to spend on offense helps)

They said on the SCORE the Bucs saved 5 million by cutting him. His 3 year 10 million deal essentially became a one year 5 million deal. I'm guessing he had a bonus coming. Even if they wanted him as a backup and mentor for Glennon, they could save one helluva a lot with the cap and resign him for the near the minimum. He has very little value. When they gave him 10 million to begin with, they were basically bidding against themselves. Of course the early reports have all said the Bucs are debating between Winston and Mariotta. That seems to be the direction they are headed.

Agreed that this is just his opinion. I have know idea what chat sports is, but this reminds me of when Florio first started out with PFT and he put every rumor out there. (Florio liked to talk about his mole in Chicago). Since we have no linebackers, no safeties, and we're very thin at CB, we're going to see a lot of these rumors, and chances are, we actually are looking at everybody. I think we'd all love Houston and we need a good safety and another starting caliber CB.

Do we need 5 new starters on defense? As has been mentioned, the cupboard ain't bare on the d-line. Jennings and Fuller make a decent tandem at CB. Munday is ok. The entire damn defense is better if we are not going 3 & out all the time. We HAVE to add a top linebacker. There is not one linebacker currently on the roster we can declare as a definite starter. We need to add another top player in the secondary, either CB or safety. The rest we can supplement through the draft.

Thanks for posting that. I'd missed it. What will be fun is you know there will be that guy who all of a sudden as "off the chart" measurables and teams will be begging for his services.

I couldn't agree with you more. I think what the Cubs have done has made some Bear fans stupid. Especially since the Cubs have yet to accomplish a damn thing. We have the $$$ to sign 3 real good starters in their prime while adding other good players for depth. If we could draft two good starters this year, we're in business. As for Kyle Long, he's a pro bowl guard, and he'd be a real good tackle. I'm good with him at either position.

Getting a LT would be awesome, but it would be a luxury. We have tons of offensive players who would easily start for lots of teams: Bushrod, the Black Unicorn, Alshon Jefferey, Long, Forte, Slauson, and even Cutler and Marshall. The only questionable starters are Garza (because of his age) and Mills (who is real bad). Of course we have nothing at the 11th starter position which would be a FB, TE, or #3 WR. Most of our offensive would quickly be starters on other teams if they became available. What defensive players do we have that would be sought out to be starters on other teams? There's Paea, but is he a one year wonder? Jared Allen and Ratliff are both ancient. Tim Jennings is short, getting up there in age, and had zero interceptions last year. Willie Young was a rotational DE is looked good and then got injured. Lamar Houston's stock couldn't be lower. I'll give you Kyle Fuller. That's it. Our defense is old a bad. That has to be the focus of the draft. Because of our offensive woes, with the exception of the annual tradition of drafting a 3rd round safety, our defensive picks were pathetic. You look at the defensive guys we drafted in 2012 and 2013, and right now the best of the group is Bostic, and Bostic is bad.

On RB: I agree with you we'll be looking at it being more of a committee. That's good for everyone involved. I just don't expect us to spend for a FA RB. Look for a cheap older guy with some mileage. Marshall: I have to believe we will take a wait and see approach. When healthy, he's a #1 WR. Those guys are rare. If Fox thinks he can tame it done, drop the Showtime gig, he'll stay. If not, he's gone. Garza: With his extension, didn't his bonus count for last year's cap? In other words, he's real damn cheap this year. Isn't DLP a free agent? Long: One interesting thing about him is that he would be a good offensive tackle, but he could be the best guard in the league. He doesn't make the pro-bowl as a tackle.

I'll play. I'll take the Rams. I live in Central Illinois which is half-way between Chicago and St. Louis. People always tell me that think it's weird that I'm a Chicago Bears fan for football but I'm a big fan of the St. Louis Cardinals for baseball.

Switching to a 3-4, name one guy who is guaranteed a starting job . . . think about that. Who is your guy you want out there opening day that doesn't make a Bear fan groan? Can you name one? Am I the only one who pondered, "We signed Lattimore . . . I watched every Bear game, pre-game, post-game, and everything leading up to Bear Sunday . . . Who the hell is Lattimore?" I'm good with the other Brandon Marshall. And the current one for that matter.

Is Brandon Marshall #1 on that list? Who is 3, 4, and 5? Because at this point Briggs is a guy you use to supplement your defense. Unfortunately, we have no linebackers worth a damn for him to supplement. We've got a ton of bad young players: Bostic, Green, Shea, Jones . . . are any of them worth a damn? Which of our current DE's are able to convert to linebacker in a 3-4? I mention this because we have to prioritize a linebacker in FA because we have nobody. And we have to draft a LB early. I don't care what Briggs did or didn't do last year. It's just with all this uncertainty, having him return to a new system only adds to the uncertainty.

