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Originally Posted by
4DaBERS 
I've been a bit dizzied by all the crap slung McClellins way as well. However, I will say this, David DeCastro has been "my guy" for months and I STILL think he would have gone a long way toward making this team (offense) much better. Sometimes it only takes one or two new pieces to allow you to shift other pieces and make the whole unit better. Therefore, I would have likely picked DeCastro without another thought if I had been making the decisions, but I wasn't, and as much as I think I know, I'm confident that it would not fill a thimble compared to what Emery knows.
HOWEVER, (note the all caps for the however) I do NOT DISLIKE the selection of McClellin. I think of all the DE's, he would have been my pick as well. I'm really getting tired of hearing him called a "tweener". Why is he a tweener? He is the SAME SIZE as Mercilus and Vinny Curry, both were very prominent names that many people on here were promoting for the same position. So why is McClellin a tweener" and they are not? He's actually TALLER than Melvin Ingram and only 4 Lbs lighter...4 FREAKIN POUNDS! Is Ingram a "tweener"? Where is this shit coming from? He's also FASTER than all of these guys!
This kid is a freakin football player that has the flexibility and talent to play from a variety locations. Flexibility that some of these other guys don't have. Do you realize the benefit that gives Marinelli in terms of screwing with opposing offenses? I've also heard this rumor that perhaps Emery actually has some sinister plan to jetison Lovie when he gets the opportunity and this kid was selected to begin the transition to a 3-4. While anything is possible, I think these folks should consider the reality that this kid is every bit as good with better physical attributes than some of the other DE's that were being projected and that those same physical attributes could very easily make him an outstanding DE in a 4-3.
I posted a couple of times in the last few weeks how crazy the mocks seemed to be this year with the rising and falling of players far more frequent than past years. I'm begining to think that the rational for this is that the media are so rushed to beat all the various competitors that no one is really taking the time to research their subject matter anymore. If they did, McClellin would have been there the whole time.
In their last mock draft prior to the the first round, WalterFootball.com projected McClellin would be a New England Patriot with their first pick of the first round. Well, we fucked their ducked pretty good, as well as the Packers, who, like the Pats, wanted this kid in the worst way possible. We just went a long way toward helping our defense sack some quarterbacks. He has a trait about him that Mercilus doesn't, which is that he's a complete three down DE, while Mercilus is going to be, at first, a situational DE. We needed someone who was going to make a difference from the start, and I think, the more I sit back and look at this, that we got the right man. At least we don't have to worry about this guy taking plays off.
Meanwhile, we solidified our now awesome wide receiver corps with Alshon Jeffery. I fully expect the Bears to have three receivers with over 900+ receiving yards this season, with one of them getting to at least 1,200 receiving yards (most likely, Marshall). This offense, in spite of the offensive line's poor pass protection, has the potential to be special. With the running game with Forte and Bush and Bell being in line to balance things out, I honestly think we will have a better offense this year than both Green Bay and Detroit.
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Junior Member
I for one look forward to listening to McNeil come Monday morning. Was his article unwarranted at the time of its posting? Absolutely. But with the draft now over, and you look at all the Bears' picks, he was right. Now here me out. I'm not going to sit here and bash Shea McClellin. He looks like a Hell of a player from the little footage I've seen. And as I've said before, I like his versatility. If he doesn't work out at DE, they can plug him in somewhere else. You said yourself soul that he could turn out like Urlacher. And while I hoped we would get a DE, OT/OG, WR, etc, I also felt like we needed to start addressing the linebacker core as well. So you could say McClellin gives the Bears the flexibility to do that.
But not once in six picks did we address the offensive line. How many of us, myself included, said on here prior to the draft that we hoped the Bears would get a left defensive end and offensive lineman in the first two rounds? As far as I'm concerned, those were the team's two biggest needs. And while I do like the Alshon Jeffrey pick in round 2, there were still other options. They could have gone with Peter Konz in the 2nd - moving Garza back to his natural position at guard. Or a guard in Brandon Brooks, who went early in the 3rd - and has a similar build to Cordy Glenn and is a solid player by all accounts. Then they could have taken Mohamed Sanu in the 3rd if they went that route in the 2nd. Going for Brandon Hardin in the 3rd was a huge reach anyway.
