Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2016 22:29:55 GMT -6
Bears Q&A: The Tribune's Brad Biggs answers your Bears questions weekly.
Are the Bears still in the tight end market? -- @rugbyron1
Do you know of anyone selling highly skilled tight ends with durability? I don't. They added to the position over the weekend when they signed veteran Logan Paulsen after his contract had been terminated by the Redskins. Paulsen is a quality in-line blocker and has experience. The Bears believed he is an upgrade over Khari Lee and that is unfortunate because they traded a 2017 sixth-round pick to the Texans for him a year ago. They will be fine is Zach Miller remains healthy this season and reality is most of the teams in the league are going to be in a tough spot if their top tight end goes down. Hopefully rookie Ben Braunecker can make strides as a member of the practice squad this season. An ankle injury cost him some valuable time during training camp and preseason.
What is going on with Pernell McPhee? They've been vague about his situation. How serious was the surgery he had? -- @tomwade18
The Bears have been vague about McPhee and I can tell you the hope early in the offseason was that he would be ready to go when training camp started. This is a good example of why it's hard for teams to make accurate predictions when it comes to time frames for players that are injured. It's my opinion if the Bears felt McPhee would be ready in four weeks that they would have carried him on the 53-man roster. With McPhee moving to the reserve/physically unable to perform list, that's sign he's not going to be ready in the first month of the season.
General manager Ryan Pace said on Monday he is confident McPhee will play this season but the team isn't putting a timetable on it. PUP list rules mean McPhee cannot begin practice until at the earliest Week 7. With the Bears playing that week on Thursday night at Green Bay, that means McPhee would have basically only one practice to prepare to play. That's just one reason why it is reasonable to believe McPhee may miss more than six games. Yes, he can do rehabilitation and conditioning work on the side but he's going to be out of practice for a minimum of six weeks. I was told there were real issues with McPhee's knee and that's obviously clear now given the amount of time he has missed.
What does the Josh Sitton signing mean for Hroniss Grasu long term? -- @tomomalley23
That's a good question and probably a reminder that time stands still for no man in the NFL. The Bears deemed the addition of Sitton a move that was too good for them to pass up. Ultimately, it sounds like it will lead to second-round draft pick Cody Whitehair settling in at the center position this season. Coach John Fox didn't tip his starting lineup for Sunday's game at Houston but he did say he believes center is the best position for Whitehair and knowing that, it's hard to imagine Whitehair doesn't play there and play soon. Grasu had a rough rookie season but made the kind of strides that at least made the coaches comfortable with starting him and playing Whitehair at left guard. Then, Grasu suffered a torn ACL in his right knee and now the team has to move forward putting the best lineup on the field it can.
Grasu is going to turn 26 during training camp next summer when he'll be in his third NFL season. If he bounces back and plays well, the Bears have another option to consider. Too much talent on the offensive line is never a problem. If Whitehair plays center and plays well, it could be difficult for Grasu to reclaim that spot and that's just the way things go in the NFL. Availability is paramount.
How much of an upgrade is Josh Sitton over Matt Slauson? -- @kylebeckrich
I think it's fair to classify Sitton as a considerable upgrade over Slauson. Sitton has played at a high level for the Packers and really has been considered the leader of the offensive line in Green Bay. As I have written in the mailbag numerous times, the Bears' evaluation of Slauson's play last season was substantially different than the public's evaluation of him. What matters here right now is how much of an upgrade Sitton is over veteran Ted Larsen. Because ultimately I think most see Larsen as the odd man out on the line. The Bears will want to get second-round draft pick Cody Whitehair on the field as a rookie and coach John Fox has already said he considers center to be Whitehair's best position. This move should make the Bears better up front.
Has the acquisition of Josh Sitton and key players available for the start of the season changed your outlook for the team from training camp? -- @bulls_Bears_Chi
The signing of Sitton has certainly given the Bears a little boost here right before the start of the season and they¹ve also got some injured players back on the field with right guard Kyle Long and cornerbacks Tracy Porter, Kyle Fuller and Bryce Callahan returning to practice on Monday. How much better will the team be with Sitton this season?
That's a little hard to quantify. I don't know if he makes the team two games better. If you figured the Bears were going to be 8-8 do you all of a sudden believe a left guard is going to make them 10-6? I don't know about that. Ultimately, difference makers are generally players that score touchdowns or players that prevent touchdowns (pass rushers, cornerbacks, etc.). It's evidence though the Bears are exploring every possible avenue in an effort to improve the roster.
