The Answer to the Bears’ Free Safety Problems

With the departure of veteran and fan favorite Mike Brown, the Chicago Bears are trying to find a bona fide replacement. They opted to not go the way of the draft (selecting only one STRONG safety in the sixth round), which was smart because the Bears have a great option just sitting there on the bench.

Am I referring to former fifth round pick from LSU, Craig Steltz?

Steltz showed flashes of what he could become when he made a nice interception against the Lions last year.

But he also was in a lot of opposing running back’s highlight videos, so no, I do not mean Steltz.

So does that mean I am referring to Josh Bullocks?

The former starting safety of the New Orleans Saints who was the favorite after the draft to snag the position?

No, and it is for the simple fact that all Saint fans went wild when they heard the announcement that Bullocks had been released. Anyone who can garner that type of reaction from a fanbase for LEAVING is not someone I have the utmost confidence in.

How about Glenn Earl?

A player with a lot of upside, but has been sidelined by injuries for the past few years.

He could make a play for the spot, right…?

EH, wrong.

When the man missed two years due to an injury he suffered trying to tackle Cedric Benson…CEDRIC BENSON…in a preseason game. 

Do I really need to continue?

So, of course, it has to be converted corner Corey Graham?

Graham showed some incredible talent last year at corner while filling in for injured starter Nathan Vasher. He covered well, made good plays on the ball, and showed instincts that normally take a few years to develop.

But it is for all these reasons that Graham, IMO, should be at nickle corner until either Vasher or Peanut get hurt again, because one, if not both, are bound to miss time at some point.

Wait, I can’t be talking about Danieal Manning, can I?

The replacement for Hester on kickoff returns showcased his blazing speed and superior athleticism last year and played safety in college.

OK, no.

Danieal Manning is actually the last single person I want back playing safety. I have two images of him at safety:

First is the the finale last season against the Texans, where he went up to help the run and let Andre Johnson run right past him for a TD.

There was nobody within 15 yards of Johnson as he danced in the end zone.

Second was the Super Bowl.

Reggie Wayne.

First quarter…Enough said.

So, who am I referring to?

What player could be this skilled and athletic, but at the same time, be missed by the coaches?

Israel Idonije.

Thats right, the DE/DT hybrid should be at safety. As long as he makes sure no one gets behind him, he’s fine.

I mean heck, the man has an insane wing span of just about 7′, and (even though he weighs in the mid 200s) he also was also fast enough to be tested as a gunner on punt coverage.

And believe me, no one, and I mean NO ONE, will want to catch a slant pass over the middle.

It makes perfect sense.

Chicago Bears Training Camp: Position Battles to Watch

Despite the addition of several key players, the Chicago Bears have some serious question marks going into training camp.

 

Battle No. 1: Defensive line – Fighting for a place on the roster

Anthony Adams vs Dusty Dvoracek

The standard position is for teams to have eight defensive lineman. The starting lineup of Ogunleye, Harris, Harrison, and Brown should remain unchanged through camp.

That leaves rookie DT Jarron Gilbert, DE Mark Anderson, DT/DE Israel Idonije, Dusty, and Adams.

Gilbert will stick with the team, mostly learning throughout his first year. Anderson will stay because everyone seems convinced that new DL coach Rod Marinelli can bring him back to the rushing production of his rookie year. Idonije’s flexibility and special teams play also make him a lock.

This leaves Dusty and Anthony. Dusty finally managed to turn in a full season last year, although he was not as big of a boost as expected. He did play with a high motor and never quit on plays, but he couldn’t shed blocks or demand the occasional double team that would have freed up Tommie Harris.

Adams actually performed better than Dusty last season, in my opinion. But the reason he is in this position is because he has reached his ceiling. Dusty, on the other hand, is believed to have a lot more undeveloped potential.

So the question becomes experience vs potential. It will be interesting to see how both play (and in what shape they show up for camp in) over the next couple months.

Note: look for another rookie, DE Henry Melton, to be put on IR with a mysterious injury. This will allow him to stay on the team, but not on the roster or waivers, in an attempt to sign to the practice squad.

 

Battle No. 2: Free Safety – Fighting for the starting position

Josh Bullocks vs Craig Steltz

The Bears parted ways with long time fan favorite Mike Brown this offseason citing the need to get younger and healthier. The Bears signed Bullocks after he was cut by the New Orleans Saints. Steltz was drafted by the Bears in 2008 from LSU.

