Jason Taylor wants out of Miami - according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. Taylor is in the twilight of a borderline Hall-of-Fame career and is still one of the best defensive ends in the game. Why am I writing about him? Because he wants to play for a contender and I want the Bears to contend.
The arguments against making a move for Taylor are understandable. (1) He'll inevitably cost early round draft picks. (2) Defensive end is not necessarily a need for this team. (3) He most likely won't play much into the next decade.
The arguments for the trade are just as strong. (1) The Bears have good defensive ends but the New York Giants proved that a great pass rush can change your season and the Bears' ends are not the strongest at getting to the quarterback. (2) Taylor would be installed into a rotation he did not enjoy in Miami which should keep him fresh for the entirety of a season. (3) An offensive line will now have to double-team either Taylor or Tommie...but not both. This would become one of the most feared units in the game.
Not a likely deal, I know, but one that would certainly make things more exciting in 2008. Would you sacrifice a second and third round pick for him? A first round pick next year? Mark Anderson and one of those picks? Food for thought I guess.
#2 Al in WI said . . .I'd love him, but he just doesn't fit our needs now...and we'd be giving up on getting anything close to a solid o-line.
March 10, 2008
#3 JB said . . .Something to think about, but as you said I don't think it will happen. The Bears have bypassed big moves at positions of need this off season I can't imagine them swinging for the fences on a DE.
I'm curious about how things are going behind the scenes right now at Halas Hall. They have addressed three position groups so far QB, LB, and though I have my issues with it WR. They still have real issues on the line, running back, and saftey. All seems quiet right now.........March 10, 2008
#4 Pissed Off said . . .no
wait...no
regardless of that sick game he had against us two years ago, i don't want anything to do with him for the price.
March 10, 2008
#5 tenacious d said . . .I'd love Taylor and I heard he'd cost one 2nd round pick. If thats the case, I'd probably do but not multiple picks unless they are much later in the draft. He's got 2-3 good years left and then he'll hit the slope that Warren Sapp has fell into over the past few years....unproductive....probably still above average but barely.
It wont happen though. But we need O-line help and trading for him would cost us a needed position in the draft.
March 10, 2008
#6 Bringing Rexy back said . . .Unless he can also play 0-line for us I'd be against the move. But its fun to dream. Don't forget that Wale had his 16 sack season with Taylor on the same d-line in Miami. With those 2 and Tommie and Dusty, It'd be the most feared front 4 in the league.
March 10, 2008
#7 Phil from SATX said . . .Yeah great idea! Then we can make a trade with the Patriots for Brady! Then we can make a trade with the Chargers for LT! Come on people lets fix the problems we have before we start trying to build our little dream team.
March 10, 2008
#8 Bringing Rexy back said . . .That line would be shades of 1985. I would agree that I'm not convinced that we have the necessary ingredients for an unstoppable, Super Bowl caliber, kill the Patriots type of defensive line. I'm certainly hopeful - if Alex Brown and Wale can pick up from where they left off last season, and Dusty can last more than TWO FULL GAMES and Tommie is healthy, I think we could be there.
After initially thinking it would be worth a second round pick for him, I am reconsidering - that would be a move for a team who considers itself otherwise SB ready. Don't get me wrong, as a Bearimist I'm far from believing we can't be there, but we're so uncertain in other areas, I just don't think the BT will make such a short term move that comes at considerable expense. Maybe it depends on how long he can be a strong contributor. If the answer is a pretty certain 3 years, then I say go for it (2nd round pick). If it's only two years, I say no.
March 10, 2008
#9 willie from chicago said . . .D-line is the least of our problems. We need our drafts picks to fix our problems areas.
March 10, 2008
#10 mikebdot said . . .Hey guys, man i was gone a hell of a long time. Just healed from surgery and feeling a lot better.
As far as Jason Taylor, if we can sign him then thats great. But i wouldnt spend more than a second round pick on him. Maybe we can trade one of our young D lineman for him.
Bear Down
March 10, 2008
#11 jeff said . . .We should trade Marty Booker for him.
Just kidding, but I don't think it would be wise. We need a second round pick for WR, RB, QB, or OL.
March 10, 2008
#12 jeff said . . .if taylor costs one second round pick, how can you not make the deal? as for the wiseass comments about brady and lt, they're not available. taylor is available, which could be been discerned by not skipping the first paragraph above.
