-
Here's the Bears biggest need from the viewpoint of some of the ESPN folks who follow the Bears.
Fact or Fiction: Wide receiver is the Bears' biggest need in the offseason.
Jeff Dickerson: Fact. Just look around the league. The 2011 NFL playoff teams all have legitimate playmakers at the wide receiver position. The Bears must look to upgrade that spot either via the draft, free agency, or both. It's a very good crop of free agent receivers expected to be on the market, including Vincent Jackson, Dwayne Bowe, Wes Welker and Marques Colston. If the Bears stay at No. 19 in the draft, they could select Notre Dame's Michael Floyd, Baylor's Kendall Wright or South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery. Although everybody hopes Johnny Knox will recover from a major back injury in time for training camp, the Bears need to protect themselves at the position and find at least two new quality wideouts. If the new GM has the green light to spend money, the Bears should be able to accomplish that goal.
[+] Enlarge
Charles LeClaire/USPRESSWIRENotre Dame receiver Michael Floyd might be an answer for the Bears in the draft.
Michael C. Wright: Fact. Recently-hired offensive coordinator Mike Tice has repeatedly talked about the need to exploit matchups, whether it’s through the running game or the passing game. Well, when the roster doesn’t contain any potential matchup problems for opponents at receiver, that eliminates one facet -- a major one at that -- in Chicago’s potential attack. So receiver is absolutely the biggest need at this point because, realistically, running back Matt Forte is the only consistently dangerous threat teams must always account for. By acquiring a legitimate receiving threat, the Bears actually add multiple weapons to the arsenal in the form of their other receivers such as Earl Bennett and Devin Hester. That’s accomplished in a number of ways schematically. If the Bears acquire a legitimate receiver (he doesn’t necessarily have to be a true No. 1), based on Tice’s track record, look for the team to start using Hester -- because of his deep speed -- in the slot more to take opposing safeties out of the tackle box, which opens up the run for Forte and takes pressure off the outside receivers.
Melissa Isaacson: Fact. How about two or three wide receivers? Though the Bears certainly have other needs, wide receiver has to move up on the list of priorities for several reasons. One, it is unlikely they would find the top-flight receiver they need in the lower rounds of the draft (even though Angelo kept trying) if that’s the route the new GM decides to take. But more importantly, the team needs to give Jay Cutler every chance to reach his full potential while he’s still in his prime. And with the NFL clearly becoming a passing league, the Bears have to at least make an effort to stay competitive.
Jon Greenberg: Fact. There are myriad positions that need addressing on both sides of the ball, but it is past due to give Cutler an elite weapon. The offense is dependent on Cutler, as we found out in the aftermath of his injury, and while he can make average receivers better, it would be nice to give him a taller receiver that can stretch the field vertically. Offensive line, safety, defensive line and linebacker are other positions that require scrutiny.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. 
Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
-
-
I'm in complete agreement with what Jeff Dickerson is saying. Unquestionnably the Bears need immediate help at WR and that can only come from signing a top guy in free agency. There's also a need for another bigger receiver in the draft who can develop into that same type of guy a couple of years down the road. While this draft may be devoid of freaks like Megatron who are can't miss fortunately their are some good second tier guys who could go in the second or early in the third who fit the bill. Given the other needs I would play it this way if I were the Bears GM.
Michael C. Wright makes the suggestion we've all been making ever since Devin Hester proved that he's not a true #1 guy. Move Bennett outside to share the #2 spot with Knox and play Hester in the slot to take advantage of the mismatches. You can't cover him with a safety so they have a NB playing him and the Safety has to respect his speed and provide deep help. He's right, that eliminates their ability to move that Safety up into the box to control the run. Hopefully Tice will recognize this where other OC's never have.
