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Looking at the Bears Roster here are needs that I would like to be filled by training camp ....

1. A Starting WR - I would prefer to sign T. Holt, if that can't be done then make sure we end up with on of the following rookie WRs (Britt, Heyward Bey, Nicks or Harvin)

2. Passrushing DE - with DE M. Anderson and DE A. Ogunleye free agents next year and not showing alot in 2008 this is an area that needs to be upgraded.

3. Starting FS - I would like to add a solid rookie to compete with Bullocks & Bowman.

4. Backup QB - I would prefer a veteran with playing experience than a rookie

5. 4th WR - with Hester, Bennett & whatever option happens above we could use a possesion receiver with size as a 4th WR.

6. 4th OT - rookie to develope as a future starter on the right side

7. CB - depth to compete with M. Hamiton and is there concern if C. Tillman doesn't come back 100% healthy. We can never have too many CBs.

Thoughts ???

1. Agreed. Not sure this is the direction we'll go though.

2. Also agreed, but no one is really available to pick up, so we'll have to rely on draft. Two variables though. Getting a DT to take pressure off Harris might help some in this regard (kind of a domino effect) and maybe Marinelli actually helps.

3. Heh, right on again. With only two top hundred picks though, someone is gonna get the shaft.

4. If we can bring on someone on the cheap, sure, but no reason to spend too much.

5. Icness had the Bears with Ramses Barden in the fourth. That would fill in that need.

6. Probably gets put off. And thats probably okay.

7. Jerry likes depth at CB so I'm sure we'll see at least one late round guy.

Ideally, I'd like something like:
Sign Tory Holt
Draft:
2- Jarron Gilbert - San Jose St - DL
3- Rashad Johnson - Alabama - S
4- Ramses Barden - Cal Poly - WR
5- Michael Bennett - Texas A&M - DE
5- Nate Davis - Ball State - QB
6- Brandon Hughes -Oregon St - CB
7- Dave Philistin - Maryland- LB
7- Ramon Foster - Tennessee - OL

even with Holt signed, I still think we need a starting caliber WR. Hester and Holt are relatively weak as far as a #1 and #2 wide-outs. equally as pressing (if not more) is a DL to replace to ineffective Oguneleye. how he hasn't been cut yet is beyond me. Tommie Harris was pretty ineffective last year also. Unless we develop a pass rush every game will be a shoot out. My other two areas of weakness are DB's (both safety and CB) and LB's. Brigg's is our best defensive player hands down but Urlacher was non-existent last year and Hunter Hillenmeyer is no longer serviceable even as a backup.

so hopefully:

2nd round: WR
3rd round: DL
4th round: FS
5th round: CB
6th round: LB
7th round: CB

SpinninHouse wrote:even with Holt signed, I still think we need a starting caliber WR. Hester and Holt are relatively weak as far as a #1 and #2 wide-outs. equally as pressing (if not more) is a DL to replace to ineffective Oguneleye. how he hasn't been cut yet is beyond me. Tommie Harris was pretty ineffective last year also. Unless we develop a pass rush every game will be a shoot out. My other two areas of weakness are DB's (both safety and CB) and LB's. Brigg's is our best defensive player hands down but Urlacher was non-existent last year and Hunter Hillenmeyer is no longer serviceable even as a backup.

Aside from the d-line, linebackers, and seconday, you love our defense though right?

I think the Bears thought process is that the addition of Marinelli is going to make the current d-line that much better. Whether that's far-fetched or not, I don't know but he does have a track record in that regard (if not as a head coach). Ogunleye is in his contract year which provides all the motivation he needs to step it up and the coaches have talked up and down about Harris grading out better than they thought after watching all the game tape in the offseason. Anderson is going to be Marinelli's pet project to get him back to his rookie form and - as pessimistic as I usually am - I think he can do it. You look at Anderson's size/strength/speed and there's just no reason he can't be our rush specialist with an eye on him possibly being good enough to play 3 downs.

I think adjustments will be made to utilize Urlacher better - putting him right on the line may have helped us versus the run but it really took away his strengths.

The secondary is the real concern. We'll expect improvements from young guys like Graham and Manning while early reports on Vasher showing up in great shape are positive. I'm sure we'll take a dip with one of our first couple of picks on a FS. I know they had pure FS Sherrod Martin in for a visit so that's a name to look out for.

Pax for Prez wrote:Looking at the Bears Roster here are needs that I would like to be filled by training camp ....

1. A Starting WR
2. Passrushing DE
3. Starting FS -
4. Backup QB -
5. 4th WR
6. 4th OT
7. CB

1. A given. I would love to see Holt signed and a big WR drafted in the 2nd round.

2. Not this year. I think this trade doesn't get made unless JA asks Lovie & Marinelli if they can work with what they got on defense. If they fail to get it done, we will use our $30+ million under the cap next year to sign an elite pass rusher and replace Adewale & Anderson. IMO Adewale is gone & Marinelli will focus on getting Anderson ready to be a full time starter in 2011. That said, I think they may still take the best DL in the 3rd round if someone that RM likes drops.

