Bears Replace Rashied Davis By Adding Sam Hurd

Now To Free Agency We Go…

Jeff Hughes | May 4th, 2011

DaBearsBlog’s ‘Bear Jew’ t-shirt is now available for sale. If you got a few extra bucks in your wallet, this is a great way to show your support for the site. UPDATE: ALL ORDERS MUST BE IN BY TUESDAY IF YOU’D LIKE YOUR SHIRT SENT WITH THE FIRST SHIPMENT NEXT WEEK.

Free agency will come upon the NFL and the Chicago Bears at some point (we think) and at that point the Bears will need to address not only the expired contracts on their current roster but also their pressing positional needs. The offseason of 2009 brought us the franchise quarterback. The offseason of 2010 brought us one of the most dynamic defensive players in the sport. What will the offseason of 2011 bring?

On the flipside we’ll take a look

at three positions of possible target.

WIDE RECEIVER

I started my obsessions with Sidney Rice when he was playing for Steve Spurrier at South Carolina and sat in awe of him as he made Brett Favre look young again in Minnesota. His ability to navigate through traffic and get up in the air for a jump ball is a perfect compliment for Cutler’s style and it wouldn’t surprise me if they became the most production quarterback-receiver combination in the league. Other options of interest: San Diego’s Malcolm Floyd has the size, Terrell Owens has at least one year left in the tank and the Jets will not be able to keep both Santonio and Braylon. I still wonder if a low-level draft pick could reuinte Brandon Marshall with Cutler or coax AJ Smith to finally let Vincent Jackson leave town.

GUARD

The drafting of Gabe Carimi seems to mean the Bears have settled their starting tackles, with J’Marcus Webb slotting over on the left side. (They are not going to find a good left tackle on the market if that’s not the case.) The decision the Bears have to make is on Chris Williams. Will the former first-round selection start at left guard or will he be dropped from the starting 11 and become the first tackle off the bench? If the latter’s the case, the Bears may be looking to add a Ruben Brown-style presence to the middle of the offensive line. (Would a player like Matt Light oblige a move inside?)

DEFENSIVE BACK

I found it interesting that the Bears only selected one DB, a safety, in April’s draft. It would lead me to believe the team is comfortable with corner position heading into the 2011 season. I wonder if the selection of Chris Conte in the third round makes them feel comfortable at the saftey position as well. When free agency opens, a dozen teams will be clamoring for Namdi Asomugha and the Bears will not be one of them. But will they be intrigued by the addition of a player like Antonio Cromartie if the price is right?

Questions for the fans: What will the Bears target in free agency? What should the Bears target in free agency?

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‘Da Bear Jew’ T-Shirt is Now Available!

Jeff Hughes | May 2nd, 2011

After deliberating a series of t-shirt ideas over the past month or so, Jerry Angelo went and solved the dilemma by drafting a Jewish offensive lineman. As you know, we don’t get rich making DaBearsBlog. These t-shirts are our pledge drive, our way of raising some money for the day-to-work entailed in the site.

Here is the new shirt for the 2011 off-season. So just buy it and don’t think about it.

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The Final Page of a Devastating Chapter

Jeff Hughes | May 2nd, 2011

So ends a chapter. Of American history, yes. But of my life as well.

I lived on Lafayette Street, well below Canal, in September 2001. About seven blocks from the World Trade Center. Many people like to begin their story of that morning with the irony of a beautiful blue sky. That’s not my tale. Mine was waking from a dorm room bed to phone calls of laughing friends. “Jeff, you gotta wake up. Some asshole flew a plane into the Trade Center.” I went to the street in front of the building and looked up, joined by a few dozen others, cup of coffee in my hand. None of us could believe someone could do such a thing.

Then a second plane. Laughing stopped.

The details of the next few hours, next few days are not pleasant. Watching individuals dive from top floor windows, afraid to let a fire consume them. Soot-covered businessmen chugging 40s of whatever beer they could grab from a bodega cooler. Sleeping on the kitchen floors of any friend who’d have me. Walking back to my place and being afraid by the awful smell in the air. Death.

There were wonderful moments too. The movie theater at Union Square opening its doors for a full day and saying, “Come on in New York. Have a popcorn and soda and forget all this.” Folks treating firemen and police officers like the heroes they often are. Patriotism, true love not of symbols or flags or political party, but of every single individual who bears that most sacred of moniker: American.

There are many who will react to the death of Osama Bin Laden with the sense of ironic detachment that has sadly penetrated the culture. It seems not to be “cool” for anyone under forty to be genuine. To feel real emotions. Well that’s never been me. Tonight I cried hearing that Bin Laden was dead. My hands shook, my body quivered and I cried. I felt it all again in one moment. All the pain and sadness. I smelt the air again and saw those bodies in the air.

Except now I had closure. The closure I sought in those weeks after September 11, staring at a television screen, hoping for anything to occur. Ten years later the news finally flashed across the screen: Bin Laden Dead. Ten years later I can turn the television off.

