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I posted this on my bears forum at a different site but thought maybe people here would enjoy a departure given the wait to free agency / draft...

I'll spare the pages and pages of posts going over our medicore decisions and drafts and just list "my" projected 55 man team...

I really thought this through for how our team works best imo:

QB: J. Cutler
Backup: D. LeFevour

Notes: Cutler will play every down not injury or blowout related so why do we need more than 1 backup (Peyton is going to be here and healthy a long time thinking)? We don't. LeFevour was a late 3rd in my book and is a great prospect on the pro level. Hanne, BB... They are ok, but we don't need them taking valuable roster spots in week 12 you know?

RB: M. Forte
Backup: C. Taylor
Reserve: K. Hill
FB: W. Ta'ufo'oh

Notes: Forte had an inconsistent line and a should I / shouldn't I hit this hole... itis. I think that Forte and Taylor should have that 2 to 1 ratio of carries and the trio should total around 375-400 carries. If Forte / Taylor can get a good push from the line (big if) then this could be a very solid 1100 / 550 tandem. Also I think Ta'ufo'oh is a nice pickup having seen him for years make lanes for cal backs having big years. Not sure he will win the job (not as needed here for BM) but I would think he would.

WR: D. Hester - J. Iglesias - D. Aromashodu
WR: E. Bennett - J. Knox - R. Davis - G. Matthews
TE: G. Olsen - B. Manumaleuna - K. Davis

Notes: Strength of the team as Martz would say? Ummm, maybe? It is definitly an odd arrangement of talent to be sure, but there is talent here. Hester, Bennett, and Knox all proved they can get yards in the NFL. I like Iglesias and Aromashodu as backups and Davis as an injury safety blanket. Olsen is a talent and could be among the best pass catching ends in the game, we need to see it now. BM is here for blocking and that is what I expect. KD is a nice backup catching option and I expect Clark to be released. I expect one of the last guys to maybe make this club; Matthews. He is big and has talent and really was lost in a drama fest and triple option attack at michigan. Could be a good pickup down the line.

RT: F. Omiyale
RG: R. Garza
OC: O. Kruetz
LG: K. Shaffer
LT: C. Williams
Backups: J. Beekman, L. Louis, J. Webb

Notes: It looks like they will put Omiyale at RT and Shaffer at LG... Well, let's just say I hope it works. For me, these 5-6 guys are going to determine our year by either plus 2 wins from last season or minus 2 wins from last year. I think that Bullocks gets released and we pick up another backup OL (I hope).

LE: J. Peppers
DT: M. Harrison
DT: T. Harris
RE: M. Anderson
Backups: I. Idonije, A. Adams, M. Toeaina
Reserves: H. Melton, J. Gilbert, C. Wootton

Notes: Take Peppers off that line. It would be pretty pathetic wouldn't it? But put Peppers there and this line should be the strength of this team. I expect big things from all of them. Rod is a GREAT line coach and now has the defense all geared towards this. I'm excited for a healthy team and a good line. I expect 20 sacks between the two ends.

LB L. Briggs
LB B. Urlacher
LB P. Tinomesimoa
Backups: H. Hillenmeyer, N. Roach, M. Mayberry

Notes: A healthy trio means big things for the entire front 7. Pisa is a good player and Urlacher when he is right is dominate. Roach and Hunter are excellent backups and should be able to spell and help out all year. I like Mayberry to make this team with hustle and size and helping out on ST.

CB C. Tillman - C. Graham - DJ Moore
FS D. Manning - M. Wright - J. Bullocks (likely cut)
SS C. Harris - A. Afalava - C. Steltz
CB Z. Bowman - T. Jennings - J. Moore

Notes: Should be a 4-5 man secondary out there that knows this scheme and is ready to play. I love that. Wright, the Moores, and AA are all going to be good backups. Jennings is a nice nickel option and I'm excited to see what he can do.

LS: P. Mannelly
P: B. Maynard
K: R. Gould

Notes: No shock here... Likely next season we will get in Maynards replacement.

