Hate to be Johnny Raincloud here but

[madlithuanian]

I'm in comploete agreement. While I wouldn't balk at getting an OL if he were the bpa and a virtual lock at being good...but I'd rather go about it in FA. There are decent guys still to be had.

 

nfo and I went around on this a while back.

 

Good points. Benson has shown nothing in any aspect on or off the field. hes been hurt every season, cant catch, quits on his team, its a joke.

 

I think getting a FA Offensive tackle and a reciever who has actually started an NFL game is so huge right now for this team to even think about competing.

[azbearsfan]

I'm all for helping the O-line...but don't think we have something we don't in Benson.

 

The guy has no work ethic and is injury prone. He cannot be relied upon. If you don't want Medenhall, that's all good. But we best draft a RB.

 

 

I'll give you that he is injury prone. Unless you happen to see his workouts or visit practice alot, I'm not sure how you know about his work ethic. And you will not convince me that a running back back that had over 2000+ yrds a year in college has no work ethic.

Injury prone...yes.

Head case....yes.

To me he is Ricky Williams minus the pot. Good but weird back.

 

 

And to be honest, people were saying the same things you are out here about a Cardinals draft pick named Thomas Jones. Who needed a couple of years to get it straight.

 

 

Lets fix the real problem here, the O line.

[madlithuanian]

I know you are obsessed with the O-line, and it does need some obsessing over. I hear you there...

 

But again, I think you're thinking Benson is something he isn't. He is Ricky Williams without the talent and health. I can rattle off dozens of players that had crazy records in college only to amount to jack in the NFL. Benson is one of them.

 

Apparently you are, but I cannot feel good relying on this guy. If Mendenhall or McFadden (yeah, right) are avialable in the 1st, I would take them. You probably would take an OL. Odds are Jerry will do neither...

 

I'll give you that he is injury prone. Unless you happen to see his workouts or visit practice alot, I'm not sure how you know about his work ethic. And you will not convince me that a running back back that had over 2000+ yrds a year in college has no work ethic.

Injury prone...yes.

Head case....yes.

To me he is Ricky Williams minus the pot. Good but weird back.

And to be honest, people were saying the same things you are out here about a Cardinals draft pick named Thomas Jones. Who needed a couple of years to get it straight.

 

 

Lets fix the real problem here, the O line.

[Connorbear]

Don't worry - we already know you are Johnny Raincloud!!!!!

 

Peace

[bear trap]

How can you possibly know that if they are continuously getting blasted at the line by three defensive players?

 

The question was rhetorical...you don't know what the RBs on this team are capable of until the OL stops sucking. There's a reason why each of the Bears' RBs were record setters in some way, shape, or form. They have talent. However, just about any RB will appear poor or average if the OL is horrible...which it was.

Jason, why do you think drafting a tackle with 14th pick and maybe more o-line with the other picks will help benson? Last I checked the BEST tackle in the draft last year didn't help. Fergusen was a very high pick and look what happened to jones. I believe if you want a good o-line you have better luck signing fa's who are experienced as to the rookies who have the "learning curve". Remember columbo? Where'd that end up for us and then look at dallas now. Get the free agents when they're past the learning curve instead of signing and puting up with mediocrity waiting to develop. I'm not saying sign old farts like we did with brown and miller, last I checked both starks and olivea are on the better side of 30 (26 I believe).

[Ed Hochuli 3:16]

Jason, why do you think drafting a tackle with 14th pick and maybe more o-line with the other picks will help benson? Last I checked the BEST tackle in the draft last year didn't help. Fergusen was a very high pick and look what happened to jones. I believe if you want a good o-line you have better luck signing fa's who are experienced as to the rookies who have the "learning curve". Remember columbo? Where'd that end up for us and then look at dallas now. Get the free agents when they're past the learning curve instead of signing and puting up with mediocrity waiting to develop. I'm not saying sign old farts like we did with brown and miller, last I checked both starks and olivea are on the better side of 30 (26 I believe).

Joe Thomas made for the Pro Bowl for Cleveland

[madlithuanian]

The exception makes the rule...

 

Joe Thomas made for the Pro Bowl for Cleveland

[bradjock]

I think we could TRY, but I'm not sure that the Steelers wouldn't match. I'm not sure I buy the speculation that they wouldn't match a reasonable deal.

 

A reasonable deal, sure they'd match it. But if the Bears decide we want him bad enough, wouldn't they have one helluva a time matching a deal that contained a big roster bonus??? It basically comes down to whether or not we want to pay a ton for another RT.

 

Oh, and I wish people would get off the "RB in the first round" bandwagon. It's NOT going to happen. Speculating on it is nothing more than mental masturbation.

 

Agreed. It is tempting as hell to think about. I laughed at everyone who brought that up, and then I started thinking about what AP did for the Vikings. Damn it'd be nice to have a game-breaking running-back.

 

I just hope like hell we sign someone like Derrick Ward or Julius Jones. Since it won't happen in round 1, I sure as hell don't want to see us take another 2nd tier RB in round 3.