So instead, we got our DE, and Chilo Rachal (sp?) in free agency. And I don't know if Rachal is any good, but I do know he's getting older too. Late twenties if I'm not mistaken. So we have to settle for a bandaid instead of a suture. And at this point, I share McNeil's frustration. I'm really eager to see how both McClellin and Jeffrey pan out, but why leave a big gaping hole for Green Bay and Detroit to come through and bury our quarterback yet again? This off-season, we've gotten four WRs and five DBs, but only one DL and one OL. That equals a major cause for concern in my book.
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Originally Posted by
synthetic67 I for one look forward to listening to McNeil come Monday morning. Was his article unwarranted at the time of its posting? Absolutely. But with the draft now over, and you look at all the Bears' picks, he was right. Now here me out. I'm not going to sit here and bash Shea McClellin. He looks like a Hell of a player from the little footage I've seen. And as I've said before, I like his versatility. If he doesn't work out at DE, they can plug him in somewhere else. You said yourself soul that he could turn out like Urlacher. And while I hoped we would get a DE, OT/OG, WR, etc, I also felt like we needed to start addressing the linebacker core as well. So you could say McClellin gives the Bears the flexibility to do that.
But not once in six picks did we address the offensive line. How many of us, myself included, said on here prior to the draft that we hoped the Bears would get a left defensive end and offensive lineman in the first two rounds? As far as I'm concerned, those were the team's two biggest needs. And while I do like the Alshon Jeffrey pick in round 2, there were still other options. They could have gone with Peter Konz in the 2nd - moving Garza back to his natural position at guard. Or a guard in Brandon Brooks, who went early in the 3rd - and has a similar build to Cordy Glenn and is a solid player by all accounts. Then they could have taken Mohamed Sanu in the 3rd if they went that route in the 2nd. Going for Brandon Hardin in the 3rd was a huge reach anyway.
So instead, we got our DE, and Chilo Rachal (sp?) in free agency. And I don't know if Rachal is any good, but I do know he's getting older too. Late twenties if I'm not mistaken. So we have to settle for a bandaid instead of a suture. And at this point, I share McNeil's frustration. I'm really eager to see how both McClellin and Jeffrey pan out, but why leave a big gaping hole for Green Bay and Detroit to come through and bury our quarterback yet again? This off-season, we've gotten four WRs and five DBs, but only one DL and one OL. That equals a major cause for concern in my book.
This is a good post brother and I see your point. I had a hard time believing they could pass on DeCastro and I too thought we'd see an OG in the first three rounds especially when Glenn dropped. There was a guy who may have handled RT as well if Tice decides to move Carimi. We did pick up a good project guy as an UDFA but he'll be of no help now.
The only explanation is the one we've been given all along. They're happy with the guys they have and don't see anyone they like who they think can improve upon the situation. (shrug) If I dig a little deeper analytically (who me? 
) I think I can come up with another possibilty which is............
We probably have the least expensive starting line in all of football. LT's cost a fortune and our starter is making $490k when the average LT is probably making closer to $6mil. CWill has a base of $1mil and if he hits all of his incentives he could get as much as $4.5mil (but that won't happen). Louis is getting $1.26mil, Carimi is just under $700k and Garza tops the starters at $1.75mil. So the total 2012 salaries of our 5 starters is roughly $5.2 mil. Less money than the average LT makes all by himself. Even if CWill was to get his full incentive bonus the total of $8.7 mil is still less than the franchise tag for ONE LT.
If we can win a championship and get to a Super Bowl with these guys (and we damn near did two years ago and may have gotten close last year too with Cutler) this should become a case study in salary cap management. If we're curious about why we always have some extra cap money to spend we need look no farther than this. Win the SB with a $5 million dollar Oline and there will be a ton of over priced lineman hitting the waiver wire in 2013 I promise you that. Well be the new trend setters. Screw the TE's, get cheap lineman like the Bears and have $$$ to spend elsewhere. LOL.
