scs787

Without even looking at the article, I go back to his year with the Bucs. The Bucs were a bottom 4 D and he still managed 9 sacks, 3 FF, and 2 PD, not gaudy numbers, but more than respectable. This year with the Hawks he wasn't "The guy" on the line either. He was apart of a 4 man rotation at DE with Cliff Avril, Red Bryant, and Chris Clemons. He only started 3 games. His results are skewed by the fact that he simply didn't get as much of an opportunity as most other DEs. He also lined up a lot at DT where it's tougher to get to the QB. I'm sure the stats you're alluding to have something to do with the PFF stats, perhaps this..... https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2014/...y-edge-rushers/ ....where he ranked 7th in the league among DEs in pressures per snap. I don't want the Bears to "blow their load" on him, but if takes a sensible back loaded contract I think he'd be worth it.

This will obviously help. Last year Phil managed to get Martellus, Bushrod, and Slausson all signed for a cap hit under 7M combined. Get that done again with 3 defensive players and it'd be a great start to rebuilding the D. So now the Bears have ~8M before cuts. If they cut the suspects we've been talking about (Pep, Bush, Weems, Pods, Earl) the cap number will be ~24M. Couple that with the ability to dip into Cutty, Jennings, and Slausson's contract, the possibility of an extension for Marshall, and the Bears could actually be in pretty good position.

What really quantifies those guys as team leaders though? Being great players? 2 of those guys were 5th round picks. I think leadership just = great players, and that is of course what everyone wants.

Meh, I think leadership label is bit overrated. Who was the team leader in Seattle? Sherman?

I don't think it's that cut and dry. If they dip into his cap money all 3 years I don't think they can "cut him with no after taste". That's the part where I was confused.

I changed my previous post, but I'm still more than likely wrong. The cap is the one thing I will never quite understand. I'm gonna go ahead and back out of this because I'll only get further confused lol

I think from a depth standpoint they're 2 years away, but I think Phil can build a solid starting D that if healthy all year could make some noise. He needs to follow the exact plan from his offensive rebuild. 2 guys on back loaded contracts(Bennett & Bushrod), an "under the radar" near vet minimum contract(Slausson), and 2 starting rookies(Long & Mills)....I think those guys cost ~9 mill combined, or the money they save on cutting Pep.

What confuses me a bit is the fact that he's only garunteed 54M. So lets say they do what you said, his first 3 years he gets 48M. Now what if they go back to the well again and convert his cap hit to 6M in year 4, can they still release him before the big hits come in year 5-7?

The problem with cutting Pep June though is that's almost 3 months after the start of FA. They MIGHT be able to find some depth still but it would more than likely be slim pickins.

Worth a shot if they were to sign him. Ozzie Newsome has a good eye for defensive talent so I like the fact the Ravens drafted him in the 4th. I believe in giving guys 2nd chances....If they can ball, they can ball, and you just never know when the light bulb will turn on and they become professionals.

I really wouldn't have been "shocked" either way. As you said there is some "wiggle room" so the potential is still there that they may run some 3-4 packages. Now I wonder if it will remain a cover 2, or if they'll run something like the 4-3 Under that Seattle plays.

He spent some time doin MMA last year...Joe Kim should be a fan. Also a local kid from Evanston...Maybe some home cookin will serve him well. Also here's a good article HE actually wrote for MMQB.... http://mmqb.si.com/2013/09/27/austen-lane-part2/ Not that it means much, and isn't obvious, since I root for every Bear to succeed, but I'm really pullin for this guy.

Another big freak athlete, 6'6" 265 with 4.58 speed. He's got the size and speed to be a beast much like Washington, but as we saw with Cornelius that size and speed doesn't necessarily mean he'll find his way to the field. That said, I like it, the more guys you bring in like him, Washington, and Bass the better the chance of one of them "getting it" and exploding onto the scene. BTW.... It's Austen Lane

It's harder to say who ya don't like than who ya do. I wouldn't like Tuitt or Hageman as DEs.

Lol I don't not like you, I just hate when you make stupid little comments directed at me. The misspelling of simple players names just annoys me, esp Ratliff who we all have heard his name a whole bunch. Doesn't make me hate you, just pointing out a mistake. now back to the question at hand.....it's all gonna be pretty hard to say without knowing who they brought in during FA. There's obviously gonna be one thing to like about all the first round guys, but it's a matter of how they fit with the roster the Bears have. That said, I'm not a fan of Jernigan as a 3T, but like him as a 4-3 NT. I don't like Tuitt as a DE, but think he could be good at the 3T. I like Hagemans potential, but then again I'm not a fan of taking guy in the first based of potential. As a first rounder you should have already tapped into that potential and I'm not sure Hageman has, and there's a chance he never will.

Lol I try not to ever bash you man but when you bash me first, it's fair game.

x2

Seeing as this is a Bears message board, I won't be changing mine. If I wanna see some T&A I'll go to your favorite website...Myfreecams(lol and dont deny that you go there because I saw one of your previous avatars on there)

To take away from the misspellings right? lol

This is true....but he could be brought in as a cheap DJ Williams type signing and they can complement him by a 4th or 5th round pick. It's Delmas by the way...Sorry all the misspellings annoy me a bit (Ratcliff and Truitt also annoy me).

I do really like the rest of your draft. Would like it even more if they filled the starting DL in FA, or at least got "suitable starters" at every position. Hypothetically speaking something like Wootton-Ratliff-Paea-Orakbo, Orakbo being their only major signing. Then they can use all those picks to build the secondary, create competition for Wootton/Paea/Ratliff, and build all around depth. Something like..... 39- Ed Reynolds FS- Great size, smart defender. 51- Stanley Jean Baptiste CB- Would be cool with Purifoy, I like SJB's size though 62- Taylor Hart DE/DT- Extremely versatile, can play 4-3 DE or 3T, played 3-4 DE. He's competition for Wootton, Paea, and Ratliff 82- Anthony Johnson DT- I'm using WFs mock and he's there at 82. He provides comp for Ratliff/Paea. 94- Keith McGill CB/S- I know every draft site has him listed as a CB, but I'm sure most bring up the possibility of him playing safety. Love his potential there. 101- Deandre Coleman DT- Yes, another DT, this gives the Bears 4 with Ratliff, Wootton, Johnson, Coleman. 113- Jeremy Hill RB- Another pick I agree with. I'm using the WF 4 rounder...Other 5 rounds I'd love to see play out TE/C/QB/LB/P This gives the Bears great depth for years to come. I'd love the big secondary, and the fact that the DL is 9 deep (DT-Ratliff-Paea-Johnson-Coleman, DE-Wootton-Orakbo-Hart-Bass-Washington).

I guess that's fine, I'm just not a Dee Ford fan. There were a few times where he jumped offsides during the Senior Bowl, some that were called, some that weren't but the announcers did call him out on it. It looks like it could be a bad habit for me, and one that smart QBs will exploit on the next level. When he wasn't getting off early and the OT got a hand on him he was held in check. To me he's a full time LB in a 3-4, and just like I don't wanna see SMCs hand in the dirt anymore, I wouldn't really wanna see his hand in the dirt either. If I had to take one of those tweeners going in the 2nd I suppose I'd go with Trent Murphy, but there's already questions about his explosion AND he needs to put on some weight which would further zap his explosion.

If they run 3-4 formations I would really hope Briggs gets pushed inside in those sets. In my ideal world this means SMC-Briggs-Bostic-Ealy in 3-4 formations.

You're right, but in my world, SMC never puts his hand in the dirt. He's the strong side LB in 4-3 formations and OLB in 3-4 formations. I never wanna have to see him with his hand in the dirt again. So again, in my ideal world, even if they bring back Wootton they still need a DE to play opposite of him and stand up in 3-4 formations. I would love for that to be Kony Ealy in the first round.

I wouldn't hate it, he's got a ton of talent, and perhaps under a more disciplined coach he can tap into that talent more consistently.