How Bout Dem Bears?

bannerman2005

so are the Bears going to pull the trigger before the end of the year.

There is still I think a nucleus of a decent team but draft and free agency will have to be a success.

Do you guys think Fangio will stick around as D coordinator?

Realt Dearg Sec

Fangio by all accounts wants to return to the West coast, I'd be shocked if we held onto him, without making him HC

Lionbacker

Don't know if you guys have seen this, but here's an interview with Zach Miller after his horrific knee injury.

https://twitter.com/ChicagoBears/status/939149028591325184

Cody montana

I love a hairy bear.

Realt Dearg Sec

Well this has been an enjoyable day, even if it says as much about the Bengals as it does about us. You kind of forget how enjoyable a comprehensive win can be when you go so long without experiencing one.

Oat23

Realt Dearg Sec

Pretty excited about Nagy now, think he was a solid hire, not another "I know something everyone else doesn't" decision like Bears GMs specialise in.

Problem now is they haven't actually nailed on Fangio. To me that would be a nice thing to do, providing stability in D as the offense hopefully develops next year. But it's worth remembering that as good as he's been it hasn't been all plain sailing either, so it wouldn't be the end of the world if it didn't happen. But the word is the Packers are sniffing about for him now. I'm assuming that if the Bears are serious about all this then they have a plan to give him a promotion to assistant HC as part of a package because the status quo probably wouldn't be enough to get him on board. Three years ago he was the highest paid DC in football. I'm assuming he'll get the same again as part of any deal.

Oat23

Fangio reportedly signed for 3 years. Great week

Really like this staff Nagy is putting together. Nice blend of experience with the likes of Hiestand & Fangio along with the likes of Helfrich who, without the responsibility of playcalling, should add some more flavours to Nagy's offense.

The only one I'm unsure of is ST coordinator Tabor having seen the Browns lose games on ST last season. He did work as an assistant for Toub at the Bears before going to the Browns though and old bears (Pat Mannelly, Rashied Davis) from back then have said on Twitter it's a great hire. Plus it's the Browns. There's only so much a coach can do.

https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/951897807019036672

Realt Dearg Sec

That's great news about Fangio, really will provide the stability on that side of the ball we need for Nagy to do what he needs to on O.

Not TOO worried about ST partly because if he's good enough for Mannelly he's good enough for the rest of us, but also because ST units are made up of the bottom of any roster, and the Browns roster is by any measure the worst in the NFL, so I would expect their st to perform accordingly. Of course a bad special teams can undo loads of good work in a matter of moments. But we could as easily be looking at Cohen returning two or three touchdowns on ST this season.

Exciting times.

Oat23

mikemac2

Marlon Brown wide receiver signed I see

He was an undrafted rookie in Baltimore and had an amazing seven TDs. Hey Baltimore are not known for a lethal passing offense! One of the best rookies in the league and better than many of the250 plus drafted players

He got demoted when Steve Smith signed the next year and only had 24 catches for under 300 yds

The following year he had a back injury and got released and spent 2016 in Denver and was injured again with a back issue. He was not in the league at all last year

I hope he does well and he may make the 53 but his last productive year was 2013 and that’s a long time ago.

Realt Dearg Sec

Feels like management have backed themselves into a corner letting Meredith go. It looked like they had kind of fixed wr (more than fixed in the unlikely event of white actually living up to his promise, but to me he's a bust) in free agency and then let Meredith go and left themselves with more to do. I guess they think he's too much of an injury risk for the price the saints paid but it looked like a good contract to me based on his 2016 form.

I don't think this guy is exactly the answer in terms of depth but it probably saves us having to go drafting one.

Realt Dearg Sec

Hm. Ok. Sounds fine. Trade back would have been nice if there was value to be had (probably not after the bills went up), but he was a consensus top ten pick. Which is fine, boringly predictable. But that's good in a sense. unexpected picks are usually unexpected for a bad reason, especially with the bears. So, Ok. Sounds fine.

Definitely a great addition to an area where we're constantly injured. Trevathan and kwit are gone but no way are they elite, given how injury prone they are.

