FA Running Backs:

[nfoligno]

No real arguments with your comments. I agree Hester is better on the outside, though I do think he could become best inside.

 

Honestly, maybe Hester and DA as our starters is best, but rather than Bennett, what if Knox were our slot guy.

 

I hate to say it, as I like so much of what Bennett did this year. At the same time, going off potential, he would be the odd man out IMHO. In Hester, DA and Knox, you have a tremendous amount of speed. Not only that, but yards after the catch potential. This trio could really spread out a defense. Then throw in Olsen, who has size and speed. Hell, now throw in Forte, who is a very damn good receiver out of the backfield.

 

And as I said before, I still believe Iglesias will prove to be a bigger factor and part of the equation.

 

Look, rarely have I looked at our group of receivers and spoke about promise or viewed them w/ a glass half full. As much as I wanted to upgrade the OL, I also felt our WR corp was in dire need of work. But now I just see a very different situation. We have probably more draft investment in this group than in as long as I can remember (a 2nd, two 3rds and a 5th), and that doesn't even factor DA, who exploded onto the scene and may be Cutler's favorite of the whole group. They still need more developing, but from what I saw this past year, I just feel we have the weapons in place, and what we need to avoid is quitting on them too soon.

 

Fix the damn OL, and improve our coaching, and I think we could have a damn dangerous (top 10 even) offense next year.

 

Defense is another story all together.

 

OK, so I think we're kind of in agreement here. For base 2-receiver and 3-receiver sets, I'd like to see Hester on the outside. This is just my own inexpert opinion, but a lot of the routes that I saw him run really well were outside the numbers: he beat I don't know how many corners with that hitch-and-go that he does. He sells that first step and gets back into his route better than most receivers in the NFL, in my opinion. In the Philly game he spun Asante Samuel around 360 degrees with a hitch-and-go, and Samuel's a pretty good corner. He's pretty good on deep out and deep post patterns, too, and he's also gotten very good at tracking the ball over his shoulder on those routes.

 

When I saw him go across the middle on slants/square-ins/drags, though, it wasn't nearly as impressive. Remember when Cutler got picked off because Hester basically ran into the ref on a shallow cross? I don't think his route-running is precise enough (at least right now) to be effective on the inside routes that a traditional slot receiver runs, and he's not very good at picking through traffic from what I've seen. Bennett, I think, should be the normal slot receiver when we go 3-wide, since he's better in traffic and runs cleaner routes.

 

That said, I could definitely see Hester moving into the slot when the play calls for the slot receiver to run a deep pattern. Pittsburgh used Nate Washington that way, as a vertical threat from the slot, and it was very effective. Unless I'm wrong, Philly rotates DeSean Jackson into the slot for some plays, with similar results. I could definitely see the Bears having success with one or two personnel packages that put Hester in the slot. Also, if we had a 3- or 4-wide set with Knox and Aromashodu on the outside and Hester in the slot, that would just be nasty. Aromashodu's the slowest of the three, and he ran like a 4.35 in the 40. There'd be a huge amount of vertical pressure on the defense, which could really open things up underneath for Olsen/Clark/Bennett to work.

 

As for who's covering Hester, I agree that he got shut down too often this season, but I think having Aromashodu in the starting lineup would solve a lot of that. Teams this year could double and bracket Hester all game long if they wanted to, because Bennett simply doesn't have the speed or change-of-direction to beat single coverage. You can single-cover Bennett all you want, and he's not going to break a big gain. That wouldn't be a problem if he were in the slot, but with Bennett as the starting X receiver, it meant that Hester got doubled a lot. Aromashodu could make defenses play Hester more honestly, which would help him take the next step as a receiver.

 

[defiantgiant]

I could see Knox rotating in at basically any position. This season he only played at split end, which I'm assuming would be Aromashodu's position next season. If we have a play that puts Hester in the slot, Aromashodu could rotate back to flanker (where he played this season) and Knox could come in at split end. That would be the easiest way to do it, since only one guy (Hester) would be playing a position he hadn't played before. On the other hand, Knox could replace Bennett in the slot on some plays to give us a big-play dimension from that position.

