The Marshall Plan wrote: ↑Thu Mar 23, 2023 10:50 am
My beef is that Poles took the cheap way out and uses the logic of BPA as cover.
Yes there is a time and a place for BPA. That’s also a very convenient argument for not eating your vegetables so to speak.
At some point you have to address the problem. The problem here is the DL and that, even now on paper, it appears completely substandard and this was an obvious problem last year.
Well you know Gordon and Brisker were there. Ok…..
Well you know Edmunds and Edwards were there. Ok….
Meanwhile there is no credible plan to pressure the QB. LBs get eaten for lunch by OL achieving the second level.
And the root cause of it in my mind is that Poles got scared by DTs costing $20M for a premium one. Then DEs would probably be similar to a quality LB.
So my question is, at what point does the concept of BPA get thrown out the window and the real problem be addressed?
I have been watching this argument go on and on between everybody, and I understand where it's coming from. I don't really agree that you're reading it right or that there are excuses being made by anybody. I don't think anyone is being cheap. I do think there are a few things that Poles is doing that fly directly in the face of "spend your cap because you have it:"
- A rational approach I've seen suggested is that you can "spend" on less expensive positions (LB for example) and draft the expensive ones (DL as an example). Poles may be doing just that.
- The DL has already been improved and is not totally empty. 9 defensive linemen were active in week 18. There are 6 on the roster now, so ostensibly we need 2-3. It's almost certain the Bears will draft at least 2-3 DL.
- The OL has already been improved and is currently "full." 8 offensive linemen were active in week 18. There are 9 on the roster now. Any draft pick or FA signing will replace a current body to improve the roster.
- Yes, you can't take your cap with you, so it makes sense to spend it each year. The thing is, if you get guys on multi-year deals that don't work out for you, they limit your flexibility in future years. The idea that the market sets the price is correct, but that that means you should just spend whatever the market dictates is a fallacy. You can choose not to buy, which Poles is definitely doing. That gives him flexibility to wait out guys who won't take one year deals yet, extend your own players, play in future "waves" of FA as players get released prior to the start of the season.
- Something you have alluded to in your interested in Bijan Robinson (which I shared, though ship has sailed with Foreman signing I think), is that Poles can afford to neglect defense for another year and focus entirely on developing a great offense. If the Bears put up 40 points a game, the defense can be less than elite... And we have excellent draft capital next year! To me, the Bears feel 1 or 2 linemen away from on offense with no obvious problems. This lets you see what Fields and Getsy can really do in 2023.
I do not believe that Poles is trying to tank or isn't in a hurry to win. There is not a single phase of this team that isn't at least a little bit better (DL, OL), while some are
much better (WR, LB), and the off-season isn't anywhere close to over. Poles has improved the roster through an excellent trade and some good (if mostly thrifty) FA signings and at the same time retains incredible flexibility in both draft capital and cap room. Poles has the capital to be able to liberally move up or down in the draft to get the guys he wants. I expect we'll end up with starters at 3 of C, OT, DE, and DT inside the first two/three rounds of this draft. After that you really do have a full roster and you can go bonkers with a "true" BPA approach for the rest of the draft.
So far, I am ecstatic with this offseason. With a good draft and some well placed FA signings, I think the Bears can make a very large leap forward compared to last season... And still roll into 2024 with excellent draft and cap capital.
