Thread: Kreutz a free agent when NFL lockout ends

I think Olins time with the bears all fall on Jerry Angleo and is ability to dumpster dive for his replacement.

Originally Posted by soulman

So why would we be better off signing a FA who ranks lower than Kruetz on the FA scale? Why are we better off with a guy who doesn't know our offense and blocking schemes and would have to learn them in what may be a foreshortened preseason? Why would we be better off to sign a 29 year old FA when we could sign an UDFA for a fraction of the cost and let him apprentice behind Olin?

I just don't get how this would be an upgrade at all. In fact I see it just the opposite.

First off, let me just put out there that I don't want this guy, and I don't bring him up because I think he's the ideal OL to fill our needs. I just have a feeling the Bears will talk to him in the very least.
Second, if I were to find any positives in signing the guy it's that he would provide depth at both guard and center and being he's only 29, he would provide a better stopgap than Olin untill we can draft a real prospect to take over the position permenatly.

Originally Posted by soulman

That's the way it seems to be stacking up. They at least need to give Carimi a shot at LT before making any decision to move him elsewhere. To me Webb is the perfect RT and I've been saying this all along so I'm hoping they'll leave him alone to continue his development there.

The same with CWill. We need to find out whether this guy can play of not so leave him at LG for a year and let him take ownership if he can. If we bring in a vet OG he plays RG and that helps Webb in his development. Worst case scenario is that if CWill just can't cut it we move the vet OG to LG and reinsert Garza at RG.

Positioning them this way causes the least amount of dispruption in the ongoing development of Webb and CWill. It gives Carimi a chance to earn his stripes at the spot he ordinarily plays and was drafted to play. I still believe he can do it regardless of some scouts projections.

exactly soul- as keep saying webb can be the new big cat at RT.. a guy no one really cared about at draft( grnated big cat was a DT at time..lol) , but becomes a fixture for a long time at RT.. see no reason to move.

And sox brought up a good point about Blalock, in that 'at first" altanta thought blalock a bust after mod to Guard, but over time adapted to be very good at the position. Problem is so often in Cicago- patience is never given to someone to learn or adapt and get teh CHANCE to improve a 2nd year.. so have zero problem with at least letting him compete at LG again. and if like a blalock or gallery becomes a Guard, i'm fine with that

That's why like the Carimi-williams-kreutz-FA-Webb to start and have garza/omi/asiata/louis in reserves

Originally Posted by soulman

So why would we be better off signing a FA who ranks lower than Kruetz on the FA scale? Why are we better off with a guy who doesn't know our offense and blocking schemes and would have to learn them in what may be a foreshortened preseason? Why would we be better off to sign a 29 year old FA when we could sign an UDFA for a fraction of the cost and let him apprentice behind Olin?

I just don't get how this would be an upgrade at all. In fact I see it just the opposite.

agree 100% MUCH rather get a UDFA like barnes, o'dowd or kirpatrick( minimum salaries) and keep kreutz to mentor and go with the UDFA in 2012 hopefully.. then get a WORSE Center and have to pay him alot now and either cut/take a cap hit for unamortized Sb next year,, no logic in that at all

Originally Posted by soulman

OK, I got you but I still think were better off with starting from scratch with a rookie UDFA like Barnes, O'Dowd, etc. Jay Hilgenberg was one of the best OC's this team has ever had. Equal to Olin in every respect and we built him up from an UDFA so it is possible to get one and do that. EWill needs some serious competition for that backup/developmental spot IMO and if we really need vet backup who can double at OG we've got Garza.

For the same reason that he doesn't rate all that high as an OC he'll rate even lower as an OG. Let's get a plug in type who plays it for someone else already. A guy who's young and can give up 5-6 good years the way Garza has. At least that's my ideas for a plan.

Thing is, would an UDFA be ready to take over next year? If Olin does come back this season, odds are it's his last.
Again, I'm not pining for Spencer (think it's best I keep putting that disclaimer out) but I could see the merit of signing a guy like him to fill in till a better prospect can be drafted and developed.