In your opinion who is better: Willie Young or Leonard Floyd? When Pernell McPhee comes back who are the starting outside linebackers? -- @nmyers042
Right now, Young is a better player. He¹s got a lot of NFL experience and understands the game and Floyd is still settling in. But Floyd's flashes in preseason were strong and I don't think there is any fear that he's going to be a one-trick pony. He showed the ability to set the edge and play the run and that bodes well. I wouldn't worry about McPhee cracking the starting lineup until he's off the physically unable to perform list.
Reality is with McPhee that the Bears might make the decision that he's best being used in a situational role given the condition of his knee.
That's what McPhee was for the Ravens. Even if McPhee is playing in the sub package, he'd make the defense better. Let's see how Floyd plays in the time that McPhee is out to make a determination on how the team needs to proceed with the starting lineup.
Over/under 12 games played for Alshon Jeffery this year? -- @cer8915
Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery
It's hard to predict injuries but I will go against the grain here and say over. He struggled staying on the field in 2015 but many forget Jeffery played in all 16 games in 2014. He¹s got a ton riding on this season as once again he finds himself in a contract season. If Jeffery is on the field for more than 12 games, that will bode well for the offseason. He could put up a 1,500-yard season if he¹s out there for 16 games.
What happened with Ego Ferguson? I thought for sure he'd work out. -- @chadwmark
Ferguson was waived/injured and general manager Ryan Pace indicated he was facing shoulder surgery. Ferguson was with medical personnel after the final preseason game last Thursday in Cleveland. By waiving Ferguson injured, it's an indication to me they probably don't have plans for him in the future. He reverted to their injured reserve when he went through waivers unclaimed. The Bears can reach an injury settlement with the 2014 second-round pick or wait until he can pass a physical and then release him from the injured reserve. A lot of people I spoke with thought the Bears reached when they drafted Ferguson. He's got stiff hips and had some poor tests at the scouting combine showing he's not as athletic as you would probably like. Add in the arthroscopic knee surgery last season and a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance enhancing drugs and it wasn't going to happen for him here. Maybe in a 4-3 scheme he can get things going but I would be surprised if he's ever more than a rotational player.
What is the reasoning for Will Sutton's roster spot? He's been rather quiet in his career and doesn't fit in a 3-4. -- @pete_brueck
I think the Bears would like to upgrade here because you're right, Sutton isn't a great fit for what the Bears do. He can play behind nose tackle Eddie Goldman and unlike Ego Ferguson, he can help a little bit on special teams. Reality is it is hard to find quality defensive linemen at this time of year. What has surprised me a little is the team has signed nine players to the practice squad and none are defensive linemen. They will probably change that in the near future because you need extra linemen to practice with as the season unfolds.
Finding a lineman with potential upside would be a good thing too. In the meantime, Sutton will be available in a reserve role.
What role do you see for Leonard Floyd based on what you have seen? Is he a situational pass rusher or an every down player? -- @steveoatms
I would not pigeonhole Floyd as just a pass rusher at this point. My guess is Willie Young and Lamarr Houston start but I would expect Floyd to get ample time in a rotation there. The more he proves he can do and when he shows he can play on a consistent basis, the more playing time he will receive. But I could see Floyd playing in pass-rushing situations and in the base scheme.
Do you believe the Bears stay put with their corners or look to upgrade? Probably a C at best if you ask me. -- @pokrpd
I'm not sure there is any place to turn right now for an upgrade with the season upon us. It's not like quality cornerbacks are sitting on the street waiting for the phone to ring. If Tracy Porter can remain healthy and Kyle Fuller can take a step forward this season, the Bears will be adequate. I am interested to see if fourth-round draft pick Deiondre Hall can get onto the field this season. It's also a big year for nickel cornerback Bryce Callahan. He had a very strong offseason and now that he's back from a hamstring injury, he needs to show in game action that he's improved. The Bears think they have a nice developmental player in Cre¹Von LeBlanc, claimed off waivers from the Patriots. Let¹s see how this position group shakes out.
