Whose safe? Who needs to go?

by jberms1 on Jan 5, 2009 4:08 PM CST Comment 35 comments

OFFENSE

Main core guys:

Orton, Forte, Hester, Olsen, Clark, Tait, Kreutz

Young guys unlikely to go:

Hanie, Bennett, Williams, Beekman

Pack your bags:

Rex, Metcalf, Booker, Lloyd, Kevin Jones

Could go either way:

St. Clair, Wolfe, Davis, Garza

DEFENSE

Core:

Harris, Urlacher, Briggs, Peanut, Payne, A. Brown

Youngsters who arent leaving:

Harrison, Graham, Bowman, Steltz

Pack your bags:

Wale, Hillenmeyer

Either way:

Adams, Roach, Anderson, Mike Brown, Vasher

Lots of decisions for Angelo and Lovie. I see necessary improvements in both lines as well as a complement for Forte. Thoughts?

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Kevin Jones

I think the Bears should really consider signing Kevin Jones to another 1 year deal. He was coming back from an ACL tear or something like that and it usually takes a season after the surgery to get back to really playing up to your caliber. So I don’t think it would heard to pay him league minimum to get a former first round pick who has gone over 1000 yards.

by chase17 on Jan 5, 2009 4:53 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I like the idea of keeping him around as well.

But I think there may be a reason he didn’t play in the last 10 games or so. Maybe it was his injury, maybe it was his work ethic, maybe it was something else. But it doesn’t look good for him either way. He has shown ability in the past, but the Bears never really gave a whole lot of info on him during the season. But for league minimum, why not?

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by GeauxBears on Jan 5, 2009 5:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I heard the Detroit play-by-play guy interviewed about Kevin Jones

He said the guy was an extremely hard worker and that was his main point about Jones. He was one of the hardest on the team (not saying much, lol).

Larry Mayer said he didn’t play because he was not a special teams guy and Peterson and Wolfe were. After being inactive a couple times he mentioned that he would be willing to play special teams and would do any thing to help contribute and help the team. The last 2-3 games he did play special teams.

I don’t think Jones would sign here again. He needs to find a team where he can get at least 10 carries a game and show what he can do, and try to get one more good contract to retire on.

Kick it to me... I'm open!

by #23 on Jan 5, 2009 7:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed on Work Ethic, However...

Last year I read somewhere and saw videos that had Kevin Jones showing his daily workout and it was insane. Why wouldn’t he sign hear since we basically have no depth behind Forte at RB which should give him at least 10 carries a game. If the Bears do something to fix the O-Line at all I think he can easily be retained remember he said he wanted to play in Chicago last offseason.

by chase17 on Jan 5, 2009 10:03 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The Bears have always been high on him.

They benched him because our ST were getting decimated by injuries.

I think he sits down with JA and they come to an agreement, he’ll sign another 1 year deal so long as we play him. That is a win win for both.

Being Who You Thought We Were Since 2005!

by WCG on Jan 5, 2009 11:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I still think he wants to be somewhere where he can start at 10 carries

and possibly take over the starting job during the season if he is good or there is an injury. Kansas City, Denver, Cincinatti, Detroit, New Orleans, and cities like those seem like possibilities. Maybe not New Orleans.

I just really think the guy wants to compete and it would be hard to feel like he has a good shot here.

Kick it to me... I'm open!

by #23 on Jan 6, 2009 10:15 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

yep

the guy wants to play, he came to a team that has historically run the ball but had a rookie rb. he definately wants to start or at least get some carries.

by mike b on Jan 8, 2009 7:49 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

eh

“They benched him because our ST were getting decimated by injuries.” Meanwhile our offense was decimated by ineptitude. Doubt they would admit to benching him because he sucks. I’d be surprised if they resign him, but that means having to bring in someone new

I think Wolfe will get more carries. Mainly because the 2 TDs he saved on kick-offs showed me something, dunno what it was but I really liked it. Maybe OL is the answer here, but I would really like a big RB (not FB/McKie) to line up in the backfield with Forte.

by No It All on Jan 6, 2009 3:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

John Tait?

He needs to pack his bags for sure. He’s a waste of space.

Besides that, list looks pretty good to me.

I'M A MAN! I'M 22!

by ChiFan13 on Jan 5, 2009 5:28 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Save Lloyd! Save Lloyd!

I’m campaigning for him since half of the people here think he’s garbage.

The dude was our best WR on the field. Off the field, not so great, but when he played he got open, didn’t drop the ball, made catches he shouldn’t have, played hard every snap.

Kick it to me... I'm open!

by #23 on Jan 5, 2009 7:55 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

tait

tait is at worst a league average RT and all i know is that if hes gone our starting tackles protecting our immobile qb are st clair and williams. taits sticking

by jberms1 on Jan 5, 2009 7:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Tait right now is not at worst a league average RT

I had to shake that comment off.

He was not good this year. At all. He’s old and he’s eating $4.65 mil a year. Let’s find someone else besides him.

I'M A MAN! I'M 22!

by ChiFan13 on Jan 5, 2009 9:03 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

What was bad about Tait?

I don’t know much about the RT position. I know if a line gives a QB time and if it gives a RB holes. I see who go offsides and holds and who gets beat on the outside on passes. Other than that I don’t know.

What was bad about Tait?

Kick it to me... I'm open!

by #23 on Jan 5, 2009 9:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

No Holes...