In my humble opinion, one of them needs to come out and just wow the coaches with their play in camp. From all accounts, Saints fans cheered the cutting of Bullocks when the news was announced, and Chicago fans groaned after every tackle Steltz missed when he filled in for Brown at the end of last season.

Others that might enter contention are former Houston Texans safety Glenn Earl, who hasn’t played in two years or at cornerback. A hot topic in blogs this summer has been whether the Bears should convert either Zachary Bowman or Corey Graham into a free safety. Bowman only played in one game last season before getting hurt. Although to be fair, he did make the game-deciding interception against the Vikes with a torn bicep. Graham played most of the year, replacing injured CB Nathan Vasher.

However, barring a major development out of any of those three, it comes down to a rookies development vs a fresh start for a veteran.

 

Battle No. 3: Slot receiver – Fighting for playing time

Rashied Davis vs Juaquin Iglesias

The starting wide receivers for the Bears will be Devin Hester and Earl Bennett. Hester is the best receiver on our team (God, I am a Bears fanatic and that still worries me to say), and Bennett has learned the system and has a previous relationship with new QB Jay Cutler. 

This leaves veteran Rashied Davis, one of two receivers who have caught a pass in the NFL, versus rookie Juaquin Igelsias from the University of Oklahoma.

Davis suffered through a terrible season last year, plagued by drops and missed chances. Igelsias comes in considered to be NFL ready. A smart route runner and reliable hands puts Iglesias right up there. It all depends on how quickly Iglesias picks up the offense and how Rashied’s hands do catching those bullets from Cutler.

 

Battle No. 4 – Tight End – Fighting for just a place on the roster

Kellen Davis vs the coaches

TE Kellen Davis is a physical force. Standing 6’7″ and weighing 262 lbs, Davis is taller than all of our defensive ends and weighs more than all except Idonije. He is only in his second year and would have no trouble staying on any roster other than the Bears.

The “problem” with the Bears is that Greg Olsen is expected to be one of the best in the NFL this year, Desmond Clark has been our most consistent receiver for the past four seasons, and they just signed Michael Gaines to a contract.

No other team in the NFL carries four tight ends. So the question here is whether Davis performs well enough to warrant a roster spot despite the pressure to only have three.

 

Battle No. 5: Fullback – My own personal pipe dream

Jason McKie vs Will Ta’ufo’ou

Jason McKie has been a consistent, average fullback for the Bears. He blocks and catches okay. He runs the ball so-so. He is like purgatory: He isn’t really bad, but he just isn’t that good.

In steps undrafted free agent Will Ta’ufo’ou out of the University of California. Is he a long shot? Yes. Does that stop me from hoping that he out works and out hustles McKie this training camp? Nope.

Ta’ufo’ou was a good fullback for Cal, opening holes for several pretty good running backs (including one who is a front runner for the Heisman Trophy this year). He is strong, with a low center of gravity and a hard worker.

At this point, that puts him ahead of McKie…I am over fullbacks diving up the middle for no gain.

Rehab: Chicago Bears Fans Try To Work Through the Receiver Addiction

Bear fans everywhere were excited.

Anquan Boldin!

The rumor mill was working overtime as people tried figuring out if Angelo could pull the trigger on a deal. I questioned the Jay Cutler move when it was made because I was pressing so hard for the Cardinal wideout.

And the Boldin rumors were just the start. The gateway receiver. The thought of him made us feel happy and could allow us to relax at the thought of bringing in such a talent. 

But it never happened. A draft day trade offer was reviewed and denied, and Boldin is still with the Cardinals.

But that was OK, because next came the pipedream known as Torry Holt. He made sense to us. He still has a couple good years left. All Torry would have to do is make the jump up Interstate 55 from St. Louis to Chicago.

Not to mention that after a poor 2008 campaign, he still had something to prove.

It was a long shot, and in the long run, it was a worse drug because we didn’t need to give anything up for him. All we had to do was pay him.

Yet we knew he was looking elsewhere.

And he was, ending up as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Then came the guaranteed rush. The idea of a Hakeem Nicks, Percy Harvin or Mohammed Massaqoui during the draft. All would be able to help from the get-go and be dynamic and exciting additions to a team lacking at that position.

It was speed (in this case literally and figuratively).

But it wore off faster than we could have imagined, because once the Cutler trade happened, the hope for Harvin or Nicks died. And then Jerry Angelo continued to trade down—It cut the legs out right from under the Massaqoui supporters.

It was like detox, except ineffective.

Heck, there was even a movement to pursue disgruntled domestic abuser Brandon Marshall from the Broncos when he demanded to be traded. The rumors and hopes have not fully been squashed, so it adds more fuel to the fire.

