Thread: #1 threat to our 2012 season

Originally Posted by Chi66

Not saying he would replace Urlacher but Geno Hayes is pretty quality backup, he replaced Derrick Brooks for the Bucs and the word was he looked like him out there. We need more depth for sure but Hayes was a step in the right direction. He could take over for Briggs or Roach, maybe even take the job from Roach.

I agree that Hayes is a solid pickup for us, but he's light-years from being remotely like Urlacher or Briggs. He's more like Roach, and I doubt he'll be able to beat Roach out for a starting job. Hayes is a smart player, but undersized and with barely adequate speed. Scouts, Inc said about him "He lacks the power and explosiveness to be as effective in the middle, especially when asked to step up and take on blockers, and is most effective when covered up by a big defensive front that allows him to run to the ball."

Here's the deal. If you look at our roster with a critical eye as to where we may be in danger of having our season go down in flames again - like last year - it appears to be at linebacker. I was crazy-angry last season when Cutler was lost for the season and we had NO person in place to at least be a "game manager" to salvage our season.

I understand you don't find an Urlacher or Briggs easily. But wouldn't you think that we'd be grooming a TALENTED young kid right now to eventually step up for Brian? This person could be playing in Roach's position while he matures into our "QB of the Defense" guy.

I worry (a lot) about the danger of going into this season so thin at LB. It just screams like it's an accident waiting to happen.

If I recall correctly, the bears have signed a Backup LB from TB (Hayes), a ST gunner/LB from the 49'ers (Costanzo), they still have last years' 6th rd pick JT Thomas (tomas?), who was on IR all of last year, and then there is DiCicio, the udfa last year. So there will be a fair bit of competition for the backup spot(s) at LB. While I share your concern as to who is the bears backup LB, I'm willing to see how things shake out before worrying too much.

Originally Posted by The Benjamin

Or maybe Urlacher himself, not just the potential for injury. He is getting and no one knows how much longer he can keep up the stellar play.

Last year he looked like a fresh young player again. Can he do that two seasons in a row? I hope so. Maybe he has a few good years left in him, or maybe this is the first time we really see a decline in him

Yeah, there are 2 issues here:
1. Is the depth quality "good enough" that our whole season doesn't crash & burn if Urlacher goes down to injury?
2. When are we going to get a high-quality youngster to begin grooming for being Urlacher's eventual replacement?

Urlacher still looks awesome to me. He's a freak combination of size, power & speed. So he's going to be tough to replace (just like our other hall of famers Bill George, Butkus & Singletary were). I always think of the Bears as having the greatest linebackers in history. I'd sure like to see that continue.

I'd just like to see the Bears be pro-active about this. Be plan-full. Don't wait for a crisis that kills another season for us. It's like they're just "hoping" Urlacher and Briggs are ironmen who won't get injured this season. It's the same as they did with Jay Cutler last season. But Cutler DID go down, and while I don't expect another Cutler-level-talented backup, you DO have to have a certain threshold of talent so the entire season doesn't end with one key injury. But they had NO credible backup. Not even a guy who could game-manage us into the playoffs. Nothing. Wouldn't you think we'd learn from this and see how exposed we are at LB going into this season?

Originally Posted by Chi66

you can't fix all the holes we were left with in one offseason.

I do agree 100% with that. Great point.

Originally Posted by Bipolar Bear

Our depth at LB isn't great, but it is better than last year. Whoever loses out in the battle for SLB between Roach & Hayes would probably replace either one of Urlacher or Briggs if one of them got hurt.

With that said, it's the same story as it was a couple years ago when Urlacher got hurt and when Cutler got hurt last year...the Bears would be pretty much screwed either way.

I do like how we added a decent #2 QB in Jason Campbell for this coming season. If Cutler goes down to injury our season is not over. Jason will end up starting for a team again at some future point. Glad we have him on board for 2012.