AZ54

I haven't closed the door on him returning as a player for this season. I don't know if he'll think it's worth it to play for $2mil but I think that offer still stands. If he's not there he will not be an asst coach this year. Too soon for that. The team will otherwise keep him around for PR purposes.

Are we including the Bengals of the 90s?

That's fine but the more highlights I've watched over the last few years the less genius these scouts seem to be. To be sure they have access to inside information from coaching staffs and others that we will never get and that has to be part of the evaluation. Film study, work ethic, leadership, etc. Yet I feel I can see fairly well what a player can do on the field. Missed tackles are missed tackles. Blown assignments (running the wrong way on a play) are obvious to see. Physical straight-on tackling is also easy to identify versus a guy who tackles from the side and gives up an extra yard or two in doing so. We have to keep in mind that most of what we can find on the internet is going to be just highlights not lowlights. We will see the best the player has to offer but that's why when I can find what amounts to most of a single game film I find it more helpful because then you find the bad plays too.

While I'll agree the athletes of today's NFL are better overall than they were 20 years ago watch some highlights of the 85 Bears to see how fast a defense can rush the passer.

I wonder how much the character issues dragged down Ogletree's rating? That is a factor and will be for teams deciding which one to draft. It's JAs old floor-ceiling approach with Brown stuck squarely in the middle and Ogletree ending up on either side.

The highlights I've seen of Ogletree he seems to be more physical at the point of attack and better getting after the QB. I know Brown bulked up for the combine but we don't know what he plays like at that weight but there are the same concerns with Ogletree. Let's just watch the game versus Alabama (we know what they did to Te'o) and what I see is that Ogletree is a lot more physical than Brown. This is as close to NFL competition as he'll see since 3 of those Oline will be in the NFL and the RB, the one he stopped cold at the goal line. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jC8CmJtkN8c

I've seen some rumors that the Bears are interested in Arthur Brown. I watched a couple highlight videos, including all of this one and I'm not that impressed. I see him as a 2nd Rd selection because a) he's not that big he gets lost a lot on the field giving up some big plays. He can play with some leverage for his size but I'd say he's a replacement for Briggs and will never be a MLB in the NFL. Ogletree has some of the same issues but he's bigger and stronger and I see him making making more impact plays. Despite the character flaws I prefer Ogletree in Rd 1.

It appears Carimi competes solely at OG: --------------------------------------------------- http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/footb...0,2068224.story Emery also has indicated Gabe Carimi will compete at guard, but the Bears could fortify the position in the draft as well. ---------------------------------------------------

I watched the video and it doesn't change my opinion. On the second or third play he gets beat easily in pass protection on a move to the inside. He's good straight ahead but when he has to move to get to his assignment he misses as often as he finds his man. He got beat on a few other plays one where a LB stood him up on an outside run and then came off the block to make a tackle for a loss. You might think he'd be running that guy over but didn't happen. He won't get pushed backward like Carimi was last year but based on that film he will struggle with good edge rushers and he's not good at the second level blocking, too stiff. He seems to be high in his 3-pt stance and I'm not sure that will serve him well at OG as those guys usually seem to have more knee bend in their stance but I'll leave that up to the Oline experts on the board. Warford actually moves better in space, short area at least but doesn't have as much power in blocking. He has his share of misses in this highlight too but he's a second round pick versus first round.

I don't think he was there to watch Barkley but we can't rule that out either knowing Jay is effectively on a 1yr "prove it" deal. Nor can other teams and that ups the ante on them trading up (if he's there at #20 which is a very likely scenario). I think it's more likely he was watching Woods who should be a late first to second round pick. After watching his highlight video I'd say he's a bigger faster version of Earl Bennett with the exception that he can make more plays downfield. Good hands maybe not the shiftiness you want in/out of breaks but can get open and then run after the catch. We could use that.

No it's because he (the future NFLer himself) couldn't tackle those other future NFLers. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2013-01-0...ain-brian-kelly Te'o missed four tackles in just first half against Alabama. The only time the Irish tipped a ball, Te'o wasn't in position to pick the ball off. All in all, Te'o missed seven tackles Monday night, and he looked like a shell of the man who took home eight awards and countless accolades. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If he's a worthy first round talent then the expectation is that even if his Dline can't get the job done then when the play is in his area, and he has the chance to make the tackle, he makes the tackle. He didn't.

Agreed, when he's on the field.

I didn't know that...very crafty.

The real question here is: Is Slauson an upgrade over Louis?