But secretly, we all know it isn’t helping us, and the deal will never happen because we have nothing to give in return for Marshall. By hoping, we just hurt ourselves further. And yet we still cannot stop.

And so now we are stuck on to Plax. That is right—Plaxico Burress is our current addiction.

Although to be fair, some fans have managed to kick the “wide receiver habit.” Some have come crashing back to reality. Some understand that what we have is as good as it is going to get.

But others, including myself, still maintain that all that is needed is ONE MORE guy and we will feel better. One little hit of Plaxico, and all of our worries and concerns will go “up in smoke.”

But the speculation continues.

The process has taken longer and longer, as Commissioner Roger Goodell decides on a fitting punishment.

We become more and more desperate. More desperate to just know so we can move on to rejoicing. As more fall off the bandwagon, they call us foolish and short sited. But we know… just one more receiver, and all of our dreams will come true.

Chicago Bears 53-Man Roster: Early Look At Whom to Cut and Whom to Keep

Well, if I didn’t have enough respect for GMs and coaches before, I definitely do now. I sat down with the Bears current roster and tried trimming it down to 53 men and then 8 practice squad members, thinking it should be pretty easy. HA! I was in for a treat.

The actual roster was hard enough, but the practice squad was just ridiculous. Trying to figure out who was eligible for it and who would clear waivers to be signed to the squad is like a guessing game.

So if you feel I left something (or someone) out that shouldn’t be or kept someone on there that you think is stupid, please let me know. I was just happy that my math all worked out. Besides, constructive criticism is always welcomed.

So without further ado, the Chicago Bears 2009 roster (If it had to be done by tomorrow).

 

Offense

# of Quarterbacks = 3

Jay Cutler, Caleb Hanie, and Brett Basanez. All NFL rosters have three quarterbacks. End of story.

Odd man out: N/A

# of Running backs = 3

Matt Forte, Kevin Jones, and Garrett Wolfe. Forte is a stud. We just re-signed Jones so he is safe (barring injury) and Wolfe is the change of pace back that seemingly all teams want to have.  

Odd man out: Adrian Peterson. I wanted to find a way to keep him. His special teams abilities are great, he has great character, and is not a terrible backup running back. But we just can’t have four.

# of Wide Receivers = 5

Devin Hester, Earl Bennett, Brandon Rideau, Juaquin Iglesias, and Johnny Knox.

Hester, Bennett and Iglesias are easy keepers. Rideau has shown a lot of promise in the past couple years, so he is a go and while I think Knox should be on the practice squad, I am afraid he would not clear waivers.

Odd man out: Yup, Rashied Davis. It sucks. He had a bad season last year, but has made clutch catches and is one of two receivers that have caught a pass in the NFL last season that was on our roster. Truly breaks my heart.

# of Fullbacks = 1

Will Ta’ufo’ou.

THAT’S RIGHT, I said it. Goodbye mediocre McKie. No more fullback dives for no gain every week. We need a change and now is the time. Ta’ufo’ou runs low to the ground and knows how to hit (If this happens, a Ta’ufo’ou jersey would be sick to have).

Odd m(e)n out: McKie, of course, and back up Jason Davis.

# of Tight Ends = 3

Greg Olsen, Desmond Clark, and Michael Gaines.

Olsen and Clark have been a killer one-two punch and should only get better. Gaines will be able to come in and be a very effective run blocker and could even drop back in to the fullback slot.

Odd man out: Kellen Davis. This doesn’t make a lot of sense to me since he is only in his second year and he could be good down the road.

If he cleared waivers, he would be good on the practice squad, but I think he played in more than nine games last year on special teams, so he might not be eligible for it. To bad.

# of Offensive Tackles = 3

Orlando Pace, Chris Williams, and Kevin Shaffer.

There would actually be four, since Frank Omiyale can slide into that tackle position as well, but he is a starting guard.

Not terrible options here, although Pace is older, Williams is unproven, and Shaffer’s starting position on the Browns was taken by former Bear John St. Clair…Yes, it will be an interesting year.

Odd man out: Cody Balogh. If space was opened up at other positions, Balogh could slide in and ease some of the pressure. A good candidate for the practice squad, though.

# of Offensive Guards = 4

Roberto Garza, Frank Omiyale, Josh Beekman, and Tyler Reed.

Reed being the only surprise, he adds depth at a position that needs it considering Omiyale is a back up tackle and Beekman is the reserve center.

