** Official Chicago Bears Offseason thread ** (1 Viewer)

[3nOut]

Agree with your assessment twistd, however I just think that the Bears have too many holes to fill to just concentrate on one offensive group. Question: There was a lot of talk that the Bears would not carry 4 RBs on their opening day roster. If that's the case, what is going to happen with Benson, Forte, Peterson, Wolfe?

Is Benson tradeable? Who could use him? Miami? Detroit? Houston? What can we get for him? And no "bag of peanuts" replies here please. Seriously, what can we get for him?

 

[flapgreen]

So we draft a TE (two great starters now) and a DE (three great starters now) but there isn't one QB out there worth taking a shot on, given that we don't have a single starting caliber QB? Dude, they started out right and after the first pick in the third just lost their freaking minds. The only thing I can think of is that they know someone they can get through FA after June 1 cuts. This is unbelievable.

Not gonna happen either. I'm not surprised at all though

 

[sholditch]

I think Wolfe will be called a DB and play exclusively on special teams. That's my guess. Or Peterson is traded or cut. We all know who should be cut out of that group but it's not going to happen.

The TE pick was the most inexcusable of the draft. We still do have Desmond Clark, right? What need is there at that position? We have two TEs that could start on any team in the NFL, and two QBs who couldn't start for any team in the NFL. That is just bad roster management. Period.

 

[flapgreen]

I may be in the minority here, but I gave up on the Bears draft when they selected Forte in round 2. Don't get me wrong he's a solid player, but not in the 2nd round. Angelo should be fired.

Not alone but expected it

 

[sholditch]

Agree with your assessment twistd, however I just think that the Bears have too many holes to fill to just concentrate on one offensive group. Question: There was a lot of talk that the Bears would not carry 4 RBs on their opening day roster. If that's the case, what is going to happen with Benson, Forte, Peterson, Wolfe?

Is Benson tradeable? Who could use him? Miami? Detroit? Houston? What can we get for him? And no "bag of peanuts" replies here please. Seriously, what can we get for him?

If you seriously think that Benson has any NFL value right now I don't know what to tell you. Especially when guys like SA and Kevin Jones are floating around in FA. Seriously, trade Benson?

 

[flapgreen]

Bears signed lefty Nick Hill, QB from SIU as an UDFA.

Here's the scouting report on Nick Hill. My favorites are in bold. Really shows you how much of a priority Angelo felt the QB position was. Nick Hill Scouting Report

Position: QB

School & Year/Status: Southern Illinois - Senior

Height & Weight: 6'3 - 214 lbs.

2008 NFL Draft Prospect - Scouting Report

Hill originally attended Western Kentucky University on a basketball scholarship, but transferred to Southern Illinois University in 2004. He appeared in four games in 2005, mainly on mop up duties, throwing only 20 passes (completing 12 for 288 yards and three TDs). He also rushed for 102 yards on nine carries. Hill became SIU's starting quarterback in 2006, starting all of the school's thirteen games and throwing for 1,721 yards on 196 attempts. He completed 121 of those for a competition percentage of 61.7, with 15 TDs and 4 interceptions. He also rushed for 382 yards and six TDs on 91 carries. Again, Hill started all of SIU's 14 games in 2007, recording his best season as a passer. He threw for 3,175 yards, while completing 258 of 361 passed attempted for an impressive 71.5 competition percentage. He threw for 28 TDs and seven INTs and was invited to the Texas vs. The Nation All Star Classic.

Hill has a good quarterback frame. He is very accurate in the short-to-medium range area and is not afraid of taking off when the protection breakdowns. Hill has a real passion for the game. Although, his arm strength is below average and he has poor passing mechanics. His footwork needs a lot of correction. Hill does not posses any significant QB trait and is very limited athletically.

Hill was regarded at best as a free agent prospect when the season began. He showed a lot of improvement during the season, but continued to struggle (mostly because of poor arm strength) at the Classic. Nevertheless, Hill is a very accurate passer. He is the type of QB that usually finds a way to hang onto a third string job for quite a while. It would not be surprising if he made a roster, but should be drafted late in the seventh round of the draft. Hill could really be something if he is allowed to develop for a few years.

 

[Rounders]

I think Wolfe will be called a DB and play exclusively on special teams. That's my guess. Or Peterson is traded or cut. We all know who should be cut out of that group but it's not going to happen.The TE pick was the most inexcusable of the draft. We still do have Desmond Clark, right? What need is there at that position? We have two TEs that could start on any team in the NFL, and two QBs who couldn't start for any team in the NFL. That is just bad roster management. Period.

I don't have any problem with Wolfe being labeled a special teams player, it's just interested that they are going to keep 4 RBs on the roster, no matter what you call it.

 

[flapgreen]

Reading in the Trib this morning, I found it interesting that they were saying the QB the Bears were interested in was Booty from USC and no mention of Henne.

Guess they were waiting to pick him up as a FA.

 

[sholditch]

One GREAT pick that they're not getting credit for is Marcus Monk. He was injured almost all of last year but if healthy, this guy has all the skills to be an elite receiver.

From Kiper's grade:

With his height, Arkansas WR Marcus Monk could be a red zone threat and he qualifies as a very good seventh-round pick. He looked like a second-rounder after his junior year, and ran a 4.42 in the 40-yard dash, which is excellent for a 6-foot-4, 220-pound receiver.

from Rivals:

The Good: Monk has strong hands and utilizes his big frame well to adjust to the ball. He shows toughness running across the middle and has the ability to hang on to the ball after taking a hit. He has all the makings of a fine possession receiver.

