My ideal offseason

[defiantgiant]

Sign Sidney Rice and Davin Joseph, then draft:

 

1 - Mike Pouncey, OG, Florida

Day 1 starter at LG, lets Chris Williams move back to LT. A line of Williams-Pouncey-Kreutz-Joseph-Webb should be more than adequate, with Omiyale as the swing tackle and Garza backing up the interior line.

 

2 - Drake Nevis, DT, LSU

Ready-made three-technique DT. Has drawn comparisons to Tommie Harris in college, should be able to replace Tommie early in his rookie season. Quick off the snap, has a decent pass-rush repertoire already, and is surprisingly strong for his size. Allows the team to cut Tommie and use Toeaina/Melton to spell Adams and Nevis. That's a solid d-line rotation.

 

3 - Johnny Patrick, CB, Louisville

Ballhawking zone corner who can tackle; ideal for a Tampa scheme. Also, is comparable to Tillman in terms of size/frame (he goes 6'0" and 190 pounds.) Could compete with Jennings and Bowman as a rookie and eventually take over for Tillman in a season or two.

 

4 - Jake Kirkpatrick, OC, TCU

Eventual replacement for Kreutz down the line. Solid, intelligent center, try-hard guy. Nasty run blocker, improving in pass protection.

 

5 - DeAndre Brown, WR, Southern Miss

This is a high-risk pick given the guy's injury history and character concerns, but I think the potential reward is worth it in Round 5. If he can recover fully from the leg injury and get his head on straight, he's got the talent to be an impact starter.

 

6 - Doug Hogue, OLB, Syracuse

Fast, athletic linebacker with coverage ability. Needs time to develop, but has the physical traits of a Tampa-2 OLB. Can help the Bears reload on coverage teams if they lose Wolfe, Graham, or Rashied Davis.

 

UDFA - Robert Hughes, FB, Notre Dame

Short, stocky fullback with significant experience at halfback and great size/power for short-yardage work. Thinking we convert him back to RB as a short-yardage/goal-line specialist. Comfortable in pass protection and can catch the ball, which makes it less of a playcalling limitation to insert him at halfback on third and short. Could take over short-yardage duties from Chester Taylor and be used kind of like the Chargers use Mike Tolbert.

 

 

If everything plays out this way, then:

1.) the O-line has enough talent for Tice to work with.

2.) Cutler has a go-to receiver in Rice, meaning Knox/Bennett/Hester can be solid complementary WRs, plus there's a major windfall if the gamble on Brown pays off.

3.) the interior pass rush on the d-line gets an upgrade, so the table's set for Peppers and Idonije to tee off on QBs when they can't step up in the pocket.

4.) we have eventual replacements waiting in the wings for Kreutz, Pisa, and Tillman, so we're not scrambling a year or two from now.

5.) we can pair Forte with a real goal-line back and use Taylor as a backup/spell player only.

[madlithuanian]

Works for me... I'd probalby hold on the CB in round 3, but it's not out of line, espeically with the OL pick up the next round. Also, given the signing of Joseph...

 

Sign Sidney Rice and Davin Joseph, then draft:

 

1 - Mike Pouncey, OG, Florida

Day 1 starter at LG, lets Chris Williams move back to LT. A line of Williams-Pouncey-Kreutz-Joseph-Webb should be more than adequate, with Omiyale as the swing tackle and Garza backing up the interior line.

 

2 - Drake Nevis, DT, LSU

Ready-made three-technique DT. Has drawn comparisons to Tommie Harris in college, should be able to replace Tommie early in his rookie season. Quick off the snap, has a decent pass-rush repertoire already, and is surprisingly strong for his size. Allows the team to cut Tommie and use Toeaina/Melton to spell Adams and Nevis. That's a solid d-line rotation.

 

3 - Johnny Patrick, CB, Louisville

Ballhawking zone corner who can tackle; ideal for a Tampa scheme. Also, is comparable to Tillman in terms of size/frame (he goes 6'0" and 190 pounds.) Could compete with Jennings and Bowman as a rookie and eventually take over for Tillman in a season or two.

 

4 - Jake Kirkpatrick, OC, TCU

Eventual replacement for Kreutz down the line. Solid, intelligent center, try-hard guy. Nasty run blocker, improving in pass protection.

