How Bout Dem Bears?

kennyb3

https://twitter.com/ChrisHaganIndy/status/708282169450504193?s=09

I hope this happens, he is not young, but he i thumper and tackling machine to put next to Trevathan. ILB becomes a strength if it does.

letowski

kennyb3 wrote: »

https://twitter.com/ChrisHaganIndy/status/708282169450504193?s=09

I hope this happens, he is not young, but he i thumper and tackling machine to put next to Trevathan. ILB becomes a strength if it does.

From a Colts fan perspective, biggest asset is his covering ability as an ILB, he is very good here. That would make a good pairing with Trevathan, but hopefully he stays with us as were really tight on D. I think he is looking for about 8mil pa.

kennyb3

letowski wrote: »

From a Colts fan perspective, biggest asset is his covering ability as an ILB, he is very good here. That would make a good pairing with Trevathan, but hopefully he stays with us as were really tight on D. I think he is looking for about 8mil pa.

Fair play for dropping in and giving us your thoughts. Sounds like he's better in coverage than I realised which is a plus. Pff had him the 2nd ranked LBer against the run last season.

8m seems excessive but I'd give him 7 a season for 2 seasons to have him. He'd do wonders for our defence

letowski

kennyb3 wrote:

Fair play for dropping in and giving us your thoughts. Sounds like he's better in coverage than I realised which is a plus. Pff had him the 2nd ranked LBer against the run last season.

8m seems excessive but I'd give him 7 a season for 2 seasons to have him. He'd do wonders for our defence

Yeah I think 2 seasons would be about right as he is 30. He relies more on his athletic ability to make plays, as he isnt that big of a guy, so I think by his mid 30s he might not be as effective.
To be honest I think were resigned to losing him, the Colts only have about 20mil in cap space, and everyone knows the dire straights our oline is, aswell as having holes right across our defense. We got Jerrell out of the CFL so this would his oppertunity to get paid.

kennyb3

Very annoyed to lose Jenkins to such a cheap deal. I was actually watching the Denver tape last couple of nights and he played very well. He has a lot of upside and would be better again with less snaps (was gassed at times).

Mad that jets sign him for depth yet we are wafer thin and let him go.

Won't matter what linebackers we have if our dlineman don't hold up. At the moment we've Goldman and no one else I'd wanna count on.

I really really really hope they get Hicks signed. Even then we need another lineman and a reasonably high pick too. Ego and Sutton are back ups only imo.

kennyb3

Freeman signed - brilliant! Now get hicks or a decent lineman and it's been good so far.

3 years, 12m it seems. Pace seems a bit stingy but is getting away with it, hopefully it won't cost us hicks

kennyb3

We've gone from having the worst inside linebackers in football to being right up there!

Realt Dearg Sec

kennyb3 wrote: »

Freeman signed - brilliant! Now get hicks or a decent lineman and it's been good so far.

3 years, 12m it seems. Pace seems a bit stingy but is getting away with it, hopefully it won't cost us hicks

Wouldn't say stingy, credit where it's due he's getting good deals done this year. Not a fan of big splashes in free agency anyway (not saying you're looking for big spending, I know you've been as vocal as anyone on that), has landed us in big trouble in the recent past.

Oat23

Reading the Freeman news before I head offline for a few hours an I'm delighted. We have legit linebackers now.

If I come back to news that Hicks signed I may cry.

kennyb3

Realt Dearg Sec wrote: »

Wouldn't say stingy, credit where it's due he's getting good deals done this year. Not a fan of big splashes in free agency anyway (not saying you're looking for big spending, I know you've been as vocal as anyone on that), has landed us in big trouble in the recent past.

Yeah totally. I'm just amazed at the value. Freeman, Trevathan and porter for same per year as malik Jackson.

I only mean stingy compared to other teams spending and the fact I thought they'd get more elsewhere esp Trevathan. That's the beauty of having fox and fangio.

I still totally think it's down to our drafts and that's how I wanna go but good value signings a must given all the gaps we have. Pace has to be seen to make progress this year after all

kennyb3

I'm glad it's these low to mid range deals rather than a Vernon, Jackson, Jenkins etc.