I don’t remember him ever opening up any holes for Forte. I agree he was pretty pass protection but thats not the skill you need to be a good O-Lineman for a team that “gets of the bus running.”

However, I do concede that his ineffectiveness on run blocking could be because he had no help around him.

by chase17 on Jan 5, 2009 10:07 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I was under the impression that the tackles were more about sealing the edge

and the guards were in better position to open up holes inside. We didn’t really run outside too often this year. I don’t remember any outstanding blocks to open holes for Forte this year. There may have been some, idk.

Kick it to me... I'm open!

by #23 on Jan 6, 2009 10:20 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

According to Football Outsiders

We ranked something like 29th in the league, running the football to Tait’s side of the line. I posted it somewhere else on another thread.

I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008

by SackMan on Jan 6, 2009 10:30 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Jason McKie can take a hike...

If we’re going to carry a FB… then get a battering ram like Corey Schlesinger, Jim Kleinsasser, Lorenzo Neal, Mike Sellers, or Le’Ron McClain. Otherwise… what’s the point?

I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008

by SackMan on Jan 5, 2009 5:59 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

+100

Great point. McKie is not a battering ram. He’s an ox with the power of a Prius.

I'M A MAN! I'M 22!

by ChiFan13 on Jan 5, 2009 6:28 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

We had Lousaka Polite this year.

The guy was making lots of plays, but we went with the guy with tenure and not the guy with talent. Miami love him now and he really helped improve their running game.

Kick it to me... I'm open!

by #23 on Jan 5, 2009 7:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Garrett Wolfe

The Bears need to keep Wolfe, like it was said in the other post he can be used like a Darren Sproles or Reggie Bush. Plus don’t tell me Wolfe isn’t big enough I looked it up and he is taller and bigger than Sproles, by about 1 inch and 5 pounds, plus just as fast. Giving him a low center of gravity and making him difficult to tackle.

by chase17 on Jan 5, 2009 10:17 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

He might be better than Sproles

Wolfe’s problem is he gets knocked over by a stiff wind.

I'M A MAN! I'M 22!

by ChiFan13 on Jan 6, 2009 1:13 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

huh?

Wolfe may be better than Sproles?

Sproles and Bush are each 10 times the player that Garrett Wolfe is.

Bringing moderation to a place I don't moderate.

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by big_lowitzki on Jan 6, 2009 8:56 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

What?

How will we know that until Wolfe actually gets put on the field and used in that fashion?

by chase17 on Jan 6, 2009 9:23 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I have no idea

if Wolfe can be a good back in the NFL, but I do now that we don’t know how to use him. Our OC is the most unimaginative OC ever. If anything watch some game tape of SD and try to mimic some of the plays.

Being Who You Thought We Were Since 2005!

by WCG on Jan 6, 2009 10:02 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

MADDEN!

by No It All on Jan 6, 2009 3:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

He has been on the field.

In season one he got a couple carries a game. In preseason he got some carries and some returns. Every time he gets the ball, like ChiFan said, a gentle breeze takes him too the ground. His balance and leg strength hasn’t looked good enough to break finger tackles, let alone arm tackles. If he can break some tackles he may be better than Sproles. The boy may be heavier by it is apparently in the wrong places. Looking at Sproles this weekend his legs looked very stoute and solid.

Kick it to me... I'm open!

by #23 on Jan 6, 2009 10:23 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

wolfe can be good

if he really focuses on balance and leg strength this offseason. sproles should be his model.

by guy incognito on Jan 6, 2009 3:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, we'll see if it happens.

The guy has a great attitude and is monster quick. He’s close to being very good. It could be because he is young. Younger athletes don’t build muscle mass as well as mid twenties guys do. So a couple years in the league may have already helped him some. One more year maybe can get him over the hump on strength.

Kick it to me... I'm open!

by #23 on Jan 6, 2009 3:32 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It's kinda hard for Wolfe to succeed

When his Coordinator gives him the ball at his own 1 yard line, against the largest run-stuffing tandem in the NFL (the Vikings Williams Duo), and asks Wolfe to run straight up the middle.

I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008

by SackMan on Jan 6, 2009 10:46 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

might be nice to see him on a screen pass...

but we don’t have that in the playbook.

by Hatchetm on Jan 6, 2009 3:47 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Not like

OL is a strength either

by No It All on Jan 6, 2009 3:55 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I realize this

But chase17 was writing how he was bigger, taller, just as fast as Sproles. I overexaggerated. My bad.

I'M A MAN! I'M 22!

by ChiFan13 on Jan 6, 2009 10:05 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Keepers

safe:
Alex Brown, T. Harris, Briggs, Urlacher, Forte, Olin, Hester

Guys Id like to keep, but are not good enough to be “safe”:
Orton (only because he has brought relative "security"), Garza, D. Manning, Wolfe, Harrison, Idonije, Payne

by No It All on Jan 6, 2009 3:54 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I'd put

Lloyd and Hanie in can go either way.

Wale in either way.

Roach in youngsters who aren’t leaving.

I am like your Dan Aykroyd and biglow would be Jane, the ignorant slut. -Chad

by thecoolest on Jan 6, 2009 7:35 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I'd have

Lloyd either way, Hanie keep.

I mean, the guy was undrafted. Let him stay another year and let’s see if he can resemble a QB. If he can’t, let’s get rid of him. But if we have a constantly revolving door at #3, that doesn’t help out anyone.

I'M A MAN! I'M 22!

by ChiFan13 on Jan 6, 2009 9:45 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs