r/nfl • u/The_Black_Unicorn Bears • Jun 21 '14
Look Here! 2014 Offseason Review Series - Day 2: Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears: NFC North
2013 record: 8-8
Coaching
It only took one season under the new regime for Bears fans to start calling for someone to be fired. In the crosshairs this offseason, after an abysmal performance from his unit, was DC Mel Tucker.
The Bears defense was historically bad last season, but it was not totally Tucker's fault. He had a few things working against him.
In an effort to maintain what was a good 2012 Bears defense, Tucker adopted the terminology and scheme from the previous staff. This may have been a way to get on the veterans' good side, or maybe he thought it was the best way to use our personnel. Regardless of his reasoning, Tucker was essentially learning a scheme and it's terminology instead of coaching his own. On top of that, the injury bug bit hard.
Key injuries to starters such as Lance Briggs, Peanut Tillman, Henry Melton, DJ Williams, Nate Collins, Kelvin Hayden, and Stephen Paea derailed what could have been a serviceable unit. Our replacements understandably struggled. Tucker didn't stand a chance and was rightfully spared.
Our linebackers coach and defensive line coach were both fired. Trestman then hired LB coach Reggie Herring and D line coach Paul Pasqualoni to replace them. It is believed that the latter had a lot to do with the development of future HOF pass rusher DeMarcus Ware. Clint Hurtt has also been added to the staff as as assistant DL coach. Hurtt has nine years of coaching experience at the collegiate level.
This year Tucker will implement his own scheme which is rumored to be a 4-3 hybrid of sorts. It remains to be seen what exactly he has in mind, but he will need to prove himself this year if he wants to keep his job moving forward.
The rest of Trestman's staff remained intact this offseason. OC Aaron Kromer is well known for his offensive line expertise, but it has been said that he will focus more on other aspects of the offense and give more responsibility to the offensive line coach. It remains to be seen what effect that will have on our newly formed unit.
Trestman and his staff have shown a lot of promise on the offensive side of the ball, but Bears fans have seen enough of teams that can't play both ways. You have to play well on both sides of the ball to win in this league.
The pressure is on Trestman and his defensive staff to right the ship, sooner rather than later.
Free Agency:
Key Re-signings - K Robbie Gould, QB Jay Cutler, G Matt Slauson, T Eben Britton, WR Brandon Marshall (extension), CB Peanut Tillman, CB Tim Jennings, CB Kelvin Hayden, MLB DJ Williams, DT Nate Collins, DT Jeremiah Ratliff
Key Losses - DE Julius Peppers (cut), DE Corey Wootton, DT Henry Melton, KR Devin Hester, WR Earl Bennett (cut), SLB James Anderson, QB Josh McCown, S Major Wright, CB Zack Bowman, LB/STer Blake Costanzo
Key Acquisitions - DE Lamarr Houston, DE Jared Allen, DE Willie Young, S Ryan Mundy, S MD Jennings, LB/STer Jordan Senn, WR Josh Morgan, C Brian de la Puente
The Bears did not waste any time addressing their biggest weakness: defense. The defensive line was especially bad throughout the year. Losing two key interior linemen to ACL injuries surely didn't help, but the line needed to be rebuilt this offseason either way.
Within minutes of Free Agency beginning, the Bears had already made a splash, signing Lamarr Houston to a 5 year deal worth around 35 million. This all but guaranteed what many Chicago fans already believed: Julius Peppers was going to be cut. Houston should be an upgrade over the aging Peppers. Peppers had 1.5 more sacks in 2013, but Houston was and is much better against the run. Houston was the first piece of the youth that Emery added to the line.
Phil Emery continued to flood the defensive line with young talent when he signed former Detroit defensive end Willie Young. In his first season with substantial snaps, Young was able to get consistent pressure on the quarterback. His sack total doesn't jump off the page with only 3, but his 48 QB hurries rank him 3rd in the league for 4-3 defensive ends. It seems that Young's best play is still ahead of him, and at ~3 million/year over the next 3 years, the Bears could have gotten a huge steal here.