Anyway, good enough for fangio presumably (probably his pick to some degree), good enough for me.

Oat23

How are we all feeling about the draft?

Really like Smith. Moving up for Miller was genius and didn't cost a lot.

Don't know anything about the others if I'm honest.

The only UDFA I know is Nall, who I can't wait to see at TC/pre-season. I said on the bears subreddit a few weeks ago that if the coaches can teach him to block he would make a great full back who is also a decent runner and catcher in Nagy's system. I know I sound like every NFL coach ever by suggesting they turn the white RB into a FB but with Howard & Cohen, FB (along with ST) would be his best shot at contributing.

Really excited now. 3 months until training camp though

Realt Dearg Sec

Posted on the pats thread about the trade for Williams, but in pure draft value we definitely got the better end of the deal. Their priorities are obviously a little more long term than ours, given trubisky and Pace both basically need to be seeing immediate success this year.

Looking at the roster, as long as the draft picks work out we SHOULD be a way better team this year. The only unknown is whether trubs can kick on from last year. If he can't then Pace is probably screwed, but I think he should prove at least serviceable, and maybe better than that, going on what we saw last year. If he does, I think it could be an exciting year for the team.

Oat23

God, I miss Jay :pac:

https://twitter.com/verycavallari/status/1016088074386751488

Oat23

Oat23 wrote: »

The only UDFA I know is Nall, who I can't wait to see at TC/pre-season. I said on the bears subreddit a few weeks ago that if the coaches can teach him to block he would make a great full back who is also a decent runner and catcher in Nagy's system. I know I sound like every NFL coach ever by suggesting they turn the white RB into a FB but with Howard & Cohen, FB (along with ST) would be his best shot at contributing.

Nall offers too much as a RB not to have him in the final 53. Pat Mannelly looked back at his ST snaps and said he has some upside there too. I'll be disappointed if we try to sneak him onto the PC because I fear another team will take the chance we should take on him.

79 yards on 4 rushes and a TD tonight. He had some FB snaps too. I'd take him over Burton.

Realt Dearg Sec

I didn't watch tonight, a lot of my optimism about the season has dissipated because we're still doing slapdick things. Nagy resting everyone last week and preventing a clearly undercooked offender getting reps, and then trying to tell us in a presser that we need to give trubisky time to gel the offense as the season progresses?

That's the kind of combination of "I'm the smartest guy in the room" codology with pure chutzpah that I've come to associate with the bears since about 2012. I don't want to over read the preseason, especially because I've liked Nagy a lot and we had what looks like a good draft and FA, but alarm bells are ringing.

But whatever, the stakes are what they were: trubisky good=pace good, trubisky bad=pace bad. At this point he has nothing else on which to hang his hat, and more calls from coaches or FO for fans to patient with the process are, to me, nothing but stalling at this stage, if you wanted time to develop the offense, Fox needed to be fired a damn sight sooner.

The good news is I'm always ****ing wrong about the bears.

thomond2006

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000957557/article/bears-expected-to-acquire-khalil-mack-from-raiders

Woah!

Oat23

I read La Canfora's tweet at about 5am this morning and I was awake until after 6am thinking, dreaming of us managing to trade for Mack. I can't believe it actually happened.


Holy **** lads. Khalil Mack. A potential hall of famer traded in his prime. How often does that happen? I'm shaking

Spongey1975

Oat23 wrote: »

I read La Canfora's tweet at about 5am this morning and I was awake until after 6am thinking, dreaming of us managing to trade for Mack. I can't believe it actually happened.


Holy **** lads. Khalil Mack. A potential hall of famer traded in his prime. How often does that happen? I'm shaking

Just read the report there, nothing finalised. Any idea what we would give up? Minimum first rounder

Oat23

Spongey1975 wrote: »

Just read the report there, nothing finalised. Any idea what we would give up? Minimum first rounder

People were saying Gruden would likely want a player. I was thinking something like a 1st, 3rd and Trevathan might do it but some writers were saying the Raiders wanted multiple 1sts so it might be 2 first rounders and a player (Trevathan is just a guess..)