Odd men out: Dan Buenning and seventh round pick Lance Louis. Both could be sent to the practice squad, with Louis being the more intriguing of the two. 

# of Centers = 1

Olin Kreutz… Questions?

Odd man out: N/A

Offensive total = 23

Defense

# of Safeties = 5

Kevin Payne, Craig Steltz, Josh Bullocks, Glenn Earl, and Danieal Manning.

Manning doesn’t really count. He is listed as a safety on the roster, but if he is on the field during a defensive position, he needs to be a nickel corner. He is a miserable safety. 

Odd man out: Sixth-round pick Al Afalava. Look for the practice squad.

# of Cornerbacks = 5

Charles Tillman, Nathan Vasher, Corey Graham, D.J. Moore, and Zachary Bowman.

There is talk of moving Graham to safety, which I am all for,  because it would basically be flipping him and Manning. But otherwise a solid corps, if healthy.

Odd man out: Trumaine McBride. Another guy I don’t want to see us lose, McBride had a great rookie year, but was just abused last season whenever he got into games.

With the addition of Moore and the potential of Bowman, I am afraid there just won’t be a way to keep him.

# of Linebackers = 6

Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Pisa Tiniosamoa, Jamar Williams, Nick Roach, and Marcus Freeman.

Urlacher, Briggs, and Pisa are a given. Williams has been waiting in the wings for a chance to play, and the coaching staff seem to just love him.

Roach came in last year and played pretty well. He would have been the starter this year if it wasn’t for the addition of Pisa.

Freeman is a rookie; a lot of people feel his upside is huge. He will learn well playing behind those three starters.

Odd men out: Hunter Hillenmeyer and Joey LaRocque. Hunter was a great guy, but in the end he just doesn’t have a spot here. Look for him to be in one of the early cuts so he has a chance to jump on with another team.

LaRocque was another special team ace that Hester and Manning will probably miss more than one would think.

# of Defensive Ends = 5

Adewale Ogunleye, Alex Brown, Mark Anderson, Israel Idonije, and Henry Melton.

I want to put Melton on the practice squad, but there would be no way he’d make it through waivers. Idonije is listed as a DT but he can play anywhere on the line, so I put him here.

Odd man out: Ervin Baldwin. Another player who never really got a chance, he could be practice squad material if he is eligible.

# of Defensive Tackles = 5

Tommie Harris, Marcus Harrison, Jaron Gilbert, Dusty Dvoracek, and Anthony Adams.

Gilbert is listed as a DT but there was talk of him being capable of playing end as well which gives some more flexibility to the line. These four DT, if they stay healthy, and with the coach of “Hot” Rod Marinelli, could become a dominate force.

Odd man out: Matt “Big Toe” Toeaina. Toeaina got some playing time a couple years ago for the Bears when they suffered injuries and played pretty well. He just doesn’t really have a spot on the roster and I am pretty sure he is not eligible for the practice squad.

Defensive total = 26

Special Teams

Punter = 1: Brad Maynard

Kicker = 1: Robbie Gould

Long Snapper = 1: Patrick Mannelly

Total players = 52 out of 53

That leaves one spot open. Fill it in. Personally, I keep A.P. for special teams skills.

Practice Squad players

(assuming they all clear waivers and are eligible. I tried checking that, but the rules are kinda funny so I may have missed something somewhere.)

1. Derek Kinder – seventh round pick as a wide receiver that has a lot of athletic ability.

2. Lance Louis – another seventh rounder, is a massive guard with a lot of upside.

3. Al Afalava – sixth round pick that needs to improve tackling.

4. Joe Clermond – a hybrid player who can play both end and linebacker.

5. Cody Balogh – Bears might need help at tackle if one or especially two of them go down. Balogh was on the team last year and should be improving.

6. Ervin Baldwin – if he makes it through waivers, look for Baldwin to replace either Clark or Gaines in the next few years.

7. Eric Peterman – wide receiver from Northwestern could be a future special teams stud.

8. Dahana Deleston – safety from UConn had a great Pro day, running a 4.43 40.

And there you have it. Might I have a different opinion once training camp starts AND ends? Yes.

Will the Bears do something sneaky like put a player they like on IR and let him learn the system? Almost certainly.

Do I hope the original A.P. has a spot on this team come September? More than anything.

Cleveland Browns-Michael Vick: A Perfect Fit

Many people are asking where should Michael Vick play.

The San Francisco 49ers and coach Mike Singletary have been a popular choice by many ESPN “experts.” They figured Singletary could keep Vick in line and that they might need to fill a whole at QB, depending on the play of former No. 1 selection Alex Smith.