Yeah, when you mentioned Foles, I threw up on my computer. That's a downgrade.

Agreed completely. It's better if we go back to the Lovie Smith mindset. While Trestman counted on Jay to win games, we need to get back to our defense and special teams winning games for us. It's no longer a matter of fitting the scheme for Cutler. It's about Cutler working to fit into the scheme given to him.

On a side note, as per Sprtsinsights.com, "Over the last couple hours, Jay Cutler starting next season with the Bears has moved from -160 to -250 at TopBet." In other words, the bookies believe that Jay Cutler will be back.

Agreed. I'm anxious to hear what Gase has planned. I really have seen much about what type of system he wants to run. He was a coach under Josh McDaniels. For the past 3 seasons he's been running the system Peyton Manning brought from Indy. I don't see either system utilizing our team strengths on offense.

Yes, but Cutler is not going to win games for us. The key is making sure he doesn't lose them. Trestman failed in part because he tried to turn Cutler into Aaron Rogers. I'm curious to see what Gase's approach will be. I hope like hell it's run first.

My guess is we work to help him fit into our system. Until recently, has anybody heard that Sutton was a bust? He was the #84 pick one year ago. He didn't do much last season so a team might get a 6th round pick at best. It's much better to stay the course at this point.

Agreed 100% and it's just awesome. Half my casual clothes consist of Bear''s garb and I no longer swear when I dress. What you say about the quick turnaround, I look for us to be major players in free agency. We've already spent big bucks on coaching, yet these guys had other options and didn't sign with the Bears so they could play crap players like SMC just because he was a #1 draft pick. That being said, assuming we are in "win now" mode, I think these guys all signed on with the assumption that Jay is our quarterback. Not because he has to be, but because he gives us the best chance to win. (teams with an unknown at quarterback frequently go into football hell.) Either way, it's an exciting time to be a Bear fan.

Frank Smith is the TE's coach. Anybody ever heard of him? I'm hoping we get some guys with experience under Gase. Jason George is the new strength and conditioning coach.

Reguardless of what you think of Bernstein, it could be that opinions changed once management changed. When the reports that BM was going to be gone first came out, Phil Emery was the GM. Bernstein wasn't the only one reporting that Marshall would/should go. Two weeks ago today, Pace was hired. Fox was hired last Friday and Gase yesterday. We know have a strong leader in Fox and Gase who coached BM previously. I listen to BB regularly because, a) 670 the SCORE has stronger reception and I have trouble picking up ESPN 1000 in the car. If I want Bear's talk, they are it for my drive ome. I find them to be right most of the time. Even when their opinion is unpopular. c) They are probably an acquired taste. I laugh my ass off when they go on about calling Trestman Dr. Death That being said, I don't blame you want bit for hating them and I there are plenty of days I wsih I could pick up Waddle and Silvey.

Yes, but as per reports, Brandon Marshall is the leader of the dysfunction!!! And the last time Gase coached him, Marshall held out, was suspended, and traded to the Dolphins after the season ended. He was gone and Gase stayed. BM did put up some record numbers that season. But there was far more good than bad. Dysfunctional then, dysfunctional now. What was Brandon Marshall laughing about the Denver Days? All his stupid antics? I'm just pointing out that whatever Brandon Tweets probably doesn't mean a damn thing, one way or another.

Damn good point on Dorsey. Paea doesn't have to be huge. But he is a free agent coming off his only good season and the only time he's remained healthy. Switching to a 3-4, he's not worth the cost. I wouldn't rule out us working to incorporate Allen into the defense. He's still pretty damn good at lining up and getting into the back-field. That has value regardless of scheme.

Yeah, but Denver had Peyton Manning who is one of the best QB's in the league, called all the plays, and brought his offense from Indy. Those numbers are skewed because the two youngest players, Mills & Wilson, may not be worth a damn. Do they even stick? Matt Forte is ancient for a RB. Cutler turns 32 is April. But ultimately the ages don't matter. Gase has only been a coordinator with Peyton calling the shots. How does he fix this dysfunctional mess?

Jeff Dickerson broke down how all the Bears d-lineman would fit in with a 3-4 system. According to him, the two that won't really fit are Steven Paea (he's too short) and Jared Allen. (He also said that Will Sutton appeared to be a bust.) It makes sense Paea leaves. It will be interesting to see what we do with Jared Allen. We misused him last year and damn we owe him a lot of money.