With apologizes to Mr. Mike Hass, the way I see it the Chicago Bears have eight logical pass catchers arriving in Bourbonnais to compete for playing time.
1. Marty Booker must establish himself as the team's go-to guy on big third down conversions and - more than that - he must catch the ball. He must also establish the role vacated by Moose of keeping Devin Hester on the right page of the playbook. More than anything else, Book has unenviable task of replacing Thomas Jones' voice in the huddle. Someone must hold the offense accountable. Someone must urge the quarterback to "make a play." In my mind, that falls to Book. Welcome back, buddy.
2. Devin Hester needs to run straight, run fast and turn at the right time. When he turns and the ball is close to him, he should use his hands to catch the ball and then continue running until he can "read" the name of a football team under his feet. Ron Turner should not use him on end arounds. He should not throw screens to him. Because Devin Hester running go routes pulls a safety into deep coverage which means...
3. Greg Olsen should never be covered by a man who can cover him. Olsen is big and fast with tremendous hands is going to face mismatches all season long do to Hester's speed. This goes as much for RT and it does for GO but there should never be a game this season that the ball is not thrown G-Reg's way 7 to 10 times and I'll be disappointed if he doesn't lead our pass catchers in touchdown grabs.
4. Mark Bradley & Earl Bennett need to become reliable, every-game weapons. Bradley has shown flashes of brilliance over his first couple seasons but has had difficulty removing the leash and exiting Lovie's doghouse for some unreported season. Earl the Squirrel has got to climb the receiver tree quickly and work his way into the starting lineup by midseason. If he does, this passing game should be clicking by late October, early November. The Giants proved in 2007 that all you need to do is figure it out before they stop playing the games.
5. Desmond Clark & Rash Davis have become Rex Grossman's most reliability receivers in big spots during his tenure as the starting quarterback. Neither is going to set the world on fire with their numbers but both must stay on the field. For Davis, he must also continue to be a massive presence on special teams.
6. Brandon Lloyd is the wildcard. Back when he was playing for Ronny's brother Norv, there were some who thought Lloyd was the brink of stardom as he seemed to make at least one bona fide circus catch every week. Lloyd needs to fight through camp to make this roster and make ten big catches this season. That's it. If he can become the Jabar Gaffney of this receiving corps, we'll be in pretty good shape.
#2 JWilson said . . .It seems to me that we have a large corps with a lot of receivers. The question is will they eventually fall into the #1, #2, slot, etc... format or will we operate more as a WR committee with no clear 1,2 etc... Are there any other teams that play that way currently? Would that be a good thing? Any thoughts? All I know is that I like the idea of skipping the FB and running 2 TEs. I'm not a real big McKie fan.
April 30, 2008
#3 JOE said . . .Ron Turner needs to call some spread offense. Split Hester out wide, let him draw a double team. And let the rest of the receivers reap the benefits. And then when that starts to work, play-action pass. Or Forte up the middle on the draw. When Hester does get single coverage throw it deep! I've never seen Mike Hass play, but I bet we are sitting on a jewel. Lovie should give they guy a shot.
April 30, 2008
#4 AfroCelt said . . .Love everything you're saying. But I have just one reservation on offense: I don't think one rook pick at 16 fully fixes our line woes. Rookies struggle. We still have no left guard. Olin is on the downside of his career now? Garza is still terrible. And I just don't believe Tait is all the sudden all-world just because he's more comfortable on the right. Please tell me Jerry still has some tricks up his sleeve
April 30, 2008
#5 Taylor said . . .Olin came back towards the end of the season, at least from what I saw.
Between Metcalf and Beekman we'll find an average LG. The right side will be better with Tait and Garza no matter what. I really felt that Brown was a revolving door last year. My fiance and I had a running joke about him from week two on.
And Williams will be ready...look at the video. He has the size and feet for a good pass blocker...just don't expect too much off the bat as a dominant run blocker.
As far as receivers, I especially agree to using Hester as a bogeyman pulling Safeties and DBacks away from the TEs...we have two good ones and they fit perfectly in with the idea of a "west coast offense". Besides, I'd love to see a TE punish the lil DBs trying to tackle him 10 times a game...it wears them down even more.
April 30, 2008
#6 Rancid said . . .Anyone have any idea or opinions on what put Mark Bradley in the doghouse?
April 30, 2008
#7 mikebdot said . . .JOE - you read too much Mariotti, the negaitvity is wearing off.
Chris Williams will be a stud for the next decade, John Tait was born to play Right Tackle, Olin had an off year and will now return to ProBowl form, Garza is solid, and whoever steps up at LG ; Beekman, Metcalf, guy who gets cut by someone else, Chester Adams?, whoever it is will be surprisingly good.
