Thread: Clutts for McManis Deal Looks Good Now.................

I"m glad we got something for Clutts. But the fact of the matter is Toub can produce gunners or get them (Bowman) when he needs them. With Rodriguez being a very inconsistent blocker on a very inconsistent line we could have had far greater utility keeping Clutts-FB,LS, ST.

As far as Cwill goes I'm w/JABF, should have at least got a ham sandwich for him. A 7th, a tiny sum of cash, some patio furniture, anything. You'll hear some hollering if he were to go to a rival NFCN team and does well.

Originally Posted by bearsinhouston

Bum's are worth a 7th. Look at Webb. (I have to keep getting my shots in when I can. The way he is looking he may become a real OL soon)

LOL, only when you draft them it seems. Most GMs can dodge the small caliber bullets from bad 7th round picks in the draft but when you trade away any pick for a guy you may have gotten for nothing that bullet can ruin your day, and maybe your career.

Chicago Bears Report

McManis deal from Texans paying off

November, 9, 2012 Nov 9
1:30
PM CT


By Jeff Dickerson | ESPNChicago.com




LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- The trade that netted the Chicago Bears cornerback Sherrick McManis from the Houston Texans in exchange for fullback Tyler Clutts was all about need.
Don McPeak/US PresswireSherrick McManis was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his blocked punt against the Titans on Sunday.



Clutts fit in well inside the Bears' locker room and performed admirably during his one-year stint in Chicago, but the Bears had no use for a traditional fullback in their new offense. Instead of keeping a true fullback, the Bears carved out roster spots for more versatile H-back types such as rookie fourth-round pick Evan Rodriguez and Kyle Adams, making Clutts expendable as final cuts loomed.

Although the Bears had no use on the roster for Clutts, they did have a hole to fill on special teams at the gunner position after losing Pro Bowler Corey Graham and cornerback Zack Bowman, who later re-signed with the team during the bye week.

So rather than simply release Clutts, the Bears traded him to Houston for McManis, whom Bears special teams coordinator Dave Toub believed could help fill void at gunner.

But it sounds as if the Bears got more than they bargained for from McManis, a Peoria, Ill. native who played at t Northwestern.

"He's exceeded our expectations," Toub said. "We saw him on tape and we saw that he was a good gunner and he filled a need there for us. That's really what we expected, but once we got him, we started realizing what kind of take off and get off he has and we felt like we could use him as a rusher."

McManis was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 9 for his efforts in the Bears' 51-20 thrashing of the Titans that included a blocked punt that defensive end Corey Wootton scooped up and returned for a touchdown. McManis also recorded two special teams tackles and is tied for third on the team with seven special teams stops.

Clutts has been active for all eight of Houston's games and has one special teams tackle.

"I really like Sherrick," Toub said. "It's good to see him make a play for us. He's got the great quickness, (and) he's got great get off. He used really good technique (on that punt block). It's really hard to get a block in the NFL and a lot of things have to go right and it did on that play."

Well as much as many of us wanted to keep Clutts, me being one, we haven't done so badly from the swap and my guess is Houston is pretty happy as well. Both teams got what they needed from the trade.

So often in the past we watched productive players being released getting nothing in return so I give credit not only to Phil Emery for making the deal but a huge kudo to Dave Toub for recognizing in just what way McManis could help the team. Dave Toub is a guy we should never lose. I'd offer to make him HC when Lovie retires and I'd do it now!

I think that punt block was a nice bonus as far as the trade goes but even without it he's done a lot to help ease the loss of Corey Graham as a "gunner". Now it looks like we may have found ourselves a good rusher on the punt return team as well. Nice work Dave Toub!

Punt blocking adds a final great piece to ST we've been missing. I think it was an even trade but I miss the GL blocking w/Bush. Perhaps we can get him back ala Harris sometime. OR draft some OL

Oh who am I kidding