Chicago Bears 2015-2016

#76      

Illwinsagain

Illwinsagain
Cary, IL
Illwinsagain
champaignchris said:
How badly does the new regime really want to rebound? They're in their grace period and could be looking at a top-3 draft pick and a lot of money coming off the books (Allen, Cutler, and Forte could all go) next year.

It's easier to rebuild in football than baseball, but Pace and Fox may be doing a one year "Epstein."
Click to expand...

I was thinking this same thing yesterday. A combination of free agency and a draft with early picks could be a big step in the renovation. I just have no idea where they are going to get their new QB. I think they will have to build a team with a stiff defense, running game and a QB that "manages" the game. Unless they can get a Carson Palmer type that has talent, experience and someone wants to give up on him.
 
#77      

champaignchris

C
champaignchris
Illwinsagain said:
I just have no idea where they are going to get their new QB.
Click to expand...

That's just the question.

Sam Bradford is set to be the top unrestricted free agent QB next year, and given his injury history, I'm not sure how many eggs you want to put in that basket. Plus there's a good chance that if he does well and stays healthy, the Eagles will franchise him or extend him before he ever hits the market.

Beyond that, you're looking at a whole lot of backups. A 36-year-old Michael Vick? Ryan Fitzpatrick? Matt Cassel? I mean, there's a reason Cutler is still the Bears' QB and it's not because the new regime is in love with him.

It's possible that someone else more high profile wears out their welcome - Kaepernick, McCown (if we stretch the definition of high profile) - but there will be no guarantee that they'll be any better than Cutler who's already under contract and starting to be comparatively cheap.

The one exception I can think of, where you might want to take a flyer on a guy is Robert Griffin. That Washington situation is such a mess that maybe you bring him in and see if a change of scenery turns him around, assuming he still has functioning knees.

As for drafting, it's early but assuming the Bears are picking pretty high up, I don't know if any of the QB prospects are going to be worthy of a pick that high. But then, the Bears are certainly in a position where trading down makes sense.
 
#78      

HeartofaChampion

H
HeartofaChampion
Illwinsagain said:
I was thinking this same thing yesterday. A combination of free agency and a draft with early picks could be a big step in the renovation. I just have no idea where they are going to get their new QB. I think they will have to build a team with a stiff defense, running game and a QB that "manages" the game.
Click to expand...

You just described Fox's game plan for success at Carolina.

I'd be stunned if Cutler, Allen and Forte are back next year. Forte will be 30 in 2016, Allen will be 34 and Cutler will be 33.

CHI might have the most $ to spend next offseason. They could trade for 1, 2 or 3 high-priced players at RB, QB and DE or trade for two and draft a stud RB or DE in the first round. FA isn't the only route to take.
 
#79      

Bomb Squad 217

B
Bomb Squad 217
HeartofaChampion said:
You just described Fox's game plan for success at Carolina.

I'd be stunned if Cutler, Allen and Forte are back next year. Forte will be 30 in 2016, Allen will be 34 and Cutler will be 33.

CHI might have the most $ to spend next offseason. They could trade for 1, 2 or 3 high-priced players at RB, QB and DE or trade for two and draft a stud RB or DE in the first round. FA isn't the only route to take.
Click to expand...

I agree with all of this. Also why I thought we should have traded up like what was it 2 picks? to get Mariota. Or do you disagree?
 
#80      

Illiniaaron

I
Geneseo, IL
Illiniaaron
champaignchris said:
But then, the Bears are certainly in a position where trading down makes sense.
Click to expand...

Considering all the needs this team had going into the 2015 season, I wish the Bears would have traded down to get more draft picks this year. Hindsight is 20/20 but it may have been a good move. They certainly wouldn't be getting less production out of their first round pick than they are now.
 
#81      

champaignchris

C
champaignchris
Illiniaaron said:
Considering all the needs this team had going into the 2015 season, I wish the Bears would have traded down to get more draft picks this year. Hindsight is 20/20 but it may have been a good move. They certainly wouldn't be getting less production out of their first round pick than they are now.
Click to expand...

I agree.

But I think they had some thoughts of being more competitive this year. I think those thoughts dried up pretty darn quickly when it became apparent that neither White nor Jeffrey were going to be healthy to start the year.
 
#82      

Illiniaaron

I
Geneseo, IL
Illiniaaron
champaignchris said:
I agree.

But I think they had some thoughts of being more competitive this year. I think those thoughts dried up pretty darn quickly when it became apparent that neither White nor Jeffrey were going to be healthy to start the year.
Click to expand...

You would think though that after watching the tape of this team all during the offseason :hurl: besides causing projectile vomiting, they would have realized that being competitive wasn't in the cards.
 
#83      

jrichisamazing

J
jrichisamazing
champaignchris said:
I agree.



But I think they had some thoughts of being more competitive this year. I think those thoughts dried up pretty darn quickly when it became apparent that neither White nor Jeffrey were going to be healthy to start the year.
Click to expand...


