http://www.bearsbeat.com/blog Chicago Bears news and views Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:42:41 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The Bears took three solid steps toward returning to playoff contention with the acquisitions of free agent defensive end Julius Peppers, running back Chester Taylor, and tight end Brandon Manumaleuna. The three pricey transactions clearly demonstrated how committed to winning the franchise is and at what lengths they'll go ... http://www.bearsbeat.com/blog/2010/03/05/bears-make-significant-upgrades-with-three-acquisitions/ Just as they had done by signing Frank Omiyale in the opening hours of free agency last off-season, the Bears recognized a need and struck quickly at the start of free agency this year. The Bears agreed to terms with tight end Brandon Manumaleuna early Friday morning. Manumaleuna played for new ... http://www.bearsbeat.com/blog/2010/03/05/bears-strike-quickly-sign-te-manumaleuna/ Free agency kicks off at 11:01 p.m. Thursday night. For an organization that values building its team through the draft but does not have a first or second round pick this year, free agency will be the Bears' draft. Contrary to public opinion around Chicagoland, Jerry Angelo and Lovie Smith ... http://www.bearsbeat.com/blog/2010/03/03/now-is-not-the-time-for-bears-to-remain-cheap/ "My glass is half full. I'm excited about this opportunity that we have. And when we do well this year, everything will take care of itself. It's as simple as that." -Bears head coach Lovie Smith on his job security and the outlook for the 2010 season. http://www.bearsbeat.com/blog/2010/02/28/lovie-smith-on-his-job-security/ Bears president Ted Phillips recently claimed in an interview that the Bears would not be going "hog wild" in free agency despite the inevitable uncapped year that will officially begin in March.  He maintained that the Bears will stick to the plan that they've followed for years which is to ... http://www.bearsbeat.com/blog/2010/02/24/could-bears-really-be-pursuing-julius-peppers/ With free agency on the horizon it's time to revisit a feature I did last off-season, my wish list. Every fan has his or her own idea of what the Bears need to do to improve for next season and I will share my thoughts. With new offensive and defensive ... http://www.bearsbeat.com/blog/2010/02/21/2010-off-season-wish-list/ "In [Mike Martz's] system, you gotta be able to run. You'd better be cerebral, you'd better be able to learn and you'd better have thick skin because he's so demanding. You're working with a perfectionist.  If you can't do those three things -- if you're not tough, if you're not ... http://www.bearsbeat.com/blog/2010/02/15/torry-holt-on-mike-martzs-offense/ Torry Holt said it best in a recent interview on WMVP AM-1000. "I think it's a match made in heaven if they were to bring someone like me in to actually show these guys how to run this system, efficiently, effectively and consistently." Forgive me for being cynical as years of disappointing ... http://www.bearsbeat.com/blog/2010/02/13/although-unlikely-signing-holt-makes-perfect-sense/ "Devin Hester in that role could just be stupid good." -Bears offensive coordinator Mike Martz on how wide receiver Devin Hester would do as a slot receiver in his offense, the same role that Az Hakim played when Martz was a coach in St. Louis. http://www.bearsbeat.com/blog/2010/02/09/mike-martz-on-devin-hester-as-a-slot-receiver/ I had two goals entering this season as it pertained to my predictions. First, I wanted to finish with less than 100 losses, which I've accomplished. Second, I wanted a better record than last year's 166-99 mark. I've improved that, as well. I'm also excited about ... http://www.bearsbeat.com/blog/2010/02/06/2009-weekly-predictions-super-bowl-xliv/ "The talent level you need to play the Cover-2 truly the way it was designed is extreme.  You've got to have the Sapps, the pass rushers and linebackers who are physical and fast.  It has become very difficult to put the personnel together to be a pure Cover-2 team." -Indianapolis Colts ... http://www.bearsbeat.com/blog/2010/02/04/larry-coyer-on-the-cover-2-defense/ About the only thing puzzling about the Bears' decision to hire Mike Martz as their new offensive coordinator was the length of time it took to make it official. Surely, Martz was head coach Lovie Smith's first choice for more reasons than just the time they spent together on ... http://www.bearsbeat.com/blog/2010/02/02/bears-took-their-time-got-it-right-with-martz/ In a world of cynicism, pessimism and distrust, I sometimes feel like an odd man out.  Such a feeling makes me wonder if I'm the only one who thinks it is perfectly acceptable and reasonable for the Bears to want to make sure Jay Cutler is compatible with whomever they ... http://www.bearsbeat.com/blog/2010/02/01/cutler-nowhere-near-as-involved-in-coordinator-search-as-some-speculate/ In the NFL, three years is a lifetime, so it's understandable why Bears fans are upset that their team hasn't been to the playoffs during that span. In life, three years goes by rather quickly and it's hard to believe that many years have past since the Bears were ... http://www.bearsbeat.com/blog/2010/01/26/bears-becoming-a-league-punchline/ Through two weeks of playoff picks, I'm 1-7. I'm not exactly having success picking playoff games. I'm tempted to pick the Vikings this week over the Saints since my picks have been so bad and maybe I can jinx them, but I don't believe in stuff like that. Here’s ... http://www.bearsbeat.com/blog/2010/01/23/2009-weekly-predictions-conference-championship-predictions/ San Diego Chargers assistant head coach/tight ends Rob Chudzinski was interviewed Thursday by the Bears for their vacant offensive coordinator position after the Chargers granted permission for the Bears to do so. "Chud," as he is called by those close to him, was given just one day to interview instead of ... http://www.bearsbeat.com/blog/2010/01/22/chudzinski-smartest-choice-at-this-point/ One month ago to the day, the NFL tragically lost a 26-year-old player who died far too young.  