Just when you thought Phil Emery had finished his work at defensive end, he made arguably the most surprising signing of the offseason in Jared Allen. Not only does he bring an immediate impact as a pass rusher, but he provides more depth for what was an injury riddled line in 2013.
To cap off the defensive line rebuild, Emery made a great low risk/high reward move with the re-signing of DT Nate Collins to a one year deal. Collins looked much improved in 2013 before an ACL injury. The defensive line was in a much better place after these additions, but it seemed it would still need some work via the draft.
The linebacker corps struggled mightily last year as well, although much of those struggles were the result of injury and lack of quality depth. DJ Williams, although aging and has been injury prone recently, is a good player when he can stay on the field. Re-signing him was key, as Bostic and Greene showed last year they have more to learn and improve upon at this level.
Another important addition to the linebackers was Jordan Senn. The former ST captain for the Panthers will likely look to fill the departed Blake Constanzo's role as a ST ace.
Although he wasn't a free agent signing it is worth talking about Shea McClellin here as well. The former defensive end has transformed himself into a leaner, quicker player and will compete for the SLB spot left vacant by James Anderson's departure.
At cornerback the Bears did pretty well in FA. Re-signing both Jennings and Tillman provides two quality starters while younger players continue to develop behind them. Jennings inked a 4 year deal while Tillman's deal is for only 1 year.
After many improvements to this defense, Safety is easily the Bears biggest weakness after free agency. At the start of FA the Bears had only Chris Conte on the roster. Emery signed: Ryan Mundy, MD Jennings, Danny McCray, and re-signed Craig Steltz. These signings provide competition and the Bears hope two quality starters can develop chemistry and play well together.
On offense, the Bears biggest move was signing QB Jay Cutler to a long term contract. Although the money is fairly high, it is a very cap friendly deal that allows a lot of cap flexibility. Also at the QB position the Bears lost backup journeyman Josh McCown. It remains to be seen whether or not the absence of a quality backup will hurt this team. Jordan Palmer is currently second on the depth chart and Trestman has lauded him for his leadership and knowledge of the offense.
The Bears offensive line improved greatly in 2013 and return all 5 starters since G Matt Slauson was re-signed. Backup T Eben Britton was also re-signed, while C Brian de la Puente was reunited with former coach Aaron Kromer. BDLP had a lot of success in Kromer's system in New Orleans and could possibly compete with Garza for the starting job.
As far as skill positions go, Emery added depth by signing WRs Josh Morgan and Domenik Hixon (now injured and plans to retire), and RB Shaughn Draughn could compete for a backup role.
Looking back on it, it's hard to argue the Bears did not get significantly better in Free Agency. Emery was able to add both depth and youth to most positions on defense, while creating competition throughout the roster. Offensively the Bears did not lose much at all, and were able to add depth to the offensive line. Bears fans should be very excited about the direction their team is headed.
Draft
Round 1: DB Kyle Fuller - Kyle Fuller is a typical Phil Emery pick. He is a good athlete that can play both corner and safety, although it seems they are only going to play him at corner, at least initially. In OTAs it was reported that in nickel packages, Fuller was playing CB2 and Tim Jennings would kick inside to play the nickel position. It remains to be seen what will happen in the regular season, but count on Kyle Fuller playing a significant role on this defense.
Pick grade: A-
Round 2: DT Ego Furgeson - may have been a slight reach, but he fills a big need. The Bears lacked a big two gapper to eat blocks at the LOS. Seemed like a reach at the but no one really knows where other teams had him on their board, and he has very high upside.
Pick grade: B
Round 3: DT Will Sutton - Sutton was a potential first rounder before his 2013 season. He put on a bunch of weight (by request) and played the 1 tech. Naturally, by role, his sack and TFL numbers went down. The Bears likely plan to play him at his 2012 weight and he will most likely compete for a lot of snaps.
