2011 - 20?? Bears Offseason(s) Thread

[SKO]

Biggsy takes a break from helping Tim Shaw pick out paint colors for his home theater to gather some interesting nuggets and tidbits from Football Outsiders, including one comparison that I'm fairly certain will make SKO's bowlcut-topped head explode.

As far as Cutler goes, the research shows what you see is what you get. Football Outsiders projects him to pass for 3,555 yards this season with 22 touchdowns and 18 interceptions.

"Mechanically he has flaws that a player of his experience should have corrected by now and players who don't correct that by his age and his number of attempts don't correct them," Tanier said. "He's not going to stop throwing off of his back foot when he's rushed. He's not going to stop throwing into coverage in the middle of the field because those are mistakes you correct in your second year or third year."

Who does Cutler compare to according to Football Outsiders?

"Jim Everett, a player who had a lot of success, threw for a lot of yards, had some playoff success, but couldn't overcome the sacks and couldn't overcome the mistakes," Tanier said. "When you take a lot of hits early in your career, your numbers start to go down a little more quickly."

From the book: "The similarities between the two quarterbacks are obvious: big arm, big stats, tendency to throw off the back foot, checkered-at-best reputation as a clubhouse personality."

Chris Cutler?

We've discussed the Cutler-Everett comparison in the shoutbox before. They're actually pretty similar in that Everett, too, was shit on for most of his career after 1989. I mean he played for the mid-90s Saints and Rams. Those teams were absolute garbage. If Cutler gets protection we will see if he can't improve. I also don't necessarily by the "guys don't improve at this stage of their career" argument. Possibly true, but Favre from 92-94 had some serious issues before Holmgren finally settled him down. No one remembers because he won three Superbowls, but Tom Brady's highest passer rating in his first three years as a starter was 86.5 and his highest YPA in that time was 6.9. Guys can improve when you improve the talent around them.

So Cutler is just as good as Tom Brady and Eli Manning?

Thanks for Eli Manning. Another notch against the "guys his age just don't improve" argument.

[BH]

It's stupid how close Roy Williams is to being a hall of famer.

"Asked where Williams is at, in preparation for the season opener, Drake said, "Not where he needs to be, and he knows that.

"He and I have talked about that. And the good thing about it is, you got Johnny Knox who is fighting and working hard. And believe you and me, [Williams] also understands that Johnny is there, and Johnny is hungry, and Johnny wants his spot back. And if things don't start changing, then Johnny is going to be in there. Heard it straight from the horse's mouth."

Williams said earlier Wednesday that he was being sarcastic about his comments from last week regarding his physical fitness. But Drake didn't debunk the notion that Williams still isn't in game shape.

"I understand that Roy's got some things to do, as far as getting in shape, but that's not my fault, and that's not my concern," Drake said. "My concern is making sure, when we play Atlanta, we got the best guys out there, that is going to give us the best chance to win. And if Johnny Knox is that guy, then he needs to be out there.""

[CT III]

RV STICKPOKE!

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-0827-bits-bears-chicago--20110827,0,3781327.story

Special stuff: The Bears' short-sighted release of special teams stalwart Tim Shaw at final cuts a year ago looks worse now.

Shaw was let go when the team trimmed to 53 and the Bears kept Hunter Hillenmeyer knowing the veteran with a history of concussions was coming off another head injury in preseason. Hillenmeyer lasted one game and the club was forced to bring in Rod Wilson, a player who knew the system but didn't match Shaw's capabilities on special teams a year after he set a franchise record with 30 tackles.

Now, the Bears aren't certain what kind of help they have for Dave Toub at linebacker and in the secondary and it won't be surprising if the club makes a waiver move at final cuts to bring in some help. Shaw, who the Titans scooped up on waivers last September, led them with 20 special teams tackles.

[Saul Goodman]

RV STICKPOKE!

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-0827-bits-bears-chicago--20110827,0,3781327.story

Special stuff: The Bears' short-sighted release of special teams stalwart Tim Shaw at final cuts a year ago looks worse now.

