46Blitz wrote:WR and OL is 1a and 1b imo.... whoever they like better.
1a is obvious. But 1b absolutely MUST be CB. How much do you like that position with starters Amukamara and Fuller going to FA?
Like I also said, many things can happen between then and now. If the Bears retain all CBs, then I like it. You just don't know who will be available or signed. Or resigned for that matter. I am just stating on what we currently have now. Meredith should be back next year and if Inman does well then WR is a little less of a worry. Though we absolutely need to draft one regardless somewhere.
I have always stood by my thoughts of the Line being the most important position on the field. It will never change. Therefore whoever is rated higher gets picked in my world. WR or OL it doesn't matter to me.
@CEmma670
1m
The Bears have signed LB Jonathan Anderson to the active roster and waived WR Tanner Gentry, an indication Danny Trevathan (calf) will not play Sunday
UOK wrote:@CEmma670
1m
The Bears have signed LB Jonathan Anderson to the active roster and waived WR Tanner Gentry, an indication Danny Trevathan (calf) will not play Sunday
I don't want Gentry back, even on the practice squad
he had his opportunity and he failed completely ... he might make a nice addition to a Park District flag football team, but doesn't belong in the NFL
now that I've said that, watch the Patriots pick him up and turn him into someone useful
"Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things." George Carlin
UOK wrote:@CEmma670
1m
The Bears have signed LB Jonathan Anderson to the active roster and waived WR Tanner Gentry, an indication Danny Trevathan (calf) will not play Sunday
I don't want Gentry back, even on the practice squad
he had his opportunity and he failed completely ... he might make a nice addition to a Park District flag football team, but doesn't belong in the NFL
now that I've said that, watch the Patriots pick him up and turn him into someone useful
i dont think that's 100% fair, he could easily turn into quality depth for us down the line. obviously he's in wayyy over his head right now.
I think Gentry can develop into a solid 3rd 4th option but he's definitely in over his head as 1st or 2nd at the moment. If he focuses on routes in off-season idk why he can't get better.
Bears signed a 6'3 285 UDFA from Boise State, Travis Averill to the practice squad along with WR Tanner Gentry. Averill who is listed as playing as a Center has spent time on the Falcons and Browns practice squads.
I wonder if he will be a legitimate replacement for struggling Grasu.
Bio:
Three-year starter at left guard who earned First Team All-Mountain West honors in 2016. Started 38 games over the final three seasons of his career after making three starts at right tackle as a true freshman.
Pos:
Explosive offensive lineman who must improve his fundamentals. Quickly sets up off the snap, keeps his head on a swivel and works well with linemates. Displays a good degree of quickness in his game, moves well on his feet and shows fluidity pulling across the scrimmage. Effective blocking in motion. Plays much more athletic than his 40 time and displays strength at the point. Quickly gets his hands into opponents and anchors in pass protection.
Neg:
Does not sink his butt at the line of scrimmage. Must improve his pad level. Lacks great bulk.
Analysis:
Averill is a serviceable lineman who possesses limited upside but could back up at the guard position.
ramentaschen wrote:Bears signed a 6'3 285 UDFA from Boise State, Travis Averill to the practice squad along with WR Tanner Gentry. Averill who is listed as playing as a Center has spent time on the Falcons and Browns practice squads.
I wonder if he will be a legitimate replacement for struggling Grasu.
Bio:
Three-year starter at left guard who earned First Team All-Mountain West honors in 2016. Started 38 games over the final three seasons of his career after making three starts at right tackle as a true freshman.
Pos:
Explosive offensive lineman who must improve his fundamentals. Quickly sets up off the snap, keeps his head on a swivel and works well with linemates. Displays a good degree of quickness in his game, moves well on his feet and shows fluidity pulling across the scrimmage. Effective blocking in motion. Plays much more athletic than his 40 time and displays strength at the point. Quickly gets his hands into opponents and anchors in pass protection.
Neg:
Does not sink his butt at the line of scrimmage. Must improve his pad level. Lacks great bulk.