Never would the NFL have expected when Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry died on Dec. 17 that exactly one month later another 26-year-old player, Gaines Adams, would pass away, too. Adams' death ... http://www.bearsbeat.com/blog/2010/01/17/adams-death-tragic-for-him-family-not-for-bears-or-fans/ I had a terrible week of predictions in the wild card round as I finished 0-4. I don't feel bad for two reasons. First, I heard it was a bad week for many analysts out there. Second, as a Bears fan, two of my least favorite teams ... http://www.bearsbeat.com/blog/2010/01/16/2009-weekly-predictions-divisional-round-predictions/ Say what you want about the way Jerry Angelo and Lovie Smith have handled their jobs over the last few years, and most any criticism is warranted, but at least they're doing the right thing in their search for a new offensive coordinator. It's been suggested that quarterback Jay Cutler currently ... http://www.bearsbeat.com/blog/2010/01/13/bears-have-right-idea-in-offensive-coordinator-search/ "The Chicago Bears’ offense is going to be downright scary next year." -NFL analyst and former Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann on the 2010 Bears offense. http://www.bearsbeat.com/blog/2010/01/11/joe-theismann-on-2010-bears-offense/ I finished the regular season strong with a 12-4 record last week, which kind of surprised me because of the difficulty in picking Week 17 games. With the uncertainty of so many teams resting players, it's often difficult to accurately project games. Green Bay's victory over Arizona's backups, Kansas ... http://www.bearsbeat.com/blog/2010/01/09/2009-weekly-predictions-wild-card-round/ From where the Bears currently stand, and taking into consideration the resources with which they have to work in order to improve to become a playoff team in 2010, Lovie Smith appears to be a lame duck coach. It's quite possible, and even likely, that team president Ted Phillips -- and ... http://www.bearsbeat.com/blog/2010/01/08/bears-need-more-than-a-one-year-band-aid-at-offensive-coordinator/ The Bears on Tuesday announced coaching changes that most fans and analysts believed were coming while keeping the hierarchy of power in place. It came as no surprise that the Bears fired six offensive coaches, most notably coordinator Ron Turner.  Others who were dismissed included quarterbacks coach Pep Hamilton, offensive line ... http://www.bearsbeat.com/blog/2010/01/05/bears-make-wise-business-decision-questionable-football-choice/ There isn't an awful lot to review from Sunday's 37-23 victory over the Lions, but that's an inevitability when the Bears are cleaning out their lockers on a Monday morning in January instead of preparing for an upcoming playoff opponent. The question being asked the most seems to be why did ... http://www.bearsbeat.com/blog/2010/01/04/monday-morning-quarterback-bears-lions-010310/ For three quarters the Bears did not look very convincing, but they pulled away at the end and ultimately achieved their objective in their 37-23 victory over the Lions. Take it for what it's worth against the worst pass defense in the NFL, but the offense -- specifically Jay Cutler -- ... http://www.bearsbeat.com/blog/2010/01/03/postgame-thoughts-bears-vs-lions-010310/ Bears offense vs. Lions defense The spark brought on by the new Lions regime quickly wore off by midseason.  That's when reality set in and it became clear to Detroit that there were still too many bad players left over from the Matt Millen era.  The Lions are a vulnerable team, ... http://www.bearsbeat.com/blog/2010/01/03/game-breakdown-bears-at-lions-010310/ A couple of upsets derailed my predictions last week. First, Carolina destroyed the Giants at home. Then, Tampa Bay slipped by the Saints. Next, Colts coach Jim Caldwell pulls a boneheaded move -- in my opinion -- by benching his starters for most of the second half ... http://www.bearsbeat.com/blog/2010/01/02/2009-weekly-predictions-week-17/ A look at four keys for the Bears to beat this week’s opponent. 1. Execute a balanced offense Jay Cutler can follow his NFC Offensive Player of the Week performance against the Vikings with an encore against the Lions. Detroit has the worst pass defense in the league and Cutler should ... http://www.bearsbeat.com/blog/2010/01/01/four-downs-keys-to-beating-the-lions-2/ The Bears played an incredibly competitive game Monday night against the Vikings and the result was the most entertaining game to watch of the season. Calling performances microcosms of something bigger has become cliché, but I'm going to do so anyway. The manner by which the Bears beat ... http://www.bearsbeat.com/blog/2009/12/31/finishing-7-9-wont-make-up-managements-minds/ Due to an illness, I was not able to write a Monday Morning Quarterback today.  I will try again tomorrow if I'm feeling better. Thanks! http://www.bearsbeat.com/blog/2009/12/29/note-to-readers-2/