Some people on here call it being a bearimist, which I've always thought was a bit of a reach as far a term goes, but I agree with the idea in principle. In short, it's no fun to be the fan who hates the draft picks, the management, the owners, the players, the coaches, the mascot, the uniforms, and everything else about the team. It's no fun to be the fan who mopes around spewing depression with every comment. If that's your MO, why be a fan, what do you get from it? Don't get me wrong, I'll rip them to shreds AFTER they suck, but not before (especially RT). So if you want my opinion of our O line for next year, the above is my opinion of it. And if you think that's delusional (I hate that word, it reminds me of you know who) you ought to hear what I think about our QB/RB/WR situations.
April 30, 2008
#8 Rancid said . . .If teams start playing zone on Hester and he learns how to find the open spots in the zone, he could be a very very good receiver. I'm just afraid he'll be nothing more than a James Jett...fast as hell but can't catch. That would suck.
April 30, 2008
#9 mikebdot said . . .I don't care if it turns out that Hester can't play WR at a star level. If your worst-case scenario as a football player is that you are only the greatest return man in the history of the league, I'd say you're sitting pretty.
April 30, 2008
#10 JOE said . . .Rancid: Well, my fear is that they will be stubborn and continue to play him on offense anyway, even if he doesn't play well or drops a lot of passes. Cuz if that's the case, his returns won't help very much.
April 30, 2008
#11 Rancid said . . .I'm drinking the kool-aid when it comes to still believing in Rex, that Forte will be our AP, that the D is back, I can even buy that this rag-tag bunch of receivers can get the job done, and I like this site because it doesn't get all Rosenbloom or Mariotti about how bad the Bears will be. But I'm just hoping Jerry's not done yet tinkering with the line.
April 30, 2008
#12 Oregon Bears Fan said . . .mikebdot - Don't get me wrong I'm optimistic Hester can be a good WR option. I actually like him more in the slot role that Rash plays (even though I like Rash too). I think of him as an ideal 3rd down wideout. He can go deep and force double coverage to open up the TE or other WR, He can make a quick in or out to pick up the first, or he can actually run by the double team and catch the bomb. That's how I like him.
If he's good enough to be a #1 that's even better, but I believe he showed enough last season for us to be assured he can at least play the role I've described above. Other than the big drop against the Gmen I thought he caught the ball well. If anything I'm worried about him being incorrectly used by the $@#%#$% RT. (Oops, back to being optimistic about RT growing a brain in the offseason). As has already been said, enough with the stupid end arounds, throw him deep, or on short outs for 5-15 yards. Thats where he has the big play ability.
April 30, 2008
#13 jeff said . . .I wouldn't be too quick to dismiss Mike Hass - I watched him for 3 years at Oregon State and he is a great posession receiver.
I used to comment that he reminded me of Tom Waddel. He's surprisingly quick and can take a beating, too - he can stretch the field and if you throw it near him he will make every effort to come down with it. I would love to see the Bears use him more, especially now.
April 30, 2008
#14 mikebdot said . . .mikeb, i'd have no problem with hester never on offense. but since they insist on it, i want them to limit what he does. the guy is game-changing on special teams. leave it be, i say.
April 30, 2008
#15 The District said . . .jeff: I think the problem they have is the rationale for paying him more than $5 or $6M per season. If he were used solely on special teams, you and me would be willing to lay down that kind of money, but it seems like they aren't. I think they're trying him out at receiver, first because they think he'll be special there, and second in order to substantiate the big price of his contract extension.
Honestly, I'd just pay him the money and leave him be, but like I said previously, if he is in fact a really really good receiver, they would miss out on that if they just used him on ST. I see no harm in trying him there too. Yes, he could get injured, and he probably will, but he could easily get injured running back kicks only, especially if he gets tight on the sidelines, etc. while waiting for another punt/KO.
The BT can be criticized for whatever they do, regardless of what actually happens. People always have their pet projects or ideas, but they're stupid to think they have "the answers". As much as I like Mike Hass or Mark Bradley, I don't REALLY think either would have been a difference maker last season, even if I fronted as such. Had to bitch about something...
:)
And, Rancid, I agree with #11, 100%.
April 30, 2008
#16 JWilson said . . .Brandon Lloyd catching 10 big catches a season would be 5 times the number of any kind of catches he had last year. Like many of the 7th rounders, he's there because he's worth taking a chance on, since the price is right. As for the QBs, they're both serviceable, and I have no problem with not taking another disappointment in the draft.
The key will be whether Metcalf and the rest of the line will be any better this year. Any injury there and we could be in worse shape than last year. Hopefully Williams will make the passing game legit.
April 30, 2008
#17 JOE said . . .The O-line is not going to be an A+ line this season. But, any improvement will make them better than last year. I believe that Forte is a type of back that doesn't need a lot of line help to be a success. I bet we see a couple of pro bowl receivers this year.
