Post Draft Recap

by Adam T on May 21, 2007 8:25 AM CDT in News Comment 6 comments

Here is just a recap of of the stories that have been going since the Draft has ended.

Hester moving to offense. Turns out Coach Lovie Smith has been working on him for about two months.

Anderson starting at the right side. Brown is working as backup to both Anderson and Ogunleye.

Danieal Manning is working at three positions. Safety, cornerback and return man.

Cedric Benson is finally acting like a player the team can get behind.

Though it is a wait and see issue, Tank Johnson said he will not appeal any punishment handed down by Goodell and take it like man.

Briggs has no showed mini camp.

Williams taking snaps at the weak side. Williams is odds on favorite to replace Briggs if he does not play.

Clark seems business as usual when talking about the possibility that first round pick Greg Olsen might take his spot.

What about Rex?

Rex Grossman made some excellent throws in the three practices (not counting the one that Brian Urlacher intercepted on Sunday). But what impressed me most were Grossman's fundamentals. He didn't throw off his back foot and he actually stepped up in the pocket and completed a strike to Mark Bradley on the sideline on one play. New quarterbacks coach Pep Hamilton has been working intensely with Grossman on stepping up in the pocket, which he rarely if ever did last season. Stepping up rather than backpedaling in the pocket will keep Grossman from throwing off his back foot and enable him to make a positive play when the first option isn't open, either with a pass to a secondary receiver or by scrambling.

Fate?

Do you believe in fate? I have yet to hear anyone mention this, but if you go back in history, starting in 1941, the Bears have won the NFL championship every 22 years (1941, 1963 and 1985). If you believe this will continue, the Bears are a lock to win in 2007. Just something for us Bears fans to think about this year!

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Excellent about Grossman.

I forgot there was a new QB coach. It's great that he noticed the biggest problem in Rex's approach to the game. Whether Rex can fix that in crunch time, or whether it even makes a difference, obviously only time will tell.

I hope the Bears have to fight to keep him next Spring and pay out the ass. That would only mean that he had a great season.

by tyger1147 on May 21, 2007 10:06 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

This is complete nonsense, but...

...I like reading it.

From yesterday's Philadelphia Inquirer:

Incites | A McNabb trade (in theory)
By Don McKee
Inquirer Columnist

GREGORY SHAMUS / Getty Images
Donovan McNabb for linebacker Lance Briggs? You never know. Briggs (right), shown with Alex Brown (left) and Hunter Hillenmeyer, does not want to return to the Bears, who could be looking for a QB.

One of Incites' most important roles in the media mix called Philadelphia is to pass along stories that are under-reported elsewhere.

So while cautioning you that this scenario is strictly the inner thought of one of the area's most sage football observers, here's one compelling theory:

The recent drafting of quarterback Kevin Kolb could mean that Donovan McNabb will be traded before the 2007 season.

A few observers have opined that McNabb will be moved after the coming season. But here's a scenario that has him moving before September.
The Chicago Bears are ready to win the Super Bowl. They might have won it last year except for a glaring weakness at quarterback. Before the ever-popular "window" closes, the Bears need a quality QB to kick them over the hump.

This scenario obviously depends on two things. One, that McNabb is physically ready to play on Week 1 of the 2007 season. Two, that Chicago is convinced McNabb is their best available QB option.

(The fact that McNabb is from Chicago is, in my mind, irrelevant. The Bears would be just as interested in an available quality veteran if he were from Portland, Tucson or Montreal.)

But the key to this scenario is Bears linebacker Lance Briggs, who has said publicly that he will never play for Chicago again and who refused to report to minicamp on Friday.

Briggs is, arguably, the best weakside linebacker in the game and is only 26.

The question most Eagles fans are asking right now is: Why would the Bears make that deal?
It would give them a chance to save face, by sending Briggs where the team wants to send him and not be seen as having Briggs dictate to them.

Plus, they would get a vital component of any Super Bowl team in exchange for a player who says he won't show up.

The Eagles, of course, would then have rebuilt their defense to the point where it could carry an offense managed by A.J. Feeley or Kelly Holcomb, while awaiting the development of Kolb.

If you asked the Eagles about this they would, naturally, laugh it off. The key for the Birds in any trade scenario is to appear totally neutral while listening to offers. It's always best to have the player everybody else wants, then choose the best offer.

Is it going to happen? Right now, it's just a thought. But if McNabb shows up in July and begins tearing up training camp, the offers are sure to soon follow.

by SouthernSlam on May 21, 2007 11:07 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

When was the last time McNabb finished

a complete season? We already have a guy who is has only done it once, why bring in another one who is much older?

by Adam T on May 21, 2007 11:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Because he's a LOT better...

...than the one we have. He's not finished three out of the last five. Which isn't good. But if he does finish, you don't think he's infinitely better than Grossman? Okay, not infinitely.

But the Bears won't do this. While Urlacher, Brown and the offensive line are getting older, the window isn't nearly as short as everyone thinks. Yes, Urlacher's decline will make the defense not as good. And ability of rookies/youngsters to eventually fill in at guard/tackle/center is suspect, but as those positions get worse, I only see the others getting better.

It may not be the top team in the NFC in three years, but it will be a Top 5 team for years to come.

by tyger1147 on May 21, 2007 11:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rex

There is no way Lovis Smith brings in another QB who is older and has a history of injuries. We already suffered with a QB who had a few injuries. Also, Lovis Smith is steadfast behind Rex (I am too, this year is going to be great) McNabb has less than no chance in making it to DA BEARS.

by Shifty on May 23, 2007 11:38 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

agree

I am sick of everyone making Rex Grossman a scapegoat,a cancer, a weakness. I've been a fan since I was 7 years old back in 85' and While Rex still needs a bit of "fine tuning" he has given me more hope than a list of the 40 or so QB'S I've
watched come and go for the last 20 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by payton34 on May 25, 2007 6:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs