Preseason Game 1: Eagles at Bears - Time to Get your Shea On

[BullHeaded]

That Chris Williams TD... I think we saw the early influence of Joe Kim on that play. He beat the jam pretty easily with hand technique and was gone. The guy is like 40 pounds... if he's able to get off the line of scrimmage with a slash and a swim move, then I have to tip my hat to the TKD grandmaster working with these guys' technique.

[MalikJoakim24]

Man its good to see some football. This is gonna hold me over until Bulls basketball.

[blumeany]

Offense looked good, especially Miller. DLine looked good. LBs looked GOD AWFUL.

[Blaize4488]

Offense looked good, especially Miller. DLine looked good. LBs looked GOD AWFUL.

Glad someone else said it. Shea and Bostic were absolutly fooled in pass coverage.

[RedBulls23]

Offense looked good, especially Miller. DLine looked good. LBs looked GOD AWFUL.

Damn, I kind of stopped paying attention after the 1st qtr. Luckily it's only the first preseason game. Got to hope they just get better.

Did all of them look bad or just the young guys? How about DJ and Briggs?

[NZB2323]

[quote="blumeany"]Offense looked good, especially Miller. DLine looked good. LBs looked GOD AWFUL.[/quote]

Is that really any suprise? Last year our defense was bad at every position, but the LBs were the worst. In the offseason we improved the d-line and the secondary. The only "improvements" we made to the LBs was to tell a bad dline man that he should play LB, and we hoped the other crappy LBs would improve. Oh, and we signed a LB to the cheapest contract I've seen in a while.

Our LBs are going to be bad this year. They are by far our biggest weaknesses though, and the team should be strong everywhere else, as long as we don't have too many injuries and Cutler doesn't throw too many interceptions.

[RedBulls23]

Offense looked good, especially Miller. DLine looked good. LBs looked GOD AWFUL.

Is that really any suprise? Last year our defense was bad at every position, but the LBs were the worst. In the offseason we improved the d-line and the secondary. The only "improvements" we made to the LBs was to tell a bad dline man that he should play LB, and we hoped the other crappy LBs would improve. Oh, and we signed a LB to the cheapest contract I've seen in a while.

Our LBs are going to be bad this year. They are by far our biggest weaknesses though, and the team should be strong everywhere else, as long as we don't have too many injuries and Cutler doesn't throw too many interceptions.

Eh...making a claim like that after the first pre-season game is a bit premature. Not saying that they are going to be great, but I think you got to give them some games before making generalizing statements.

[NZB2323]

Offense looked good, especially Miller. DLine looked good. LBs looked GOD AWFUL.

Is that really any suprise? Last year our defense was bad at every position, but the LBs were the worst. In the offseason we improved the d-line and the secondary. The only "improvements" we made to the LBs was to tell a bad dline man that he should play LB, and we hoped the other crappy LBs would improve. Oh, and we signed a LB to the cheapest contract I've seen in a while.

Our LBs are going to be bad this year. They are by far our biggest weaknesses though, and the team should be strong everywhere else, as long as we don't have too many injuries and Cutler doesn't throw too many interceptions.

Eh...making a claim like that after the first pre-season game is a bit premature. Not saying that they are going to be great, but I think you got to give them some games before making generalizing statements.

I'm not basing this after a preseason game, I'm basing it off of last year and how we didn't address it in the offseason. I didn't even watch the preseason game.

[Cliff Levingston]

It'll be DJ Williams and Briggs in along with probably Bostic at the sam. That's not bad but not overly great either.

That improved D line will be able to cover up for some weaknesses behind them. Anyone expecting this defense to go from league worst to top 10 or "dominant" is kidding themselves. Cliff Levingston is hoping for something middle of the road with anything more being gravy. If they can do that, with this offense in it's second year, we're going to win a lot of games and be dangerous in the playoffs.

[ingvald]

Briggs and DJ Williams should be quality starters. The biggest problem IMO with the LBs is the complete lack of depth. But with the (hopeful) improvement on the DL and secondary, the LBs should be servicable. As others have said, I'm hoping the defense can just be competent- ranked 15-20- while the offense improves.