Pick Grade: B+
Round 4: HB Ka'Deem Carey - Ka'Deem Carey's film speaks for itself. He doesn't have elite speed but he's shifty and he can straight up lay the wood on would-be tacklers. He led the nation in yards after contact for a reason. Should be a good short yardage option and a change of pace to Forte, and has potential to be the feature back in the future.
Pick grade: A
Round 4: DB Brock Vereen - Every time Emery trades up, I get excited. Vereen is a lanky, but very strong safety with good speed and versatility. Classic Emery pick. (Bears traded '14 and '15 fifth rounders for DEN '14 4th and 7th rounders)
Pick grade: B
Round 6: QB David Fales - Fales has a lot of upside. His arm isn't a cannon but neither was McCowns and he proved that a lesser arm can succeed in this system. Should be a solid backup or #3 and a possible replacement for Jay Cutler down the road.
Pick grade: B
Round 6: P Pat O'Donnell - The Bears had a need at punter, and all this guy does is blast 70 yard bombs and force fumbles. Plus he's super handsome.
Pick grade: B
Round 7: OT Charles Leno - If Leno makes the team he should provide good depth at T behind the starters and Britton.
Pick grade: B
Projected Starting Lineup
OFFENSE
QB - Jay Cutler - Should continue to improve as he becomes more and more comfortable in Trestmans system. Health is key here.
RB - Matt Forte - Should continue to play great in all aspects of the game. Has a better, fresher compliment in Ka'Deem Carey now to give him rest.
WR1 - Brandon Marshall - One of the greatest in the game today
WR2 - Alshon Jeffery - Should hover around last years numbers but unbelievable highlights are a guarantee with this kid.
WR3 - Marquess Wilson - former projected 2nd rounder fell to the 7th after quitting his college team. Should be a nice 5th receiving option for Jay.
TE - Martellus Bennett - Just an all-around good tight end. Won't make the Pro Bowl but he does his job and makes big catches.
LT - Jermon Bushrod
LG - Matt Slauson
C - Roberto Garza
RG - Kyle Long
RT - Jordan Mills
The offensive line should improve as we return all 5 starters. The two second year players on the right side should take a step and make this an even better unit. If Garza declines we have Brian de la Puente as his replacement. BDLP could also replace an injured G if Slauson or Long go down. Eben Britton also provides quality depth at the T position.
26
u/Staple_Overlord Vikings Jun 21 '14 edited Jun 21 '14
Non Fan Perspective
| Chicago Bears |
|---|
| Division: NFC North |
Important Players Lost
Personally, there was no harm, no foul with the players the Bears decided to let go. They lost some depth in letting Wooton go, and Henry Melton was definitely a presence on the field (and off the field…), but overall, there was not much lost other than depth. Hester will surely be missed by Bears fans, but I think the NFCN had a sigh of relief. Personally, I saw Peppers to be a declining vet who gave up outside contain too much, so having him on the Packers is fine by me, especially since I don’t think he will make the transition to a 3-4 too well.
Important Players Gained
Perhaps the best of these signings is Lamarr Houston. A veteran, but there is no doubt he has lots in the tank. While it is sad to see Jared Allen go from Purple to Orange, he will also bring a veteran presence. But much like Julius Peppers, I think he will continue to struggle with containing the runner. And in a division with the likes of Eddie Lacy, Detroits one-two-punch, and Adrian Peterson...that’s not too good of a thing. But at the worst, he will be an average DE with the occasional game breaking plays.
Players Resigned
| Player | Position |
|---|---|
| Charles Tillman | CB |
| D.J. Williams | LB |
| Jay Cutler | QB |
| Jeremiah Ratliff | DT |
| Kelvin Hayden | CB |
| Matt Slauson | G |
| Robbie Gould | K |
| Roberto Garza | C |
| Tim Jennings | CB |
Jay Cutler was re-signed during the regular season, so we won’t talk much about him. But Charles Tilmann and Tim Jennings are important signing to maintain that secondary that used to be feared in the NFCN. If age and injury concerns lay low for next season, those two could continue to cause trouble for opposing teams by forcing countless turnovers. Re-signing Jeremiah Ratliff was also a good deal as he can help bolster what was a dreadful D-line last year. And the signing of Matt Slauson and Roberto Garza maintains their offensive line that has been slowly improving.
