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Bears GM Phil Emery Makes A Statement With His Latest Moves

11th June 2013 by under Bears News     

EmeryThe Chicago Bears have been making moves all off-season to help strengthen their core for this upcoming season and beyond.

GM Phil Emery made two very tough moves this week. He decided to cut ties with former first-round pick Gabe Carimi, who was part of the last draft class selected by former GM Jerry Angelo.

Emery also released FB/TE Evan Rodriguez, who was selected in the fourth round in 2012.

Carimi was traded on Sunday for a sixth-round pick in next year’s draft. He started 16 games in his two seasons in the Windy City. He started the first two games of the 2011 at right tackle, but suffered a season-ending knee injury which required multiple surgeries on his right knee.

At 6’7″, it appeared as if the “Bear Jew” had the potential to be a solid tackle for years to come in Chicago. He started 49 of 52 games at the University of Wisconsin where he won the Outland Trophy (Offensive Lineman of the Year).

He stayed healthy last season, but was benched in favor of veteran Jonathan Scott after a Week 11 blowout loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football. He regained a spot in the lineup at right guard after Lance Louis and Chris Spencer both were banged up.

He started the final four games at right guard. He is set to earn a base salary of just over $1 million over the next two seasons in Tampa Bay.

Emery was clearly looking to free up some cap space by cutting ties with a player he didn’t draft and someone who has been up-and-down in his short tenure. When Carimi decided to train in Arizona instead of participating in OTA’s last month it was clear that his time in Chicago was nearing the end.

He always had the potential to be a solid offensive lineman, but he hasn’t made the most of his opportunities just yet. He eventually could be that player.

He reminds me of Marc Colombo, a guy the Bears let go and turned into a solid offensive lineman later in his career.

The other player the Bears cut ties with this week was second-year pro Evan Rodriguez, who Emery selected in the fourth round of last year’s draft.

Rodriguez was arrested twice this off-season. The first time was in March in Miami Beach, Fla when he was booked for resisting an officer without violence and disorderly intoxication. He was then arrested on May 31 for driving under the influence in Chicago.

The 24-year-old Temple product started five games at fullback in his rookie season reeling in four catches for 21 yards. Standing at 6’2″, he was set to take on a hybrid role at fullback and tight end this upcoming season. The Bears had a plan in mind for him in 2013, but his recent legal problems took a toll on his chances to stick with the team.

“Evan is a very likeable guy,” Phil Emery said Tuesday via ESPNChicago.com. “We have talked. Disappointed. I would use the word extremely. And we’ll leave it at that.”

I had the chance to catch up with Rodriguez just after the draft last year and he talked about what he would bring to the table in terms of off the field personality.

“I feel I’m a good guy and humble,” Rodriguez said May 7, 2012. “I get along with people and at the end of the day, when I am on the field it is all business. I am very coachable and I like to be coached hard.”

In the end Emery made two tough decisions this week. Both Carimi and Rodriguez were players that were expected to be starters on this team for years to come. Unfortunately it didn’t work out so well for either player. But if they make the most of their next opportunity in the NFL they could easily succeed.

Veteran fullback Tony Fiammetta was signed to a one-year deal as well as receivers Devin Aromashodu and Jerrell Jackson. Fiammetta should be able to earn the starting fullback gig.

Aromashodu returns to the Bears after spending the past two seasons with the Vikings. He should be considered a long shot to make the 53-man roster.

Ellis Strengthens DT Rotation

The Bears announced the signing of defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis on Tuesday to a one-year deal. The 27-year-old was the seventh overall pick by the New Orleans Saints in the 2008 NFL Draft.

He started 70 games in five seasons in New Orleans racking up 12.5 sacks, 174 tackles, 13 pass deflections, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

He strengthens the depth at defensive tackle which currently has Henry Melton and Stephen Paea penciled in as the starters with Nate Collins serving as the top reserve.

 

Jake Perper is the founder and head writer of Bearsbacker.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker and on Facebook for up to the minute news about the Chicago Bears.

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The Bears Need More Insurance Behind Cutler Than Just McCown

6th May 2013 by under Bears News     

Cutler-McCownChicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler has only made it through a full season once in his four seasons in the windy city.

He has started just 25 games the past two seasons (2011-2012) and miraculously started 15 games in 2010 despite being sacked a career-high 52 times.

We all know that injuries have plagued Cutler for a good part of his Bears career. In 2010, he missed the second half of the NFC Championship due to a knee injury. In 2011, he missed the last six games of the season after injuring his thumb trying to make a tackle on an interception. Most recently in 2012, he missed one game due to knee and neck injuries.

With all that being said Cutler is still arguably one of the most talented quarterbacks the Chicago Bears have ever had. He ranks first all-time in passer rating (81.9) and second all-time in yards (12,292) and touchdowns (82) in team history.

Cutler, 30 isn’t getting younger and his backup Josh McCown, 33 surely isn’t a great option off the bench. The only other quarterback on the roster is second-year man Matt Blanchard, who went undrafted last season.

