Can you get the Bears to Super Bowl XLIV in 5 moves?

[emperorjones]

OK. How far off do you guys think the Bears are? Let's say you are the GM once the season ends. What 5 moves (or less) would you make to get the Bears to Super Bowl XLIV in 2010?

Assume that the Bears will go injury free, keep the players they have (sans Grossman) and that they pick 17th in the 1st & 2nd round of the draft and that the draft will follow Scouts Inc.'s Top 32 big board as far as who is available (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft).

One last guideline. AS GM, you could make one BIG free agent signing, and two moderate signings (just trying to be somewhat realistic). Be specific, don't just say I want an O-Lineman and a WR. State who you are going to grab in FA and who exactly you would draft. Also, what if any adjustments would you make in the starting lineup?

[Chewie]

OK. How far off do you guys think the Bears are? Let's say you are the GM once the season ends. What 5 moves (or less) would you make to get the Bears to Super Bowl XLIV in 2010?

Assume that the Bears will go injury free, keep the players they have (sans Grossman) and that they pick 17th in the 1st & 2nd round of the draft and that the draft will follow Scouts Inc.'s Top 32 big board as far as who is available (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft).

One last guideline. AS GM, you could make one BIG free agent signing, and two moderate signings (just trying to be somewhat realistic). Be specific, don't just say I want an O-Lineman and a WR. State who you are going to grab in FA and who exactly you would draft. Also, what if any adjustments would you make in the starting lineup?

I need a list of free agents !

[emperorjones]

This is a good sortable ranking of FA by position:

http://gnb.scout.com/a.z?s=61&p=9&c=12& ... =16&pid=10

[emperorjones]

My 5 moves. Since I'm actually much more worried about the defense than the offense (believe it or not), I'd focus on putting together a team that could pressure the QB. We need another stud tackle next to TH and a DE that can consistently provide pressure.

1. Sign either DT Albert Haynesworth (became a UFA when he made the Pro Bowl) to play alongside Harris or DE Terrell Suggs.

2. In the draft take the top rated DE (If I'm able to sign Haynesworth). I'd take Michael Johnson 6'7" 259lbs from Georgia Tech. If I didn't get Haynesworth (which I will because its my game) I'd still draft Michael Johnson.

3. Since we are basically getting an extra 1st round pick next year with the return of Williams at LT, I'd leave the line personnel basically unchanged except I'd move St. Clair over as backup G/RT/LT. and in the 2nd round, I'd look for a Guard and draft Duke Robinson OG Oklahoma (6'5 335).

4. What the hell to do about WR???? Not much. Despite the overwhelmingly negative press, Hester has been really improving and will be a threat next year. Bennett will play despite getting no time this year. If we trot out an O-Line of Williams, Beekman, Kreutz, Robinson & Tait (backed up by St. Clair, Garza, etc) Orton would have all the time in the world and Forte would be KING! That said, I would sign a WR - (Antonio Bryant - if he's considered more than a moderate signing, I'd go with Ashley Lelie - lost on the 49ers & Raiders the last 2 seasons).

5. In the secondary, I'd cut Nathan Vasher and plug CG in as the full time CB next to Tillman. As for Safety, I'd like to sign a Safety to replace Mike Brown, but the list is short and I wouldn't have the money to go after the top guys after my big D-line splash.

There you go. Super Bowl XLIV in 5 moves.

[SportsWorld]

Trade for Anquan Boldin. I actually could see the Bears signing Albert Haynesworth if they have the money which would be terrific.

[WEFFPIM]

If the Bears can sign Haynesworth I'll eat my shoe. They need a high end wideout badly. And frankly, I'm not sure I've seen enough from Orton that makes me want him starting next season. I don't mean that as "I need to see him in more games" but rather "I've seen him plenty and feel we can get better production somewhere else."

Even if those somehow magically happen, this secondary is still a train wreck, and I have a feeling that's going to end up getting looked over in the offseason. No real basis why, I just have a feeling that nothing will be done to fix possibly the weakest part of the team right now.

[Chewie]

1) I'd move Urlacher to the outside and trade up in Rd1 - which the Bears never do - for ILB Rey Maualuga (#12).
2) Would sign DT Albert Haynesworth as my big free agent signing. Never happen.
3) Would sign WR Antonio Bryant as my moderate FA signing #1 (wow, we're agreeing a lot here, emperor)
4) Draft 6'9" beast Phil Loadholt, OT from Oklahoma in Rd2. I'm bound to change this 20 times from here until draft day as I have done ZERO research thus far.
5) Last moderate FA signing would be towards secondary help. Packer's Atari Bigby maybe ??

If Orton's grows and plays like he did pre-injury, print up the Superbowl tix with my moves.

If not.....we go nowhere.

[IVSKIN]

I like the majority of the ideas here, other then moving Urlacher to OLB. He started his career playing OLB, and played horrbily. Plus, he has played much better lately, so moving him wouldn't be the wisest move. Also, I would never cut Vasher, I would hate for someone like Detroit to sign him and have him shut down our "best" reciever all day.

My 5:

1. Sign Suggs, as I believe the Bears have a better shot at him then Haynsworth.
2. Get Michael Huff (If that is considered a big signing, then nevermind)
3. Depending on step 2, either draft Mayes if we don't get Huff, or Jeremey Maclin if we do get Huff
4. Trade our second and one of our thirds to get back into the late first and draft Duke Robinson
5. Sign Antonio Bryant

After that, hope and pray that Dvorchak can stay healthy.

