[CBFF] Bears Team Report

[Tom Shannon]

Bears Team Report 

Posted: July 2, 2006 

Brad Biggs 
Chicago Sun-Times 


PERSONNEL ANALYSIS: With an eye toward the future the Bears locked up RB 
Adrian Peterson for three more seasons, signing the special teams standout
to an 
extension that will pay him the minimum but includes a $1 million signing 
bonus. The deal has potential upside for him, too, as escalators will boost
his pay 
should he get considerable playing time on offense. Peterson rushed for a 
career-high 391 yards last season with a 5.1-yard per carry average, and an 
injury to Cedric Benson or Thomas Jones could thrust him into action.
Peterson is 
an elusive runner with good vision and excellent balance. He has a decent
burst 
and has improved also as a receiver. Questions regarding his durability and 
whether he could withstand the pounding of 20-plus carries a week have
lingered 
in the past and provided nothing happens with Benson and Jones he will
remain 
one of the Bears' most versatile special teams performers. . . . 

When the Bears signed CB Dante Wesley early in the free agency period, it
was 
with an eye toward improving special teams. Wesley was a player the Bears 
could not account for on special teams in their two meetings with Carolina
last 
season, and he was a natural fit. Now, the veteran is working his way toward

earning some time in the secondary, particularly if off-field legal issues
make 
projected nickel back Ricky Manning Jr. unavailable. Wesley got extended
time 
at RCB during the offseason program and made enough plays to draw high
praise 
from coach Lovie Smith. Nathan Vasher is entrenched at that position, and
the 
team is optimistic Charles Tillman will rebound this season on the opposite 
side, but Wesley provides depth that was sorely missing last year and has 
demonstrated that at the minimum he will be a guy the defense can get
through a game 
with. 

SCOUTING REPORT: The Bears were able to solve their longterm woes at left 
tackle last season with John Tait by finding a capable performer to fill his
spot 
at right tackle. Fred Miller, 33, is on the downside of his career but has 
missed only one start since 1998 and that was because an off-field fight
this 
past season. A wide-body at 6-7, 320, Miller is physical in the run game at
the 
point of attack and knocks people back. He possesses a good anchor leg, long

arms and a decent shuffle and slide for a right tackle. Miller is slow in 
changing direction and is not a great athlete downfield blocking at the
second 
level. Defenders can get across his face on the back side, but he's adequate
pass 
blocking on the right side. 

COACH UNDER PRESSURE: The Bears have faith in Offensive Coordinator Ron 
Turner because other than securing a bona fide backup for QB Rex Grossman in
Brian 
Griese and re-signing their own free agent offensive linemen, they did
almost 
nothing with this side of the ball. The belief is that in the second year in

Turner's system, the Bears will blossom, and there's nowhere to go but up
after 
the unit ranked 29th last season. The key is going to be the improvement of
a 
passing attack that averaged a meager 125 yards per game, and after Grossman

much of the focus will fall on the receivers. Muhsin Muhammad had far too
many 
drops in 2005 and the development of Mark Bradley, returning from a knee 
injury, and Bernard Berrian, entering his third season, is critical. 

INSIDE DISH: While the Bears are not going to become one of the league's 
passing leaders, the team is already about the prospect of gaining balance
in 
their offense with Grossman healthy at the start of the season. The club ran
the 
ball 488 times and attempted 418 passes last season, numbers that could be 
reversed this year. Grossman was better than Kyle Orton by more than 1.5
yards on 
average per attempt, and the club believes the frequently injured passer
will 
only improve with time. Everybody thought the Bears could use a wide
receiver 
or tight end as a playmaker, but the improvement could come from quarterback

after Grossman performed well in OTA's. 

TIGHT ENDS ANALYSIS: D-plus. Desmond Clark looked great in the spring but 
still hasn't lived up to his contract. Many remain perplexed Bears passed on
this 
position in the draft.
_________________
    
    
    



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> 
Check out the new improvements in Yahoo! Groups email.
http://us.click.yahoo.com/6pRQfA/fOaOAA/yQLSAA/jUUolB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~-> 

 
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BearMonsters/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    BearMonsters-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/