Chicago Bears TC Activity Thread

[MalcolmXing]

So TC is here(I'm fricking ecstatic as all hell lol).

Thought we could start discussing it.

Well the first thing is the craziness of Gould calling out Emery, I agree with him tho. Why would you wait instead of extending guys through the season & easing up any issues & giving yourself more time and less stress in negotiations.

If it's possible, Emperor you should see if putting this on the bulls thread & redirecting it to here is possible.

[BIGGIEsmalls 23]

Yea, it's kinda crazy about the contracts.

He's not extending anybody until 2014:

Bears GM: Extensions will wait

Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery said Wednesday that the team will not agree to contract extensions with any player, including quarterback Jay Cutler and several other notables, until after the season.

------------------------------

The Bears have 13 key players who will be eligible for unrestricted free agency after this season, including Charles Tillman, Tim Jennings, Henry Melton, Devin Hester, Major Wright and Robbie Gould. The Bears' media guide lists 43 players with expiring contracts at the end of the 2013 season.

http://espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/story/_/ ... -wait-2014

[heir_jordan22]

It's kinda edgey not signing these guys, but I understand why he's doing it. Tillman is aging, Jennings had one spectacular season, Gould woll be making a ton of money for a kicker, Wright needs to show more consistency and Cutler needs to show that he can run this offense.

The one that I don't understamd is Melton. He has been a force the last two years. Gotta lock him up. Maybe he was looking for too much in negotiations.

[MalcolmXing]

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bears/p ... ith-cutler

Great to see Martellus & Jay working together well, I think Martellus can eventually become a top TE.

[RedBulls23]

I think Robbie Gould the kicker should STFU.

[BIGGIEsmalls 23]

I think Robbie Gould the kicker should STFU.

Although Bears fans love him, he needs to realize that he's only a kicker. It's not like the fans will storm the offices of Halas Hall if he's not re-signed.

[fleet]

http://www.midwayillustrated.com/2013-a ... me-on.html

http://www.chicagonow.com/chicago-bears ... y-28-2013/

good writeups on today's practice. The more I read on Long, the more he looks like the Bears hit on that pick. The Bears have not had nasty on the O-Line in a long time, pun intended.

Of course, for guys like Long, corralling your basest instincts takes time. During a pass-rush drill early in practice, Long planted defensive linemen Nate Collins and Kyle Moore using some of those MMA skills he practiced this past offseason.

"Absolutely, I get too aggressive," Long said. "Coach [Aaron] Kromer said slow down, take it easy and things will slow down for you in terms of recognition. A lot of guys have been saying that to me as well. At Oregon, I just wanted to go fast all the time. Here, we go fast but in terms if play recognition, you have to slow down and relax a little bit."

How about that, an offensive lineman with violent tendencies on the field. Somewhere Olin Kreutz is head-butting a wall in appreciation.

As a first-round pick, Long was one of the most-watched Bears on Sunday, especially because he had to miss the OTAs and minicamp.

While he's still working on his technique, the prevailing thought is his athleticism and mentality could have him starting by Week 1, if he can pick up the intricacies of the blocking scheme. That won't be easy.

"This is not an easy offensive line [system to learn]," left tackle Jermon Bushrod said. "It took me a year or two. Just knowing where your help is, how to be in the right position. He's learning all that."

And Webb? It seems as if he'll again be the whipping boy. Wooten has been getting good reviews the last couple days incidentally.

[BIGGIEsmalls 23]

Wooten has been getting good reviews the last couple days incidentally.

If Wooten has a good year, I think that the FO will cut/trade Peppers next off-season.

[heir_jordan22]

Wooten has been getting good reviews the last couple days incidentally.

If Wooten has a good year, I think that the FO will cut/trade Peppers next off-season.

I agree. He is getting paid a ton of money, and it's not much, but he did go through a slight decline last year I think.

[The Explorer]

Early reviews on shea McClellan are not very impressive. Still didn't get why emery drafted a guy without a position.

[heir_jordan22]

http://www.midwayillustrated.com/2013-articles/july/chicago-bears-training-camp-practice-report-the-pads-come-on.html

http://www.chicagonow.com/chicago-bears ... y-28-2013/

good writeups on today's practice. The more I read on Long, the more he looks like the Bears hit on that pick. The Bears have not had nasty on the O-Line in a long time, pun intended.

Of course, for guys like Long, corralling your basest instincts takes time. During a pass-rush drill early in practice, Long planted defensive linemen Nate Collins and Kyle Moore using some of those MMA skills he practiced this past offseason.

