What the Bears should do if they want to win the Super Bowl in 2012
by PatrickBR on Jan 10, 2012 6:03 PM CST
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PrintAfter a disappointing end to what looked like a promising season, everyone has been quick to claim that the Bears have many holes to fill on offense and defense. Are we forgetting the 7-3 start? That they were averaging over 30 points a game during the 5 game winning streak? What about the impressive defensive effort in the games after Cutler's injury? I firmly believe that had the Bears not been plagued with injuries, they would be be preparing for a rematch with the Packers this weekend, with a serious shot to win it all.
With that being said, there really isn't much to fix on a team that was a serious contender with their players healthy. While some positions are lacking depth and others could use an upgrade, every NFL team has holes and there is never a perfect team. There are only 3 things that the Bears need to do to win the SuperBowl next year and have a 13-3 to 14-2 season next year. First they need to...
1. Trade their two 3rd round draft picks to Miami for WR Brandon Marshall. This Pro-Bowl receiver was Cutler's number one weapon during his pro-bowl year in Denver, and they have the chemistry that few quarterback-receiver duos have. After the recent tweets, it is clear that both players have interest in bringing in Marshall, and he would be the true number 1 receiver that they're lacking. WIth Marshall and Bennett at 1 and 2, using Knox and Hester as speedy deep threats, and Cutler orchestrating it all, the Bears offense could easily be a top 5 offense. Not to mention they have Matt Forte running the ball to open up the passing game.
2. Trade up in the first round of the draft to get CB Morris Claiborne. It will cost a first round pick and probably a second and third in the 2013 draft, but this all-american cornerback is worth it. This would solidify the other cornerback position. Along with Major Wright/Craig Steltz, Chris Conte, and, of course, Peanut Tillman, the Bears secondary might finally be stable for some years.
3. Sign DE Cliff Avril from free agency. 11 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, need I say more? With Peppers and Avril at defensive ends, and future stars Henry Melton and Stephen Paea at tackles, the Bears will have the scariest D-line in the NFL.
There's two things that people say over and over again, "Oh no! the bears have an 'aging defense'", and "the O-Line is terrible!" Frankly, both are mistakes. Sure Urlacher, Briggs, Tillman, and Peppers are seasoned veterans, but sign Avril and Claiborne, and they have virtually the youngest defense aside from those 4. And next year with Gabe Carimi and Chris Williams coming back(well, maybe, he always gets hurt), along with Garza, Spencer, and surprise player Edwin Williams, the line is pretty solid. Sure J'Marcus Webb is sketchy, but there isn't any depth at LT in this draft class, and they shouldn't waste a pick on the hope that a subpar linemen will develop into a star. Webb can hold it down for a year or two until the talent is available. Use the second round pick on an inside linebacker that will be Urlacher's successor.
For people who say the Bears shouldn't trade away picks and that that's the mistake Angelo made, are they really that bad off? They got their franchise QB from trading picks, why not get a franchise receiver and cornerback?
The Bears need to stop building for the future, and focus on the present. They went to NFC championship last year, started strong this year until injuries ruined the season. The tools are in place. Get those 3 players and a Super Bowl title is in grasp.
This FanPost was written by a Windy City Gridiron member, and does not necessarily reflect the ideas or opinions of its staff or community.
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1- How do you measure the chemistry that Cutler and Marshall have? And how can you say it's chemistry that few QB-WRs have?
2- Morris Claiborne hasn’t decided if he is declaring for the Draft or not, unless it’s happened in the last 24 hours. But, you would really want to trade up, with a 2nd and 3rd, for a cornerback? We need help, but that’s a friggin outrageous price tag for a cornerback.
3- There’s no way the Lions let Avril out the door. He wants to get paid, but he was also the best defensive lineman in Detroit this season, and if push comes to shove, they can slap the franchise tag on him. Not sure how the Bears can just “go sign him”… And that leads to my final point…
4- Just because a player is a free agent doesn’t mean that a team can just “go get them” and sign them to a contract… It’s not that simple. The WRs you list… I’d be willing to be two or three of them re-sign with their 2011 team, not to mention the possibility of franchise tags being used.