Edit:
Rapoport saying 2 first rounders and potentially more.

https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1035876916560048128

Realt Dearg Sec

If heard these rumours for ages but Jesus I never took it seriously. Ryan Pace, all is forgiven! Presume at least one first, probably a raft of picks. The NFC North just got really interesting.

thomond2006

I'm actually excited about the Bears now.

Realt Dearg Sec

Oat23 wrote: »

Spongey1975 wrote: »

Just read the report there, nothing finalised. Any idea what we would give up? Minimum first rounder

People were saying Gruden would likely want a player. I was thinking something like a 1st, 3rd and Trevathan might do it but some writers were saying the Raiders wanted multiple 1sts so it might be 2 first rounders and a player (Trevathan is just a guess..)

Long as it's not Hicks I'm ok with it on D.

Jolly Red Giant

Mack is probably worth the picks - the money, a bigger wad than the Rams just gave Donald, could come back to bite the Bears in the future - Mack will probably be hitting $25million+ a year in cap space.

Oat23

Jolly Red Giant wrote: »

Mack is probably worth the picks - the money, a bigger wad than the Rams just gave Donald, could come back to bite the Bears in the future - Mack will probably be hitting $25million+ a year in cap space.

As long as Trubisky turns out to be good we have a team good enough to compete for superbowls over the next few seasons. If we win a ring it'll be worth it.


It's a big move and risky because we still don't know what we have in Trubisky, but it has been 38 years since the Bears won a ring and over a decade since we were relevant. It's worth taking the chance.

Realt Dearg Sec

My thinking on the picks is that on one hand if trubs doesn't work out we are in a bad position for replacing him. But obviously this management are all in on him anyway so all gambles are based on the assumption he works out. So it's just about the value of the picks: I don't think it's very likely that you'd get a player of his quality just picking in the draft twice, so I'm absolutely fine with that personally. Not sure what player we're losing but as long as it's not our one other elite level player I'm ok with that.

We'll need to see about the cap hit, I guess. But you get what you pay for, as long as trubisky pans out we will be proper playoff contenders, and that requires great players who don't come cheap. Edge rushers are pretty close to priceless.

Mack with Floyd, Smith, Hicks, and Goldman is a really frightening look.

Rodgers might be looking for another raise, lads!

Spongey1975

If Trubisky works out then i'm not worried about the first rounders. Also not worried about the cap hit, we still have 3 years of Floyds rookie contract, 4 of Trubiskys and 5 of Smiths so we can pay Mack what he is due. Felt our pass rush was weaker this year compared to last, not now

Realt Dearg Sec

As dabearsblog pointed out, whatever your view of the trade, this is an entertainment business and this is some serious entertainment right here. And we no longer need to be patient with the "process". This move declares that the bears are serious about playoffs now. You don't give up multiple picks for extremely expensive players when you're in rebuild mode.

The NFCN could (COULD) have the two best defenses in the NFL this year, and the best QB on another team. It's going to be the division to watch. I was getting less excited about this season the last couple of weeks, that's no longer the case.

Bear down!

The_Honeybadger

That’s some coup for Chicago. It’s very very rare that a player of his calibre becomes available. If Trubisky is as good as hoped then Chicago are set for years to come.

Can’t believe the Raiders are willing to let him go, I was assuming that they were waiting to see what Donald got before signing him up.

Oat23

I'd be more upset if Pace didn't just land KHALIL MOTHERF'N MACK


Would be surprised if he clears waivers. Hopefully he does though.



https://twitter.com/BradBiggs/status/1035957204178939904

Oat23

According to Schefter:

Bears get:

Khalil Mack
a 2020 second-round round pick
a conditional 2020 fifth-round pick

​

Raiders get:

2019 first-round pick
2020 first-round pick
2020 third-round pick
2019 sixth-round pick

Very happy with that deal.

Realt Dearg Sec

So no players going the other way? That's good news, was worried they'd create a new hole in the D while filling another.