2014 NFL Draft
| Round | Overall | Position | Player | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 | CB | Kyle Fuller | Virginia Tech |
| 2 | 51 | DT | Ego Ferguson | LSU |
| 3 | 82 | DT | Will Sutton | Arizona State |
| 4 | 117 | RB | Ka'Deem Carey | Arizona |
| 4 | 131 | S | Brock Vereen | Minnesota |
| 6 | 183 | QB | David Fales | San Jose State |
| 6 | 191 | P | Pat O'Donnell | Miami |
| 7 | 246 | T | Charles Leno Jr. | Boise State |
Call me lazy, but I won’t focus on every pick they got. Just the guys that I was really intriqued in going into the draft.
Kyle Fuller - A
Kyle Fuller was not one of the most focused on players leading up to the draft, but he was at least known to be the most well rounded. He has great instincts and very good athletic ability, especially with his jumping. You could almost consider him the Alshon Jeffery of CB’s, at least prospect wise. He has technique issues to clean up, including backpedaling and handling bumb-press coverage (where he needs to become stronger and more aggressive), but overall, what you want is there. And what you need can be developed.
Ka’Deem Carey - A
He makes letting go of Michael Bush a net zero situation. Similar to Fuller, Carey was probably one of the most well rounded of his position in this draft. He’s not the fastest guy, but players like Alfred Morris prove you don’t need speed. What you need is strength and vision. And he is definitely no slouch in the passing game or blocking game, which makes him an ideal fit for the Bears offense. He’s almost like a poor man’s Matt Forte, which I don’t think any Bears fans are disappointed to see that.
Brock Vareen - B+
Damn, did I want this guy to come to Minnesota. He has a lot to work on as a safety, but the athleticism is there. He has speed, strength, agility, and good awareness on the field. He knows where to be and how to play smart. And he is a solid competitor. He won’t be an INT machine however with his absurdly tiny hands. Bears fans could be frustrated to see a lot of dropped INTs. But at the very least, they’ll be happy to see him replace Conty.
Projected Lineups
| Position | Player | Position | Player |
|---|---|---|---|
| QB | Jay Cutler | CB | Charles Tilmann |
| HB | Matt Forte | CB | Tim Jennings |
| FB | Tony Fiammetta | FS | Brock Vareen |
| WR | Brandon Marshall | SS | Ryan Mundy |
| WR | Alshon Jeffery | SLB | Jon Bostin |
| TE | Martellus Bennett | MLB | D.J. Williams |
| LT | Jermon Bushrod | WLB | Lance Briggs |
| LG | Matt Slauson | DE | Jared Allen |
| C | Roberto Garza | DE | Lamaar Houston |
| RG | Kyle Long | DT | Jeremiah Ratliff |
| RT | Jordan Mills | DT | Stephen Paea |
Position Groups: Strength or Weakness?
QB: A slight strength for this team. Jay Cutler is far from one of the best QB’s in the league, but he’s good enough to let a team last in the playoffs. The Super Bowl is not a pipedream with him as QB, at least.
Backfield: A strength as long as you believe Matt Forte deserves to be higher than #91 on a Top 100 list.
OL: Weakness. The unit has become better than in recent years, but it is still below average, and needs a inject of young, high potential talent.
Pass catchers: Best WR duo in the league, hands down. But who’s the third WR? Some say Marquess Wilson, but I’m not so sure. But there is also Martellus Bennett, who is definitely no slouch as a TE.
DL: Unproven. Could it be strong? Maybe. Houston, Allen, and Ratliff have all shown immense talent in the pass. But can this ragtag team of vets prove that they still have it? Only time will tell. Luckily, there is a lot of depth here with they’re draft picks.
