jason Posted March 25, 2015 Report Share Posted March 25, 2015 The way I see it there are 12 realistic DL combinations right now: 1 Allen Ratliff Sutton 2 Allen Ratliff McDonald 3 Allen Ratliff Young 4 Sutton Ratliff McDonald 5 Sutton Ratliff Young 6 Young Ratliff McDonald 7 Allen Ego Sutton 8 Allen Ego McDonald 9 Allen Ego Young 10 Sutton Ego McDonald 11 Sutton Ego Young 12 Young Ego McDonald If Allen happens to stand up as an OLB, then that narrows things down on the DL, but it severely muddies the waters at OLB. However, here are the potential LB combos: 1 Allen Bostic Greene McPhee 2 Allen Bostic Jones McPhee 3 Allen Bostic Foster McPhee 4 Allen Greene Jones McPhee 5 Allen Greene Foster McPhee 6 Allen Foster Jones McPhee 7 McClellin Bostic Greene McPhee 8 McClellin Bostic Jones McPhee 9 McClellin Bostic Foster McPhee 10 McClellin Greene Jones McPhee 11 McClellin Greene Foster McPhee 12 McClellin Foster Jones McPhee 13 Allen Bostic Greene McClellin 14 Allen Bostic Jones McClellin 15 Allen Bostic Foster McClellin 16 Allen Greene Jones McClellin 17 Allen Greene Foster McClellin 18 Allen Foster Jones McClellin 19 Allen Bostic Greene Houston 20 Allen Bostic Jones Houston 21 Allen Bostic Foster Houston 22 Allen Greene Jones Houston 23 Allen Greene Foster Houston 24 Allen Foster Jones Houston 25 McPhee Bostic Greene Houston 26 McPhee Bostic Jones Houston 27 McPhee Bostic Foster Houston 28 McPhee Greene Jones Houston 29 McPhee Greene Foster Houston 30 McPhee Foster Jones Houston 31 McClellin Bostic Greene Houston 32 McClellin Bostic Jones Houston 33 McClellin Bostic Foster Houston 34 McClellin Greene Jones Houston 35 McClellin Greene Foster Houston 36 McClellin Foster Jones Houston Suffice to say, there are a ton of options at LB, and the Bears shouldn't be picking many in the draft. You have to see what these guys can do first, and the combinations are ridiculous. Who's to say combo 32 is not the best until it's tried? EDIT: There very well could be other options if Young is being considered at OLB as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chitownhustla Posted March 25, 2015 Report Share Posted March 25, 2015 The way I see it there are 12 realistic DL combinations right now: 1 Allen Ratliff Sutton 2 Allen Ratliff McDonald 3 Allen Ratliff Young 4 Sutton Ratliff McDonald 5 Sutton Ratliff Young 6 Young Ratliff McDonald 7 Allen Ego Sutton 8 Allen Ego McDonald 9 Allen Ego Young 10 Sutton Ego McDonald 11 Sutton Ego Young 12 Young Ego McDonald If Allen happens to stand up as an OLB, then that narrows things down on the DL, but it severely muddies the waters at OLB. However, here are the potential LB combos: 1 Allen Bostic Greene McPhee 2 Allen Bostic Jones McPhee 3 Allen Bostic Foster McPhee 4 Allen Greene Jones McPhee 5 Allen Greene Foster McPhee 6 Allen Foster Jones McPhee 7 McClellin Bostic Greene McPhee 8 McClellin Bostic Jones McPhee 9 McClellin Bostic Foster McPhee 10 McClellin Greene Jones McPhee 11 McClellin Greene Foster McPhee 12 McClellin Foster Jones McPhee 13 Allen Bostic Greene McClellin 14 Allen Bostic Jones McClellin 15 Allen Bostic Foster McClellin 16 Allen Greene Jones McClellin 17 Allen Greene Foster McClellin 18 Allen Foster Jones McClellin 19 Allen Bostic Greene Houston 20 Allen Bostic Jones Houston 21 Allen Bostic Foster Houston 22 Allen Greene Jones Houston 23 Allen Greene Foster Houston 24 Allen Foster Jones Houston 25 McPhee Bostic Greene Houston 26 McPhee Bostic Jones Houston 27 McPhee Bostic Foster Houston 28 McPhee Greene Jones Houston 29 McPhee Greene Foster Houston 30 McPhee Foster Jones Houston 31 McClellin Bostic Greene Houston 32 McClellin Bostic Jones Houston 33 McClellin Bostic Foster Houston 34 McClellin Greene Jones Houston 35 McClellin Greene Foster Houston 36 McClellin Foster Jones Houston Suffice to say, there are a ton of options at LB, and the Bears shouldn't be picking many in the draft. You have to see what these guys can do first, and the combinations are ridiculous. Who's to say combo 32 is not the best until it's tried? EDIT: There very well could be other options if Young is being considered at OLB as well. Pace and Company have to look at this long term OLB = Allen- will not be here after this year due to contract- thanks emery Young - out of position in a 3-4, most likely gone after this year , will he recover from his injury? SMC- maybe he pans out now that he will be playing in his natural position McPhee- here long term Houston- will he recover from his ACL, is he here past this year? I get that the Bears have a lot of potential OLB THIS year but what will this roster look like after this year? If there is a game changer at OLB at 7th I dont see why they dont take him this year. That could shore up the OLB for years. McPhee and the 7th pick would be a great combo for years to come. The same can be said for Dline , Ratlif is not getting any younger, will Ego and Sutton pan out in the 3-4??? Who knows maybe they dont go OLB or Dline withthe 7th. With the roster as it sits the Bears can go a number of ways at 7 and still be OK this year. They should be able to compete with scheme and putting guys in a position to excel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scs787 Posted March 25, 2015 Report Share Posted March 25, 2015 IMO you're missing a few likely DL options.... If Houston is really an OLB then at this point I'd go with either Ratliff-Ego-McDonald or Ego-Rat-McDonald. I just don't see Young or Allen as DLinemen in the base 3-4. I think there will be sub packages where we could see thous guys with their hands in the dirt though in a more of a 4-3 under type look.....I of course have been all about drafting Shelton as I think Ratliff-Shelton-McDonald could be a handful. The LB group is gonna be the most interesting part. I think Foster and McPhee are locks. From there it really could go any number of ways. Personally I would love to see Jones get the other OLB spot because he can also drop into coverage thus allowing them to disguise coverages and where the blitz is coming from. For instance, I read that Fangios ILBs dropped into coverage more than any other ILB group, teams will probably still look for that, but occasionally they could drop Jones back and bring heat from inside to throw teams off. With all the other guys out there I kinda doubt this happens. I really have zero clue, but I do think Young will be looked at more as an OLB though, and Jones moreso in the middle. Way I see it is Young, Allen, Houston, SMC, Bass, Washington, and hopefully Jones all battle for 1 OLB spot, and Bostic, Jones, a draft pick, and perhaps even SMC and Foster if he isn't a lock battle for 1 or 2 ILB spots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mongo3451 Posted March 25, 2015 Report Share Posted March 25, 2015 Now I hope we draft an OLB, so you can finish falling off the deep end, lol... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrackerDog Posted March 25, 2015 Report Share Posted March 25, 2015 I don't know on the DL since I think we still may end up getting someone early in the draft. That said, I'd say there'll be a rotation depending on down/distance at LB but your basic config will likely be: McClellin, Bostic, Foster, McPhee. And that's only if McClellin really has the skills we've been told he has. Shit dude, who the hell knows? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scs787 Posted March 25, 2015 Report Share Posted March 25, 2015 Brad Biggs @BradBiggs 2h2 hours ago John Fox says #Bears will start Shea McClellin at inside LB but he will be worked outside as well. Brad Biggs @BradBiggs 2h2 hours ago When I said Shea will start that means that will be the first place he is lined up at when #Bears get on field -- inside vs outside So ya might wanna add some more combos lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason Posted March 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2015 I don't know on the DL since I think we still may end up getting someone early in the draft. That said, I'd say there'll be a rotation depending on down/distance at LB but your basic config will likely be: McClellin, Bostic, Foster, McPhee. And that's only if McClellin really has the skills we've been told he has. Shit dude, who the hell knows? That's kind of my point with the reeediculousness of the LB options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason Posted March 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2015 Brad Biggs @BradBiggs 2h2 hours ago John Fox says #Bears will start Shea McClellin at inside LB but he will be worked outside as well. Brad Biggs @BradBiggs 2h2 hours ago When I said Shea will start that means that will be the first place he is lined up at when #Bears get on field -- inside vs outside So ya might wanna add some more combos lol. Well, that just sounds stupid. If that dude is ever going to succeed, it's likely in his OLB home where he played in college. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemonej Posted March 25, 2015 Report Share Posted March 25, 2015 I was under the impression that Fangio likes to disguise his looks and if so why would he put players on the field that would limit his options. So a team that plays a 4 Wr set is looking at all these LBs and licking there chops because someone is going to have a mismatch. Just posting this leans me more to drafting a CB to matchup with teams that are going to try and neutralize this defense with 3WRs a TE and 1 RB. BTW I didn't see Jenkins figured in the starting mix and that is a possiblity since he is similar to McDonald in terms of being good against the run and occupying blockers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scs787 Posted March 25, 2015 Report Share Posted March 25, 2015 I was under the impression that Fangio likes to disguise his looks and if so why would he put players on the field that would limit his options. So a team that plays a 4 Wr set is looking at all these LBs and licking there chops because someone is going to have a mismatch. Just posting this leans me more to drafting a CB to matchup with teams that are going to try and neutralize this defense with 3WRs a TE and 1 RB. BTW I didn't see Jenkins figured in the starting mix and that is a possiblity since he is similar to McDonald in terms of being good against the run and occupying blockers. Of course they'd have a nickle and dime package like every other team in the league. Stinger brought up that often times Fangio ran a 2-4-5 as his nickle/dime package. As far as Jenkins go, this tidbit from rotoworld pretty much sums it up for me... Bears signed DE Jarvis Jenkins, formerly of the Redskins, to a one-year contract. It's not a surprise Jenkins didn't draw much interest in free agency. A 26-year-old who offers nothing as a pass rusher, Jenkins finished 45th out of 47 qualified 3-4 defensive ends in Pro Football Focus' 2014 rankings. He's serviceable against the run, but still received a negative grade in that area over 552 snaps last season. Chicago's cellar-dwelling defense didn't improve with this minimum-salary signing. Of course he's still just 26 and can improve, but I'm not sure we should be thinking about him as a starter at this point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chitownhustla Posted March 25, 2015 Report Share Posted March 25, 2015 Of course they'd have a nickle and dime package like every other team in the league. Stinger brought up that often times Fangio ran a 2-4-5 as his nickle/dime package. As far as Jenkins go, this tidbit from rotoworld pretty much sums it up for me... Of course he's still just 26 and can improve, but I'm not sure we should be thinking about him as a starter at this point. Jarvis is a 3-4 DE. We really had none before signing Ray and Jarvis. The Bears need bodies. Let him eat up blocks and let the LBers make plays Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemonej Posted March 25, 2015 Report Share Posted March 25, 2015 Of course they'd have a nickle and dime package like every other team in the league. Stinger brought up that often times Fangio ran a 2-4-5 as his nickle/dime package. As far as Jenkins go, this tidbit from rotoworld pretty much sums it up for me... Of course he's still just 26 and can improve, but I'm not sure we should be thinking about him as a starter at this point. What other experienced 3-4 DE does he have to compete with? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ASHKUM BEAR Posted March 25, 2015 Report Share Posted March 25, 2015 What other experienced 3-4 DE does he have to compete with? Him and McDonald will both be slotted at the Strong side End is my guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemonej Posted March 25, 2015 Report Share Posted March 25, 2015 Him and McDonald will both be slotted at the Strong side End is my guess. Since the team we have rooted for all of our lives has never played this scheme we are all speculating what fits this scheme. I just find it hard to believe that the veterans that have been brought in will not get first crack at lining up in the base defense and the young and veterans that are not truly a scheme fit will be tried as different looks in the scheme. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scs787 Posted March 25, 2015 Report Share Posted March 25, 2015 What other experienced 3-4 DE does he have to compete with? I'm not convinced that Ratliff or Ego are strictly NTs. I'm sure Houston will get a shot there as well unless he looks really good at OLB. He's a vet minimum player who was pretty bad last year, he'll get his shot there, but I'm not sure we should count on him starting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam Posted March 25, 2015 Report Share Posted March 25, 2015 Jason, That is a pretty crazy list and you probably could go on and on with Bass and Washington somehow in the mix. I honestly see this as a good thing as Pace is giving the coaching staff a lot of options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stinger226 Posted March 25, 2015 Report Share Posted March 25, 2015 Jason, That is a pretty crazy list and you probably could go on and on with Bass and Washington somehow in the mix. I honestly see this as a good thing as Pace is giving the coaching staff a lot of options. This is how I see it but is subject to change after training camp starts. Houston-(Ratliff-Fergy in a rotation)-McDonald. as far as backups Sutton may be worked in somewhere,but he may not fit. Jenkins is a just a backup with some rotation spots. They will be bringing in at least one more if not two. (Young-Jones-Bass in a rotation) Bostic-Foster-McPhee. Allen will be in some rush packages, SCM will not make the team, Jones will see some time inside as a backup. Washington or Bass will backup MePhee. I think we will draft one or two DL players and scs may get his wish and get Shelton. Probably a ILB and dont see us drafting another one with so many bodies at the OLB spot. I think once healthy Young can play outside. I think Bass could take a step forward and see more playing time. When Vic goes to the 2-5-4 Houston will drop off and they could bring in Allen on some plays. MePhee gets put in many spots on the field. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemonej Posted March 26, 2015 Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 I'm not convinced that Ratliff or Ego are strictly NTs. I'm sure Houston will get a shot there as well unless he looks really good at OLB. He's a vet minimum player who was pretty bad last year, he'll get his shot there, but I'm not sure we should count on him starting. I understand that his stats were lacking but I also see that he has ahd some injury issues. Sounds familiar don't it? If Ratliff stays healthy, if Willie Young's achilles is healed and ifLamar Houston's ACL is healed. Right now who dou you think is lining up at DE in the first mini camp for vets? It won't be Lamar Houston or Willie Young. As a matter of fact they may not be ready until TC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stinger226 Posted March 26, 2015 Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 I understand that his stats were lacking but I also see that he has ahd some injury issues. Sounds familiar don't it? If Ratliff stays healthy, if Willie Young's achilles is healed and ifLamar Houston's ACL is healed. Right now who dou you think is lining up at DE in the first mini camp for vets? It won't be Lamar Houston or Willie Young. As a matter of fact they may not be ready until TC. I would say Jenkins will line up there with McDonald until someone steps up or comes in not on the team now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scs787 Posted March 26, 2015 Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 I understand that his stats were lacking but I also see that he has ahd some injury issues. Sounds familiar don't it? If Ratliff stays healthy, if Willie Young's achilles is healed and ifLamar Houston's ACL is healed. Right now who dou you think is lining up at DE in the first mini camp for vets? It won't be Lamar Houston or Willie Young. As a matter of fact they may not be ready until TC. IMO, which is all I'm saying, my opinion, they should start it out with either Ego-Rat-McDonald or Rat-Ego-McDonald. Like I said Jenkins is still just 27 and I have acknowledged that it's possible he improves, he'll be in the running, but I think they should look to add yet another piece to the line. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ASHKUM BEAR Posted March 26, 2015 Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 IMO, which is all I'm saying, my opinion, they should start it out with either Ego-Rat-McDonald or Rat-Ego-McDonald. Like I said Jenkins is still just 27 and I have acknowledged that it's possible he improves, he'll be in the running, but I think they should look to add yet another piece to the line. Plus after 2015 season, they are down to only Ego and Sutton. Houston if he plays some 5T. They need to add a player, maybe two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stinger226 Posted March 26, 2015 Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 IMO, which is all I'm saying, my opinion, they should start it out with either Ego-Rat-McDonald or Rat-Ego-McDonald. Like I said Jenkins is still just 27 and I have acknowledged that it's possible he improves, he'll be in the running, but I think they should look to add yet another piece to the line. It might fall that way but when Houston and Young come back plus a few more additions, this could all be different. Ego was playing the NT position in the 4-3 , so I think he stays inside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason Posted March 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 Jason, That is a pretty crazy list and you probably could go on and on with Bass and Washington somehow in the mix. I honestly see this as a good thing as Pace is giving the coaching staff a lot of options. Yes, it is. And yes, you're right about the others, but I didn't see a realistic situation where those guys start given the number of bodies the Bears have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason Posted March 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2015 IMO, which is all I'm saying, my opinion, they should start it out with either Ego-Rat-McDonald or Rat-Ego-McDonald. Like I said Jenkins is still just 27 and I have acknowledged that it's possible he improves, he'll be in the running, but I think they should look to add yet another piece to the line. Rat-Ego-McDonald? Rat-Ego-Mac? REM? Putting offenses to sleep! I'm sold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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