The Bears absolutely have some roster holes, and need upgrades on both sides of the ball, but recruiting and negotiating contracts isn’t just as simple as throwing money at someone and them signing the paper. Tons of other factors go into play, and with these guys you mention, factors that the Bears can’t really influence too much.
I'm a ninja.
Stop making sense.
Fantastic album by the way. Talking Heads rock.
Above all; keep 'em guessing, never let them lose their sense of confusion.
No 3
why would a team trade a player in his prime to a division rival? is another reason we would not secure Avril
I think there's a learning curve at CB
Neither Amukamara nor Peterson rated out well in PFF. Since 2008, there have been about a dozen 1st round cornerbacks drafted, and the only rookie star was Joe Haden. Guys like Devin McCourty, Vontae Davis and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie were solid starters. Kyle Wilson, Patrick Robinson, Malcolm Jenkins, Leodis McKelvin, Aqib Talib, Mike Jenkins, Antoine Cason, Kareem Jackson either barely played or played poorly.
If you want instant impact, I’d go linebacker or lineman.
How do you figure that Aqib Talib played poorly. The guy has off the field issues but is a really good corner and has a lot of playing time.
Wouldnt it be funny if we had another DE with the last name Salters!
That's an easy one. He wasn't a starter
his rookie year, only played 1/3 of the team’s total snaps, and was barely a factor by the end of that season. I agree he developed well after that, but OP’s point was Claiborne helps the Bears win in 2012.
Oh boy.
The Bears have way more than three things to do to be a Super Bowl contender going into next year. They need to re-sign Forte and Okoye as a start, get a legitimate backup QB plus…
1. I doubt Miami trades Marshall for two 3rd round picks. If so, that’d be great. Don’t see it happening. I also doubt Bennett is a #2. He seems like a #3 to me on any respectable receiving corps.
2. I’d say zero chance of this. Claiborne is very likely going top-5 barring an injury or arrest or something. I’m not 100% sure the 19th plus a 2nd & 3rd in 2013 gets this deal done, but even if it could I wouldn’t do it. You can probably get a legitimate 1st round prospect at CB in Dennard or Jenkins at 19 and keep all your picks. I trade a 1st, 2nd and 3rd for two guys in this draft. Kalil and Luck. That’s it. And we don’t need Luck. Also Steltz is a free agent.
3. Would love Avril, I’d say about a 10% chance the Lions let him go… and about a 20% chance we get him if he is a free agent. Probably not going to happen. Plus even if it could happen, it depends on the deal. Not a fan of saying “we get this guy” and that’s the end of it. Depends on what the contract is.
No… our OL is still pretty terrible. At best solidly below average. Carimi is unproven and also a possible injury risk. I think he’ll be solid, and would rather see him at LT than Webb. Webb should not start anywhere on a solid OL. Chris Williams showed flashes (finally) but is a huge injury risk. Louis was up and down and nowhere near a lock to be league average. Edwin Williams showed some flashes, too, but is not close to being a league-average lock. Garza is below average. Spencer is probably average when it’s all said and done. There is no one on our OL that I am confident will be a league average player at his position. Best bet is Carimi and he’s far from a lock.
You say use a 2nd round pick on a MLB successor. That assumes there is a player available there that makes sense for that round. Possible high-round ILBs include Kuechly, Burfict and Hightower. Most are likely gone by our pick in the 2nd. Just saying “draft this position in this round” makes no sense. You draft players depending on how the board falls, not just a general “get this position in this round”.
The only things that are clear in my mind are:
Upgrading LT, get a veteran/viable backup QB, re-sign Forte for a reasonable deal, re-sign Okoye if reasonable, get a #1 and/or #2 WR, get a better #2 DE, try to get youth and depth at DE/LB/CB, try to get an upgrade to one interior OL spot.
Is Toni Braxton available?
Can we send her to Green Bay and introduce her to Rodgers, Matthews, and Jennings?
We need a left tackle.
To think otherwise = 50 sacks for the third year in a row.
Often Wrong, Never In Doubt.
I don't really want
any of the FA WR. Can’t the Bears get a stud at one of the other need positions (OL, CB, DL) in FA and try to get a good WR in the 1st round of the draft?
Checking out my sprunjer?
by Chicago Faithful on Jan 12, 2012 2:21 PM CST reply actions
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