Archive: When the Bears Win [AUDIO]
Thanks to Adam for the time and terrific insight. We’ll be making him a regular player around here.
Stephen Paea has been a disappointment for almost the entirety of his Chicago Bears career. In 2014 he is acknowledging that disappointment:
“You see how I played — I let my teammates down,” the defensive tackle said after the fifth of 10 organized team activity sessions at Halas Hall. “The best thing about it is, I have a second chance to do it …
“Just put a chip on my shoulder this year.”
For me Paea is the Bears fifth defensive tackle in 2014 and will see even less field time when the Bears slide some of their versatile ends (Houston, Young) inside on passing downs. You could make an argument that no player on the defensive roster outside of Shea McClellin needs a better summer.
…but that is not the only reason I believe the Bears should be interested in the talented, pot-smoking knucklehead recently released by the New York Giants.
UPDATE: SOMEHOW I DIDN’T COPY OVER MY FULLBACK COLUMN WHEN POSTING. THIS IS NOW DONE.
Here is the breakdown of the 2013 Chicago Bears roster as they broke August and headed for the regular season:
Quarterbacks (2): Jay Cutler, Josh McCown
Running backs (3): Michael Bush, Michael Ford, Matt Forte
Fullbacks (1): Tony Fiammetta
Wide receivers (6): Joe Anderson, Earl Bennett, Alshon Jeffery, Brandon Marshall, Eric Weems, Marquess Wilson
Tight ends (3): Kyle Adams, Martellus Bennett, Steve Maneri
Offensive linemen (9): Taylor Boggs, Eben Britton, James Brown, Jermon Bushrod, Roberto Garza, Kyle Long, Jordan Mills, Jonathan Scott, Matt Slauson
Defensive linemen (9): Nate Collins, Shea McClellin, Henry Melton, Zach Minter, Cheta Ozougwu,Stephen Paea, Julius Peppers, Cornelius Washington, Corey Wootton
Linebackers (6): James Anderson, Jon Bostic, Lance Briggs, Blake Costanzo, Khaseem Greene, D.J. Williams.
Cornerbacks (6): Zackary Bowman, Isaiah Frey, Tim Jennings, Sherrick McManis, Charles Tillman, C.J. Wilson
Safeties (4): Chris Conte, Craig Steltz, Anthony Walters, Major Wright
Specialists (4): Robbie Gould, Devin Hester, Patrick Mannelly, Adam Podlesh
Understanding how much can change over the next three months, let’s try and project what this year’s 53 might look like and identify what camp battles might truly exist in Bourbonnais. One thing that’ll surprise you? There are very few questions.
Pat Mannelly, the namesake for this column, is attempting to recover from January hip surgery. Special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis commented on the organization’s approach to Mannelly in this post from ESPN Chicago:
“I’ve been in contact with Pat and there is no pressure one way or the other,” DeCamillis said. “We just have to let it play out. He’s had a great career, and I hope he continues his great career, but we just need to let it play out and see how it goes.
“I don’t [have a sense which way he’s leaning]. I just hope it’s the best situation for him. That’s really what I hope because he’s such a great person and such a great guy. Winning the Ed Block Courage Award is a big deal. Couldn’t be a better guy to win it, I can tell you that.”
Here are some facts about the world when Mannelly joined the Bears:
Pat Mannelly is a Chicago Bears institution and deserves a proper, year-long sendoff. Here’s hoping he returns for a final season.
He’s quickly becoming the Bears most interesting rookie, Jordan Lynch. The Bears loved him during their pre-draft meetings and from all initial reports at rookie camp, the former Northern Illinois quarterback is adapting well to his newfound position in the backfield.
From the Sun-Times:
“Quarterback’s all mental in practice,” the former NIU signal caller said Friday at Halas Hall, following the Bears’ first day of rookie mini-camp. “Now I gotta turn on the physical side in practice, and do special teams, always on the go.
“Staying in shape is going to be key.”
Lynch is right. In order to make the Bears roster as a running back he’s going to need to play bigger, play stronger and a be an indispensable asset on special teams. But the mental side can not be discounted and Lynch’s comments prove he’s already leapt that not-so-insignificant hurdle.