I'm also psyched that they are the players I actually wanted.

If I could pick 3 free agents at mid price before FA that we signed it would be our 2 new linebackers and Jaye Howard. 2 out of 3 is fine with me.

I do want one d lineman as it's silly to rely on rookies and we've nothing bar goldman. I wouldn't have been overly fussed if we'd resigned Jenkins but a

kennyb3

Serviceable lineman with actual nfl experience is required (Fergus on, gas ton, unrein and Sutton have feck all really).

Sorry about broken posts, stupid phone

SameOleJay

A starting calibre lineman and a defensive back in the coming days and it's BPA for the draft (on D obviously).

Pace is getting it done.

Realt Dearg Sec

Akiem Hicks signed. Nice one.

Allows us to target BPA defensively now (although at this rate we are going to need a TE at some point in the draft. Any word on whether Miller is gone? He was going to the rams today. With the Bennett situation, I would have expected them to lock him up, the cupboard is bare of he goes)

kennyb3

Very happy with these FA so far - 4 starters added and no stupid contracts. Porter re-signed too. I'm to be convinced on the Massie signing but I particularly like the 3 others.

I didn't like losing Jenkins. I don't rate Unrein. I'd like to see Montgomery re-signed. All of those things are minor issues compared to the good business we've done.

I'm honestly not worried about TE, we can't be set at ever position and I'd call it a luxury/premium position. It will probably work out anyway I just won't be worrying at all. I'd rather sort out or defence, which we seem to do. We'll have Jeffrey, White, Mariani, Royal and Wilson at WR - so I think we can get away with a blocking TE who can make some basic catches.

Now to use our 9 draft picks well. We also have last years 1st rounder coming back.

If we pick up a safety in the meantime (Jefferson/Bruton), great if not so be it.

kennyb3

Oat23 wrote: »

Reading the Freeman news before I head offline for a few hours an I'm delighted. We have legit linebackers now.

If I come back to news that Hicks signed I may cry.

Well it happened!

SameOleJay

Left tackle, DE and a starting defensive back the 3 hopes for me in the draft but as we've said Pace has given himself room to manoeuvre with a nice few days.

Chuffed with the free agency and love the profile of the signings.

kennyb3

SameOleJay wrote: »

Left tackle, DE and a starting defensive back the 3 hopes for me in the draft but as we've said Pace has given himself room to manoeuvre with a nice few days.

Chuffed with the free agency and love the profile of the signings.

+1, I pray Stanley falls!

Leno and Massie could end up being the worst pass protection tackles in the NFL otherwise.

But I am torn - I would ideally give Fangio as many picks as possible to work with!

The 5tech draft is loaded though so a quality one could be got at our 2nd round pick. Stanley/5tech in 2nd my ideal draft right now.

Realt Dearg Sec

kennyb3 wrote: »

+1, I pray Stanley falls!

Leno and Massie could end up being the worst pass protection tackles in the NFL otherwise.

But I am torn - I would ideally give Fangio as many picks as possible to work with!

The 5tech draft is loaded though so a quality one could be got at our 2nd round pick. Stanley/5tech in 2nd my ideal draft right now.

As Dan pompei noted on the massie signing, it does get us one of the best guards in the game right now. Which is a nice way to think about that.

kennyb3

Realt Dearg Sec wrote: »

As Dan pompei noted on the massie signing, it does get us one of the best guards in the game right now. Which is a nice way to think about that.

Totally get that and it will help Grasu too but I think I'd have preferred someone who will definitely be solid (like Schwartz) given Leno still has it all to prove too. I'd just prefer one tackle you could hang your hat on, so you can give the other help if needs be. Cutler might be doing a lot of stepping up into the pocket!

SameOleJay

Contracts to date including Hicks...

Hicks: 2 years 10 mill 5.5 guaranteed
Freeman: 3 years 12 mill 6 guaranteed
Porter: 3 years 16.5 mill 4.25 guaranteed
Massie: 3 years 18 mill 6.5 guaranteed
Trevathan: 24.5 mill for 4 years 12 guaranteed
McManis: 2 years 2.85 mill 750k guaranteed

Not a single guarantee over 7 mill

kennyb3

You can totally see the way Pace is trying to go - most of the guarantees are 1/1.5 years (Trevathan aside) - the plan is to build through the draft. It's a long term strategy but with enough added in the interim to make forward progress (he has to keep the McCaskeys believing and the fans to a certain extent).

