AZ54

I think you are right, Eifert would pose more problems for a defense than Austin. Keep in mind this is coming from the point of view of what we currently have on our roster. More bang for the buck replacing Davis with Eifert than replacing Bennet with Austin. Austin is intriguing now that I've seen him workout but inside the red zone I think the Eifert pick would have a bigger payoff. We'd have three over the top threats for fade routes in the endzone between Marshall, Jeffrey, and Eifert.

You summed up things nicely on the FA front and what it means in terms of the coaching staff's priorities. I'm anxiously waiting to see what we do.

Don't get me wrong, I like reading all the posts even the heated debates. Your passion for your thoughts is no different than BTs. Where would we be without Jason? I just wanted to add my thoughts. I'm not against upgrading LT I just look at our financial position and all the needs we have. I view the most cost effective way to improve things short term is to go after the inside first. That is based on both FA options, cap space, and how the draft is likely to play out. If you go back a few weeks I was hopeful that Lane Johnson would fall to us and that was my 1st Rd pick. I don't see that happening now. If we have a talent like Cooper available when we pick we should take him as best available fits need in a big way. In reading draft profiles, Fluker has a few concerns about his ability to pass protect at RT in NFL. His run blocking is not in doubt but IMO for that we have Carimi. Now if the staff views Fluker as an OG, as some teams might, then maybe. I like Fluker more if we can drop back a few spots and pick him up but if we went there at 20 it wouldn't be all bad just a bit early IMO. He is only a Junior so plenty of reason to think with good coaching he'll only get better. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1664143/dj-fluker 02/23/2013 - If there is a concern with Fluker's athleticism it is that he has limited initial quickness and flexibility. Speed rushers will give him problems off the edge. In the running game, however, he is a brutal assignment for defenders as he consistently is able to control the edge with his extraordinary reach (36 3/8") and functional strength, including an explosive initial pop that simply doesn't translate well in the bench press, the only strength drill currently used at the combine. As such, the relatively low 21 repetitions Fluker posted yesterday in the bench press won't harm his stock, either. Assuming teams are satisfied with his medical (he missed the Senior Bowl with a groin pull), Fluker is a rock-solid first round prospect. - Rob Rang, NFLDraftScout.com 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.

There are some valid points in your posts but don't go overboard on Webb or anyone else for that matter. Others are reading way too much into your words too acting as if you say he'll be a Pro Bowl player, I don't read that in your words. Webb gets the brunt of the fan's frustration with the Oline but he was far from our worst problem last year. Everyone knows it but we have moved on because guys like Rachal are gone, Spencer soon to be gone. Carimi couldn't pass protect at all most games. Yet Webb with his sheepish attitude, in some ways like Cutler with his stand-offish appearance, has become the scapegoat for all that went wrong. I'm in the minority as well because I think we can win with Webb. We won't win because of him but we can win with him. I've seen the AZ Cardinals almost win a Superbowl with a former Bears castoff at LT...Mike Gandy. Gandy was worse than Webb during that season for the Cards. While he was in Chicago he was laughed at, or hated, as much as Webb. We can't win if Webb is one of our better Olineman, but that's stating the obvious. If we put some very good players inside and can get as good a performance at RT as we got from Scott in a few games last year, then we can win with Webb at LT. Webb's shortcomings can be covered up through either blocking scheme or play calling if the rest of the line is consistently good. We can't fix or replace all of our Oline issues given our salary cap situation and lack of 3rd Rd pick. I think we get one FA and two draft picks for the Oline. At this point I think we should rearrange some contracts to free up some cap space and sign a good FA OG. Draft Cooper in Rd 1. Grab an OT on day 3 to compete with Webb, Carimi, Scott. IMO fixing the interior of the line will do far more to improve our running and passing game than throwing big bucks at a FA LT. The mystery is just what does this new coaching staff think of Carimi and Brown and where the belong? Or do they belong? Those decisions are pivotal in the Oline overhaul. Naturally they are being cryptic when asked about it. Carimi..."he's either a tackle or guard". Brown...."we're still watching film evaluating".

Faneca was a big name and the Steelers let him go at exactly the right time, around the age of 32 IIRC. He got a huge contract and couldn't move like he used to and was not even good. Hutchinson was still young and still outstanding when he first hit FA and Vikings signed him.

That might be why the Bears like him.

I was going to ask if the cap could be exceeded in the offseason but after looking it up it seems the cap is a hard limit effective at all times. Same with the salary floor by the way.

Exactly, prefer the youth and the lower price. If we're going to spend $$$ in FA I prefer it be on Oline.

I agree on him having a good career, he's an instinctive player but just doesn't appear he'll be able to perform well in pass coverage at the pro level. Folks were talking about him as a good 2-down LB and you don't grab one of them in top 20.

