Grade the Bears Offseason moves

[emperorjones]

Not every transaction, but the highlights:

Bears fire HC Lovie Smith-----(B-)-----------I'm a Lovie fan but was time to go
Bears hire head coach Marc Trestman---(I)------------Have absolutely no clue
Bears hire DC Mel Tucker-----(B)------------Seems solid
Bears franchise DT Henry Melton---(A)------------Lets get him signed
Bears sign TE Martellus Bennett (4 years, $20 million)----(A)----A tight end that can catch AND block????
Bears sign OT Jermon Bushrod (5 years, $36M; $17.7M guaranteed)------(B+)-----------Has GOT to be an upgrade over Webb at LT
Bears sign OLB D.J. Williams (1 year, $900,000)-----(B)------------Nice depth
Bears sign S Tom Zbikowski (1 year, $715,000)-----(B)------------ditto
Bears sign OLB James Anderson (1 year, $1.25 million)------(B+)-----------good risk taken here
Bears sign G Matt Slauson (1 year, $815,000)----(A)------------Love it. The line is looking much improved
Bears sign G Eben Britton------(C)------------More depth at guard.
Buccaneers acquire G/OT Gabe Carimi from Bears for sixth-round pick----(B)----Best out of a bad situation


Bears Overall Draft------------(B+)-----------Think we added long term starters on the O-Line and LB

[DSand]

Trimmin the fat, in the wake of Carimi's trade and Rodriguez's release, they are showing a no-nonsense approach and are establishing a strong locker room. I like these moves.

When Lovie was fired I was a little bummed, or at least indifferent, but having had time to reflect, it was a move that had to be made if we are to make progress.
Marinelli, as much as he's hailed as a great line coach, was the first head coach to ever go 0-16. That's just a bad luck charm dangling on the organization.
Tice, don't know why this guy was ever on our staff in the first place, couldn't wait to see him go.

So as far as I'm concerned they earned an A through addition by subtraction.

I am concerned about Emery's drafting philosophy. It's yet to be seen how this year's class will pan out, but last year's turned out quite disappointing. I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for now, but there is definite reason for concern. I would give that portion of the offseason a C.

I'm excited about our free agent moves. We added a pro-bowl left tackle. That alone warrants an A. We got a pass catching tight end and addressed our thinnest position on defense at linebacker.

The new coaching staff warrants excitement as well. Finally, some people with offensive aptitude, who also know not to fix what isn't broken, our defense. You will be pressed to find a negative quote about Trestman. For a guy I had never heard of 6 months ago, he seems to be held in very high regard around the league, particularly for his penchant to bring out the best in quarterbacks. Just what we need! A+

Overall I like the direction we are moving. Emery seems to have a vision for the future as evidenced by this very active offseason. Up until 2 days ago I would have given him a B+, but having actually gotten a draft pick out of Carimi, and showing the balls to cut a second year 4th rounder, I will give him an overall A- now. Good job Phil.

[Jake0890]

Bears fire HC Lovie Smith-----(B)-----------It was time to get Lovie out and get a competent offense
Bears hire head coach Marc Trestman---(B)------------I'm impressed so far, but that's yet to be seen
Bears hire DC Mel Tucker-----(B-)------------Meh, okay, I guess.
Bears franchise DT Henry Melton---(B+)------------The fact that he's still on the roster is good, but he needs to be signed long term.
Bears sign TE Martellus Bennett (4 years, $20 million)----(A+)----Finally. A competent TE.
Bears sign OT Jermon Bushrod (5 years, $36M; $17.7M guaranteed)------(B)----------- It's an upgrade, but that's a lot of money...
Bears sign OLB D.J. Williams (1 year, $900,000)-----(B)------------Nice depth
Bears sign S Tom Zbikowski (1 year, $715,000)-----(B)------------ditto
Bears sign OLB James Anderson (1 year, $1.25 million)------(B+)-----------I like it.
Bears sign G Matt Slauson (1 year, $815,000)----(A-)-----------The O-Line is looking decent... what?!!
Bears sign G Eben Britton------(C+)------------More depth at guard.
Buccaneers acquire G/OT Gabe Carimi from Bears for sixth-round pick----(B)----Best out of a bad situation


Bears Overall Draft------------(D+)-----------I'm still in shock over taking Kyle Long. I just hate that pick so much, I have to give this a bad grade. We just had to trade Carimi, a bust, and I think Long has bust written all over.

[CalilLove89]

Draft- d+

Everything else- A--

[clancyphile]

Firing Lovie Smith/Hiring Tressman: Inc. - He had posted good records, but just short of a win. If anything, he is hamstrung by a failure to develop a solid O-Line. I am not sure coaching was broken.

Bears franchise DT Henry Melton: A - Buys a year to get a long-term deal in place
Bears sign TE Martellus Bennett: C+ - I'd rather have signed Brandon Myers, who had a far better year receiving.
Bears sign OT Jermon Bushrod: B - Solid tackle
Bears sign OLB D.J. Williams: B- - Probably would have preferred to keep Nick Roach
Bears sign S Tom Zbikowski: A- - I like having the depth at safety
Bears sign OLB James Anderson: B- - Would it be better to have him, or to bring Urlacher back?
Bears sign G Matt Slauson: B - Like having more depth...
Bears sign G Eben Britton: D+ - Would rather have signed Rob Turner or someone who could play center
Buccaneers acquire G/OT Gabe Carimi from Bears for sixth-round pick: C-, better to trade him before the draft to a team in need of an OT, at least they could have snagged a pick this draft - and maybe better than a 6th rounder.

Draft: B- - Good players, but I wish the Bears had tried to get more picks by trading Paea (and keeping Idjonie to start at tackle alongside Melton), and by trading Bush and Bennett.

[heir_jordan22]

Draft- d+

Everything else- A--

How can you give the draft a D+? Our biggest concern was OL so he drafted the best OL available. After Long and Warford there were no more OL left that could be potential starters this year so he had to grab him. Then he got Bostic who is an athletic freak and was a huge part of one of the best defenses in the country. Then we get Greene in round four which is a steal. Our weakness became our strength and without really reaching.

[CalilLove89]

Draft- d+

Everything else- A--

How can you give the draft a D+? Our biggest concern was OL so he drafted the best OL available. After Long and Warford there were no more OL left that could be potential starters this year so he had to grab him. Then he got Bostic who is an athletic freak and was a huge part of one of the best defenses in the country. Then we get Greene in round four which is a steal. Our weakness became our strength and without really reaching.

You draft best available player.

Going into the draft I did not think our O line was horrible.

The new offense is going to be a Manning-Brady style offense, which is quick short passes, this will be the biggest upgrade to the O line, by far.

Phil does an amazing job with free agency, but drafting need or combine champions has not been successful historically.

Look at last year, McClellin did not perform like a 1st rounder, and was taken for his athleticism and potential.

Alshon was the only guy we drafted that was more football player than amazing athlete, and it is no coincidence he seems to have the most potential.

Almost all of the other picks he made may not even make the roster, and they were all combine champions.

There is A LOT of pressure on Long, if he does not step right in and be solid, this draft could go up in flames.

I withhold any judgement on Bostic, I need to see him play NFL opponents, and there seems to be mixed opinions if he actually knows football, or if he is just a physical freak who could dominate college teams. Everyone in the NFL is a physical freak is the problem.

[RedBulls23]

Our O-line wasn't simply going to get better by scheme change. We had to get rid of Carimi who was our worst olinemen. We absolutely could not have come back with Webb at left tackle again, and we had to replace Lance Louis. We had to start getting younger guys that could step in for the future so we wouldn't run into these kind of situations again. To say that standing pat at oline would have been an okay thing to do is nuts.

And honestly, in the grand scheme of things who cares how rookies perform in their rookie season? It's more important how they improve in years 2 and 3.

As far as I'm concerned as of right now Emery's drafts are incomplete. We will find out how McClellin and ALshon improve this year before any statements are made about them.

And the linebackers we drafted were brought for the future as we needed to get younger at that position. Anderson/Williams along with Briggs will be the starters this season.

[CalilLove89]

Our O-line wasn't simply going to get better by scheme change. We had to get rid of Carimi who was our worst olinemen. We absolutely could not have come back with Webb at left tackle again, and we had to replace Lance Louis. We had to start getting younger guys that could step in for the future so we wouldn't run into these kind of situations again. To say that standing pat at oline would have been an okay thing to do is nuts.

we addressed the O line in free agency

And honestly, in the grand scheme of things who cares how rookies perform in their rookie season? It's more important how they improve in years 2 and 3.

this is the NFL, 1st round picks are full time starters, not projects

As far as I'm concerned as of right now Emery's drafts are incomplete. We will find out how McClellin and ALshon improve this year before any statements are made about them.

And the linebackers we drafted were brought for the future as we needed to get younger at that position. Anderson/Williams along with Briggs will be the starters this season.

[RedBulls23]

Our O-line wasn't simply going to get better by scheme change. We had to get rid of Carimi who was our worst olinemen. We absolutely could not have come back with Webb at left tackle again, and we had to replace Lance Louis. We had to start getting younger guys that could step in for the future so we wouldn't run into these kind of situations again. To say that standing pat at oline would have been an okay thing to do is nuts.

we addressed the O line in free agency

And honestly, in the grand scheme of things who cares how rookies perform in their rookie season? It's more important how they improve in years 2 and 3.

this is the NFL, 1st round picks are full time starters, not projects

As far as I'm concerned as of right now Emery's drafts are incomplete. We will find out how McClellin and ALshon improve this year before any statements are made about them.

And the linebackers we drafted were brought for the future as we needed to get younger at that position. Anderson/Williams along with Briggs will be the starters this season.

We addressed the current oline in FA, but not going forward. We needed younger guys on the line that could step in going forward. That was another issues we had run into where guys got old and we didn't have any young talent to replace them.

As long as the players produce in years 2 and onward, is all that really matters. Some draft picks don't even "breakout" till like the 3rd year. If McClellin has a really good year, it won't make a difference what he did in his rookie season.

All in all, Emery's drafts get an incomplete thus far. We will find out in the next couple of seasons if he missed or made the right pick.

[DSand]

I don't ever remember a dry spell for Bears news as long as this. I'm starving for some news, how's Blake Costanza looking? Anything.

[heir_jordan22]

Our O-line wasn't simply going to get better by scheme change. We had to get rid of Carimi who was our worst olinemen. We absolutely could not have come back with Webb at left tackle again, and we had to replace Lance Louis. We had to start getting younger guys that could step in for the future so we wouldn't run into these kind of situations again. To say that standing pat at oline would have been an okay thing to do is nuts.



And honestly, in the grand scheme of things who cares how rookies perform in their rookie season? It's more important how they improve in years 2 and 3.



As far as I'm concerned as of right now Emery's drafts are incomplete. We will find out how McClellin and ALshon improve this year before any statements are made about them.

And the linebackers we drafted were brought for the future as we needed to get younger at that position. Anderson/Williams along with Briggs will be the starters this season.

We addressed the current oline in FA, but not going forward. We needed younger guys on the line that could step in going forward. That was another issues we had run into where guys got old and we didn't have any young talent to replace them.

As long as the players produce in years 2 and onward, is all that really matters. Some draft picks don't even "breakout" till like the 3rd year. If McClellin has a really good year, it won't make a difference what he did in his rookie season.

All in all, Emery's drafts get an incomplete thus far. We will find out in the next couple of seasons if he missed or made the right pick.

i agree with Red in that we needed young talent on the O-line moving forward. It was an absolute MUST to draft best available offensive lineman in round one, especially considering almost all the good ones were off the board at that point.

Now that Idonije is gone McClellin should have a pretty big role. Hopefully he stays healthy this season. I'm interested to see if McClellin or Wootton becomes the starter opposite Peppers.

