He doesn't give away much, but I like to see him talk. There definitely seemed to be an interest in bringing Tillman and Briggs back.

Zaidman stated on the score, that neither of them will be back. As per Pace

I think that's reading an awful lot into a very simple statement from Marshall. Jay Cutler doesn't know if he'll be back either. Neither does Forte, Allen, or any player for that matter being listed as a part of the future plans. I don't how Marshall saying he doesn't know if he'll be back is a huge distraction to the team in Feb. All I've seen is that they are evaluating the roster. I don't want them to commit to anyone as a long term key for this team right now…not even Forte and his $8mil cap hit.

As far as Marshall goes, I leave it up to the Bears brass to decide the valve and the determent Marshall would have on a team. I read an article in the tribune by Steve Rosenbloom. I dont always agree with his opinions but he adds humor to a sometimes bland reporting on the Bears.

 

He had this line in his article on we should spend the money on Randall Cobb and dump Marshall.

 

"The Bears don’t have Rodgers, just to clarify. In fact, they have the anti-Rodgers, but at least with a guy like Cobb, Cutler’s killer interceptions would be deeper."

 

just found this humorous

This is interesting and both of these guys, Fangio and Gase, decided to come to Chicago to prove their point working alongside John Fox and Ryan Pace. I don't think they came her believing this was a long term rebuilding situation.

I dont think anybody takes the job thinking being 3 years away, but to be competitive next year they have to hit on all off season moves and have some unproven talent we didnt see last year take a big leap. Our schedule is much worse than last year.

Was looking through San Frans defensive free agents and came across a somewhat intriguing name.

 

Dan Skuta, the OLB who filled in for Aldon Smith while he was out. He racked up 5 sacks in just 398 snaps.

 

Here's an article entitled "Dan Skuta Aims for 10-sack Seasons, Pro Bowls"

 

http://www.49ers.com/news/article-2/Dan-Sk...f0-7b0e2eb6ff3c

 

As you can see he's pretty high on himself, and gives a lot of praise to Fangio for putting him in the right position. He was a nobody up until Fangio put him at OLB.

 

Now the question is, is Fangio as big on him as he is on himself?

 

Hard to get a tell on him with pretty much no tape out there and little to no previous production, but Fangio has seen what he can do so I'd trust his judgement were he to be brought in.

thats an interesting name as a FA, he doesnt knock your socks off but may have upside.

And even then when talking about 3-4 LB unless Ray is there I'm still comfortable trading down because I believe its a crapshoot between Fowler, Beasley, Dupree, and even Eli Harold.

I personally think Dupree will be the best of the lot, but Dan Durkin from the score, has been saying some good things about Fowler, and I think he is a bright guy, he puts in the work to check these players out.

When you draft farther down, the pool of talent has been decreased and you have a lesser chance of getting an all pro type player. This discussion has been had every draft and statistics PROVE that the farther down the draft you choose the less chance you have of getting an all pro type player.

Trading back is ok, if you dont slide to far down. IF we traded with Cleveland and got 12 and 43. AS scs stated there are several in the same tier for edge rushers, so if they think they are good enough, it would be worth it. At 43 you get another potential starter, providing our new regime knows how to draft.

Having this high of a pick for the Bears is new territory we havent visited in along time.

In viewing dozens of mock drafts and player ratings several names keep recurring.

 

these 4 are in every article: Winston

Mariota

Gregory

Williams

 

we will never see these for names at #7.

 

Amari Cooper-Shane Ray-Brandon Scherff-Danny Shelton

 

the next 4 most common names to show up: Our pick will come from these 4 names

 

There is merit to select each of these 4 as pertaining to our #7 pick

 

I think with Fox, Pace,Fangio they will look to establish a dominate player to build around on defense.

 

With FAgency happening before the draft, who will sign will lead to who our pick will be.

