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Antoine Winfield is still a possibility. That would be great because not only do we get a CB but we take it from Minnesota. Then you can talk about moving Vasher or Graham to Safety.

i think we're stuck with the **** DB's we have now. Afalava is a steal at SS, But they need to do whatever they can trade or something to get Taylor Mays in next years draft. Some body ( or some people ) has to go for the defense to get better in the secondary or on the D-line if Marinelli doesn't get to them on track.

If we can get good pressure from the line that will help, but I am not a fan of Cover 2...but if they play to their capabilities, we should be alright.

john lynch retired.

keep mike brown at safety but sign a reliable backup just in case then take chris mccallister, or maybe make a move on sheldon brown especially if he doesn't show to training camp after he said he would

Who would we play at safety

Umm.... Beefstin Mike Brown was released awhile ago. They need to get younger on the dline and in the mlb postion. Forever now the Bears always rely on defense, so in the next draft they need to draft s saftey. Every year they always draft a d liner or a wide out. I question their draft ability.

QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 08:27 PM ET  05.15 by This Account Has Been Removed

Add more to the defensive line. The D-line needs to dominate in the Cover 2. They need to be capable of rushing the passer without the assist of blitzing linebackers. But that defense dropped after he left.Then you consider how the current #1 NFC Defense, NYG, builds their team. They continue to add depth to their defensive line. But they run a zone blitz. So their pass rush does not need to rely on the defensive line as heavily as Chicago.

I defiantly agree with you A Nom: Reality, The Bears drafted Gilbert and Melton and hired Marinelli to breath life back into the D-Line. Before people start flaming about Marinelli remember he was the D-Line coach for Tampa Bay and was credited for developing Sapp and Rice and will make a better Line Coach than he did head Coach.

As long as the D-Line can generate pressure on the Q.B. with the front 4 the corners and safeties should benefit from linebackers covering the middle of the field.

For all the talk coaches do about putting the team first and working together, Lovie put his personal dislike for Rivera ahead of what was best for our defense. He didn't like Rivera so he was fired. Our defense hasn't been the same.

Maybe we could bring Mike Brown back with a playing time clause and injury by out if he gets hurt again. When healthy he has been one of the best. Maybe we can pickup someone when the cuts are made to the 53 man rosters.

I really believe that Culter will help keep drives going when last year we were 3 and out. If he can reduce the time our defense spends on the field they will be fresher in the 4th quarter when we lost so many games last year. We were ranked 27th in 3rd down conversion. Another area I hope Culter will improve. As bad as everyone thinks our defense was last year, we were ranked 5th in 3rd down conversion defense. However, we were 30th in pass defense and 28th in penalties. Lets hope one of these rookies step up or we can pickup some veteran.

Rod Hood. He's solid...and was a salary cap bump, he's not a shutdown corner, but is solid.
Would be a good addition for that secondary. He played well with the Eagles...but had a limited role. Or they could make a phone call to Andy and request Sheldon Brown's services, I'm sure it might take a little more compensation being that he'd still be in the NFC. Brown's good...I like him, not flashy but solid. Only gave up 1 TD in 08 to Fitzgerald in the championship game.
I don't dislike him, but if he's not happy and wants out...fine.
Just don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.

If it not broke, don`t fix it. The push up front must be better. Vasher tillman can cover. The
pressure must come from the front. This allows the secondary to get in position for interceptions and coverage. Give the opposing quarterback no time to make the right decision
get in his face, pressure him. Thats the old bears 46 defense and the cover two defense.

Nice points Big Dallas, Our D sorely misses Rivera, Mike Brown will also be missed he was defiantly a Bears safety but hard to hold a roster spot for someone who has been so injury plagued, I felt the same way about Azumah.

Phillyfan5 I think the Bears should defiantly look into Hood. I don't know if Andy would let go of Brown without as you say more compensation. Safety seems to big the glaring hole and we have to many corners, which is the trouble trying to figure out who can play safety and who can play corner.

Jeff Dickerson over at ESPN has a pretty spot on article about the secondary trouble.
http://espn.go.com/chicago/columns/blog?post=4110900&name=dickerson

Safety could burn us just like WR, if we do not fill these slots this year, with the rules of the CBA....we got what we got...with the owners opting out of the CBA, Free Agency will not be a option for any team that make the playoffs, after this year...their only option will be the draft, and not having a 1st rounder really hurts...the rules with free agancy are changed until a new CBA is agreed upon, what this means is, unless YOUR team looses a free agent, you can not sign a free agent...and you can FRANCHISE two players instead of one.