I don't think it's so much intentional as it is what it is and they have little motivation to spend a lot more money on that line now if they can win with it. They can use the savings on Urlacher and Cutler and others who we want to extend. Forte too if he'd just sign the damn deal!! I'm not implying they shouldn't spend more to upgrade I'm only suggesting why they don't. They use that money other places. Lance Briggs should thank the Oline for playing cheap so he could get his raise and if Matt Forte wants to complain about being underpaid and disrespected for $7.74 mil maybe he should realize that he's due to make more in 2012 than every guy who blocks for him is combined!
We know it won't stay this way forever and eventually they're gonna have to pop some serious money into that line but for now............if it ain't broke, or at least completely broke, why fix it? They're like an old car that's cheap, easy on gas, and gets you to work and back home again. It's only worth a few grand but a new one would cost you $20k. If all your using it for is to get you to and from work and it does why spend the money on the new one? It does what it's supposed to do right. Maybe it starts hard some mornings and every once in a while it stalls at red lights and makes you late for work but you still get there an you still get home right?
Well that's your 2012 Bears offensive line. They ain't pretty, and they're not 100% dependable but if they can do the job of getting you where you want to get to then just like that car, that's what you drive until you can afford 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.
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We didnt need OL because Cutler has NEVER BEEN SACKED by the NYG's.
If you think I'm lying you can look it up.
Not once ... not ever.
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Originally Posted by
4DaBERS I've been a bit dizzied by all the crap slung McClellins way as well. However, I will say this, David DeCastro has been "my guy" for months and I STILL think he would have gone a long way toward making this team (offense) much better. Sometimes it only takes one or two new pieces to allow you to shift other pieces and make the whole unit better. Therefore, I would have likely picked DeCastro without another thought if I had been making the decisions, but I wasn't, and as much as I think I know, I'm confident that it would not fill a thimble compared to what Emery knows.
HOWEVER, (note the all caps for the however) I do NOT DISLIKE the selection of McClellin. I think of all the DE's, he would have been my pick as well. I'm really getting tired of hearing him called a "tweener". Why is he a tweener? He is the SAME SIZE as Mercilus and Vinny Curry, both were very prominent names that many people on here were promoting for the same position. So why is McClellin a tweener" and they are not? He's actually TALLER than Melvin Ingram and only 4 Lbs lighter...4 FREAKIN POUNDS! Is Ingram a "tweener"? Where is this shit coming from? He's also FASTER than all of these guys!
This kid is a freakin football player that has the flexibility and talent to play from a variety locations. Flexibility that some of these other guys don't have. Do you realize the benefit that gives Marinelli in terms of screwing with opposing offenses? I've also heard this rumor that perhaps Emery actually has some sinister plan to jetison Lovie when he gets the opportunity and this kid was selected to begin the transition to a 3-4. While anything is possible, I think these folks should consider the reality that this kid is every bit as good with better physical attributes than some of the other DE's that were being projected and that those same physical attributes could very easily make him an outstanding DE in a 4-3.
I posted a couple of times in the last few weeks how crazy the mocks seemed to be this year with the rising and falling of players far more frequent than past years. I'm begining to think that the rational for this is that the media are so rushed to beat all the various competitors that no one is really taking the time to research their subject matter anymore. If they did, McClellin would have been there the whole time.
DeCastro would have been an awesome pick, but if they went that way it would have screwed up the entire draft. You would have had to choose between a pass rusher/WR in RD 2 and if you look at RD 2...there really weren't pass rushers to get excited about.
Also, I think thw riting is on the wall that we will not be a Tampa 2 team for long. If Emery has a hard on for the "Patriot way", which it appears he does, then when Urlacher, Briggs and Peppers are gone...I think its evident we will be going to a 3-4 and Lovie will not be around. So I think the transition for the future has already begun. I'm not even sure Lovie will be around after this year if the Bears don't go deep into the playoffs. He was only required to work with Lovie for 2012 and it goes without saying that every new GM wants their own hand picked head coach.
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The Bears have NEVER played the 3-4, and I hope we never do.
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For all those who say we didn't address the O line, let me put in my two cents.
