2012 offseason wishlist

VoiceofReason · Post #1 » by **VoiceofReason** » Tue Dec 27, 2011 11:49 pm

Since it's over for us this year, it's time to gather the list of things this team needs. Feel free to cut and paste from any of the last few years, as it's pretty much the same.

1. New GM, one that can scout and draft a difference maker in the first round, 0 for a decade is absolutely unacceptable.
2. WR, how about Colston, he's only 28, consistently productive as a pro, and will be a FA
3. QB depth, McCown is worlds better than Hanie, Enderlee better play the 2nd half vs MIN so we can see what he's got. We'd probably still be talking playoffs if McCown had been here all season.
4. LB's, need to draft at least 2-3 to groom to replace the aging core of the defense
5. OL, so this group can run block, but struggle to pass block, need some upgrades

I was only gonna list 5, but I'll add a new OC, one that offers the QB the option to audible out of a bad play call. Unless Martz can allow that into his scheme, then he can stay.

Chewie · Post #2 » by **Chewie** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 2:18 pm

Colston is actually a name we should consider - from my understanding he's not planning on giving the Saints a discount to stay put and Brees may be franchise candidate. We'd need him to check out medically, though, as he always seems to have issues with his knees.

The only thing I'd probably add is secondary needs. Jennings and Bowman aren't getting it done opposite Tillman and good QBs like Rodgers have shown that when they put our CBs on a one-on-one island, they can't handle it. I also think Major Wright has shown he's not going to be the answer at safety. We need some ball hawks back there with actual cover skills.

BIGGIEsmalls 23 · Post #3 » by **BIGGIEsmalls 23** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 2:59 pm

Chewie wrote:.....I also think Major Wright has shown he's not going to be the answer at safety. We need some ball hawks back there with actual cover skills.

Lovie & Angelo have stated that in order for this defense to function correctly it needs a solid DE (Peppers), solid weakside LB (Briggs), & a solid safety (????).

Year after year, they fail to address the safety position.

Post #4 » by **DJhitek** » Thu Dec 29, 2011 5:03 pm

I'd love Colston as our slot guy, he doesn't have the speed to really make an impact on the outside but I honestly believe he has overtaken Welker as the best inside receiver in football. I know we just resigned Bennet but seriously, he's had only a handful of games where he has made a huge impact.

1-Draft a WR, please, just someone who can make the tough catches when we need them. Alshon Jeffery from SC is a guy I'd kill for...
2-Start rebuilding the defense, whether that means not reaching for O/L help then so be it.

Fire Martz and go strictly run oriented.

F/A- Again, I'd go after Colston and just work him in the slot until teams got sick of him. Bowe and Wayne are FA's as well if I'm not mistaken but Wayne is way too pricey for his production. One guy I'd pay to get is Mike Wallace but I'd bet my paycheck Pitt will franchise him. Other obvious holes like O/L and LB's are something they could play by ear....

WEFFPIM · Post #5 » by **WEFFPIM** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 1:15 am

Marques Colston screams to me a guy who would suck in any other system that's minus Drew Brees

Chewie · Post #6 » by **Chewie** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 2:39 am

WEFFPIM wrote:Marques Colston screams to me a guy who would suck in any other system that's minus Drew Brees

I dunno - he's a definite red zone threat. He's 6'5", blocks, can jump out of the building, runs good routes, and his 40 time was 4.55 coming out of Hofstra which is pretty darn good for a guy that tall. I'm not convinced he's just a product of Brees' awesomeness.

Still want to go WR in Rd1, though.

ChronicKerr · Post #7 » by **ChronicKerr** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 4:50 pm

Colston scares me. He's definately a big target but seems as though he's always hurt and he drops a lot of passes from what I've seen having had him in fantasy the past two seasons. I've read he is lookign for the most money possible. There are others like Vjack, Bowe, and Marshall I would way rather have than Colston.

BIGGIEsmalls 23 · Post #8 » by **BIGGIEsmalls 23** » Fri Dec 30, 2011 5:12 pm

ChronicKerr wrote:Colston scares me. He's definately a big target but seems as though he's always hurt and he drops a lot of passes from what I've seen having had him in fantasy the past two seasons. I've read he is lookign for the most money possible. There are others like Vjack, Bowe, and Marshall I would way rather have than Colston.