Guy on the PS / Invites you love? Breakout player? Weakness of the team (offensive line)? Strength of the team (front 7)?

Cutler stats prediction? My guess would be 3900, 29-18 86rtg (a good year)

Overall I think that the front 7 gets them to 9-7. With a lucky bounce, then 10-6, 11-5. I think that turnovers are going to be a big thing for us again, we need to secure the rock.

GRADEN wrote:I posted this on my bears forum at a different site but thought maybe people here would enjoy a departure given the wait to free agency / draft...

I'll spare the pages and pages of posts going over our medicore decisions and drafts and just list "my" projected 55 man team...

I really thought this through for how our team works best imo:

QB: J. Cutler
Backup: D. LeFevour

Notes: Cutler will play every down not injury or blowout related so why do we need more than 1 backup (Peyton is going to be here and healthy a long time thinking)? We don't. LeFevour was a late 3rd in my book and is a great prospect on the pro level. Hanne, BB... They are ok, but we don't need them taking valuable roster spots in week 12 you know?

RB: M. Forte
Backup: C. Taylor
Reserve: K. Hill
FB: W. Ta'ufo'oh

Notes: Forte had an inconsistent line and a should I / shouldn't I hit this hole... itis. I think that Forte and Taylor should have that 2 to 1 ratio of carries and the trio should total around 375-400 carries. If Forte / Taylor can get a good push from the line (big if) then this could be a very solid 1100 / 550 tandem. Also I think Ta'ufo'oh is a nice pickup having seen him for years make lanes for cal backs having big years. Not sure he will win the job (not as needed here for BM) but I would think he would.

WR: D. Hester - J. Iglesias - D. Aromashodu
WR: E. Bennett - J. Knox - R. Davis - G. Matthews
TE: G. Olsen - B. Manumaleuna - K. Davis

Notes: Strength of the team as Martz would say? Ummm, maybe? It is definitly an odd arrangement of talent to be sure, but there is talent here. Hester, Bennett, and Knox all proved they can get yards in the NFL. I like Iglesias and Aromashodu as backups and Davis as an injury safety blanket. Olsen is a talent and could be among the best pass catching ends in the game, we need to see it now. BM is here for blocking and that is what I expect. KD is a nice backup catching option and I expect Clark to be released. I expect one of the last guys to maybe make this club; Matthews. He is big and has talent and really was lost in a drama fest and triple option attack at michigan. Could be a good pickup down the line.

RT: F. Omiyale
RG: R. Garza
OC: O. Kruetz
LG: K. Shaffer
LT: C. Williams
Backups: J. Beekman, L. Louis, J. Webb

Notes: It looks like they will put Omiyale at RT and Shaffer at LG... Well, let's just say I hope it works. For me, these 5-6 guys are going to determine our year by either plus 2 wins from last season or minus 2 wins from last year. I think that Bullocks gets released and we pick up another backup OL (I hope).

LE: J. Peppers
DT: M. Harrison
DT: T. Harris
RE: M. Anderson
Backups: I. Idonije, A. Adams, M. Toeaina
Reserves: H. Melton, J. Gilbert, C. Wootton

Notes: Take Peppers off that line. It would be pretty pathetic wouldn't it? But put Peppers there and this line should be the strength of this team. I expect big things from all of them. Rod is a GREAT line coach and now has the defense all geared towards this. I'm excited for a healthy team and a good line. I expect 20 sacks between the two ends.

LB L. Briggs
LB B. Urlacher
LB P. Tinomesimoa
Backups: H. Hillenmeyer, N. Roach, M. Mayberry

Notes: A healthy trio means big things for the entire front 7. Pisa is a good player and Urlacher when he is right is dominate. Roach and Hunter are excellent backups and should be able to spell and help out all year. I like Mayberry to make this team with hustle and size and helping out on ST.

CB C. Tillman - C. Graham - DJ Moore
FS D. Manning - M. Wright - J. Bullocks (likely cut)
SS C. Harris - A. Afalava - C. Steltz
CB Z. Bowman - T. Jennings - J. Moore

Notes: Should be a 4-5 man secondary out there that knows this scheme and is ready to play. I love that. Wright, the Moores, and AA are all going to be good backups. Jennings is a nice nickel option and I'm excited to see what he can do.

