jason

Seriously? Scherff is projected at a RT or a G, and he'd help immensely. If he lined up at RT, which is where I'd hope, you could pretty much guarantee 4+ YPC running on the right side behind him and Long. Dude is a monster, much like Long. Almost always described as a road grader. Putting those two together would be a nasty combination, and it would force defenses to overload that side on pretty much all rushing downs. Additionally, that would greatly improve the play-action game, something pretty much every Bears fan wants to see more of. I agree the defense stunk the last two years, but I just don't know how the team with new coaches and and a new scheme can adequately evaluate players without having seen them play that scheme. By the way, if the offense were much better at running the ball, it would improve time of possession, and keep that horrid defense off the field more.

I'm against it because I don't believe in true BPA. True BPA causes GMs to pick WR three years in a row or QB two years in a row. That's just dumb. Having said that, I believe in BPA plus need. Positions of need are plentiful on the Bears, and WR is one of few where we have solid starters at all spots. Same reason why I'd hate a first round TE or RB. We need OT, C, ILB, FS, SS, and probably a few other positions (CB, DE, QB) more.

I think the post I just made is going to upset you if you expect better run to pass ratio. That just doesn't appear to be what Fox and Gase do.

Last year the offense was below average and the defense was horrible. Going into the draft it seems that anything right now is possible. I'm seeing DB, WR, DE, LB, S, everything possible. Since they're switching to a 3-4, it's difficult to know what any of the guys on the roster can/will do. -The number of potential OLB/ILB combos is borderline obscene. -I happen to think the front three will be figured out between Houston, Ferguson, Ratliff, Sutton, and Allen, especially since Ratliff has been specifically mentioned as being important in plans. -Still need plenty of defensive backfield help. With all that said, here's what Fox has done the last ten years on offense, and what he did while with Gase: 2014 - Pass/Rush ~70%/~30%, RBBC ~65%/~35%, Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Wes Welker, Tight End 2013 - Pass/Rush ~75%/~25%, RBBC ~65%/~35%, Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, Wes Welker, Tight End Fox "without" Gase: 2012 - Pass/Rush ~75%/~25%, RBBC ~45%/~30%/~20%, Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, Tight End, Brandon Stokely 2011 - Pass/Rush ~45%/~55%, RBBC ~50%/~25%/~15%, Eric Decker, Demaryius Thomas, Tight End, Brandon Lloyd Fox without Gase (CAR): 2010 - Pass/Rush ~55%/~45%, RBBC ~50%/~30%/~20%, Steve Smith, Running Back, Brandon Lafell, David Gettis 2009 - Pass/Rush ~55%/~45%, RBBC ~50%/~50%, Steve Smith, Muhsin Muhammed, Running Back, Tight End 2008 - Pass/Rush ~55%/~45%, RBBC ~65%/~35%, Steve Smith, Muhsin Muhammed, Running Back, Tight End 2007 - Pass/Rush ~60%/~40%, RBBC ~55%/~45%, Steve Smith, Tight End, Wide Receiver, Wide Receiver 2006 - Pass/Rush ~65%/~35%, RBBC ~65%/~35%, Steve Smith, Keyshawn Johnson, Running Back, Running Back 2005 - Pass/Rush ~65%/~35%, RBBC ~55%/~35%/~10%, Steve Smith, Running Back, Wide Receiver, Wide Receiver FACTS: 1. He definitely favors passing to running. The only year without more passing was the odd Tebow/Orton year. 2. He definitely believes in RBBC, and never has a RB get 75% of the yards like Forte did last year. 3. He appears to be more in favor of the traditional split end/slot combination. One possession guy, and one big play guy. OPINIONS: 1. Cutler was sacked a lot last year. Maybe not as bad as before, and certainly not as bad as JAX last year, but bottom half of the league. I think this means OL gets attention (hence the OG pick up and the look at FA Centers) since the decision was made to stick with Cutler. 2. I think this means we can expect Forte to get less carries and Carey to see an increase. 3. I think this pretty clearly looks like, aside from extra locker room issues, a justification for letting Marshall go. And it's also probably why Eddie Royal got signed. DRAFT REPERCUSSIONS: 1. I wouldn't be surprised to see a tackle and/or center taken in the first four rounds. Imagine my joy at that scenario. 2. We probably won't be adding a RB with Forte, Carey, and Perry on the roster. 3. Depth at WR isn't great, even if he has his main pieces. I could see a mid round WR picked. MOCK DRAFT: The pick between Fowler, Gregory, Ray, and Beasley DE/OLB looks likely, but I'm going with the theory above that the D is an unknown. 1. Brandon Scherff, OL, Iowa - Immediate starter, massive upgrade. Sets up Long's move outside, or replaces Mills straight up at RT. 2. BCBA - Honestly, there appears to be a lot of stud CB talent this year, and waiting until the third is risky. Grab the guy you like here. 3. Hronis Grassu, C, Oregon - Stud. Sits for one year, starts the next...if not sooner. 4. Hau'Oli Kikaha, DE/OLB, Washington - The fact that everyone expects someone like this for the Bears at some point in the 2015 draft makes it seem a bit inevitable. 5. Derron Smith, FS, Fresno State or Kurtis Drummond, S, Michigan State - Both ballhawks at FS. 6. BQBA prospect - Sean Mannion, Oregon State perhaps? 7. Terry Williams, NT, East Carolina - 6'1", 353lbs, has his own zip code. I'm not sure why this guy is rated so low. He is a sleeper.