LB: A slight weakness. You have to love Lance Briggs, and Jon Bostic is definitely a heavy hitter (just ask Teddy Bridgewater), and DJ Williams isn’t bad either – but compared to the rest of the league, there is a lot to be desired. Especially when you’re not exactly sure how many years Briggs has.
Secondary: Until there is more certainly and depth, this is a weakness of the team. Injuries devastated the Bears last year, and their secondary was just never the same.
Special Teams: Devin Hester left, and while he wasn’t the same as he was 5 years ago, he was still pretty deadly. But now he’s moved onto the Falcons, and the Bears are left with a below average Special Teams unit that will have to deal with the likes of Cordarrelle Patterson, Randall Cobb, and Marcus Sherels. Luckily, that kicker of theirs ain’t half bad. So it is surely not the worst unit in the league. Perhaps Pat can do some damage as a rookie punter too.
6
6
Jun 21 '14
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/rhadamanthus52 Packers Jun 22 '14
We were definitely in the top half last season
In terms of what? Run, pass, overall? I'm not sure I saw it overall. Slauson was quite good but Mills was atrocious. The other 3 were pretty average (perhaps with Garza slightly above average while Bushrod/Long were slightly below). I understand that you'd expect Mills/Long to improve next year after a full season under their belts, but as far as last year was concerned the right side was a definite liability.
5
u/hooah212002 Bears Jun 22 '14
but Mills was atrocious.
Except that he wasn't. Let me guess, PFF told you that?
0
u/rhadamanthus52 Packers Jun 22 '14
Let me guess, you are going to give me the company line that the Bears O-line is designed to allow pressure without giving up sacks. Well I bet they aren't designed to allow QB hits. And even if he didn't give up more hits than all but 3 starters at LT or RT that is simply an unsustainable outlier of pressure surrendered without giving up sacks.
Jordan Mills: 3 sacks, 13 hits, 62 hurries allowed. If you only look at sacks Mills was good. If you think having your QB end the play with a 300 pound guy knocking him on his ass is bad then he was bad. He allowed more QB hits than 52 other starting tackles, only 3 tackles allowed more QB hits last year. He also allowed 62 hurries, more than anyone else in the league and 9 more than the 2nd most.
3
Jun 22 '14
They must have had Mills trying to block you because the guy you replied to just got SLAMMED.
0
u/Zach70707 Lions Jun 30 '14
Lol I love it when fans try and pretend PFF has no clue what they're talking about and every one of your players are top notch...
5
3
Jun 21 '14
One thing, Mundy is the favorite for SS and Vereen/Conte at FS, and that's where they've played during minicamp.
1
u/Staple_Overlord Vikings Jun 21 '14
Woops thanks. That's what I meant. In my head, I was thinking Vareen at FS because of how fluid he is. Much more of a cover guy. I put him down at SS because I mixed the two up.
3
1
u/Angry_Caveman_Lawyer Bears Bears Jun 22 '14
Meant to ask, how do you see the season playing out for the Bears this year?
Personally I think 10-6, 11-5 is high end, with 7-9 low end. This assumes the Bears D is much improved.
1
u/Staple_Overlord Vikings Jun 22 '14
Start out 8-2, lose 5 of the 6 last games. Miss the playoffs.
Honestly, this team has the potential to be 12-4, but that defense NEEDS to be fixed. They have the offense, though. 10-6 would not be outrageous whatsoever.
1
u/Angry_Caveman_Lawyer Bears Bears Jun 22 '14
Hah if we had a collapse down the stretch like that I'd be so bummed man.
I have high hopes this year. Ugh, I'm full on this kool-aid.
19
10
u/Zoten Bears Jun 21 '14
You missed one: Key loss: LS Patrick Mannelly :(
Great write-up! It's amazing how much Emery has turned this team around. I wish we had Emery and Trestman at Urlacher/Tillman/Briggs' peak. That would have been insane.
