Mongo3451

There is a difference between someone who has proven they can't vs one who hasn't shown they can. There is no hope for one and guarded optimism for the other. I like Wolfe, I just don't trust him with the load yet.

OK, I have to answer my own post, because the more I sit here and think about it, the more it ticks me off. I really hope they reconsider bringing in another back to compete with Forte. I don't want another rookie annointed the starter on this team without legitimately earning it. Peterson or Wolfe can not push Forte. AP doesn't have the talent and, other than college, Wolfe has not shown he's an everydown back. If we wait too long, we don't get our pick. If we lose Forte, the price skyrockets. This could be the last straw in the stubborn streaks of JA and Lovie.

Kevin Jones hosted a workout for NFL suitors and only four teams showed up. Just so the suspense does not kill anyone, the Bears were not in attendance. Strangely enough, the steelers were there. I found that odd after they just let go of Davenport. Here's the link. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3465537

name='nfoligno' date='Jun 25 2008, 01:16 PM' post='41030'] Tait doesn't suck at LT, he's just a better RT. He makes the right side better, more than he weakens the left side with his departure. I think you just argued against yourself on that one. Garza is a finesse player and Metcalf a power player. Under that scenario, Garza would be better suited for the left side. When we signed Garza, he was introduced as insurance for all 3 interior positions. I'm not arguing for this, but in theory you could make the right side the power side and the left side the finesse side with a switch of Metcalf and Garza. Q: Isn't Larry Allen a LG? (the most powerful human to ever play OL) IMO- improvement to the LG situation does not lie on our roster at this point in time. Very true.

Agreed and well said. Every team that has a great offense has an X factor that you have to game plan for. The X factor usually does not have to have a great game for the unit to be successful. IE: Hester on special teams. The main goal with special teams is field position. Bears are #1 in field position, even with teams kicking away from Hester. They game plan against our X factor and he still makes them pay somehow. If Hester can somehow pull attention from the line of scrimmage as a WR, the OL and running game has the potential to have greater success. If he can't, they have to achieve success on their own merit. The key to all of this is if Hester can burn a defense early in the season., either by drawing attention for another payer to get a matchup or making the play himself. My guess is that week one against the Colts, he will have many opportunities deep. The Colts will put Sanders in the box and dare our QB and recievers to get it done. If Turner is smart, play one will be a play-action bomb. Even if unsuccessful, it sends a clear message if he gets separation.

I think things have to fall into place for teams to have the best of any unit. 1st is health. Tommie is a year+ removed from the hamstring surgery which should only make him better. Our ends should be strong with our big 3 intact and Bazuin coming off red shirt. Importantly, there's Mike Brown. If Brown is healthy and can contribute, Urlacher gets to play closer to the line of scrimmage, thus taking pressure off the line. Most importantly is the offense. If the O eats up the clock and is able to generate touchdowns thus D line will be able to pin it's ears back and reek havoc. Look at Indy: they have some talented defenders, but nowhere near our cast. Their O makes their D really good. Look at the Giants: their O did what I've wanted the Bears to do the last couple of years. Run strong and don't turn the ball over. That made their D line able to do what they did in he SB. O is our key; if they don't make it to mid level, they wil have he D worn down by week13.

I think the kool-aid is strong. There is nothing wrong with optimism. I'm just not there yet. The main question with me this season is this... Will the defense carry the offense or will the offense destroy the defense?

Agree that St.Clair looked good at OG and is probably better than anyone else we have for the position. But, until they bring in someone that can backup the tackle spot, I believe he should remain there. His value is simply greater at T, than the upgrade he would provide at G for two reasons. 1) because Williams is unproven. 2) because we have no depth, outside of St. Clair in case of injury. As bad as he is at tackle, I would want him fresh and focused only on that position. I doubt Williams will be a bust, but I never imagined Benson would bust either.

Neither does the staff. If they are throwing their eggs in Forte's basket, they are nuts. Ditto if they are counting on AP as a servicable #2. It is imperative they have a contingency in place if Forte can't carry the load. A vet must be signed. That reminds me of a less eloquent post I threw out there the other day. "Now we have a mediocre QB(yet to be announced), a new OL(yet to be announced), new RB(yet to be announced) and two new starting wideouts (yet to be announced)" The yet to be announced part is good and bad all rolled into one. You have violated man-law with the word "obfuscating". Please use dumbed down language in the future. LOL! I really don't care that Lovie said we won't add a back. If he meant it, then I have a problem. I'm not sure about the regime change as of yet. I still like Angelo, a lot. He has put us in a position to win the last few years and deserves a little slack. Lovie, on the other hand, I don't think so much of. I don't like his choir boy act, all while he's lying to us. I also don't like that he doesn't have a ton of experience on his staff. That's either ignorant, arrogant or the McCaskeys pulling the purse strings on quality assistants. All told, this is a make or break year for Lovie. If we don't make the playoffs, I really think he is gone. Then, I'll starting my Cowher chant again...

