Smokey's Offseason Plan

[Smokey Robinson]

FA

Jaye Howard – NT – 6’3 - 301 LBS – 26 years old
4 years/25 mil/12 guaranteed

Eddie Goldman has been impressive but there isn’t much outside of him on the roster. Jaye Howard is a beast that is just starting to come into his own. A rotation of Goldman and Howard will give opponents a lot of trouble running the ball for years to come.

Janoris Jenkins – CB – 5’10 – 198 LBS – 26 years old
5 years/40 mil/ 18 guaranteed

Both Jenkins and his counterpart Trumaine Johnson are worth pursuing in FA and while Johnson is the bigger bodied guy Jenkins is IMO the better corner. Adding a young proven CB to the mix is a must if the Bears want to improve the secondary sooner than later.

Mike Daniels – DE – 6’0 – 310 LBS – 26 years old
4 years/25 mil/12 guaranteed

Jarvis Jenkins is playing the best ball of his career and Ego has shown flashes but an attacking 5-tech like Daniels next to McPhee could be dangerous. Daniels and Howard can both switch from NT and 5-tech providing flexibility up front.

 

[Smokey Robinson]

Draft

1. Leonard Floyd - OLB - Georgia - 6'4 - 235 lbs

McPhee has been a one man pass rush machine but a compliment is needed on the other side. Leonard Floyd has the best first step in the nation and a rare ability to bend around the corner. While his ability to get to the QB is why you draft him his ability to drop into coverage allows the Bears to keep McPhee from doing so. He has played both OLB and ILB in an attempt to utilize his athleticism and keep teams from avoiding his side of the field. He will need to add weight for the next level but he has the length and frame to do so.

2. Christian Hackenberg - QB - Penn State - 6'4 - 234 lbs

Love or hate Cutler he can no longer be viewed as a long term option based on age alone. Christian Hackenberg has all the physical tools and has shown the ability to run a pro style offense as a true freshman. With Cutler's contract becoming more team friendly there is no reason to rush the rookie on the field and with Gase around the Bears may actually be able to develop a QB for once. If Cutler goes down with injury or goes rogue with turnovers however Hackenberg can step in and the Bears can look towards the future.

3. Maurice Canady - CB - Virginia - 6'2 195 lbs

The Bears need help at CB and although I have them picking up Jenkins in FA another corner is still needed. Maurice Canady is a long corner with the speed to cover smaller shiftier guys. I have seen him move all around the field playing both outside spots and the slot. I am not writing off Fuller yet but this selection allows the Bears to have options both outside and inside.

4. Kentrell Brothers - ILB - Missouri - 6'0 238 lbs

After investing up front in FA the Bears are in a position for their ILBs to roam free and make tackles. In 8 games this season Brothers has 103 tackles, 3 sacks and 2 INTs for the Tigers. He had 103 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 2 INTs last season. Similar to the undersized rookie ILB Fangio used last year this is a guy who will overcome his shortcomings with instincts.

5. Curt Maggitt - OLB - Tennessee - 6'3 252 lbs

A nasty injury caused Maggot to miss the majority of this season and as a result I have him dropping a few rounds. While I have them adding Floyd in the first you can never have too many pass rushers and the Bears need a lot more than what they have now.

 

[Decatur Staley]

FA

Jaye Howard – NT – 6’3 - 301 LBS – 26 years old
4 years/25 mil/12 guaranteed

Eddie Goldman has been impressive but there isn’t much outside of him on the roster. Jaye Howard is a beast that is just starting to come into his own. A rotation of Goldman and Howard will give opponents a lot of trouble running the ball for years to come.


Mike Daniels – DE – 6’0 – 310 LBS – 26 years old
4 years/25 mil/12 guaranteed

Jarvis Jenkins is playing the best ball of his career and Ego has shown flashes but an attacking 5-tech like Daniels next to McPhee could be dangerous. Daniels and Howard can both switch from NT and 5-tech providing flexibility up front.

So your plan is to get depth at the one area of the team where we've already got young players that need reps?

We need secondary, rush LBer, and O-line help way more than D-line.

 

[Smokey Robinson]

So your plan is to get depth at the one area of the team where we've already got young players that need reps?

We need secondary, rush LBer, and O-line help way more than D-line.

You cut and paste around the veteran CB addition, and must not have read the draft as a CB was selected in the 3rd an ILB in the 4th and 2 OLBs selected (1st and 5th).

