Chicago Bears: GM Ryan Pace quietly building depth of roster
Mar 14, 2017 9:54:33 GMT -6
riczaj01 likes this
Post by JABF on Mar 14, 2017 9:54:33 GMT -6
Pace seems to be skilled at finding talent for us. After this 3rd year of rebuilding, after this coming draft, the roster is going to be significantly younger and better than the talent Phil Emery left us. I can't wait to see this draft unfold. I can't wait to see the regular season.
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Chicago Bears: GM Ryan Pace quietly building depth of roster
After sending most Chicago Bears fans into a panic after day one of free agency last Thursday, GM Ryan Pace may have calmed some nerves over the weekend.
The general consensus at the end of day last Thursday was that Pace had not done enough, if anything, to improve the team. He started by signing quarterback, Mike Glennon, which was met with much skepticism. This has since been a hotly debated topic, not only among Chicago Bears fans, but around the league.
Pace followed that up by signing safety, Quintin Demps. This is a nice signing at a position of need, but is not the big name in the secondary that fans were hoping for.
The Bears then wrapped up day one by announcing the signings of wide receiver, Markus Wheaton, and tight end Dion Sims. Wheaton is another quality signing with some high potential, but doesn’t necessarily take the sting away from losing Alshon Jeffery. Sims fills a need at the tight end position, but is more of an unknown than anything.
This is certainly not the statement that Chicago Bears fans were expecting the team to make on day one of free agency.
Pace wasn’t finished though. As he has done in the past, he was able to identify and sign a few guys during the “second wave” of free agency that can seemingly contribute immediately at a more team-friendly price tag.
He started this on Friday by signing cornerback, Prince Amukamara, to a one-year deal. Amukamara is a former first round pick (19th overall) of the New York Giants in 2011. Amukamara signed a one-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars last year and had a solid, but unspectacular season as he finished without an interception for the first time in his career. Hopefully that will change as the Bears are in desperate need of playmakers after creating only 11 turnovers in 2016.
Pace followed up the Amukamara signing by adding cornerback Marcus Cooper to a three-year deal. Cooper was selected in the seventh round of the 2013 draft by the San Francisco 49ers, but was cut in training camp and claimed off waivers by the Kansas City Chiefs. He spent three years there before joining the Arizona Cardinals last season. Cooper started 13 games for Arizona last season and had four interceptions.
Amukamara and Cooper are both expected to compete with Tracy Porter and Kyle Fuller for the starting cornerback positions. If nothing else, this gives the Bears solid depth at a position that needed it. Bryce Callahan, Cre’von LeBlanc, Deiondre’ Hall and Johnthan Banks (recently re-signed) are also in the mix. It’s also likely that Pace addresses the position in the draft, which is very deep at cornerback.
So while he didn’t land top guys like Stephon Gilmore or AJ Bouye, Pace also only spent $15 million in guaranteed money on short term contracts. Gilmore and Bouye both signed five-year deals with a combined $66 million guaranteed.
If Pace can get solid production from Amukamara and Cooper while also drafting a young corner this may turn out to look like a smarter move than spending big on the free agent market. Time will tell if he made the right decision.
Both Amukamara and Cooper believe that they can help the Bears right away by giving some new life to the secondary. Amukamara feels that he will make an impact for the Bears despite his lack of production last season.
“Stats are great for players when it works in your favor,” Amukamara said. “But when it doesn’t, I feel like you watch film and that’s the ultimate eye test. And on the stat sheet I didn’t look as sexy as everybody else. But personally I really just believe that I’m a lock-down corner.”
Let’s hope so.
Pace made one more signing over the weekend that adds more depth at another position of need. Wide receiver, Kendall Wright, was signed to a one-year deal, reportedly worth up to $4 million.
Wright is a former first round pick (20th overall) of the Tennessee Titans in 2012. He had a huge year in 2013 when he caught 94 passes for 1,079 yards, but since then he has seen a sharp decline in playing time and production. The Bears are hoping that reuniting Wright with offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains (Tennessee off. coordinator in 2013) will help to revive his career. He is most effective in the slot and most likely will replace Eddie Royal, who is expected to be released.
So after initially putting a scare into Chicago Bears fans, it seems that Ryan Pace may have a plan after all. He is adding quality depth at positions that need it, without committing a ton of money. This includes the quarterback position. He will then look to add more young talent through the draft at many of these same positions.