March 10, 2008
#13 Phil from SATX said . . .i'd do mark anderson and a 2 right now.
March 10, 2008
#14 JB said . . .That's actually an interesting suggestion, MikeB - Miami might actually be interested in a trade which brought them the young (would be) beast Mark Anderson.
Question is - would we be interested in that? I know we soured on the kid a little last year when he couldn't stop the run, but he's sure to have upside.
Would you do it? I would. Remember there are no free trades - you have to give up something good to get something.
March 10, 2008
#15 Phil from SATX said . . .i'm good with what we have now on the defensive line. i think this draft is very important for us to score an offensive lineman or two, a running back, a wide receiver, and/or a quarterback on the first day. giving up a 2 does not appeal to me to bring in a DE who, while very good, is nearing the end of his career. Plus with brown, wale, anderson and the question mark of bazuin, we are solid there. i'm not giving up on mark anderson because he'll likely be pushed back to the role he should be in...pass rush specialist, and will be worth more to us in the long run
March 10, 2008
#16 jeff said . . .minor point JB, 1st day now means only rounds 1 and 2, meaning unless we trade we'll only know about two guys on that day. BTW I think that was a BAD move on the part of the NFL because I will always regard the 3rd rounders as Day 1 guys in terms of importance. I don't know if that's why they changed it, maybe to make people tune in on the 2nd day. But I'm still pissed that we won't know but two names after Saturday.
March 10, 2008
#17 Phil from SATX said . . .the idea with the rounds change was for television purposes, namely to put more interest in day two by sliding the third round there. i like the move a lot.
March 10, 2008
#18 jeff said . . .Just read that Brandon Lloyd cost us basically nothing - veteran minimum, $645K, will count like $500K against the cap. We can't expect much from this except to say Jerry'll look like a genius if he contributes at all next year.
March 10, 2008
#19 Phil from SATX said . . .you know, its funny, but dj hackett and bryan johnson are still out there unsigned. the bears could make a move for one of these guys and really have done a nice job rebuilding the receiving corps. i dont think either will ultimately break your bank.
March 10, 2008
#20 Pissed Off said . . .I think we actually have a good shot that Jerry'll go there - there's no way they're counting on anything for Lloyd - who I think is a cheaper Rashied Davis replacement - so they still are in the position of having cut two guys and picked up one. Booker is definitely the Moose replacement, so you still haven't replaced Berrian, who is obviously the more important replacement. I also don't believe that they are going to bet the farm on Hester and Bradley. So it's a distinct possibility that it could still happen, and it would make sense if it did.
What doesn't make sense is no Oline signing!
Someone needs to explain this!
March 10, 2008
#21 mikebdot said . . .Loving the thread today. I still want Hackett. I could care less and would not be surprised if Lloyd didnt even make the team or was cut during preseason. Its like feast or famine with certain positions. We are pretty damn deep at DE and now this chatter about acquiring Taylor (which wont happen, but its fun to speculate isnt it?) would make us really deep and feared at DE. Yet we look at the entire O-line and we are pretty much screwed right now.
March 10, 2008
#22 Shady said . . .I'm trying to rationalize the decision not to sign O-line. I'm thinking we are waiting until after we get compensatory picks, then on draft day, we'll make trades to get extra picks earlier in the draft and draft multiple O-lineman or we'll trade straight up.
Honestly though, I think they are just biding their time. I think everyone is just very impatient this off-season since we were unsuccessful last season.
It's possible they're not impressed with any available lineman out there at the prices they are requesting. They obviously want to sign Urlacher, Hester, and Harris this year and they're probably working hard to win NEXT year's free agency this year.
I don't know, this just sucks because it's not September. :)
March 10, 2008
#23 tenacious d said . . .Right now the offense is in a position do do something I didn't think was possible...
Perform worse in '08 than they did in '07.
I think the chances of BJ or DJ becoming a Bear is less than 15%. I feel like Chicago would rather wait until the draft than over value a FA WR.
Seriously... O-Line. Now. If the Bears don't aquire a lineman to start (other than a rookie) JA's ideas about getting off of buses offensively don't have a very good chance.
March 10, 2008
#24 jeff said . . .About the o-line lack of free agent activity, maybe Jerry is waiting to scoop up bargains after the draft. Most mocks I've seen have a lot of 0-lineman going in the first few rounds. Teams will have to cut or trade veteran players to make room for the high-priced new rooks.
