The 10 Most Important Bears for 2011 - #7 Charles Tillman

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Jul 7, 2011 11:00 AM CDT in Roster Analysis

Charles Tillman has been a steady performer for the Bears throughout his career. With the high emphasis Coach Lovie Smith puts on turnovers, Tillman has been a great fit for their Tampa 2 defense. He's is a veteran team leader, he's a high character guy, and he's clearly the best cornerback on the roster. Losing him, or having his play slip (no pun intended), could be devastating to the secondary. And that's why he's checking in at #7 in the 10 Most Important Bears for 2011.

This is the first time I've included Tillman in this series, and I'm doing so because I don't believe the Bears will go out and sign a free agent corner. Even though the Bears moved Tillman to the right side, he's still clearly their top cover guy. They still, on occasion, will move him around if they're playing a tough physical wide out. Peanut will have one corner position locked down, but I expect 3 guys - Josh Moore, Zack Bowman, and Tim Jennings - to battle it out for the other spot.

The Bears need the steady influence that Tillman brings to the secondary, but more importantly they'll need him to take the ball away. If the front four can take a step up in play (like we all hope they will) the opportunities for the DB's will increase. Quarterbacks making rushed throws is a very good thing.

The nine year veteran has missed only 6 games in the last 6 years. The Bears rely on his great run support, his heady zone play, the occasional man to man assignment, and his takeaway prowess.

Here's the list so far, just click for the popable link:

#10 - Henry Melton
#9 - Mike Martz
#8 - Earl Bennett

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Comments

Peanut is a very important part of our defense, but I disagree with you on when you think they won’t sign a FA CB, they know they have to, with the WRs in this division we need an upgrade, I think they sign Carlos Rodgers

Why do all my socks smell like feet?

by touchdown bears on Jul 7, 2011 11:25 AM CDT reply actions

time will tell

If you go in the bathroom, turn off the lights, and say "Da Coach" 5 times while facing the mirror... Ditka will appear and slap the wussy right out of you.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Jul 7, 2011 11:54 AM CDT up reply actions

I see them going with what they have at CB

They like Jennings, they still think Bowman can be a talented starting corner in this league, and they drafted Joshua Moore last year.

by Dominique Blanton on Jul 7, 2011 11:57 AM CDT up reply actions

What about Champ Bailey? Nobody wants him? I’m sure he doesn’t want to stay in Denver. Plus it would make the Denver game this year that much more fun to watch.

by jheun on Jul 8, 2011 12:46 AM CDT up reply actions

and D. J. Moore

Or does he have the NB position?

Encouraging professional football in Israel

by BearDownIsrael on Jul 7, 2011 12:32 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

He might be entrenched at that NB position

by Dominique Blanton on Jul 7, 2011 12:39 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree, they liked him at Nickle

If you go in the bathroom, turn off the lights, and say "Da Coach" 5 times while facing the mirror... Ditka will appear and slap the wussy right out of you.

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Jul 7, 2011 1:04 PM CDT up reply actions

After that Cowboys game...and the 'Skins game...

they DEFINITELY like him at nickle…

by BOBdaBEAR on Jul 7, 2011 1:10 PM CDT up reply actions

I have to respectfully disagree completely...

Yes, Tillman (and most importantly his durability) will be a key factor in the defense this season. However, this is one of those situations where some perspective and philosophy come into play. It’s not that Tillman needs to have a good year for the Bears to have success playing defense, but that his counterpart at the opposite corner has to be at least as good and preferably better. Part of the Bear’s success on run defense in 2010 stemmed directly from the opposition’s desire to exploit a poor coverage unit. If the Bears do not get better CB play opposite Tillman, no amount of Tillman greatness will make a significant difference in the Bear’s passing defense. How that manifests itself is anyone’s guess, but my personal belief is that the Bears do not have that guy on their roster.

by LostInSTL on Jul 7, 2011 12:40 PM CDT reply actions

Exactly, you nailed it on the head. We need a better CB to go with Tillman, if we upgrade our CB position this defense is easily in the top 3 next year

Why do all my socks smell like feet?

by touchdown bears on Jul 7, 2011 1:29 PM CDT up reply actions

Lets look at this from another point of view.