There was talk that the New England Patriots and Bill Belichick would be able to keep Vick in line and utilize his insane athletic abilities through the ever popular “Wildcat” formation.

Tampa Bay was also considered a team that could be in the hunt since they have an open competition already between Josh Freeman and Byron Leftwich. Adding Vick would add another dimension that could make the Bucs a difficult team to scheme for

But the best place for Michael Vick to land is the Cleveland Browns.

And it is not just because they need depth at QB. Brady Quinn could be the future, but after getting a couple starts, was injured and missed the rest of the season.

Is that a sign of things to come? 

The other option for the Browns is Derek Anderson. Anderson had a spectacular year a couple seasons ago and signed a lucrative three year deal, but hasn’t earned any of that money since.

Which means Vick would be an injury and three bad games away from becoming the starter.

And it’s not just because Cleveland has a loyal and dedicated fan base that would support the Browns in whatever move they made.

I mean they put up with Kellen Winslow for far too long, I think they can try and forgive Vick for his past.

It’s not just because seeing Michael Vick line up with Josh Cribbs in the backfield in the Wildcat formation would be awesome, if not devastating. I mean talk about a 1-2 punch, plus both players could conceivably throw the ball out as well. I do not know how effective it would be, but it is certainly entertaining to think about.

And it is not even because Eric Mangini might just be the very coach, other than Belichick that could utilize Vick to the maximum of his abilities. I mean the “Man-genius” could be given a weapon that few other teams possess.

It would be very interesting, and in my opinion very telling about his coaching skills, to watch him try to integrate Vick into the lineup.

But the main reason, the real reason that all sports/sick humorists are praying for, hoping for, is a headline that reads on a Monday morning: “Vick leads Beatdown at the Dog Pound.”

Is it wrong? Yes.

Is it in bad taste? Without question.

But does it make an amusing scenario to think about?

I think so.

Memo to Minnesota Vikings from a Chicago Bears Fan: SIGN Brett Favre

Please, please, please bring good ole’, wrangler wearing No. 4 back to the NFC North. Sign him to a one year, or better yet, a two year deal. Pay him millions and millions of dollars.

Get your fans all excited because you finally, after years of toiling in the post-Culpepper era, have a “proven” quarterback.

Say goodbye to the likes of Tarvaris Jackson, John David Booty or Sage Rosenfels as your starter.

Let the blogs explode, give John Clayton, Len Pasquarelli, and every single ESPN anchor something to drool over for the next three months.

But most importantly, bring back an over-the-hill, stubborn, gun-slinging, hot shot quarterback to try and “lead” you to the Super Bowl.

I know the arguments…

• He had a poor second half of the season because of his shoulder troubles last year. 
• The expectations were to high for him to turn a 4-12 team into a Super Bowl contender in just one season.  
• He will have better receiver options in Minnesota.
• He will throw the ball less because he has a running game.
• Blah, blah, blah

Do not get me wrong, some of these arguments do hold water. I will grant you that he did suffer through a shoulder injury last year and that certainly effected his capabilities.

But some of his numbers before his injury might be skewed. From Week Four through 10, he faced the following defenses: Cards (ranked 28th and in which he threw for six TDs), Bye week, Bengals (19th), Raiders (24), Chiefs (29th), Bills (14th), and the Rams (31st). He went 5-1 over that stretch.

At the end of week 10, when he was still fully healthy, Favre had recorded 16 TD’s and 12 INTs. Solid numbers, but by no means spectacular.

What kills me though is that when Favre got hurt, he was still to proud to pull himself. He was injured, he was hurting, his team went 3-4 down the stretch and he tossed six TDs and 10 INTs. Yet he didn’t come out.

Some call this valiant, that he was trying to gut it out and will his team to victory. And that could be true, but only to a point. Once your play starts negatively impacting your team AND your playoff chances, man up, swallow your pride and see what Kellen Clemens has.

In the last five games, the Jets went 1-4 and their one win was against the Bills, who lost in an epic manner with a fumble returned for a touchdown in the final two minutes.

Add to that, Brett Favre is 39 yeas old. He is an 18 year veteran in the NFL. Come on, he is reaching Vinny Testaverde status.

And you know what kills me, Favre would probably still be a capable QB with the Vikings because of their run game, but the Jets ranked ninth in total rushing, a mere four places behind the vaunted Vikings and Favre still threw 22 TDS and 22 INTs. So why expect him to play different wearing purple?