I want Marshall. He's a beast. I posed a question asking how could we get him here in another thread.

Post #9 » by **emperorjones** » Sun Jan 1, 2012 9:08 pm

1. A true GO TO receiver in FA
2. Another receiver in the draft - 3rd round
3. A CB or DE in the 1st round
4. A swing tackle in FA to come off the bench

WEFFPIM · Post #10 » by **WEFFPIM** » Mon Jan 2, 2012 1:06 am

Has anyone been fired yet?

Post #11 » by **emperorjones** » Mon Jan 2, 2012 1:59 am

WEFFPIM wrote:Has anyone been fired yet?

Why would the owners or President fire anyone. The team was 7-3 when the injuries went crazy and there isn't one analyst that says a healthy Bears team doesnt at a minimum win the Kansas City and Denver games. The ownership will believe at a minimum those two games get them to 10-6 and in the playoffs. Then a win against the raiders or Sattle at home and you're 11-5 and have the 5th seed. They won't even consider firing anyone. If Lovie wants his staff back it's status quo until Angelo retires.

Post #12 » by **DJhitek** » Tue Jan 3, 2012 3:55 pm

ChronicKerr wrote:Colston scares me. He's definately a big target but seems as though he's always hurt and he drops a lot of passes from what I've seen having had him in fantasy the past two seasons. I've read he is lookign for the most money possible. There are others like Vjack, Bowe, and Marshall I would way rather have than Colston.

I'm not sure about the drops, because he is about as sure handed as they come and works wonders over the middle. I'm not a huge Marshall fan, pretty sure Cutler isn't either, but all those receivers defintely have more upside as true number ones. Money is obviously a concern, but Jackson is one of the more inconsistent receivers in the game and I'd bet Bowe gets the most money out of the entire class.

Colston seems like a guy to me, that will come in, shut up, and be happy with catching 6 of the 19-20 completions that Cutler should be throwing. I think Bowe is out of our price range to be honest.

Chewie · Post #13 » by **Chewie** » Tue Jan 3, 2012 6:20 pm

emperorjones wrote:
WEFFPIM wrote:Has anyone been fired yet?

Why would the owners or President fire anyone. The team was 7-3 when the injuries went crazy and there isn't one analyst that says a healthy Bears team doesnt at a minimum win the Kansas City and Denver games. The ownership will believe at a minimum those two games get them to 10-6 and in the playoffs. Then a win against the raiders or Sattle at home and you're 11-5 and have the 5th seed. They won't even consider firing anyone. If Lovie wants his staff back it's status quo until Angelo retires.

Had to.

blumeany · Post #14 » by **blumeany** » Tue Jan 3, 2012 6:56 pm

My Wish List:

1. A successful GM (obviously) - someone with good drafting/personnel experience.
2. Wide receivers - draft and FA
3. O Line - draft and FA
4. Linebacker - draft and FA
5. D Line - draft and FA
6. Corners/Safeties, if available

Fire Ruskell and company and bring in someone with a good draft/FA history. Someone respected, not just another team's castoff or someone who is riding a short 'winning streak' like Angelo was.

Next, I think first and foremost Cutler needs someone to throw to. The O Line showed enough this season to be serviceable (although I still put them RIGHT AFTER the wide receiver wish).

Linebacker core is old and wants more money, need to fill that position pronto.

D Line is CRITICAL in this league and I don't think we have all our answers there. I put the D Line ahead of the secondary, as pass rush is everything - especially in the Smith defense.

Magilla_Gorilla · Post #15 » by **Magilla_Gorilla** » Tue Jan 3, 2012 8:40 pm

I think they need to bring in a top shelf OL to anchor the line.

I think thy need to bring in a true #1 receiver. Someone who is a big target and can catch 90 balls next season.

I think they need to let Kellen Davis run free. He's a weapon - use him.

Honestly - I'm okay with Mike Tice taking over as OC if thats what they do. I don't want Jay to have to deal with yet another Offensive Coordinator if we don't have to. Does anyone know if any up & coming offensive minds out there who might be ripe for the picking if the Bears decide to look outside the org?

We need a real god damned QB coach. Real. QB coach.

IWannaGoHIGHER · Post #16 » by **IWannaGoHIGHER** » Tue Jan 3, 2012 9:28 pm

I've got a quick question to go along with this. Does anyone know roughly how much cap space we have for the off-season and how that compares to the rest of the league?

