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We have a couple solid special teamers among our linebacking crew. But outside of Urlacher and Briggs there is no one who is worthy of starting. Does anyone think we will re-sign Roach. He would be a great fit next to Urlacher and Briggs with his athleticism. If the Bears do not re-sign Roach then I strongly question their decision to pass on a linebacker such as Casey Matthews who was still on the board in the third round when we selected Conte.

Well there's always resigning Pisa and I love his hustle but - jeez - I think he's shown he's unable to stay healthy for you to count on the guy. If you sign Pisa, you almost have to sign someone else that's capable of starter minutes because you know he's going to go down at some point.

As well as Urlacher and Briggs played last year, and considering Ray Lewis is still a good player at age 36 (this season), the immediate need for a linebacker to back those guys up is overblown. Urlacher is 33 this season, Briggs is 31 in November. They both have at least a couple more very good years in them.

The other linebacker; not quite as important. Roach is good, also a good backup middle linebacker but he could get a nice offer from somewhere else. As long as we find a decent guy to fill in a SLB, the linebacker position is still the one we're probably least worried about.

Rare is the player with the longevity of Ray Lewis, though. I wouldn't be surprised if this is the last season you see Urlacher performing at that pro-bowl level. We'd be lying if we said he didn't lose a step last year. Next year is probably the year to start grooming a successor. It wouldn't be the Bears without a stud @ MLB.

Chewie wrote:Rare is the player with the longevity of Ray Lewis, though. I wouldn't be surprised if this is the last season you see Urlacher performing at that pro-bowl level. We'd be lying if we said he didn't lose a step last year. Next year is probably the year to start grooming a successor. It wouldn't be the Bears without a stud @ MLB.

Ray Lewis isn't the player he once was either. Just cause Urlacher might not be a great, great player anymore after this year or next doesn't mean he still won't be good.

Obviously we still have two very very very good LBs, but should the Bears really have passed on Casey Matthews for a safety? Matthews is a playmaker with good athleticism and was the best defender on a very underrated defense that went to the National Championship game.

Cliff Levingston wrote:

Chewie wrote:Rare is the player with the longevity of Ray Lewis, though. I wouldn't be surprised if this is the last season you see Urlacher performing at that pro-bowl level. We'd be lying if we said he didn't lose a step last year. Next year is probably the year to start grooming a successor. It wouldn't be the Bears without a stud @ MLB.

Ray Lewis isn't the player he once was either. Just cause Urlacher might not be a great, great player anymore after this year or next doesn't mean he still won't be good.

Don't get me wrong, #54 is still my guy but I'd say Ray Lewis is the exception to the rule in terms of how long linebackers last in this business. And I'll go a step further and say that he's operating at a higher level at 35 compared to Urlacher at 32.

Urlacher played at a high level last year, but you're talking about a guy who got a year of rest. He isn't getting any younger, and he can't fly around sideline to sideline like he has in the past. I think Briggs still has 2-3 years left in terms of respectable play. I wouldn't put it past Urlacher to beast again next year, but it's no guaranteed. This is the NFL after all.

I think we'll be looking replacements for Urlacher/Briggs in a year or 2. What I'm more worried about is the fact that we don't even have viable backups. HH is gone, and Pisa is most likely not coming back. I don't know if Roach is coming back either. I'm guessing JT Thomas will fit in somewhere in the future. He has all the physical tools, and all his negatives can be coached. If he brings his technique up, he can be a solid starter in the league. But he is nothing more than a special teams player right now (like Brian Shaw).

We had some glaring weaknesses in the secondary. Neither Tim Jennings nor Bowman have shown they can be relied on for a whole season, and Tillman is banged up and getting older. It pissed me off very much that we wasted a pick on Enderle, especially when we have more glaring needs. I heard Martz wanted him as his own personal pet project, which is a load of bull. They did the same thing last year with LeFevour, and look what happened there. This team has had a history of throwing away picks, and Angelo has been known to reach incessantly with his picks. Just look at the Conte pick. The guy was supposed to be a 5-6th round pick, and we take him in the 3rd. There better be a good reason for all this, or Angelo should go next year.