And I hope the same for the family member of each of the more than 3,000 individuals killed that day. The death of this evil man will not bring those loved ones back but for one night you can lay your head on your pillow and know the man responsible has met justice. At the hands of our boys. At the hands of our president. Sleep tonight. It is a good night ten years coming.

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2011 Chicago Bears Draft About Toughness

Jeff Hughes | April 30th, 2011

Here is the problem with the NFL Draft: it is televised. Because it is televised (and for me one of the most singularly boring events in the history of the medium) fans have taken to rampaging against their organization’s lower round selections as means of flaming the torches and marching up the castle to kill the beast. Very few people cheered when Jerry Angelo selected Johnny Knox in the fourth round a year ago because the selection of Knox inspired nothing more than mere interest in his reportedly alarming speed. What if the selection in 2011 of Idaho’s Nathan Enderle – a player targeted by the Vikings – turns out to provide the Bears with the next Kurt Warner? The truth is the later rounds are crap shoots for everybody. So I focus my attention on the players selected in the first two rounds – the rounds that should impact the football field in five months.

Gabe Carimi, the me-coined but him-credited Bear Jew of Lake Forest, and Stephen Paea, the Mad Tongan of Vava’u, have been drafted to add a needed dimension to the offensive and defensive lines (respectively) of the Chicago Bears: toughness. Read the hundreds of pages pre-draft analysis and you’ll see the same words associated with these two fellas: gritty, determined, mean streak, plays with anger. They are not just solid athletes that perfectly appease their high-profile position coaches (Tice, Marinelli) but they come with an attitude that was sorely missing in 2010.

The Bears made the decision to select these two men just three months after their quarterback faced an almost unprecedented firing squad of “toughness” questions from every so-called expert in the sporting universe. (Several years ago the Jets’ John Abraham did not return to a pivotal playoff game due to flu-like symptoms and faced no such inquiry. Fans of that team, including one that shares my mother and father, have never forgiven him.) The Bears, however, decided they were not tough enough in 2010. But not at the quarterback position. In the trenches. The Bears are tired of being pathetic on third-and-short on both sides of the ball. They are tired of seeing their quarterback lying on his back. They are tired of failing to pressure the opposing quarterback if Orange Julius does not make a special play.

The truth is this. The Bears have quality on the defensive line. They have no rage. They have some young talent on the offensive line, sure. But now they have guts. That is at least the hope of Jerry Angelo and the folks at Halas Hall.

On the the flipside, a list of the 2011 draft picks

and my prognostication for them this season.

Round One: Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin

Barring unforeseen circumstances, I expect Carimi to start at right tackle as Mike Tice moves his prized pupil J’Marcus Webb to the left side.

Round Two: Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State

I think Paea can really play and will enter a tackle rotation alongside a re-signed Anthony Adams, Marcus Harrison…etc. Melton, Wootton and Idonije will be playing somewhere along that line as well.

Round Three: Chris Conte, FS, Cal

I don’t watch a lot of Pac-10 football but Mayock like this kid so I’ll go with that. The Bears do not have a true FS on the roster currently. I think Conte makes the team but is primarily a special teams contributor this coming year.

Round Five: Nathan Enderle, QB, Idaho

Clipboard. This draft pick should confirm, however, that Caleb Hanie will not be challenged for the back-up quarterback position. That is a good thing.

Round Six: J.T. Thomas, LB, West Virginia

If J.T. makes the Chicago Bears in 2011, it’ll be with a Lovie redshirt on.

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NFL Draft Final Day Open Thread

Jeff Hughes | April 30th, 2011

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Bears Third Round Selection: Chris Conte

Jeff Hughes | April 29th, 2011

I know almost nothing about this kid, a safety out of California. Below are copy and pasted from elsewhere.

Positives: (From SidelineScouting.com) Has a very
good frame, above-average height and good bulk… Has a strong upper-body, put
up 18 bench reps at the combine… Had a very good senior season, recorded 72
tackles, an interception and two forced fumbles as a starter… Has solid range
when in a two-deep look, is adequate with deep-half responsibilities… Solid
leaping ability, can hold his own in jump-ball situations… Is an adequate
wrap-up tackler, not a big hitter, but does well breaking down in space… Has
good agility and change-of-direction ability for his size.

Negatives: (From SI.com)
Lacks ball skills in man coverage. Marginally productive until his senior
season.

My
Overall:
I have no idea. Seems like another Craig Steltz.

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Bears Second Round Selection: Stephen Paea

Jeff Hughes | April 29th, 2011

The Bears have mid their second selection and they are developing a theme: toughness.

Positives: Stephen Paea is an absolute beast in the middle, capable of disrupting any interior offensive lineman and while he has not wrecked quarterbacks, he’ll keep blockers off our middle linebackers. Strength? You want strength? Click here and see strength. What the Bears just drafted is Olin Kreutz on the other side of the ball. (Add to this the rumor that the Bears were going to take him in round one if Carimi were off the board and it’s clear Jerry is having a solid two nights.)

Negatives: He’s dealt with some minor injuries to his knees along the way (Bears are not concerned) and that’s never good. He also is often criticized for not being an ideal height for his position.

