[CBFF] Bears' 'O': 'Core is still in place' :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES ::Bears - Sent Using Google Toolbar

[Phil DeNomme]

Either they are all delusional or stupid cause I don't see any sort of core
on offense outside of Hester, Olsen and maybe Clark

Future core guys...

QB: no
RB: no
OL: hell no
WR:  Hester
TE:  Olsen

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From: cbff-bounces at chicagobearsfanforum.com
[mailto:cbff-bounces at chicagobearsfanforum.com] On Behalf Of Tom Shannon
Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2008 9:07 AM
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Subject: [CBFF] Bears' 'O': 'Core is still in place' :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
::Bears - Sent Using Google Toolbar

Bears' 'O': 'Core is still in place' :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Bears

Bears' 'O': 'Core is still in place'
 SOUND FAMILIAR? | Team plans to emphasize offense in draft, but Smith
insists it's not rebuilding



April 3, 2008

 Recommend (4)

BY MIKE MULLIGAN mmulligan at suntimes.com

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Clean-shaven, relaxed and optimistic as ever,
Bears coach Lovie Smith conceded Wednesday that his team has some
holes on offense that will have to be filled in the draft, but he
refused to use a certain word he despises during a media breakfast at
the NFL owners meetings.

''I don't think it's rebuilding,'' Smith said of a troubling offseason
for the offense that has seen the team release wide receiver Muhsin
Muhammad and tackle Fred Miller, lose wide receiver Bernard Berrian in
free agency and opt not to bring guard Ruben Brown back.

> Click to enlarge image
Bears' head coach Lovie Smith
(Tom Cruze/Sun-Times)


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With uncertainty at quarterback, running back, wide receiver and on
the line, it's no wonder the Bears are planning to load up on offense
in the draft. Nonetheless, Smith remains a believer.

''We have lost some good players, but our core is still in place,'' he
said. ''Olin Kreutz is the anchor of our team; he's still in his same
[center] position. We have three offensive linemen coming back. Even
though we have a QB battle, we have guys that have played there for
us.

''And defensively we have everyone coming back. We are losing some
guys, but our core is in place.''

The Bears had the league's best special teams units the last two
seasons, so their problem is not depth. It's front-line talent,
particularly at the skill positions, where general manager Jerry
Angelo was stumped during his postseason news conference when asked to
name the building blocks.

''I can't really sit here and say who do I feel 100 percent about,''
Angelo said. ''You know. Anybody.''

Smith conceded he can't name the starting offensive line or identify
who will emerge as playmakers.

''I can see why Jerry said that because we're talking about getting
No. 1 running back production; we didn't get that this past year,''
Smith said. ''We lost Bernard Berrian. We need some of our guys to
step up and fill those positions. From the Mark Bradleys to the Devin
Hesters, we will have some guys who will step up. We haven't talked
about our tight end position at all. It is strong with Des Clark and
Greg Olsen.

''If we give our offense a little bit of time and we plug a few guys
in, we can be very productive.''

The Bears have spent virtually the same value of their draft picks
under Angelo on offense as defense, yet they are getting much better
value on defense. In other words, they won't be merely drafting
offense this year -- they will be re-drafting. The wish list includes
positions where they already used high picks without getting much
payoff, such as wide receiver Bradley, lineman Terrence Metcalf,
quarterback Rex Grossman and running back Cedric Benson.

''Sometimes, for whatever reason, defensive players come around a
little quicker,'' Smith said. ''I can't say it's like that everwhere,
but for some reason, our defensive players have played a little
quicker, reached a certain point a little quicker.

''But these players you talk about offensively, we haven't cut any of
them. We still think they are going to come around, hopefully this
year.''

Smith believes that process will be greatly aided by open competition.
He said players understand ''you go 7-9, and something isn't right.''
The coach known for declarative statements about the team's
quarterbacks said every job is open, regardless of position or how
well a player did last year. He went so far as to say Brian Urlacher
has to earn his starting spot.

''That has been our philosophy throughout,'' Smith said.

Among the interesting tidbits from Smith were the following:

.    .    Mike Brown is penciled in as the starting free safety, with
competition at strong safety between Brandon McGowan, Kevin Payne,
Danieal Manning and Adam Archuleta. Manning isn't a strong safety, but
Smith said the positions are virtually interchangeable.

.    .    Hester will get a more prominent role on offense but not at
the expense of his return role. Tight ends Clark and Olsen also will
have expanded roles in the offense.

.    .    The Bears didn't consider cutting Benson in the offseason,
but Smith admitted this is an important year for the former No. 4
pick. Benson is rehabbing from a broken left leg just above the ankle
that required a metal plate and screws. He should return before
training camp.

.    .    The quarterback battle between Grossman and Kyle Orton could
go well into camp before a decision is made, and Smith wouldn't rule
out opening the competition to a rookie draft pick, though he said
that's not ideal.

.    .    There will be stiff competition between Alex Brown and Mark
Anderson at right defensive end, but both will play a lot.

.    .    Israel Idonije will get more playing time at defensive tackle.


By the book
 The NFL instituted a slew of new rules at the conclusion of the
annual owners meetings in Palm Beach, Fla., on Wednesday, but owners
couldn't agree on a proposal to reseed the playoffs and allow a
wild-card team to host a division champion with a worse record. That
idea was tabled for later discussion. These rule changes were
approved:
 .   .   A direct snap from center that goes backward will be treated
as a fumble instead of a false start. The Bears benefitted from the
old interpretation last season in a victory at Philadelphia.
.   .   Force-out calls on pass completions near the sidelines were
eliminated. Receivers must get two feet in bounds unless they are
actually carried out of bounds by a tackler.
 .   .   The league adopted the college rule on the opening coin toss
in which a team can defer its decision until the second half. College
coaches opted to defer 97 percent of the time last year.
.   .   Instant replay can be used to review certain field goals,
including attempts that bounce off the uprights, such as the one
Cleveland's Phil Dawson made last year. Previously, no field-goal
attempt could be reviewed.
 .   .   The five-yard penalty for incidental grabbing of the facemask
was eliminated. Officials will call only the major foul that involves
twisting or grabbing the facemask and requires a 15-yard penalty.
Mike Mulligan

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