"Absolutely, I get too aggressive," Long said. "Coach [Aaron] Kromer said slow down, take it easy and things will slow down for you in terms of recognition. A lot of guys have been saying that to me as well. At Oregon, I just wanted to go fast all the time. Here, we go fast but in terms if play recognition, you have to slow down and relax a little bit."

How about that, an offensive lineman with violent tendencies on the field. Somewhere Olin Kreutz is head-butting a wall in appreciation.

As a first-round pick, Long was one of the most-watched Bears on Sunday, especially because he had to miss the OTAs and minicamp.

While he's still working on his technique, the prevailing thought is his athleticism and mentality could have him starting by Week 1, if he can pick up the intricacies of the blocking scheme. That won't be easy.

"This is not an easy offensive line [system to learn]," left tackle Jermon Bushrod said. "It took me a year or two. Just knowing where your help is, how to be in the right position. He's learning all that."

And Webb? It seems as if he'll again be the whipping boy. Wooten has been getting good reviews the last couple days incidentally.

That's good to hear about Long. Toughness is for an offensive lineman is like vision for pilots. No doubt he will start come Week 1.

Webb....just get rid of him. Please just put Brown or Long at RT. No need for them to battle it out when one of them can just take Webb's job. At least Wootton has an opportunity to build confidence right now I guess.

[ThisGuyFawkes]

I wouldn't be so quick to throw Webb away. He's young, cheap, and has experience. O-line depth isn't easy to come by. With that being said, I can also understand the sentiment that he's already had his chance and hasn't performed very well in most instances.

I think Slauson and Long are going to make a very good guard combo for the next few years (hopefully longer). The interior of the line should be very tough, which seems to fit Trestman's system.

[heir_jordan22]

I wouldn't be so quick to throw Webb away. He's young, cheap, and has experience. O-line depth isn't easy to come by. With that being said, I can also understand the sentiment that he's already had his chance and hasn't performed very well in most instances.

I think Slauson and Long are going to make a very good guard combo for the next few years (hopefully longer). The interior of the line should be very tough, which seems to fit Trestman's system.

He's on the last year of his contract and we have Scott and Britton who can both play RT. They both get paid less than him, I believe. Scott can also play LT and Britton can play both guard positions, so if Long and Brown start on the right side, we don't need Webb for depth.

As far as the interior of the line, it's pretty good, outside of Garza.

[Cliff Levingston]

Some things Cliff Levingston has heard about TC so far:

Wootton has looked amazing and is the reason for letting Idonije go, but today, he left the field to see the trainer for something yet to be determined. Assuming he's healthy, he'll kick inside on nickel package to rush the passer with Melton inside, leaving Peppers/Shea on the ends.

Speaking of Shea, he's improved a lot, really committing to the spin move and making some guys look stupid with it.

Conte playing really well. Everything thrown near him is hotly contested, broken up or intercepted. Major Wright making defensive calls in the secondary and looks good.

Kelvin Hayden playing the nickel even with Jennings missing practice, so he's locked in there. Bowman looked pretty good subbing in for Jennings.

James Anderson getting a lot of burn in practice at the SAM and playing with Briggs on nickel downs. Khaseem Greene not in the picture at all. With Briggs missing practice today, Anderson moved to Will with Costanzo at Sam and Bostic at middle. Briggs is making all the defensive calls now and looks the part.

Marshall looks like a man amongst boys. Martellus Bennett caught a TD pass on Bostic's head. Joe Anderson looks pretty good at receiver. Alshon looking a little slow and Earl Bennett not doing anything to wow people. Marquess Wilson is fast, big and has tons of potential but needs a year to learn.

O line struggling. Peppers was clowning Bushrod until Bushrod resorted to just steering Peppers outside, but still a clear upgrade on Webb. J-Webb nation getting destroyed by Wootton. Kyle Long is ridiculously strong and nasty but just has to learn the position and the scheme. Slauson moved down to 2nd team a little bit. Tyler Boggs is racing up the depth chart at center and looks good. Today, Eben Britton is playing LT.

Lastly, Cutler looks focused and determined. A little shaky to start but started throwing laser beams right on point.

[heir_jordan22]

Slauson played 2nd team??? He played 1st team LG in his place??

