Thread: Big Decision: Bears and Brian Urlacher

OK, so you want my REAL thoughts on the situation? here it is. Brian Urlacher will go down in Chicago Bears lore along side all the rest of our greats; Bill George, Dick Butkus, and Samari Mike. However, Brian Urlacher was perfectly built for the Tampa-2 defense and that was because of his unreal speed to size ratio. If you take away the speed, which the course of nature has done, he no longer fits that scheme any better than the next guy. It is also my opinion that without the Tampa-2, Brian would never have been the Linebacker that he has been all these years. Brian has always had good sideline to sideline speed/quickness, as well as great speed in his middle drops, BUT, and this is a huge "but" when discussing Linebackers, he has ALWAYS had trouble getting off blocks and penetrating on Blitz's. Those are things that all the greats DID have the ability to do. So, since we will likely no longer play the Tampa-2 scheme that the "old" Brian is familiar with, and the "new" Brian can no longer play it effectively anyway, the only reason we would bring him back is if he would somehow fit into the new scheme (which we have no way of knowing just yet) and for his leadership abilities. I have personally pontificated whether or not he could/would be brought back in a player/coach role (play for one more year, then coach the LB corp), but I'm not so sure he would be a good coach. Regardless, under any scenario above, he would not command a substantial price tag, and if that's what he demands, then he should exit in the same manner Olin did. As a fan, I really hate to say that because we all tend to rationalize for our favorites, but it's abundantly clear that Brian has no allegiance whatsoever to Chicago Bear fans, so any allegiance we have to him should also be tempered by our desire to do what's best for the team.

So, in summation, if he fits properly into the new role he would be asked to play in, and he comes at the right price (really up to him), then I'm all for it. But I'm of the opinion that there are a number of average players at MLB that could give us just as much as he can at this point for a lesser cap hit. I really would like to see him stay, but I don't think it's anywhere near critical and I'm not going to lose any sleep for him.

I just posted a thread that reviewed the defense Jax played against the Packers this past year. The same defense that Mel Tucker ran. With the exception of some of his own wrinkles in coverages he runs almost exactly the same defense that the Bears have been running and uses the MLB is the same way in deep middle pass coverage and as we've seen over the years that is one area where Brian Urlacher shines and makes a lot of big plays.

So part of the decision here is whether or not LBs like Roach or DeCicco can handle that role or whether we need to draft a MLB now to take over that spot. I don't know what decision they'll come to but for my part I believe you bring Brian Urlacher back not only because he wants to play but because I believe he still CAN play and lead that defense for at least one more year. I think way too much is being made of the decline in his play this year which was only noticeable because he's been such a superior player for so long.

Is 100% of Nick Roach or Dom DiCicco or a rookie whose never worn an NFL uniform before really better than Urlacher at 80%? I don't think it is. Despite slowing down some due to his injury we don't know that with a full season of rest and rehab, which he didn't have following that surgery last summer, that he won't return to at least 90% or more of the Urlacher of old and there's no replacing his leadership and knowledge of how to run that defense when he's on the field. He does make a difference.

The writer helps provide and excuse for letting him go or retire by saying that it will easier for the new coach and GM to do that than had Lovie remained. Maybe so and maybe not. Brian Urlacher is still the face of this team and if wants to play in Chicago and he believes that he can then I think you need to let him. If he's unable to cut it I think he'll be the first to admit that and willingly hang it up. I don't believe his pride would ever let him hang on as a second rate player. I don't see a Brett Favre thing coming on here.

So re-sign him and give him the opportunity to prove that he still can lead his defense at least one more time. I think the organization owes him that much respect.

Originally Posted by soulman

If he's unable to cut it I think he'll be the first to admit that and willingly hang it up. I don't believe his pride would ever let him hang on as a second rate player.

That's what I'm thinking too. I read an article a few weeks ago that mentioned that due to Urlacher's loss of speed, that the Bears had to adapt their defense, and didn't run nearly as much cover-2 this season. It said the defense was simply limited in what it could do, with Brian in there.

But, I'm not sure about that. The overall defense was solid this year. It was a top-3 defense in points allowed per game (LINK). And a top-5 defense in yards allowed per game (LINK). Urlacher was 4th on the team in tackles (Lance Briggs was 1st). So, I don't see how he was hurting us in any way.

I hope he's still got a year or two left in the tank. Like you said, 80% of Urlacher is still going to be decent. At least I'm hoping so.

Originally Posted by VJ18

i beg to differ, everything else you said was spot on but he was a GOOD 4-3 PLAYER when he had some big boys in front of him to stuff the line and let him roam free, thats when he was a monster

Well, I have to admit, you're right. When we had big Ted Washington and Keith Traylor back in 2001 and 2002, Brian did pretty well. As long as the big boys kept the blockers off Brian, he had pretty good success. Hey, my wife will be happy to validate that I'm not always right.

Well I think we all would admit that Brian Urlacher could play MLB in any defense he was asked to. He's just a great athlete and a very very good football player. When he had those two battleships in front of them he blitzed and cleaned up on what runs they didn't stop.

Then Lovie comes along and makes a gap player and short centerfielder out of him and he excels at that too. The guy flat out knows how to play football and the position of MLB. He's smart, he's experienced, and he's a team leader. I don't think those are assets we should discard easily.

I'm not the GM obviously but if I had my say then it would be something like Brian if you want to play we want you back and here's what we can afford to give you. If it's not a complete lowball offer I think he'll take it and finish here where he started.

If he's re-injured or he starts to falter then we have Roach (he needs to be resigned too) to take his place and maybe DiCicco in the pipeline or new kid. One way or another I think you have to give him his shot at it and let him make the decision of when it's time. I just can't see forcing that on him. He can still play.

Easy decision. Thank you for the thrills, and good-bye.