LS: P. Mannelly
P: B. Maynard
K: R. Gould

Notes: No shock here... Likely next season we will get in Maynards replacement.

Guy on the PS / Invites you love? Breakout player? Weakness of the team (offensive line)? Strength of the team (front 7)?

Cutler stats prediction? My guess would be 3900, 29-18 86rtg (a good year)

Overall I think that the front 7 gets them to 9-7. With a lucky bounce, then 10-6, 11-5. I think that turnovers are going to be a big thing for us again, we need to secure the rock.

ibtl

Two things:

1. We have a Bears board

2. 'IBTL' posts are considered post-padding. Please refrain from using them.

EDIT: Moved it to Bears forum.

bears board here isn't full at all!

Most glaring thing I noticed with a quick read through was the lack of special teams beast Tim Shaw. I also did not agree with some other things, but am too lazy to post my proposal right now.

GRADEN wrote:bears board here isn't full at all!

True - we've got about 6 or so consistent posters but you're also seeing the board in a dead period. The lack of a 1st and 2nd rd pick will do that around draft time.

We've already kicked around roster predictions below somewhere....

It is a complete crapshoot at this point which players in the secondary get kept. OTA's and training camp will let that play out. I think two of Bullocks, DJ Moore, Graham (I like him), Steltz (doubtful but I can at least hope), and Jennings are gone. Can Khalil BELL play special teams? If not, then I'm not sure Wolfe isn't kept over him (although I wouldn't hate to see him gone as he is another draft bust).

I also think we will have 3 QB's on the roster to start. Martz has been talking about having someone with NFL expereince as a backup on the roster there so I wouldn't be surprised if we brought in a vet which would mean Hanie and Brett are gone or if we keep Dan and Hanie as the 2/3. I've read a few places that the Bears might be souring on Melton and/or Gilbert but I think they both make it and are at least given a shot to see if they can play, albeit in limited playing time unless Anderson just completely stinks and they are given a shot at DE.

I like Clark and would hate to see him just get dropped for absolutely nothing but there's no reason to keep 4 TE's. Since he doesn't play special teams and Davis does that could make for an easy decision if no one wants Clark via trade. Shaw over Mayberry is a given; he was our special teams MVP last season.

GRADEN wrote:QB: J. Cutler
Backup: D. LeFevour

Notes: Cutler will play every down not injury or blowout related so why do we need more than 1 backup (Peyton is going to be here and healthy a long time thinking)? We don't. LeFevour was a late 3rd in my book and is a great prospect on the pro level. Hanne, BB... They are ok, but we don't need them taking valuable roster spots in week 12 you know?

LeFevour would suck if Cutler goes down, and quite frankly, our offense will suck if Cutler goes down, so Cliff Levingston doesn't have much of a problem with this.

GRADEN wrote:RB: M. Forte
Backup: C. Taylor
Reserve: K. Hill
FB: W. Ta'ufo'oh

Notes: Forte had an inconsistent line and a should I / shouldn't I hit this hole... itis. I think that Forte and Taylor should have that 2 to 1 ratio of carries and the trio should total around 375-400 carries. If Forte / Taylor can get a good push from the line (big if) then this could be a very solid 1100 / 550 tandem. Also I think Ta'ufo'oh is a nice pickup having seen him for years make lanes for cal backs having big years. Not sure he will win the job (not as needed here for BM) but I would think he would.

Cliff Levingston doesn't think we got Taylor to be a firm backup, but it remains to be seen. Cliff Levingston would like to see the two trade series' evenly as Cliff Levingston thinks Taylor might be better than Forte.