[DrunkBomber]

We really need to take a shot with Walker. It may be a gamble but the upside is so much greater than any of the other shit out there left at WR.

[jason]

Jason, why do you think drafting a tackle with 14th pick and maybe more o-line with the other picks will help benson? Last I checked the BEST tackle in the draft last year didn't help. Fergusen was a very high pick and look what happened to jones. I believe if you want a good o-line you have better luck signing fa's who are experienced as to the rookies who have the "learning curve". Remember columbo? Where'd that end up for us and then look at dallas now. Get the free agents when they're past the learning curve instead of signing and puting up with mediocrity waiting to develop. I'm not saying sign old farts like we did with brown and miller, last I checked both starks and olivea are on the better side of 30 (26 I believe).

 

I've used the analogy before, but I'll use it again. Drafting a RB in the first for the Bears this year is like fixing the tires on a burning car. Sure, the tires will be better, but they'll still go to crap since the car is on fire.

 

Drafting an OLineman is a crapshoot, just like all other positions for the most part. HOWEVER, there are tons of RBs who do well behind good lines. Pretty much any scrub can be put in behind a good line and show production. Look what the best OLine in history did for that moron Emmit Smith! He was good, but there is no way he should have Walter's record. Watch his highlight reels and you'll see a bunch of 5 foot holes being opened, and Emmit being chased down by a safety 20 yards down the field. Great OLs make average skill players look great. Very rarely do great skill players excel with poor OLs. Look what the incredible OLines over the years have done for Denver RBs. Look what an upgraded OLine did for the Cleveland Browns last year.

 

I never said I wouldn't love getting some good FA OL help. I'd be happy as hell. However, it doesn't seem to be happening, and I know what I saw last year. Anyone who doesn't realize the OL is the biggest problem on the Bears either missed a lot of games last year, or only follows via radio. Getting Mendenhall will do nothing but give the Bears another first round RB who will get disappointed after getting stuffed at the line over and over again.

 

The point is, it all starts in the trenches, and it's best to stockpile good, young OLinemen rather than take shots on RBs who can pretty much be had in the first four rounds. If you look at the draft history, and I just did, you'll find a ton of bad first round RBs, along with the good. What you will also find, however, is a ton of RB talent in other rounds. As for OL, you want to point out Ferguson...fine. I'd rather look at Joe Thomas.

[azbearsfan]

I know you are obsessed with the O-line, and it does need some obsessing over. I hear you there...

 

But again, I think you're thinking Benson is something he isn't. He is Ricky Williams without the talent and health. I can rattle off dozens of players that had crazy records in college only to amount to jack in the NFL. Benson is one of them.

 

Apparently you are, but I cannot feel good relying on this guy. If Mendenhall or McFadden (yeah, right) are avialable in the 1st, I would take them. You probably would take an OL. Odds are Jerry will do neither...

 

 

I'm not really obsessed with the o-line, I just understand that the offense lives and dies there. A great line will make average skill guys look great and great skill guys look like supermen. And a poor line will make great skill guys look average.

 

Really the bottom line is that without a decent line, you can't make a fair assessment of anyone.

Even if we get one of your running backs, they wont do anything without a line and in two years we will be sitting here listening to everyone bash Mendenhall.

[madlithuanian]

I completely follow your train of thinking...

 

I just think that there are certain things we can assess about Benson when he had a better line and when he had a poor line...

 

I've personally seen enough and I want a change to something potentially better.

 

I'm not really obsessed with the o-line, I just understand that the offense lives and dies there. A great line will make average skill guys look great and great skill guys look like supermen. And a poor line will make great skill guys look average.

 

Really the bottom line is that without a decent line, you can't make a fair assessment of anyone.

Even if we get one of your running backs, they wont do anything without a line and in two years we will be sitting here listening to everyone bash Mendenhall.

[nfoligno]

I laughed at everyone who brought that up, and then I started thinking about what AP did for the Vikings. Damn it'd be nice to have a game-breaking running-back.

 

I have seen many mention this, and it drives me nuts. AP was awesome for Minny last year, but how much was AP and how much was the OL? Seriously. We are talking about an OL that made Chester the molester look like a stud. I am not trying to take away from AP, but it is much easier to look like a stud when you have massive holes to run through, and often do not meet w/ resistance until a DB is in the way.

 

I just hope like hell we sign someone like Derrick Ward or Julius Jones. Since it won't happen in round 1, I sure as hell don't want to see us take another 2nd tier RB in round 3.

 

From what I read, Jones has shown more interest in us than we have in him. Isn't Derrick Ward a RFA?

 

I have absolutely no problem going after a 2nd tier RB in round three. I am not sure a 2nd tier RB from the 3rd is worse than Jones or Ward. My thing is, I do not want to go after a 3rd down specialist RB w/ nearly zero upside as a starter in the 3rd. No more Wolfes. Get a guy who has the potential to be a starter, not the potential to be a good special teams/ #3 RB.

[madlithuanian]

I too would rather look at Ward than Jones...

