Who starts at WR? Who will be cut?

dingojazz · Post #1 » by **dingojazz** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 6:44 pm

This is the most wide open position battle heading into camp...make your predictions about who will start and who will be gone. The candidates are:

Marty Booker - Veteran who has had success in Chi, probably has lost a step or 2. Good blocker, a lock to make the team.
Brandon Lloyd - Talented new comer who has never lived up to his potential. Reunited with his college coach Ron Turner.
Mark Bradley - Former 2nd round pick who has been unable to stay healthy. shows explosion and speed when he's been able to stay on the field.
Rasheid Davis - Ex Arena League star has made some big plays for the Bears. Coaches are saying he has taken great strides this off season.
Devin Hester - Freakishly good return man who is still learning how to play WR in the NFL.
Earl Bennett - 3rd round rookie, all time leader for receptions in the SEC. Possession Type receiver.
Marcus Monk - 7th round rookie, has size and speed, fell to the 7th round because of injury concerns.

My predictions are that Booker and Davis will be the opening day starters. I know Davis has played slot for the most part but he is our best option. Hester will be the slot receiver and will be moved around trying to create mismatches. Teams will have to account for him wherever he is on the field. Bennett and Lloyd will be the primary backups for Booker and Davis.

I think Mark Bradley's days here are done. I have a feeling another training camp injury will lead to him being cut. Hopefully, we can keep Monk on the practice squad and see if he can develop in a year or 2.

Other guys on the roster like Mike Haas and Brandon Rideau are longshots at best and will only make the 53 man roster with multiple injuries.

Ok I'll shut up now...discuss

Cliff Levingston · Post #2 » by **Cliff Levingston** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 8:56 pm

They'll keep all 7, with Monk going on the practice squad. Cliff Levingston has no idea who the starters might be.

NoSkyy · Post #3 » by **NoSkyy** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 6:08 pm

If reports about Bennett are true(the ones that he's doing bad), then I think you have your starters in something like Davis/Booker/Hester depending on how well Hester has adapted. Brandon Lloyd will more than likely make the team because he's a really good "practice" player and I hope Marcus Monk sticks. I think he has potential.

dingojazz · Post #4 » by **dingojazz** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 6:22 pm

Cliff Levingston wrote:They'll keep all 7, with Monk going on the practice squad. Cliff Levingston has no idea who the starters might be.

I don't think they will be able to keep 6 receivers on the 53 man roster. Especially if the Kevin Jones rumors are true we will be carrying 4 running backs. That's why I get the feeling that Bradley will be gone.

Cliff Levingston · Post #5 » by **Cliff Levingston** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 6:29 pm

dingojazz wrote:
Cliff Levingston wrote:They'll keep all 7, with Monk going on the practice squad. Cliff Levingston has no idea who the starters might be.

I don't think they will be able to keep 6 receivers on the 53 man roster. Especially if the Kevin Jones rumors are true we will be carrying 4 running backs. That's why I get the feeling that Bradley will be gone.

Now that Jones is aboard, it's more reason to cut Wolfe or move him to the practice squad. He'll never get off the bench, whereas our wide receivers are such trash that we honestly don't know if #1 will be better than #6 at the moment, so might as well keep as many as possible and hope some stick.

Chewie · Post #6 » by **Chewie** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 7:20 pm

This is a tough one. I'm guessing we carry no more than 6 WRs.

Booker, Davis, Hester, and Bennett are locks.

That puts Lloyd, Bradley, Monk, Haas, and other fodder against each other for the remaining two slots. Injuries are always the story with Bradley but if he stays healthy in camp, I'd say he and Monk get the last two slots.

Heck, if Bradley stays healthy, I'd say he starts along with Booker. BIIIIIIG "if", though....one tweaked hammy and the Bears won't hesitate to cut Bradley. They're not waiting anymore.

dingojazz · Post #7 » by **dingojazz** » Tue Jul 15, 2008 8:36 pm

That's the crazy thing with Bradley. He has so much potential but can't stay healthy. If healthy he absolutely could be the starter for 16 games and have a breakout year. He is our only receiver with size, speed, and hands. I would love to see that.

I agree though he is on his last chance, the Bears can't wait for him any longer. If he gets banged up or struggles he's gone :wave:

VoiceofReason · Post #8 » by **VoiceofReason** » Thu Jul 17, 2008 11:47 pm

We have one of the worst receiving corps in the NFL.
There isn't a #1 guy on the roster.
It's either a problem with scouting or coaching.
We can't identify, draft, or develop WRs.
That's why I don't see Hester being any good, the staff
has failed to develop a single decent NFL receiver.

Booker will start. Bradley will start until he gets hurt, then Lloyd
takes his spot. All of them will fail to produce with any consistency.

dingojazz · Post #9 » by **dingojazz** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 4:49 am

VoiceofReason wrote:
That's why I don't see Hester being any good, the staff
has failed to develop a single decent NFL receiver.

I disagree. When the Bears drafted Bernard Berrian he was skinny as hell and very raw. The only thing he had was speed. Over the course he a few years he developed into an above average WR in the NFL. Hell he was good enough to get a $42 million contract.

Too bad he'll be making plays in a F'ing purple uniform next year.

VoiceofReason · Post #10 » by **VoiceofReason** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 8:37 am

dingojazz wrote:
VoiceofReason wrote:
That's why I don't see Hester being any good, the staff
has failed to develop a single decent NFL receiver.

I disagree. When the Bears drafted Bernard Berrian he was skinny as hell and very raw. The only thing he had was speed. Over the course he a few years he developed into an above average WR in the NFL. Hell he was good enough to get a $42 million contract.