Analysis:
Averill is a serviceable lineman who possesses limited upside but could back up at the guard position.
So Grasu part II.
The biggest problem with Grasu, and this kid is that they lack the size to play. I don't care how technically sound you are. The the NT on the other side of you, outweighs you by 50 lbs, that's a problem. I said that about Grasu when we drafted him. He looks like a leader and a good college C, but he's too small for the NFL. His frame was about maxed out. This guy doesn't look any different. You saw Grasu against the Packers. He looked like he was going backwards on rollerskates.
Yeah most of the time from what I saw, he kept square to the defender really well. The technique doesn't look bad to my untrained eyes. As pointed out, he just can't anchor.
RustyTrubisky wrote:Yeah most of the time from what I saw, he kept square to the defender really well. The technique doesn't look bad to my untrained eyes. As pointed out, he just can't anchor.
I would think squats and some core work, etc would help him with that functional strength... but I guess not?
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The biggest problem with Grasu, and this kid is that they lack the size to play. I don't care how technically sound you are. The the NT on the other side of you, outweighs you by 50 lbs, that's a problem. I said that about Grasu when we drafted him. He looks like a leader and a good college C, but he's too small for the NFL. His frame was about maxed out. This guy doesn't look any different. You saw Grasu against the Packers. He looked like he was going backwards on rollerskates.
I admit I was pretty psyched when the Bears drafted Grasu. I could see he needed to get stronger, but the skills were all there.
He hasn't been able to build up his strength, though. Whether that's due to his spate of injuries or just that he can't build it up any further, I don't know.
Glennon
McPhee
Wheaton
Cooper
Demps
Freeman
Kush
Young.
Which leaves Hicks, Sitton, Trevathan, Sims, Massie of note from Pace's free agent signings.
Woof.
To be fair, most of those guys were meant to just be plugs anyway. McPhee was suppose to be an anchor but he just was always injured. I could see Kush sticking around depending on what happens. The rest would be fine to move away from. Easily.
RustyTrubisky wrote:Why would Kush get cut? Quality interior depth at that price is a bargain
That's what I thought when I saw the list too.
Mikefive's theory: The only time you KNOW that a sports team player, coach or management member is being 100% honest is when they're NOT reciting "the company line".
My ideal offseason at this point is cutting Glennon, Wheaton, Demps, Freeman and Young. I’d approach McPhee about restructuring his deal to pay him like a 15-20 play a game guy. If he won’t, I’d probably cut him.
Throw big money at Malcolm Butler and resign Prince if he’s reasonable. Throw big money at one of the best wide receivers.
Round 1 best pass rusher available. Round 2, either the best receiver or OL on the board.
And a competent head coach. All that, I think the Bears are not in bad shape.
I find it fairly incredible that people aren't more concerned that we have $15.5m of 2018 cap space currently tied up in three players (Wheaton, Cooper, Demps) that are backups this year. Then there's $16m allocated to Glennon.
To cut those players will cost $7m of 2018 cap making dead money the 4th highest hit to our cap after Hicks, Long and Sitton.
In 2017 those players accounted for $28.5m of cap space. Throw in the $7m wasted on Amukamara's one year deal in a year we are winning nothing in and it's $35.5m.
Now no one knows what we offered AJ Bouye and Jeffery but I find it hard to believe that we couldn't have signed both of them with that amount of cap space. Maybe Jeffery wanted no part of staying but after going to the Jags I'm utterly confident that Bouye comes for 5 years $75m and probably less.
This is probably getting boring but Pace is pretty awful at free agency. Hicks, Sitton and Trevathan are the successes. McPhee was a worthwhile shot at risk/reward that hasn't quite panned out and Freeman was a great contract before the PED issues. The rest are mostly terrible bar for, Unrein?
Frittering away cap space on mid priced players on short term deals is a terrible improvement strategy. It has worked once for Pace with Hicks but even then he's now just on a market deal rather than a market beating one.