You can see that the way the contracts are structured that they are hoping they'll draft/develop their own players by the time these guys are no longer useful.

I have no idea it it will work out , that will 100% depend on our drafts - we certainly have the right coaches to develop players, but it's 100% the right idea.

Draft well - supplement with a few free agents.

The way we are going about it gives we confidence. The fact Pace hired Fox gives me confidence and our draft class of last year gives me bit of confidence too.

We'll still end up 3rd in our division this year in all likelihood however.

Realt Dearg Sec

Zach miller resigned anyway, so we're nicely set up for the draft.

kennyb3

My wife was working late so I watch about a third of the Cardinals @ Panthers playoff game last night to check out Massie a bit more. He was actually really really good. He fights really well with his hands and is strong as an ox.

He gave up one pressure on what I saw and that was Palmer holding the ball 6 seconds plus.

It definitely made me feel a bit better - he's definitely no turnstile. He didn't face any real speed rushers in those snaps so no idea if that's his issue.

I'll hopefully watch the rest later in the week. I'm pretty sure I have their game v the packers recorded so i'll possibly watch some of that too.

SameOleJay

The Marty trade was inevitable I suppose. Happy to get some decent comp out of it when he was being released either way. Trade makes perfect sense for New England too. Contract year so incentive won’t be an issue and it’s the right environment to curb his idiocy. I think he could be dominant with the looks he’ll be getting. Chicago will need to find some blocking elsewhere because Miller won’t offer a sniff.

The Shea era is over, thanks be to god. There was a burden off my shoulders when I read the news. The guy can’t play a lick but he’s a great lad so best of luck to him.

We’ve still got a decent chest there with 20+ mill (more if Alshon extends) and 9 picks. Defensive back is an absolute must but aside from that you have plenty of room to manoeuvre. Excited for the draft now, and looking forward to getting stuck into some tape.

kennyb3

I honestly LOL'ed when I say the McClellin contract - hilarious. He's good at duping people I'll give the chap that much.

Realt Dearg Sec

kennyb3 wrote: »

I honestly LOL'ed when I say the McClellin contract - hilarious. He's good at duping people I'll give the chap that much.

They must be all seeing something that is invisible to the rest of us. Terribly soft player, would never see him as anything more than a depth option at best.

kennyb3

Realt Dearg Sec wrote: »

They must be all seeing something that is invisible to the rest of us. Terribly soft player, would never see him as anything more than a depth option at best.

I really really don't get it - when multiple UDFas look better that's a real bad sign. How he's got himself anything more than a million a year with next to no guarantees I've no clue.

kennyb3

I watched more Massie and his big issue seems to be bull rushes - really struggles. Got knocked into Palmer in both first halves I watched (Panthers and packers)

Looked good otherwise - better than I expected from pff and the bits I remember seeing off him. (Hard to remember oline play unless it's real bad)

He's way more athletic than I'd have guessed - they had him pull and he took off downfield - really impressive.

SameOleJay

Everyone see the Larsen and Ramirez signings? 2 starting calibre interior guys by most accounts if nothing that'll blow the doors off.

Depth has been a foreign concept for as long as I can remember so these excited me more than they should have. Camp gonna be fun.

And more leeway for the draft.

kennyb3

SameOleJay wrote: »

Everyone see the Larsen and Ramirez signings? 2 starting calibre interior guys by most accounts if nothing that'll blow the doors off.

Depth has been a foreign concept for as long as I can remember so these excited me more than they should have. Camp gonna be fun.

And more leeway for the draft.

Yep depth and flexibility.

Ramierz is quite good. Larsen is very bad.

I still hope we'll draft at least one oline prospect, maybe two. then spend all our other picks on defence.

SameOleJay

I think it'll be one left tackle prospect and potentially a mid round rb and tight end. Everything else on d.