[RedBulls23]

I'm not basing this after a preseason game, I'm basing it off of last year and how we didn't address it in the offseason. I didn't even watch the preseason game.

Bostic was a rookie last year. Shea mind as well be a rookie this year playing a position he hasn't played in the pros. So once again, it is premature to jump to any conclusions just yet.

Plus Briggs and DJ will be starting with one of those guys (likely Bostic). I think they will be fine with the improved Dline.

[blumeany]

Problem is that Lance and DJ are at stages in their careers where they are more likely to get injured. That means extended playing time for Bostic and McClellin, who did not look good last week. But hey, it's first week of pre-season and we'll see what happens. On those big plays by the Eagles though? It was all on the LBs, who were either totally out of place or were just letting themselves get eaten up.

[NZB2323]

I'm not basing this after a preseason game, I'm basing it off of last year and how we didn't address it in the offseason. I didn't even watch the preseason game.

Bostic was a rookie last year. Shea mind as well be a rookie this year playing a position he hasn't played in the pros. So once again, it is premature to jump to any conclusions just yet.

Plus Briggs and DJ will be starting with one of those guys (likely Bostic). I think they will be fine with the improved Dline.

Like you said, Shae might as well be a rookie this year, because he hasn't played the position before, so we can't expect much from him. Also, how many NFL players have been crappy at their position and then good at a different one?

Sure, Bostic was a rookie last year, but how many players are terrible their rookie year and then good their sophomore years?

Briggs is one year older, and there's a reason DJ Williams isn't getting paid much.

People making excuses for the LBers and telling me I have to wait and see reminds me of people the summers of 2010, 2011, and 2012 telling me that I have to wait and see until determining if the offensive line will be bad. No. If you have god-awful, horrible, embarrassing production at a position and it isn't addressed in the offseason, you won't have good production from that position the following year.

[RedBulls23]

I'm just not into making any generalizing statements. I'm in a wait and see frame of mind.

[BullHeaded]

It'll be DJ Williams and Briggs in along with probably Bostic at the sam. That's not bad but not overly great either.

That improved D line will be able to cover up for some weaknesses behind them. Anyone expecting this defense to go from league worst to top 10 or "dominant" is kidding themselves. Cliff Levingston is hoping for something middle of the road with anything more being gravy. If they can do that, with this offense in it's second year, we're going to win a lot of games and be dangerous in the playoffs.

ME!

I think when you start with a top 5 group of DEs and a top 5 group of corners, your floor is a top half defense. I think a few things will have to develop our way at DT and LB to be a top 10 or top 5 defense... but that is plausible. We invested heavily in DT and at LB you really need two of DJ Williams, Bostic, McClellan, Greene, and Jones to step up as a reliable starter. DJ Williams has been a pro bowl LB in his past so there is no reason why he can't, and among the others it is plausible that one of these young players takes the next step.

I can't be Debbie-Downer-Cynical-Fan about it. This isn't the same defense as last year's, just like last year's wasn't the same defense as the year before's. New talent, new coaching, a Tae Kwon Do grandmaster teaching NFL-tested hand techniques, new-ish scheme, better depth... expecting last year's performance is setting a ridiculously low bar. This will be a top half defense and if a few guys emerge at DT or LB... then yeah... top 10.

[Cliff Levingston]

I think when you start with a top 5 group of DEs and a top 5 group of corners, your floor is a top half defense. I think a few things will have to develop our way at DT and LB to be a top 10 or top 5 defense... but that is plausible. We invested heavily in DT and at LB you really need two of DJ Williams, Bostic, McClellan, Greene, and Jones to step up as a reliable starter. DJ Williams has been a pro bowl LB in his past so there is no reason why he can't, and among the others it is plausible that one of these young players takes the next step.

Is this really a top 5 group of DEs though? Not sure, but it is much, much better than last year for sure. We'll need a lot of things to fall into place to be a great defense though. To be considered a top 5 group of CBs, you'd need Tillman to be healthy and good and he's definitely on the downswing of his career. We'd also need Fuller to be a stud right off the bat.