In nine years in the NFL, McCown has appeared in 52 games making 33 starts. He’s tossed 37 touchdowns compared to 44 interceptions in that span.

The Bears expressed interest in re-signing backup quarterback Jason Campbell, but he chose to sign with the Cleveland Browns (two-years, $3.5 million) where he will compete with Brandon Weeden.

The quarterback market was thin this off-season and it remains that way. Only a few options make sense for the Bears at the moment.

The Bears might be waiting until teams cut some veterans before training camp starts.

Best free agent QB options

Byron Leftwich

He’s made just six starts since being released by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2006. Despite going 0-6 in those six games, he has shown plenty of poise. He has a big arm which could come in handy. He isn’t the most mobile guy, so he needs more protection upfront then some other guys. The 33-year old would be a slight upgrade over McCown.

Tyler Thigpen

The 29-year old quarterback has made just one start since being traded by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2009. He has posted a 1-11 record as a starter. He most recently worked out for the Seattle Seahawks, but they opted to sign Brady Quinn instead. He is an athletic player who played for some bad teams in Kansas City, Miami and Buffalo. He wouldn’t be a huge upgrade over McCown, but he has the ability to keep plays alive with his legs which could help him get signed.

Vince Young

The 29-year old Young is working his way back into the NFL. He is a big 6’5″, 230 lb quarterback, who has gone 31-19 in 50 career starts. He started three games for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2011 going 1-2. He was on the Buffalo Bills roster last season until they cut him before the season began. The former No. 3 overall pick might have to wait until training camp to earn a spot. In all honesty he seems to be the most intriguing free agent option at the moment. He certainly has more upside than any of the other options out there. He is a high risk/high reward player. It remains to be seen if the Bears would take a chance on him.

Matt Leinart

Ironically two of the options in the free agent pool are Vince Young and Matt Leinart. Both quarterbacks were selected in the top 10 of the 2006 NFL Draft after playing against one another in the BCS title game that season. The 29-year old Leinart has started just one game since being released by the Arizona Cardinals in 2009. He played for the Texans and Raiders the past two seasons appearing in four games, completing just 26 passes for 172 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He isn’t a big upgrade over McCown, but he could be an interesting option.

Final Thoughts

Two guys that the Bears should look at if they are cut are Dennis Dixon (PHI) and Brian Hoyer (ARZ). Both quarterbacks are on teams filled with plenty of depth at the position. They both have talent and would be upgrades over Josh McCown.

At the end of the day, the Bears might be stuck with using Josh McCown as the No. 2 option at quarterback because of the thin market and the lack of salary cap room.

However, they would be smart to add a quarterback to compete with McCown throughout training camp. I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Bears add one of these three quarterbacks: Byron Leftwich, Vince Young or Matt Leinart.

 

Jake Perper is the founder and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker and on Facebook for up to the minute news about the Chicago Bears.

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2013 NFL Draft Recap, Chicago Bears Edition

28th April 2013 by under Bears News     

NFL Draft FootballThe 2013 NFL Draft is officially over. The Chicago Bears drafted six players during the three-day draft period and signed 10 players who went undrafted on Saturday night.

Lets take a look at what these 16 players bring to the table for the Bears.

Round One, No. 20: Kyle Long, G, Oregon

As the best offensive linemen came off the board in the first round the Bears made a decision to take a chance on a very athletic player in Kyle Long. Many analysts had Long going no earlier than the middle of the second round, but the Bears were working with only five picks at the time and liked what they saw in Long. The 6’6″ Long played just one season of Division I football with Oregon starting four games. Prior to that he spent time playing baseball at FSU, where he got a DUI and dealt with drug problems. But he switched his focus to football and really changed his life. Bears GM Phil Emery saw a guy who has tons of potential despite a troubled past.

 “We see a player that is going to contribute right away,” Emery said via Chicagobears.com. “His Senior Bowl was excellent. I thought he was the best O-lineman on field.” Expect Long to compete for the left guard spot with Matt Slauson in training camp.

Round Two, No. 50: Jon Bostic, LB, Florida

With Lance Briggs entering likely his final couple seasons with the Bears and D.J. Williams and James Anderson signed to one-year deals the Bears needed to add some potential starters at linebacker in this draft. They might have found a gem in MLB Jon Bostic. Bostic was a three year starter at UF, who can play all three linebacker positions which was a big reason the Bears added him in the second round. He is said to be a vocal leader, who is solid against the run. He will be given a chance to contribute right away. He will compete with D.J. Williams for the starting middle linebacker spot. He ran a 4.61 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, so that proves how athletic Bostic is.

Round Four, No. 117: Khaseem Greene, LB, Rutgers

The Bears selected another linebacker in the fourth round in Khaseem Greene. Greene, a former safety turned linebacker was voted the Big East defensive player of the year the last two seasons. He started all 13 games in 2010 at safety before switching to weakside linebacker in 2011. The 24-year-old recorded 277 tackles, 26.5 tackles-for-loss, 9.5 sacks, two interceptions and eight forced fumbles in his final two seasons starting at weakside linebacker.