March 10, 2008
#25 tenacious d said . . .shady, there's certainly a chance of that. there's also a chance that hester will learn the offense and be the most productive weapon since walter payton.
March 10, 2008
#26 Shady McBears Fan said . . .jeff, I don't know about the Walter comparison, but I'll give you this. Hester will be at least as good this season as Berrian was last season. By the end of the year we'll be saying, Bernard who?
March 10, 2008
#27 jdawg said . . .I hope those "bargains" don't end up becoming "should've retired last year" or players who can't beat out John St. Clair for a starting spot on the team. God bless him for stepping up last year, but St. Clair is not a consistently reliable option.
Am I being impatient here, or am I being realistic?
I know what JA would say...
March 10, 2008
#28 Shady said . . .think back to how we got R Brown. Buffalo cut him. Stuff like this will happen again.
March 10, 2008
#29 jeff said . . .Is that really saying much right? I mean, who can we look at as a benchmark offensively since Payton?
Kramer? Harbaugh? Grossman??
N. Anderson? A-Thomas?
Conway? Robinson? Booker??
I guess you try to have faith in Angelo and his plans...I'm just so damn impatient.
March 10, 2008
#30 Al in WI said . . .you're impatient? i got people telling me they don't want jason taylor because he only has three years left! i don't give a shit about three years from now. i think we're going to have the framework of a championship defense and i believe in adding every great or potentially great player possible right now.
March 10, 2008
#31 start o said . . .While I don't like it, I think the reciever plan is to take Lloyd, Bradley, and Hester and hope one of them really emerges as the starter opposite Booker. There's some logic to it, I just don't like the gamble when they had other options.
I just don't want to see Hester's role on special teams effected because of it.March 10, 2008
#32 mikebdot said . . .Mark Anderson could very well be a young Jason Taylor. This would be a dumb move. If we are going to work a big trade, it should be for a big WR.
March 10, 2008
#33 jeff said . . .start o: Yes, I wouldn't mind bringing in Fitzgerald, even with the contract guarantees that would warrant. We would still need O-line, but holy shit would that be awesome.
March 10, 2008
#34 Shady said . . .fitzgerald isn't available and if he were you're talking about giving up 15 a year plus a first round to put him on a team with quarterback issues. nobody on here better start comparing a player who couldnt keep alex brown out of the starting lineup with a hall-of-fame defensive end.
March 10, 2008
#35 Decatur Staleys #7 said . . .Mark Anderson had a hell of a rookie year.
Sure he had a drop off last year, but Alex Brown is by no means a slouch.
I think you have an interesting point jeff. It's the defense is going to get us back to the Superbowl in the short term, and a guy like Jason Taylor could really put the unit over the top again in '08. Risky? Yes. Worth a shot? Why not.
March 11, 2008
#36 Ted said . . .If the BT doesn't fix this O line soon
I feel we see a retread of F Miller & R Brown part two
March 11, 2008
#37 jeff said . . .Miller clearly can't handle things at RT. Tait would probably do better there.. IF we found a stud LT.
I think Ruben Brown might have another good year in him, but they had better be stockpiling some young linemen for the years to come.
Kreutz can still play; don't know about Garza.
Help, JA ! Find us someone to fill in these holes.
March 11, 2008
#38 mikebdot said . . .once again, fred miller and ruben brown had a brilliant season and led this team to a super bowl...i hate that everyone has diminished that role
March 11, 2008
#39 Matt said . . .jeff: Fred Miller was terrible in '06 too. Just because you go to the Super Bowl doesn't mean everyone took you there. Some people were just along for the ride.
March 11, 2008
#40 Matt said . . .Shady McBears fan, funny you brought up the name St. Clair. Mike Mulligan mentioned about a week ago that there are a few people with the Bears who think St. Clair could step in and do the job.
I would have to disagree with that assessment.
March 11, 2008
#41 jdawg said . . .http://blogs.suntimes.com/bears/2008/03/quarterback_search_leads_to_sa.html
"The Bears continued following quarterback prospects for the draft over the weekend.
A source said quarterbacks coach Pep Hamilton was in San Diego Friday for the pro day workout of the University of San Diego’s Josh Johnson. The athletic 6-3 Johnson reportedly did a nice job rebounding from a combine workout that didn’t go so well. He’s been compared to Vince Young for the way he can turn broken plays into big ones with his feet but is considered raw and will need time to develop. Johnson is a likely second-day pick.