Shaw was let go when the team trimmed to 53 and the Bears kept Hunter Hillenmeyer knowing the veteran with a history of concussions was coming off another head injury in preseason. Hillenmeyer lasted one game and the club was forced to bring in Rod Wilson, a player who knew the system but didn't match Shaw's capabilities on special teams a year after he set a franchise record with 30 tackles.

Now, the Bears aren't certain what kind of help they have for Dave Toub at linebacker and in the secondary and it won't be surprising if the club makes a waiver move at final cuts to bring in some help. Shaw, who the Titans scooped up on waivers last September, led them with 20 special teams tackles.

RIGHT THAT WRONG!

[Slaky]

RV STICKPOKE!

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-0827-bits-bears-chicago--20110827,0,3781327.story

Special stuff: The Bears' short-sighted release of special teams stalwart Tim Shaw at final cuts a year ago looks worse now.

Shaw was let go when the team trimmed to 53 and the Bears kept Hunter Hillenmeyer knowing the veteran with a history of concussions was coming off another head injury in preseason. Hillenmeyer lasted one game and the club was forced to bring in Rod Wilson, a player who knew the system but didn't match Shaw's capabilities on special teams a year after he set a franchise record with 30 tackles.

Now, the Bears aren't certain what kind of help they have for Dave Toub at linebacker and in the secondary and it won't be surprising if the club makes a waiver move at final cuts to bring in some help. Shaw, who the Titans scooped up on waivers last September, led them with 20 special teams tackles.

YOUVE GOTTA BE FUCKING KIDDING ME.

[Internet Apex]

THE BEARS SPECIAL TEAMS ARE IN CRISIS DAMMIT SAM HURDS IN A WALKING BOOT DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

[J. Walter Weatherman]

RV STICKPOKE!

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-0827-bits-bears-chicago--20110827,0,3781327.story

Special stuff: The Bears' short-sighted release of special teams stalwart Tim Shaw at final cuts a year ago looks worse now.

Shaw was let go when the team trimmed to 53 and the Bears kept Hunter Hillenmeyer knowing the veteran with a history of concussions was coming off another head injury in preseason. Hillenmeyer lasted one game and the club was forced to bring in Rod Wilson, a player who knew the system but didn't match Shaw's capabilities on special teams a year after he set a franchise record with 30 tackles.

Now, the Bears aren't certain what kind of help they have for Dave Toub at linebacker and in the secondary and it won't be surprising if the club makes a waiver move at final cuts to bring in some help. Shaw, who the Titans scooped up on waivers last September, led them with 20 special teams tackles.

YOUVE GOTTA BE FUCKING KIDDING ME.

Biggsy has to change his pants after that TIMSHAW almost-interception in the dying seconds here.

[Richard Chuggar]

"I missed most of the Bears game Monday night and when I finally had a chance to tune in, the game was well out of reach. I did see the highlights and I will say that was awful to say the least. Then again, this is what we should expect from the Bears: Shitty defense in terms of the secondary and a horrendous offense led by the genius Mike Martz. I saw this shit last presason so it isn't anything new. When they play the Titans on Saturday, I think it's going to be just as ugly. Just imagine how bad it's going to be when the regular season starts. For the stat idiots out there, don't waste your time here about how the Bears almost went to the Super Bowl last year. They go 11-5 yet played like a an 8-8 team. I'd rather have a team go 8-8, barely get into the playoffs and eventually win the Super Bowl than the same team going 11-5 and showing how shitty they really are when it matters the most. Enough of that though."

[SKO]

"I missed most of the Bears game Monday night and when I finally had a chance to tune in, the game was well out of reach. I did see the highlights and I will say that was awful to say the least. Then again, this is what we should expect from the Bears: Shitty defense in terms of the secondary and a horrendous offense led by the genius Mike Martz. I saw this shit last presason so it isn't anything new. When they play the Titans on Saturday, I think it's going to be just as ugly. Just imagine how bad it's going to be when the regular season starts. For the stat idiots out there, don't waste your time here about how the Bears almost went to the Super Bowl last year. They go 11-5 yet played like a an 8-8 team. I'd rather have a team go 8-8, barely get into the playoffs and eventually win the Super Bowl than the same team going 11-5 and showing how shitty they really are when it matters the most. Enough of that though."