April 30, 2008
#18 alexander said . . .Just to see what you all think, I thought I'd rank the best Bears on the roster: 1. Urlacher, 2. Hester, 3. Tommie, 4. Tillman, 5. Mike Brown (assuming he's healthy!!), 6. Olin, 7. Olsen, 8. Briggs, 9. Vasher, 10. Tait, 11. Hunter, 12. Dusty, 13. Forte, 14. Williams, 15. Rex. That's my top 15. Who is yours?
April 30, 2008
#19 PolygonHell said . . .Pretty good Mike Hass Chicago Bears preseason grab here. It's the second catch.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ltfrJejyusI
April 30, 2008
#20 Megan said . . .For Hester to be a distraction at Wide Receiver, he's actually going to have to be productive at Wide Reciever.
In the first couple of games he might get extra attention, but if he doesn't continue to demostrate that he is a threat at the position, teams will simply stop respecting him at the position.
I believe that the coaches want Hester on the field for the majority of offensive plays, and they'll at least initially fit the other receivers around that.
If the line can give our QB (whoever he may be) time we might actually have a passing game this year.
April 30, 2008
#21 Lovie said . . .I am luke-warm about Hester being a reciever. I agree with can he catch the ball-? I know he can for kick returns. He did bobble the ball a couple of times -- and that's saying something. I am not expecting him to be Mr. Glue Fingers everytime, but if you are going to catch the ball on the run, competing with a defender trying to catch the ball too, you'd better be able to catch the ball, when it's coming right at you!
I also agree with Jeff, he's a game changer on special teams. But the justification to pay him the dough and keep him there doesn't make much sense either. Does anybody know what he wants to do? I know that sounds like a wierd question, but honestly-Does he want to be a break-out receiver now? Bear with me.. If he feels like he is master of the kick-return, has the confidence in that and is also luke-warm about becoming a reciever, we've lost a weapon and gained a possible liability?
Sheeeesh, I didn't mean to make this so complicated.
It's really good that I am not an offensive coodinator for the Bears- It does look like we are not gonna be too crazy about running the ball this year though, huh?April 30, 2008
#22 Shady said . . .Megan, we get off the bus running.
April 30, 2008
#23 Idonije said . . .If anybody wants Cubs tickets for tomorrow, lemme know!
I give Bears fans 1st priority :-)
Cheap Cheap Cheap!
Top 10 Bears:
1. Devin Hester
2. Tommie Harris
3. Brian Urlacher
4. Alex Brown
5. Lance Briggs
6. Charles "Peanut" Tillman
7. Robbie Gould
8. Nathan Vasher
9. Izzy Idonije
10. Brad Maynard
April 30, 2008
#24 jeff said . . .I would be shocked if JA didn't bring another guard in here at some point or another. Between now and the season some servicable guard will be cut, and the Bears are likely to pick him up. My question is knowing Lloyd's slightly disruptive history, I don't think he will be on the team if he is not a regular contributor. On this Bears team with so many unsure options if Lloyd doesn't start, I think he is cut.
April 30, 2008
#25 KentuckyBearsFan said . . .good haugh today:
April 30, 2008
#26 Shady said . . .I sure hope that Forte has "good vision." He can't possibly have worse vision than CB.
SERIOUS QUESTION: Does Cedric Benson run with his eyes closed? It sure seemed liked it last year. That, or he bulked up too much since college, which made him too slow to miss tackles.
April 30, 2008
#27 big rob said . . .Funny you mention that Kentucky, because one of the criticisms of Forte was that he "runs too upright."
Now I'm not exactly sure what kind of problems that can cause, but I know it's a hell of a lot better than a guy who "tackles himself into the ground 5 yds before the endzone."
April 30, 2008
#28 Rancid said . . .you just have to throw the ball far enough so he doesnt have to slow down.... thats where the problems came in last year.... they didn't throw it far enough for his speedy ass!!!
April 30, 2008
#29 Rancid said . . .The only thing I completely hated about that Haugh article is the recommendation to get Rhodes. Yuck. I am comfortable with the idea of an improved line and Forte/ CB / Wolfe in the backfield. Should worse come to worse we would also have AP available. I don't want Rhodes. No way. If Rhodes came someone would defenitely have to be cut. I'd be ok if that person was Benson, but we know that isn't happening, so, no Rhodes thanks anyway.
Most of his other points are good. I am not opposed to the idea of getting whatever QB is discarded by Tampa, but I am also ok with one of our undrafted guys filling the 3 spot.
I don't even want to hear any more about the contract crap with 54 and Gould.
The main thing I loved about the piece was the info on the Williams vs. Red Bryant rematch. Just one more reason for me to hate the Seagulls.
May 1, 2008
#30 illinimurph said . . .So the Bears assigned Earl Bennet number 85. Any chance this is so we will all shut up about Ocho Cinco, or just coincidence?
May 1, 2008
Quick comment on the rending of garments and knashing of teeth regarding the left guard: Kruetz is renowned for keeping the gurads together. Whoever plays left of Kruetz will get all the support he needs
May 2, 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.