1. Angelo, Ruskell, and Martz need to go. (check, maybe, check)

2. A dominate offensive line-men via FA. As we saw Cutler is a damn fine QB and he made a pretty crappy WR core and probably the worst O-Line in the league look halfway decent. With a line that will give him time and protect him, even with the below average weapons he has, he is good enough to make it work. And some might say we could just draft one but I'd rather bring in a guy we know is going to have an impact (and lets face it our last few O-linemen drafted haven't been that stellar)

3. Draft best available at any one of these positions WR, OL, LB, S, CB at 19. In no real order I'd say stay away from drafting at WR in the first just because this is a deep year for them. I'm hoping someone slips down to 19 that can be an impact player. If I had the pick I'd pray that Luke Kuechly falls in our laps somehow. I know LB not a main need but he just has multi year pro bowler written all over him. He can play opposite Briggs and Lacher for a few years and then step in at the MLB in 3 or 4 years when Lacher is getting up there.

4. In rounds 2 and 3 (two picks) address the secondary first and then try to get another weapon for Cutler. Wither that be a WR or TE or you could get a flex/speed guy whatever it is Culter needs another weapon.

5. Depends on what happens with the draft and FA. But I'd like a WR or a DE rusher in FA as well. But again this is a wish list.

I know I mentioned quite a few moves there so I'll try to narrow it down to two main points that I think MUST address this off season.

- O-Line must be upgraded. No 7th rounder in Webb, no back-ups playing out of potion, no former TE playing guard (looking at you Lewis). If not Cutler won't last a whole season, and he'll have to retire at 30.

- Secondary has to be improved. Everyone always says the cliche "cover 2 defenses need rushers" which is true but the other most important part of the "cover 2" or "tampa 2" is the safeties. Now without boring you all with X's and O's the Bears have gone away from this over the past two years or so but it still is part of the core foundation. Long of the short safeties are really important for Lovie's defense they are asked to more then safeties in most schemes. The fact that we've had the rotating door at safeties and the lack of quality is kind of embarrassing. The secondary must improve in order for us to have a shot in the NFC. We're going to have to get past QB like Rogers, Stafford, Brees, Ryan.

Anyway I'll stop ranting for now but I'm glad to see the Bears board getting a little more traffic

Chewie · Post #17 » by **Chewie** » Tue Jan 3, 2012 9:53 pm

IWannaGoHIGHER wrote:I've got a quick question to go along with this. Does anyone know roughly how much cap space we have for the off-season and how that compares to the rest of the league?

We've got $20m - the most in the NFC North.

Among NFC North teams, the Detroit Lions are projected to be about $5 million above the cap. The Green Bay Packers are about $7 million below and the Minnesota Vikings are about $8 million below.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to be the team most above the cap, according to league sources. They might be $20 million above, which means they’ll have plenty of trimming to do.

The Panthers and Oakland Raiders also will have to pare down quite a bit.

The Cincinnati Bengals are projected to be $40 million below the cap. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs also will have significant cap space.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/bears/9728190-606/despite-2011-collapse-bears-dont-look-to-be-in-bad-shape-for-2012.html

Post #18 » by **emperorjones** » Tue Jan 3, 2012 11:06 pm

We should have a lot more than $20m. There was a clause in the CBA that said cap money not spent in 2011 would be added to cap space in 2012. So we should have rolled over $14-15m and have $35m or so available for next season. i actually assumed thats why the Bears were pushing Forte's new deal into 2012.

blumeany · Post #19 » by **blumeany** » Tue Jan 3, 2012 11:07 pm

If true, that is outstanding. Could maybe land at least a good OL and WR. Some decent defensive free agents too, if their price is right (some are older).

Chewie · Post #20 » by **Chewie** » Tue Jan 3, 2012 11:09 pm

emperorjones wrote:We should have a lot more than $20m. There was a clause in the CBA that said cap money not spent in 2011 would be added to cap space in 2012. So we should have rolled over $14-15m and have $35m or so available for next season. i actually assumed thats why the Bears were pushing Forte's new deal into 2012.

You doubt my sources ?!? We'll have more after we get rid of some excess fat, I'm sure. Omiyale and one of the big blocking TEs.

Not sure if the $20m already includes the 2011 rollover money you speak of.