Yeah, faggots. Fro would rather have a team that wins the Superbowl than a team that doesn't, unlike you and your stats.

[BH]

"I missed most of the Bears game Monday night and when I finally had a chance to tune in, the game was well out of reach. I did see the highlights and I will say that was awful to say the least. Then again, this is what we should expect from the Bears: Shitty defense in terms of the secondary and a horrendous offense led by the genius Mike Martz. I saw this shit last presason so it isn't anything new. When they play the Titans on Saturday, I think it's going to be just as ugly. Just imagine how bad it's going to be when the regular season starts. For the stat idiots out there, don't waste your time here about how the Bears almost went to the Super Bowl last year. They go 11-5 yet played like a an 8-8 team. I'd rather have a team go 8-8, barely get into the playoffs and eventually win the Super Bowl than the same team going 11-5 and showing how shitty they really are when it matters the most. Enough of that though."

Yeah, faggots. Fro would rather have a team that wins the Superbowl than a team that doesn't, unlike you and your stats.

My dream is for my Bears to go 1-15 and win the super bowl. Until that happens, I won't be satisfied.

[BBM]

THE BEARS SPECIAL TEAMS ARE IN CRISIS DAMMIT SAM HURDS IN A WALKING BOOT DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

DAT GUY AIN'T NO MIKE H...DAVE SANSABELTER MY FRENT.

[CT III]

THE BEARS SPECIAL TEAMS ARE IN CRISIS DAMMIT SAM HURDS IN A WALKING BOOT DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

DAT GUY AIN'T NO MIKE H...DAVE SANSABELTER MY FRENT.

DAT'S SANZENBASHNAGEL YA IDJIT!

I apologize.  After some contemplation, it's become clear to me that SANSABELTER is a completely awesome nickname.

[BBM]

THE BEARS SPECIAL TEAMS ARE IN CRISIS DAMMIT SAM HURDS IN A WALKING BOOT DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

DAT GUY AIN'T NO MIKE H...DAVE SANSABELTER MY FRENT.

DAT'S SANZENBASHNAGEL YA IDJIT!

I apologize.  After some contemplation, it's become clear to me that SANSABELTER is a completely awesome nickname.

Jamal "Barbados Slim" Mayers agrees.

[R-V]

RV STICKPOKE!

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-spt-0827-bits-bears-chicago--20110827,0,3781327.story

Special stuff: The Bears' short-sighted release of special teams stalwart Tim Shaw at final cuts a year ago looks worse now.

Shaw was let go when the team trimmed to 53 and the Bears kept Hunter Hillenmeyer knowing the veteran with a history of concussions was coming off another head injury in preseason. Hillenmeyer lasted one game and the club was forced to bring in Rod Wilson, a player who knew the system but didn't match Shaw's capabilities on special teams a year after he set a franchise record with 30 tackles.

Now, the Bears aren't certain what kind of help they have for Dave Toub at linebacker and in the secondary and it won't be surprising if the club makes a waiver move at final cuts to bring in some help. Shaw, who the Titans scooped up on waivers last September, led them with 20 special teams tackles.

YOUVE GOTTA BE FUCKING KIDDING ME.

Oh for fuck's sake. I was unable to watch/follow the game on Saturday. Was Biggsy able to make it out of the press box what with being weighed down by his trousers full of sperm?

[Quality Start Machine]

THE BEARS SPECIAL TEAMS ARE IN CRISIS DAMMIT SAM HURDS IN A WALKING BOOT DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

DAT GUY AIN'T NO MIKE H...DAVE SANSABELTER MY FRENT.

DAT'S SANZENBASHNAGEL YA IDJIT!

I apologize.  After some contemplation, it's become clear to me that SANSABELTER is a completely awesome nickname.

Jamal "Barbados Slim" Mayers agrees.

Get to work on Sean O'Donnell.