Oat23

Realt Dearg Sec wrote: »

So no players going the other way? That's good news, was worried they'd create a new hole in the D while filling another.

I'm surprised they gave him for just two 1sts. Thought there would definitely be a player involved too.


Crazy deal. We get Mack for what will hopefully (likely?) be picks in the last 15 of the first round and on top of that, we give the Raiders our 3rd and 6th in return for a 2nd and a 5th. Given some of the deals Gruden is doing that could very well be a high 2nd as well. Amazing.

Realt Dearg Sec

Yeah it's an absolutely great deal, the Moore you think of it, best case scenario you might pick someone as good as mack with a first round pick, but probably not. So really you're only giving up one first round pick. The lower round picks really take the edge off even that very reasonable price. It's nice to see us be on the better side of a deal for a change. (I know how cap hit will probably be a problem, but I'm guessing they expect the increase in the cap between now and trubiskys second contract to take care of that issue down the road.

bannerman2005

It seems like a decent deal. I suppose this means that the bears are in win now mode. Brilliant addition to the defence. Wonder will he be dropped in for the Packers game with a week to get familiar with the team. Actually looking forward to the first game now.

Jolly Red Giant

bannerman2005 wrote: »

It seems like a decent deal. I suppose this means that the bears are in win now mode. Brilliant addition to the defence. Wonder will he be dropped in for the Packers game with a week to get familiar with the team. Actually looking forward to the first game now.

it is a good deal for the Bears - they are getting one of the best defensive players in the NFL in return for a pick around 20 next year and dropping 10-15 places in 2020.

Realt Dearg Sec

Just a minor correction, it'll be the 32nd pick next year. Great deal.

Oat23

Nall wasn't claimed


Still think he should've made the 53 over Burton but anyway. Hopefully he's signed to the PS.

Realt Dearg Sec

Oat23 wrote: »

Nall wasn't claimed


Still think he should've made the 53 over Burton but anyway. Hopefully he's signed to the PS.

Doesn't matter, did you not hear? They are just handing us the Lombardi trophy this year.

Oat23

Oh yes. The upcoming Superbowl's MVP is back.

https://twitter.com/BradBiggs/status/1036309343258517505?s=19

And the next tweet on my timeline. Stop. I'm going to have an aneurysm

https://twitter.com/ChicagoBears/status/1036309824462573568

Prefab Sprouter

Lads, Raiders fan here. First of all, congrats on getting Mack. You are getting one heck of a player and may he play well for you over the next few seasons. He was a beast for us and despite being on a bad defense, Mack never complained once or griped. He was seen as a positive influence in the Locker Room. Its a good move for Chicago. As for us, well as ever, we get ourselves into a half decent position and then shoot ourselves in the head. Gruden has, in 24 hours, shown us that he does not consider us contenders this season. But enough moaning, best of luck with Mack, lads, you just got a great player.

Oat23

No surprise which song was first on the playlist at practice today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uB1D9wWxd2w

Realt Dearg Sec

Oat23 wrote: »

No surprise which song was first on the playlist at practice today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uB1D9wWxd2w

He must hate that song.

Realt Dearg Sec

What do ye think about this weekend?

Honestly I keep changing my mind. I mean, I'm more confident this year than I've been in a long time, for all sorts of reasons, bolstered by Mack, but I still have lingering suspicions about Pace's moves over the last couple of years that one defensive player, however good, can't dispel. And I also know it still all hinges on Trubisky.

I think he'll work out OK, and as this season progresses, OK might be good enough, because this D looks like it could be much much better than OK.

But this weekend seems like it might be a month too early to be facing the Packers. Part of me really wishes we were playing literally anyone else in Week 1, because losing to them is always worse than other losses, and that is particularly damaging in Week 1. I don't think Trubisky will be in a position to fully command a complex offense like the one Nagy is likely to run. And Mack obviously will take time to bed into the D, as will Smith. For all these reasons, and our abysmal record against Rodgers, I think Week 1 will probably be a loss. I wouldn't despair if we looked like we are going in the right direction, making plays in the passing game and getting pressure on Rodgers. That's what I want to see from us.