Well to be fair, we just played 2 top 5 NFL teams. We hung with the Packers, and IMO would have hung with the Cardinals if Cutler didn't get injured. I guess it depends on your definition of "competitive". We don't have the defense to make the playoffs obviously, but a healthy offense can win us 7-8 games. Let's see how we play against middle of the pack teams.
 
#85      

champaignchris

C
champaignchris
Bomb Squad 217 said:
I agree with all of this. Also why I thought we should have traded up like what was it 2 picks? to get Mariota. Or do you disagree?
Click to expand...

With 20/20 hindsight, maybe the Bears should have. At the time, I thought Mariota was going to be the next Joey Harrington.

But then, I thought Cam Newton was going to be a complete stiff... So, I'm not exactly a great judge of QB potential.
 
#87      

Illwinsagain

Illwinsagain
Cary, IL
Illwinsagain
champaignchris said:
With 20/20 hindsight, maybe the Bears should have. At the time, I thought Mariota was going to be the next Joey Harrington.

But then, I thought Cam Newton was going to be a complete stiff... So, I'm not exactly a great judge of QB potential.
Click to expand...

I am with you here, I didn't want him either. Also, the hidden benefit of White being hurt, team is worse, better drafting position, next year will feel like 2 #1 picks.
 
#88      

Bomb Squad 217

B
Bomb Squad 217
I said we should get Mariota from day 1. Although some may not recall because that's on my banned screen name :) and I'm a guy who has defended Cutler through all the things that have gone on.
 
#90      

IAmChrisFarley

I
IAmChrisFarley
HeartofaChampion said:
Care to elaborate, Ryan Pace, because most #2 draft picks succeed in the NFL and he seems to have the requisite physical skills and intangibles to be a very good QB for a long time, unlike Cutler.
Click to expand...

He comes from a spread system, and we've seen guys like him all the time come in do well the first year, but flame out. I fully anticipate him to flame out. Not a fan of him at all, but he'll be ROY.

I'll eat crow if he does prove me wrong. Give it 3-years.
 
#91      

Bomb Squad 217

B
Bomb Squad 217
IAmChrisFarley said:
He comes from a spread system, and we've seen guys like him all the time come in do well the first year, but flame out. I fully anticipate him to flame out. Not a fan of him at all, but he'll be ROY.

I'll eat crow if he does prove me wrong. Give it 3-years.
Click to expand...

I think we have seen that with a lot of qb's from a spread system who couldnt pass very well but were able to run a lot. Once I saw that Mariota could pass the ball I knew right then he was a big time qb.
 
#92      

IAmChrisFarley

I
IAmChrisFarley
Bomb Squad 217 said:
I think we have seen that with a lot of qb's from a spread system who couldnt pass very well but were able to run a lot. Once I saw that Mariota could pass the ball I knew right then he was a big time qb.
Click to expand...


Still not sold on him. I don't think he has what it takes long term. Short term, he'll be ROY but defenses will figure him out soon.
 
#93      

Bomb Squad 217

B
Bomb Squad 217
IAmChrisFarley said:
Still not sold on him. I don't think he has what it takes long term. Short term, he'll be ROY but defenses will figure him out soon.
Click to expand...

Could be, I dont pretend to be an expert but I sure wouldnt have been upset if the Bears had drafted him. Even it was to groom him under Cutler for a few years.
 
#94      

IAmChrisFarley

I
IAmChrisFarley
Bomb Squad 217 said:
Could be, I dont pretend to be an expert but I sure wouldnt have been upset if the Bears had drafted him. Even it was to groom him under Cutler for a few years.
Click to expand...


I still like the grooming qb's. If mariotta had 1-2 years under a veteran, he would be better off. Hate how these rookie qb's are expected to produce right away
 
#95      

Illwinsagain

Illwinsagain
Cary, IL
Illwinsagain
So, the Bears are getting 14.5, I still wouldn't bet it. I can see a 35-10 type score very easily. Not sure how the defense will score the TD though.
 
#96      

Bomb Squad 217

B
Bomb Squad 217
Im hoping the game plan is to ride Forte and Langford for like 50 combined carries and nothing but short passing routes like slants and curls. IF we can control tempo that way and actually score we could have shot. Ol Jimmy gives me little hope though...
 
#97      

Illwinsagain

Illwinsagain
Cary, IL
Illwinsagain
Bomb Squad 217 said:
Im hoping the game plan is to ride Forte and Langford for like 50 combined carries and nothing but short passing routes like slants and curls. IF we can control tempo that way and actually score we could have shot. Ol Jimmy gives me little hope though...
Click to expand...

I can't imagine that the running game will do well, when Seattle knows it's coming. If Seattle doesn't spend all day with 8 in the box I would be shocked.
 
#98      

IanKEvans2

IanKEvans2
IanKEvans2
On the plus side, with the Bears being exceedingly terrible I narrow my football focus on how bad my fantasy team is.