The Bad: Monk has marginal separation speed. He underwent two minor surgeries on his knee last summer and didn’t play his senior year until midway through the season. His lack of quickness off the line is a concern.

from ESPN:

Overall: In his first three seasons at Arkansas (2004-06), Monk appeared in 36 games (31 starts), grabbing 122 receptions for 2,007 yards (16.4 average) and 24 touchdowns. In seven games (five starts) as a senior, he had just 16 catches for 144 yards and three touchdowns after missing six of the Razorbacks' first seven games following two offseason knee surgeries. Bottom line: Monk is one of the biggest wide receiver prospects in the 2008 senior class, he moves well for his size and he's just fast enough to stretch the field. In fact, he projected to go as early as the third round at the start of the season but injuries hindered him all year and he didn't show the same knack for making big plays when he was on the field. At this point, Monk projects as a sixth or seventh round pick.

Monk didn't play until halfway through last season, and played on a run-first, second, and third team. But I have watched this guy for years, and he (again IF HEALTHY) has a really good chance to be a starting WR, even WR1. He's fast, big, tough, and was widely regarded as the second-best receiver in the SEC, second to Earl Bennett. I really, really like the WR picks that we got out of this draft and what we paid for them. In 2009 we could see Bennett at WR1 and Monk at WR2.

ETA: 2006 college stats

50 rec 962 19.2 11 tds

Again, this was with the awesome combo of Mitch Mustain and Casey **** at QB, and McFadden and Jones getting the ball 3 plays out of 4.

 

[Red Apples]

A monkey could have made the Bears picks-

They didn't work the Draft, they didn't manipulate the situation to their favor.

Instead they stockpiled five 7th Round Draft Choices and then grabbed a Rookie QB after the Draft that won't push either Grossman or Orton.

 

[flapgreen]

1 O-lineman and no qb's. BRILLIANT!!!!!!

 

[3nOut]

You guys are killing me. All this neagativity is unbelievable. I'm surprised you all don't have a job in the NFL. I wasn't 100% satisfied with the draft, but c'mon, it was a decent draft. Here's what people who are actually paid to do this are saying:

Rick Gosselin - dallasnews.com

GRADE: A

The Bears subscribe to the big-school drafting philosophy and found quality throughout the draft. WR Bennett in the third, S Steltz in the fourth, CB Bowman in the fifth and WR Monk in the seventh were all value picks.

Mel Kiper Jr. - ESPNGRADE: B

Chris Williams is the left tackle the Bears need from a pass-protection standpoint, and he'll start as a rookie. Matt Forte is a hard-nosed running back. He's not flashy, but he's elusive. I like what the Bears did on Day 2, starting with Vanderbilt WR Earl Bennett, who reminds me of Hines Ward. Arkansas DT Marcus Harrison lasted until the third round because of some off-field concerns, and Nebraska's Zack Bowman is a big corner who was once projected as a first-round pick, before he suffered injuries to both knees. LSU safety Craig Steltz -- who reminds me of former Bear Doug Plank -- will be a solid special teams player and could push for a starting job. With his height, Arkansas WR Marcus Monk could be a red zone threat and he qualifies as a very good seventh-round pick. He looked like a second-rounder after his junior year, and ran a 4.42 in the 40-yard dash, which is excellent for a 6-foot-4, 220-pound receiver. Tight end Kellen Davis has tremendous athletic ability but he needs to be more consistent.

Pete Prisco - cbssportsline.comGRADE: B+

Best pick: Third-round pick Marcus Harrison will become a force in the middle of their defense. Some off-field issues prevented him from being a higher selection.

Questionable move: Taking tackle Chris Williams with the 14th pick in the first round came after several teams took him off their boards for medical reasons (back). Chicago better hope that doesn't become a problem.

Second-day gem: I love tight end Kellen Davis, whom the Bears selected in the fifth round. He's a strong, athletic player.

Overall grade: B+. Aside from the questions about Williams, they did a nice job. Harrison will make this draft.

John Czarnecki - foxsports.comGRADE: A

The Bears may have been tempted to replace departed receiver Bernard Berrian in the first round, but instead may have found their slot receiver in Vanderbilt's Earl Bennett in the third round. Bennett is the first SEC receiver to have 75 receptions for three straight seasons. Top pick Chris Williams has the ability and feet to be a starting left tackle — he allowed only two sacks over a two-year period and almost 1,600 plays. The Bears allowed 43 sacks last season. Williams dominated most drills at the Senior Bowl. Arkansas DT Marcus Harrison was a need, and he played last season on a tender knee that had surgery in the spring. Harrison has first-round talent, but seventh-round character. LSU safety Craig Steltz will remind older Bears fans of Gary Fencik with his tremendous run support. Tulane RB Matt Forte was a need, considering the injury history of Cedric Benson.

 

[flapgreen]

Agree with your assessment twistd, however I just think that the Bears have too many holes to fill to just concentrate on one offensive group. Question: There was a lot of talk that the Bears would not carry 4 RBs on their opening day roster. If that's the case, what is going to happen with Benson, Forte, Peterson, Wolfe?

Is Benson tradeable? Who could use him? Miami? Detroit? Houston? What can we get for him? And no "bag of peanuts" replies here please. Seriously, what can we get for him?

4th rounder? Don't know how his contract would play into the situation either. We might eat more than it would be worth. @ bag of peanuts

 

[flapgreen]

You guys are killing me. All this neagativity is unbelievable. I'm surprised you all don't have a job in the NFL. I wasn't 100% satisfied with the draft, but c'mon, it was a decent draft. Here's what people who are actually paid to do this are saying:

Rick Gosselin - dallasnews.com

GRADE: A

The Bears subscribe to the big-school drafting philosophy and found quality throughout the draft. WR Bennett in the third, S Steltz in the fourth, CB Bowman in the fifth and WR Monk in the seventh were all value picks.

Mel Kiper Jr. - ESPNGRADE: B

Chris Williams is the left tackle the Bears need from a pass-protection standpoint, and he'll start as a rookie. Matt Forte is a hard-nosed running back. He's not flashy, but he's elusive. I like what the Bears did on Day 2, starting with Vanderbilt WR Earl Bennett, who reminds me of Hines Ward. Arkansas DT Marcus Harrison lasted until the third round because of some off-field concerns, and Nebraska's Zack Bowman is a big corner who was once projected as a first-round pick, before he suffered injuries to both knees. LSU safety Craig Steltz -- who reminds me of former Bear Doug Plank -- will be a solid special teams player and could push for a starting job. With his height, Arkansas WR Marcus Monk could be a red zone threat and he qualifies as a very good seventh-round pick. He looked like a second-rounder after his junior year, and ran a 4.42 in the 40-yard dash, which is excellent for a 6-foot-4, 220-pound receiver. Tight end Kellen Davis has tremendous athletic ability but he needs to be more consistent.

Pete Prisco - cbssportsline.comGRADE: B+

Best pick: Third-round pick Marcus Harrison will become a force in the middle of their defense. Some off-field issues prevented him from being a higher selection.

Questionable move: Taking tackle Chris Williams with the 14th pick in the first round came after several teams took him off their boards for medical reasons (back). Chicago better hope that doesn't become a problem.

Second-day gem: I love tight end Kellen Davis, whom the Bears selected in the fifth round. He's a strong, athletic player.

Overall grade: B+. Aside from the questions about Williams, they did a nice job. Harrison will make this draft.

John Czarnecki - foxsports.comGRADE: A

The Bears may have been tempted to replace departed receiver Bernard Berrian in the first round, but instead may have found their slot receiver in Vanderbilt's Earl Bennett in the third round. Bennett is the first SEC receiver to have 75 receptions for three straight seasons. Top pick Chris Williams has the ability and feet to be a starting left tackle — he allowed only two sacks over a two-year period and almost 1,600 plays. The Bears allowed 43 sacks last season. Williams dominated most drills at the Senior Bowl. Arkansas DT Marcus Harrison was a need, and he played last season on a tender knee that had surgery in the spring. Harrison has first-round talent, but seventh-round character. LSU safety Craig Steltz will remind older Bears fans of Gary Fencik with his tremendous run support. Tulane RB Matt Forte was a need, considering the injury history of Cedric Benson.

I don't base my opinions off what others say. 1 O-lineman and no qb is all that needs to be said

 

[RBM]

The 5th round picks are the only picks that bothered me. I really dont think you can argue with any of the first 5 picks. We needed the LT, we needed a rb, we needed a wr, we needed a big body in the middle of the d-line, and we needed a safety.

All were HUGE needs and I think we did very good at all those positions.

But then that 5th round came. We definitely couldve used a guard with one of those picks.

Overall though, Im happy. Im very excited about Forte.

 

[sholditch]

After watching Forte's highlight reels I am skeptical. He doesn't have breakaway speed and doesn't seem that powerful. His moves are average at best, and I think if you were to compare Benson's highlight reel from college to his (in a much tougher conference) you would see that Forte and Benson were very similar, except that Benson looked better in about every way. That being said, Forte is a second-round pick that won't kill us if he doesn't work out.

Benson college reel:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=r8UdgoNioIc

Forte college reel:

I'd be interested to hear anything that anyone sees as reason to be more excited about him than we had for benson.

First I heard about Williams' back. Anyone have more info about this?

ETA: This is from the yahoo report on the Bears draft:

Second-round pick Matt Forte seems more like a replacement for running back Cedric Benson than a complement.

Not just because the 6-foot-1, 217-pound Tulane product is similar—more of a tough, power runner than a breakaway threat—but because Benson’s coming off a fractured ankle. The organization is disappointed in his production and injury history since he was the fourth overall pick in 2005.

“I felt like our running game obviously was one of the weak spots on our football team,” Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said after tabbing Forte 44th overall. “He gives us a big back; a three-down back. He’s got enough speed to get to the outside, and he has the ability to make people miss at the second level. Those two areas where we could really never find any consistency, which made us an easy team to defend.”

Forte bounced back from left knee surgery in 2006 to rush for 2,127 yards last season, second best in the nation. He averaged 5.9 yards on 361 carries, scored 23 touchdowns and also caught 32 passes for 282 yards.

Forte doesn’t have top-end speed, and he ran a pedestrian 4.59 40-yard dash at his pro day, but he has been timed as low as 4.46. He has good vision and run instincts with good cutback ability and is also an effective receiver with soft hands, although not great run-after-the-catch ability.

Benson, Adrian Peterson and Garrett Wolfe combined last season for the lowest average gain per carry in the NFL (3.1 yards) and the Bears were 30th of 32 teams in rushing yards. Benson, who averaged 3.4 yards per carry last season, didn’t have a run longer than 16 yards until the 10th game of the season, and he suffered the season-ending injury in the next game.

“Maybe he’s not the featured back we thought he’d be,” Angelo said of Benson. “He’s had those injuries. When we thought we were starting to see a little something, then he breaks his ankle. I and the coaches felt we needed to make sure that we protected that position.”

Forte will have every opportunity to take the No. 1 job because the Bears see him as a complete, three-down back.

How on earth can they realize this about Benson and not about Grossman? They've had Grossman longer, he's been hurt more...I just don't get it.

 

[DoubleG]

You guys are killing me. All this neagativity is unbelievable. I'm surprised you all don't have a job in the NFL. I wasn't 100% satisfied with the draft, but c'mon, it was a decent draft. Here's what people who are actually paid to do this are saying:

Rick Gosselin - dallasnews.com

GRADE: A

The Bears subscribe to the big-school drafting philosophy and found quality throughout the draft. WR Bennett in the third, S Steltz in the fourth, CB Bowman in the fifth and WR Monk in the seventh were all value picks.

Mel Kiper Jr. - ESPNGRADE: B

Chris Williams is the left tackle the Bears need from a pass-protection standpoint, and he'll start as a rookie. Matt Forte is a hard-nosed running back. He's not flashy, but he's elusive. I like what the Bears did on Day 2, starting with Vanderbilt WR Earl Bennett, who reminds me of Hines Ward. Arkansas DT Marcus Harrison lasted until the third round because of some off-field concerns, and Nebraska's Zack Bowman is a big corner who was once projected as a first-round pick, before he suffered injuries to both knees. LSU safety Craig Steltz -- who reminds me of former Bear Doug Plank -- will be a solid special teams player and could push for a starting job. With his height, Arkansas WR Marcus Monk could be a red zone threat and he qualifies as a very good seventh-round pick. He looked like a second-rounder after his junior year, and ran a 4.42 in the 40-yard dash, which is excellent for a 6-foot-4, 220-pound receiver. Tight end Kellen Davis has tremendous athletic ability but he needs to be more consistent.

Pete Prisco - cbssportsline.comGRADE: B+

Best pick: Third-round pick Marcus Harrison will become a force in the middle of their defense. Some off-field issues prevented him from being a higher selection.

Questionable move: Taking tackle Chris Williams with the 14th pick in the first round came after several teams took him off their boards for medical reasons (back). Chicago better hope that doesn't become a problem.

Second-day gem: I love tight end Kellen Davis, whom the Bears selected in the fifth round. He's a strong, athletic player.

Overall grade: B+. Aside from the questions about Williams, they did a nice job. Harrison will make this draft.

John Czarnecki - foxsports.comGRADE: A

The Bears may have been tempted to replace departed receiver Bernard Berrian in the first round, but instead may have found their slot receiver in Vanderbilt's Earl Bennett in the third round. Bennett is the first SEC receiver to have 75 receptions for three straight seasons. Top pick Chris Williams has the ability and feet to be a starting left tackle — he allowed only two sacks over a two-year period and almost 1,600 plays. The Bears allowed 43 sacks last season. Williams dominated most drills at the Senior Bowl. Arkansas DT Marcus Harrison was a need, and he played last season on a tender knee that had surgery in the spring. Harrison has first-round talent, but seventh-round character. LSU safety Craig Steltz will remind older Bears fans of Gary Fencik with his tremendous run support. Tulane RB Matt Forte was a need, considering the injury history of Cedric Benson.

I don't base my opinions off what others say. 1 O-lineman and no qb is all that needs to be said

The Bears were 15th in the NFL in passing offense last year and that was with Griese and Orton playing significant time. Compare that to the fact that the Beras were 30th in rushing offense and 28th in total defense. There were many things that needed help. To say that QB needed to be addressed more than some of the other holes (namely, RB, DT, S, etc) is simply not paying attention.

 

[twistd]

Agree with your assessment twistd, however I just think that the Bears have too many holes to fill to just concentrate on one offensive group. Question: There was a lot of talk that the Bears would not carry 4 RBs on their opening day roster. If that's the case, what is going to happen with Benson, Forte, Peterson, Wolfe?

The problem is that you can't do things sort of well. With a terrible receiving core and two questionable QBs, you better be able to run the ball. Last year the Bears were 30th in rushing yards. Williams at LT and Tait moving to RT improves them some, but they still have weak guards. In their division the Packers and the Vikings have very good defenses. To dominate the line of scrimmage against those defensive fronts takes more than just a solid line. It takes a very good offensive line, and the Bears don't have that. These improvements may make them average or above. That isn't good enough if you have no #1 receiver, and a bunch of #2,#3, and #4 receivers. Not to mention weak QBs throwing to them. If you can't fix all the problems in a single year then do a really good job of fixing the most important problem, the offensive line. With the addition of Forte perhaps they have a chance of improving the running game, but I don't think they did enough with the line to make that happen.

 

[RBM]

After watching Forte's highlight reels I am skeptical. He doesn't have breakaway speed and doesn't seem that powerful. His moves are average at best, and I think if you were to compare Benson's highlight reel from college to his (in a much tougher conference) you would see that Forte and Benson were very similar, except that Benson looked better in about every way. That being said, Forte is a second-round pick that won't kill us if he doesn't work out.

Benson college reel:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=r8UdgoNioIc

Forte college reel:

Benson didnt fail because of lack of talent.

 

[twistd]

Agree with your assessment twistd, however I just think that the Bears have too many holes to fill to just concentrate on one offensive group. Question: There was a lot of talk that the Bears would not carry 4 RBs on their opening day roster. If that's the case, what is going to happen with Benson, Forte, Peterson, Wolfe?

Is Benson tradeable? Who could use him? Miami? Detroit? Houston? What can we get for him? And no "bag of peanuts" replies here please. Seriously, what can we get for him?

No one in the league believes Benson is worth anything. There are good backs who have produced, like Lamont Jordan, Shaun Alexander, and Kevin Jones, available. They can all be had for nothing or next to nothing. Why would anyone give up anything for Benson?

 

[DoubleG]

After watching Forte's highlight reels I am skeptical. He doesn't have breakaway speed and doesn't seem that powerful. His moves are average at best, and I think if you were to compare Benson's highlight reel from college to his (in a much tougher conference) you would see that Forte and Benson were very similar, except that Benson looked better in about every way. That being said, Forte is a second-round pick that won't kill us if he doesn't work out.

Benson college reel:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=r8UdgoNioIc

Forte college reel:

 

[sholditch]

Maybe that's true but both were regarded as slow, north-south bruiser back types going in.

 

[TitusIII]

Williams is an excellent pass blocker, took all the SEC had to throw at him and dominated, should be a staple at LT for the next decade....

Forte is the starter from day 1, as Bears fans, we should know better to question RB's from small schools...

Forte seems to have that awareness that is very hard to describe with words...seems like a good bet to produce, barring injury...in fact, I haven't been as "sure" about a Bears RB prospect in the past 15 years...something about him screams stud RB...

After that, as the draft is for a every team, it's a crap shoot...check back in 3 years...

Kellen Lewis is a freak athlete, and by some accounts Harrison had first day talent, but off the field issues hinder him...

I think the lines will be fine, solid at the T/C position, hope the guards can step up...defensively, the team simply needs to stay healthy, a top 5 defense is still hiding under the cloud of injury...

Some youtube clips of the Bears newest players...sorry if some have been posted

Chris Williams(LT-Vanderbilt 6-6 320)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=7KM-dz56vY8

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Geu174T1OGg

Matt Forte(RB-Tulane 6-1 220)

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Fvlcqe_5MqY

http://youtube.com/watch?v=pEfWGej1Na8

You don't see many RB's that can "shimmy" like Forte, the more I watch, the more I pray he can stay healthy!

Earl Bennett (WR-Vanderbilt 5-11 190)

SEC career receptions leader, must have something in the tank...if he can be another Bobby Engram type, I'll be happy...

 

[Ditka is God]

I am pretty content with the Bears' draft. They addressed many of their needs, although intially I would have hoped they took a flier at a QB in the later rounds. But according to what has been said about this year's QB class, there weren't any sure things, but since it takes a year or so for a QB to be ready at this level, I was hoping they would take someone that can learn and fill the spot next year in case Rex and Orton fail.

That said, this shows me that the Bears organization is confident that one or the other will be able to do the job. I may be in the minority here, but I tend to agree. I still think they both are capable of being more than serviceable QBs. The Bears will never be a pass first team so stop hoping they will. If you want that, become a Patriots fan. All we need is a QB that controls the game, limits his mistakes, and keep defenses honest. If you look back, Rex played pretty well in the games where he wasn't under pressure. When he had no protection, he stunk. Hopefully things will get better after addressing two OL needs (Tait moving to the right side is included). Worst case scenario, Rex and Orton both fail miserably and the Bears are forced to look in a new direction next year. Next year's FAs include:

QB Jeff Garcia UFA Tampa Bay Buccaneers

QB David Garrard UFA Jacksonville Jaguars

QB J.P. Losman UFA Buffalo Bills

QB Kurt Warner UFA Arizona Cardinals

QB Byron Leftwich UFA Atlanta Falcons

These would be all decent FA signings for a year while a new rookie Qb is drafted and groomed next year. And if you say they're terrible, they couldn't be worse than Orton and Rex if they happen to fail (which i don't think both will).

Also possibly available would be Brady Quinn or one of GBs three QBs.

Didn't Garrard just sign a big extension?

 

[Christo]

3) The Bears are trying to win now. Drafting a QB who might be ready to start in 2-3 years isn't going to help in 2008 or even 2009.

I think Henne is a better QB than Grossman or Orton now.

 

[FairWarning]

After watching Forte's highlight reels I am skeptical. He doesn't have breakaway speed and doesn't seem that powerful. His moves are average at best, and I think if you were to compare Benson's highlight reel from college to his (in a much tougher conference) you would see that Forte and Benson were very similar, except that Benson looked better in about every way. That being said, Forte is a second-round pick that won't kill us if he doesn't work out.

Benson college reel:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=r8UdgoNioIc

Forte college reel:

Doug Buffone on The Score Friday said the Bears would pick Forte in the second round. Sometimes players like Benson have bad work habits because everything came easily in college. Line was much better than the opponents, he can overpower everyone. After TJ left, something happened. Didn't have the drive or whatever. One thing about Forte - he may be from a smaller conference, but he will have the drive and desire that was missing in Benson before the injury.

 

[FairWarning]

Can someone explain all the love for Henne? He seemed to underachieve if you look at all the talent that got drafted from Ann Arbor the last couple of years.

 

[Mister Martie]

3) The Bears are trying to win now. Drafting a QB who might be ready to start in 2-3 years isn't going to help in 2008 or even 2009.

I think Henne is a better QB than Grossman or Orton now.

No you don't.

 

[Mister Martie]

1 O-lineman

Count again.

 

[sholditch]

3-ol, one blue-chipper

 

[Bob Lee Swagger]

FWIW, the Bears signed UDFA QB Caleb Hanie from Colorado State yesterday. Kiper seems to love the kid, saying he could've been a 5th round pick.

Could be a developmental project for '09/'10?

 

[sholditch]

FWIW, the Bears signed UDFA QB Caleb Hanie from Colorado State yesterday. Kiper seems to love the kid, saying he could've been a 5th round pick.

Here's another thought: the falcons now have 4 QBs on the roster. They'll likely cut DJ Shockley. Maybe if he's recovered we could try him out. He was pretty awesome at UGA.

 

[ericttspikes]

Who knows if these guys will pan out, but I liked the draft. They addressed needs and got a ton of picks. As far as QBs go, I'm not sure if any of the QBs drafted this year are franchise material including Ryan or Flacco. This looked like a weak QB class. They liked the kid from SIU they just signed and knew he'd be available. Maybe Booty, Henne or Woodson will be Tom Brady type guys in the future, but I doubt it.

I don't care who they get, but they need a veteran back-up QB. Culpepper, Leftwich, anybody.

 

[ericttspikes]

After watching Forte's highlight reels I am skeptical. He doesn't have breakaway speed and doesn't seem that powerful. His moves are average at best, and I think if you were to compare Benson's highlight reel from college to his (in a much tougher conference) you would see that Forte and Benson were very similar, except that Benson looked better in about every way. That being said, Forte is a second-round pick that won't kill us if he doesn't work out.

Benson college reel:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=r8UdgoNioIc

Forte college reel:

Forte is a much better receiver. Forte had about 2x the amount of receptions in college, 103.

 

[hephner]

I think Wolfe will be called a DB and play exclusively on special teams. That's my guess. Or Peterson is traded or cut. We all know who should be cut out of that group but it's not going to happen.The TE pick was the most inexcusable of the draft. We still do have Desmond Clark, right? What need is there at that position? We have two TEs that could start on any team in the NFL, and two QBs who couldn't start for any team in the NFL. That is just bad roster management. Period.

Maybe I'm "misremembering", but I don't think Wolfe played much on special teams last year, besides limited duty as a KR, which he didn't seem to excel at, at least not moreso than a handful of others on the roster could, IMO. And he just seems way too overmatched when he carries the ball. His quickness didn't seem to come through as much as they had hoped. Plus he got lost in traffic almost every time they tried to set up screens for him. Peterson is a solid 3rd down back. Good receiver, decent blocker, knows the system. Will give you a few solid carries a game. Benson won't get cut...yet anyway. And Forte will likely be the starter or RB1 in an RBBC with by mid-season, if not much sooner. I'd be somewhat surprised if they do end up carrying 4 RBs, and I tend to think Wolfe will be the odd man out. If that's the case, then what a wasted pick that was last year.As for the TE, I think this was a pick taken because 1) he was a value play, as he was expected to go much sooner, 2) Gilmore, their top blocking TE is gone, leaving that 3rd TE slot open, 3) Desmond Clark won't be around much longer, and 4) Olsen is more of a TE/WR than a pure TE, and certainly won't be called upon to block much, kind of like a Dallas Clark type where they'll split him out wide at times to create mismatches, etc. I think they're looking for Kellen Davis to replace Gilmore's role for now, then eventually take over for Clark in a year or two and be another very solid TE.But I agree, that there were more pressing needs there. Hopefully one of other other late round O-linemen will pan out, but I'm definitely concerned about their guard situation this year.Also, I was hoping they'd take Josh Johnson, or at least John David Booty. Hopefully they sign a vet QB. Not much out there though. Leftwich would be who I hope they go after, if they can land him with a cheap, incentive-laden contract.

 

[Statcruncher]

The Bears leaving the draft without a QB is mind boggling to me. I seriously don't know how people who are supposed to be running this organization go season after season with their pants around their ankles at the QB spot. I need to quit waiting for the draft and starting counting the days until Grossman retires.

 

[mbuehner]

This would be a good draft for a good team. This was a bad draft for a bad team.

-I'd like to say that half these guys will never see the field, but unfortunately considering they took all their O-line depth in the 7th round, that probably wont be true. Keep in mind, the Bears have done virtually NOTHING between the tackles. Kruetz looked plain bad last season, maybe because he was overcompensating for crappy guards, maybe he's lost a couple steps. Garza is decent if healthy but Metcalf is bad. If the starters are questionable the backups are a disaster. Even a single injury on this line and you will see what you saw last season if not worse. There is NO depth here and not only did they spend only 1 real draftpick on the line, they did nothing in free agency. Williams was almost inevitable, but not taking another lineman in the first 4 rounds was a disaster.

-Forte reminds me greatly of Chris Brown without the top gear. That is not a compliment. He runs with his pads too high, he's gonna get killed out there.

-Bennett is a classic Bears receiver pick. On a good passing team he would be a valuable asset. On this squad he's just another guy. He should be studying Bobby Wade's career and start thinking about 2011. With this selection of QBs you better be flat out explosive to make any kind of impact, and Bennett isnt that.

-next picks went defense, defense, defense, tight end, defense. Enough said.

-Brohm and Booty are now in the NFC north. The force tells me this is not a coincidence.

Sorry to be negative, but i calls em likes I see's em. Angelo drafted like he had the Patriots roster, not the Bears. Next year will likely see the Bears filling just as many if not more holes, especially in the offense.

PS- how many defensive lineman can be on the field at one time? Just curious.

 

[sholditch]

Probably. It's almost like their ultimate desire is to prove to the league that the QB position doesn't matter..and they keep trying, no matter how many times they fail. In the past 20 years we have used three first-round picks on QBs. Those QBs were Rex Grossman, Cade McNown, and Jim Harbaugh. I think the organization has basically been scared straight.

 

[mbuehner]

Quick thought- maybe the Bears wouldnt need to roster 13 defensive linemen if they werent 30th in the league in time of possession and dead last in rushing.

 

[Christo]

3) The Bears are trying to win now. Drafting a QB who might be ready to start in 2-3 years isn't going to help in 2008 or even 2009.

I think Henne is a better QB than Grossman or Orton now.

No you don't.

Yeah, what was I thinking? Next time I'll have my fingers consult with my brain before typing.

 

[ConstruxBoy]

After watching Forte's highlight reels I am skeptical. He doesn't have breakaway speed and doesn't seem that powerful. His moves are average at best, and I think if you were to compare Benson's highlight reel from college to his (in a much tougher conference) you would see that Forte and Benson were very similar, except that Benson looked better in about every way. That being said, Forte is a second-round pick that won't kill us if he doesn't work out.

Benson college reel:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=r8UdgoNioIc

Forte college reel:

I personally think he's going to be great. Check out the play that starts at 0:26 in the link you posted. Heads right up the middle, with a great cut to the hole and then has the vision to cut back to the middle right by a bunch of traffic and break into the secondary, where it takes 3 guys about 10 yards (it seems) to drag him down. And yes, that was against LSU. You'll be happy.

 

[flapgreen]

You guys are killing me. All this neagativity is unbelievable. I'm surprised you all don't have a job in the NFL. I wasn't 100% satisfied with the draft, but c'mon, it was a decent draft. Here's what people who are actually paid to do this are saying:

Rick Gosselin - dallasnews.com

GRADE: A

The Bears subscribe to the big-school drafting philosophy and found quality throughout the draft. WR Bennett in the third, S Steltz in the fourth, CB Bowman in the fifth and WR Monk in the seventh were all value picks.

Mel Kiper Jr. - ESPNGRADE: B

Chris Williams is the left tackle the Bears need from a pass-protection standpoint, and he'll start as a rookie. Matt Forte is a hard-nosed running back. He's not flashy, but he's elusive. I like what the Bears did on Day 2, starting with Vanderbilt WR Earl Bennett, who reminds me of Hines Ward. Arkansas DT Marcus Harrison lasted until the third round because of some off-field concerns, and Nebraska's Zack Bowman is a big corner who was once projected as a first-round pick, before he suffered injuries to both knees. LSU safety Craig Steltz -- who reminds me of former Bear Doug Plank -- will be a solid special teams player and could push for a starting job. With his height, Arkansas WR Marcus Monk could be a red zone threat and he qualifies as a very good seventh-round pick. He looked like a second-rounder after his junior year, and ran a 4.42 in the 40-yard dash, which is excellent for a 6-foot-4, 220-pound receiver. Tight end Kellen Davis has tremendous athletic ability but he needs to be more consistent.

Pete Prisco - cbssportsline.comGRADE: B+

Best pick: Third-round pick Marcus Harrison will become a force in the middle of their defense. Some off-field issues prevented him from being a higher selection.

Questionable move: Taking tackle Chris Williams with the 14th pick in the first round came after several teams took him off their boards for medical reasons (back). Chicago better hope that doesn't become a problem.

Second-day gem: I love tight end Kellen Davis, whom the Bears selected in the fifth round. He's a strong, athletic player.

Overall grade: B+. Aside from the questions about Williams, they did a nice job. Harrison will make this draft.

John Czarnecki - foxsports.comGRADE: A

The Bears may have been tempted to replace departed receiver Bernard Berrian in the first round, but instead may have found their slot receiver in Vanderbilt's Earl Bennett in the third round. Bennett is the first SEC receiver to have 75 receptions for three straight seasons. Top pick Chris Williams has the ability and feet to be a starting left tackle — he allowed only two sacks over a two-year period and almost 1,600 plays. The Bears allowed 43 sacks last season. Williams dominated most drills at the Senior Bowl. Arkansas DT Marcus Harrison was a need, and he played last season on a tender knee that had surgery in the spring. Harrison has first-round talent, but seventh-round character. LSU safety Craig Steltz will remind older Bears fans of Gary Fencik with his tremendous run support. Tulane RB Matt Forte was a need, considering the injury history of Cedric Benson.

I don't base my opinions off what others say. 1 O-lineman and no qb is all that needs to be said

The Bears were 15th in the NFL in passing offense last year and that was with Griese and Orton playing significant time. Compare that to the fact that the Beras were 30th in rushing offense and 28th in total defense. There were many things that needed help. To say that QB needed to be addressed more than some of the other holes (namely, RB, DT, S, etc) is simply not paying attention.

Guess I'm not paying attention. Can you justify the 1 O-lineman? Is that and another big rb really gonna bolster our running attack?

Not sure where you're going with the 15th ranked passing offense stat. Stats obviously don't tell the whole story here. You really think we had anywhere near the 15th best group of qb's? If so, we can disagree. At least in the bottom 3 teams at the qb position, imo.

None of the positions you listed are a bigger need than the qb or O-line position. Our qb's have had multiple seasons to prove themselves and haven't, not even when our O line was playing well. Benson, on the other hand, has had 1 season as the starting rb to prove himself and that was behind an abysmal O-line and terrible qb; and I can't stand Benson. Thinking we need a rb, DT and S worse than a qb is not paying attention in my eyes

 

[flapgreen]

1 O-lineman

Count again.

Oh yeah. Forgot about our late 7th round pick.

 

[flapgreen]

all rookie qbs taken need seasoning-

we need to grab and develop a qb and create a better option at the position.

this is not a quick fix job

I agree. The Packers invested a first round pick in Rogers, but they still protected themselves with Brohm. The Bears can't be all that confident of Grossman or Orton. If you don't draft a QB then you are starting from scratch next year.

Gotta think Woodson or Brennan with the next pick.

Now there's some quality. 4th place in the NFC North is sewn up. Blew it on a QB this year and the 2009 class is worse.

Dramatic much?Come on, folks. Don't go all panicky because they didn't pick another QB. They have what they need at the position, they need to make their run now - not 5 years from now - which means they can't build their rn around star quality offense. They needed to shore up the o-line and get a running game going again along with a passable passing game. I think this draft did that.

They need to ensure that we can stop the run...don't forget that before all the defensive injuries (and legal problems), many of us were heading into last year thinking the Bears had not just one of the best but one of the deepest defensive units in the game. They still do. Sure, I'm a bit concerned about all of the prior injuries that the players Jerry drafted bring with them, bt all in all if just one or two pan out then I'd call this a heck of a draft.

My biggest concern now is not around players so much as play calling. Will the defense get back to doing what got them to the SB in '06? That's what I'm most worried about now...

3) The Bears are trying to win now. Drafting a QB who might be ready to start in 2-3 years isn't going to help in 2008 or even 2009.

WTH does this even mean? Have you ever heard of planning for the future while also remaining competitive? A lot of teams seem to understand it. Going by your explanation, we should never draft a qb because he won't be ready to lead the team for a couple seasons. I'm completely lost here. Our qb's suck and are not the long term answer. They've had multiple seasons to show this and haven't. Not drafting another one because he won't be ready for a couple seasons makes absolutely no sense. I don't think we could get much worse at the position anyway.

 

[-X-]

Chad Hutchinson and Craig Krenzel ring a bell? The only QB I really wanted us to take was Josh Johnson. I'm willing to put up with Grossman and Orton as long as our running game improves and we control the clock more effectively.

 

[The Dude]

You guys are killing me. All this neagativity is unbelievable. I'm surprised you all don't have a job in the NFL. I wasn't 100% satisfied with the draft, but c'mon, it was a decent draft. Here's what people who are actually paid to do this are saying:

Rick Gosselin - dallasnews.com

GRADE: A

The Bears subscribe to the big-school drafting philosophy and found quality throughout the draft. WR Bennett in the third, S Steltz in the fourth, CB Bowman in the fifth and WR Monk in the seventh were all value picks.

Mel Kiper Jr. - ESPNGRADE: B

Chris Williams is the left tackle the Bears need from a pass-protection standpoint, and he'll start as a rookie. Matt Forte is a hard-nosed running back. He's not flashy, but he's elusive. I like what the Bears did on Day 2, starting with Vanderbilt WR Earl Bennett, who reminds me of Hines Ward. Arkansas DT Marcus Harrison lasted until the third round because of some off-field concerns, and Nebraska's Zack Bowman is a big corner who was once projected as a first-round pick, before he suffered injuries to both knees. LSU safety Craig Steltz -- who reminds me of former Bear Doug Plank -- will be a solid special teams player and could push for a starting job. With his height, Arkansas WR Marcus Monk could be a red zone threat and he qualifies as a very good seventh-round pick. He looked like a second-rounder after his junior year, and ran a 4.42 in the 40-yard dash, which is excellent for a 6-foot-4, 220-pound receiver. Tight end Kellen Davis has tremendous athletic ability but he needs to be more consistent.

Pete Prisco - cbssportsline.comGRADE: B+

Best pick: Third-round pick Marcus Harrison will become a force in the middle of their defense. Some off-field issues prevented him from being a higher selection.

Questionable move: Taking tackle Chris Williams with the 14th pick in the first round came after several teams took him off their boards for medical reasons (back). Chicago better hope that doesn't become a problem.

Second-day gem: I love tight end Kellen Davis, whom the Bears selected in the fifth round. He's a strong, athletic player.

Overall grade: B+. Aside from the questions about Williams, they did a nice job. Harrison will make this draft.

John Czarnecki - foxsports.comGRADE: A

The Bears may have been tempted to replace departed receiver Bernard Berrian in the first round, but instead may have found their slot receiver in Vanderbilt's Earl Bennett in the third round. Bennett is the first SEC receiver to have 75 receptions for three straight seasons. Top pick Chris Williams has the ability and feet to be a starting left tackle — he allowed only two sacks over a two-year period and almost 1,600 plays. The Bears allowed 43 sacks last season. Williams dominated most drills at the Senior Bowl. Arkansas DT Marcus Harrison was a need, and he played last season on a tender knee that had surgery in the spring. Harrison has first-round talent, but seventh-round character. LSU safety Craig Steltz will remind older Bears fans of Gary Fencik with his tremendous run support. Tulane RB Matt Forte was a need, considering the injury history of Cedric Benson.

Let's not screw up a good whining and complaining thread with the opinions of the professionals

 

[Christo]

Chad Hutchinson and Craig Krenzel ring a bell?

What does this even mean?

 

[-X-]

Our qb's suck and are not the long term answer. They've had multiple seasons to show this and haven't. Not drafting another one because he won't be ready for a couple seasons makes absolutely no sense. I don't think we could get much worse at the position anyway.

That's what my response re: Hutchinson & Krenzel was directed at.

 

[flapgreen]

You guys are killing me. All this neagativity is unbelievable. I'm surprised you all don't have a job in the NFL. I wasn't 100% satisfied with the draft, but c'mon, it was a decent draft. Here's what people who are actually paid to do this are saying:

Rick Gosselin - dallasnews.com

GRADE: A

The Bears subscribe to the big-school drafting philosophy and found quality throughout the draft. WR Bennett in the third, S Steltz in the fourth, CB Bowman in the fifth and WR Monk in the seventh were all value picks.

Mel Kiper Jr. - ESPNGRADE: B

Chris Williams is the left tackle the Bears need from a pass-protection standpoint, and he'll start as a rookie. Matt Forte is a hard-nosed running back. He's not flashy, but he's elusive. I like what the Bears did on Day 2, starting with Vanderbilt WR Earl Bennett, who reminds me of Hines Ward. Arkansas DT Marcus Harrison lasted until the third round because of some off-field concerns, and Nebraska's Zack Bowman is a big corner who was once projected as a first-round pick, before he suffered injuries to both knees. LSU safety Craig Steltz -- who reminds me of former Bear Doug Plank -- will be a solid special teams player and could push for a starting job. With his height, Arkansas WR Marcus Monk could be a red zone threat and he qualifies as a very good seventh-round pick. He looked like a second-rounder after his junior year, and ran a 4.42 in the 40-yard dash, which is excellent for a 6-foot-4, 220-pound receiver. Tight end Kellen Davis has tremendous athletic ability but he needs to be more consistent.

Pete Prisco - cbssportsline.comGRADE: B+

Best pick: Third-round pick Marcus Harrison will become a force in the middle of their defense. Some off-field issues prevented him from being a higher selection.

Questionable move: Taking tackle Chris Williams with the 14th pick in the first round came after several teams took him off their boards for medical reasons (back). Chicago better hope that doesn't become a problem.

Second-day gem: I love tight end Kellen Davis, whom the Bears selected in the fifth round. He's a strong, athletic player.

Overall grade: B+. Aside from the questions about Williams, they did a nice job. Harrison will make this draft.

John Czarnecki - foxsports.comGRADE: A

The Bears may have been tempted to replace departed receiver Bernard Berrian in the first round, but instead may have found their slot receiver in Vanderbilt's Earl Bennett in the third round. Bennett is the first SEC receiver to have 75 receptions for three straight seasons. Top pick Chris Williams has the ability and feet to be a starting left tackle — he allowed only two sacks over a two-year period and almost 1,600 plays. The Bears allowed 43 sacks last season. Williams dominated most drills at the Senior Bowl. Arkansas DT Marcus Harrison was a need, and he played last season on a tender knee that had surgery in the spring. Harrison has first-round talent, but seventh-round character. LSU safety Craig Steltz will remind older Bears fans of Gary Fencik with his tremendous run support. Tulane RB Matt Forte was a need, considering the injury history of Cedric Benson.

Let's not screw up a good whining and complaining thread with the opinions of the professionals

Exactly. Because the professionals always get it right and anyone who disagrees with them is clueless.Also agree with the whining and complaining part. There's absolutely no reason doubt our team's drafting ability.

 

[flapgreen]

Chad Hutchinson and Craig Krenzel ring a bell?

What does this even mean?