3. Not this year. Notice the lonely thread I started last week where JA says Safety is getting hard to find. I think they skip safety in the draft and let the 3 new safeties battle it out for the FS spot - keeping 2 of the 3 (including Bowman). If that doesn't work, they go Safety in the draft & FA next year.

4. Definitely.

5. I'd like to see a 2nd WR drafted in this years draft to bring in competition for Davis' spot.

6. I don't think another OT is needed. according to JA - CW, FO & Shaffer are all swingers. I wouldn't mind seeing another guard drafted in the middle rounds in case FO doesn't work out as planned.

7. I would have loved to have seen Vasher shipped to Denver and KO traded to someone for a 2nd round pick! But since that didn't happen, I'm hopefull Vasher can at least be a good backup. We could probably use a solid CB.

So I think I rank them:

1. Sign veteran WR (Holt)
2. Draft a WR in the 2nd round (yes - the best available )
3. Sign Jeff Garcia - he will have no thoughts of being a starter at 41
4. Draft a DL/DE in the 3rd round.
5. Draft a WR in the 4th round
6. Draft a DB and OG with our 5th round picks.

Buy superbowl tickets at the conclusion of the 5th round.

Draft a backup QB or just sign a vet? Signing a vet makes more sense... drafting a guy is grooming him for the future but seriously Cutler is our future at this point better to just sign someone out there.

I think signing holt even though the cheese is getting old and moldy is a must.

Pax for Prez wrote:Looking at the Bears Roster here are needs that I would like to be filled by training camp ....

1. A Starting WR - I would prefer to sign T. Holt, if that can't be done then make sure we end up with on of the following rookie WRs (Britt, Heyward Bey, Nicks or Harvin)

2. Passrushing DE - with DE M. Anderson and DE A. Ogunleye free agents next year and not showing alot in 2008 this is an area that needs to be upgraded.

3. Starting FS - I would like to add a solid rookie to compete with Bullocks & Bowman.

4. Backup QB - I would prefer a veteran with playing experience than a rookie

5. 4th WR - with Hester, Bennett & whatever option happens above we could use a possesion receiver with size as a 4th WR.

6. 4th OT - rookie to develope as a future starter on the right side

7. CB - depth to compete with M. Hamiton and is there concern if C. Tillman doesn't come back 100% healthy. We can never have too many CBs.

Thoughts ???

Another WR is the only glaring hole on this team right now, ICLO, though a capable free safety is right up there as well. Cliff Levingston would be all for trading up to the top of the 2nd round in order to grab Louis Delmas if that's possible.

Yes, we need more of a pass rush but keep in mind that Tommie Harris wasn't 100% for most of the year last season. If he's actually healthy, that'll be a major boost. Figure Marinelli is going to have some kind of positive effect, and perhaps most importantly, figure Cutler is going to be able to help the offense put the defense is much better positions; that being with a lead and more sustained drives. That'll allow the defense to actually function as it's designed to which will be a big help. Lastly, having Lovie take more control of the defense is a positive as well. In hindight, it'd be really nice to have Rivera back.

Cliff Levingston LOVES what we've done with the offensive line so far considering what was available. Give the Bears the benefit of the doubt on Pace cause it's hard to see them (of all teams) making that kind of financial commitment to a guy they don't think can still play or is going to be hurt. Shaffer and Omiyale both add some much needed size and ability to the line along with the returning Chris Williams. So, a young guy to develop is fine but Shaffer, Williams and Omiyale all have plenty of good years ahead of them.

Cliff Levingston couldn't be any less worried about the backup QB position right now. If we can sign a guy cheap then great, otherwise let's not waste a draft pick this season on someone to backup our franchise QB cause he won't be a good backup immediately anyway, and if Cutler goes down, we'll be up sh*t creek regardless.

Cornerback is one of the team's least concerns, ICLO. Tillman, Vasher and Graham wit Manning as a nickel is a really nice stable of guys to have.

Cliff Levingston would rank our needs as such:

1. Wide Receiver. Cutler will make our current crop of guys that much better but he still needs more targets. Cliff Levingston would like to see us sign Holt then grab a WR in round 3.
2. (Free) Safety. As mentioned earlier, it'd be great if we could maybe package our additional 5th rounder from the Broncos in order to move up for Delmas. Otherwise, maybe spend a 3rd on a guy like Pegues while grabbing another WR in the 2nd.
3. Pass rush. As noted, Cliff Levingston isn't all that worried about it, but grabbing some more talent there would be nice. Cliff Levingston is hopeful for a big return from Mark Anderson.
4. Linebacker. That's right. Urlacher is getting older and worse, and while Briggs is a stud, we really don't have much outside of those two and a thoroughly pedestrian Hillenmeyer.
5. Running back. Forte is going to be great for a long time with Cutler, but we could use a versatile pass catcher and blocker for 3rd downs and just to keep the mileage down on Forte, and Kevin Jones isn't it (he's just a nice backup for Forte in case he goes down). However, Cliff Levingston doesn't think this is terribly important.

The rest of the team is nicely settled and the rest of what we can do for this upcoming season will be gravy.

Since the Giants released Plaxico I say let's and get him.