Bears Not Likely to Supplement Pass Rush.....

**soulman** · 09-01-2011, 01:36 PM

Bears see no need to supplement pass rush

Prepared to use patchwork lineup until Wootton comes back

Comments

By Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune reporter 11:27 p.m. CDT, August 31, 2011

The pass rush might not have produced much in the way of results the last time out but like the head coach, defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli doesn't seem overly concerned.

Of course, it's a results-driven business and close won't count for the pass rush Sept. 11 against the Falcons' Matt Ryan.

"Some of the moves were real good, the ball was coming out quick a little bit but still not what I want," Marinelli said. "But one thing you constantly look at is your third-down conversions and that's when we rushed and covered a lot in that area. We've been good at that, and we've been good at that this preseason.

"I just feel good about these guys, how they have worked and the movement they have. I just feel good about them."

Coach Lovie Smith was lukewarm about the Bears re-acquiring Alex Brown, and it's not believed the team has made any movement on that front.

Marinelli said defensive end Corey Wootton, who had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Aug. 16, could return to practice next week. Whether or not that puts him on pace to play against the Falcons as the third end remains to be seen. If Wootton isn't ready, Marinelli can pick between defensive tackles Henry Melton and Amobi Okoye.

"I like Mario (Addison), he's kind of in the mix right now, and so that's what we have," Marinelli said. "I feel good about those guys. It sounds like Corey's going to start getting some work next week so we'll see where we're at."

Okoye, who has three sacks in exhibitions against second teamers, played some defensive end last season for the Texans when Mario Williams missed the final three games with a sports hernia. Okoye isn't an ideal fit but neither is Melton, who projects to start at under tackle.

"As a defensive lineman, you just try to learn all the positions anyway as far as assignments go," Okoye said. "Obviously, you want to concentrate on your position."

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**soulman** · 09-01-2011, 01:41 PM

Doesn't sound like Alex Brown will be coming back home does it? The fact that Marinelli mentions Addison by name fills in one more spot on that final 53 man roster. He's it. Seemingly good news about Wootton but I'm not getting my hopes up that he'll be anywhere near he was in camp before the injury, ah well. I don't like the idea of shifting one of our UT's out to DE but I guess it's better than bringing in Alex just to cut him again once Wootton returns.

Let's hope all of the DE's stay healthy this year because beyond Izzy and Pep there's nothing much in the way of a sure thing.

**Blue Horse-shoe** · 09-02-2011, 01:08 AM

So Nick Reed has been making plays yet he's on the bubble cuz he's considered undersized for DE. Yet with all the quickness... I wonder if he just might make a decent LB. Seems quick enough to me and there are several LB's in the league who are the same size. Just a thought ( some might think a dumb one ) but with our perceived depth issues at LB ......... Wonder if this thought has ever crossed one of the coaches minds ( probably not ) .
Too small for DE, too slow for LB right ? Yet .... he hasn't been tried there. Ah well , just trying to figure out a way to keep him on the roster.

**bakb** · 09-02-2011, 02:47 AM

I really like Mario Addison hope he makes the team. I hope we cut Harrison im tired of him and his lack of caring and attitude and he isnt very good

**Bantam50** · 09-02-2011, 09:35 AM

Question for those more familiar with the way NFL contracts work. Listening to WGN the other day and David Haugh was on and he made it sound like if the Bears, or another team, were interested in signing Alex Brown or another veteran DL it makes more financial sense to do so after the first game than it would before the season starts. Like if they did it now they'd have to pick up some of the $$ in his current deal but if they waited they could sign him to a totally new deal that starts at that point. Does anybody know it that is true? I could have misunderstood what he was saying, of course, but if this is the case could this be why the Bears are waiting to spend their cap money on veteran FA's?

Thanks

**short faced bear** · 09-02-2011, 09:45 AM

If the O line can continue to run the ball effectively that will help time of possession which should help mitigate keeping the DE's fresh. Who gets the 9th D line spot Reed and Addison on PS or vice versa?

**soulman** · 09-02-2011, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by Blue Horse-shoe

So Nick Reed has been making plays yet he's on the bubble cuz he's considered undersized for DE. Yet with all the quickness... I wonder if he just might make a decent LB. Seems quick enough to me and there are several LB's in the league who are the same size. Just a thought ( some might think a dumb one ) but with our perceived depth issues at LB ......... Wonder if this thought has ever crossed one of the coaches minds ( probably not ) .
Too small for DE, too slow for LB right ? Yet .... he hasn't been tried there. Ah well , just trying to figure out a way to keep him on the roster.

It's not only his quickness but whether or not he can cover is also a huge factor in this defense. In a 3-4 he may be able to play LB but probably not in our 4-3. I still like what I've seen from him more than what I've seen from Addison though and there isn't a huge size difference between them. Couple of inches in height and about 12-15 lbs in weight. The Broncos Elvis Dumervil is about Reeds size and he's a monster pass rusher.

**soulman** · 09-02-2011, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by Bantam50

Question for those more familiar with the way NFL contracts work. Listening to WGN the other day and David Haugh was on and he made it sound like if the Bears, or another team, were interested in signing Alex Brown or another veteran DL it makes more financial sense to do so after the first game than it would before the season starts. Like if they did it now they'd have to pick up some of the $$ in his current deal but if they waited they could sign him to a totally new deal that starts at that point. Does anybody know it that is true? I could have misunderstood what he was saying, of course, but if this is the case could this be why the Bears are waiting to spend their cap money on veteran FA's?

Thanks

No it's not true Bantam. Once a player has been cut by his former team his contract with that team is terminated. There are no residual financial responsibilties left for any other team to pick up. The player is a free agent and can negotiate a new deal with another team for whatever he can get.

**short faced bear** · 09-02-2011, 01:10 PM

I want to see if Rod can develop these very raw DE's. I think he can but it's going to take awhile plus they need to bulk up just a bit.

**Bantam50** · 09-02-2011, 01:15 PM

Originally Posted by soulman

No it's not true Bantam. Once a player has been cut by his former team his contract with that team is terminated. There are no residual financial responsibilties left for any other team to pick up. The player is a free agent and can negotiate a new deal with another team for whatever he can get.

Thanks, Soulman! Didn't make sense to me that it would work that way and seemed counter-productive to bring a player in after the first game and try to work them in.

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