 

Houston is the only OLB with going after but his cost or a franchise tag will remove him from consideration

Knighton is probably the only plum NT to grab in free agency and has ties to Fox.

 

We all concede that they will be going to a 3-4 but I think if you look at Fangio he is more driven by the flexibility to play hybrid defenses, he was in a true 3-4 only 20% of the time while in SF.

 

#1 I think they will strife to get younger and the free agents they go after will be on the younger side.

#2 I think they will target a few players but they will be no big money contracts on the horizon this year.

#3 I think our pick could be from between Shelton and Ray but neither is capable at being flexible to hybrid defenses I think we will be in.

#4 I think we might drop back a few spots and get some extra picks and end up having a surprise pick we havent in our thought process.

Here are some names to look at if we drop back

Fowler- can play both DE and OLB and is rated high

Dupree- can play both DE and OLB and brings a productive senior year and high draft rating

Armstead- is a DE but can play DE and DT in several different lineups.( I wont like this pick, he was not productive in college despite great size and speed)

 

 

So my take that we will move back and get some extra picks and grab Dupree in the first round.

The SCORE reported that after Brandon Marshall met with Pace and Fox, he doesn't know if he's going to be on the team next year. Why does he say that? It is possible Jason Cole made it up, but Marshall's uncertainty indicates that there could be something to it.

I think its all speculation, but by Marshall comments they didnt tell him he was the greatest thing since slice bread was invented so he takes that as uncertainty, precisely why he is a problem, cant keep his mouth shut. It will get him a new address if he doesnt learn.

Just saw on one of PFFs signature stats that Mundy had the 7th least missed tackles among safeties. Not bad. Mundy>Landry.

I think with a more talent at other positions that Mundy would probably be ok at his spot, but I prefer we draft someone and let him grow into the position.

I'm with you on this one. Nobody was complaining about Brandon after the 49ers game. Team goes on a 5 game losing streak, gives up 50pts in back to back games, and suddenly Brandon is a leading cause for the decline. Sure Briggs wasn't happy with Brandon but Briggs is the same guy who walked out his team's first practice of the season. I'd say Brandon was pissing off the right people (Briggs and Gould) because nobody else was doling out the discipline. Did it go too far? Maybe but I agree that with the right leadership at the top and in the locker room (bye Briggs) Marshall reigns it in.

 

I'm not buying this story of a paycut nor do I think we'll just grab a WR and replace his production in year 1 or 2. That's if we draft one at #7. Take one later and the odds go way down.

 

Let's step back for a moment. How does a team get a player to take a pay cut? Player has to be on edge of getting cut and worried that he might not get as much on the open market. Marshall just got his guaranteed $14.5 million.

 

To the new GM that's water under the bridge that he won't be held accountable for. He only cares about money going forward. Marshall will earn $7.5 million this season. That puts him around 15th in the league for 2015 salary. I think his production is easily worth that.

 

To Marshall it's more about guaranteed money plus his 1st year salary. If the Bears want him to take a pay cut he's immediately thinking if he can get a new deal with $7.5mil guaranteed. If he can do that or better, and I think he can easily exceed that, then he is not taking a pay cut. Among last years' FA WR who would you rather have: Eric Decker (5yr $36mil w/ $15mil guaranteed) or Brandon Marshall? In 2015 Marshall would compete against (forget Dez and D. Thomas who will be franchised if they don't sign) Randall Cobb, Jeremy Maclin, Torrey Smith, and Michael Crabtree.

 

Teams with a Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, or Peyton Manning don't need WRs with a huge catch radius. Everyone else does. Marshall has no reason to take a pay cut so if the new GM doesn't want him around for $7.5mil he will cut him. If we were in FA and close to signing an elite player and needed a little bit of cap room I could see this conversation taking place. Then they would play on Marshall's desire to win. But in Feb before the combine and before any other significant player decisions have taken place?

