What was JA's 2nd best move this offseason?

[emperorjones]

OK...still slow.

So I'm going to assume that everyone on this board feels our best move was getting Cutler - If not, go back to the Packer or Vikings board where you belong

What do you guys think the 2nd best move (what will have the greatest effect) in what I think is by far the best off-season by the Bears (and maybe any Chicago team that I can remember):

[Howling Mad]

Before I even looked at the answers I was thinking O-line. Then, I read over the choices and couldn't pick anything else but the draft. There's too many goodies in choice B not to pick it. I mean, everyone of those picks were high value for where they picked.

The Orlando Pace signing was the next biggest headliner, but given the Cutler trade, Jerry didn't have to do much selling to sign Pace.

Therefor, I'd have to give it to the draft. Too many things went Jerry's way, and his trade down was essential to orchestrating the players he had got. He took chances where there was gain to be had, and he I didn't feel like he reached on picks. Did he gamble, of course, the usual-injured guy now rehabbing trying to get back to form, or the usual-early round projection/dropped for no reason guy.

[Chewie]

I'm a big fan of our draft.

[Cliff Levingston]

The draft? Seriously? Cliff Levingston likes the draft as well but we really have no idea how any of those guys will pan out, let alone produce this season. Getting Pace, Omiyale and Shaffer to counteract the departures of Tait and St. Clair is the clear #2 for Cliff Levingston.

[Posey H8er]

The draft is hard to grade because no one has ever played a minute in the NFL, but on paper JA got great value with every pick and drafted a lot of needs. This doesn't mean anything now, but it's still important.

[Chewie]

The draft? Seriously? Cliff Levingston likes the draft as well but we really have no idea how any of those guys will pan out...

Seriously. Future all-pros. Every one of them.


OK, not Lance Louis.

I like the OL changes but I'm supposed to jump up and down over Shaffer, Pace, and Omiyale ? They're improvements - sure - but I'm more excited about the untapped potential of some high ceiling guys that slipped further than they should have versus what the free agent o-linemen bring to the table. Shaffer's a backup, Pace might have a year or two left, and Omiyale isn't even guaranteed a starting spot (though it's likely given the contract).

But that's just me.

[emperorjones]

Chewie hatin' on Lance Louis. LOL

I actually am really excited about Pisa. I think he'll help us a ton against the run. Anytime you can get rid of a weak link is a huge move. Long run I'm with Chewie on the draft, but next year I got the Pisa move as BIG.

I was actually wondering if Lovie would consider swaping Pisa & Briggs? Would that be a waste of Briggs? I actually have no clue

[Balance-a-Bull]

Actually, I am unable to decide what the 2nd best move is....since I like most of them.

I am confident all of the moves will make us a better team next year.

We needed better run blocking, better safety play, and better OLB play and ...... we upgraded in all of those areas.

Maybe the clear 2nd best move has yet to occur.....dare I say Boldin or even Burress.

[WAYSA]

Orlando Pace.

Followed closely by Frank Omiyale.

[Cliff Levingston]

I like the OL changes but I'm supposed to jump up and down over Shaffer, Pace, and Omiyale ?

Not necessarily, but they'll make the biggest impact this season if things work out. Pace is a pretty big acquisition. He's still among the best at his position in pass protection which is huge since we've got a premier QB now. Omiyale and Shaffer both add some much needed size and bulk to a line otherwise lacking.

Not mentioned though was Chris Williams. Yea, he's technically not an offseason move but he's basically a rookie this season. If he pans out then our offensive line is looking a whole lot better than it was last season and much better than you'd expect a line that lost both of it's starting tackles from the previous year to be.

[emperorjones]

much better than you'd expect a line that lost both of it's starting tackles from the previous year.

YES! This is normally a recipe for disaster. Not only is disaster likely averted but their will definitely be improvement IMO.

[BullHeaded]

Don't forget the Michael Gaines signing when talking about OL acquisitions. The purpose of signing him was specifically to shore up our run blocking... not to give Cutler someone else to throw to.

While I lean toward OL, that case has been made and I think another should be made for the defensive coaching changes. Lovie calling the plays not only improves the play calling, but sends a huge message to the team. Babich was a victim of the Peter Principle and is now back to doing what he was successful at... coaching LBs. And we picked up the best DL coach in the game to coach the line. If Marinelli improves each DLineman by a half notch, the cumulative impact will be huge. The changes on defense weren't minor tweaks, they were major shifts... and I cannot imagine anyone underachieving on that unit this year.

[Howling Mad]

The Pace signing looks better than its going to be.

