Thread: Interest in Nick Roach

@seankjensen: Hearing number of teams that have inquired about Nick Roach is approaching double digits. That there's interest in him as MLB and SLB helps

Originally Posted by omc1969

I too always wondered why all the hate towards Roach. He has done a good job for the Bears and has the intangible "Football Smarts" that teams look for.
I hope he comes back.

In my original post, I did not say I hated Nick Roach. I did say the amount of interest (6 teams, if true) did surprise me. In my opinion, he is a decent player who has benefited playing next to very good linebackers. The Bears are thin at LB, especially with the uncertainty about Urlacher, but the gaping holes along the offensive line are a more pressing need. If the Bears can retain Roach without sacrificing the needs on the O-Line (and TE & WR), I'm all for it. That said, overpaying a guy who is not a difference-maker is not the way to go,....

Originally Posted by lklrlolnlilklsox

We really can. Yet another case of "overrated when you lose him" syndrome. Sure he had a bunch of tackles at MLB, what isn't mentioned in that stat is how 90% of them were late-in-assignment retreating tackles. He was solid in coverage, but never held any QBs away from the middle of the field, and soft as fresh dog shit at the point-of-attack in the run game.

If we let Roach walk (which I understand if it happens), that has two domino effects IMO besides the fact that we don't have to spend $ on retaining him:

A) We better damn sure sign Urlacher and

B) We will be drafting a LB prob in the first two rounds to play SLB which has implications for the FA and the draft OL-wise. IOW, we really must sign a FA OL and draft another one early.

Originally Posted by MPBears68

If we let Roach walk (which I understand if it happens), that has two domino effects IMO besides the fact that we don't have to spend $ on retaining him:

A) We better damn sure sign Urlacher and

B) We will be drafting a LB prob in the first two rounds to play SLB which has implications for the FA and the draft OL-wise. IOW, we really must sign a FA OL and draft another one early.

Was this not the idea pushed by EVERY SINGLE PERSON HERE over the past three months, anyway? I mean, the entire offseason has been about OL and who we can bring in to be our next MLB -- the vast majority of the scenarios involving the rookie learning the position from SLB next to Urls and Briggs. And now we are all of a sudden letting a stud walk away!?

Roach is a solid player, you love to have guys like him on your squad to fill in the holes -- when they are affordable. However, he's far from a stud and he is not future cog for this defense. We have VASTLY more dire needs than retaining our role-player LB for legit starter money.

I truly believe JT Thomas is the next guy in that chain. It's all going to come down to how he's spent these two season learning behind a great corps, because his tangible skills are all plus attributes that will allow him to play in this league with the right instincts.