In terms of targets, the Jets had Laveranues Coles and Jericho Cotchery as their two go to options as receivers. The Vikings have Bernard Berrian and Bobby Wade. I guess it is a toss up between which is better, but I do not believe he is coming into a better receiving corps in Minnesota, and if so, not by that much.

So what is so different about this team and season compared to last?

Sure he will get to face the Lions twice, the Rams, Bengals, and Browns. But he also goes against the improved 49ers, the Packers twice, the Bears twice, the Ravens, Steelers, Giants, and Panthers.

Favre could very well improve the Vikings and lead them to the NFC North Championship. But he also could torpedo the team with a mess of turnovers and poor decisions.

So bring back Favre. Let him stand in the huddle and get frustrated that he can’t pass the ball more often. Let him force throws into coverage when he does get the chance to try and make a play and get picked off. Watch the turnovers mount.

Bring back Favre and watch him get hurt again and then you can realize that you just wasted a ton of money on a “me first”, shell-of-his-former self QB and wait for the following off season so you can watch him retire, debate, and comeback… again.

Bring Brett back so I can continue to enjoy watching the Bears hit him, chase him and beat him into a pulp. I watched the man for a majority of my life beat my team. Bring him back so I can watch my team return the favor.

Shootz: Chicago Bears Getting Used to a Little Island Flavor

Center Olin Kreutz has been a staple in the Chicago Bears organization since the team drafted him out of Washington St. 12 years ago. Kreutz, a leader both on the field and in the locker room, leads by example through hard work and determination. He keeps players in line and commands respect from not only his teammates, but opposing players as well.

Kreutz was raised and played high school football in Hawaii for St. Louis High, a team consistently playing for the island title, where he was all-state in both football and wrestling. Hawaii was his kickoff point for a prosperous and productive NFL career.

And Kreutz isn’t the only one to bring the island madness to the team.

The Bears selected safety Al Afalava in the sixth round of the 2009 draft. Afalava grew up in Laie, located on the north shore of Oahu, and played high school for the Kahuku Red Raiders, a perennial powerhouse, before moving on to Oregon St.

If you look closely, there are quite a few connections to the pacific islands throughout the Bears roster:

Undrafted free agents Will Ta’ufo’ou (FB from Cal) and Johan Asiata (OG from UNLV) are both in contention for roster spots. Asiata, originally from New Zealand, actually grew up in Hawaii.

Reserve defensive tackle Matt Toeaina played high school football on the tiny island of American Samoa, which is located east of Fiji and North of Tonga before he moved on to play college ball at the University of Oregon.

Newly acquired linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa played for the University of Hawaii for four years. He made first team all WAC his senior year and was drafted in the second round of the 2003 NFL draft by the St. Louis Rams.

The Bears even have had a couple Hawaii players represented on the practice squad and in training camp. Safety Leonard Peters, also a Kahuku graduate, was on the Bears practice squad for the 2007 season. And former UH standout wide receiver Ryan Grice-Mullens was added to the Bears roster last season in training camp to add some depth, but failed to make the final cut.

And it doesn’t end there, lets kick it back a little further.

Anyone remember tight end Gabe Reid? He played four years for the Bears from 2003 through 2006 and recorded a total of seven receptions—okay, not exactly stellar numbers but Reid was also a product of American Samoa and was a competent third stringer for the team.

And if you want to go old-school, how about Lakei Heimuli? Heimuli was a running back out of BYU who grew up in Tonga and played one season for the 1987 Chicago Bears. He only made it into three games that year, but to be fair, his numbers weren’t terrible: 34 carries for 128 yards (for a 3.8 average), and five receptions for 51 yards and one lone touchdown.

So really, this island theme from the Bears is not a new one. And judging from recent trends, look for more and more of these Polynesian products to follow in the footsteps of Kreutz, Pisa, Seahawks linebacker Lofa Tatupu, and Steelers safety Troy Polamalu.

Bears Cutler vs. Broncos Marshall/Royal: Who Will Have a Better Season?

The question continues in Chicago, did Jay Cutler make Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal that much better of receivers, or did Marshall and Royal’s abilities make Cutler look more like a Pro Bowler than he really was?

The answer to the question is that they both  benefited from each other’s skills, but taking the middle ground is not really a football fan’s way of doing things. It is considered the easy way out.

So thankfully, the question should be answered once the seasons hits the midway point. How, you might ask?

Well, you can argue that both Cutler and the Broncos receivers are now dealing with less effective counterparts so everyone will be checking both Kyle Orton’s numbers as well as the Bears receiving corps stats and using that as a basis.