With Hamilton traveling to the West Coast, you would have to imagine chances are good he made it a two-day stay for the pro day of San Diego State’s Kevin O’Connell on Saturday. No word yet whether or not the Bears were present for the Aztecs workout also, but it would stand to reason as they are believed to like O’Connell more than Johnson. O’Connell has prototypical size at 6-5, 225 pounds, and is also athletic. He led San Diego State in passing and rushing last season.
O’Connell will need to prove he’s more of a passer than just an athlete to raise his stock for the draft. The San Diego Union-Tribune reports he has individual workouts with a handful of teams upcoming.
With the Bears in need of offensive linemen, a receiver, a running back and defensive tackle, the best bet right now is that quarterback becomes a second-day pick."
Anybody seen either of these guys play?
March 11, 2008
#42 Shady said . . .John Crist said Johnson's combine was embarassing and a team would be insane to draft him. Sounds like he fits us to a tee, offensively.
March 11, 2008
#43 Polygonhell said . . .Doesn't O'Connell seem like the poor man's Flacco?
March 11, 2008
#44 Phil from SATX said . . .Johnson ddn't throw well at the combine.
In the regular season he had 43TD's and 1 INT and the INT bounced off the hands of the reciever. That's hard to do regardless of the quality of the competition. He played in a pro type offense at college.He is athletic, but usually uses his legs to set up a pass. He's on the skinny side and there is some concern about his fagility because of this.
There isn't a lot of coverage of his proday, which was Friday, but the concensus seems to be he redeemed his his stock throwing much better than at the combine.
He's probably late 3rd, early to mid 4th round pick at this point. I wouldn't be upset if the Bears picked him up.
March 11, 2008
#45 JAB said . . .Headline in our local paper:
Cowboys back passive approach
Team feels it's more prudent to re-sign stars than shop among rest.They signed Flozell, signed Romo and Crayton and defensive lineman Jay Ratliff.
"These deals are considered bargains compared to some of the contracts handed out by other teams in free agency. For example, the consensus around the league is Oakland grossly overpaid for receiver Javon Walker, who received a six-year, $55 million deal that includes a guaranteed $16 million."
and Jerry Jones says something very intelligent:
"...rarely do your great players ever hit the market. (Other teams) do what we do with the Wittens and the Romos. You don't ever see those guys get out there. What ends up happening is the best of the rest end up getting paid like they're the best, and we just don't feel that's a good use of our money."
That's coming from a guy who actually loves to spend his money.
I wonder if our Jerry (Angelo) ultimately feels his previous policy regarding free agent olinemen DIDN'T work out that well. He may feel (and should feel) like he took his eye off the ball regarding drafting oline in the last couple of years. Regardless of the popular opinion, I don't feel like the 2006 line was a Super Bowl caliber line. They were already falling off then.
He may not want to go down that road again and may instead want to fix his deferred maintenance of not drafting oline in a hurry this year. We've talked about it before - if you want to build a core of great players, that's really done in the draft and not in free agency. I think he will end up picking two guys within the first 3 rounds for oline, and probably spend high next year on one as well.
That way he's got a shot at not overpaying, by drafting, developing, and re-signing early, which is becoming the new model in the NFL (and which Jerry A. is widely known as being very good at). Although there are good players available in free agency, it is a truth that they are the ones the team didn't feel they needed to keep. Sometimes you lose good players because their demands are too lofty (Berrian, almost happened with Briggs), or because of ego (Thomas Jones), or because they want to have a role you can't provide them (Ayanbedejo). But I would guess the vast majority of free agents are out there because teams felt like they could get the same player or better for cheaper. In other words - they are already overpriced. Then the bidding for the limited number of decent free agents begins, and the spread becomes even bigger, between what they are really worth and what they can get. A system that virtually guarantees you will be overpaying for castoff players.
I'm probably just trying to make myself feel better, but the draft is far more important than free agency in building a team.
March 11, 2008
#46 Phil from SATX said . . .The draft is more important when rebuilding a team or adding to your talent pool, but if you are counting on winning the next year you cannot count on the amount of players the Bears want to draft and expect them to contribute the first year. It could happen but people should not expect it. The bears need to at least pick up one free agent OG.