Leno has shown something and while tackle may be a position to address I didn't feel it was worth it early or to invest big money on a veteran.

Besides Goldman there is nothing at NT and other than Jenkins and Ego not much at 5-tech and both positions require a rotation. Adding Howard and Daniels opens things up for everyone else.

 

[Runruffshod75]

Best draft I've seen yet. I love that you got a QB. I like the specific QB too plus three MUCH needed LB's & a Much needed CB. Nice mock. Maggitt will be a steal if he goes that late.

The only things I'd like to see different is another Olineman & straighten out the HB situation. Either resign Forte or trade him & draft another HB. Outside of Forte there is NOT a true #1 HB on the Bears roster. I love Langford but he's a signature second HB. I want Derrick Henry to take the reigns at the HB position. He's a diesel international among prius drivers out there.

FA could be used to address getting a couple 2 gappers on the D-line, & possibly an Olineman too. I wouldn't touch a FA HB though.

 

[Runruffshod75]

So your plan is to get depth at the one area of the team where we've already got young players that need reps?

We need secondary, rush LBer, and O-line help way more than D-line.

The Bears run a 3-4 & only have 1 LB worth keeping. The Bears are idiots if they don't draft at least two LB's for the core positions the defense they run is actually built on. You don't need to draft 2 gap Dlinemen high & they can get Oline help in FA if needed, though I'm not usually bothered if a team drafts either D-Line or Line, but still both are reasonable positions to address in FA. Especially since 2 gap D-linemen are not a pressing need with high picks unless you have the next Ngata type D-lineman who isn't in this draft.

I would draft my LB's &. I'm amazed that the Bears switched to a 3-4 when they don't even have enough decency at the LB position to succeed in a 4-3 let alone a 3-4 that's built on the LB & CB positions.

He got it right. LB & CB are everything in the Bears current defense & they suck in both areas.

 

[Smokey Robinson]

Best draft I've seen yet. I love that you got a QB. I like the specific QB too plus three MUCH needed LB's & a Much needed CB. Nice mock. Maggitt will be a steal if he goes that late.

The only things I'd like to see different is another Olineman & straighten out the HB situation. Either resign Forte or trade him & draft another HB. Outside of Forte there is NOT a true #1 HB on the Bears roster. I love Langford but he's a signature second HB. I want Derrick Henry to take the reigns at the HB position. He's a diesel international among prius drivers out there.

FA could be used to address getting a couple 2 gappers on the D-line, & possibly an Olineman too. I wouldn't touch a FA HB though.

I agree both OL and HB are needs but didn't really have a round I felt better about one of those positions than the CB, ILB and OLBs I went with. I did debate Booker from Utah against Canady in the third but felt he could have more of an impact.

The FA OL class is pretty good but if Leno can continue to improve it would be hard to justify paying big bucks for a FA OT.

 

[Runruffshod75]

Sheldon Day would be a D-lineman I'd like to see the Bears target if he's on the board in round 2 or 3. Unless Hackenburg or Kessler are available.

 

[WindyCity]

I wouldn't sign 2 DLmen.

I would invest the 2nd contract in a ILB, OLB, or the OL.

DL is arguably one of the strengths of the team and I don't think the Bears need 2 starters with the way Goldman and Jenkins are playing.

The draft is solid, love the mid round defenders.

 

[WindyCity]

Sheldon Day would be a D-lineman I'd like to see the Bears target if he's on the board in round 2 or 3. Unless Hackenburg or Kessler are available.

Day doesn't really fit the mold of what the Bears have brought in on the DL, Daniels either.

The DLmen that this regime have brought in have all been 6'4" and 300lbs +

 

[baselman1974]

Like QB pick. But with 65 million, I want a thumper safety to go with Jenkins in FA and one ILB. Man I'm sick the ILBs missing passing assignments. Teams are attacking the middle of the defense with TEs, RBs, and slot receivers.

 

[Smokey Robinson]

I wouldn't sign 2 DLmen.

I would invest the 2nd contract in a ILB, OLB, or the OL.

DL is arguably one of the strengths of the team and I don't think the Bears need 2 starters with the way Goldman and Jenkins are playing.

The draft is solid, love the mid round defenders.

Fair enough. I would like to see a rotation at NT and really like Howard. Jenkins has one DE spot locked up but I like the idea of another 5-tech that can get to the QB.

DL is one of the strengths and I went with the approach that further bolstering the talent there would make life easier on both the outside and inside linebackers which also makes things easier for the secondary.