Dead on. As many here know, I officiate football at various levels from pee-wee to college. What I heard from high school leaders was that 2014 was the first year in football's history, with the possible exception of the time it almost got outlawed as a sport, that the enrollment decreased. What I heard from the higher level guys in the NFL is that the head needs to absolutely be taken out of the hitting portion of the game or it may not survive.

Say it with me, Hroniss Grasu. Well, attempt to say it with me...because I don't have a clue how to say it.

Wow. I hate, hate, hate it. WR in the first? No. Another OLB? No. Hate it.

In a heart beat.

Not a need. Period. Gotta see what's in the cupboard before buying more groceries.

Um. Three years. After that though? Lovie was 8-10 during the regular season vs. GB, and 8-11 overall. Only 3 division championships in 9 seasons. I'd say overall, he didn't do what he said he'd do. Which, along with his aversion to offense, is the reason he got fired.

3 technique DTs are known more for their ability to burst into the gap than they are for taking on OL 1 on 1. I can see Allen and Young doing quite well in that role, especially someone like Allen who has a complete pass rushing skill set. Hell, he's only 15-20 pounds away from Henry Melton who was considered great for a few years in Chicago.

Understatement of the year. Going from Tucker to Forrest Gump is a good upgrade. To Fangio? Astronomical.

Lovie was in Chicago from 2004-2012. Tait, Brown, and Jones all arrived in 2004. Fairly certain Lovie had little to do with these moves as a rookie coach, especially considering his disdain for OL. But if you're going to try and give credit to Lovie for picking up Thomas Jones, which I agree was a good move, then be sure to give him credit for unnecessarily drafting Cedric Benson. Garza came the following year, and since he was OL, I'm sure it was a move pushed on Lovie. As for Hester, keep in mind he was drafted to play cornerback after the retirement of Jerry Azumah. Given Lovie's propensity for drafting underwhelming CB talent, this probably was his pick. Given that Hester sucked at CB enough that I don't recall him getting much PT, recall that Lovie was the one who wanted to move Hester to WR. A #1 WR at that. I'd say that was a moderately successful effort, but he sure as hell wasn't a #1. It's a good thing he turned into the best return man in history. But that was probably Lovie's thoughts all along, right? Forte? Eh...good pick all around. I'd say great leader, really good DC, average HC, and bad GM.

I'd be pissed if the draft played out like that and they made those picks. Better start... 1-Beasley, OLB Clemson 2-DGB, WR Oklahoma 3-IEO, CB Oregon 4-Petty, QB Baylor

Cutler for the #1 pick?! I'd be game. And then trade back. Pace needs to make that offer. THAT would be building for the future. One losing year for a dynasty?