“It’s definitely Linebacker U and if you want to be a young linebacker or be a veteran linebacker or go down in history as one of the greats, I don’t see a better place to be,” Greene said via Chicagobears.com.

He should have a chance to battle for the strongside linebacker job with James Anderson. He could be groomed into Lance Briggs’ eventual replacement.

Round Five, No. 163: Jordan Mills, T, Louisiana Tech

The Bears decided to swap fifth round picks with the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday. They moved down 10 spots and received a seventh round selection (No. 236) in the process. Tackle Jordan Mills was selected by the Bears with the No. 163 selection. He is a guy I had them possibly drafting in the sixth round in the Bears Backer mock draft. The 6’5″ Mills appeared in seven games making five starts at left guard during his freshman campaign.  He made the transition to right tackle in 2010. He started his final 25 games at right tackle earning All-WAC first-team honors in his final collegiate season. Just like the Bears’ first three picks, Mills is an athletic player who projects to be a starter in due time.

“I will go sit and learn behind [Jermon] Bushrod and everybody else and soak up all the knowledge I can,” Mills said via Chicagobears.com.

Round Six, No. 188: Cornelius Washington, DE, Georgia

The Bears could have found a steal in the sixth round with Cornelius Washington. The 6’4″ Washington was expected to go earlier in the draft than the sixth round.  He started 25 games recording 76 tackles, 10.5 sacks in his four years at Georgia. He played both outside linebacker and defensive end. He had just a half sack in 2012, but added 17 quarterback hurries. In his junior season he added five sacks. He ran an impressive 4.53 at the NFL Combine and was said to be a “workout warrior.” He isn’t a guy who will start anytime soon, but if he can become part of the rotation he should get his chance to get after quarterbacks. He might strictly be a pass rusher, but he could turn into a nice piece for this Bears’ defense.

Round Seven, No. 236: Marquess Wilson, WR, Washington State

The Bears selected wide receiver Marquess Wilson with their last pick. He walked out on the Washington State team nine games into the 2012 season after he said he was verbally abused by head coach Mike Leach. The soon to be 21-year-old started 27 games in three seasons reeling in 189 catches for a school-record 3,207 yards and 23 touchdowns. During his sophomore season he caught 82 passes for 1,388 yards and 12 touchdowns, which all were career highs for him. He is a tall lengthy receiver who needs to improve his hands and develop into a better blocker. He could earn a shot on the team, but will likely be put on the practice squad. He needs to mature a bit, but definitely has plenty of upside.

Undrafted Rookies

These 10 players signed contracts with the Bears after the draft: Montana St. DT Zach Minter, LSU RB Michael Ford, LSU C P.J. Lonergan, N.C. State CB C.J. Wilson, Georgia Southern DT Brent Russell, Oklahoma CB Demontre Hurst, Oklahoma P Tress Way, Rutgers WR Mark Harrison, Memphis WR Marcus Rucker and Iowa St. WR Josh Lenz.

Despite not drafting a quarterback, the Bears have decided to give St. Xavier QB Jimmy Coy a tryout.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I think the Bears did a pretty solid job at adding potential at positions lacking depth. They selected two very athletic linebackers in Jon Bostic and Khaseem Greene, who both could easily be starters by the 2014 season. They selected guard Kyle Long earlier than expected, but he is a player who has tons of athleticism and should turn into a starter moving forward. He will likely be moved to tackle as his career progresses.

Tackle Jordan Mills gives the Bears more competition at the tackle position that lacked such that the past couple of seasons. The Bears’ offensive line has more competition this season than in any previous year that I can remember. Don’t be surprised if Mills and Long could be starting at some point this season. Defensive end Cornelius Washington is a pass rusher who could be used similarly to Mark Anderson during the 2006 season. He has tremendous talent, but he needs to be more consistent at getting to quarterbacks. Wide receiver Marquess Wilson is a developmental player at this point, but he could earn a shot to impress this training camp due to the lack of depth behind the current starters.

Cornerback C.J. Wilson from North Carolina State was signed after the draft by the Bears. The 5’11″, 187 lb Wilson ran a 4.3 40-yard dash at his pro day. He recorded 107 tackles, four interceptions (three returned for touchdowns) in 29 career starts at NC State. Academic violations forced him to miss four games in 2012. He could be given shot considering all of the current Bears cornerbacks are free agents after the season.

 

Jake Perper is the founder and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker and on Facebook for up to the minute news about the Chicago Bears.

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2013 NFL Draft Results, Second Round: The Chicago Bears Select LB Jon Bostic

26th April 2013 by under Bears News     

bosticThe Chicago Bears drafted linebacker Jon Bostic with the No. 50 selection in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

The Bears had a possibility to trade out of the second round, but they decided to stay put and take Bostic.

“We had a couple teams make offers. We didn’t see the value in their offers,” Bears GM Phil Emery said via Chicagobears.com.”

Bostic started at middle linebacker during three of his four seasons at the University of Florida. He recorded 237 tackles, 19.5 tackles-for-loss, 8.0 sacks and five interceptions in 51 career games for the Gators.