I found one mock that had us trading back a few spots with the Colts and taking Arthur Brown. Nothing was said on what we'd get but if it got us a 3rd I'd be happy although I think we'd be tossing in something else to close the deal. Brown in Rd 1 seems like a reach. Bring back Url for a year, put this kid with his speed and playmaking ability outside him at SLB for a year to learn and Briggs on the other side and we'd have a pretty good LB corps, and our future MLB. Use next two picks on Oline and TE. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players...84/arthur-brown The DBs are coming up at the combine and that will usually shake things up in the top 20. Hopefully enough to push some of the Oline down to us.

I think that threat is over-rated these days based on his past performance. If I had to choose between Welker and Finley I'd take neither. If we need one of these positions bad enough to spend that much money then filling either position via the draft with a younger more athletic player is the better option.

I may have only seen 8 quarters of ND football across a few games all season long (I made it through two in the championship game) but the 4.8 forty validates what I saw out of Te'o. He never had a play that made me say sit up and wonder who that was. In fact, if the damn media wasn't slobbering all over him before and after games I'd never have singled him out in any game.

You don't have any concerns about Albert's back issues?

I've seen several comments about how good a group (for receiving) the TEs looked. It appears we'll have more good options outside of the first round. http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/NFP-br...ys-workout.html

Likewise you are assuming they couldn't have learned the protections in the preseason. This isn't rocket science and six weeks seems like plenty of time for professionals to learn something like a protection scheme. I suppose they could "learn" schemes while blocking nothing but air in the spring but it's hard to see how effective that is. I also don't see how a protection scheme had anything to do with Spencer getting blown backwards so quickly on both running and passing downs. Or Carimi getting pushed backwards all season long in pass protection. If anything it's a further indictment of Tice's inability to get his players to learn the fundamentals in blocking. He got fired for that, as he should have.

After watching him catch the ball on that drill where they run across the field catching passes from the left/right alternately I'd say yes. It wasn't his pass catching that caught my eye, he isn't what I'd call a natural receiver with his hands, using his body quite a bit, and IMO that's a bit of a problem for a guy who isn't that big. Of course catching him will be the problem. It was his cut at the end of the drill, one foot planted and he was gone upfield at full speed. Second half of the first round seems reasonable. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap100000014...-learned-sunday

Yes he is: Cliff Stein VP of Football Admin/General Counsel

More smoke than fire here. The line had a lack of talent. People want the coach to focus on protection schemes in spring training when in fact he should have done just what he did...focus on learning and improving the fundamentals.

Too much money which is why we will only kick the tires.

Half the league has cap problems the other half doesn't. Which is why I said a bad team with lots of cap space would do this. There are always bad teams that overpay to bring in a big name player who is that end of his career to help sell tickets. Having lived through many years in the heart of AZ Cardinals territory I've seen it here with Emmitt Smith and Edgerrin James. Hester is not a bad PR/KR, he's just not as great as he was. Could even be a team that is middle of the pack like the Bears but has cap space yet prefers to trade the late pick for a proven returner versus drafting a rookie. Someone will bite for a late round pick.

Bears might have to take a wait and match the other offers approach to this.

The boss said it and he has to "compete" for the job: http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/be...r-returner.html Along with this statement Emery also said losing Knox means we have a void in need of a speed WR. Pretty clear that isn't you Hester. Looks like trade bait for a late rd pick...where a team would be drafting a PR/KR anyway. A bad team with cap space that needs a big name to help sell tickets would fit the bill nicely.

The problem is unless you make a trade way before the draft you can't take advantage of that extra money early in FA.

I'll agree Saints pass protection always looked good but guys did get around the edges. They didn't get up the middle. I still think the organization goes inside to fix our line and Webb, with a better Oline coach and scheme to help him may still be our LT. If Cutler can step up, and he has that vision, those misses won't be as bad. Trying to read the tea leaves here it seem we're done with Spencer and EWilliams. Carimi being talked about as potential OG, team wants to keep Scott. Louis unsigned but I think that deal gets done. Cooper makes a ton of sense at 20, smart, athletic and can play OG or C. Wildcard here, and nobody has talked about him yet (at least not that I've seen) is James Brown. Is he OG or OT? Or is he off the team? I still believe there is a FA Oline headed our way soon just not likely the big name LT we'd like to see due to budget constraints. I'll guess we add a FA OG to the mix but I'm still sticking with Cooper in Rd 1.

Don't see us cutting Mannelly. Saves a some cap but at what risk? Why mess with a solid FG and Punt unit when with our traditionally bad offense has to rely on them at all times? Of course I hope to see things get better on offense but I'm taking a wait and see approach.