[Badbeats]

Bears fire HC Lovie Smith-----(A)----------- Finally
Bears hire head coach Marc Trestman---(I)------------ We have to see what he can do
Bears hire DC Mel Tucker-----(I)------------ We have to see what he can do
Bears franchise DT Henry Melton---(A)------------ We needed to keep him and we did.
Bears sign TE Martellus Bennett (4 years, $20 million)----(A)---- Should be a beast, and make it easier for marshall.
Bears sign OT Jermon Bushrod (5 years, $36M; $17.7M guaranteed)------(B-)-- I am glad we got a T, but we might have overpaid.
Bears sign OLB D.J. Williams (1 year, $900,000)-----(C+)------------ I hope Bostic looks so good he does not make the team.
Bears sign S Tom Zbikowski (1 year, $715,000)-----(C+)------------ Always liked him but not sure how effective he will be
Bears sign OLB James Anderson (1 year, $1.25 million)------(B-)----------- Should be a solid starter
Bears sign G Matt Slauson (1 year, $815,000)----(A)------------ No money for a starter at our worst position, probably a good deal.
Bears sign G Eben Britton------(C)------------ Probably will not play.
Buccaneers acquire G/OT Gabe Carimi from Bears for sixth-round pick----(D)---- Suck giving up on another 1st rounder so fast.

Draft (I)... I really hope the draft picks works out for us.

[ThisGuyFawkes]

Don't forget brining in the O-Line coach from the Saints (I can't remember his name off the top of my head). The O-Line in New Orleans has been solid for the last couple of years and the scheme should fit our current offense. It should also help Bushrod since he'll already be used to most of the schemes and coaching style. I think that was a very underrated move.

[Cliff Levingston]

Fire Lovie: A. Great guy, good coach, but he's run his course here.
Hire Trestman. A. Finally, thinking out of the box, getting a weird dude with a reputation for running great offenses. No more 3 yards and a cloud of dust.
Hire Mel Tucker. B. Nothing special but smart to keep the 4-3 in place and not shake things up too much defensively.
Hire Aaron Kromer. A. Very good OL coach.
Franchise Melton. A. No way we can't keep him at least another year.
Sign Martellus Bennett. A. Great two-way TE that adds yet more size to the receiving corps.
Sign Bushrod. B. Probably overpaid, not a pro-bowl caliber guy but we needed someone to come in and fill the LT position competently.
Sign D.J. Williams. B. Nice move, talented and fast, great value for the deal he signed.
Sign Zbikowski. C. Average move. Special teamer mostly.
Sign James Anderson. C. Another average move.
Sign Slauson. A. Great value for a guy who can step in and be a fixture at guard for this year and beyond.
Sign Britton. C. Depth at OL. Hooray.
Trade Carimi for 6th rounder. D. Would've liked to see what Gabe could bring to the table after a full season and offseason recovering from that knee injury.

[patryk7754]

Firing Lovie: B-..................Very good coach but in crunch time the play calling is bad and haven't made the playoffs to many times under him.

Hiring Trestman: B......So far I like what I'm seeing. It looks like he means business and his system sounds like it will be explosive with our top 5 talent offense corp. Plus he's the "QB Guru"

Mel Tucker: A.........He's one of the people I wanted once the position became open. He's willing to adjust his system to his players which is good. When he has a good secondary and LBs his defense is pretty good.

Henry Melton: A........gotta sign him

Martellus Bennett: A-..........Preferred Dustin Keller but this is still a solid signing. Gets the minus because he's only done it for one season. Lets hope he's nota one hit wonder

Jermon Bushrod: C+.............Didn't see any 2012/13 Saints games so idk how much he improved from the 2011/12 season but he just looked bad to me that season. Hopefully he improved last year. We also had Long as on option. Their contract was the same with a little more guaranteed money but he's a top 5 tackle in the game. This moves Webb to RT so that gets a B+ because Webb is a very good run blocker

D.J. Williams: A.........low risk high reward. If he can stay on the field he's a pro-bowl caliber LB

James Anderson: A.............. low risk high reward. If he can stay on the field he's a pro-bowl caliber LB

Tom Zbikowski: B+............He can start and is a great backup which we need for our injury prone safeties

Slauson: B...............Another guy that I wanted. The Jets oline was bad at the beginning of the season but it became one of the best oline on the NFL again during the end of the season and he was a big part of that

Britton: A...........Low risk high reward. Before caught the injury bug he was a top 15 G in the NFL. And I think he made a pro-bowl or two.

Carimi Trade: A++++++.................soft as cotton

Draft: C+........I think we got nice players but all of them were to soon.