March 11, 2008
#47 JB said . . .I agree with you JAB - but now that the horses have left the paddock, do you think there are free agents out there that represent significant upgrades over Metcalf, St. Clair, Beekman or even a healed Ruben Brown (I realize the last one is a free agent).
The thing is, if JA elects to do nothing about the oline, then you're right, the odds of having next year look like a rebuilding year increase. However, with our D and special teams, a rebuilding year on O can still bring us a bunch of wins. Even if he brings in two rookies and starts both, there's just no way it will be a worse line than last year. We had ZERO running game last year and not much more of a passing game.
I still don't think there's any way the O can be worse, even if it's been suggested that it can, and I'm forecasting a big improvement on D simply through health.
What will probably happen is he'll sign the cheapest guard out there to a 1-2 year deal and hope that Beekman will beat him out. This will assuage the fans who will know nothing about the guy (as they don't about virtually every non-Bear lineman in the league).
March 11, 2008
#48 Duff Diggler said . . .jeff: "i don't give a shit about three years from now."
Really? I'm having a tough time with this one. Do you mortgage the future for one shot at the present or build a strong team that can make multiple runs? I'm not sold on Mark Anderson like a lot of people on here were last year. In fact, I think I was one of the few people questioning the move to start him over brown (and i understand the rotation thing) because he was weak against the run...but i still like him. So, while I respect a player of jason taylors ability and career resume, I like our defensive ends and don't see this as a big time upgrade relative to the potential help on offense the pick or picks could provide not only next year but into the future.
I for one do not want to turn into a team that puts all of its eggs in one basket and lives for years and years digging themselves out of the hole they put themselves into. Before you say I'm going too far, it's just one move, etc., it is a franchise mentality (ie. redskins). This may be a what have you done for me lately league, but this is not a what have you done for me lately team. i'm still going to be a bears fan three years from now and well into the future. if i was on my death bed i might be urging us to blow our wad this year, but come on, we've got time with this defense that i think will be back to form (god willing if we can stay healthy) and the offense can't get worse. I don't think jason taylor puts us over the top. I think he would move us from a 95 to a 96 overall defense ranking (when healthy)...is it worth it?
March 11, 2008
#49 JB said . . .Forget Taylor! How about someone a little more realistic?
Julious Jones signed with Seattle....
....everyone is sayin' Alexander has one foot out the door....
.....we need at least one RB.............
.....i'm just sayin'.......
March 11, 2008
#50 DTB said . . .i don't want him either. i want a rookie runner. there's a lot of talent out there to get someone in the 2nd or 3rd or even 4th. chris johnson, felix jones, ray rice, steve slaton, michael hart. not to mention if mendenhall or stewart fell. no shaun alexander.
March 11, 2008
#51 jeff said . . .What the folks around the team were saying about St. Claire is that he would excel at the guard position. Reality is that we'll see a line next year of Tait-Beekman/St.Claire-Kruetz-Garza-Rookie. And to be perfectly honest with you, I would have no problem with the line as such. The needs are not as dire as some make them out to be. That group can be effective, dominant? No but still clear the way for Ced and a new #2. The great majority of ineptitude within the line a year ago squarely centered around Freddy False Start. He's gone, bring in youth and let them work together. In the event that Beekman wins a job, I would assume that Tait stays in the left and Garza matches up with the Rook on the right side. Thats how I see it playing out and to be honest, I think that Beekman and whomever we draft will make a huge difference from a year ago. Replacing old vets with youth and athleticism is exactly what this team needs. But reality is that there will be options near June first and if any of those cuts are better than what we already have, we will then see them in a Bears uni.
March 11, 2008
#52 Phil from SATX said . . .i think you mortgage three years from now when you're one year removed from a super bowl and have a championship defense when healthy
March 11, 2008
#53 jeff said . . .Great post DTB, that's a very reasonable take on it. I believe that Otah is projected as a better right tackle than left, although most say he can do both (good left tackle, great right tackle - mauling run blocker). Chris Williams will be a better left tackle than right - lacks ability to keep his 6'6" body low for leverage. Clady will be a left tackle.
Here's another thing to consider - I read that one scout said this is the best lineman group in the draft in 24 years. If that's anywhere close to being true, that could greatly influence the FA activity - the best players available may just be those in the draft, and there will absolutely be tons of value in the picks. 1st and a 3rd will be picked, with second for RB and 3rd for WR - QB takes a back seat and is taken with 4th rounder.