Tony Mandarich anyone?

I'm still on board with thinking Faneca would have helped more than just a positional upgrade. You can probably say he'd be an upgrade at LG + make LT better + make C better. He'd cost a ton, but the value was there IMO. Now, I simply want Rueben to be healthy and hungry for redemption and for JA to get off his stubborn ass and re-sign him.

It will help, but they will still be favored by 10+ LOL!!! God, I hope not. Definately MVP's when they are on the field. Both are playmakers and leaders. To add my thoughts on the situation. I hope all the Colts and Bears are on the field. It would make victory that much sweeter.

Am I sensing a tad bit of veteren moxie? Reuben Brown is one of my favorites. I know a lot on this board think he's washed up and he may be. He was still effective until the shoulder injury. None of us even knew he was hurt until they shelved him. We all just said he's old and done. It ain't easy with two arms, let alone one. If his arm is good to go, I hope he's get signed and in camp for one more year. He'd still be better than any starting guard we currently have.

Our offense is going to be a work in progress. Just pray the OL is better and the rest will follow. Unless Forte sucks,if so, we are hosed. I will be skeptical until kool-aid fairy drops a few gallons.

Cut is like, ripped or chisled.(very little fat with popping muscles)

I can see his frustration. At least he had the courtesy to stay hidden until Ced was gone. I always liked the way Haynes was a good guy when with the Bears. The organization pretty much ruined his career by mis-drafting him,then asking him to play scheme he wasn't suited for, then asking him to lose weight, then gain weight etc... I really think he could have made it with a team that played bigger ends or a 3-4. We didn't let him go until he was damaged goods, with no chance to compete. I guess that's the nature of the beast. He's been better to the Bears than the Bears were to him.

What I'm looking forward to at RB is getting Forte ready for day one as our starter. AP, IMO is only a stop gap player. He can do everything, but nothing above average. I would also sign a vet if possible. I keep hearing Kevin Jones and I'm fine with that if he comes in with an incentive laden contract that pays him the minimum if that's all we get. I'm also of the opinion that Wolfe is better than a lot give him credit for. I hope to see a package for him as a 3rd and long and change of pace back. My truest hope is that Cedric is the lazy heartless POS everyone made him out to be. That gives me hope that OL is not nearly as bad as thought and the running game will rebound.

I hope you are right. I also hope my enthusiasm improves as the season approaches. My impending feeling of doom is strong this year. Maybe it is a psychological counterbalance to my overconfidence of last year. Seeing a healthy Mike Brown will help. Seeing Matt Forte successfully run will help. Seeing that we get help at the LG position will help. I'm sure the D and ST will be there. But my fear is that the O will be Jekyl and Hyde, with Hyde killing the defense.

The one thing I lost from last year is hope of winning the SuperBowl this year. Last year, we were supposed to be the most bulletproof team in the NFL. The team that was nails even with a mediocre QB. Now we have a mediocre QB(yet to be announced), a new OL(yet to be announced), new RB(yet to be announced) and two new starting wideouts (yet to be announced). For those who have dialoged with me in the past, know I'm a kool-aid totin' SOB. But, not this year. I think we are back to up and coming with a quickly closing SuperBowl window. Rule this year out.

Have you lost your mind? I don't even know where to start...

I hope your philosophy is right. I just don't see it , as it is dangerous. Sometimes less is more. But, if the other OG's really suck, you have to pull the string. I'm still of the mindset to re-sign Rueben Brown before starting St. Clair at OG.

Please don't make them stop, they may bring Shoop vs Turner!

I'm starting to see this another way. IMO - St. Clair should stay at backing up both tackle positions. Even though he can produce value at starting guard, his impact will be felt in a larger way if gets injured and can not relieve one of our OT's, if needed. We have people who can play guard to back up the guard position. I think Metcalf is getting the 1st team reps as an indicator of whether he can play NFL caliber football. His chance last season was hindered by a broken hand. Metcalf is considered a punch blocker. Now that the hand is healthy, there are no excuses. Remember, a healthy Rueben Brown is still out there and waiting for a call. I considered him our best OL until he got hurt last year. He's 36 and would still be an upgrade over any guard on our roster. I don't believe they will hesitate to sign him if deemed necessary. My desire is that they do it sooner than later. But, you know how stubborn our staff is.

I see what you are saying here, but disagree solely on team chemistry. Benson has been an assbag of a teammate and a football player. From the day he came has offered no accountability for his actions. I would rather have a guy with less talent come in and bust his ass to make the team, knowing that when this got into the game he was going to make the best of his opportunity. Cutting Benson ends it at all costs and sends the team a message. We want people who want to play football for a living. Players need to be professionals on and off the field. Regardless, of a players sense of entitlement, it is they that owe the organization they play for. Yes, we'll take a hit and it sucks, but Lovie and JA know the locker room and what they want to drive for the franchise.

Looks from this article, that the brass is starting the pro-Forte PR campaign.