jason

This is my favorite thread in Talk Bear history. Thanks for the update CanadianBear! Sounds like my kind of coach on both offense AND defense.

Wow. This feels like the offseason when the Bears landed Cutler. I couldn't believe we could finally watch a legit offense. Of course, Lovie/Tice/JA ruined that, but maybe, just maybe, we get a second chance.

Ever since Jimmy Johnson leaked the name Marc Trestman, I've been watching every highlight I could from his time in Canada. And I'm sure of the following statement: The majority of this board will be upset. Why? To make this offense work, either he'll have draft a ton of OL OR He's going to have a very unbalanced, semi-productive offense that relies on a lot of deep drops, has minimal rushing, and will get the QB drilled Judging from history, either scenario is going to make most of this board unhappy.

All I really need to know about the guy to get my approval: 1997 - Guided Scott freaking Mitchell to 3,484 yards passing 1998 - Guided Jake freaking Plummer to 3,737 yards passing Dude knows offense.

But at the same time, if he's not given some of the same latitude Lovie was given, and he doesn't win a SB in four years or less, it will be upsetting to me if they fire him under a "win a SB or get fired" condition.

He'll yeah! I liked that guy!

This is almost exactly what I'm thinking.

As BT said, I don't think Urlacher is going anywhere. Hence, a first rounder would be on the bench. The Bears have a TE, it's Rodriguez. I want him to be used as such since that's where all the excitement about his selection was directed. As for FB, who gives a damn? Those dudes can be picked up off the scrap heap. Vonta Leach - BAL - Undrafted John Kuhn - GB - Undrafted Bruce Miller - SF - 7th RD DL James Casey - HOU - 5th RD Denver - I don't think they really use a FB The Bears could just draft a 7th RD FB, or look for an athletic DL prospect who played RB in HS (ala Melton).

Agreed completely. It was implied, but not clear. It's one of the main reasons why I have advocated for that type of blocking scheme for some time; it permits lesser OL talent. Something the Bears have had for quite some time.

DELETED Echo AZ54 & BowlingTwig

Odd, because I see where a defensive change would help them tremendously. A DC who does the following could easily improve the defense: Make it unpredictable. Year in and year out we have heard about the Lovie-2's strengths and weaknesses, and one of the latter is the fact that absolutely everyone knows what's coming from the Bears' D. Whether they stay in the cover-2 shell X% of the time is nearly inconsequential because opponents' players and coaches have said the Bears just line up in what you know they will do and dare you to beat them (i.e. "They are who we thought they were!"). A new DC could implement a few things (e.g. DL stunts, DE flexibility for inside rushes, LB blitzes, DB blitzes, lessened frequency of the MLB being 20 yards deep) that could maximize the aging talent on the defense. If Marinelli is up to the task, then it's not big deal. But my impressions of him adjusting (during the game, after the game, during his tenure with the Bears) aren't great.

I think your post is intended to advocate for the cover-2, but the key to what you said is, "The current teams remaining in the playoffs".

Excellent post. Out of that group, the only OL that's not primarily built through the draft is Houston. They have a 7th rounder, a FA 6th rounder, a 4th rounder, and a FA 3rd rounder. That's not drafting or signing well, that's hitting the lottery. Why is it that this OL history lesson has to be done every year? When is everyone finally going to realize the OL has been sorely neglected for multiple years? This has been broken down by draft round as well as draft pick value, and it's plain to see for anyone not getting a Jerry Angelo Christmas Card that this dude simply didn't draft OLinemen with anywhere near the urgency as he drafted DLinemen. Whether or not this is a Lovie Smith influence is inconsequential, because, ultimately, the GM is the HC's boss.

"I'm with Skip Bayless" is not usually a comment that makes a lot of sense. It may in this specific instance, but generally agreeing with Skip is a losing proposition.

Agreed. But considering the title of this thread, and the QB behind the shredding, the reference is to the former type of QB, not the latter.

True on both accounts. But I think there is a degree of difference when comparing the Cutler and the Bears' OL over the past three or so years, and the other QBs people would attempt to throw into this conversation/comparision. Cutler has taken way more heat, way more pressure, way more hits, face way more scrutiny, and I imagine it's exhausting. Especially since it hasn't been fixed the entire time he's been in Chicago.

I hope you're right. Just like I hoped the drafting of Rodriguez would usher in the first part of the new Chicago Bears, the passing Chicago Bears. But we see how that played out.

Agreed. More often than not, athletic QBs get punished by defenders for being athletic. A QB with accuracy, timing, and arm strength is what the Bears need. I think Cutler could be that guy if he could ever get consistent protection.

I picked Armstrong. I've been a Bears fan too long to be optimistic about this year. I figure they'll pick the only guy I don't really want.

Why? Seriously, why do the Bears need another TE? I mean, if Spaeth and Davis are cut, I get it, one can be signed or drafted very late (i.e. 7th), but if Spaeth is still around the Bears will then have a blocking TE (i.e. Spaeth), and a pass-catching TE (i.e. Rodriguez). I'm all for this offense of the future concept, where the Bears utilize two receiving TEs like the Patriots, but I just don't see it happening.

You already knew I wouldn't like it before posting it. I don't like the idea of drafting a TE at all, and I don't like drafting a first round MLB who will sit the bench. I watched some video of Jenkins, and he'd be a good pick for a 6th rounder, but I can't say I was all blown away. And to be quite honest, if there is one high-round LT I am not really impressed by, it's Lane Johnson. Watched him in the Cotton Bowl and he was slow against speed rushers, didn't finish all his blocks, had horrible cut block technique, lost awareness a few times, and didn't look like an early rounder. Some of this is expected for a guy who has barely played the position. I guess it makes sense that if you hate my mock I'd feel similarly about yours. Different strokes, different folks.

No it doesn't. And you are trolling. Look up the definition: "In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory,[1] extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as a forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking readers". If you don't see the similarities in the previous discussion and this one, the difference between a first/second rounder pick and a fourth round pick, the fact that your original post indicated Klein as a first/second rounder, and the fact that once you conceded a late rounder then I was fine with the resolution (i.e. why I finished the thread), then it's not my arrogance hindering this debate, it's your blind ignorance and trolling. As far as Terra's point of view, I don't think there is a "right" solution. FA or draft is fine, but they are philosophically different. Drafting probably has more risk, but there is almost infinitely more upside. The problem with FA is the guys available are almost never studs; they're second-tier at best.

I think you mean "potentially fix for a short term period." The draft is more of a crapshoot, but its not like great OL with lots of years left are released very often. If the Bears go FA, it will be a need again in three or four years at the max.

Blah blah blah. The problem with your entire post is you're talking about a post you made when he was hottest. And regardless of your Clintonian twisting of words, it was pretty apparent he was going to be a first/second at that point, and that's where your words (already quoted) said you preferred him (or you did a piss poor job of making your point). Quit trolling. QB is a need every year until the Bears figure it out. But it's not a need requiring a draft pick in the first three rounds (unless Cutler is gone and no draft picks pan out).

For the record, I'm not sure I understand the RB pick either. And I'm already on record as saying the Bears don't need to draft a TE since they have yet to give Rodriguez a chance to play there and catch passes.