Who on this team could start for the '85 Bears?

[emperorjones]

I really like the talent on this team. The depth is great, but I think there are actually possibly 9-11 guys that could start for the 85' Bears.


On Defense:

Cornerbacks - IMO Both these corners could start over LA Mike Richardson & Leslie Frasier, but at least either could bump out LA Mike.

Linebackers - I would move Urlacher over and bump Wilson out
Defensive Line - Tommy Harris over McMichael or the Fridge
Safety - Mike Brown over Dave Duerson (thats really hard for me)


On Offense -

Receiver - Barrien over Gault (was never really a Gault fan)
Tight End - Olsen over Moorhead (yes even before playing a real game)
OL - Tait (If he switched back to Right Tackle) and
- Kreutz (If he switched to Guard) over Bortz and Thayer


Special Teams:

Hester - without question
Maynard - not sure but he's 2nd all time on Bears for gross average


Thoughts?

[chibearsfan]

Talent wise and the fact that modern day athletes are light years ahead of players if the 80s. I would have to say everyone on the 2007 Bears would start over everyone on the 85 Bears outside of Walter Payton and maybe Jim McMahon. Now if you want to give the old players their proper respect, then I'd say you hit every position on the spot.

[Demon2]

Definitely Maynard > Buford.

You have to give Rex consideration based solely on yards and touchdown totals (there is said it). Also take into account Grossman should be more efficient this season (2007).

With Walter Payton behind him, I would still take McMahon with only 11 turnovers... but here is how it breaks down:

McMahon 1985:

178 for 313 (56.9%), 2392 yds, 15 TD, 11 INT

Grossman 2006:

262 for 480 (54.6%), 3193 yds, 23 TD, 20 INT

[emperorjones]

Stat wise I'd give it to McMahon for protecting the ball. He was a leader on offense as well, but I really didn't like him, so I'd rather have Rex.

[Ruben Douglas]

Definitely Maynard > Buford.

You have to give Rex [b]consideration based solely on yards and touchdown totals (there is said it). Also take into account Grossman should be more efficient this season (2007).[/b]

With Walter Payton behind him, I would still take McMahon with only 11 turnovers... but here is how it breaks down:

McMahon 1985:

178 for 313 (56.9%), 2392 yds, 15 TD, 11 INT

Grossman 2006:

262 for 480 (54.6%), 3193 yds, 23 TD, 20 INT

That was my first thought, you almost have to let Rex fight it out with McMahon...but in the end I think McMahon would make Rex his little B*tch.

Other than that I'm not sure, maybe Greg Olson depending on how he plays.

[Joe Jackson]

Talent wise and the fact that modern day athletes are light years ahead of players if the 80s. I would have to say everyone on the 2007 Bears would start over everyone on the 85 Bears outside of Walter Payton and maybe Jim McMahon. Now if you want to give the old players their proper respect, then I'd say you hit every position on the spot.

?? Are you kidding?
How many light years back does your modern day reach looking for athletes?
Last year or two years?

I suspect you have been a football fan or any type of sports fan for less than five years based on your comment. Probably since you were about 10 years old.
Its obvious you never saw the 85 Bears play.
It would be touch and go for any current Bear to start on defense. There is even no guarantee Urlacher could beat out Singletary. Harris is not better than Hampton yet and maybe not as good as McMicheal.
There are your two best current defenders and you don't have a spot locked up yet. Of the current 3 potential Pro Bowl DE's, none of them could come close to beating Dent out of a spot.
The only current defender who should start for sure would be Mike Brown and he would have to stay healthy.

[TylerB]

-= original quote snipped =-
Its obvious you never saw the 85 Bears play.
It would be touch and go for any current Bear to start on defense. There is even no guarantee Urlacher could beat out Singletary. Harris is not better than Hampton yet and maybe not as good as McMicheal.

Well Harris doesn't yet have Hampton's career since he is younger he has certainly reached a point where he is every bit the player. Many consider him the best defensive tackle in the NFL and although Hampton was an all-pro for just about the entire decade of the 80s Tommie Harris is at that elite level currently. The McMichael comment is just dumb and you know it.

Urlacher would start at outside linebacker although he is probably a better player than Singletary. Briggs would start over Otis Wilson if you were strictly going by position. Briggs is also a better player than Marshall in my view, but I realize some people like to pretend he is just some joe schmo who looks good because of Urlacher. Whatever, he will retire as an 8-10 time pro bowler or something like that and no one will ever question it.

Of the current 3 potential Pro Bowl DE's, none of them could come close to beating Dent out of a spot.
The only current defender who should start for sure would be Mike Brown and he would have to stay healthy.