Very excited for the draft, 9 picks and a lot of them decent ones.

thomond2006

Hi Bears fans,

I hope to be in Chicago around Haloween and I see the Bears are hosting the Vikings on Halloween evening for MNF. What are my chances of getting tickets on resale? Should I be prepared to get fleeced?

Realt Dearg Sec

thomond2006 wrote: »

Hi Bears fans,

I hope to be in Chicago around Haloween and I see the Bears are hosting the Vikings on Halloween evening for MNF. What are my chances of getting tickets on resale? Should I be prepared to get fleeced?

You'll get a ticket if you want one but depending on how the team is getting on they can be quite pricey. The stadium is quite small for the nfl and that keeps prices high. But if you start shooting tickets early, as in now, you might get some good value on stubhub out whatever. Huge differences in price between seats that isn't justified by a major difference in quality of view, so there's bargains to be had in the upper tier sometimes.

thomond2006

Realt Dearg Sec wrote: »

You'll get a ticket if you want one but depending on how the team is getting on they can be quite pricey. The stadium is quite small for the nfl and that keeps prices high. But if you start shooting tickets early, as in now, you might get some good value on stubhub out whatever. Huge differences in price between seats that isn't justified by a major difference in quality of view, so there's bargains to be had in the upper tier sometimes.

Thanks!

Is there any chance the game could be changed to the Sunday or Thursday beforehand? I read somewhere that the NFL can change fixture days following this schedule announcement. I'm planning to fly out that Sunday evening.

I see the cheapest tickets on Ticketmaster Exchange or Stubhub are $150+. Yikes! I don't like how it's common practice in the US to re-sell tickets for a profit, it makes a season ticket feel like an investment risk than a season ticket! I suppose it keeps it legit and I'm sure all parties profit from it.

Realt Dearg Sec

thomond2006 wrote: »

Thanks!

Is there any chance the game could be changed to the Sunday or Thursday beforehand? I read somewhere that the NFL can change fixture days following this schedule announcement. I'm planning to fly out that Sunday evening.

I see the cheapest tickets on Ticketmaster Exchange or Stubhub are $150+. Yikes! I don't like how it's common practice in the US to re-sell tickets for a profit, it makes a season ticket feel like an investment risk than a season ticket! I suppose it keeps it legit and I'm sure all parties profit from it.

If the game is after week 5 they can "flex" it from Sunday afternoon to Sunday night, but they can't move Monday games, those are set in stone.

Regarding the tickets, that sounds kind of high but not that surprising. It's a divisional game and the going rate for Bears games seems to be that or higher if the opposition is anyone good. I don't like re-selling as common practice either, but that's the free market for you. As you say, all parties profit. Except for the fan. He gets screwed. By everyone. Over and over. FWIW I think it's worth the money if you are really into the Bears, my first visit there was something I have great memories of.

Would be lovely to support someone who has tickets going for 40 quid or whatever (until recently the Panthers did!), but for me, at least, I love the team because I love the city, and the city makes it damn expensive. Ah well.

crunchie44

Doors anyone know if sky sports will be showing the Draft. I'm aiming they will show 1st round again but can't find confirmation

Guffy

Anyone think that Norman hitting FA give the bears a chance of being a win now team?

Sign Norman and make a play for Elliot in the draft and fill out the lines with the rest of your picks.

The LB core has seen a huge upgrade in FA, Norman would obviously improve the secondary, Zeek is being touted as being nearly as good as Gurley, the Jeffrey and white returning to full health and hopefully get another good year out of Cutler.. interior line obviously still needs improving though.

SameOleJay

There's nothing the Bears can do that'll have them contending this year. Norman won't happen and rightly so. Paying huge for someone of his age profile would not be aligned with what we've seen from Pace to date, however small a sample.

Realt Dearg Sec

gufc21 wrote: »

Anyone think that Norman hitting FA give the bears a chance of being a win now team?

Sign Norman and make a play for Elliot in the draft and fill out the lines with the rest of your picks.