The 6’1″, 245 lb Bostic racked up 68 tackles, 3.0 sacks and two interceptions during his senior season.

He is a versatile player who the Bears feel can play any three of the linebacker spots.

“The reason we like John, he’s a three-position linebacker,” Emery said via Chicagobears.com. “It was very important that if we were going to take a linebacker in the second round that we get somebody who could immediately fill in in all three spots if one of our starters was not available due to injury and we would have a good football player in place.”

Bostic ran a 4.61 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and is said to be a vocal leader who is very solid against the run.

“We brought him in for a visit and we felt very good about his football aptitude and his ability to line everybody else up on the field,” Emery said. It’s extremely important at the end of the day because it separated him from some others, and obviously the more football-smart the players we bring in, the better we’re going to be.

Bostic’s father Jon was a former defensive back for the Detroit Lions (1985-1987), so the football intelligence runs in his family.

The Bears view him as a future starter at middle linebacker, but he should get a chance to compete for one of the linebacker spots this season.

Through the first two days of the NFL Draft, the Bears have added two players who fill big needs for the team. Both players come from a bloodline of former NFL players.

They may have taken Long and Bostic before most analysts and fans anticipated, but they had both players ranked highly on their draft boards. At the end of the day guard and linebacker were two of the biggest needs and the Bears added two guys who have plenty of potential moving forward.

Bostic is the first Gators LB drafted since Brandon Spikes by the Patriots in 2010. He becomes the 24th Gator drafted by the Bears. Ironically former Bears RB Neil Anderson, who attended UF announced the selection.

The Bears have selections in the fourth, fifth and sixth round during the last day of the NFL Draft on Saturday.

 

Jake Perper is the founder and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker and on Facebook for up to the minute news about the Chicago Bears.

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2013 NFL Draft Results, First Round: The Chicago Bears Select Tackle Kyle Long

25th April 2013 by under Bears News     

NCAA Football: Senior BowlThe Chicago Bears drafted guard/tackle Kyle Long with the No. 20 selection on the first night of the 2013 NFL Draft.

The Bears had been looking to possibly trade down in the draft. With San Francisco moving up to the No. 18 spot to draft S Eric Reid the possibilities for the Bears to move down diminished.

With linebackers Alec Ogletree, Manti Te’o, tight end Tyler Eifert, defensive tackle Shariff Floyd and cornerback Desmond Trufant available at No. 20 it seemed likely that the Bears would have drafted one of them.

But the Bears went with University of Oregon offensive lineman Kyle Long. Long is the son of former Raiders star DE Howie Long and the brother of Rams DE Chris Long. Both his dad and brother claim that Kyle is the best athlete in the family.

Kyle Long stands at 6’6″, 313 lbs and is a very versatile and athletic offensive lineman. He can play both the guard and tackle spot on the offensive line.

He projects to play left guard, but he could possibly compete J’Marcus Webb for the right tackle job this season. However his inexperience at the position makes him more of a developmental player. He should be viewed as a high risk/high reward type of player.

He ran a 4.94 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. Many analysts said he was the second most athletic interior lineman behind Jonathan Cooper who was picked by the Arizona Cardinals at No. 7.

2012 was his only season at Oregon. He appeared in 11 games making five starts at left guard.

He was chosen by the Chicago White Sox in the 2008 MLB Draft, but chose to attend Florida State University to play baseball there.

He failed out of Florida State and was charged with a DUI before transferring to Saddleback Junior College in 2010. He played defensive end at Saddleback before making the switch to the offensive line.

Chicago Bears Phil Emery had this to say about Kyle Long (via chicagotribune.com).

“He is the type of athlete and player that we have targeted. Fast, tough, dynamic athlete. Obviously, he has had an interesting road.”

 

“He’s going to start out a guard. We feel like he can be a starting right tackle. We feel he can be a good left tackle.”

 

“We see a player that is going to contribute right away. His Senior Bowl was excellent. I thought he was the best O-lineman on field.”

NFL Network’s draft analyst Mike Mayock is a big fan of Kyle Long, “strong enough to be a move-the-pile guard and quick enough to deflect edge rushers.”

The drafting of a guard was a must considering how weak the interior of the Bears’ offensive line has been over the past couple of seasons.

He is inexperienced, but his athleticism and aggression should help him turn into a very good pro.

NFC North Pick Watch

Detroit Lions:

With the No. 5 selection the Lions added 6’5″ DE Ziggy Ansah (BYU).

Minnesota Vikings:

With the No. 23 selection the Vikings added DT Sharrif Floyd (Florida) and with the No. 25 selection they added CB Xavier Rhodes (Florida State). They also traded up with the Patriots to the No. 29 selection to select WR Cordarrelle Patterson (Tennessee).

Green Bay Packers:

With the No. 26 selection the Packers added DE Datone Jones (UCLA).

The Bears will select 50th overall tomorrow in the second round. They don’t have another pick until the third day of the draft when they have a fourth, fifth and sixth rounder.