This isn't just about looking back and picking out the mistakes, it's about the poor strategy that makes the odds of success so small. It's by far and away my biggest worry about the bears right now.
"I wouldn't take him for a conditional 7th. His next contract will pay him more than he could possibly contribute.".
Good post Malk. Pace has not looked particularly adept in the Free agent market. This is painful because the Bears have been in great cap position those 3 years also.
My biggest fear, is he may not be good at drafting either. Obviously both these are to early to truly gauge but a case could be made that he is a bad GM. (I have not drawn that conclusion).
However if I where I would start with something like this.
First Draft
1.5 starters ( Goldman Amos)
2 likely to be out of the league, can't stay healthy, have not played well when they are,
2 already out of the league
Second Draft
3 starters 1 who regressed, 2 whom I fear injuries may keep their careers to 5 years
5 back ups, 2 who don't fit the system, 1 who has injury concerns, 3 of the group likely won't be on the team next year.
Third Draft
1 QB of the future completing 52% and is looking worse.
1 midget whom is being used wrong
1 Ogre who needs to develop
1 legit talent who will be broken in 4 years
1 Guard won will never be on the 53.
malk wrote:I find it fairly incredible that people aren't more concerned that we have $15.5m of 2018 cap space currently tied up in three players (Wheaton, Cooper, Demps) that are backups this year. Then there's $16m allocated to Glennon.
To cut those players will cost $7m of 2018 cap making dead money the 4th highest hit to our cap after Hicks, Long and Sitton.
In 2017 those players accounted for $28.5m of cap space. Throw in the $7m wasted on Amukamara's one year deal in a year we are winning nothing in and it's $35.5m.
Now no one knows what we offered AJ Bouye and Jeffery but I find it hard to believe that we couldn't have signed both of them with that amount of cap space. Maybe Jeffery wanted no part of staying but after going to the Jags I'm utterly confident that Bouye comes for 5 years $75m and probably less.
This is probably getting boring but Pace is pretty awful at free agency. Hicks, Sitton and Trevathan are the successes. McPhee was a worthwhile shot at risk/reward that hasn't quite panned out and Freeman was a great contract before the PED issues. The rest are mostly terrible bar for, Unrein?
Frittering away cap space on mid priced players on short term deals is a terrible improvement strategy. It has worked once for Pace with Hicks but even then he's now just on a market deal rather than a market beating one.
This isn't just about looking back and picking out the mistakes, it's about the poor strategy that makes the odds of success so small. It's by far and away my biggest worry about the bears right now.
You make some good points here, but you ignore others.
We were told by Pace that he offered the 2 top CBs more $$$ than they got signing with other teams. Are you saying he's lying? Is it inconceivable that another player would look at the 3-13 Bears and say "I'm not playing for them even if I have to take less $$$"?
What is your expectation on hitting on FAs as a percentage? And who else achieves that?
Mikefive's theory: The only time you KNOW that a sports team player, coach or management member is being 100% honest is when they're NOT reciting "the company line".
mmmc_35 wrote:Good post Malk. Pace has not looked particularly adept in the Free agent market. This is painful because the Bears have been in great cap position those 3 years also.
My biggest fear, is he may not be good at drafting either. Obviously both these are to early to truly gauge but a case could be made that he is a bad GM. (I have not drawn that conclusion).
However if I where I would start with something like this.
First Draft
1.5 starters ( Goldman Amos)
2 likely to be out of the league, can't stay healthy, have not played well when they are,
2 already out of the league
Second Draft
3 starters 1 who regressed, 2 whom I fear injuries may keep their careers to 5 years
5 back ups, 2 who don't fit the system, 1 who has injury concerns, 3 of the group likely won't be on the team next year.
Third Draft
1 QB of the future completing 52% and is looking worse.
1 midget whom is being used wrong
1 Ogre who needs to develop
1 legit talent who will be broken in 4 years
1 Guard won will never be on the 53.
Don't you think you could offer a more balanced view than that? A R5 pick did make the Pro Bowl and was 2nd in the league in rushing after all and still in the top 20% this year. But which is the word for him? Regressed? C'mon man.
Mikefive's theory: The only time you KNOW that a sports team player, coach or management member is being 100% honest is when they're NOT reciting "the company line".
mmmc_35 wrote:Good post Malk. Pace has not looked particularly adept in the Free agent market. This is painful because the Bears have been in great cap position those 3 years also.
My biggest fear, is he may not be good at drafting either. Obviously both these are to early to truly gauge but a case could be made that he is a bad GM. (I have not drawn that conclusion).
However if I where I would start with something like this.
First Draft
1.5 starters ( Goldman Amos)
2 likely to be out of the league, can't stay healthy, have not played well when they are,
2 already out of the league
Second Draft
3 starters 1 who regressed, 2 whom I fear injuries may keep their careers to 5 years
5 back ups, 2 who don't fit the system, 1 who has injury concerns, 3 of the group likely won't be on the team next year.
Third Draft
1 QB of the future completing 52% and is looking worse.
1 midget whom is being used wrong
1 Ogre who needs to develop
1 legit talent who will be broken in 4 years
1 Guard won will never be on the 53.
Don't you think you could offer a more balanced view than that? A R5 pick did make the Pro Bowl and was 2nd in the league in rushing after all and still in the top 20% this year. But which is the word for him? Regressed? C'mon man.
I think he was saying that Whitehair has regressed, that Howard's style of play will shorten his prime and that there are some serious concerns about Floyd staying healthy.
I'd even argue that Floyd alone will probably not become "the guy." I think getting an edge rusher is going to be our top need going into the draft. Tied with WR (depending what we do in FA) and as always o-line.
mmmc_35 wrote:Good post Malk. Pace has not looked particularly adept in the Free agent market. This is painful because the Bears have been in great cap position those 3 years also.
My biggest fear, is he may not be good at drafting either. Obviously both these are to early to truly gauge but a case could be made that he is a bad GM. (I have not drawn that conclusion).
However if I where I would start with something like this.
First Draft
1.5 starters ( Goldman Amos)
2 likely to be out of the league, can't stay healthy, have not played well when they are,
2 already out of the league
Second Draft
3 starters 1 who regressed, 2 whom I fear injuries may keep their careers to 5 years
5 back ups, 2 who don't fit the system, 1 who has injury concerns, 3 of the group likely won't be on the team next year.
Third Draft
1 QB of the future completing 52% and is looking worse.
1 midget whom is being used wrong
1 Ogre who needs to develop
1 legit talent who will be broken in 4 years
1 Guard won will never be on the 53.
I'd argue that most of what you claim as Pace's failures actually fall on coaching. Words like regress, used wrong, and develop, fall on coaching long before a GM.
mmmc_35 wrote:Good post Malk. Pace has not looked particularly adept in the Free agent market. This is painful because the Bears have been in great cap position those 3 years also.
My biggest fear, is he may not be good at drafting either. Obviously both these are to early to truly gauge but a case could be made that he is a bad GM. (I have not drawn that conclusion).
However if I where I would start with something like this.
First Draft
1.5 starters ( Goldman Amos)
2 likely to be out of the league, can't stay healthy, have not played well when they are,
2 already out of the league
Second Draft
3 starters 1 who regressed, 2 whom I fear injuries may keep their careers to 5 years
5 back ups, 2 who don't fit the system, 1 who has injury concerns, 3 of the group likely won't be on the team next year.
Third Draft
1 QB of the future completing 52% and is looking worse.
1 midget whom is being used wrong
1 Ogre who needs to develop
1 legit talent who will be broken in 4 years
1 Guard won will never be on the 53.
I'd argue that most of what you claim as Pace's failures actually fall on coaching. Words like regress, used wrong, and develop, fall on coaching long before a GM.
Correct.
Also, injuries to guys who had average to good medicals and injury history shouldn't count against the GM, either, unless they clearly had a small/frail body type for their position.
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