 

5 - DeAndre Brown, WR, Southern Miss

This is a high-risk pick given the guy's injury history and character concerns, but I think the potential reward is worth it in Round 5. If he can recover fully from the leg injury and get his head on straight, he's got the talent to be an impact starter.

 

6 - Doug Hogue, OLB, Syracuse

Fast, athletic linebacker with coverage ability. Needs time to develop, but has the physical traits of a Tampa-2 OLB. Can help the Bears reload on coverage teams if they lose Wolfe, Graham, or Rashied Davis.

 

UDFA - Robert Hughes, FB, Notre Dame

Short, stocky fullback with significant experience at halfback and great size/power for short-yardage work. Thinking we convert him back to RB as a short-yardage/goal-line specialist. Comfortable in pass protection and can catch the ball, which makes it less of a playcalling limitation to insert him at halfback on third and short. Could take over short-yardage duties from Chester Taylor and be used kind of like the Chargers use Mike Tolbert.

 

 

If everything plays out this way, then:

1.) the O-line has enough talent for Tice to work with.

2.) Cutler has a go-to receiver in Rice, meaning Knox/Bennett/Hester can be solid complementary WRs, plus there's a major windfall if the gamble on Brown pays off.

3.) the interior pass rush on the d-line gets an upgrade, so the table's set for Peppers and Idonije to tee off on QBs when they can't step up in the pocket.

4.) we have eventual replacements waiting in the wings for Kreutz, Pisa, and Tillman, so we're not scrambling a year or two from now.

5.) we can pair Forte with a real goal-line back and use Taylor as a backup/spell player only.

 

[Mongo3451]

You're hired! As of my thoughts today, it's absolutely perfect. That's about all the OL I'd want to add for the year, just because we don't want to replace too many at once. As everyone knoews continuity is a huge factor in OL execution.

[Bears4Ever_34]

Sidney Rice would be sick on this team. We'd finally have a legit #1 receiver. But my question is why wouldn't the Vikings franchise tag him? Who else would they franchise? Unfortunately free agency doesn't occur until after the draft--which is stupid, so you don't know exactly what you have before the draft.

[balta1701-A]

Sidney Rice would be sick on this team. We'd finally have a legit #1 receiver. But my question is why wouldn't the Vikings franchise tag him? Who else would they franchise? Unfortunately free agency doesn't occur until after the draft--which is stupid, so you don't know exactly what you have before the draft.

It sounds like pro-bowl linebacker Chad Greenway is their #1 priority for the franchise tag. There has been talk of transition-tagging Rice.

[DABEARSDABOMB]

Sidney Rice would be sick on this team. We'd finally have a legit #1 receiver. But my question is why wouldn't the Vikings franchise tag him? Who else would they franchise? Unfortunately free agency doesn't occur until after the draft--which is stupid, so you don't know exactly what you have before the draft.

I wonder if we'd end up getting dissapointed. He's had one really good year and it was with a kick ass Favre at the helm (no denying that 2 years ago, Favre was really really good).

[madlithuanian]

It's always a possibility. But he has shown that he can work with a gunslinger, that he fights for balls (as funny as that sounds), that he appears to run good routes...

 

Those are traits that pretty much none of our WR's possess...

 

I wonder if we'd end up getting dissapointed. He's had one really good year and it was with a kick ass Favre at the helm (no denying that 2 years ago, Favre was really really good).

 

[jason]

I don't understand all the hype over Sidney Rice. He's had a single good year, and that was when Farv was playing out of his mind. He's only been a starter for a year and a half. And on top of that the guy wasn't nearly as good or explosive after coming off of his hip injury and the concussion.

 

I'm definitely not in favor of that signing, because it would cost more in FA than he's worth.

[madlithuanian]

I, like many here, think we need a #1 WR, and Rice has the potential to fit that bill. No doubt, he could be a bust. But there are numerous elements to his game that I've mentioned previously that point more upward than downward. He is now far more remoed from his injury...as was Forte, so the hope is that he will reutrn to form.

 

And, yes, I'm certain we all still want to address OL as a larger priority. But, this potential singning can be along with that.

 

I don't understand all the hype over Sidney Rice. He's had a single good year, and that was when Farv was playing out of his mind. He's only been a starter for a year and a half. And on top of that the guy wasn't nearly as good or explosive after coming off of his hip injury and the concussion.

 

I'm definitely not in favor of that signing, because it would cost more in FA than he's worth.