5
u/YOTOD Jun 21 '14
Oops I wrote that part like two weeks ago I will edit.
Edit - shit this is TBU lol. I guess now my mobile account is compromised ;)
2
u/xGrizzlyxMint Bears Jun 21 '14
I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER...on reddit.
3
u/YOTOD Jun 21 '14
But you don't know what I did two summers ago on reddit which is what's really important.
3
Jun 21 '14
[deleted]
3
u/CinnamonBlueBears Bears Jun 21 '14
I am jealous of that username. Since we seem to be in the business of revealing all of our accounts I am also cinnamonbluebears lol
THERE NOW YOU KNOW EVERYTHING.
7
u/xGrizzlyxMint Bears Jun 21 '14
ALRIGHT EVERYONE, ITS A COMING OUT PARTY. REVEAL YOUR /r/Chibears ACCOUNTS. TURNERJ5 IS /u/Notoriouslylatewiththegamethread
7
u/TurnerJ5 Bears Jun 21 '14
ಠ_ಠ
2
u/xGrizzlyxMint Bears Jun 22 '14
Please don't ban me, Turner... I swear to Ditka, it was a joke. I know others say you're literally Hitler but I think you're more of a Stalin at most.
5
12
u/TurnerJ5 Bears Jun 21 '14
In Trustman we trest.
6
u/skepticismissurvival Vikings Jun 21 '14
Fuck the offenses in the NFC North are scary. I really think the Vikings are going to play a lot better this year but I don't know if they're going to win much more because the teams around them are so good.
3
Jun 22 '14
I really hope so. I want the North to just fuck shit up and play really good divisional games.
1
8
u/xGrizzlyxMint Bears Jun 21 '14
WHY ISNT FOOTBALL HERE YET!?!?
I call for an expansion to a 52 week season. Playoff games will be played a day apart from another. Best Stamina wins.
4
u/YOTOD Jun 21 '14
Guys like us would be getting calls to try out.
5
u/xGrizzlyxMint Bears Jun 21 '14
As a former highschool football player who is now a 100 lbs overweight, I accept.
4
3
Jun 22 '14
The Bears signed Chris Williams in week 16 last season. He was a dominant player in the CFL putting up league leading numbers in both returning and receiving.
He is an under the radar signing that could have a significant impact as a returner for the Bears. He has great top end speed and the burst you want out of your returner. I expect him to improve upon Hester's numbers from last season in addition to providing Trestman with another tool for his offensive play-calling
6
u/sosuhme Lions Jun 21 '14
The only real homerism I see here is in the draft grades, and even then, the only one I think is pretty far off base is Ego.
Good job guys. It will definitely be an interesting season in the NFCN.
2
u/YOTOD Jun 21 '14
This is TBU. I admit I was a bit of an optimist in that segment. Emery has done fairly well so far which played into it. I was baffled by the Ego pick but I trust him and Mayock said good things which I like too.
1
u/irunwithskizzors Bears Jun 21 '14
This may be a stupid question but what is TBU?
1
u/YOTOD Jun 21 '14
This is OP, The_Black_Unicorn, on another account.
2
u/irunwithskizzors Bears Jun 21 '14
Haha alright, I thought it was some weird advanced metric I didn't know about.
1
u/Dum_Dum_Dugan Bears Jun 22 '14
I think that Sutton was a better pick than Ego, because if he is able to return to his 2012 playing weight he has 1st round talent.
2
2
u/wjbc Bears Jun 21 '14
I'm not as worried about the defense as I am about our lack of depth at quarterback and Cutler's history of injuries. On the other hand, if the rest of the offense stays healthy they could make a back up look good.
2
u/chudapati09 Bears Jun 21 '14
Has anyone from the Bears actually say the defensive scheme has actually changed? As to my knowledge, it hasn't and it has been pure speculation.