Looks like we're likely in line to get a compensatory pick too - I didn't realize before that the compensatory picks are based on LAST YEAR's offseason, not on what's happening right now. That pick could be a little trade bait for moving up or down or a trade.
March 11, 2008
#54 JB said . . .just to let you all know what bernard berrian is making this year in minnesota:
5 million roster
8 million signing
605,000 salaryALMOST 14 MILLION DOLLARS!
March 11, 2008
#55 Shady said . . .phil, compensatory pics are not allowed to be traded and must be used by the team.
i'd like to see the 4th rounder go to draft Zbikowski. How about Chris Williams, Joe Flacco, Chris Johnson, Eddie Royal/Manningham, Zbikowski rounds 1-4?
I think our compensatory pick will probably be pretty late in the draft...we're not getting a 3rd from it.
March 11, 2008
#56 JAB said . . .I don't think people realize how bad our offense is right now.
...Including Jerry Angelo
March 11, 2008
#57 Phil from SATX said . . .I'd be surprised if Manningham was around in the third and from everything I read Flacco will go early second, late first. But other than that I would love that draft. Chris Johnson is a Willie Parker type back and I would love to get him in the third round. Hopefully Clady last until 14 but if not it looks like Williams is getting the next most attention.
March 11, 2008
#58 JAB said . . .Here's some great stuff about Zbik:
Notre Dame senior safety Tom Zbikowski may not be one of the top safety prospects entering this year's NFL draft, but he is, as future Hall of Fame head coach Bill Parcells would put it: "one football playing dude."
"All day tough" is how Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis described Zbikowski. Just how tough is made evident by watching him in the ring. Zbikowski is an accomplished boxer and boasts a 75-15 record in 90 career fights. Last June, in New York City's Madison Square Garden, Zbikowski made his professional debut and fought on the under card of a professional heavyweight bout. He knocked his opponent Robert Bell out 49 seconds into the first round, despite Bell's considerable advantages in height, weight and reach.
Another example of Zbikowski's Conrad Dobler-like mean streak was witnessed at the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine. Before he bench pressed 225 pounds 24 times, Zbikowski curtly told the spotter, Arizona Cardinals strength and conditioning coach, John Lott, to "move" so he could slide onto the bench from the back. Then in the middle of Zbikowski's lift, Lott, who is somewhat of a colorful character, shouted "Come on Rudy!" to which Zbikowski replied in mid press, and with a bit of a menacing tone, "Don't call me that again." Needless to say, Lott continued to shout encouragement but declined to use the "Rudy" crack again.
Here's the whole thing:
http://www.kffl.com/article.php/86185/512
Basically never watched Notre Dame this year but that definitely sounds like a guy I'd want wearing blue and orange.
March 11, 2008
#59 Phil from SATX said . . .After reading the article I don't want him. He sounds like another Archuleta.
"Zbikowski's aggressiveness can certainly be an asset, but at times it has also been a liability, as he has shown a tendency to bite hard on play-fakes. He has had issues in coverage, often getting blown past over the top when covering the deep routes.Not a sure tackler, Zbikowski often whiffs at the ball carrier, especially in the open field. He tries to use too many arm tackles and often doesn't wrap up well enough."
March 11, 2008
#60 jeff said . . .JAB, Mike Brown can teach him to tackle better. You can't teach mean. Arch D isn't mean, and the positive part of that write-up on Zbik would not apply to him either at this stage of his career.
There's always negative stuff, even about the first rounders.
March 11, 2008
#61 Shady said . . .i think our offense is the same as it was a year ago, to be honest. if hester comes of age, we are better actually.
March 11, 2008
#62 JAB said . . .How could you possibly be mean with a wife like this: (Damn!)
http://www.strangecelebrities.com/images/content/108422.jpg
And there is NO way our offense is better than it was last year (at this point).The same? Maybe... But that's not saying much at all.
March 11, 2008
#63 Pissed Off said . . .I would rather see what Payne has to offer at safety before I drafted Zbikowski. Unless the safeties name is Kenny Phillips I don't think we need them until round 5 or later. I guess I just don't think we are as desperate as everyone else does at that position.