 

[defiantgiant]

I don't understand all the hype over Sidney Rice. He's had a single good year, and that was when Farv was playing out of his mind. He's only been a starter for a year and a half. And on top of that the guy wasn't nearly as good or explosive after coming off of his hip injury and the concussion.

 

I'm definitely not in favor of that signing, because it would cost more in FA than he's worth.

 

It's always going to cost more to sign a guy in FA, because you're bidding against other teams. But the Bears need a #1 receiver this year, and they can't get one in the draft unless they sacrifice picking o-line, which is stupid. I agree with the one-year-wonder concern about Rice, and I'd personally rather have Vincent Jackson, but Rice is probably going to hit the open market, which means we could sign him and still have all our draft ammo to fix the o-line and replace Tommie Harris. I wouldn't hate it if we traded for Jackson, but it would probably mean that we couldn't get Nevis in the 2nd and we'd lose another pick later in the draft. I think Vincent Jackson versus Rice, Nevis, and a 4th-rounder is at least equal value.

[Stinger226]

It's always going to cost more to sign a guy in FA, because you're bidding against other teams. But the Bears need a #1 receiver this year, and they can't get one in the draft unless they sacrifice picking o-line, which is stupid. I agree with the one-year-wonder concern about Rice, and I'd personally rather have Vincent Jackson, but Rice is probably going to hit the open market, which means we could sign him and still have all our draft ammo to fix the o-line and replace Tommie Harris. I wouldn't hate it if we traded for Jackson, but it would probably mean that we couldn't get Nevis in the 2nd and we'd lose another pick later in the draft. I think Vincent Jackson versus Rice, Nevis, and a 4th-rounder is at least equal value.

I think they franchise tag him which means 2 first rounders, which wont happen.(Jackson)There is some risk with Rice but he is an attainable asset.

[defiantgiant]

I think they franchise tag him which means 2 first rounders, which wont happen.(Jackson)There is some risk with Rice but he is an attainable asset.

 

Word is that they're going to franchise tag Chad Greenway unless they can lock him up. If that happens, it would mean they can't franchise Rice.

[LT2_3]

Word is that they're going to franchise tag Chad Greenway unless they can lock him up. If that happens, it would mean they can't franchise Rice.

 

2 things

 

1. I've read that they haven't made up their minds yet

 

2. They can still transition tag him

 

I'm all for getting Rice if he's available, but I seriously don't think he'll be available.

[Alaskan Grizzly]

I don't understand all the hype over Sidney Rice. He's had a single good year, and that was when Farv was playing out of his mind. He's only been a starter for a year and a half. And on top of that the guy wasn't nearly as good or explosive after coming off of his hip injury and the concussion.

 

I'm definitely not in favor of that signing, because it would cost more in FA than he's worth.

 

I'd have to side on Jason with this one. When you have someone like Burress as an example (a relative known and cheaper) against the unknown of Rice ... it's too risky. Especially, as others have pointed out, the OL is in much more need of that player that will cost more. Paying top dollar for someone like Rice is too shaky without having some measurables behind the deal.

 

Now if you are talking of pursuing a player like Jackson, Fitzgerald, S. Holmes or even B. Edwards then maybe it would be worth the "risk" and investment involved.

 

That all being said. I do like the idea of handicapping one of the NFC North foes by taking one of their cogs away. But if they (Bears) were to consider that for that reason alone then there is also James Jones out of Green Bay. Heck that was one of the initial reasons I was a fan of the Taylor signing last year. Still am.

[defiantgiant]

2 things

 

1. I've read that they haven't made up their minds yet

 

2. They can still transition tag him

 

I'm all for getting Rice if he's available, but I seriously don't think he'll be available.

Yeah, I saw that some Vikings guy said they're still deciding whether it'll be him or Greenway. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

 

If they transition tag him, though, he can still negotiate with other teams, the Vikings just get a right to match any offer. So that means teams could make an offer with a poison pill (although that's frowned upon) or just price him out of the Vikings' range. If that happens and he signs, the Vikings don't get any compensation from the other team. So he might cost Chicago some more cash, but he wouldn't take any draft picks to get.

[balta1701-A]

Yeah, I saw that some Vikings guy said they're still deciding whether it'll be him or Greenway. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

 

If they transition tag him, though, he can still negotiate with other teams, the Vikings just get a right to match any offer. So that means teams could make an offer with a poison pill (although that's frowned upon) or just price him out of the Vikings' range. If that happens and he signs, the Vikings don't get any compensation from the other team. So he might cost Chicago some more cash, but he wouldn't take any draft picks to get.

