jason

Please refer to the previous analogy of sex. Just because you did it poorly the first two times doesn't mean you should stop.

DING! DING! DING!

I'd say D+ for the exact same reasons Mel gave, but an extra mark downward because the TE need was there, Rodriguez was drafted, but he was moved out of that role. I don't see that as a positive. I see that as sort of a wasted draft pick. A blocking FB/HB hybrid could have been drafted later or picked up in FA. Of course, it's still too early to tell. Alshon could make the jump in year 2 or 3. It wouldn't be uncommon. And maybe McClellin will benefit from a defensive change.

We do?! 2012 says: 2011 says: I don't think it's a guarantee the Bears have a top-10 defense if left alone.

I don't like that saying when applied to this defense. However, if you must... It may not be broken, but it's breaking. With all the early turnovers, this year was an aberration (almost 5 more points a game over the second half of the season). Include the last couple years for a better sample size. There is only so long that one of the fastest MLB's in NFL history can cover the deep middle. There is only so long the best ball-stripper in NFL history will be playing CB. There is only so long one of the best DEs in NFL history will be there to collapse the edge. If there ever was a time for a change (if the front office wants one), now is it. Waiting for it to become a major problem is not what the Bears should do.

I'm mixed on this. I like the attention to the OL, but disagree with who would eventually end up starting. You simply can't give up on Carimi already. That's crazy. And I'm also not keen on a TE in the 4th, particularly when the Rodriguez is a TE who was drafted in the 4th. I'd prefer to see LB in the 4th, Rodriguez playing TE, and Carimi in the OL starting lineup.

Dude. That's weak. The 9 defensive TDs are much less about the system ran and much more about the players in the system. I don't give a damn if you run a 2-6-3 or some random, oddball, pee-wee league formation on defense. You put Charles Tillman in that defense and you're going to get turnovers.

Maybe he doesn't care about the person, but is interested in someone not being rail-roaded without all the facts? That's my stance. I honestly don't care what happens to Teo, but I happen to think the whole angle of "disgusting human being" was incredibly premature and incorrect. ESPECIALLY when this thread was started.

Why not?! It's a matter of numbers, and you absolutely can blitz a LB every play. It's just a matter of scheming it and being deceptive.

Two different cases, but I agree with your sentiments. If his situation has changed so drastically from the first post until now (his side of it has improved), it could change a lot more.

I've always liked this idea. And I don't think Williams/Jenkins are necessary. I think Paea is stout enough to anchor the middle. Wooten, Melton, and Peppers can rotate at DE. The LB corp you listed sounds pretty good to me. Of course, a move to 3-4 mandates more attention to LBs.

I agree it's a risk. But you have to take risks to get big rewards. This year's crop of guys who will apparently be available is VERY uncommon. Normally it's more of a quick-fix situation where there is a short shelf-life and still a certain amount of risk. Having said all that, if the Bears don't make signing one of the big name LTs the absolute first priority, then it will be yet another ridiculous oversight.

It's a no brainer. You pick Warmack, Cutler has priapism from sheer happiness, you pick Garza's replacement in the 4th or 5th (great year for Centers - I think it was Schwartzstein who looked good yesterday), and you focus elsewhere (i.e. BPA) in the 2nd round. Of course, if I had my way and Barrett Jones fell to them in the 2nd, they pick OL again and finally solve the problem. Clady - Garza - Jones - Louis - Carimi (That's nasty. All offensive skill positions immediately upgraded.) Realistically, however... 1. Warmack 2. Ertz/Eifert, whoever falls (I wouldn't like the pick, but I know many would) 4. BPA @ LB or DE 5. BPA @ C 6. BPA 7. BPA That'd be a pretty great scenario.

I don't know if this is always true since there have been several rookies who have recently come into the league and performed very well from the opening game, but I understand your point.

Bolded part: Bingo. I was "good friends" with someone over the internet for ten years before finally meeting her, finding out she was a bitch, and leaving the country before my trip was actually supposed to finish (it's a long story). Internet BF/GF is not necessarily the same as BF/GF, especially in today's electronic age.

C'mon man. Your sarcasm meter is way broken.

Do you not realize that is how the majority of teams get their franchise LTs? I mean, how else can this picture be painted? It is very rare for a franchise LT to leave his team because they are such a rare commodity. That's why they're not in FA every year. Upside of a FA LT (who is not a franchise LT): Pretty good for a few years Downside of a FA LT (non-franchise): Wasted big contract, attention required every few years regardless of outcome Upside of RD1 LT: Franchise, decade-long bookend, problem fixed fairly permanently Downside of RD1 LT: Bust. Attention required every few years once draft pick is determined to be a bust

I saw the same things. I am hoping the former is just Emery not wanting to talk negatively about one of his players in public. I believe the latter to be flawed analysis, which is understandable because pretty much any analysis like this is going to be subjective.

I guess I still don't understand your point about passing. Dude passed 3 times a season. OK, maybe my guess of 1 time a season was too low. I still don't really see how Robinson's passing ability should factor much into whether a team picks him up as a WR. If the Bears can get that type of receiving production out of a 6th rounder, then it would be a great pick. I just don't see it happening.

It's simply a differing opinion/definition for the word bust. Maybe you prefer "washed out of the league"? Or, "will probably get cut". I don't hate him. I think he'd be a decent value pick in the 6th, just like you do. But I don't think this particular value pick will pan out.

And I will defend to my grave the concept that what you've stated above about Webb is absolutely false. I know what I saw. And no measure of statistic, unless it's play-by-play-by-play, can accurately refelct how bad he has been. He is most certainly not average. And while offensive strategies should be used to mask offensive line weaknesses, if the player is good there are a lot less protections needed, and more options for the offense to exploit.

Good point. Everyone wants to "win now" with the aged stars we have on defense, build for the future of the defense, while relatively ignoring the same reason why the Bears are in the cycle. Bandaids and aging FAs with three years left, that's not the way to build an offense. Well, unless you want to do it continuously every two or three years. I hope Emery and Trestman finally turn this team into an offensive team so we can get out of the current cycle.

You don't think he would have been drafted without the sideshow? He was pretty decent in college.

Morning. I don't know what the heck you're talking about. Is a good enough passer to be a QB? No. Is he going to throw as a RB/WR? No. So it makes little or no difference whether he throws better than another WR. Sure, I'll admit there is a certainty he throws better than Hester or Marshall. But who cares? How many times will any of them throw the ball? Which is why you bringing up whether he throws the ball well a moot point. As for a WR/RB/PR/KR...a flyer on him is all I'd take. 6th? Sure. But I think he'll be a bust because he has never played WR, doesn't understand the nuances of the position, and ultimately will rely on what he has relied on his whole life: athleticism. The problem? Everybody in the NFL is athletic.

If he refuses to take a spot as a backup, he'll be out of the league soon. As for horrible practice player, I'd have to see proof of that. Every indication from everything he's said and done is that he's a competitor who gives 110% on a daily basis. He never complains. He busts his ass. And he has to keep overcoming people who doubt him. Which is understanding at this level. Changing how you throw is a very hard thing to do. Which is why I think he needs coaching. What makes me want him as a backup on the Bears? Aside from all of the above? He's a winner. Period. He's also a great guy. It's funny that nearly everyone on this board is against guys like TO or Moss because they are locker-room cancers, but nearly nobody wants to support a guy who appears to be one of the better human beings on the freaking planet.