Here's a second source: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1664143 WEAKNESSES: At his size, Fluker is strictly a right tackle or perhaps even a guard prospect as he hasn't demonstrated the agility or balance necessary to handle NFL speed rushers on a consistent basis. Even as a run blocker -- his specialty -- Fluker has a tendency to drop his head and stop his feet as he makes contact, resulting in some of his more talented opponents being able to disengage. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- I've read enough who question his ability to pass protect at RT in the NFL but I'd say the majority opinion is that he'll be ok in pass protection at RT. Just ok. In short he'll be what Carimi was supposed to be: Outstanding run blocker and average pass blocker. If we draft him I'd be willing to bet the coaches will give him a look at both spots and see where they think he fits in best. Ideally that'd be RT but if he turned into an excellent player at OG I'd be happy.

I know the point of this thread was "are we better at LB" but as was pointed out above, if you are going to compare the business decisions at LB you will also have to add in the other players we signed (or didn't have to cut) with the extra $3-5mil we saved over Roach/Urlacher. From a LB evaluation perhaps it's a wash, some good some bad and each of us weight different variables as we see it (leadership, experience, etc.). Those who really valued Urlacher's leadership will likely fall to the negative side. Those who put more weight on his injury prone body and slowness probably see it the other way. For the overall roster I think it's a big positive.

Better. These guys have just as much experience in Tucker's defense as Urlacher and Roach. In terms of years of experience they have more than the two who departed but in general I'd say the experience is a wash. We definitely lost in terms of leadership but improved in the athleticism department at both positions. Then there is this: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-02...ive-coordinator Tucker also was noncommittal on where Shea McClellin may play in the future, but he was firmly committed to a 4-3 defense. “We don’t have any plans to switch at this point,” he said. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- That is a month old but the fact is we really don't know what our defense will look like. I don't expect SMC to change positions in part because if we were thinking of that I think we'd be more clear about staying at #20 hoping to get one of the better DE's (probably won't be there anyway) rather than trying to trade down. Then again smoke screens run rampant this time of year.

I read somewhere that he's been helped out by the talent surrounding him but yeah if he's there in the 4th bring him in. Again, those reports say he's stout at the point of attack that isn't in question, it's his lack of athleticism that is. Personally I've never watched the guy so I can't say, just trying to figure out the who/what/when/where of the draft.

I think the Bears backed off Louis after they signed Scott. It appears they are moving Carimi inside. I still expect an OG in the draft and in the later rounds a Center. Not so sure about Jones as the more I've read about him lately the more it seems his lack of athleticism will make him an average player. In day 3 he's a yes but Rd 2 not and I don't think I'd draft him in Rd 3 (if we end up with a pick) as there will probably be better value in taking a WR, LB, or CB there.

With all the players Emery has been able to add I've been wondering if we might go that route with our first pick. If somebody falls and the talent is too good to pass up I think he will do that but priority 1 is to trade back and grab at least one more pick.

The previous offseason was all about giving Lovie one year to prove it and for most part I think Emergy gave him what he said he needed. Brandon Marshall and drafted a DE in first round, got another WR in Rd2. And we ignored Oline in the draft again and drafted a safety in Rd3...a Lovie trademark. Plus Emery didn't have much time to scout the Bears players before the draft. Certainly not as much as he knows them now after being around them one full season. Add in that he has significantly increased the size of our scouting department and this offseason we are seeing the results. For better or worse we do not know but clearly the plan has changed. Webb demoted, possibly gone from roster depending on how or where Carimi competes for a job. I think a lot of what happened with the coaches and their commitment to our existing Oline players had a role in Lovie's firing. Cutler not extended...no commitment has to earn it. Urlacher gone. Tillman contract not extended. A little bit surprising here but I think he doesn't want a long term commitment to an aging veteran, possibly will let market settle and then see if there's a 1-2yr extension they can agree on. Or just deal with it next year. Tillman is not a great cover guy. Jennings...I expected something here before FA began to give us more flexibility especially given how well Jennings played last season. He sits and waits and again the market is dropping so comparisons with other CB will bring the price down. Or is it because we are considering a scheme change where Jennings might not fit as well? Right now it's clear he is interested in getting a younger roster and gaining cap flexibility for the future.

No but I think more weight is being given to Urlacher's situation by fans than what the vast majority of players consider. I'd say a winning organization carries far more weight than how one player was treated at the end of his legendary career. I'll use a single data point here: New England regularly dumps key veterans by refusing to give into large contract demands (they just dumped Welker after refusing to give him a long term deal) yet each year are considered by many veterans to be a solid destination spot. IIRC Urlacher mentioned them as a possibility.

50 years?

There are plenty of players around the league who can find millions, or at least hundreds of thousands of reasons to sign here. The Bears gave Urlacher over $60million during his career, that's bad treatment?

No surprise here as the team has openly courted Scott to return, thus signaling their intentions of Carimi finding a job at OG, maybe LG is the most logical since he's had more time playing on the left side in college than he's played on the right in the NFL. Just had to wait for the market to bottom out. Now Lance Louis has to get serious about finding work! I think his best chance to make a positive impression for a long term contract is a 1yr deal with Chicago and that's what I expect will happen.