The LB core has seen a huge upgrade in FA, Norman would obviously improve the secondary, Zeek is being touted as being nearly as good as Gurley, the Jeffrey and white returning to full health and hopefully get another good year out of Cutler.. interior line obviously still needs improving though.

It would be a very sudden change of direction for them to start pursuing a win now mode. Everything they've been doing suggests long term rebuilding. Would hate to see them suddenly get greedy and throw away all the progress they've been making (also if they were trying to win now they never would have let Forte go)

I know you're just saying they COULD, not that you expect that they WOULD. I just hope they don't...

(Not that I don't want them to win this year!)

Guffy

Realt Dearg Sec wrote: »

It would be a very sudden change of direction for them to start pursuing a win now mode. Everything they've been doing suggests long term rebuilding. Would hate to see them suddenly get greedy and throw away all the progress they've been making (also if they were trying to win now they never would have let Forte go)

I know you're just saying they COULD, not that you expect that they WOULD. I just hope they don't...

(Not that I don't want them to win this year!)

O god it is a complete could.... Wouldn't dream that it would actually happen, well dream

kennyb3

The fact the panthers took the tag off Norman says a lot - must be looking for insane money.

I also definitely don't want a RB at 11. Hopefully a top prospect falls but give me Lawson either. I'd rather draft a DT then in second rather than reach on one in the first given the depth at that position.

SameOleJay

Anyone who knows anything who doesn't hate the pick?

Realt Dearg Sec

SameOleJay wrote: »

Anyone who knows anything who doesn't hate the pick?

I don't know a damn thing but for what it's worth (not much I suppose), I don't hate the pick. At all. But like yourself, would be interested in someone's opinion who knows a bit more before I pontificate as to why I like it.

Realt Dearg Sec

First impression: 2nd round looks like Pace was flustered after twice having his guy taken from under his nose. Picking a guard is an odd choice after free agency.

3rd round looks a great steal, I read threads where people were criticising pace for not picking Bullard with the previous pick.

Still, all just first impressions.

crunchie44

Spriggs might have been his 1st choice but I see a lot of sites grading the whitehair pick as an A. You can never have enough lineman and competition is great to have. Bullard looks a steal in 3rd round. Guess we'll just have to trust the guys who spend all year evaluating players

Realt Dearg Sec

crunchie44 wrote: »

Spriggs might have been his 1st choice but I see a lot of sites grading the whitehair pick as an A. You can never have enough lineman and competition is great to have. Bullard looks a steal in 3rd round. Guess we'll just have to trust the guys who spend all year evaluating players

Yeah this is it. People seem not to like Floyd in the first, but the last time people complained that much about it first round pick was Kyle long. Which worked out pretty well.

kennyb3

I haven't criticised a single move this staff has made until now - I could see logic with Marshall, Forte etc - but releasing matt slauson is just plain dumb. Quality reliable mauler who can play all interior positions (would prefer to see him at centre than Grasu). Also seems great character wise.

I hope it's not an age thing - he's a year and half younger than Marshall yanda sure!

Do not get it.

Realt Dearg Sec

kennyb3 wrote: »

I haven't criticised a single move this staff has made until now - I could see logic with Marshall, Forte etc - but releasing matt slauson is just plain dumb. Quality reliable mauler who can play all interior positions (would prefer to see him at centre than Grasu). Also seems great character wise.

I hope it's not an age thing - he's a year and half younger than Marshall yanda sure!

Do not get it.

Agreed, read that at breakfast this morning and could not fathom it. Saves 2.5 million in cap, for what? We were just looking like we might have a half decent o line, the only position that we were going to have some actual depth. Makes no sense.

EDIT: Some talk of injury concerns. He played a full season last year hurt though, so I dunno. But it's the only explanation that makes much sense here.

SameOleJay

He's clearly looking for a shift to youth and athleticism. The roster is one of the youngest in the league now and I suspect will only keep trending that way (Young and Houston seem the most obvious next casualties). Age, injuries, emphasis on the ZBS and a far more negative perception in-house of Slauson's performance than in the media are all factors I've read.

I think it's an awful decision. With no cap trouble keep the guy around as injury cover if you're adamant he can't start. Slauson's pass protection was so good, it's a hard move to fathom.