Grading the Bears Off-season Moves to Date
by Dane Noble on Mar 26, 2009 11:12 AM CDT
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PrintIt is too early for an official "report card" of this year's free agency moves that the Bears have made... so let's consider this a progress report.
So far, we have seen these acquisitions/ re-signings by the Chicago Bears:
- Rod Marinelli
- Frank Omiyale
- Kevin Jones
- Josh Bullocks
- Nick Roach
- Glenn Earl
- Kevin Shaffer
- Marcus Hamilton
We have all expressed our frustrations with the way the Bears go about business in free agency, and we are hoping that Jerry Angelo hits a couple of homeruns in the draft. But until then, this is what we have gotten so far this offseason.
Let's give a grade to each of these moves. Not a grade of the actual player (or coach) based on past performance, but just on how good of a move it was that we made.
If you want, you can grade each move, then grade our off-season (so far) as a whole.
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I was thinking A B C D F
but 1-10 works too.
I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious. (Vince Lombardi)
Grades
Marinelli-A Omiyale-C Jones-B Bullocks-D Roach-D Earl-C Shaffer-C+
Grades
Marinelli- A-
Omiyale- C-
Jones- B-
Bullocks- D-
Roach- B+
Earl- D
Shaffer- B-
All around that averages out to be a C+ or B-
I agree with these rankings
except the Roach grade seems a bit high.
DEJESUS!!!
Making the grade?
Marinelli- A+
Omiyale- B+
Jones- B+
Bullocks- C- (I rate him this high cause he’s got the physical skills)
Roach- B
Earl- C+
Shaffer- B (St. Clair- B- for Browns)
"I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." - Dick Butkus
Forgot Hamilton- C
"I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." - Dick Butkus
Marinelli A+
Omiyale C
Jones B
Bullocks C
Roach C
Earl C
Shaffer C
Passion For The Game, Loyal To The Name, Chicago Bears, I Trust In Thee, Standing Strong Since 1983.
Rod Marinelli A+) A great move. there’s a reason why up to 15 teams wanted this guy
Frank Omiyale B) can’t deny Angelo’s track record with FA Olinemen
Kevin Jones A+) The Best RB on the FA market (Ward=Overrated)
Josh Bullocks D) this guy sucks. I’ve seen him several times in 2008. not impressed
Nick Roach C) I’m just not sold on him. I want a LB in the draft instead.
Glenn Earl D) out too long to be a justifiable acquisition
Kevin Shaffer A) Durable, big, not too old, has lined up next to Garza in ATL is a bonus.
All in all, the Bears get a B+ despite of signing Bullocks and Earl, who I believe neither one will man the Safety spot this season.
IM A BEARS FAN HAVE BEEN SINCE I WAS OLD ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND THE GAME THEY GOT A GOOD H-COACH SOME GOOD TALENT BUT THEY ARE RUNNIN OUT OF TIME THEY NEED TO SPEND SOME DOE AND FAST ED AND THE CREW NEED TO WISE UP AND OPEN THAT WALLET OR ITS GONNA BE ANOTHER 8 OR NINE WIN GAME SEASON JUST ENOUGH TOO KEEP US OUT OF THE TOP TEN IN THE DRAFT AND ANOTHER LOSIN SEASON WITHOUT THE PLAYOFFS
-BILLD34
by ifuwannacrownem on Mar 26, 2009 12:34 PM CDT reply actions
Talent alone
I’d say KJ was the most talented RB on the market, albeit a pretty weak market.
"I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." - Dick Butkus
If the Bears can tap that talent
remains the big mystery. I hope they use him more … they need to use him more.
When you said tap that talent...
my mind went completely in another direction.
by Mike Mueller on Mar 26, 2009 3:28 PM CDT up reply actions
That will work.
Passion For The Game, Loyal To The Name, Chicago Bears, I Trust In Thee, Standing Strong Since 1983.
The Erin Andrews pic is cool
But the other one was a bit much for the site. But I did enjoy it… :)
I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious. (Vince Lombardi)
She's pretty easy on the eyes!
"I'm not so mean. I wouldn't ever go out to hurt anybody deliberately - unless it was, you know, important, like a league game or something." - Dick Butkus
Blah...
I’ll grade them on what they still haven’t accomplished with all of these moves.
1. They still haven’t acquired a real true starting free safety YTD = D
2. They still haven’t truly upgraded the RT spot YTD, but provided competition = C
3. They still have no experience at WR other than Devin Hester and Rashied Davis = F
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that.