March 11, 2008
#64 jeff said . . .My two cents is that this is a win-now league. Its a win-now league every single year, especially for teams in the NFC. If you dont think that we have a shot to go to the Super Bowl by playing at least as good as the G-men did last year, and be able to do it year in and year out...your nuttier than squirrel shit. I want this team to win now, every year. Thats whats great about the NFL. Every year there is a team that no one would predict will do squat and they make the playoffs. I dont want to mortgage the future but I'm fine with being reasonable and getting rid of a top prospect for a proven guy who can help us win now....in a "win-now" league.
And for another angle on that topic. We have Rex for potentially one year and one year only. If he plays like he did post benching this offense will click with a little O-line help still needed. Injuries happen but that aside I see more potential for this year making a run that 2 or 3 years from now becuase of the QB situation. Maybe Rex does good and gets a long term deal, maybe he moves on, maybe a rookie develops all year and is ready for stardom in 2009....who knows but its damn iffy and right now I want to win.
There are a lot of Rookie RBs that are going to be available. I do not want Alexander. If ever there was a RB that was a product of the line, it was him. Walter Jones and Steve Hutchinson on the left side during his good years....nuff said.
All the talk about Beekman and counting on him scares me....why wasnt he on the team last year? I'm just saying.....I wont believe it till I see it.....I wouldnt be surprised if he was cut at some point. Unless someone knows something I dont.
March 11, 2008
#65 Shady said . . .if hester is great, then we're better. our o line and running game will still stink. our quarterbacks are the same. our receivers will then be better. and our tight end superstar a year older.
March 11, 2008
#66 jeff said . . .Hester and Olsen cannot be great without an effective run game. Something we're still a guard, tackle and decent running back away from.
March 11, 2008
#67 jdawg said . . .god, i'm not saying that we're going to be great. we're going to be stinky. but a little less stinky than last year.
March 11, 2008
#68 jdawg said . . .I hope we're stinky like bleu cheese.
I like bleu cheese.
March 11, 2008
#69 Phil from SATX said . . .It looks like Fitz signed a 10 million/per year, 4-year deal, with 30 garunteed.
dayum, who got wide receiver in my high-priced quarterback?
two great tastes...
March 11, 2008
#70 Pissed Off said . . .Jeff, I'm with you on this. Experience makes everyone better until the point that age takes away. Using that theory
QB - Better
Hester - Better
Bradley - Better
Olsen - Better
Clark - Age not yet slowing him down, so at least as good
Booker - Better than Moose
Lloyd - Better than Rash (sorry)
Ced - Will be better because he's in contract year - and Ced likes money like Spitzer likes high dollar hos
New 2nd round pick RB - Will be better than anything we have currently - much better
Wolfe - Better, and will be used better
Kreutz - Better, because he couldn't play much worse than he did in 2007
Garza - Same
Tait - Better, see Kreutz above plus boost if he moves to RT
New stud tackle - IS NOT FRED MILLER - Oodles better
Guard - Question mark here.
Replacement for Berrian - Question mark here.That's a pretty overwhelming case for the offense being better next year, with the only question marks being guard and Berrian replacement - as in who's our new #1/#2 - and in the combination of Booker, Hester, Bradley and Lloyd we may be there already - plus there will be 1 more added.
With respect to guard, we don't know what will happen here - I'm leaning toward Angelo making a very underwhelming FA signing deal - but I still say that if this is truly a once in a lifetime draft for oline, you're not taking advantage of that if you only pick one guy - you could get a top tackle with a 14th pick in any year - so I expect two. But even if there isn't, I would be buoyed by the St. Clair-to-guard move - and you can't read anything into the fact that Beekman didn't play. Those idiots weren't playing any people they should have at the end of the season. What I saw was enough to show me I don't want Terry Metcalf as a starter at any position and I don't want St. Clair as a tackle.
Guys like Beekman who get picked in the 4th round are usually drawn into service in the 3rd year - don't know why - they either need that much time to learn or, more likely, teams don't pick guys in the 4th round if they need starters. Beekman was probably a long term Kreutz replacement strategy - remember the reason they liked him was because he was so versatile, playing either guard position and center.
Point is, we WILL be better next year. Not expecting Patriot offense, but better. Tell me where the logic is wrong there.
March 11, 2008
#71 jdawg said . . .Mabye we could have Patriot good offense if we learned to spy on practices, steal playbooks, steal signals, have direct microphones on all the opposing coaches, , hide high tech recording equipment in the opposing locker rooms etc....stuff like that.