[BIGGIEsmalls 23]

New preseason depth chart released:

http://www.chicagobears.com/team/presea ... are:google

OFFENSE

WR

Brandon Marshall
Earl Bennett
Marquess Wilson

Terrence Toliver /
Jerrell Jackson

LT

Jermon Bushrod
Jonathan Scott
A.J. Lindeman

LG

Matt Slauson
Taylor Boggs
Derrick Dennis

C

Roberto Garza
Edwin Williams
Taylor Boggs

P.J. Lonergan

RG

James Brown / Kyle Long

RT

J'Marcus Webb
Eben Britton
Jordan Mills

Cory Brandon

TE

Martellus Bennett
Steve Maneri
Kyle Adams

Gabe Miller /
Fendi Onobun /
Leonard Pope

WR

Alshon Jeffery
Joe Anderson
Devin Aromashodu

Eric Weems /
Marcus Rucker /
Brittan Golden /
Josh Lenz

QB

Jay Cutler
Josh McCown
Matt Blanchard

RB

Matt Forte
Michael Bush
Armando Allen

Michael Ford

FB

Tony Fiammetta
Harvey Unga


DEFENSE

LDE

Corey Wootton / Shea McClellin
Cornelius Washington
Josh Williams

DT

Henry Melton
Corvey Irvin
Aston Whiteside

Jamaal Anderson

NT

Stephen Paea
Nate Collins
Zach Minter

Christian Tupou /
Brent Russell

RDE

Julius Peppers
Cheta Ozougwu
Kyle Moore

SLB

James Anderson
Blake Costanzo
J.T. Thomas

Andrew Starks

MLB

D.J. Williams
Jonathan Bostic
Lawrence Wilson

WLB

Lance Briggs
Khaseem Greene
Patrick Trahan

Jerry Franklin

LCB

Tim Jennings
Zack Bowman
Sherrick McManis

C.J. Wilson

RCB

Charles Tillman
Kelvin Hayden
Isaiah Frey

Demontre Hurst

SS

Major Wright
Anthony Walters
Brandon Hardin

Tom Zbikowski

FS

Chris Conte
Craig Steltz
Cyhl Quarles

Tom Nelson


SPECIAL TEAMS

FG

Robbie Gould

KO

Robbie Gould

P

Adam Podlesh
Tress Way

H

Adam Podlesh
Tress Way

KOR

Devin Hester
Eric Weems
Michael Ford

PR

Devin Hester
Earl Bennett
Eric Weems

LS

Patrick Mannelly
James Anderson

*Red font indicates that player is not 1st, 2nd, or 3rd string. The player is listed as "other".

[BIGGIEsmalls 23]

Emery expecting big things from Hester

Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery has seen something in Devin Hester that makes him believe the former All-Pro returner could regain the form that made him one of the most feared players in the NFL.

"Well he's certainly going to have that opportunity," Emery said Wednesday on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN Chicago 1000. "We're looking forward to seeing how it all unfolds."

The Bears have Hester working exclusively with the special teams instead of splitting time as a receiver, which was a position Hester never seemed to fully grasp.

"He's got a light," Emery said. "He just lights up when you walk around him right now.

"I think he feels very good about where his body is at, where his mind is at, to have that type of season and we're looking forward to watching him."

-----------------------

Hester is in the final year of his contract and set to earn a base salary of $1.857 million if he makes the 53-man roster and count $2,940,858 against the Bears’ salary cap. That's a lot of money for a return specialist. Asked if he could afford paying a return man that amount, Emery said: "We certainly are."

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bears/p ... rom-hester

Doesn't sound like Hester is any danger of being cut .

[emperorjones]

Biggie, what does the red mean on the depth chart?

[BIGGIEsmalls 23]

Biggie, what does the red mean on the depth chart?

It means that the player is not listed as 1st, 2nd, or 3rd string on the depth chart. Per the article, they're listed as "other".

I was thinking earlier that it meant "on the bubble" until you made the good point about Weens special teams coverage abilities.

[RedBulls23]

Emery expecting big things from Hester

Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery has seen something in Devin Hester that makes him believe the former All-Pro returner could regain the form that made him one of the most feared players in the NFL.

"Well he's certainly going to have that opportunity," Emery said Wednesday on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN Chicago 1000. "We're looking forward to seeing how it all unfolds."

The Bears have Hester working exclusively with the special teams instead of splitting time as a receiver, which was a position Hester never seemed to fully grasp.

"He's got a light," Emery said. "He just lights up when you walk around him right now.

"I think he feels very good about where his body is at, where his mind is at, to have that type of season and we're looking forward to watching him."

-----------------------

Hester is in the final year of his contract and set to earn a base salary of $1.857 million if he makes the 53-man roster and count $2,940,858 against the Bears’ salary cap. That's a lot of money for a return specialist. Asked if he could afford paying a return man that amount, Emery said: "We certainly are."

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bears/p ... rom-hester

Doesn't sound like Hester is any danger of being cut .

Hester needs to just be positive out there and have fun. That's when he's at his best. It's when he gets down on himself the problems start up. And then all of a sudden it's only half way through the season and he's already thrown in the towel