GRADEN wrote:WR: D. Hester - J. Iglesias - D. Aromashodu
WR: E. Bennett - J. Knox - R. Davis - G. Matthews
TE: G. Olsen - B. Manumaleuna - K. Davis

Notes: Strength of the team as Martz would say? Ummm, maybe? It is definitly an odd arrangement of talent to be sure, but there is talent here. Hester, Bennett, and Knox all proved they can get yards in the NFL. I like Iglesias and Aromashodu as backups and Davis as an injury safety blanket. Olsen is a talent and could be among the best pass catching ends in the game, we need to see it now. BM is here for blocking and that is what I expect. KD is a nice backup catching option and I expect Clark to be released. I expect one of the last guys to maybe make this club; Matthews. He is big and has talent and really was lost in a drama fest and triple option attack at michigan. Could be a good pickup down the line.

Aromashodu 3rd string? Do you watch the Bears at all? The kid caught fire at the end of the year after Cutler was clamoring for him since training camp. There's no way he's not a starter. Iglesias will be lucky to see the field at all.

Remains to be seen how Olsen is used as well, but Cliff Levingston is betting on Manumaleuna playing more than Olsen.

GRADEN wrote:RT: F. Omiyale
RG: R. Garza
OC: O. Kruetz
LG: K. Shaffer
LT: C. Williams
Backups: J. Beekman, L. Louis, J. Webb

Notes: It looks like they will put Omiyale at RT and Shaffer at LG... Well, let's just say I hope it works. For me, these 5-6 guys are going to determine our year by either plus 2 wins from last season or minus 2 wins from last year. I think that Bullocks gets released and we pick up another backup OL (I hope).

Cliff Levingston hasn't heard anything about moving Shaffer to LG, but that probably wouldn't be smart considering Beekman is solid.

GRADEN wrote:LE: J. Peppers
DT: M. Harrison
DT: T. Harris
RE: M. Anderson
Backups: I. Idonije, A. Adams, M. Toeaina
Reserves: H. Melton, J. Gilbert, C. Wootton

Notes: Take Peppers off that line. It would be pretty pathetic wouldn't it? But put Peppers there and this line should be the strength of this team. I expect big things from all of them. Rod is a GREAT line coach and now has the defense all geared towards this. I'm excited for a healthy team and a good line. I expect 20 sacks between the two ends.

Man, you need to start paying attention here. Peppers was brought in to play right end, hence a reason why we dropped Alex Brown. Anderson and Idonije will rotate at left end with Melton possibly fitting in there.

GRADEN wrote:LB L. Briggs
LB B. Urlacher
LB P. Tinomesimoa
Backups: H. Hillenmeyer, N. Roach, M. Mayberry

Notes: A healthy trio means big things for the entire front 7. Pisa is a good player and Urlacher when he is right is dominate. Roach and Hunter are excellent backups and should be able to spell and help out all year. I like Mayberry to make this team with hustle and size and helping out on ST.

Who's Mayberry? No way Tim Shaw isn't kept on the team for ST purposes as the 6th linebacker.

GRADEN wrote:CB C. Tillman - C. Graham - DJ Moore
FS D. Manning - M. Wright - J. Bullocks (likely cut)
SS C. Harris - A. Afalava - C. Steltz
CB Z. Bowman - T. Jennings - J. Moore

Notes: Should be a 4-5 man secondary out there that knows this scheme and is ready to play. I love that. Wright, the Moores, and AA are all going to be good backups. Jennings is a nice nickel option and I'm excited to see what he can do.

That's 11 secondary players, which is possible, but unlikely. Also, no way Manning starts over Major Wright (hopefully). If Manning is being kept around though, he can basically be a backup nickel back or safety, so you wouldn't need to carry 6 corners. Cliff Levingston would probably go with:
CB: Tillman, Bowman, Jennings, J. Moore, Graham
S: Wright, Harris, Afalava, Manning

That's 9. Probably no need for more than that unless they keep one of those guys around strictly for special teams purposes.

GRADEN wrote:LS: P. Mannelly
P: B. Maynard
K: R. Gould

Notes: No shock here... Likely next season we will get in Maynards replacement.

Agreed.

...a lot can happen in training camp to shift this stuff around. We could find out that D.J. Moore is actually beast and pushes Corey Graham off the roster, or Iglesias needs to be on the field, though it's doubtful.