Of course, the key for Pace and the Bears is that he now needs to have a good draft. He can’t afford to swing and miss, especially with the early picks. For his plan to really have an impact, he needs to find some talent in the draft that can help the team from day one.
In about six weeks, Bears fans will find out if that happens.
Chicago Bears: GM Ryan Pace quietly building depth of roster
After sending most Chicago Bears fans into a panic after day one of free agency last Thursday, GM Ryan Pace may have calmed some nerves over the weekend.
The general consensus at the end of day last Thursday was that Pace had not done enough, if anything, to improve the team. He started by signing quarterback, Mike Glennon, which was met with much skepticism. This has since been a hotly debated topic, not only among Chicago Bears fans, but around the league.
Pace followed that up by signing safety, Quintin Demps. This is a nice signing at a position of need, but is not the big name in the secondary that fans were hoping for.
The Bears then wrapped up day one by announcing the signings of wide receiver, Markus Wheaton, and tight end Dion Sims. Wheaton is another quality signing with some high potential, but doesn’t necessarily take the sting away from losing Alshon Jeffery. Sims fills a need at the tight end position, but is more of an unknown than anything.
This is certainly not the statement that Chicago Bears fans were expecting the team to make on day one of free agency.
Pace wasn’t finished though. As he has done in the past, he was able to identify and sign a few guys during the “second wave” of free agency that can seemingly contribute immediately at a more team-friendly price tag.
He started this on Friday by signing cornerback, Prince Amukamara, to a one-year deal. Amukamara is a former first round pick (19th overall) of the New York Giants in 2011. Amukamara signed a one-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars last year and had a solid, but unspectacular season as he finished without an interception for the first time in his career. Hopefully that will change as the Bears are in desperate need of playmakers after creating only 11 turnovers in 2016.
Pace followed up the Amukamara signing by adding cornerback Marcus Cooper to a three-year deal. Cooper was selected in the seventh round of the 2013 draft by the San Francisco 49ers, but was cut in training camp and claimed off waivers by the Kansas City Chiefs. He spent three years there before joining the Arizona Cardinals last season. Cooper started 13 games for Arizona last season and had four interceptions.
Amukamara and Cooper are both expected to compete with Tracy Porter and Kyle Fuller for the starting cornerback positions. If nothing else, this gives the Bears solid depth at a position that needed it. Bryce Callahan, Cre’von LeBlanc, Deiondre’ Hall and Johnthan Banks (recently re-signed) are also in the mix. It’s also likely that Pace addresses the position in the draft, which is very deep at cornerback.
So while he didn’t land top guys like Stephon Gilmore or AJ Bouye, Pace also only spent $15 million in guaranteed money on short term contracts. Gilmore and Bouye both signed five-year deals with a combined $66 million guaranteed.
If Pace can get solid production from Amukamara and Cooper while also drafting a young corner this may turn out to look like a smarter move than spending big on the free agent market. Time will tell if he made the right decision.
Both Amukamara and Cooper believe that they can help the Bears right away by giving some new life to the secondary. Amukamara feels that he will make an impact for the Bears despite his lack of production last season.
“Stats are great for players when it works in your favor,” Amukamara said. “But when it doesn’t, I feel like you watch film and that’s the ultimate eye test. And on the stat sheet I didn’t look as sexy as everybody else. But personally I really just believe that I’m a lock-down corner.”
Let’s hope so.
Pace made one more signing over the weekend that adds more depth at another position of need. Wide receiver, Kendall Wright, was signed to a one-year deal, reportedly worth up to $4 million.
Wright is a former first round pick (20th overall) of the Tennessee Titans in 2012. He had a huge year in 2013 when he caught 94 passes for 1,079 yards, but since then he has seen a sharp decline in playing time and production. The Bears are hoping that reuniting Wright with offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains (Tennessee off. coordinator in 2013) will help to revive his career. He is most effective in the slot and most likely will replace Eddie Royal, who is expected to be released.
So after initially putting a scare into Chicago Bears fans, it seems that Ryan Pace may have a plan after all. He is adding quality depth at positions that need it, without committing a ton of money. This includes the quarterback position. He will then look to add more young talent through the draft at many of these same positions.
Of course, the key for Pace and the Bears is that he now needs to have a good draft. He can’t afford to swing and miss, especially with the early picks. For his plan to really have an impact, he needs to find some talent in the draft that can help the team from day one.
In about six weeks, Bears fans will find out if that happens.