Both corners would start for sure, that was not a really strong position for the 85 Bears, Tillman and Vasher would go NUTS with INTs playing with that team getting pressure everywhere. And one of our DEs would definitely start.

The DL would be something like Ogun-Harris-Hampton-Dent. Linebackers would be Urlacher-Singletary-Briggs. Secondary would be Tillman-Brown-Duerson-Vasher. Duerson was better than Fencik in my opinion.

[chibearsfan]

[quote="Joe Jackson"]-= original quote snipped =-




?? Are you kidding?
How many light years back does your modern day reach looking for athletes?
Last year or two years?

I suspect you have been a football fan or any type of sports fan for less than five years based on your comment. Probably since you were about 10 years old.
Its obvious you never saw the 85 Bears play.
It would be touch and go for any current Bear to start on defense. There is even no guarantee Urlacher could beat out Singletary. Harris is not better than Hampton yet and maybe not as good as McMicheal.
There are your two best current defenders and you don't have a spot locked up yet. Of the current 3 potential Pro Bowl DE's, none of them could come close to beating Dent out of a spot.
The only current defender who should start for sure would be Mike Brown and he would have to stay healthy.[/quote

Gimme a break, put the Bears of today in 85 and they would rape any offense just like the 85 Bears did. I may have exaggerated in my comment earlier but if you think Harris could not beat out McMichael or Hampton then your certainly on something. The only thing the olden day players have over current players is toughness, which is important and all but they would have no chance hanging with these guys.

[jumanji]

How soon they forget.

[seeso]

Jim McMahon > Rex Grossman
Walter Payton > Cedric Benson
Matt Suhey > Jason McKie
Willie Gault > Bernard Berrian
Dennis McKinnon < Muhsin Muhammed
Jim Covert > John Tait
Mark Bortz = Ruben Brown
Jay Hilgenberg < Olin Kreutz
Tom Thayer > Roberto Garza
Keith Van Horne > Fred Miller
Emery Moorehead < Desmond Clark

Dan Hampton > Adewale Ogunleye
Steve McMichael < Tommie Harris
William Perry > Dusty Dvoracek
Richard Dent > Mark Anderson
Otis Wilson > Hunter Hillenmeyer
Mike Singletary > Brian Urlacher
Wilber Marshall > Lance Briggs
Mike Richardson < Charles Tillman
Leslie Frazier > Nathan Vasher
Dave Duerson > Adam Archuleta
Gary Fencik > Mike Brown

Kevin Butler = Robbie Gould
Maury Buford < Brad Maynard

Dennis Gentry < Devin Hester
Keith Ortego < Devin Hester

[seeso]

Talent wise and the fact that modern day athletes are light years ahead of players if the 80s. I would have to say everyone on the 2007 Bears would start over everyone on the 85 Bears outside of Walter Payton and maybe Jim McMahon. Now if you want to give the old players their proper respect, then I'd say you hit every position on the spot.

This is a ridiculous statement.

[emperorjones]

-= original quote snipped =-




?? Are you kidding?
How many light years back does your modern day reach looking for athletes?
Last year or two years?

I suspect you have been a football fan or any type of sports fan for less than five years based on your comment. Probably since you were about 10 years old.
Its obvious you never saw the 85 Bears play.
It would be touch and go for any current Bear to start on defense. There is even no guarantee Urlacher could beat out Singletary. Harris is not better than Hampton yet and maybe not as good as McMicheal.
There are your two best current defenders and you don't have a spot locked up yet. Of the current 3 potential Pro Bowl DE's, none of them could come close to beating Dent out of a spot.
The only current defender who should start for sure would be Mike Brown and he would have to stay healthy.

I know what you are saying, but I agree and disagree Joe. If we are containing it to talent versus the average at the time in the lague yes. But if we are just substituting athletes back, then no. I think Buddy ryan would have absolutely KILLED to get the speed and size that this defense has. Up friont the 85 Bears were bigger & strong and more talented overall but the LB, CBs & Safeties?

I do think Urklacher would beat out Singletary - but my loyalty didn't let me say it. I actually belive that the best combined linebacking core would be Urlacher, Marshall and Briggs. Marshall was a freak of nature and athletically, no player today is better than him. Singletary had the heart & smarts (and could hit) but I probably would give that nod to Brian if I had to keep them in position just because of his size and freakish speed - and he's a smart skilled MLB.

Also, don't forget Mike Richardson was a seriously weak link on that 85 team. Frazier was good, but I think size, speed & ability wise, both of our CBs today would start over both of them.

For reference, I've been a freakish die hard Bears fan since '77.

[emperorjones]

-= original quote snipped =-



This is a ridiculous statement.

+1