[CBFF] Super tactic? Bears don't shuffle roster (Pierson)

[Jim Ferolie]

Well, for starters, Vic, you don't have to consider your blog ruined, 
because Pierson put precious little opinion or even much analysis into it. 
It was practically a list, which is kind of disappointing.

I do agree that Carolina is the big one, having added Keyshawn, if only 
because Steve Smith was practically alone for much of the year, so that 
makes their offense quite a bit more deadly. Their defense doesn't look as 
good, and honestly, I think Rex exposed their defense in spurts, as well, 
just not enough times.

Losing Hutchinson is going to hurt Seattle a lot more than Burleson will 
help them. I'm concerned about the Giants, who probably added more than they 
lost and have a much more mature Eli, and the Cowboys (it all depends on 
their QB play). But I think the Bears can hang with anyone in the AFC 
(though the Colts are a problem).

As far as your assumptions go, I don't see Clark becoming a huge part of the 
offense, and I think the receivers are going to be spotty -- sometimes very, 
very good, other times frustrating -- because of their adjustment from Kyle 
to Rex, but it's hard to imagine it not improving to the middle of the pack 
at least.

I think the defense will actually be better this year. Last year there were 
times when good fortune or poor offense or both helped our numbers, but this 
year the secondary is much stronger and the front seven is going to be more 
cohesive, which is very important in a one-gap system.

I believe that the weaknesses that were exposed against Carolina were really 
there all along, and with a couple more usable DBs, the secondary can be 
shuffled however necessary to adjust to the defense. If Tillman is 
struggling, you bring in Manning or Wesley... or even D-Manning or Hester. 
That couldn't be done last year because Azumah wasn't in top condition (or 
was out entirely) and the next guy down was ... Chris Thompson.

How can it not be better?


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Victor Waldron" <vic19 at yahoo.com>


> Don just spoiled my latest blog entry that I've been working on for about 
> 2 weeks. Between moving and some travel I haven't had a chance to complete 
> it.
>
> My discussion was on who has really improved and by how much. You could 
> say that our primary competition in the NFC is just tweaking at the edges, 
> for instance Carolina picking up an "aging" Keshawn, or that Seattle 
> vastly improved their D with Julian Peterson.
>
> The thing about the Bears is you have to make a series of assumptions:
> 1. At worst, the D will be as good as last season
> 2. Our "redshirt" WRs plus Berrian will produce more as a group than last 
> year's #2 through 5
> 3. Desmond Clark can really be a productive TE with a good QB
> 4. Grossman/Griese will give us the best QB play since <gulp> 1995 Erik 
> Kramer
>
> My personal belief is that if 2 through 4 come to pass that the Bears will 
> have improved more than any of the other teams mentioned by "standing 
> pat." Numbers 2 and 4 are crucial and also the most likely to occur. I 
> believe #3 will occur so long as Clark stays healthy.
>
> Number 1 is where we could get into trouble. The D was mostly dominant 
> last season but were terribly exposed against Pittsburgh and Carolina in 
> the playoff game. I think some slippage will occur but we'll still have 
> one of the NFL's best Ds. That said, I believe the improved offense will 
> more than account for the slight dropoff on the other side of the ball.
>
> V