AZ54

I agree, Webb was really bad and yet again very inconsistent. I'm now at a spot where I think we're better off with Chris Williams consistent, if below average, play. With Webb you just don't know where he's going to have a mental lapse and give up pressure: outside, inside, bull rushes, or penalties. If Chris Williams can give us consistent play and protect the inside rush lanes then I'll take that and Tice showed in this first game that we will be helping with chip blocks out of the backfield. Cutler has to know what to expect in his pass protection. Spencer also had a horrible game. I don't know if it's the new footwork in moving from right side to left side but he was pushed all over the field. Even Carimi was pushed around at times. The only guy I didn't notice on the Oline was Louis who seemingly held his ground on pass protection. Nobody opened holes for running plays.

You heard wrong and I think Chris Williams may end up as our starter at LT. I'd rather have consistent below average play at LT where at least you know what you have to do to help the guy versus Webb's highly inconsistent play where he gets beat inside, outside, straight backwards, and his penalties. We'll see how this develops.

I thought McClellin played well for his first game at a new position. He got washed out on a double team at the goal line and some are making a big deal about that. He wasn't drafted to be a goal line defender. The point is he fills a spot on our roster as a speed rusher which we have not had for some time. If he can chase down Hanie like that he'll be chasing down Aaron Rodgers too. More important to me than chasing down Hanie was his ability to get upfield and turn the corner. He has also added a spin move and for a guy who has never done that before he did it effectively a couple times. Give him some time and experience and I think we'll have a good player. He's already come a long way in just two weeks of practice at DE.

I was also very impressed with Corey Wooton. On a few plays he made Clady look like Webb beating him to the outside forcing Clady to hold him (literally grab him around the body). On another play he beat him on a good inside move to get early pressure on Manning who had to release the ball early. He played better than Izzy and if this continues I can see him challenging for playing time at Izzy's expense.

Blew out his hamstring and needs surgery. They also have trouble at LT and are now testing a few different backups at the spot including Andrew Datko.

I think if he were done for the season we'd see more activity in terms of bringing in more FAs to camp in the hopes of uncovering a decent LB for depth. I can't believe we'd be that satisfied with the depth on the current roster to sit back and do nothing. The fact we're not doing that tells me Urlacher's issue isn't that serious. I tend to think he's had some minor procedure, perhaps removing scar tissue makes sense, or something along those lines, and he'll be back to work in a few weeks. If true then I hope he's ready by the Packers game in week 2. IIRC every report in training camp said he was moving well and if he wasn't they couldn't have covered that up, it would have been a big story from day one.

Did you really say he has to compete with Cindy Rice? Among other problems, Rice's non-stop injury parade is the reason they have to go out and drag WRs off the street into training camp last minute.

After seeing the recent highlight video of practice and watching Peppers pancake him in three steps I am highly doubtful. I was going to post that link for Jason but then I figured it would fall under cruel and unusual punishment.

I was surprised to read that quote too. Bodes well for our future if this trend with good young talent continues. Even our late round rookie CBs seem to be doing well. Next up....can Emery draft a good LB?

T.O. will fit perfectly into that 3-man rotation/competition they have at QB in Seattle. I can't imagine a better scenario for us to sit back and enjoy.

If SMC puts up 8-10 sacks this year he's not going anywhere but DE next year. We'll be drafting a LB in Rds 1 or 2 next year. We'll be drafting a safety too because we always do that.

Davis equals cheap insurance policy. Why not bring him in and let him compete for the last roster spot?

I said it in the offseason...it is going to be much harder for teams to leave CBs solo covering either of these guys just because of their ability to break tackles. Add in Hester running around the field too and it becomes a big challenge.

We have a tall TE in Davis who can either be an inline blocker or come off the line (now that Tice is willing to throw to the TE) and need to be covered too. I would think that forces a LB and/or S to read a key before reacting and anything that causes hesitation by a defender will help goal line runs.

Yes, gotta give them the generic email address so they can spam you. I forgot about that.

McClellin makes eye-opening plays at Bears' practice http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/footb...0,4607155.story

You only make that move if Webb has the upper hand in the competition.

Can't wait to give GB a dose of their own medicine.. "In a live goal-line drill Tuesday, Cutler rifled a perfect back-shoulder touchdown pass to Marshall" In other news Jennings is having a very good camp showing much better ball skills than last year. His competition, Hayden, has also done some good things against Brandon Marshall. Even Frey has looked good in coverage. Could we finally have some depth at CB this year? http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=8935

I think the article was written because it is what is happening in practices. I agree with your statement on Urlacher, another talented player forced to switch positions in the NFL and it took him time before he settled down. If SMC is a situational pass rusher this year then I'm ok with that. If he's a situational pass rusher 3 years from now then I'm not. We've only had three practices in pads so far and zero games. It's obvious SMC has the work ethic to improve and I think he will, and well before 3 seasons have gone by but it won't be right out of the gate. Why isn't there as much hand-wringing about Alshon Jeffrey getting manhandled in press coverage? Because we expect WRs to take time to develop and get used to the pro game.

link http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d82ae...leading-rookies

Keep stirring...

Nope, I fully expected he'd struggle in run defense. What I was hoping for is that he'd show the quick burst and ability to turn the corner and that reportedly has been apparent to everyone at camp. That burst is something we didn't have on the roster and is not something you can coach into a player. Knowing he can secure the outside edge is enough to keep a guy like Rodgers from rolling out of the pocket to his right which he loves to do to extend plays. Of course that means he was rolling away from Peppers. I think this will also give the guys on the inside another half second or more to get to the QB as well. What else I like is SMC's work ethic. During interviews it is obvious how hard he was working, plus his honesty is his performance and expectations for himself. With no expectations of having anything handed to him, he'll improve as the season goes along.

Otah hasn't played much in the last 3 seasons and still can't pass a physical. I know we need Oline help but I don't see how he helps us this season. Or do we sign him to a contract, pass a physical and then put him on IR with intentions of letting him rehab for a year and then compete for a job next season.

One of the reports I saw yesterday (can't recall where) said historically Tice has made decisions on Oline early in camp. We might not be waiting that long to find out who our starters are.

I read somewhere he is still running with a limp because his leg muscles are not all firing correctly. I don't expect him back at all this year, if ever.