 

Jake Perper is the founder and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker and on Facebook for up to the minute news about the Chicago Bears.

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2013 NFL Draft: A Final Look At The Top Needs For The Chicago Bears

25th April 2013 by under Bears News     

be NFL DraftThe Chicago Bears are among the large group of NFL teams that are looking to trade down in Thursday night’s NFL Draft.

They only have five picks in the 2013 NFL Draft since they traded away two third round picks (2012, 2013) for former Dolphins WR Brandon Marshall and traded away a seventh round pick for former Bucs DT Brian Price last off-season.

Looking to move down and accumulate more picks would be a smart move for the Bears.

A move out of the first round would help the Bears add more young potential to their team.

Here’s a look at the top needs for the Bears.

Guard/Center

The Bears will be looking to add more competition and depth to the their offensive line. Free agent pickup Matt Slauson is the projected starter at left guard. Gabe Carimi is currently competing with second-year undrafted OL James Brown for the right guard gig. Eben Britton isn’t a guarantee to make the team after he signed with the team a couple weeks ago. At center, 34-year old Roberto Garza enters the last year of his contract. The Bears would be wise to add a player who could play both the guard and center position. Alabama’s G/C Barrett Jones could be that player if he is available in the second round when the Bears are on the clock.

Linebacker

ESPN’s Mel Kiper and Todd McShay have the Bears selecting Notre Dame LB Manti Te’o at No. 20 in their mock drafts. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport says the Bears are “in love” with Te’o. The Bears need to add a future starter at linebacker, but I would be disappointed if they chose Te’o in the first round. Long-time Bear Lance Briggs and free agent additions D.J. Williams and James Anderson are the projected starters at the three linebacker positions. The depth is lacking however as third-year West Virginia product J.T. Thomas, special teams star Blake Costanzo and inexperienced Jerry Franklin sit behind the current starters. Georgia’s Alec Ogletree could be available at No. 20, but he had a DUI a week before the NFL Combine and has other character issues. Kansas State’s Arthur Brown would be a great addition, but he likely won’t be on the board late in the second round.

Cornerback

The fact that all five Bears cornerbacks are free agents after this season means they need to plan for the future. Charles Tillman, Tim Jennings and Kelvin Hayden are the top three cornerbacks. But Tillman and Jennings aren’t getting any younger and Hayden could use some legitimate competition at nickelback. The Bears surely will look to add a future starter at cornerback. Will they add a cornerback in the first two rounds, who knows? A possible steal for the Bears could be William & Mary’s B.W. Webb possibly in the fourth round.

Defensive Tackle

The depth behind starters Henry Melton and Stephen Paea is almost non-existent. Nate Collins and Andre Fluellen are the only other defensive tackles currently on the roster. They’re nothing more than rotational guys. Melton is a free agent after this season and they will be looking to sign him long term this off-season. I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Bears add a defensive tackle either in the first or second round. North Carolina’s Sylvester Williams could be available at No. 20. I can promise you that they will add a defensive tackle in this draft. The Bears’ defensive tackle depth has to be improved.

Wide Receiver

Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery and Earl Bennett are the top three receivers for the Bears, but the depth behind them is very weak. Eric Weems and Devin Hester will be used almost exclusively on special teams. Joe Anderson and Brittan Golden went undrafted a year ago. They both flashed potential during the 2012 pre-season, but the Bears need to add some speed to their wide receiver core. With Johnny Knox out last season, the Bears were lacking a legitimate deep threat. Now that Knox is officially retired he finally needs to be replaced. Texas Longhorns WR/KR Marquise Goodwin and TCU’s Josh Boyce could be solid options in the fourth or fifth round.

Tight End

Martellus Bennett and Steve Maneri are in while Kellen Davis and Matt Spaeth are out. Bennett is a huge upgrade over Davis and will finally give Jay Cutler a solid option in the middle of the field. Maneri is mainly a blocking tight end who is a younger and cheaper version of Speath. Second-year Temple product Evan Rodriguez lined up at fullback in 2012 and yet again during the Bears’ voluntary mini-camp last week. He is a little undersized at 6’2″ to be a real tight end, but the Bears could try to use him as the hybrid player that Aaron Hernandez is in New England. The first round is probably too early to draft a tight end, but Stanford’s Zach Ertz is a great talent. The Bears could add him in the first round if available which would lead to more two tight end sets in the 2013 season. The drafting of a tight end all depends on the Bears confidence in Rodriguez.

Quarterback

Jay Cutler is a free agent after this season. His current backup is Josh McCown. The Bears seem to be content with letting Cutler play the year out and deal with the issue after the season. Second-year undrafted Wisconsin-Whitewater product Matt Blanchard is currently the third quarterback. Phil Emery stated last week that he would “like to select a quarterback every year in the draft.” I don’t think they’ll look to add a quarterback until the end of the draft. A possible pick for them would be Duke’s Sean Renfree in the sixth round.