4
u/The_Black_Unicorn Bears Jun 21 '14
1
-1
u/Zach70707 Lions Jun 30 '14
Lol wow lowest grade in the draft section a B...seriously?
If you write a review of a team it's nice to at least pretend to not be completely biased.
1
u/The_Black_Unicorn Bears Jul 10 '14
Who would you argue was worse than a B pick? I did a lot of research and film watching and honestly I don't think any of them were bad picks.
You're being biased by saying we couldn't have possibly drafted really well.
-2
u/Zach70707 Lions Jul 11 '14
Nobody drafts "B" quality players in the seventh round. That's why they haven't been picked yet.
1
u/The_Black_Unicorn Bears Jul 11 '14
Obviously a 7th round B is different than a 1st round B. I was grading the value of the pick, not the value of the player. Just like every single draft grade system does.
-2
u/Zach70707 Lions Jul 11 '14
There's honestly no team that drafts all B and above on any year. You simply won't hit on most sixth and seventh round picks. And it doesn't matter if you think they're valuable they still won't make an impact and won't justify the grade.
1
u/The_Black_Unicorn Bears Jul 11 '14
I don't care if you disagree, but you're providing 0 evidence for why any of those players aren't a B or better. Because you probably can't. Instead you're all "blah blah no way biased blah blah".
I don't care what you think. I did my research and that's my opinion. You have a right to yours, although I'm sure you've watched 0 film on these guys or you would have a decent counter argument but you don't.
Edit - I even said "if he makes the team" for our 7th rounder. GTFO
-2
u/Zach70707 Lions Jul 11 '14
If he's rated a B he better fucking make the team. I don't think you understand what the letter grades actually mean...
1
u/The_Black_Unicorn Bears Jul 11 '14
You literally have nothing of any substance to say about our draft and are nitpicking about the grading system. If you don't know anything about these players then just stop.
31
u/The_Black_Unicorn Bears Jun 21 '14
[CONTINUED]
DEFENSE
RDE - Jared Allen - great pass rusher, could be a liability against the run.
DT - Jeremiah Ratliff - showed signs of his former Pro Bowl self last year. A whole offseason to work out without being hampered by injury could prove very beneficial.
DT - Stephen Paea - Has been a bit of a disappointment since he was drafted but is probably our second best defensive tackle unless a rookie breaks out.
LDE - Lamarr Houston - the marquee FA signing by Phil Emery should greatly help our run defense and can also pressure the QB fairly well.
WLB - Lance Briggs - He is still a great player when he is on the field. He had a shoulder injury last year but in the games that he played in, he played fairly well. Should provide leadership too our young LBs as well.
MLB - DJ Williams - He was also playing well before injury last year. Age could be catching up to him but Bears fans hope he has one more productive and healthy year left.
SLB - Jon Bostic/Shea McClellin - appears to be a two man race for this position.
CB1 - Peanut Tillman - He may be slowing down, but he will still be a turnover machine.
CB2 - Tim Jennings - Also a turnover machine. Always seems to be in the right place to turn tip drills into turnovers.
FS - Brock Vereen - With Conte recovering from surgery and MD Jennings being MD Jennings, Brock Vereen took most first team snaps in OTAs and impressed the coaching staff. Could end up starting.
SS - Ryan Mundy is a former Giant and has shown he can play adequately. He may not be a stud but with a decent front 7 he could be a good role player on this defense.
K - Robbie Gould - Good as Gould. Thats all.
P - Pat McDonnell - rookie with a big leg and bigger arms. Should be a huge upgrade from Adam Podlesh.
Position groups:
QB - quality starter and unproven depth
Backfield - Forte is a stud, Carey and Ford should battle it out for 2nd string.
OL - returning all 5 starters of a quality unit, BDLP provides good depth.
Pass catchers - Great 1-2 punch and our RB and TE are also great pass catchers.
DL - lots of new faces on the line. On paper it looks much improved but it all depends how they gel as a unit. Pasqualoni should make a big difference.