I think and I can say without anyone disagreeing that almost everyone here would have liked to have seen Webb replaced. Was this not Webbs first year at LT, and he started without any off season training, limited training camp and limited preseason. This year he will have a full off season of training, complete training camp and a full preseason. Will this make him better hell I have no idea, but I do know what will make him a better LT.
We now have at least on paper 3 WR that can get open, run routes and know how to hang on to the ball. 2 vet, 1 rookie. We have 2 TE/FB 1 vet, 1 rookie that can block and well as be receivers. We have 2 vet RB once Forte gets his head on right and signs his FT both can be receivers when called on to do so. But most of all we have a new OC that will let Cutler be mobile, a guy that can run right, left and up the middle and still hit his target 20 or more yards down the field on the run. The defenses won't be able to stack the line with 8 guys knowing that we don't have any weapon other the Forte.
Can Webb block a guy like J. Allen and hold his own, hell no but then how many LT can.
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Originally Posted by
synthetic67 So instead, we got our DE, and Chilo Rachal (sp?) in free agency. And I don't know if Rachal is any good, but I do know he's getting older too. Late twenties if I'm not mistaken. So we have to settle for a bandaid instead of a suture. And at this point, I share McNeil's frustration. I'm really eager to see how both McClellin and Jeffrey pan out, but why leave a big gaping hole for Green Bay and Detroit to come through and bury our quarterback yet again? This off-season, we've gotten four WRs and five DBs, but only one DL and one OL. That equals a major cause for concern in my book.
Just a short follow up synthetic. Chilo Rachal is only 26 years old and though he didn't pan out in SF in their blocking scheme he was one of the top ranked Olineman in his draft class and a high second round pick. He fits the mold of the kind of guys Tice likes, big and with a nasty disposition on Sundays, and he was worth a shot as far as trying to help him resurrect his career under Tice's tutelage.
Chris Spencer was a failed 1st round OC in Seattle and in one year with Tice he got some decent play from him out of position at OG when they moved Louis to RT after Carimi's injury. Louis was an OT/TE in college and Tice has turned him into an OG with some nice upside to him. He should be the starter over Spencer this year. And then there's CWill, a guy we had pretty much written off as a busted 1st round pick. Yet as an OG last year before he got hurt too he graded out as our best lineman. He looked like he was finally catching on.
I think some of the problem is that Angelo drafted too many players, lineman included, too much on the basis of their athletic strengths and not enough on their skills as football players. Too many of them were "workout warriors" long on Combine style glitter and short on the basic knowledge of how to play their position at an NFL level. So Tice got handed a bunch of blockers who he needed to teach how to block and slowly but surely he seems to be doing just that.
Phil Emery has an approach that's 180 degrees the opposite of Jerry Angelo. He drafts and signs football players, not just great athletes. He still has scouting in his blood and he's a "tire kicker". While JA was pretty much content to let his scouts do the leg work and than watch video Emery gets out to see these guys in action and I think we're all gonna find that will make all the difference in world as far as how effective he is as a Personnel Man/GM.
If it's any consolation this kid James Brown we signed as an UDFA looks like he has some potential to be a lot more than just a PS guy. Gil Brandt said he was the second rated UDFA overall and if he'd been bigger and shown more strength before the draft he would probably have been a mid round pick. He says he has good basic skills and technique, he's coachable and he has the frame to add as much as 20-25lbs to play closer to 330lbs than 300lbs.
So we didn't draft an Olineman but we got the best one off the board in FA and once you're past the 4th or 5th round there isn't much difference in any of these guys as far as whether their drafted or signed afterward. Have faith. We get our two best lineman back from injury and if you think about it Carimi alone is like an extra 1st round pick and CWill at least the equivalent of a journeyman vet pickup. The whole line will play better than they did last year just because they have one more year's experience under their belts.
Last edited by soulman; 04-29-2012 at 04:06 PM.
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.
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I stand corrected on Rachal. Hopefully he'll do better than Omiyale ever could.
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Originally Posted by
synthetic67 I stand corrected on Rachal. Hopefully he'll do better than Omiyale ever could.
Jesus Christ you and I or a crippled old blind man could do 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.
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