Tackle

Jermon Bushrod was signed early in free agency to protect Jay Cutler’s blindside. J’Marcus Webb was moved to the right side and Jonathan Scott was re-signed to the be the swing tackle. Webb, a seventh-round pick in 2010 is still a liability on this Bears’ offensive line. A tackle won’t be a priority, but they could opt to use a late-round pick on an offensive tackle. Louisiana Tech’s Jordan Mills could be a solid option in the sixth round.

Mock Draft

2013 NFL Draft Preview: Bears Backer Mock Draft 1.0

 

Jake Perper is the founder and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker and on Facebook for up to the minute news about the Chicago Bears.

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2013 NFL Free Agency: The Bears Would Be Wise To Sign Idonije Before The Draft

24th April 2013 by under Bears News     
idonije

Will DL Israel Idonije be back in the windy city in 2013? (Photo: Phelan M. Ebenhack, AP)

The first round of the 2013 NFL Draft starts Thursday night. The Chicago Bears have many needs heading into the draft among them is along the defensive line.

DL Israel Idonije is currently a free agent. The Bears have a “standing offer” out to the 32-year old lineman, but it seems as if Idonije is seeking a deal near his $2.5 million salary from 2012.

At 6’6″, 275 lbs Idonije is a versatile player who would provide a spark on the inside or outside of the Bears’ defensive line.

He was used exclusively as a defensive tackle from 2004 until 2010 while only making 10 starts.

He has made 50 starts in nine seasons recording 196 tackles, 28.5 sacks and five forced fumbles. 20.5 of his sacks have come at the defensive end position.

Behind starters Corey Wootton and Julius Peppers at defensive end, the Bears have Shea McClellin, Kyle Moore, Turk McBride and Cheta Ozougwu.

McClellin is entering his second season and will be looking to be more than a situational pass rusher. He was ranked as the worst Bears’ defensive lineman in 2012 according to Pro Football Focus.

Kyle Moore and Turk McBride were both inked to one-year deals for the veteran minimum ($715,000) this off-season. Ozougwu was a standout player during the 2012 preseason, but only appeared in two games a season ago.

The Bears are likely trying to ink Idonije to a one-year deal that isn’t worth much more than the veteran minimum. I’d say in the range of $1 to $1.5 million.

At defensive tackle Henry Melton and Stephen Paea are penciled in as the starters, but behind them are inexperienced players in Nate Collins and Andre Fluellen.

Collins flashed potential a season ago, but he and Fluellen shouldn’t be expected to be anything more than rotational guys.

Bringing back Idonije makes too much sense for the Bears. He can play any position along the defensive line, he has been productive and has been healthy throughout his career.

The market is quiet for these veteran players because many teams like the Bears are working with a small amount of money since their isn’t much salary cap room available.

The Bears will probably use one of their five draft picks on a defensive tackle if Idonije isn’t signed before the weekend. If that does indeed happen it looks more and more unlikely that Idonije will be back in the windy city for the 2013 NFL season.

The Bears could be waiting until after the draft to try and drive Idonije’s price down a bit, but I don’t think that would be wise. Idonije might not have many options considering the teams (San Francisco 49ers , Tennessee Titans) that expressed interest in him early in free agency haven’t offered him deals.

The Bears have some leverage considering they’re the only team that has offered Idonije a contract.

Another option for the Bears would be to re-sign DT Amobi Okoye. The former first round pick by the Houston Texans in 2007 recorded 4.0 sacks in 2011 with the Bears. However last season he recorded just one sack and was only active for nine games.

The Bears certainly have to consider all their options at this point. They would be wise to bring back Israel Idonije considering how valuable he is to their defense.

 

Jake Perper is the founder and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker and on Facebook for up to the minute news about the Chicago Bears.

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2013 NFL Draft Preview: Bears Backer Mock Draft 1.0

20th April 2013 by under 2013-2014 Schedule, Bears News     

2013 NFL DraftThe 2013 NFL Draft is just around the corner and many teams are putting some final touches on their draft boards.

The Chicago Bears will be working with only five picks after they traded away two third round selections (2012, 2013) for former Miami Dolphins WR Brandon Marshall last off-season.

They also traded their seventh round selection for Tampa Bay Buccaneers DT Brian Price, but released him prior to the start of the 2012 season.

So what should we expect from general manager Phil Emery in his second draft?

Regarding Emery’s first draft calling the shots, here’s how it turned out:

WR Alshon Jeffery will likely be a big-time performer this season in his second-year. First round selection DE Shea McClellin will be asked to be more than a rotational guy. S Brandon Hardin will be looking to stay healthy and get on the field, while Evan Rodriguez will try to his expand his minimal role. The 2012 NFL Draft for the Bears and Emery is still being graded. But Jeffery and McClellin certainly have tons of potential.

Round One, No. 20: Sylvester Williams, DT, North Carolina

If the Bears don’t trade down in the first round which I’d prefer and expect they’ll be looking to draft value at No. 20. So why not take a solid defensive tackle in Sylvester Williams? Williams had 20.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks over his final two seasons at North Carolina. He has the ability to be a starting nose tackle in the NFL. With Henry Melton set to be a free agent after this season, the Bears are left with Stephen Paea, Nate Collins and Andre Fluellen at the position. Picking Williams would add solid depth and potential. He could be a perfect fit for this Bears defense. However he will turn 24 during the 2013 NFL season. He would be a nice pickup by the Bears who need some depth at the defensive tackle position.