Your probably right about everything you stated, but the key is what Pace and Fox think as far as his positives and weight it against his negatives.They decision will go along way to telling us how much of a distraction he was as to what we think it is. If it is like a Harvin deal that drags the whole team down, then , he should go, it they can manage him, then he gets to stay.

He also played behind a solid and healthy offensive line. Unlike last year where it was musical chairs.

The games he played two years ago was an anomaly, last year was more the norm for his career. He would be ok, but I think this team is looking to get younger not add older players to the team. I think we bring in a backup QB that we may try to develop instead of one to hold the line with.

Brandon may not produce in the traditional #1 receiver role. But most everything else he does is #1, if they even exist anymore. The fact that he leads by example on the field, talks to the team AS A LEADER and encourages younger receivers to train with him in the offseason, defines him as a #1 in my book.

 

In all reality if it were stats alone, Jeffery would be the #1 receiver and probably would have won the year before. But so far he doesn't exhibit those other traits, doesn't need to. Still learning from his mentor.

 

And as far as BM running his mouth, I wonder how Steve Smith did for Baltimore despite all the jaw-jacking he does/did? Was he their "#1 receiver"?

All we see is what he produces on the field and that has been quite good since he has been here, but we can only read about what goes on in the locker room. Everything I hear is he creates chaos and a lot of the players dont want him around. Last year was a disaster in many ways and his act wore thin. New leadership will help control that but the brass are weighing in on a 31 year old WR about to make 9.5 mil and is he worth the distractions he may create when you trying to establish a new culture in the locker room.

Yeah then, no thanks. Probably too old and apparently too travelled anymore to play for the Bears.

 

If we're going to go experienced or veteran like this I'd much rather hope Peanut would consider a move to Safety. I really think he could contribute there for another year or two better than he could at CB. I really hope Fox and Pace can talk him into it.

The problem is he has lost skills he had when he first came into the league, more of what we have.

As much as I dislike mock drafts I would like to inject that I'm intrigued about Shaq Thompson (OLB - Washington). Bucky Brooks had him as the #1 pick for the Bears. Apparently he's extremely versatile. Not only played OLB and some Safety, he also has had a stint as RB. In the scouting report he's being advertised a potential 3rd RB on a team's roster. Talk about "Best Value". His comparative current NFL player? The "other" Brandon Marshall. Intriguing indeed.

 

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/d...diary/23189969/

 

Although I'm hesitant only because I still feel the D needs a proven veteran LB to make things work.

At 6'1" 228 that is mighty small for a NFL OLB. He would have to play safety/

I find information on this website to be quite interesting and their 3 round draft had us taking:

 

1- Danny Shelton/NT

 

2- Hau'oli Kikaha/OLB---------------2013 13 70 15.5 13.0

2014 14 72 25.0 19.0

 

3-Anthony Harris/FS----------------2014 12 108 10 2 6 6'1'' 190lbs

 

Love this draft

Some here are hanging their hats on the statement Pace made talking about building through the draft. This has lead me to wanting to re watch it and digest it again after the initial excitement of a new GM wore off.

 

The statement was made about building in the draft for sustained success, and it's certainly understandable to take that quote and run with it, but there's more to it.

 

When asked about whether this is a rebuilding team or a team capable of a quick turnaround, Pace brought up the 06 Saints. The 05 Saints were 3-13 and Pace talked about how everyone was talking about how the team was in need of a "Massive rebuild" and how the team was "Decimated", but they "Quickly put together a team and got to the NFC Championship game the very next year(06)". Then he started talking about the next 2 years where he said "We continued to build" and then in 2009 they won the Super Bowl.

 

Then later he was quoted saying "In a perfect world, you're acquiring players in free agency that allow you to go with the best player available in free agency".

 

That BPA comment has also been misconstrued by some here on the board when talking about the draft. IMO he's saying he'll take BPA if the holes are filled in FA.

 

Me and Stinger have kinda gone back an forth on these topics and with Free Agency coming up soon I thought a refresher on some of these comments were needed.