The guy is old, lots of miles yada yada and he hasn't done much for St. Louis for a long time. Missed almost two full seasons and before and after his big injuries that line sucked, bad. One of the worst. Even during his injured seasons, the Rams tried to reload that O-line. They were big players for Faneca, I believe second in the running according to reports, and ended up with a lineman from Tenn, I believe. Please check my facts...
Also picked up the stud from FSU, Alex Barron, who I think was a better prospect than Chris Williams, and in the end I believe will be the better player. Barron was a monster for FSU and had a crazy sub, way sub, 5 sec 40 time. I know I know, lineman don't run straight, but its a crazy example of athleticism when you can outrun every offensive lineman, most defensive ends, and hold your own agianst a majoity of linebackers. Which brings me to another point...
Barron was brought in to replace Pace. Barron was solely a LT in college and the Rams projected him their new 'Orlando Pace' when he was drafted, but he never saw antyhing but the right side of the line. With that athleticism, Barron shouldn't be on the right side, but he was with Pace around. Not like Pace deserved to keep the spot after being injured for almost two seasons. So...what I'm getting at, If anybody thinks he's here to teach Chris Williams the ropes, should probably not have their hopes up.

Now Frank Omiyale and Kevin Shaffer

I don't know much about Omiyale so I did some research, but it doesn't look good. THis guy was basically a red shirt rookie, then his second year made his debut only to be cut a couple weeks later. He played for the Panthers in 07, yet another 'red-shirt' year, and after finally playing in 08 due an injured Jordan Gross, he wasn't welcomed back with another contract. With all of Carolina's O-line injuries, he could barely crack the normal rotation. He's only started one game, one game.

Now Shaffer is a solid pick up. He's a work horse lineman and was actually a big producer on a very successful Browns O-line. If there's one thing you'd like out of a lineman, its consistent health (Knock, Knock).

The wild card in the O-line euqation is Williams, but he's from the 08 draft, so I wouldn't put him into this offseason's moves.

[emperorjones]

Barron was brought in to replace Pace. Barron was solely a LT in college and the Rams projected him their new 'Orlando Pace' when he was drafted, but he never saw antyhing but the right side of the line. With that athleticism, Barron shouldn't be on the right side, but he was with Pace around. Not like Pace deserved to keep the spot after being injured for almost two seasons.

One thing I love about football (unlike say baseball & basketball) is that coaches put the best guys on the field. If they don't people get hurt (like quarterbacks). So I would say it is absolutely like Pace deserved to keep the spot because he was at the spot. If they were better with Barron at LT and Pace at RT (or out of the lineup) that's what we would have seen.

[Cliff Levingston]

Further, Pace isn't washed up. He may not be the all-pro he used to be but he played 14 games last year and only allowed something like 1 or 2 sacks. That's great production considering how bad his team was around him. The knock on his game now is that he's not a good run blocker anymore so we'll see what happens there.

[Howling Mad]

I didn't go as far as saying Pace is washed up, he isn't, but he's no top 1-2 LT in the NFL like he used to be. Jonathon Ogden being the other. Now I'd say he has a tough time cracking the top 15-20 list. The LT postiion has just gotten so competitive. Guys that would've played DE, DT, now realize they can make 3 times as much playig O-line, specifically LT. DE, DT, among other skilled positions garner more glory. Glory.. what glory? I'll the the money, thank you...is pretty much the attitude with being converted to a LT.

I wouldn't put too much stock into how many sacks Pace didn't allow. There were so many holes in that O-line, they didn't have to attack through Pace. I mean, if you're attacking China, do you scale the great wall, or do you walk through the door thats been left open for you? Pace hasn't seen double pass rushes consistently for 3 years now.

I'd also like to mention the injury history of Warner and Bulger. Enough said there. Pace has been on a slow and consistent decline for years, plus his injuries have just sped up the process.

The Rams have had a history of playing favorites, i.e. Warner vs Bulger. Over the last few yeears, I see several similarities with the LT position for the Rams. When Pace was injured, that would've been the perfect time to slide Barron over, but instead they rotated Barron with 2 other guys, Jacob Bell and I forgot the other. Even now, Barron's been announced to play LT, but c'mon they din't draft Jason Smith for nothing. If Pace hadn't been so public and vocal about his displeasure with the Barron draft, Barron wouldn't have struggled so much. Thats opinion of course, but if you take a look at why Barron struggled, its all mental mistakes. Penalties, work ethic, focus and such...thats anoher argument though.

[emperorjones]

I didn't go as far as saying Pace is washed up, he isn't, but he's no top 1-2 LT in the NFL like he used to be. Jonathon Ogden being the other. Now I'd say he has a tough time cracking the top 15-20 list.

You do remember we had John St. Clair at LT last year right?

[Howling Mad]

Ok, you got me!

[DJhitek]

I think getting Pace was easily the second best move, the guy will keep Cutler's blindside protected. I do like the move to get Pisa as well, I'm not that high on the draft personally, but they got great value. I just don't think they will become true impact players anytime soon.

[Chewie]

Well I think I should qualify my vote now.

If the best move implies impact on the 2009 season, I'd say the OL moves, sure.

If the best move implies the overall impact on the team - more long term - I'd say the draft.