We know it's the most valuable position on the football team. We've gone through so many scenarios at that position we can write a book, moreso on what not do."
-- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
.
Agreed!
I consider myself a “glass half full” Bears fan, but I have to agree with your view of things.
- If Marinelli’s really a mastermind and turns up the D-line heat, then good!
- If they somehow develop all these random lottery-like DBs into a good pair of safeties, then good!
- If Omi and Shaffer gives us a line that gives us the “hey, guys, this is actually working” of last year, then good.
But I’m not convinced yet.. I think this discussion would be fun to look back at in half a year..
I really hope these problems get solved so we can get some great new players instead of plugging the holes and replacing players that we stupidly lost..
Ugh
Thanks.
I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious. (Vince Lombardi)
Marinelli A (We have talent. I find it pathetic that some fans make the argument that we are a talentless team. Older, yes; talentless, no. As a teacher, I understand my job is to help students learn, improve their minds. Coaches aren’t there just to yell, but to teach. And Marinelli has knowledge to help the talent improve.)
Omiyale B (Seems like a strong guy with ability to play many positions. And, he wasn’t expensive. I don’t see how this could be an average move. He upgrades our O-line, which makes him a smart move. Amazing, no, but better.)
Jones A (knows the system/plays; knee should be healthier; explosive speed and strength in a back-up; showed ability to pass block)
Bullocks D+ (I liked him coming out of college, but he’s done nothing but look at backs of receivers scoring on him)
Roach B- (Retain your own, especially starters, when there’s not a better option on team)
Earl C – (Indicates that we are, indeed, struggling at the FS position, and quite desperate at that.)
Shaffer B- (His job is to maul the d-line on running plays. That is what he’s best at. If Chris Williams ends up being a good LT, then this works out very well for our line. Also, this gives us more flexibility in the draft. Having an experienced starter on the line makes him worth a higher than average grade. Now OT doesn’t become a R1 necessity.)
Talentless Team
That’s a joke. Virtually all fans (outside of places like Pittsburgh, NE and Indy) bitch and moan about their teams “lack of talent.”
Before the 2008, most analysts said that the Dallas Cowboys and San Diego Chargers were two of the most “Talented” teams in the league. They went 9-7 and 8-8 respectively.
Coaching Matters. A lot.
A coach like Marinelli has the knowledge and the disposition to help improve the Bears underachieving D-Line.
Like another Bear coach.
I give you this regarding one of the greatest Linebackers to ever put on the pads for the Chicago Bears, Wilbur Marshall and one Buddy Ryan (courtesy of John Mullin):
"Marshall was a special pick. He had been a frightening impact player at Florida who came in with an attitude that angered some. Marshall thought he was a superstar, a stud, and the rest of the locker room ought to feel lucky to have him. He’d come to the right place. He got the RIGHT COACH!
Ryan broke him down to a buck private even though he was so much better physically than anyone the Bears had at that moment, easily beating out Jerry Muckensturm, who had a dead nerve in his shoulder.
Knowing Marshall was an Academic All-American, Ryan got under his hide by addressing him as “STUPID.” But then, slowly but surely, when Marshall started doing what he was supposed to, Ryan rewarded him with recognition that was not easily earned.
Quickly, Marshall figured out, as Otis Wilson and others had, that Ryan was not impressed at all with college clippings or stats and did not respect someone unless they respected what he was trying to do aas was part of the team. That was the key to Ryan as a great coach and aleader of men."
Moral of the story: Maybe if Marshall had been coached by more of a “nice guy” coach, he would have relied on his athletic ability and pompous attitude to end up being nowhere near the great and dominating player that he became under Buddy Ryan.
Coaching matters.
Does Marinelli
yell? We should find out so we know if he’s any good.
DEJESUS!!!
Ha!
Passion For The Game, Loyal To The Name, Chicago Bears, I Trust In Thee, Standing Strong Since 1983.
"Yellers"
Great Coaches/Yellers……..Vince Lombardi. Bill Parcells. Mike Ditka.
Great Coaches/ NON-Yellers…….Tom Landry. Bill Walsh. Buddy Ryan.
Yelling has nothing to do with the equation.
It’s all about Discipline and Motivational Skills.
I'm partial to "yellers"
because when I look at Lovie on the sideline, I think he may be listening to carnival music in his headset or Al-Jazeera broadcasts because he looks so damn confused. For once, I’d like to see him ‘engaged’ in the game and if that means yelling at a player or an official, so be it. We’ve got some guys on this team who could benefit from a “yeller.”
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