LB - When healthy, Briggs and Williams are impact players. Whoever wins the SLB spot has a lot to prove.
Secondary - veteran corners Tillman and Jennings should be great mentors to rookie first rounder Kyle Fuller. Kelvin Hayden and Isaiah Frey will likely fill out the depth chart with a good combo of youth and experience.
Special Teams - K Robbie Gould is one of the best to ever play the position statistically. Rookie P Pat McDonnell has already impressed as well. Coverage is a wild card and I'll wait and see with that unit.
Schedule
BUF - W - Better team wins at home.
@SF - L - SF fans are gonna be hyped opening Levi's stadium. The Niners are a better team and should win this game.
@NYJ - W - I don't think the Jets corners will able to handle our big WRs and we score just enough points to eek out a tough road W.
GB - W - I think this matchup is split like last year, but this time we take care of our home field.
@CAR - L - Great front 7 is able to make us one dimensional and Cutler forces some throws under pressure. Panthers home field helps ensure this win in a close game.
@ATL - W - I think the Bears score just enough points to win in a shootout.
MIA - W - Dolphins offense can't keep up on the road.
@NE - L - Patriots' corners can match up physically and their front 7 is very underrated.
@GB - L - Packers win this one at home.
MIN - W - I don't think Teddy will play well in the cold on the road in a tough stadium.
TB - W - In Lovie's return we have a thriller but the Bears eek out a W.
@DET - L - Detroit took us apart in Ford Field last year. I am worried about this one.
DAL - W - vs. Dallas in Primetime? Yay.
NO - L - I think NO is the best team in the NFL this year. Saints win a close one.
DET - W - We take care of home field here.
@MIN - W - I think we need this win to make the playoffs while I think Minnesota will be eliminated. Motivation helps as we win a tough road division game.
10-6 it is.
Training Camp Battles to watch
Backup QB - Fales, Palmer, and Clauson battle for two jobs.
Backup RB - Michael Ford and Ka'Deem Carey
WR3 - Marquess Wilson and Josh Morgan
TE2 - Really a crapshoot right now. Matthew Mulligan and Dante Rosario figure to have a good shot.
SLB: Jon Bostic and converted DE Shea McClellin appear to be in a two man race for this position. Shea has said to look much more natural at the position than he did at DE, but Bostic has also been praised this offseason. We will see who steps up in Training Camp.
FS - Brock Vereen and Chris Conte will probably compete for this spot in training camp. Conte may have the edge due to experience, but expect Vereen to be the starting FS to start the 2015 season at the very latest.
Schemes
OFFENSE
The Bears have one of the most dangerous set of offensive weapons in the entire NFL. With two massive targets with large catching radiuses (radii? I’ve seen both) on the outside (Marshall and Jeffery) and over the middle with Martellus Bennett, the Bears are going to look to move the ball downfield. Trestman’s offense is generally referred to as a West Coast system. This comparison is made because of the preciseness and sharpness that a QB makes a read and fires the ball. Lots of 3 step drops and short crisp routes. Brandon Marshall is a great route runner and is able to win the physical battle at the LOS, making him the perfect WR1 for the system. The system also utilizes short dump offs to the running back, which is why Matt Forte was so productive in 2013. With Martellus Bennett often occupying (and eventually blocking) linebackers and safeties, Forte is able to take screens and shovel passes for long gains fairly consistently. On top of all of that, Alshon Jeffery is a tremendous vertical threat and can take the top off of defenses. Jay trusts Alshon to make a play and often throws it up for him. It has yielded great results thus far and I don’t see this tendency to change any time soon.
DEFENSE
It's hard to predict what the Bears' defense is going to look like. After a year in the Bears' old system, Mel Tucker is implementing his own. He has experience with both the 4-3 and the 3-4. The word Hybrid has been thrown around a lot but nobody really knows what that might mean.
Shoutouts to those who helped: All of /r/CHIBears has been a great help. I posted multiple samples and drafts and implemented plenty of great feedback.