Overall: I would have preferred the Bears stay with the offensive line here but it’s good to see Jerry pursue a pick – move forward in the draft and pursue the player the organization wants. I also like any players from New Zealand with a rugby background.

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Draft Rounds Two & Three: Bears Pick 62, 93

Jeff Hughes | April 29th, 2011

I think most of us expect the Bears to look defensive tackle in the second round and possibly “steal” wideout in the third. You know my preference. Live and die blockers tonight.

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Available on the Second Day: Offensive Line

Jeff Hughes | April 29th, 2011

A few things to note about last year’s first round for the Chicago Bears. (1) Team don’t trade in front of other teams for no reason. The Chiefs believed the Bears wanted Jon Baldwin at wide receiver. I think they might have been right. (2) In that regard, the Bears were insanely lucky about the Jerry Angelo front office “glitch” that prohibited them making that selection. Spend the cash, sign Sidney Rice. (3) Angelo admitted that if Carimi were off the board, the Bears were selecting DT Stephen Paea out of California. (4) The Bears got the guy they needed.

With the knowledge of number three above, I assume Jerry and company will believe they’ve appeased the fans with the half-Jewish, all-awesome Gabe Carimi and will now draft what they want most: defensive line depth. But I don’t care. Here are the offensive line prospects who might be of interest today. Will these guys be there? Who the hell knows? But when Chris Ponder goes 12th in an NFL Draft, all bets are off.

Note: You guys discussed Wisconsin’s John Moffitt yesterday in the comments and I discussed Florida State’s guard/center combo Rodney Hudson last week. Both are likely to be available at the tail end of tonight’s second round.

THE GUARDS
(All Descriptions From CNNSI.com)

Orlando Franklin, Miami
Positives: “Big offensive lineman who’s shown flashes of
ability the past three years. Quickly sets up off the snap, keeps his
feet moving,
and makes terrific use of body positioning.
Stays square, controls defenders once engaged at the point of attack,
and anchors
in pass protection. Strong enough to ride
oncoming rushers from the play.”

Negatives: Does too
much leaning on opponents and rarely finishes blocks. Ineffective with
his hands and displays marginal strength.
Played left tackle yet does not possess the
footwork necessary to block the edge. Slow if asked to kick out or pull
and shows
no skill in motion.

Analysis: “Franklin
is a size prospect who has been productive on the college level but has
not been the consistent force many thought
possible. His technique is still rough around
the edges, but his size alone gives him good upside. He’s likely to be
over-drafted
and may take a while to develop.”

Marcus Cannon (great name), TCU
Positives: “Large, athletic blocker who easily controls
defenders once engaged the point of attack. Blocks with good lean, shows
the
ability to adjust, and stays square. Quickly
gets his hands into defenders, rides opponents from their angle of
attack, and
keeps his feet moving. Gets movement run
blocking and effectively blocks with his legs. Solid footwork sliding
out off the
edge. Large enough to engulf opponents. Moves
well on his feet.”

Negatives: “Must properly condition himself, as he’s too big. Played upwards of 375 pounds as a senior.”

Analysis: “At
the top of his game, Cannon is a blocking prospect who can be a
dominant force at several positions up front. He comes
with starting potential once he smoothes out the
rough edges of his game and commits himself to proper conditioning off
the
field.”

Ben Ijalana, Villanova

Positives: “Large, powerful college left tackle that
projects to the right side in the NFL. Big bodied lineman with the size
and strength
to swallow or engulf defenders at the point of
attack. Extends his hands, keeps his feet moving, and is patient in pass
protection.
Keeps his head on a swivel, shows good
awareness, and easily controls opponents at the point of attack. Blocks
with a wide
base, uses his entire frame, and is effective
when he bends his knees. Gets movement in run blocking and easily turns
defenders
from the action.”

Negatives: “Lacks
agility, struggles to adjust, and ineffective in motion. Lumbers about
the field and does not display top footwork
sliding out at left tackle. Exploited by speedy
rushers. Struggled in the pre-draft process recovering from sports
hernia
surgery.”

Analysis: “Ijalana
been productive throughout his college career and possesses enough size
and strength to be used at right tackle or
guard in the NFL. He improved his game as a
senior when he was more diligent with his mechanics, and he will be
productive
in the NFL if he does the little things well on a
consistent basis.”

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The Bears First Round Pick: Gabe Carimi

Jeff Hughes | April 28th, 2011

Analysis From Me

Positives: He is a four-year starter in a great linemen conference. Mike Mayock described him a a nasty player in the model of John Runyan. He can start at either guard position or right tackle for the Bears tomorrow, allowing them to move J’Marcus Webb to left tackle as was discussed much of last year. Also, Carimi thought he was the best tackle in the draft. Welcome to Chicago. Prove it.

Negatives: Struggles with some speed rushers due to inconsistent footwork, but that was on the left side primarily. His athleticism is sometimes questioned for that reason but I’ll take grit and toughness over athleticism on the line any day.

Overall: I don’t love the pick. I adore it. I never thought it could happen.

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