March 11, 2008
#72 Shady said . . .let me put on my eyore hat for a second:
Benson won't be better -- unless that plate they inserted in his ankle is bionic.
Eyore hat off:
What I'm hoping for is the Benson who started the last 1.5 games before his ankle was crushed.Someone pointed out that the Pat's O-line is exceedingly well-coached and almost plays like a single entity. They don't miss blocks, give up on plays, jump before the snap, etc... They'll all good, but they're not all pro-bowlers.
A good O-line should be like the Yankees in the 90's, composed of a bunch of good, not great, players.
March 11, 2008
#73 PolygonHell said . . .Most of those Yankees were high-priced free agents, the Pats O-Line was built primarily through the draft. Angelo isn't going after any high-priced free agents, so I guess the future of this line will depend on a couple draft picks and a low-end free agent. Sounds like the Kansas City Royals to me.
PO'd that was funny.
Phil, here's my expectations for those players, I think I'm being realistic here:
QB - Better - (Please God, I hope you're right. I can't even imagine a repeat of the last year)
Hester - Better (Are we taking for granted what DH bring to the Chicago Bears? His performances have been outstanding in every game and is changing the game entirely single handedly. What if the league, especially the NFC North, takes special teams more seriously or simply refuses to kick to him? What if the loss of Ayanbadejo is more significant than we thought? Considering what Devin has accomplished in his short career, is it fair to expect him to exceed his record breaking performances? Now Angelo wants him to carry even more of the load? He'd better be careful not to ruin a good thing.
Bradley - Better (okay)
Olsen - Better (okay, kinda depends on Turner, right?)
Clark - Age not yet slowing him down, so at least as good (okay)
Booker - Better than Moose (I would take Moose over Booker, especially because of his physical run blocking abilities which might be best in the NFC)Lloyd - Better than Rash (sorry) (Really?.....Really? C'Mon rash came up with so many BIG catches for us, I haven't heard those kind of things about Lloyd.)
Ced - Will be better because he's in contract year - and Ced likes money like Spitzer likes high dollar hos (Haha, a LOT of NFL players like money because they can AFFORD those expensive 'escorts')
New 2nd round pick RB - Will be better than anything we have currently - much better (I'm not so sure it'll be a 2nd rd. guy. I could see the Bears waiting until the 2nd day to draft a RB like R. Rice out of Rutgers, M. Hart from Michigan or J. Charles outta...haha... Texas. Uhhhhgg.)
Wolfe - Better, and will be used better (Again, up to Turner)
Kreutz - Better, because he couldn't play much worse than he did in 2007 (Worse, because he's getting older and regressed last year. And yes, he could play worse than last year.)
Garza - Same (Not quite as old as the others, I could see him having a better year. But I can also see him falling off.)
Tait - Better, see Kreutz above plus boost if he moves to RT (Again, not quite as old. Should
have a serviceable year or two left... Please.)New stud tackle - IS NOT FRED MILLER - Oodles better (Depending on a rookie at #14 overall isn't the best idea.)
Guard - Question mark here. (OK)
Replacement for Berrian - Question mark here. (I bet Angelo thinks Hester can fill his shoes, the problem is that's not fair to Devin.)
Jeff and jdawg, haha stinky is stinky no matter how you slice it.
March 11, 2008
#74 Blog Down, Chicago Bears said . . .We really can't quantify the offense until we see what the final solution to the O-Line and RB are.
There is still a lot of time left to make deals with teams, all the high profile free agents are gone, but I'd expect the players to trade to fill in holes once they have some idea of what they've picked up in the draft.
If you were to take only the players we have on staff now then I agree it looks pretty bleak. The only solid things we know right now is, that we lost Berrian, Hester is still a question mark at WR and we have huge holes to fill on the line. But todays roster won't be the lineup in game one.
I think a lot of fans are just impatient.
Personally I doubt the offense will be as bad as it was this year, and with some luck it might be considerably better.
March 11, 2008
Talking about Arizona's wideouts and "a luxury they don't need"....
We're stacked at defensive end.
While Jason Taylor sounds nice, it's simply not a need.March 14, 2008
Here at DaBearsBlog, you are free to kill us or the Bears as you so wish. You are not free, however, to be an asshole. So if you spew racism or ill-meaning foul language (cursing about football is just fine) or anything of that ilk, your comments ain't gonna last long, jerk.