Too bad he'll be making plays in a F'ing purple uniform next year.

True, Berrian was OK, kind of a one trick pony, probably limited by our poor QB play, but he's not exactly getting Brady or Manning to throw him the ball in MN either. They've had their own busts at WR recently as well. I don't see too much upside there, and they can have fun eating that contract for a guy that will be lucky to get 60 recs.

The difference between Berrian and Hester is BB was a WR to start with.
Hester is a KR attempting to learn how to play WR at the pro level.
We still have the same bad QBs, and Berrian as the lone example of a
semi-successful pro WR from this staff.

I'm just sayin', history is not on our side.

Shootdabull · Post #11 » by **Shootdabull** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 2:38 pm

Ideally Booker & Bradley would give us our speed and possesion receivers. Hester will come in passing situations. I don't have confidence that Bradley is finally going to have that break out year. I think he does stick for his speed alone. Assuming Bradley is hurt or can't hang on to passes or whatever his new excuss is, LLoyd is next choice to start along side of Booker. LLoyd is another one on his last chance, but for some reason I think he could be mediocure. If so that would be a huge step up for us on a receiving core that should challange for worst in the league. Davis will make the team and is a decent back up, but if he is starting next Booker that will be the least feared tandum in league. Bennett will make the team because of his draft position, will be given the oportunity to move ahead of Davis on the depth chart. Monk will need show he can play - most likely he will find a spot on the practice squad. There are a lot of if's on this squad but if the running game can be decent, we get a good year out of our tight ends (who should be good), Rex or Kyle turn into average QB's - that can take some of the pressure off of this group - Booker has good hands, Hester is always a threat, Bradley can fly just maybe we can score some points off of that great field position this year.

Post #12 » by **dougthonus** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 3:33 pm

Now that Jones is aboard, it's more reason to cut Wolfe or move him to the practice squad. He'll never get off the bench, whereas our wide receivers are such trash that we honestly don't know if #1 will be better than #6 at the moment, so might as well keep as many as possible and hope some stick.

You could make the same case for our running backs. We should keep all 4 to see if someone sticks. Adrian Peterson has shown as much potential to be a worthwhile starting RB as Davis or Bradley have shown at WR (which is more or less none). 2 of the other guys are rookies whom we have no idea what they'll bring (though hopefully the organization knows more) which is probably very little this year, and then you've got Booker who you can count on to be solid for a year or two and Hester who's spot is guaranteed due to his special teams play.

In the end, our offensive skill players have to be the worst in the NFL. Outside of TE, we have absolute crap at every position on the field.

Ruben Douglas · Post #13 » by **Ruben Douglas** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 5:34 am

I think that at least one of those guys will get hurt in Training Camp. But Monk will more than likely be headed to the practice squad. I have a feeling that if anyone gets cut it will be Lloyd.

ChronicKerr · Post #14 » by **ChronicKerr** » Mon Jul 21, 2008 6:42 pm

This thread is depressing

GO BEARS!!!

royalgreen · Post #15 » by **royalgreen** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 7:55 pm

If we are smart we'll use all 5 receivers for different looks
we dont have a legit #1, but i like our guys-----im not too worried about the receivers
Booker
Bradley
Monk
Davis
Lloyd
Hester

will all make final roster----i doubt we keep 3 TE or 2 fullbacks and our o-line backups play multiple positions

we had a decent passing game a while back with Miller--Booker/Dez White and scrubs
If rexy will just play smarter and more poised we could be effective passing the ball

ChronicKerr · Post #16 » by **ChronicKerr** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 1:41 am

Where has Marty Booker been this preseason?? He hasn't done diddly.

Any new ideas on who we'll keep at WR?

dingojazz · Post #17 » by **dingojazz** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 7:50 pm

ChronicKerr wrote:Where has Marty Booker been this preseason?? He hasn't done diddly.

Any new ideas on who we'll keep at WR?

I'm starting to think that Booker needs to be the guy to get cut. The 5 we keep will be...
Davis (starter)
Lloyd (starter)
Hester
Bennett
Bradley

I think you have to go with Bradley over Booker because Bradley can contribute on special team. He's good on punt coverage and also blocked a punt vs. Seattle. The other possibility I could see is keep 6 WR's and cut Wolfe, I just dont think we can keep 6 WR's and 4 RB's. Either Booker or Wolfe is gone.

Chi Dynasty12 · Post #18 » by **Chi Dynasty12** » Mon Sep 1, 2008 6:53 pm

My WR Depth Chart
Davis
Bradley
Hester
Lloyd
Booker
Bennett

And Brandon Rideau has the tools to become a great receiver once he gets moved up from practice squad.

Chewie · Post #19 » by **Chewie** » Mon Sep 1, 2008 6:59 pm

Chi Dynasty12 wrote:My WR Depth Chart
Davis
Bradley
Hester
Lloyd
Booker
Bennett

And Brandon Rideau has the tools to become a great receiver once he gets moved up from practice squad.

Based on what I saw I'd go :
Davis
Lloyd
Hester
Bradley
Booker
Bennett

But I'm crazy that way.

NoSkyy · Post #20 » by **NoSkyy** » Mon Sep 1, 2008 7:05 pm

That's right on the money.

I think Bradley saved his job by being absolutely a monster on that one drive with Hanie where he caught 5 passes and had the 6th(the TD) called back because of holding(no surprise there) It was one of the most dominate WR performances I've seen, but admittedly it was in a preseason game.

I don't see any clear cut favorite to start at our WR positions but considering how well our TEs play(ALL three of them I might add) then we might be hard press to play more double tight than anything.