[CBFF] Hard choices ahead for Bears

[Phil DeNomme]

They are still serviceable.  RT and LG are a MUST to upgrade at least.  

We should just get some young studs to plug in....  ;)

-----Original Message-----
From: cbff-bounces at chicagobearsfanforum.com
[mailto:cbff-bounces at chicagobearsfanforum.com] On Behalf Of Ryan Dietzenbach
Sent: Sunday, December 09, 2007 10:23 PM
To: post at chicagobearsfanforum.com
Subject: Re: [CBFF] Hard choices ahead for Bears

I don't agree with the OL synopsis.  Why are Olin and (especially) Garza
untouchable?  Olin is not the player he was and Garza is average at best.

RD


On 12/9/07, Phil DeNomme <pdenomme at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> I agree completely with this article.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cbff-bounces at chicagobearsfanforum.com
> [mailto:cbff-bounces at chicagobearsfanforum.com] On Behalf Of mactbone
> Sent: Sunday, December 09, 2007 6:13 PM
> To: post at chicagobearsfanforum.com
> Subject: [CBFF] Hard choices ahead for Bears
>
> Hard choices ahead for Bears
> Sudden demise means Bears must explore many roster changes to get back on
> winning track for '08 season
>
> Look out below.
>
> Suddenly and shockingly, the defending NFC champion Bears find themselves
> several key decisions away from free- falling into back-to-back losing
> seasons in 2007 and 2008.
>
> That much potentially rides on the choices the Bears will make over the
> final three games and in the first month of the off-season. The standings
> mean nothing, but it's a pivotal period for the organization that could
> dictate how long the stench of this losing season lingers.
>
> >From coordinators Ron Turner and Bob Babich to the most stable position
> group, every area of the Bears' 53-man roster and coaching staff requires
> thorough re-evaluation after a year widely recognized as the NFL's most
> disappointing.
>
> Trust coach Lovie Smith this off-season? It was much easier to do coming
> off
> a Super Bowl defeat than a season in which the biggest loss might have
> been
> faith in leadership at Halas Hall.
>
> For the Bears' brain trust, the process of balancing short-term goals with
> long-range plans began on the long flight home from Maryland and will
> continue until a winning culture returns. Here's a look at how that
> thought
> process might go for each position group.
>
>
> Quarterback
> Looking to 2008: The Bears and Rex Grossman both were fortunate the injury
> to his left knee didn't require surgery to repair the sprained ligament.
> Grossman posted a passer rating of 82.1 in the four games before
> Thursday's
> injury that, more than anything, showed the Bears have bigger problems
> than
> the quarterback.
>
> Make Grossman a fair, reasonable offer, but don't be surprised if other
> teams desperate for quarterback experience outbid them for him. Because of
> that uncertainty and other durability and consistency concerns, the Bears
> still should monitor Donovan McNabb's trade availability in
> Philadelphia—where the team owner this week said McNabb will be back in
> '08.
>
> Also, if the Bears are concerned about Grossman's injury history, they at
> least will have to consider whether two high draft picks would be worth
> Browns restricted free-agent Derek Anderson. They still should consider
> drafting a quarterback. Brian Griese is under contract as the backup he
> has
> shown to be. And Kyle Orton could be valuable either as trade bait or
> maybe
> as a challenger for the starting job during training camp's open
> competition.
>
> Immediate action: Play Orton every snap the rest of the season to see if
> he's a plausible alternative.
>
>
> Running back
> Looking to 2008: Cutting Cedric Benson would serve little purpose. So
> bring
> him back cautiously, with conditions tied to his fitness, and pencil him
> in
> as a backup. Either draft a running back in the second round—will
> Illinois'
> Rashard Mendenhall be on the board?—or dig deep to go after a free agent
> such as Michael Turner or Julius Jones.
>
> Benson has worked best when sharing the load, so he and the offense could
> benefit most from returning to a two-back system. That would allow the
> versatile Adrian Peterson to return to a special-teams role and spot
> running-back duty.
>
> Immediate action: See more of Garrett Wolfe to give him opportunities to
> prove himself. The experience could be valuable if Wolfe is still looking
> for his niche next summer.
>
>
> Offensive line
> Looking to 2008: In a perfect Bears world, they would draft an offensive
> right tackle out of a rich crop in the first round to replace Fred Miller
> and his $5.8 million salary-cap hit in '08. Then they could sign the
> Steelers' free-agent Pro Bowler Alan Faneca to play left guard. That would
> help the team's most disappointing position group in 2007 turn things
> around
> quickly.
>
> But rarely do teams get everything they want in the off-season, especially
> a
> team that wants and needs as many things as the Bears will. But the plan
> should include drafting an offensive lineman on the first day and signing
> a
> veteran free agent.
>
> The keepers of the starting five are left tackle John Tait, right guard
> Roberto Garza and center Olin Kreutz. At left guard, re-signing Ruben
> Brown
> to start would be a risk at 36 and Terrence Metcalf hasn't distinguished
> himself replacing Brown.
>
> Immediate action: Fourth-round draft pick Josh Beekman has seen action in
> just one game and the Bears have an opportunity to evaluate him so they
> know
> what they have planning ahead. How much worse could he be?
>
>
> Tight end
> Looking to 2008: Whoever the offensive coordinator is, he needs to devise
> more ways to keep Greg Olsen on the field for at least 80 percent of the
> snaps. Desmond Clark will enter the final year of his contract and is a
> bargain. John Gilmore is a guard wearing No. 85. This has emerged as the
> position group posing the fewest questions.
>
> Immediate action: Get Olsen the ball even more.
>
>
> Wide receiver
> Looking to 2008: The Bears must consider restructuring his contract or
> parting ways with Muhsin Muhammad, who will cost $2.1 million combining
> salary and roster bonus. That's too expensive for a receiver who will be
> 35
> next season.
>
> Make a run at Bernard Berrian, whose free-agent price tag will be steep,
> but
> maybe he will offer a hometown discount. Groom Devin Hester to be a
> full-fledged, 30-play-a-game receiver. Let Mark Bradley break some other
> GM's heart. Draft a wide receiver in the first three rounds and scour the
> free-agent list for a reliable, affordable veteran.
>
> Immediate action: Give Mike Hass a chance to prove whether he does or
> doesn't belong on an NFL roster. It couldn't hurt a group that has had
> some
> of the slipperiest hands in the league.
>
> Defensive tackle
> Looking to 2008: Expect Dusty Dvoracek to return, pleasant surprise
> Anthony
> Adams to come back, too, and Tommie Harris to be whole again physically
> and
> mentally in a position to dominate.
>
> It could be hard to justify paying Darwin Walker, who hasn't lived up to
> expectations, a $5.5 million roster bonus March 1 if the resources might
> be
> better allocated elsewhere. The Bears might find a cheaper alternative for
> depth on the second day of the draft, in free agency where they found
> Adams
> or in a rehabilitated Antonio Garay.
>
> Immediate action: Take no chances with Harris and shut him down for final
> three games. Elevate Babatunde Oshinowo from the practice squad just to
> have
> enough bodies on the defensive line to get through the month.
>
>
> Defensive end
> Looking to 2008: Congratulate Adewale Ogunleye on what should be a Pro
> Bowl
> appearance. Forget trading Alex Brown, put him back at the right end spot
> he
> never should have lost and hope Mark Anderson uses this year's
> disappointment as fuel to improve. Dan Bazuin will get a long look after
> his
> "redshirt" year so this position is one that won't worry the Bears in the
> off-season.
>
> Immediate action: Restore Brown to the starting lineup as a reward for
> continuing to work hard no matter the circumstances and use Anderson as
> the
> swing end, hoping he can rediscover what helped him make 16 sacks in his
> first 20 NFL games. He has one in his last nine.
>
>
> Linebacker
> Looking to 2008: It probably doesn't bode well that Lance Briggs is
> thinking
> enough about his upcoming free-agent status to remind the NFL Network that
> Thursday night's game meant he will have played in 75 percent of the
> Bears'
> snaps this year. Thus, the team cannot put the franchise tag on him under
> the one-year deal he signed. The Bears still need to make a reasonable
> effort to re-sign Briggs at the inflated price—he's their most productive
> defensive player.
>
> Brian Urlacher remains better with an arthritic back than probably 75
> percent of the guys at his position, but he likely won't be as dominant as
> before. As steady as Hunter Hillenmeyer has been, Jamar Williams should be
> given a chance to challenge for the job if he's not Briggs' replacement.
>
> Immediate action: It's a tough conversation to have, but the Bears really
> should consider telling Urlacher to rest his ailing back and calf until
> next
> season for the good of everybody. That also would give them a longer look
> at
> Williams.
>
>
> Secondary
> Looking to 2008: The starting cornerbacks are set with Charles Tillman and
> a
> healthy and rested Nathan Vasher. Rookie Trumaine McBride gained valuable
> experience and always could slide into the nickel spot if the Bears deem
> Ricky Manning Jr., who has spent the year mostly in a funk, too expensive
> and expendable.
>
> But safety rates a bigger priority and the Bears need to draft a playmaker
> and sign a free agent at the position. That's even if rookie Kevin Payne,
> still an unknown, returns healthy. Decisions on Adam Archuleta and Mike
> Brown can wait until after the draft and free agency, but neither seems
> like
> a roster lock. The Bears need a safety who will factor into big plays that
> help them win not lose.
>
> Immediate action: They have no healthy options, player-wise, and must gut
> it
> out with the remaining bodies available.
>
> David Haugh
> Copyright (c) 2007, The Chicago Tribune
>
>
http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/cs-071208haugh
> ,1,2764233.column?coll=cs-bears-headlines
>
>
>
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
> ________
> Never miss a thing.  Make Yahoo your home page.
> http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
> _______________________________________________
> Check out the CBFF Blog:
> blog.chicagobearsfanforum.com
> CBFF Homepage:
> www.chicagobearsfanforum.com
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.16.17/1178 - Release Date:
> 12/8/2007
> 11:59 AM
>
>
> No virus found in this outgoing message.
> Checked by AVG Free Edition.
> Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.16.17/1178 - Release Date:
> 12/8/2007
> 11:59 AM
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Check out the CBFF Blog:
> blog.chicagobearsfanforum.com
> CBFF Homepage:
> www.chicagobearsfanforum.com
>
_______________________________________________
Check out the CBFF Blog:
blog.chicagobearsfanforum.com
CBFF Homepage:
www.chicagobearsfanforum.com

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition. 
Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.16.17/1178 - Release Date: 12/8/2007
11:59 AM
 

No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition. 
Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.16.17/1178 - Release Date: 12/8/2007
11:59 AM