Other options: Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia, Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington, Zach Ertz, TE, Stanford

Round Two, No. 20: Barrett Jones, C/G, Alabama

Barrett Jones

 

 

 

 

 

 

This would be great pickup for the Bears in the second round. Barrett Jones has the ability to play any position on the offensive line and that’s something the Bears’ offensive line needs, versatility. With the additions of LT Jermon Bushrod and LG Matt Slauson, the Bears offensive line has clearly added some solid veteran experience. But the other side of the line is iffy at best. Center Roberto Garza enters the last year of his contract and wasn’t very effective in 2012. Gabe Carimi will play right guard despite being drafted as a tackle two seasons ago and J’Marcus Webb will man the right side. You have to like what Jones brings to the table. He played through a serious Lisfranic injury in his left foot in the SEC Championship and BCS National Championship Game. He would compete right away for a starting job and could be a fixture on this line for years to come.

Other options: Arthur Brown, LB, Kansas State, D.J. Hayden, CB, Houston, Kevin Minter, LB, LSU

Round Four, No. 20: B.W. Webb, CB, William & Mary

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Believe it or not cornerback is a big need for the Bears this season. Charles Tillman (32), Tim Jennings (29) and Kelvin Hayden (29) are all free agents next off-season plus there not getting any younger. Webb, 5’10″ has average height, but could learn from 5’8″ Tim Jennings who led the NFL in interceptions (9) in 2012. He had 11 interceptions and 30 pass deflections in his collegiate career. He has strong hands and isn’t afraid to take chances. He needs to get stronger as he moves into the NFL, but he certainly has plenty of athleticism and potential to be a solid selection in the fourth round. If WR/KR Marquise Goodwin from Texas is gone expect the Bears to take a shot on the under-the-radar Webb out of William & Mary.

Other options: Marquise Goodwin, WR, Texas, Tyrann Mathieu, CB, LSU

Round Five, No. 20: Josh Boyce, WR, TCU

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Boyce would be another solid receiving option for Jay Cutler and the Bears’ offense. With Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery and Earl Bennett locked in as the top three receivers, the Bears need more depth at the position. Eric Weems and Devin Hester will be used almost exclusively on special teams in 2013. TE Martellus Bennett, who signed with the team during the first week of free agency will be looked upon to stretch the field as well as RB Matt Forte. It wouldn’t hurt to add some athleticism to the receiving core. The 5’11″ Boyce added 161 receptions for 2,535 yards and 22 touchdowns in his three seasons at TCU. He had 998 yards and nine touchdowns in his sophomore season and 891 yards and seven touchdowns in his junior season. He reeled in six catches for 180 yards and two touchdowns in a road win over West Virginia last season.

Other options: A.J. Klein, LB, Iowa State, Kevin Reddick, LB, UNC, Reid Fragel, T, Ohio State.

Round Six, No. 20: Michael Mauti, ILB, Penn State

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The Bears need some young potential at linebacker considering Lance Briggs, D.J. Williams and James Anderson are all 29 or older. Mauti has dropped this far into the draft because of his injury history. He suffered season-ending ACL injuries in his left knee in his final two seasons at Penn State. He is a very smart and physical player who can play middle and strongside linebacker. He will likely be held out until training camp rolls around, but he could be a steal late in the draft for the Bears if he stays healthy. He is a leader on and off the field something the Bears would love to have in the future with Brian Urlacher officially gone.

Other options: Sean Renfree, QB, Duke, Malliciah Goodman, DE/DT, Clemson, Jordan Mills, OT, Louisiana Tech

Thoughts

What are your thoughts on the Bears Backer Mock Draft 1.0? Would you be happy if this was how Phil Emery and Co. selected in the 2013 NFL Draft? What picks if any do you agree with, which picks do you not agree with?

 

Jake Perper is the founder and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker and on Facebook for up to the minute news about the Chicago Bears.

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2013 NFL Free Agency: Bears Ink G Britton; Have “Standing Offer” For Idonije

16th April 2013 by under Bears News     

IdonijeThe Chicago Bears announced the signing of guard/tackle Eben Britton to a one-year deal on Tuesday.

Britton was a second-round pick out of the University of Arizona by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2009.

He said this following the Jaguars selecting him 39th overall in the draft (via NFL.com).

“I’m gonna be the greatest offensive tackle to ever play this game.”

The 25-year old started 30 of the 38 games that he appeared in his time with the Jaguars. He spent his first two seasons exclusively at right tackle, but then was moved to left guard in 2011.

The 6’6″, 308 pound offensive lineman started five games last season at left guard before being benched in favor of undrafted rookie Mike Brewster.

Injuries were a big problem for Britton which played into his transition to left guard.

It doesn’t hurt to add depth, but I just don’t know how effective or much improvement Britton brings to this current unit.