 

The scenarios tossed around about adding 3-4-5 new starters on defense, to me, sound like a more likely scenario with what he said. The building in the draft will come after a foundation is set through FA.

In 2006 the only significant signing that NOs had was Dree Brees. I kinda think anywhere he went would have been a turnaround. He will acquire players thru free agency and the draft, just like every team does every year. My point is he will 5 or 6 players and none will be Suh, McCourtly, or Bryant. I claim he will add mid priced free agents, maybe 1 big contract, but I doubt it. I would love to add several high profile players, it aint my money, but that wont happen.

 

Here is my prediction: (list yours)

Eddy Royal/WR

Virgil Green/TE

Ingram or Moreno/RB

Franklin/OG

Culliver/CB

Moore/S

De La Puente/OC

 

there are several md priced free agents-Franklin will be the only elevated contract.

 

Franklin will let Long move to RT or LT.

 

 

In the draft he will be taken BPA and with the #7 pick he will have a choice of Shelton or Ray depending on his evaluation of roster.

He will draft 2 LBs, 2 DL and a safety and WR

Have no idea who this guy is but claims to know the free agent targets of the Bears.

 

http://www.chatsports.com/chicago-bears/a/...s-Are-10-16-881

Anybody know this name? He is a TE on our team.

 

Annen is a ridiculous athlete, running a 4.41 at the school's pro day, also posting 25 bench press reps, a 34 inch vertical and 10 foot broad jump. 6'4" 247

 

He did 16-182-2 his senior year.

 

Maybe he turns into a beast with some coaching.

 

I think I saw/read/heard somewhere that Harvey Unga was going to something like this. And I seem to recall that he was one of the key names attending since he had been on roster(s?) before.

 

If Harvey Unga is the prime rib, the rest are probably tainted.

I swear he was on the Bears for like 5 years and I never seen him play

 

 

Technically, we need 2x Safeties, 2-3x LBs (only 4 currently under contract), 2 CBs (Jennings is not a starter anymore and Fuller may end up only being a Nickelback), and at least 1x on the line.

I actually think Jennings will play better as a man CB, and Fuller could be a really good FS.

This years free agency is MUCH better than last years, perhaps the best ever. If they bring in guys like Rahim Moore, Terrance Knighton, Chris Culliver, and David Harris to go with guys like Kyle Fuller, Christian Jones, Lamarr Houston, Willie Young, Ego Ferguson, Jay Ratliff, and Jon Bostic then couple it with some high draft picks and better coaching the boom, you're cooking with fire.

 

I don't remember where it came from but I truly believe the statement that came out awhile back that the linebackers and the secondary werent on the same page last year. Getting everyone on the same page improves the defense right away. I think with John Fox and Vic Fangio here we are gonna see a disiplined defense with everyone on the same page, and we see a lot of guys like Bostic, Fuller, and Jones improve.

 

I think youre really underestimating what 3 or 4 new starter in FA and a few in the draft with improved coaching can do to this team. None of those FAs iI listed above are splashy names, but they would most certainly improve the D to a respectable level

 

To put that into some perspective, add Harris, Knigton, Culliver and Moore to say Ray and Tartt in the first 2 rounds...thatd set up a starting lineup of

 

DL- Houston-Knighton-Ego/Rat

 

LB- Young-Harris-Jones/Bostic-Ray

 

CB- Fuller-Culliver-Jennings

 

FS- Moore

 

SS Tartt/Mundy

 

That, to me at least, looks like a fairly decent defense.

 

All that at probably under 20 million dollars total.

I hope your right, its just as bad as we were last year it is hard to gauge the team having potential when we havent seen it all put together yet.

If they dont plan on competing anytime soon then Cutler should be released before more of his contract becomes more gaurenteed. Hell they can go with a guy like Claussen or Matt Moore if they dont plan on competing.