 

I agree with you about Bennett's potential - the main knock on him in the draft was that he might have hit his ceiling physically, and I think that's the case. He's very polished and has great hands, which is what made him so productive in college, but he's not overwhelming in any one area talent-wise. That said, I think he'd be an above-average slot receiver, and for a 3rd-round pick, that's still good value. The rest of our receivers might be faster, but I don't think any of them run their routes as well as Bennett runs his. He's still got something to offer, it's just a question of where he fits best. With Hester/Aromashodu/Knox stretching defenses deep, Clark/Bennett/Forte working underneath, and Olsen doing some of both, I think we could have a nice passing game next season.

 

As for Iglesias, I have no idea what he's going to contribute, if anything. I haven't heard a peep about him since camp, and the word back then was that he was struggling. We'll see, I guess. It'd be nice if he turned into something.

[nfoligno]

As for Iglesias, I have no idea what he's going to contribute, if anything. I haven't heard a peep about him since camp, and the word back then was that he was struggling. We'll see, I guess. It'd be nice if he turned into something.

 

Don't forget though. Bennett went nearly the identical route. As a rookie, Bennett was expected to come in as the smart guy who could pickup the playbook quickly, and who, due to his more refined route running, should see the field early. But he reportedly couldn't pickup the offense and struggled on the field. Well, Iglesias seems to be taking a near identical route, and I really don't understand it.

 

I wonder if, like Bennett, we tried to develop Iglesias at all positions rather than focusing on one. Knox, on the other hand, I know was specifically developed at one position, and thus his development was quicker, but despite f'ing up Bennett his rookie year, I wonder if we didn't do the same thing w/ Iglesias.

 

I realize the NFL is not college, and many drafted don't make it. However, I find it hard to believe someone who was considered a polished route runner suddenly forgets how to run routes.

 

As I said, like w/ Bennett, we can't really go off his rookie year as he was not seen. However, I think he will in fact become a factor this upcoming season.

[defiantgiant]

Don't forget though. Bennett went nearly the identical route. As a rookie, Bennett was expected to come in as the smart guy who could pickup the playbook quickly, and who, due to his more refined route running, should see the field early. But he reportedly couldn't pickup the offense and struggled on the field. Well, Iglesias seems to be taking a near identical route, and I really don't understand it.

Well, OK, Iglesias and Bennett had identical rookie years, but so did Iglesias and Airese Currie. I'm not saying he's a bust yet, but I haven't seen any indication that Iglesias is going to turn into anything. I'll be happy if he does, but at this point it's anybody's guess.

[nfoligno]

I hear you, but we are talking about the WR position, which traditionally is considered one in need of time to develop, and after only a rookie year, you put him on par w/ Currie. I do realize that was just an offhand comment, but at the same time, I don't think you are giving the kid much benefit of doubt here.

 

Lets remember. We are talking about the group of coaches here who refused to play DA, despite their QB begging for him to play. If it were not due to injuries at the end of the year, we would have never seen DA play a down this season. Just think about that for a moment.

 

I understand. Iglesias has not shown anything thus far. I fully admit a bias. Iglesias was a kid I liked in college, wanted to draft him, and was thrilled when we did. At the same time, I just can't help but to believe he was held back by the same staff that screwed up Bennetts rookie year and nearly wasted DA this past season.

 

Time will tell, but by the end of all this, I will tell you here and now, I think Iglesias will end up either as a #2 or #3 for us.

 

Well, OK, Iglesias and Bennett had identical rookie years, but so did Iglesias and Airese Currie. I'm not saying he's a bust yet, but I haven't seen any indication that Iglesias is going to turn into anything. I'll be happy if he does, but at this point it's anybody's guess.

 

[madlithuanian]

Seriously...I trust your opinion more than the current regime's coaching staff's.

 

 

I hear you, but we are talking about the WR position, which traditionally is considered one in need of time to develop, and after only a rookie year, you put him on par w/ Currie. I do realize that was just an offhand comment, but at the same time, I don't think you are giving the kid much benefit of doubt here.

 

Lets remember. We are talking about the group of coaches here who refused to play DA, despite their QB begging for him to play. If it were not due to injuries at the end of the year, we would have never seen DA play a down this season. Just think about that for a moment.

 

I understand. Iglesias has not shown anything thus far. I fully admit a bias. Iglesias was a kid I liked in college, wanted to draft him, and was thrilled when we did. At the same time, I just can't help but to believe he was held back by the same staff that screwed up Bennetts rookie year and nearly wasted DA this past season.

 

Time will tell, but by the end of all this, I will tell you here and now, I think Iglesias will end up either as a #2 or #3 for us.