I seriously doubt the league will agree to a new CBA with a transition tag working like it does now, with the possible-poison-pill.

[Bears4Ever_34]

It sounds like pro-bowl linebacker Chad Greenway is their #1 priority for the franchise tag. There has been talk of transition-tagging Rice.

Ahh yes, I forgot about him. Well thats good news for us.

[LT2_3]

Yeah, I saw that some Vikings guy said they're still deciding whether it'll be him or Greenway. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

 

If they transition tag him, though, he can still negotiate with other teams, the Vikings just get a right to match any offer. So that means teams could make an offer with a poison pill (although that's frowned upon) or just price him out of the Vikings' range. If that happens and he signs, the Vikings don't get any compensation from the other team. So he might cost Chicago some more cash, but he wouldn't take any draft picks to get.

 

Though the league has never said so publicly, I'm pretty sure that the type of poison pill like was used on Steve Hutchinson has been outlawed. That type of poison pill has never been used again since that year.

 

That being said, I can't imagine the Bears making an offer that the Vikes wouldn't match.

 

I don't mean to rain on your parade, but it seems like every year people get excited about which players will be eligible for free agency, and 99% of the time, none of the blue chip players ever make it to free agency either through contract extensions or getting tagged. Peppers was part of the other 1%.

 

Like I said, I'd love to see us get Rice at a decent price, but I really don't think he'll be available - and a transition tag is unavailable in my book - unless there is a new lower salary cap and we can structure a financial poison pill that the Vikes simply can't afford, but still have it be a reasonable overall deal.

[defiantgiant]

Though the league has never said so publicly, I'm pretty sure that the type of poison pill like was used on Steve Hutchinson has been outlawed. That type of poison pill has never been used again since that year.

Its not officially outlawed, but yeah, you're right that it's never been done again. My sense is that there's a kind of gentleman's agreement not to use them. I don't think the Bears would actually use a poison pill: if nothing else, it'd make other teams very reluctant to cut a deal with them in the future, and I think Balta's right that the new CBA will probably explicitly outlaw them.

 

That being said, I can't imagine the Bears making an offer that the Vikes wouldn't match.

 

I don't mean to rain on your parade, but it seems like every year people get excited about which players will be eligible for free agency, and 99% of the time, none of the blue chip players ever make it to free agency either through contract extensions or getting tagged. Peppers was part of the other 1%.

Well, I did say this was my ideal offseason - the thread's not called "My Cautiously Optimistic But Ultimately Realistic Offseason."

 

But even if we're being more realistic, I don't think Rice is necessarily a blue-chip player, and I wouldn't be shocked if he hit FA. He had a knee injury in each of his first two seasons, and ended with under 550 yards in those two seasons combined. Then he had his one breakout year, which was great. But then in 2010 he had that hip surgery, missed 10 games and didn't even crack 300 yards on the year.

 

In total, the guy's missed a season's worth of games in four seasons as a pro, and he's only had one good season out of the four. He's young and has talent, but the injuries and the possibility that he's a one year wonder mean he's not a blue-chip player. He's a far cry from Vincent Jackson - Jackson's proven over multiple seasons that he can produce at a high level, and he's durable. But Jackson's not going to hit the open market and Rice could.

 

That's why I can see the Bears making an offer that the Vikes can't match: Rice is worth more to them in FA than he is to the Vikes. The Bears are in a position to make one more run this season while the core of that defense is still together. The Vikings are going to be developing a new QB, retooling their defensive line and secondary, and the left side of their o-line is in major decline...they're a year or two away from making another playoff run. Plus, the Vikings have another big-time receiving threat in Percy Harvin, whereas the Bears desperately need a #1 receiver and Rice could be the only one available as a free agent. I can see Rice's value to Chicago being a lot higher than his value to Minnesota, and I can see the Bears being a lot more willing to take a gamble on his injuries.

 

Think about what happened when the Vikings signed Berrian. It's not that the Bears couldn't match the offer, it's that they didn't want to because they valued the player less. This could be the same situation going the other way, just with a better player. I could see Chicago making him an offer that is reasonable to them, but unreasonable from Minnesota's perspective. If that happens, even if he's transition-tagged, we get him.