 

In my opinion the offense is gonna be more 2013 than 2014. You draft right and add some key free agents to go along with better coaching and the D very well could be turned around in a year.

 

I think it'd be a mistake not to try to turn it around in a year....Esp since your new HC has already done just that twice now.

I dont think any team does not have the desire to win all games, it is just the realism that it probably wont happen this year. If we go 8-8, we wont make the playoffs, but a drastic improvement. With so many questions and the worst defense this franchise has ever seen, how do you say (were going for it)? We tried to go for it last year, and free agency was a disaster. There is no way we fall in that situation again. I think we bring in 3 or 4 starters and none big splashes, and then have a good draft. Does that get us to 10-6? I highly doubt it. Name our talent on defense? Other than Young, who is injured, who played well last year? Paea wont be back in the 3-4 scheme. LBers,none, DBs-Fuller in the first month. Way to far to go in one year.

If you think we won't be good for another 3 years and not spend much money then we might as well cut Forte and Cutler while your at it. I of disagree with your logic but ya if you really think its gonna take 3 years we may as well start draft in qbs and seeing who clicks.

 

I think we compete next year.

I think this is what the Bears think. When Pace said (we will build through the draft) that is not a one year plan. If he has two good drafting classes, I think he thinks we compete in year 3. I dont think they think this is a tank year, but bring in some new players and see what shacks out. For Cutler, we have no other options, so I figure they plan to draft a QB in 2016. As far as Forte goes, they may choose to cut him, frees up quite a bit of money, but probably wait one more year until his contract is up. He will be 31, so dont think they have him in the future. As far as competing this year, if they deem we have more talent than it showed last year because of bad coaching, then they may decide to front this year, but hard to know what there evaluation is of our roster. The draft and free agency will go along way at telling what they think our chances are this year.

I agree on keeping Cutler as there are just so few options in the draft or FA. I expect to see Clausen as our backup again this year and another player brought in to compete with him and Fales for a roster spot. I do not care for Jake Locker as I watched him all through college and while he's a phenomenal athlete he just doesn't read defenses well.

 

RB…don't see us spending big money in FA here. I don't know what Ingram's market will be, I know it won't be huge but he should be in enough demand to put him beyond the price range I want to spend. I wouldn't rule out a FA RB, perhaps Vereen, but avoid the big expense and keep that cash for defense. Draft a RB in the 4th or 5th Rd to fit in the mix. Carey is an inside runner, he's very quick and that's where he can be most productive and as far as I can tell that fits what Fox likes to do. He should get a chance to compete for the #2 role in camp.

 

WRs…there is no way I see Marshall getting cut. He's still a very productive receiver and, equally important to this new coaching staff, he's an excellent run blocker. Running is going to be a big part of what we do next year. We'll continue to pair him with Jeffrey on the outside but will add a speed guy to compete with Wilson. I actually wouldn't mind some spending some FA cash on this position because I think it's key to getting our offense less predictable. Randall Cobb would fit in well but he's likely getting a huge payday and he's not coming here to be a #3 WR. Eddie Royal fits the bill IMO…2nd tier FA money and different skill set from Marshall/Jeffrey. If that doesn't work out there isn't another good FA fit for what we need so in that case this would likely to be a Rd 4-6 draft pick. Colleges run spread offenses everywhere now and good speed WRs are now available late into the draft.

 

Backup TE: Likely a FA pickup as you state.

 

OL: I don't think they move Long to LT. You have a guy who has been a Pro Bowl player at OG 2 years straight. Why mess with success? We don't know how he'll handle the transition back to LT. I do agree he can play out there just not sure how well he'll do. I don't think De LaPuente returns as a starter, maybe as a backup. Pace was in charge of pro personnel in NO and had to be one in the front office with the most input to letting him test the open market. Yes, NO wanted him back once he had trouble finding work. Again, he had trouble finding work last year so I think we're over-valuing one of our players. I think we're fine at OG with Slausson and Long. OC can be ok even with Garza but wouldn't be surprised to see us go after another FA here.