Isaacson and Greenberg simply concur on the need to a WR and the positions Greenberg mentions other than WR all need some attention either in the draft or FA. You could add CB to that list as well.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
-
I, too, agree. WR is a position screaming for attention. Johnny Knox is our most talented receiver, but he has flaws in his game, such as that he never fights for passes over the middle or down field. It's no guarantee that Knox will ever play football again after his injury, so I'm interested in seeing how the Bears will tackle the issue of WR - through free agency or the draft. Hopefully, we will get the receiver as a free agent. My personal preference is Colston since he has been excellent more consistently than the other big receivers on the list (Jackson and Bowe). I don't particularly care to pick up Wes Welker, though, because I feel like he is merely a product of a damn fine system and would only work in that system like the Patriots already have.
-
I still have nightmares about that hit on Knox, completely clean, but absolutely BRUTAL.
Need to get the WR position tackled, it's just a shame that whoever we draft will have the misfortune of having Drake be their coach.
-
We can only hope Knox returns healthy. The reports have been encouraging but anytime you have back surgery there's always that element of risk. The offense would function much better if they stopped asking Knox to run routes that he's not built for and doesn't run well. Hopefully they'll pickup a top guy who can take those throws over the middle to partner with Bennett. Knox just doesn't have the size of toughness for that. If they simplify his function in the passing game and play Sanz and Hester in the slot I think we'd do much better.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
-
I think you would have to go under the assumption that Knox can't go. Not only do you need one good FA you would need two barring instant draft gold. We can even fire Drake as well but wr skills will be dislocated if we still have problems at LT. As much as I'd love a bushel basket of wr's LT position has to improve.
Arguing on the internet is like winning the special olympics, even if you win your still messed up.
Restore the roar!
-
If our OC calls better plays, more runs, more 3 step drops, more roll outs. I think you'll see the line greatly improve. I agree we need a better LT, but I don't find it as dire as the WR position which is really lacking any talent that can help a qb out, save one possession guy.
-
High Fives / Like - 1 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
-
Originally Posted by
Riczaj01 
If our OC calls better plays, more runs, more 3 step drops, more roll outs. I think you'll see the line greatly improve. I agree we need a better LT, but I don't find it as dire as the WR position which is really lacking any talent that can help a qb out, save one possession guy.
Yeah I'm with you on this one. Unless for some unknown reason a guy like Reiff or Kalil falls into our lap the way Carimi did last year I can't see reaching for another LT who may be no better than Webb next year. We'd be better off to get an experienced vet in FA and take our chances that the passing offense will improve enough that Webb won't be so exposed. Webb did have some decent games this year but his inconsistency and penalties were frustrating.
We have to look at the one missing element on offense as the biggest single need on that side of the ball just as a DE and/or a top CB are at the top of the list on the other side. We can help ourselves at lot for the 2012 season if we can sign top FA's at WR and CB or if we manage to re-sign Jennings. There should also be someone, anyone, in FA who can replace that sieve Omiyale as a backup LT. Now that Angelo is gone let's hope that OMG is too.
If we can secure a WR in FA and get lucky enough to land either a good pass rushing DE or a good CB in FA we can use that #19 pick on the the highest rated player at anyone of those three spots where we need help rather than have to focus on just one. Hopefully this what that new GM will do. We have a pretty fair cap excess going into 2012 and 4 picks in the top 100 so there's an opportunity here to get better fast if he plays it smart.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
-
High Fives / Like - 1 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
-
Originally Posted by
soulman If we can secure a WR in FA and get lucky enough to land either a good pass rushing DE or a good CB in FA we can use that #19 pick on the the highest rated player at anyone of those three spots where we need help rather than have to focus on just one. Hopefully this what that new GM will do. We have a pretty fair cap excess going into 2012 and 4 picks in the top 100 so there's an opportunity here to get better fast if he plays it smart.
FA:
WR Dwayne Bowe (Chiefs)
CB Brent Grimes (Falcons) or Tracy porter (Saints)
19th pick:
DE Whitney Mercilus (Illinois) or Andre Branch (Clemson)
or
WR Michael Floyd
-
High Fives / Like - 1 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
-
Michael C. Wright @mikecwright 7h
@Demandrim Seriously doubt Bears draft OL high.
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Reply With Quote