But there's another part of me that thinks we could go out there and shock some people. Whether or not he knows the defensive schemes, Mack could find a quarterback in a blizzard. Rodgers likes extending a play to wait for someone to get open. That'll suit Mack even as he is learning the D. And what we saw of Trubisky last season tells me he can (hopefully) make throws when it matters. This season two things will be different: he'll have someone to throw to, and the playcalling won't just be run, run, pass. That means Howard can cause actual trouble instead of just being game planned for, too. The run and the pass can take pressure off each other, and we can use multiple tight ends to set up short gain passing situations that will suit Trubisky as he beds in.

So maybe, just maybe...but realistically I think we'll be in a better position to beat the Pack on our second meeting. Sunday is a bridge too far...or too soon or whatever. 27-24 Packers I think.

Innish_Rebel

Realt Dearg Sec wrote: »

What do ye think about this weekend?

Honestly I keep changing my mind. I mean, I'm more confident this year than I've been in a long time, for all sorts of reasons, bolstered by Mack, but I still have lingering suspicions about Pace's moves over the last couple of years that one defensive player, however good, can't dispel. And I also know it still all hinges on Trubisky.

I think he'll work out OK, and as this season progresses, OK might be good enough, because this D looks like it could be much much better than OK.

But this weekend seems like it might be a month too early to be facing the Packers. Part of me really wishes we were playing literally anyone else in Week 1, because losing to them is always worse than other losses, and that is particularly damaging in Week 1. I don't think Trubisky will be in a position to fully command a complex offense like the one Nagy is likely to run. And Mack obviously will take time to bed into the D, as will Smith. For all these reasons, and our abysmal record against Rodgers, I think Week 1 will probably be a loss. I wouldn't despair if we looked like we are going in the right direction, making plays in the passing game and getting pressure on Rodgers. That's what I want to see from us.

But there's another part of me that thinks we could go out there and shock some people. Whether or not he knows the defensive schemes, Mack could find a quarterback in a blizzard. Rodgers likes extending a play to wait for someone to get open. That'll suit Mack even as he is learning the D. And what we saw of Trubisky last season tells me he can (hopefully) make throws when it matters. This season two things will be different: he'll have someone to throw to, and the playcalling won't just be run, run, pass. That means Howard can cause actual trouble instead of just being game planned for, too. The run and the pass can take pressure off each other, and we can use multiple tight ends to set up short gain passing situations that will suit Trubisky as he beds in.

So maybe, just maybe...but realistically I think we'll be in a better position to beat the Pack on our second meeting. Sunday is a bridge too far...or too soon or whatever. 27-24 Packers I think.

Very similar to you - really excited for the upcoming season - but the offense is a huge unknown. I think giving the defense a few weeks to bed in it could be awesome; Fangio is class & giving him Mack & Smith in addition to the pieces he already had...


A thought that stuck with me recently, if we'd gotten Mack prior to draft would we still have drafted Smith???

Realt Dearg Sec

Good question, you have to wonder might there have been an o line option in the draft worth taking, but my recollection is that other than quenton what's his name, the guard out of ND, there weren't great options high in the draft at that set. I think Smith was the best available at the time though, so it hopefully worked out well.

thomond2006

Anyone got a cornerback there?

I know it's Aaron Rodgers but seeing the corners getting torched in the 4th quarter was depressing. Or am I being too harsh?

Oat23

Not happy to hear Nagy mention a lack of pre-season reps in his post-game presser last night after all the sh*te we heard about the 2000 camp reps being more valuable and 30 snaps in a pre-season game would not make a difference.


Some very questionable things done under him so far but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt for now, although the whole rotating captains thing is something Trestman did and nothing that man did should be repeated.


Can't believe we gave the ball to Howard on 1D and 2D last night for 4 & 5 yards and then on 3rd & 1 he goes 5 wide. Cut the stupid overly cute ****. It was funny in the first half with Leno out as a receiver but why would you go 5 wide and remove any worry of handing it off again after Howard was killing them on that drive.