 

I am totally open to grabbing a LT with #7 overall. Love the idea of Bushrod at RT and someone like Peat at LT, a big man who is mobile and a nasty run blocker. Not sure his value is there at #7 but I don't think Mills is starting material. Either way it happens, many here see a need to do something at LT and these are players you have to get early in the draft or not at all.

Since I have been done with FF, I have been reading everything I can about draft, free agency, all Bears football rumors.

SO FAR: I have read a lot about disruption from Marshall among the players, that his act gets old. From a talent standpoint, he needs to be here, but from a culture standpoint, does Foxys leadership control his antics on a leadership void team?

I would say yes, but if we are rebuilding the team with a 3 year window(Pace said he will build team through draft), Marshall wont be here when we get good.(so I think they move on with him now and displace him with a speed WR(think Emanual Sanders type).

 

I think most people think Long is our LT of the future, so if Pace believes that, why wouldnt they move him now while we rebuild the roster so in 3 years. Put Bushrod at RT wear he fits better and draft the guard of the future now?

 

Garza wont be here when we get good, so A. they cut him, and grab a drafted player or B. bring back De La Puente(who graded out better) that could see be here in year 3 or Bring in a Montgomery who was with Fox in Denver( at 32 I doubt this move)

 

If they think Carey is our power runner, then Vereen makes more sense, but I actually think he costs more money than Ingram.

 

 

So with all of this in mind ( their plans are being based on being good in year 3 of the rebuild)

 

 

we bring in as free agents:

bring back De La Puente

sign Orlando Franklin (can play either OG or OT) young and an anchor in our future

sign Eddie Royal as a stop gap slot/speed WR

sign Virgil Green who could develop into our starter when Bennetts contract is up

sign Cris Culliver/CB will be our starter going forward.

sign Ingram as our power runner for the future.

 

IN free agency the only expensive signe is Franklin and fill several spots with the thought of who will be here in the future

 

draft: If Pace goes by what he says as BPA(used Draft Tex draft information in this scenario) also (GBND big board)

 

1 Shane Ray- our OLB rush LB of the future

2 Arik Armstead/DE lack true 3/4 DEs on the roster

3 Anthony Harris/ SS best saftey on board that can play either position

4 Tyler Lockett/ WR we add another speed WR to the mix

6 Jeffery Whitaker/NT adds more beef up front

7 Adam Shead/OG BPA is applied in this spot

 

 

So this what is looks like: Offense QB Cutler-Claussen-Fales

RB Forte-Ingram-Cary

WR Jeffery-Royal-Lockett-Wilson

OL Long-Slausson-De La Puente-Franklin-Bushrod-Shead-Ola

 

defense DL Houston-Ratliff-Armstead (Sutton-Ferguson-Whitaker-Allen(rush specialist))

OLB Ray-Young-Bass-Washington

ILB Jones-Bostic-? ?

CB Culliver-Jenning-Al Louis Jean-Mitchell

S- Wild card ( we move Fuller to FS) Harris-Mundy-Vereen

 

I think the rebuilding of the team will be to be good in year 3

We can not fill all spots in one offseason

The draft is based on BPA with Draft Tek and GBND as input

 

 

 

Here is my wish listL

 

Offense:

1. Eddie Royal, WR

2a. Mike Iupati, G, 28

2b. Orlando Franklin, G, 27

3. Mark Ingram, RB, 25

4. Virgil Green, TE, 27

 

I feel like at a minimum if we can get a Slot Receiver and some help on the O-Line, the others would be just icing on the cake. Ingram would be an awesome change of pace back and Green would be a great 2nd TE. Obviously salaries would play a huge part because the defense needs a lot more love than the offense.

If we grab two OGs what do we do with Slauson? He is under contract.