How many successful college quarterbacks have seen possibly promising NFL careers derailed by their stubborn unwillingness to change positions? Lynch has embraced the change, embraced one of the best offensive coaching staffs in the sport and I get the sense fans will be embracing him loudly on the practice fields of Bourbonnais this summer.
Congrats to Scott Vandermoon, winner of the DBB draft weekend ticket contest. He’ll receive a pair of tickets to a Bears home game this year.
The Bears drafted eight players over three days. They were Kyle Fuller (CB, Va Tech), Ego Ferguson (DT, LSU),Will Sutton (DT, Arizona State), Ka’Deem Carey (RB, Arizona), Brock Vereen (FS, Minnesota), David Fales (QB, San Jose State), Pat O’Donnell (P,Miami) and Charles Leno Jr. (OT, Boise State).
They also signed as undrafted free agents: Jordan Lynch (QB?, Northern Illinois), James Dunbar (OT, TCU), Christian Jones (LB, FSU), Brandon Dunn (DT, Louisville), DeDe Lattimore (LB, South Florida), Tana Patrick (LB, Bama), Lee Pegues (DT, East Carolina), Cody Booth (TE, Temple) and Ryan Groy (OG, Wisconsin).
There is a lot to discuss when it comes to this bounty of players. I, of course, am starting with the punter.
DaBearsBlog has given away tickets to a Bears game each of the past two seasons – through the draft party at Cortland’s Garage in 2012 and through our Ditka Lookalike party in Wicker Park this past December. (We’ll be doing another charitable event this fall. We’re still working through details.)
This year we are instituting a rather unique and interesting draft contest. It is also quite difficult.
Here are the rules.
In the comments below, simply type CONTEST: before making your selection. I can not shuffle through all of the commentary for your picks. This will enable me to run through the comments quickly.
In order to stay alive in this contest, you have to guess the first round selection of the Chicago Bears correctly. Quite simple. Guess the player.
Note: If the Bears trade out of the first round, all those submitting first round entries will advance.
Submission Example:
CONTEST: Calvin Pryor
SELECTION IS DUE IN THE COMMENTS SECTION BY 7:00 PM CT THURSDAY EVENING. NO LATE SELECTIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
In order to make it to Saturday in this contest, you have to get the positions of both the Bears second and third round selections correct. You do not have to guess the players. You merely have to guess the positions.
Because I wanted to have fun with it, here is what I would do throughout the first round of the NFL Draft if I ran every team. This is not a mock draft. I don’t know what any of these teams think about any player and I mostly don’t care.
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1. Houston Texans
TRADE! The Texans deal the first pick to the Oakland Raiders for free ferry transportation to and from Alcatraz and a box of autographed Jose Canseco photographs.
Why? Because I’ve been an unmitigated disaster as GM in Oakland and a gutsy move like this would at least enable me to put my stamp on the organization. If I come out of this draft with a potential All Pro DE and my chosen quarterback at the top of the second round, I’ll be smiling Monday morning and perhaps buy myself an additional year in charge to develop the young talents.
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Why? Because I would think the Rams are close and I don’t think Johnny Manziel could survive four games against the Niners and Seahawks in his rookie campaign. Bradford might not be my guy long-term but I believe I can win with him if my offensive line matches the strength of my defensive line.
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Why? Because I hired Gus Bradley to build the Seahawks defense in Jacksonville and I don’t believe in this theory that a flashy-named QB sells tickets. Winning sells tickets. We’re not winning anything this year. I’m giving my head coach the best toy available and seeing what he does with it.
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4. Cleveland Browns
TRADE! The Browns deal the fourth pick to the Buffalo Bills for wings from the Anchor.
Why? Because I have a solid group on defense and need playmakers. Watkins is the best playmaker in this draft and a perfect compliment to Robert Woods, who looked like a budding star a year ago in Buffalo. I’ve decided to build the fastest team in my division and take my chances.
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Why? Because it’s just the Texas thing to do and there are few coaches in the league better suited to Manziel’s molding and demeanor than Bill O’Brien. And because I’ve gotten a nice package for the first overall selection, the risk is mitigated.