Orton, while a capable QB, does not have the rocket arm that Cutler possesses and none of the Bears receivers are even close to the level that Brandon Marshall is at, and arguably Eddie Royal for that matter.

With Orton, who the Broncos named starter a few days ago, you have a quarterback who can manage games and make smart throws, but also benefited from having a great running game to take the pressure off. He had problems connecting on deep passes but his short tosses and out-routes have been on target. His numbers should be bolstered by having a receiver like Marshall who is big, physical, and can out jump most cornerbacks.

What might hurt Orton is the fact that the Broncos have nothing even resembling a legitimate rushing attack. After being able to turn around and hand the ball off to the likes of Matt Forte, and Thomas Jones at one point, expect Orton to be surprised when he turns and hands the ball off to five different backs on five straight plays.

In Chicago, Jay Cutler will be working with a very raw group of receivers. Devin Hester and Rashied Davis are the only two who have any real NFL game experience. Earl Bennett is coming off a rookie season where he did not record a single reception. Add in there practice squad extraordinaire Brandon Rideau and rookies Juaquin Iglesias and Johnny Knox, and there are more than a few question marks to say the least.

Hester will no doubt be an improved weapon considering Cutler’s cannon of an arm. And Bennett and Cutler were teammates back when both attend Vanderbilt, so they already have developed a rapport. Davis, coming off a miserable season last year, is looking to bounce back and prove that he is a reliable option in the slot. Both Iglesias and Knox have drawn the praises of draft guru’s everywhere.

But none of them, not even Hester really, have shown the ability to be that star receiver that Cutler needs.

Where Cutler will be surprised is with Forte and the running game, he will not only be throwing less passes, he had 600+ attempts last year, but the play-action pass could become deadly. Add to that a solid, reliable tight end in Desmond Clark and an up-and-comer in Greg Olsen, and Cutler’s passing percentage could be on the rise, of course his overall yards and TD’s might take a dip.

So all in all, it will be an interesting season to watch for both Bears and Bronco fans and expect the comparisons to be endless. I personally hope that it turns out Cutler made Marshall and Royal better, as opposed to the other way around, but hey, I am a Bears fan; what do you expect?

George Halas vs Vince Lombardi: Who Affected Pro Football More?

Two legends. Their names are synonymous with greatness. When you say Halas or Lombardi to a NFL fan, they know who you are talking about and what that man meant to each respective team and to the NFL.

Both have had books written about their accomplishments. Both are considered masters of their trade. Both of their personalities and styles have been broken down and analyzed time and again by coaches all over the U.S.  

The Super Bowl trophy is named after Lombardi. The NFC title trophy is named after Halas. Lambeau Field is located on Lombardi Avenue. The Pro Football Hall of Fame, located in Canton, Ohio, is found at 2121 Halas Drive.

If there were a Mount Rushmore of people who had the most profound effect on the NFL, Halas and Lombardi would be up there (Probably Mara from the Giants as well and then someone else, but that is an article for another day)

Vince Lombardi was one of the greatest coaches of all time. He was cunning, smart and new exactly how to get the most from his players. He led the Green Bay Packers to back-to-back-to-back NFL championships, including the first two official Super Bowls in the 1966 and 1967 seasons.

He won a total of five titles in ten years and his playoff record was 9-1. Staggering numbers without question (especially when you take into consideration that the one lost was his first playoff game… Count that, nine playoff wins in a row).

Lombardi also designed one of the more famous plays in NFL lore, the Packer Power Sweep, which if you ever had played the old school Sega football games, you know how  devastating of a run play that is (or of course, if you were alive in that period, you could attest to this as well).

George Halas was one of the founding fathers of professional football back in the beginning of the 1900’s. He was player/coach when the Chicago Bears were the still playing as the Decatur Staleys. He was there to move them to Chicago.

He named them the Bears.

He was at the first meeting, located in a car dealership, where a group of owners joined together to form the American Professional Football Conference and elected Jim Thorpe as the first commissioner (two years later, with the addition of a couple more teams, they changed the name to the National Football League).

Halas found and marketed the first professional football star in Harold “Red” Grange. Halas took the Bears and Grange on a coast-to-coast tour promote football as more than just a college sport.

He had the Bears play the New York Giants at the Polo Grounds in front of more than 65,000 spectators, the largest crowd to see a professional football game at the time. Although the tour only spanned a mere 17 days, it included eight games in twelve days and went from the New York to California.  

Halas was also instrumental in creating the T-Formation, which led to the Bears dominating the 1940s. He drafted the first African American Player and had the first African American quarterback in the league.