Pipe dream, yes, but its my pipe dream.

[NoSkyy]

Sign:
1.Haynesworth
2. TJ
3. Atogwe
4. Suggs
Trade Up (sell the farm)
5. To Draft MIchael Crabtree

Most unrealistic offseason ever but I think I've covered all our weaknesses :Lol:

[batman_crip14]

call up Marcus Robinson and Big Cat Williams out of reitirement
Give back Carolina's draft pick and keep Chris Harris or whatever we received for Tony "i have one nut" Parrish.
Assassinate KO's beard... its not helping him whatsoever and sign Jonathan Quinn back ASAP!
forget Haynesworth... call Keith Traylor hahaa
Get Booker back from Miami too, hes not that bad of a receiver.... OOOO wait, we do have him but we like to use these so called WR that are look like counselors in training at a sports camp, they are on the team for experience but don't do much at all

[Chewie]

Somebody can't let go of the past.

[dougthonus]

They key phrase in this equation is "stay injury free". This roster, if it stayed injury free, would only need maybe 1 impact defensive lineman and 1 better WR and it's probably superbowl caliber team. Chris Wililams being injury free would likely fill the holes we'd have on the offensive line which played well this year anyway.

The problem is that almost no teams ever stay injury free though, and what we'd need otherwise would be dependent on what we lost injury wise. I think defenisve line and WR are the two positions the team needs help at right now without factoring injury though.

[Cliff Levingston]

Antonio Bryant would be a nice signing, but the way he's played with Garcia, it'll be tough to expect the Bucs to let him go easy, and it'll also be tough to expect to get him for a reasonable contract.

Everyone and their brother will be trying to sign Haynesworth. He'll be WAY too expensive to sign considering we already have Tommie Harris on the richest DT contract in human history. Suggs is a decent pickup but he's relatively small for the a full-time DE position (just like Anderson). He makes a lot more sense as a 3-4 OLB. If we're really interested in a pass rusher, we should probably just draft Michael Johnson and hope he pans out.

Cliff Levingston would look hard for a good cover safety. Maybe Huff is the answer or a draft pick, but Cliff Levingston would prefer to pick up one of those beastly Oklahoma O linemen in the 2nd round instead. Even though the offensive line as done an admirable job this year, we're still a really old line; Tait is on his last legs, Garza isn't all that good and Kreutz is getting pretty old. We need fresh blood there in addition to Williams.

Keep in mind we also need to re-sign Orton. He's shown that he can be a capable NFL QB even with the worst WR core in the NFL, so imagine what he might be able to do behind a fortified OL with some NFL talent at the WR position.

[NoSkyy]

I say we absolutely just follow what the Redskins did and draft WRs like crazy.

[ICMTM]

1. Pray that Tillman and Vasher get back into form!!!
2. Get another safety
3. Get a receiving core
4. Quit running those two TE sets all the time
5. Get Haynesworth

I know this will take more than 5 moves, and it's not specific, but here's why:

1. We got tourched in the passing game. Matt Ryan doesn't hit that 36 yard pass on the sidelines we are a playoff team.
2. See above. For as good as Mike Brown was he's not the same player
3. We can't throw the ball down field.
4. PREDICTABLE. Heck you know what's coming with the Bears.
5. Harris and Haynesworth together...How could you stop it?

[Icness]

My 5 moves:
1. Sign Albert Haynesworth as the big ticket and pray it's the kick in the pants that Tommie Harris needs to get back to his old self. Those two together on the DL could be dominant, though they do play the same spot. It's a huge risk though, because that commits over $20M/yr to 2 DTs with uneven track records.
2. Sign two under-the-radar players who fit the Bears scheme very well: CB Ronald Bartell and LB Michael Boley. Bartell was very good down the stretch and tackles well. Boley sort of got lost in the changes in ATL but he's a good candidate for a strong rebound year.
3. Say sayonara to Vasher, Mike Brown, and Wali Ogunleye, and move Peanut to safety to replace Brown. Time for McBride and Manning to put up!
4. 1st three rounds of the draft:
1st Percy Harvin, who I envision as a Chris Johnson-type receiving RB and slot WR in 3 and 4 WR sets (as if the Bears would ever run those!)
2nd Max Unger, OL, Oregon. He can capably play every OL spot but I would stick him opposite Beekman at the other G spot. At worst he's an invaluable 6th linemen, something the Bears haven't had in decades.
3rd Marko Mitchell WR New Mexico. Real tall kid with nice hands and he knows how to get separation. His blocking needs work and he's not a burner, but he can fill the need for a red zone target and possession receiver
5. Bring in the best veteran clipboard holder to help mentor Orton and perhaps fill the #2 role if Caleb Haney isn't ready. I'd give Damon Huard or Trent Green first crack.

[BuLLs>LiFe]

1) Sign Julius Peppers or Albert Haynesworth. Would prefer Peppers though and cut Ogunleye.
2) Move Tillman to safety.
3) Draft Percy Harvin or Brian Cushing/James Laurinitis in the first round, preferably Harvin.
4) Draft a CB in the second round, not sure who will be available then. If not, draft OL, this draft seems to be stacked with decent ones all across the board.
5) If we draft Harvin, sign a FA OLB like Boley or Hill. If we draft one of the linebackers, look at Houshmandzadeh first, but if the price tag is too high go after Antonio Bryant.