Comment: looking at the offensive line makes Cliff Levingston sad. The only guys Cliff Levingston feels relatively comfortable with are Chris Williams and Josh Beekman. Tice better work some serious magic there.

GRADEN wrote:I posted this on my bears forum at a different site but thought maybe people here would enjoy a departure given the wait to free agency / draft...

+1 on Cliff's analysis plus I will add that I doubt Rashied Davis makes the team at WR. I think Iglasias takes his spot as the WR will be Aromoa/Knox/Hester ---> Bennet/Iglasias. I think if we integrate Olsen into the offense as it seems we will then we will only keep 5 WRs.

emperorjones wrote:

GRADEN wrote:I posted this on my bears forum at a different site but thought maybe people here would enjoy a departure given the wait to free agency / draft...

+1 on Cliff's analysis plus I will add that I doubt Rashied Davis makes the team at WR. I think Iglasias takes his spot as the WR will be Aromoa/Knox/Hester ---> Bennet/Iglasias. I think if we integrate Olsen into the offense as it seems we will then we will only keep 5 WRs.

Rashied has shown ability as a special teamer, a big plus on any Lovie team.

I would think we ultimately take 9 WR/TE, either 6WR and 3TE or 5WR and 4TE.

Locks- Hester, Knox, Aromashodu, Manumaleuna, Bennett, Olsen (if he isn't moved)
Thats 3 spots left between Davis, Clarke, Iglesias, Davis, others

I think they'd like to have Clarke back, but with probably one year left, you'd hate to drop Kellen Davis for just that one year.

Friend_Of_Haley wrote:

emperorjones wrote:

GRADEN wrote:I posted this on my bears forum at a different site but thought maybe people here would enjoy a departure given the wait to free agency / draft...

+1 on Cliff's analysis plus I will add that I doubt Rashied Davis makes the team at WR. I think Iglasias takes his spot as the WR will be Aromoa/Knox/Hester ---> Bennet/Iglasias. I think if we integrate Olsen into the offense as it seems we will then we will only keep 5 WRs.

Rashied has shown ability as a special teamer, a big plus on any Lovie team.

I would think we ultimately take 9 WR/TE, either 6WR and 3TE or 5WR and 4TE.

Locks- Hester, Knox, Aromashodu, Manumaleuna, Bennett, Olsen (if he isn't moved)
Thats 3 spots left between Davis, Clarke, Iglesias, Davis, others

I think they'd like to have Clarke back, but with probably one year left, you'd hate to drop Kellen Davis for just that one year.

It makes no sense whatsoever to carry 4 tight ends on a Martz run offense. He says he's looking forward to using Olsen but that's total BS. Martz has Vernon Davis in San Francisco and he was considered an unmitigated bust until Martz left and SF installed an offense that utilized the tight end. We obviously won't simply cut Olsen which means he'll basically be dead weight on the roster, and considering Davis' contributions on special teams, we could easily see the end of Des Clark on June 1st.

If we're going to carry 9 WR/TE, then this makes the most sense:
WR: Aromashodu, Hester, Bennett, Knox, Davis, Iglesias
TE: Manumaleuna, Olsen, Davis

FWIW all of Martz's past teams have never had more than 2 TEs. Some had 3 but the third was always a IR stash or practice squadder. In STL they carried one TE and one H-Back for many years--and rarely threw the ball to either of them. In DET he always had two active but almost never used them together. Remember this is a guy who throws the ball nearly 80% of the time on 3rd and 3 or less...

Icness wrote:FWIW all of Martz's past teams have never had more than 2 TEs. Some had 3 but the third was always a IR stash or practice squadder. In STL they carried one TE and one H-Back for many years--and rarely threw the ball to either of them. In DET he always had two active but almost never used them together. Remember this is a guy who throws the ball nearly 80% of the time on 3rd and 3 or less...

What do you think they're going to do with the position? Obviously Manumaleuna and Olsen are both safe. Would they really cut Davis and Clark?