He kept the league and the Bears going up to World War II, where he then quit football, rejoined the armed forces from 1943-45, then came back and coached the Bears to a title in 1946.

Lombardi was in his third year as coach of the Packers, and two championships deep, when Halas was a part of the first NFL Hall-of-Fame class in 1963.  

In all 43 years as the head coach of the Chicago Bears, Halas only suffered six seasons where he finished with a losing record. He won a Championship in four separate decades.

So when it comes down to it, who did more? Personally, give Halas the nod. His role as an owner/GM/coach led the NFL into starlight. For Lombardi, he might have the edge when it comes to coaching… maybe.

But Lombardi, for all he did, was only coach for 10 years. That’s it. I realize when you say a decade, it sounds like a lot, and when you look at his record during that time frame, it is unparalleled. 

But George Halas was the Chicago Bears head coach for over 40 years and owner for 60 and was an integral part of not only keeping the league alive during the early years, but also in helping it flourish to become one of the most watched pro sports in the world.

Lovie Smith’s Last Stand

Lovie Smith has finally decided to man up and take the reigns of “his” defense. The Chicago Bears defense last season was worse than their ranking. In fact, it was downright pitiful at times. Such as…

Week 2…The 20-17 loss to the Carolina Panthers in which the Bears gave up the final 17 points of the game.

Week 3…The 27-24 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in which the Bears D gave up the finals 10 points in the last 3:11 seconds of regulation and then lost the game in overtime.

Also note that Brian Griese, yes THAT Brian Griese, was not sacked the whole game despite dropping back to pass 67 times.

Week 6…The 22-20 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in which the Bears were leading with 11 seconds left, and defensive coordinator Bob Babich keeps with the Lovie philosophy of a soft Cover-2. The defense gives up a long pass play to set up the winning field goal. The Falcons were also 9-16 on third downs, including six conversions of eight yards or longer.

Week 7…The 48-41 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Sure, the Bears forced four turnovers, but they still gave up 41 points and 439 yards. Not exactly the vaunted defense we all were expecting. If it wasn’t for some decent offensive play and exceptional special teams work, this would have been ugly.

Week 10…The 21-14 loss to the Tennessee Titans. The rush defense was superb, but they allowed Kerry Collins to go 31-for-40 for 289 yards and 2 TDs. Kerry Collins had not had a two-touchdown game in more than a year and a half. I mean, he is Kerry Freaking Collins. I think he is due to start collecting social security soon.

Week 11… a 37-3 pounding by the hated Packers. Offense was just as bad as the defense that game. 30 points, 427 total yards given up, no sacks recorded, no turnovers forced. Ugly game all around.

Week 13…34-13 loss to the Vikes. There isn’t much to say about this game other than a blown coverage that turned into a 99-yard touchdown pass to BERNARD BERRIAN! (Also gave up 131 yards to A.P. and allowed 17 second quarter points. So the D can’t blame the offense for forcing them to be out there too much since its only the second quarter.)

Week 17…31-24 loss to the Texans. Allowed the Texans to score 21 straight points during the second and third quarters. Gave up 148 receiving yards to Andre Johnson (seriously, you knew who they were going to throw the ball to and he still gets 148 yards?), and Matt Schaub went 27-for-36 for 328 yards and 2 TDs. Not to mention, you win that game and you are playoff-bound. Talk about not stepping up in crunch time.

Statistically, our defense from the beginning of the season to the end made quarterbacks look like All-Pros. Kerry Collins, Gus Frerotte, Matt Ryan, Brian Griese, Jake Delhomme, Matt Schaub. Heck even Dan Orlovsky threw for 292 yards in one game against us. The Lions went 0-16!

The overall point is that the defense was terrible. And after the season ended, Lovie announced he would be taking a more active role in calling defensive schemes. Which basically means, he gets to control his defense but doesn’t have to fire his good buddy, Bob Babich.

The only good thing about this move is that either the defense improves, or Lovie gets canned. And if Lovie gets fired, then Babich goes too (and hopefully offensive “guru” Ron Turner).

Is it ironic that once Ron Rivera left, our defense took a noticeable turn for the worse? I realize that Lovie and him butted heads, but could that have been what Lovie needed for this defense to succeed?

Or does Lovie actually know what he is doing? I think no, but time will tell as the season progresses.

Bear down, Lovie. If this team fails to make the playoffs, or your defense plays as bad as it did last season, you will be run out of town faster than you can say “Cover-2”.

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