The bears can't fix any problems with their defense because they used their draft picks for Cutler. Along with the receiver position, they can try to address them when they regain their first round picks back. What you see right now is what you get because it takes money, a keen eye, and draft picks to land the people that are needed. I also read where they will have several defensive players contracts expiring at the end of this season so they will have to sign them. Not to mention that you will have to contend with trying to sign Cutler to a $100 million pus contract and finding talent to go around him. Building around a qb is easier said than done because there are several factors that will have to be weighed. In short, the bears should've already addressed their receiver and o line problems (you need younger players that can perform for a long peroid of time). You can't go shopping for help once a huge purchase has been made-there are some pieces that should've already been in place. Boldin was unhappy long before you went after Cutler. Reality has set in for the bears front office and they see that they don't have any bargaining power to acquire what else is needed. Having Cutler will not solve all of your problems-it only postponed the tasks that laid ahead. You can have the world's best dc, but they would still prefer alot of youth.

The bears appear to be faced with
1) Trying to pay Cutler his $100 million plus
2) Trying to resign the defensive players whose contracts will expire
3) Trying to obtain top free agent talent at the market rate
4) Drafting once agian without a #1 pick
Doesn't seem like much at first, but it is considering there are owners out there that will pay up on a consistent basis it's alot. This is the catch 22 that no one was talking about until now.

The Bears made a significant upgrade at the QB position. Hands down.
He may not be the save all, right now, and you made good points about the upcoming contract status's of some D players. But most of the WR core was banged up last year, and Hester should be better with another year under his belt.
Matt Forte is a stud RB...and also should be much improved in his 2nd year.
Greg Olsen will catch a lot of balls, so too will Hester.
What about Marvin Harrison? He is still on the street...and has run every route known to man under Peyton's watch. He could be had cheap, and add some depth with a boatload of experience. Just a thought.
Arizona was asking too much for Boldin. A 1st, 3rd, and a 5th.
If they were going to make a trade with a ton of compensation, then they made the right choice with a franchise QB just hitting his prime.
They've got some weapons, if they can score in bunches...it will make the D's job a lot easier.

QUOTE(#15):

Originally posted 05:30 PM ET  05.17 by Vee#1

The bears can't fix any problems with their defense because they used their draft picks for Cutler. Along with the receiver position, they can try to address them when they regain their first round picks back. What you see right now is what you get because it takes money, a keen eye, and draft picks to land the people that are needed. I also read where they will have several defensive players contracts expiring at the end of this season so they will have to sign them. Not to mention that you will have to contend with trying to sign Cutler to a $100 million pus contract and finding talent to go around him. Building around a qb is easier said than done because there are several factors that will have to be weighed. In short, the bears should've already addressed their receiver and o line problems (you need younger players that can perform for a long peroid of time). You can't go shopping for help once a huge purchase has been made-there are some pieces that should've already been in place. Boldin was unhappy long before you went after Cutler. Reality has set in for the bears front office and they see that they don't have any bargaining power to acquire what else is needed. Having Cutler will not solve all of your problems-it only postponed the tasks that laid ahead. You can have the world's best dc, but they would still prefer alot of youth.The bears appear to be faced with1) Trying to pay Cutler his $100 million plus2) Trying to resign the defensive players whose contracts will expire3) Trying to obtain top free agent talent at the market rate4) Drafting once agian without a #1 pickDoesn't seem like much at first, but it is considering there are owners out there that will pay up on a consistent basis it's alot. This is the catch 22 that no one was talking about until now.

Cutler 100 Million????? what are you talking about?

Jay Cutlers remaining contract

:009: $1.035 million + $100,000 workout bonus

2010: $1.4225 million + $4 million roster bonus

2011: $1.81 million + $12 million roster bonus

2012: Free Agent

Escalators:

$1.95 million escalator for any year of 2006-2010 that he finishes in the top five in any of the NFL's major passing categories.

$4 million bonus for taking 70% of the snaps in 2009.

$500,000 bonus available 2006-2010 for taking 70% of the snaps and either taking 70% of the snaps in a Super Bowl or winning a Super Bowl.