The Bears held opposing QB’s to a passer rating of 74.4 third best is the NFL. They accomplished this with a pretty average pass rush (34 sacks good for 17th in the league)
14 passing TD’s and 21 INT’s is pretty good pass D. The cover ’’’who" defense must be covering someone. But, an upgrade at CB would certainly only make this D better. An upgrade at CB would make it even more important for Peanut to have a good season.

The real problem with this team is on the offensive side of the ball.

. "Most football teams are temperamental. That's 90% temper and 10% mental."
--Doug Plank

by ed_brown on Jul 7, 2011 2:13 PM CDT up reply actions

I can see if we ran a lot of man coverage, but we are mostly a zone coverage team.

I think that is why CB is a less priority.

by Dominique Blanton on Jul 7, 2011 3:03 PM CDT up reply actions

less of a priority than other positions which need an immediate upgrade

if the Bears are to have a good 2011 season.

. "Most football teams are temperamental. That's 90% temper and 10% mental."
--Doug Plank

by ed_brown on Jul 7, 2011 3:30 PM CDT up reply actions

While I saw the pass rush...

as pretty damn good last year, it’s still a point taken. The defense tended to give up big pass plays that led to short rushing TDs (14 rushing TDs for 20th best) which is where I saw the defensive line have the most trouble-stopping the big RBs up the middle. Like you, I’d rather the Bears get a better O-line overall first. The defense can be better, but is a slight improvement from top 5 to top 3 going to put the Bears in the SB; or will a better offense?

In the narrow context of this article, I again am less concerned with Tillman because I do not see his play being the difference maker for the pass defense, but a solid compliment who can cover well in this defense would force the ball into the middle of the field for guys like Urlacher, DJ Moore and the safeties. Also, it would likely not give the QB the option of throwing away from Tillman so easily/quickly and perhaps give Peppers and others that half a second more to get to the QB and get sacks rather than pressures.

by LostInSTL on Jul 8, 2011 6:35 AM CDT up reply actions

good points

the Bears gave up the 4th fewest TD’s (rushing & passing combined) the Bears also held opposing QB’s to the 3rd lowest average passer rating in the NFL. clearly it was not easy to throw a couple of long passes and then run it in for a TD against the Bears last year. Granted there is always room for improvement and a veteran CB would make the team better. I want to stress that I am not calling out the D-line as bad just pointing out that the pass rush was average in that they are not getting the QB on the ground. I think that is due to spotty play from the 3-tech DT and hopefully Melton and Paea will solve that equation.

One of the many things a better O-line could do is to help keep the D off the field. The Bears ran the fewest offensive plays in the NFL last year

. "Most football teams are temperamental. That's 90% temper and 10% mental."
--Doug Plank

by ed_brown on Jul 8, 2011 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions

I'll go along with that

Tillman has been pretty consistent throughout his career. You pretty much know what you’re getting with Peanut. The bigger question is, who can step up opposite him?

by JimmyMack on Jul 7, 2011 6:17 PM CDT up reply actions

Why Not Safety At This Stage of His Career?

With Peanut losing some of his talent over the years, why hasn’t he been converted to safety? He certainly has the ability to come into the play after a receiver has been tied up by the corner/linebacker to strip or punch the ball out. (In fact, he excells at this talent. He’s far better at stripping the ball than he is in any other coverage activity that corners are asked to do.)

What is it about Peanut’s game (or Lovie’s bias) that’s preventing the Bears from considering this change? His ability to cover & engage the bigger, more physical receivers as a CB is eroding and forget about staying with the smaller, quick and speedy receivers (ala a younger Steve Smith). Throughout his career, he’s never been able to do that very well.

Help me! Why aren’t the Bears considering this type of move?

by nosmo343 on Jul 7, 2011 2:14 PM CDT reply actions

Because Tillmans body ...

… will not hold up to the punishment that the safety position dishes out .

" Everyone has a plan 'till they get punched in the mouth. " ~
Mike Tyson

by MidWayMonster54 on Jul 7, 2011 2:21 PM CDT up reply actions

Wow!

Sounds like we have an aging, fragile CB that can’t cover the smaller, quicker receivers & is losing his ability to engage the larger, more physical ones. We need to get deeper at both CB positions pronto!

by nosmo343 on Jul 7, 2011 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions