WindyCity Mock Offseasonm
Originally I thought that this draft could be used to add defensive depth and tweak some things, but the injuries to Cutler and Forte have made it painfully obvious that the Bears need to increase the talent level on offense. Cutler was making average to below average talent look good, imagine what he could do with good talent.
Coaches
Mike Martz Leaves.
Norv Turner is hired as the OC because he runs a similar system.
Free Agents
WR Pierre Garcon [Indianapolis] 5 years 25 million/12 guaranteed
Garcon may not be the 6’4” WR that Bear fans want, but guys like Vincent Jackson, Dwayne Bowe and Stevie Johnson will be franchise tagged by their teams. Garcon is a great route runner, has solid hands and is a consistent deep threat something Jay Cutler needs. More importantly Garcon is a polished WR that will be where he needs to be and will not fall down.
http://theredzonereport.com/wp-conte...rre-garcon.jpg
DE Anthony Spencer [Dallas] 5 years 20 million/10 guaranteed
The Bears need to continue to add to their pass rush if they want to continue to run the Cover 2. At times the pass rush has been non-existent and other times it has been inconsistent. Spencer is a solid pass rusher that is in coverage too much in the Cowboys 3-4 defense. For the Bears he can start across from Peppers and gives the Bears youth and depth.
http://i.usatoday.net/sports/gallery...g-vertical.jpg
QB Drew Stanton [Detroit] 2 years 3.5 million/1guaranteed
Caleb Hanie is a failure as a backup QB and the Bears need to add someone who can at least give them a shot to win in these situations. Stanton is athletic and can make plays right before he ruins it by doing the Dougy.
http://blog.mlive.com/lions_impact/2...ew-stanton.jpg
OT Anthony Collins [Cincinnati] 2 years 6 million/4 guaranteed
The Bears need a veteran backup and competition at LT for Webb and Omiyale is getting cut. Collins has been buried on a deep Bengals OL, but he has the size and athletic ability to play LT and he should demand better from Webb.
http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/11...ny_Collins.jpg
Resignings
Priority 1 [Players who are Free Agents or need extensions]
RB Matt Forte [5 years 45 million/21 guaranteed]
A must resign and the most dynamic playmaker that the Bears have.
CB Tim Jennings [3 years 12 million/6 guaranteed]
Jennings is a solid starter and at times looks like a blanket cover man. Jennings physical nature and violent tacking is a key in the Bear’s defense.
TE Kellen Davis [2 years 4.5 million/2 guaranteed]
The Bears and Davis have still not realized his potential, but he is a very good run blocker and I think could be a very good receiver.
DE Israel Idoinje [2 years 6 million/ 2 guaranteed]
Idonije might not be the pass rusher that the Bears need across from Peppers he is a great run stuffer and a perfect rotational player.
CB D.J Moore [4 years 10 million/5 guaranteed]
Perfect for the defense and a true take away machine he should be resigned for the top level of what a nickel CB gets.
DT Amobi Okoye [4 years 14 million/6 guaranteed]
Okoye has proven to be a nice rotational player and has shown he can get to the QB. The Bears should try and resign him and keep him in the competition, but he is not worth breaking the bank for.
Priority 2 [Players that are 2nd tier free agents or will need to be extended before 2013.]
CB Corey Graham [3 years 5 million/3 guaranteed]
A valuable special teamer and has flashed a knack for the ball in limited defensive reps. The Bears should keep the special teams captain.
DT Henry Melton [5 years 18.5 million/10 guaranteed]
The Bears are in a position where a number of their young players have stepped up. Melton has not been consistent, but he has flashed dominance and he will have the stats to get a decent offer from other teams.
OG Lance Louis [5 years 20 million/8 guaranteed]
This is my dark horse signing as he has excelled at RT and showed tremendous improvement. Louis looks like a starting OLmen in the NFL and the Bears should reward the work that he has put in and the hustle and versatility that he has shown.
WR Johnny Knox [4 years 16 million/7 guaranteed]
There were rumors that the Bears tried to extend him and I think they should try again to allow him further development. I believe Knox would be a great #2 if the Bears bring in a #1.
Draft
1[18] WR Michael Floyd [Notre Dame] 6’3” 230lbs.
The Bears OL has been improved, but inconsistent and the with the addition of Collins we have competition at the LT position. The Bears can turn their attention to what is still the worst receiving core in the NFL. The Bears have the #3 slot WR position locked up with Earl Bennett, but they still need a #1 and #2 WR. This league is going the way of the super weapon offense, like the Packers and the Saints, and the Bears are showing up with a good old reliable knife. By adding Garcon the Bears give Cutler a solid dependable #2 WR that runs good routes and get deep. By adding Floyd the Bears give Cutler a big bodied physical #1 WR that can catch jump balls and run the slants and fades that we cannot. More importantly Floyd gives Cutler a legitimate redzone target.
http://www.thesportsbank.net/core/wp...9/11/floyd.jpg
2[50] OG Cordy Glenn [Georgia] 6’5” 340lbs.
The Bears have a developing group of OLmen and we have seen good things out of young players in Louis, Carimi and Webb and we have seen some solid play from veterans like Spencer, Garza and Williams. The Bears need to continue to add youth, size and physicality to this developing group. If the Bears want to move from solid and inconsistent to dominant they need players like Glenn who have huge physical upside and have played multiple positions on college to increase competition. Glenn will compete for a starting OG spot with Williams and Louis, while Anthony and Webb battle it out at LT.
http://alt.coxnewsweb.com/cnishared/...glenn_0518.JPG
3[72] LB Danny Trevathan [Kentucky] 6’1” 235lbs.
The Bears hallmark on defence has been dominant play at the LB position with Urlacher and Briggs. Both Urlacher and Briggs are over 30 and the Bears need to restock with speed and talent behind them. Trevathan has a ton of speed and plays similar to Briggs where he simply seeks and destroys ball. carriers.
http://www.nationofblue.com/content/...ytrevathan.jpg
3[82] CB Shaun Prater [Iowa] 5’11” 190lbs.
The Bears continue to add depth to the CB position with Prater. Prater has better size than Tim Jennings and a similar physical style of play. Prater can come in and backup while learning before challenging Jennings for a starting position.
http://hawkcentral.com/wp-content/up.../08/prater.jpg
4. DE Cam Johnson [Virginia] 6’3” 270lbs.
Johnson is a working man’s DE and may not jump off the page at you, or test off the charts, but he is a solid player that has moments in the run and pass game. Johnson can come in and give the Bears another young developmental player and protects the Bears in case Wootton cannot get healthy or Idonije cannot be resigned for a team friendly deal.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/multime...1_1208035e.jpg
5. S Sean Richardson [Vanderbilt] 6’1” 220lbs.
Richardson is a big safety with good speed an ball skills, both things that Lovie Smith stresses in his safeties. Richardson can step in a provide valuable depth to the defense while assuming a key special teams role. With the youth at safety and the injury history of Wright the Bears need to add depth.
http://media.scout.com/media/image/99/993600.jpg
6. LB Tahir Whitehead [Temple] 6’1” 230lbs.
The Bears continue to add speed and depth to the LB core with Whitehead. To replace players like Urlacher and Briggs you need to invest multiple picks and hope that some of them workout. Whitehead has the skill set that the Bears need and adds to the competition.
http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/T...vp4BFeXAQl.jpg
7. OG Lamar Holmes [Southern Mississippi] 6’6” 330lbs.
The Bears have been having success with 7th round picks on the OL as Louis and Webb have both contributed. Holmes is another big body that can play a couple of different positions and has the size that Mike Tice wants on the OL. Holmes may need to go the practice squad route before being called up to the team.
http://cmsimg.hattiesburgamerican.co...-care-business
Depth Chart
QB: Cutler, Stanton, Enderle
RB: Forte, Barber, Bell, Clutts
WR: Floyd, Garcon, Bennett, Knox, Hester, Hurd
TE: Davis, Spaeth, Adams
LT: Webb/Collins
LG: Williams
C: Garza/Spencer
RG: Louis, Glenn
RT: Carimi
RE: Peppers, Wootton/Johnson
DT: Melton, Okoye
NT: Paea, Toenia
LE: Spencer, Idonije
SLB: Roach, Travethan
MLB: Urlacher, Dicico
WLB: Briggs, J. Williams, Whitehead
CB: Tillman, Jennings, Moore, Prater, Graham
FS: Conte, Richardson
SS: Wright, Steltz
