rockren

A lot of game left as this baby isn't over.... However, the deep drops are getting stupid when we clearly can't block anyone.

I didn't even think it was that mental....other than Henderson easily running by Wright without much trouble.

Agreed. Good last drive by Cutler on just taking what the Saints gave him as they were keeping everything in front late in the half. The Bears need to open it up on offense and take some shots down field just get all of that madness out of the box, but there just isn't enough time to drop Cut that deep.

A couple back to back 3 and outs by our offense is the worst possible thing to do against this offense.

Brees just burned us deep to Henderson for like 80 yards....we're not getting any type of push inside like we did last week. These Gs won't let it happen. We were in a Cover 2 Deep and Henderson still ran right by our Safeties.

http://www.vipbox.tv/watch/6560/1/nflonfox...ans-saints.html

I commend Briggs on doing this....but....he's more about him than anything else.

How about that last play where Kreutz was pushed BEHIND Ingram during the play.... Maybe it'll be addition by subtraction with him gone in short yardage situations? I wanted to pull all of my hair out every time we had had a short yardage play and Kreutz would get tossed around.

Carlos Booze..... Oh wrong board.

Oh come on, guys! Funny stuff!

I never said they did better AFTER they left the Bears- injuries played a role in prematurely ending their careers. However, when they played...they played well. The system didn't make those guys what they were- they were just good players was my point.

I don't really disagree with you...not that much anyway. To state Briggs didn't meet his potential because he didn't make the pro-bowl as a rookie is very unfair. He was a beast at that point with unreal potential, which was met in all fairness to Lovie and his staff. What I was trying to say is to act like we're a LB factory is wrong. We historically have had great LBs....but that has nothing to do with this scheme in place. Urlacher was all world when Lovie got here and Briggs was clearly on his way (even though this system is the best fit for Briggs, which we agree..Philly's schemes look to be very similar). Other than those two...we've always been lagging at the Will. It may be nitpicking, but if we're so great at developing LBs...we would have developed one by now to play next to #54 and #55...it has always been a band-aid. To say the Bears helped Hillenmeyer may be inaccurate...Urlacher helped Hillenmeyer. Please recall 2009 when Urlacher was out all year.....I've never seen worse play for an entire season out of a LB than Hillenmeyer that year. If Hillenmeyer could take Urlacher with him anywhere he went...he'd still be in the league. In response to Briggs making a mistake with this whole thing- no question he's in the wrong. He's very wrong. However to state or even insinuate a little that he isn't that important to the Bears as they could easily replace him would be wrong. He's very important to the Bears and Urlacher would be the first to tell you that. I wouldn't meet his demands or give him a new contract, but I won't deny his value to the Bears. Not even a little.

With all due respect....that last portion couldn't be any more wrong. At least in terms of scheme and under the Lovie regime. Rosie and Holdman were back in the Jauron days and played in a completely different 4-3, nickel, strong side system. Rosie was allowed to play DE and put his hand down on obvious passing situations as he excelled has a pass rusher. Rosie suffered a terrible knee injury, but when he actually played for the Pats in that 3-4....wow. They held onto him through the injuries for as long as they could because they knew he was outstanding. Holdman wasn't the same after he tore his knee up in '02, but had a very good season in Cleveland and cashed in with the Skins to end his career...but lived up to his billing there. In reference to Briggs...he was a stud his rookie year under Jauron and that system appeared to have fit him just fine. This is currently the perfect system for him as he can play the 'Will' as he is very much like what Derrick Brooks was in Tampa. However....a team like Philly would slip Briggs in and he wouldn't miss a beat (Samuel for Briggs has been thrown around, but it won't happen). So Lovie and his system inherited Urlacher and Briggs...after that...it hasn't produced much more than Jamar Williams IMHO....which means the system hasn't produced squat. If I can agree with you at all it is that you could put pretty much place any gifted LB next to Urlacher in any system and they'd flourish. However, that doesn't mean they wouldn't flourish elsewhere.

Don't.

It's a little premature to make any assumptions at this point. Briggs may have inquired about a new deal and nothing more. As pointed out earlier in this thread, Urlacher pulled the same stunt pre-neck surgery years ago. I'm curious to see if the organizational source jumped the gun as did the media (I know that never happens). If the organization made a similar promise to Briggs that they made with Kreutz prior to the '02 season in which Kreutz initially took a lesser deal to stay with the Bears than he did with the Dolphins. The Bears seemingly came out of nowhere several years later and gave Kreutz a better deal as Angelo stated something along the lines of, "We told Olin we would take care of him and we meant that." Now considering how bloody Rosenhaus made the last negotiations and dragged it through the media, I doubt the Bears made a similar commitment to Lance. That should also bring up the point in which Rosenhaus TRIED to negotiate through the media and the Bears absolutely bitch slapped him in the negotiation process IMO as they held the Niners hostage for tampering with Lance. However, this could all be much ado about nothing. If Lance went behind closed doors and said he'd appreciate a little long term security...the Bears should give him that at a reasonable clip.