 

I have seen many mention this, and it drives me nuts. AP was awesome for Minny last year, but how much was AP and how much was the OL? Seriously. We are talking about an OL that made Chester the molester look like a stud. I am not trying to take away from AP, but it is much easier to look like a stud when you have massive holes to run through, and often do not meet w/ resistance until a DB is in the way.

From what I read, Jones has shown more interest in us than we have in him. Isn't Derrick Ward a RFA?

 

I have absolutely no problem going after a 2nd tier RB in round three. I am not sure a 2nd tier RB from the 3rd is worse than Jones or Ward. My thing is, I do not want to go after a 3rd down specialist RB w/ nearly zero upside as a starter in the 3rd. No more Wolfes. Get a guy who has the potential to be a starter, not the potential to be a good special teams/ #3 RB.

[CrackerDog]

From what I read, Jones has shown more interest in us than we have in him. Isn't Derrick Ward a RFA?

 

Unless he's signed with someone in the last day or two, he's still available.

 

I'm with the folks here who blame the OL more than the backs. We're old there and need a lot of help. A LOT of help. I was worried about the OL last season before it started and now I'm just frustrated as all hell.

 

That said, Benson is pretty darn close to being a bust in my book. Has anyone heard how his rehab is going? I know a guy who knows someone on the Bears staff who said something along the lines of "Benson has an injury that takes a lot of dedication to rehab. From what we've seen, he doesn't have the intestinal fortitude to make it happen." I'm paraphrasing but this is from someone I have no reason to doubt.

 

It may be time to look elsewhere.

[chitownman]

With all the expectations that Benson had coming in, it does not surprise me that he has failed so miserably. I do blame the O-Line to a degree however, if I remember correctly when "Sweetness" started out, our O-Line was not that great and he still produced pretty well when they finally gave him the rock. Benson seemed like a good pick initially however, reality has set in and it is time to cut bait with this injury prone, really do not care individual and find someone who does have heart, gives a damn about playing in Chicago and will be productive.

[nfoligno]

I have been one of Benson's biggest supporters, and while I still think he can be very good if we improve the OL, at the same time I want to add another RB to the mix. I was not happy w/ our trio going into last season, as I never agreed w/ those who said AP was a capable starter, and never liked the Wolfe pick.

 

I am all for adding a RB like Jones or Ward, or if not, taking one in the draft. No, I do not want to get one in first round, but I do want to add a RB in the draft.

 

Like you, I considered OL a high priority last year, and was VERY disappointed we passed until day two. I liked the Olsen pick, but hated when we ignored OL the rest of day one, and ended up w/ Wolfe and Bazuin.

 

So I want to add competition for Benson, but at the same time, still hold out hope he can step up w/ an improved OL.

[nfoligno]

Yes, Payton had a weak OL to run behind early on, but come on. If we compare everyone to Payton, we are going to be found wanting for a long time to come.

 

There are a handful of backs in the league that can do well w/o great OLs. LT quickly comes to mind. But backs like that are the exception and not the norm, and I do not believe you should compare Benson to those exceptions, regardless where he was drafted. I would add that our passing game, or lack there of, was also an issue.

 

Not totally making excuses for Benson. He is one season away from total bust status, but I think we need to upgrade his blocking before we totally write him off.

[Guest TerraTor]

Yes, Payton had a weak OL to run behind early on, but come on. If we compare everyone to Payton, we are going to be found wanting for a long time to come.

 

There are a handful of backs in the league that can do well w/o great OLs. LT quickly comes to mind. But backs like that are the exception and not the norm, and I do not believe you should compare Benson to those exceptions, regardless where he was drafted. I would add that our passing game, or lack there of, was also an issue.

 

Not totally making excuses for Benson. He is one season away from total bust status, but I think we need to upgrade his blocking before we totally write him off.

 

Whats bad is he couldnt do anything at all on his own. Cant get oyutside, falls goin up the middle, couldnt catch a swing pass to save his life. He is a total dud, and we need to change the backfield. Is mendenhall or stewart the answer, i dont know but they sure as hell cant be as bad or worse.

[Controlled Chaos]

I think Benson will be fine if we improve the line. I'm still pissed we passed on Faneca.

[madlithuanian]

Your friend's comments are basically spot on to what many of us are thinking...

 

Benson is injury prone and has no heart...

 

Unless he's signed with someone in the last day or two, he's still available.

 

I'm with the folks here who blame the OL more than the backs. We're old there and need a lot of help. A LOT of help. I was worried about the OL last season before it started and now I'm just frustrated as all hell.

 

That said, Benson is pretty darn close to being a bust in my book. Has anyone heard how his rehab is going? I know a guy who knows someone on the Bears staff who said something along the lines of "Benson has an injury that takes a lot of dedication to rehab. From what we've seen, he doesn't have the intestinal fortitude to make it happen." I'm paraphrasing but this is from someone I have no reason to doubt.

 

It may be time to look elsewhere.

[AZ54]

The Bears staff knows how he's doing and I prefer not to hear anything before the draft, or if they do I'd prefer they just say he's doing great. After we draft our next RB then the chatter can start.