Currently at guard recently signed Matt Slauson is penciled in as the starting left guard while James Brown and Gabe Carimi will battle at right guard.

Britton will likely be battling for the left guard spot. Right tackle is a competition between J’Marcus Webb and Jonathan Scott for now.

Idonije has a “Standing Offer”

Israel Idonije and the Chicago Bears are a perfect fit for one another.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the Bears have a “standing offer” out to the 32-year old Idonije. The deal is certainly going to be worth less than last season’s one-year, $2.5 million contract. “Nothing seems to be imminent” between the Bears and Idonije however.

He generated interest from the San Francisco 49ers and Tennessee Titans early on in free agency, but nothing ever came of it.

He has made 50 starts appearing in 134 games (nine seasons) all coming with the Bears. He was used for the most part at defensive tackle until 2010, when the Bears moved him to defensive end.

Standing at 6’6″, 275 lbs Idonije was very effective in his new role at defensive end adding 103 tackles, 21.5 sacks and five forced fumbles in 42 starts.

He started 11 games a year ago adding 29 tackles, 7.5 sacks and one forced fumble.

For Idonije he has to make a rather quick decision considering the additions of defensive end Kyle Moore and defensive tackle Andre Fluellen and the possibility of the Bears adding another defensive lineman in this month’s draft.

He is so valuable to any team because he can play both defensive tackle and defensive end and is a big part of the special teams unit.

With Corey Wootton likely set to start opposite Julius Peppers, Idonije’s role will decrease if he returns, but he can add depth to an already solid unit.

The verdict on Idonije’s return will come soon enough. Like many other veterans he isn’t getting the price he is looking for, but he would be wise to take the offer before the draft on April 25th.

Tryouts?

The Bears tried out five players today at the Walter Payton Center (DT Eric Foster, S Jermale Hines, DT Christian Tupou, CB Coryell Judie, K Austin Signor).

These five players participated alongside 73 players currently under contract with the team during the first day of voluntary mini-camp.

 

Jake Perper is the founder and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker and on Facebook for up to the minute news about the Chicago Bears.

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2013 NFL Off-Season: Brandon Marshall “Feels Great and Is Excited” For The Upcoming Season

10th April 2013 by under Bears News     

marshallVoluntary off-season workouts started last week for NFL teams and the NFL Draft is just around the corner on April 25.

Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall reeled in 118 catches for 1,508 yards and 11 touchdowns during his first season in the windy city. All of those were career highs for the 29-year old.

He became the first Bears receiver since Marty Booker (2002) to rack up 1,000 yards receiving.

He had arthroscopic surgery on his hip in January after battling hip problems in 2011 and 2012 when he was voted to the Pro Bowl.

“We don’t play games until September. As long as I’m in top shape then, that’s all that matters,” Marshall said via NFL.com on Wednesday. ”I’m excited to start this season 100-percent healthy and see how much better I can be, completely healthy. I feel so great, man.”

The Bears new head coach Marc Trestman will impalement a new style of offense. With the addition of TE Martellus Bennett, the Bears will have better opportunities to spread the field.

Also, with the addition of LT Jermon Bushrod that should help ease the pain up front for QB Jay Cutler, who too many times was running for his life last season.

Despite getting double teamed often in 2012 WR Brandon Marshall still managed an incredible season. He brought hope to an offense that not only was boring, but lacked an identity over the past couple of seasons.

With Marshall and Bennett as the main targets the Bears will look to improve things on offense. They also have second-year South Carolina product Alshon Jeffery, Earl Bennett and Matt Forte as solid options in the passing game.

A new offensive playbook will certainly take time and patience for the Bears to fully grasp, but after last year’s experiment with Mike Tice as the offensive coordinator I doubt it could be worse.

Marshall seems more excited than any other Bear right now about the outlook of this offense.

“Oh, my gosh, I’m in love with it,” Marshall said, via Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times. “‘Martellus [Bennett] and I sat down and went through the formational stuff and started challenging each other. It was exciting to go through, and it’s pretty cool to have a partner.”

 

‘‘It’s so stimulating and it gets everyone involved, and that’s exciting to me,’’ Marshall said. ‘‘Because the better Alshon [Jeffery] is, the better I’ll be. The better Earl [Bennett] is, the better Martellus will be.

 

The better Martellus is, the better Matt Forte will be. And so on and so forth. It’s just awesome.’’

Final Thoughts:

I can’t agree more with Marshall. He is a smart guy who is passionate about the game. Marshall and Cutler are passionate together on and off the field which makes them even more productive as teammates.

The Bears’ offense will take the next step in 2013 there is no doubt about that. It all depends on the strength and health of the offensive line which has let this team down way too often over the years.

The Bears only have five selections in the draft, but will focus on their main needs: G, LB, CB, DT, WR, C.

The Bears are not in a transition period which many analysts and fans have noted. They still have plenty of talent to win it all. Only time will tell if they will be able to indeed put it all together and make a run.

 

Jake Perper is the founder and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker and on Facebook for up to the minute news about the Chicago Bears.

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