The Bears are expected to pick up his workout Bonus of a $100 thousand, not $100 million

As far as 2010 players contracts goes as follows:

Adrian Peterson, Daniel Buenning, Ogenyle, Mark Anderson, Israel Idonoje, Jamar Williams, Josh Bullocks, Daniel Manning and Brad Maynard are all Unrestricted Free Agents.

Dusty Dvorcek and Nick Roach are Restricted Free Agents.

As far first round draft picks are concerned it's a crap shoot with close to 50 percent of the picks in the first round are busts, and of those who are not, about half of them become rank-and-file players. One only has to look at teams like the Patriots who constantly trade out of the first rnd. to pick up more 2nd and 3rnd picks where the quality to dollar ratio is much better. Here is a good read on what I am talking about:

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/blog/?p=276

QUOTE(#15):

Originally posted 05:30 PM ET  05.17 by Vee#1

the bears should've already addressed their receiver and o line problems

As far as the O-Line goes it has been drastically upgraded:
John St. Clair allowed 9.75 sacks last season and was ranked #30 last year at left tackle. Orlando Pace who will replace St. Clair was ranked 3rd with 2.0 sacks allowed. this is an improvement. Josh Beekman at left guard ranked 7th with 1.25 sacks allowed. Center Olin Kreutz ranked #1 with 0 sacks allowed. Roberto Garza man the right guard spot and ranks 18th with 2.5 sacks allowed but will battle Frank Omiyale for the spot. Chris Williams who the Bears drafted last year will start at right tackle, could possibly battle Kevin Shaffer who ranked 11th with 4.5 sacks allowed, for this spot.

The Bears O-Line is defiantly improved from last year, I look for the Bears to address the O-Line some more in the 2010 draft. It's not like you can simply draft a new line overnight or like top Young O-Lineman can be picked up through free agency.

If you are trying to say the Bears O-Line isn't improved from last year you are wrong. If you are comparing Cutlers Line from Denver to Chicagos last year, then Denvers line wins hands down. You also have to figure in the Q.B. themselves and the running game into the equation, last year the Bears faced 8 in the box every game and heavy run blitzes because teams new they had to stop Forte, and didn't believe Orton would beat them deep. This should change with the acquisition of Cutler. Cutler will also make the W.R.s we have better by being able to deliver the ball accurately and on time.

QUOTE(#18):

Originally posted 09:55 PM ET  05.17 by GSH 1

As far as the O-Line goes it has been drastically upgraded: John St. Clair allowed 9.75 sacks last season and was ranked #30 last year at left tackle. Orlando Pace who will replace St. Clair was ranked 3rd with 2.0 sacks allowed. this is an improvement. Josh Beekman at left guard ranked 7th with 1.25 sacks allowed. Center Olin Kreutz ranked #1 with 0 sacks allowed. Roberto Garza man the right guard spot and ranks 18th with 2.5 sacks allowed but will battle Frank Omiyale for the spot. Chris Williams who the Bears drafted last year will start at right tackle, could possibly battle Kevin Shaffer who ranked 11th with 4.5 sacks allowed, for this spot.The Bears O-Line is defiantly improved from last year, I look for the Bears to address the O-Line some more in the 2010 draft. It's not like you can simply draft a new line overnight or like top Young O-Lineman can be picked up through free agency.If you are trying to say the Bears O-Line isn't improved from last year you are wrong. If you are comparing Cutlers Line from Denver to Chicagos last year, then Denvers line wins hands down. You also have to figure in the Q.B. themselves and the running game into the equation, last year the Bears faced 8 in the box every game and heavy run blitzes because teams new they had to stop Forte, and didn't believe Orton would beat them deep. This should change with the acquisition of Cutler. Cutler will also make the W.R.s we have better by being able to deliver the ball accurately and on time.

Yes the O-line problems may be resolved...but they have to show it on the field, not on paper...It seems that Angelo only wants to deal with second level free agents, and hope the become stars...You look good when this happens, but when it does not, you look feeble...I do like moving Corey Graham to safety, that should help out on covering the tight ends, and the deep ball.

I thought Lovie and staff made a great move in the 2nd round to fix all the Bears secondary problem - S William Moore? 6'1, 220 lbs, 4.5 speed, intimidating, has few flaws - can cover and stuff the run - most analysist agreed he was the top safey pick this year. Besides, with a potent offense that Cutler is running, Bears D can afford to take more chances now and be aggrressive once again. No more rex/orton debacle for the D to fish out of trouble.