I did debate a veteran OLB like Irvin and think he would be a great fit. What do you think of Cordy Glenn the OT from Buffalo that is one guy I debated as well.

 

[Runruffshod75]

Day doesn't really fit the mold of what the Bears have brought in on the DL, Daniels either.

The DLmen that this regime have brought in have all been 6'4" and 300lbs +

He does fit . They use a 3-Tech in this hybrid. Thats what Sutton, McDonald & Ratliff were originally meant for. I know myself & many others throw the term 3-4 around for an easy quick description to avoid writing a book to explain things with this defense but they do use smaller personnel on the D-line. In the old traditional 3-4 Fairbanks a team generally lined up with a zeroed out NT & two 5 techs. They still do this but nearly to the magnitude.

These hybrids the run a lot of under formations which use a blend of personnel from 1 & 2 gap systems. It's still more 1 gap than anything else. A bigger part of the Bears base formations require the NT to play the 1-shade, a 4 tech on the strong side of the center, & an undersized D-lineman on the weakside that can line up as both a 3 tech. & 4i Gap technique.

Smaller pass rushing, D-linemen are very much alive & well in these newer 3-4 defenses. They aren't the motor of the scheme like they were in the 4-3 the Bears currently ran, but they are a need & the hybrid doesn't work as it should without a good 3/4i -tech. Right now the Bears just currently don't have any worth talking about at the moment due to either injury or off the field issues. Personally I believe keeping Sutton, who I though was playing very well, & drafting a kid like Sheldon Day would put the Bears in very good shape up front.

Plus S.Day is already currently playing in a defensive scheme that's almost identical to what the Bears were running at the start of the season before the fallouts with Sutton & now Ratliff.

 

[WindyCity]

Sheldon Day is a great player.

But in SF and now in Chicago, Fangio seems to have a type. He seems to table tall players with length. He did have a couple smaller players in SF, but I think if you gave him an option he would take the taller player.

I like Jaye Howard; especially if you are looking for a young player with upside who won't break the bank:

 

[Runruffshod75]

Sheldon Day is a great player.

But in SF and now in Chicago, Fangio seems to have a type. He seems to table tall players with length. He did have a couple smaller players in SF, but I think if you gave him an option he would take the taller player.

I like Jaye Howard; especially if you are looking for a young player with upside who won't break the bank:

No kidding. Your making my point for me here. Look at any of Fangios 3-4(hybrid defenses)A penetrating D-lineman like McDonald, Sutton or Ratliff is ideal Fangios base defense & even more so in the sub packages. The only reason the Bears don't have one at moment is because of injuries to Sutton, & McDonald & Ratliffs off the field problems, & the availability of pass rushing D-linemen is putrid at the moment.

Mark my words, Sheldon Day is going to end up one of the best DT/DE's from this draft in a 4-3 or hybrid, & he won't even cost a first.

 

[Monsieur Tirets]

id rather take a chance of paxton lynch in the second, if hes there.

 

[hyatt151]

Like QB pick. But with 65 million, I want a thumper safety to go with Jenkins in FA and one ILB. Man I'm sick the ILBs missing passing assignments. Teams are attacking the middle of the defense with TEs, RBs, and slot receivers.

Exactly the reason I picked up Rudolph on my FF teams for Sunday, I will waive him on Tuesday!!!!!!

 

[PrideisBears]

id rather take a chance of paxton lynch in the second, if hes there.

Off the Goff train already? Was it the Utah game that got you?

 

[Runruffshod75]

id rather take a chance of paxton lynch in the second, if hes there.

I'd be fine with that, but they still need to come up with a good pass rushing 3-tech DE. A 3 Tech among two other bigger D-Lineman is what allows a hybrid to function the way that it should. Rather than having three 2 gappers, while depending on the LBs to mostly play downhill, having that one needed 3 tech DE allows more flexibility to what you want to do with your LB's. When you have a hybrid 3 tech DE, it allows the DC to hold one or more of the LBs to do a number of things like drop in to a hook, jam the flat, spy the QB, contain, or cover a TE...etc. When you only have three 2 gappers you have to dedicate most of LB's to playing downhill which defeats the whole purpose of running a hybrid defense that requires any reasonable number of players to play as surrogates at the second & third levels of the system.

Any way you want to slice it, a 1-gap pass rushing DE is still a necessary evil in this defense.

 

[PrideisBears]

We are going to need safety help as well