So Lovie is basically just trying to sign the former Bears players. What a moron. Chris Conte Isaiah Frey Henry Melton Evan Rodriguez Major Wright I wouldn't be shocked to see Briggs going to TB soon.

Love the Eddie Royal signing. He's a perfect compliment to Alshon, and the type of WR we needed last year. Give me a guy who can get open all day over a guy who runs poor routes but has physical traits. You just can't guard those pinball guys. Best route runner I ever saw was Marvin Harrison; you couldn't tell what he was going to do or which way he was going to cut. Every.single.route looked the exact same. I wouldn't mind seeing another slot-type guy signed. I wonder what Wes Welker and his concussions would require for a signing?

He'd definitely trade back. As for the picks, I dislike the way you started immensely. Another CB and what amounts to a backup RB. That would not make me happy.

I just don't see the urgency for Pot Roast. The Bears have several DLinemen who they have to figure out. The new system means we don't know exactly how well these guys can play specific positions. Some have history in the 3-4, but not all. Allen, Houston, Washington, Young, Ferguson, Ratliff, Sutton You're telling me we can't field a front of 3 DL with that group? Even if Houston is moved to OLB? DE: Allen/Washington NT: Ratliff/Sutton DE: Young/Ferguson May the best man win. The other rotates in. That would be fine with me, especially if it shows Sutton/Ferguson/Washington to be players.

Collins. That's the only one they should be looking at. WR and RB are not first round needs.

Pure BPA is stupid when there are so many holes to fill. Drafting a WR at 7 would be a very irresponsible move considering the flaws at so many other positions.

Maybe this coaching staff will FINALLY put all the pieces together, namely that: A - The OL needs to protect Jay so he doesn't get jumpy B - The OL needs talent to accomplish A C - The OC needs to use Jay's ability to move outside of the pocket D - The OC needs to have a good balance of run/pass E - The defense needs to be something better than horrible

It's not fair because you're placing so much blame on Cutler for win percentage when it's obvious that the team had massive holes for pretty much every year he's been in Chicago. This is a team game, and you minimize that aspect in your anti-Cutler sentiment. You and I both know Cutler hasn't been what was expected, but the W/L record blame while he has been in Chicago deserves to be spread around quite a bit. That's what I'm saying. The other aspect of this is what Cutler needs and what a game-manager needs. Cutler needs either a good OL and average defense, or simply a good defense to succeed. The former means he'll put up points and outscore the other team. The former means the defense will do the heavy lifting. A game-manager, on the other hand, doesn't usually win with the first scenario because he doesn't score enough to make up for the average defense. Call them excuses if you want, but I'll call them reasons. It's fairly obvious that pretty much no QB would have had great success in Chicago over Cutler's tenure, which also included multiple scheme changes. I'm not even a Cutler apologist. I don't care one way or another about whether the Bears keep him. I think he's probably our best QB since McMahon, and it worries me to potentially go back to the dark years of Moses Moreno types, but I actually hope the trade goes through just for salary purposes. I'd rather see a Brad Johnson type at QB with an 1985 defense. I've been on the OL/DL bandwagon since birth, which is why it's been infuriating how the Bears have searched for success. Build a nasty OL, and any NFL-caliber QB succeeds.

I don't think that's fair. I know the NFL hinges on QB play, but the Bears have been a mess for the majority of the time Cutler has been under center. What you've basically done is blame someone driving the car for not going far enough, while ignoring the fact that either the tires are flat or the engine needs work. 2014 - Historically atrocious defense; OL regressed 2013 - Horrible defense; injury shortened 2012 - Dumpster rages on with Webb, Louis, Spencer; good D; pathetic draft 2011 - Dumpster fire continues to burn; injury shortened; virtually no TE; pathetic draft 2010 - Dumpster fire of an OL (Omiyale AND Webb); led the NFL in sacks; bad draft and no 1-2 rounders 2009 - OL played very poorly; decent draft but virtually no 1-3 rounders So you have four straight years of absolute trash protecting Cutler, and then when that starts to get figured out, the defense absolutely implodes. WTF was he supposed to do?

Damn! I just saw a quick hitter on TV about Long being released.