Briggs is probably only getting worse and Williams wasn't much desired a couple years ago and we took a shot on him. He's almost certainly not going to be a pro-bowl caliber player again. The LB'ers could stand to be a lot better.

I can't be Debbie-Downer-Cynical-Fan about it. This isn't the same defense as last year's, just like last year's wasn't the same defense as the year before's. New talent, new coaching, a Tae Kwon Do grandmaster teaching NFL-tested hand techniques, new-ish scheme, better depth... expecting last year's performance is setting a ridiculously low bar. This will be a top half defense and if a few guys emerge at DT or LB... then yeah... top 10.

Last year we were coming off being one of the better defenses on the league. There was no one at all who predicted such a precipitous drop in production from that unit thanks in part to a bunch of key injuries. So, there's no guarantee that just because we changed coaches and schemes and added some new guys means the defense will go from worst to top 5. Cliff Levingston is being realistic, ICLO, in expecting the defense to be middle of the road. You're going to get some things to go your way with regard to development and you're not going to as well, along with injuries and such. It'd take some type of aligning of the stars for everyone to stay healthy and everyone to perform to their upside to get into that top 5 defense range.

[BullHeaded]

I think when you start with a top 5 group of DEs and a top 5 group of corners, your floor is a top half defense. I think a few things will have to develop our way at DT and LB to be a top 10 or top 5 defense... but that is plausible. We invested heavily in DT and at LB you really need two of DJ Williams, Bostic, McClellan, Greene, and Jones to step up as a reliable starter. DJ Williams has been a pro bowl LB in his past so there is no reason why he can't, and among the others it is plausible that one of these young players takes the next step.

Is this really a top 5 group of DEs though? Not sure, but it is much, much better than last year for sure. We'll need a lot of things to fall into place to be a great defense though. To be considered a top 5 group of CBs, you'd need Tillman to be healthy and good and he's definitely on the downswing of his career. We'd also need Fuller to be a stud right off the bat.

Briggs is probably only getting worse and Williams wasn't much desired a couple years ago and we took a shot on him. He's almost certainly not going to be a pro-bowl caliber player again. The LB'ers could stand to be a lot better.

I can't be Debbie-Downer-Cynical-Fan about it. This isn't the same defense as last year's, just like last year's wasn't the same defense as the year before's. New talent, new coaching, a Tae Kwon Do grandmaster teaching NFL-tested hand techniques, new-ish scheme, better depth... expecting last year's performance is setting a ridiculously low bar. This will be a top half defense and if a few guys emerge at DT or LB... then yeah... top 10.

Last year we were coming off being one of the better defenses on the league. There was no one at all who predicted such a precipitous drop in production from that unit thanks in part to a bunch of key injuries. So, there's no guarantee that just because we changed coaches and schemes and added some new guys means the defense will go from worst to top 5. Cliff Levingston is being realistic, ICLO, in expecting the defense to be middle of the road. You're going to get some things to go your way with regard to development and you're not going to as well, along with injuries and such. It'd take some type of aligning of the stars for everyone to stay healthy and everyone to perform to their upside to get into that top 5 defense range.

DE's: Against the run, I could have swore I read that Willie Young and Lamarr Houston are each top 10. And we know who Jared Allen is. There are a few teams I'll spot you... the Rams quickly come to mind. But I'll stand by the Bears unit being in the top 5. We're finally deep at that position as well.

CB's: We have two all pro players but you're right, Tillman isn't guaranteed to be healthy all season. Well, we probably have as good of a no. 3 corner as any in Fuller, as good of a no. 4 corner as there is in Hayden, and even Isaiah Frey for your fifth CB... damn good. I don't even know if Frey is the fifth best CB on our team though... we're slumming with Al Jean Louis and Sherrick McMannus... not bad.

LBs: We'll see. Like I said, we have prospects in numbers so its plausible that someone will step up.

But yeah... I expect the defense to be top half and top 10 if we get a DT to emerge as a guy who commands double teams and a young LB or two who can buckle down and just be reliable. Not world beaters... just reliable.