Agreed. Especially when we're built average at best defensively as far as size goes. We've still been great against the run, but to me it's because we load the box up a lot on 1st Downs and roll the dice a lot more than we should, at least on early downs. I believe we do this to make up for our lack of size up front. We paid Peppers the dollars we did in large part because of this....and the fact that he's awesome, but yeah. I'm not saying I loved Blache as our DC....not even a little. However, Jauron's 4-3 and Nickel schemes fit Urlacher a lot better as we put mammoths in front of him, protected him and allowed him to run around and make plays. This defense? He turns around and runs backwards a lot more than he attacks the line of scrimmage in this Cover-2. Urlacher has still be great and shows how unreal he is to fit in any system...but this Cover-2 has been a lot more kind to Briggs than it has been to U-Boat.

Good points. I agree on Webb as it has been frustrating to hear people say he's out of position when he's not. That doesn't mean he has any business being our LT, however. In reference to having an issue in running Forte up the gut....where are they suppose to run him? Would he be safer on a stretch or a sweep? Come on. Forte has work to do just like everyone else. His contract situation will take care of itself in time. I'm confident the Bears will take care of him, but if they don't, it'll be their loss. Besides, the Bears took Forte in the 2nd Round and made him the man immediately. His stock being so high is large in part because the Bears bought relatively low and invested so much into him. The Bears need apologize to NO ONE for how that situation has gone thus far and Forte's camp knows it. As far as the sod goes- I'm tired of that field looking like garbage. Put some form of grassy turf and help the Bears be the fast team they are on carpet.

Suh is trying to change the culture in Detroit. If we double team him and do everything we can to keep him away from Cutler we shouldn't have to worry about it. There should be no beef with Suh's aggressive play here.

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bears/post...n-a-bigger-role “The plan is for him to play more, and hopefully be a starter,” Angelo told ESPNChicago.com at the NFL owners meetings. “Everything we saw this past year we liked. The arrow’s going up. We feel, physically speaking, he’s got everything you want in terms of size, speed, toughness. Now it’s just a matter of learning the position that will come with the repetition of more plays.” Melton bulked up during the lockout from his listed 2010 weight of 260 pounds to close to 300 pounds.

Not only will Osi cost a high pick, but will require a new contract. Considering the Bears need to extend Forte and have other holes to fill....I'd rather not. We've spent a ton on Peppers (worth every cent), lost out on Gaines Adams (RIP), have been developing Corey Wooten, enjoyed the emergence of Israel Idonije, Henry Melton is going to be a beast (probably inside but can play on the outside), and the flyer on Vernon Gholston is a great gamble to me. The Bears have already invested so much into their DEs and have enough promise currently on the club to pass on Osi all together. For all the DL 'experts' we have on our coaching staff...why do we have to keep buying high on DL? Put those experts to work here...you've bought enough for them already. However, I'll at least admit the thought of adding Osi is extremely tempting...but the spending would be unnecessary.

Spencer is nowhere near what Kreutz USE to be. Kreutz was one of the best if not THEE best C in the game for a period of time. I feel Spencer will be adequate. Nothing more.

The Bears OL could certainly be a big bag of suck, but I don't think they'll be any worse than last year. I know that isn't the most comforting thing to say, but it is what it is. However, this will be the biggest offensive line we've ever seen in Chicago: LT- Webb, 6'8'' 340 LG- Williams, 6'6'' 315 C- Spencer, 6'3'' 310 RG- Garza, 6'2'' 310 RT- Carimi, 6'7'' 315

No.

I wish Olin the very best in New Orleans and if they win another SB I would take consolation in knowing Olin got a ring he so very much deserved. With that being said, the Saints throw out of shotgun almost every play....Kreutz can't snap out of shotgun to save his life. I still hope it works out for him, though.

I like Roy and think he does great work. With that being said, this is an isolated evaluation. For as tough as we are on our Bears...if there was ever a position that would struggle against our Cover-2 and nasty front 7, it would be the Center. I do agree that Spencer replacing Kreutz is a lateral move at this point, but that isn't a necessarily a bad thing as Angelo was able to turn back the clock with this move. People are acting as if we've lost a lot in Olin and I disagree. He's one of my all-time favorite Bears, but he's been on the downside for three years now. Even his last season with Orton I felt his play below average. Maybe it just wasn't what I was accustomed to in seeing Olin, but he's been past his prime for a while now. One thing Roy failed to touch on was Spencer is VERY comfortable snapping shotgun, which can't be downplayed with Martz's offense and Cutler's attributes. I recall Kreutz REFUSING to snap shotgun under Ron Turner, but warmed up to it through the years. However, Kreutz was down right deplorable in snapping shotgun. This will also be the biggest offensive line we've seen in Chicago as Spencer is a big Center at 6'3'' and 310lbs (Kruetz was closer to 6'1'', 290lbs). Roy touched on Spencer not being able to block big NTs on his own, but what Center does? Remeber Kreutz against Pat Williams? Good Lord. Those massive NTs require double teams no matter who they play. This post wasn't to degrade Kreutz and all that he's done for the Bears, but the Bears front office assessment regarding this decision was fair. I agree Spencer will have to earn the starting C spot, but he will.