Everyone seems to think the Bears will be a seven- or eight-win team. I disagree. Is it not possible for them to win nine or 10 games? -- @barbersquires
Anything is possible and the difference between 10-6 teams in the NFL and 6-10 teams generally isn¹t as great as you might imagine. The Bears were 6-10 last season and as easily as they could have finished 8-8, they probably could have gone the other way in a few games too and wound up 4-12. If the Bears remain healthy, they could compete in the division for sure. The offense consistently made mistakes in preseason and while they are all "correctable" as they tell you, the mistakes were across the board so there is plenty to clean up. I think there are some natural concerns about depth but that's going to be the case with most teams throughout the league. If you just look at the quarterbacks the Bears will face this season, it's not a murderers' row of gunslingers.
I personally thing 10 wins is a little ambitious for this team but let's see what shakes out.
At this time last year, the Bears' greatest needs were offensive line and cornerback. On Saturday afternoon, despite clear improvement, the Bears' greatest needs were still offensive line and cornerback. That seems to justify the Bears' otherwise clumsy foray into free agency, but they haven't been so lucky with free agents (Eddie Royal and Pernell McPhee come to mind and Josh Sitton is rumored to have a bad back). On the other hand, the switch to a 3-4 defense and a zone-blocking run scheme should make drafting much easier and in turn make these (risky) free agent splurges less common. Here are my questions: What teams have made such huge shifts in scheme and personnel (from Tampa-2 based 4-3 to a Fangio-like 3-4) and how long did it take for these teams to become competitive? -- Matt H., Chicago
There's a lot to tackle here. For starters, I would make the point that the Bears greatest need at this time last year was inside linebacker. I'd submit the Bears admitted as much by making a concerted effort to overhaul the position in free agency signing Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman. I¹m not discounting the needs at offensive line and cornerback but they were deficient at inside linebacker last season. I think you could make a case right now that the Bears have a greater need at tight end than any other position. They really lack depth there. I think schemes get overrated from time to time and people put too much stock in, "This coach is changing things up with his scheme and everything will be fixed in quick fashion." Reality is the NFL is a players' league. The teams with the best talent are the ones that rise to the top. Scouts will tell you that talent always transcends scheme. I'm not trying to dodge your question here but the Bears are going to be better when they have a more talented roster. They look a little bit better than they were a year ago so we'll see if that translates in more victories. I would agree with you that as they stack some more draft classes they will not need to be quite as active in free agency where it's hard to find values.
Copyright © 2016, Chicago Tribune
Are the Bears still in the tight end market? -- @rugbyron1
Do you know of anyone selling highly skilled tight ends with durability? I don't. They added to the position over the weekend when they signed veteran Logan Paulsen after his contract had been terminated by the Redskins. Paulsen is a quality in-line blocker and has experience. The Bears believed he is an upgrade over Khari Lee and that is unfortunate because they traded a 2017 sixth-round pick to the Texans for him a year ago. They will be fine is Zach Miller remains healthy this season and reality is most of the teams in the league are going to be in a tough spot if their top tight end goes down. Hopefully rookie Ben Braunecker can make strides as a member of the practice squad this season. An ankle injury cost him some valuable time during training camp and preseason.
What is going on with Pernell McPhee? They've been vague about his situation. How serious was the surgery he had? -- @tomwade18
The Bears have been vague about McPhee and I can tell you the hope early in the offseason was that he would be ready to go when training camp started. This is a good example of why it's hard for teams to make accurate predictions when it comes to time frames for players that are injured. It's my opinion if the Bears felt McPhee would be ready in four weeks that they would have carried him on the 53-man roster. With McPhee moving to the reserve/physically unable to perform list, that's sign he's not going to be ready in the first month of the season.
General manager Ryan Pace said on Monday he is confident McPhee will play this season but the team isn't putting a timetable on it. PUP list rules mean McPhee cannot begin practice until at the earliest Week 7. With the Bears playing that week on Thursday night at Green Bay, that means McPhee would have basically only one practice to prepare to play. That's just one reason why it is reasonable to believe McPhee may miss more than six games. Yes, he can do rehabilitation and conditioning work on the side but he's going to be out of practice for a minimum of six weeks. I was told there were real issues with McPhee's knee and that's obviously clear now given the amount of time he has missed.
What does the Josh Sitton signing mean for Hroniss Grasu long term? -- @tomomalley23
That's a good question and probably a reminder that time stands still for no man in the NFL. The Bears deemed the addition of Sitton a move that was too good for them to pass up. Ultimately, it sounds like it will lead to second-round draft pick Cody Whitehair settling in at the center position this season. Coach John Fox didn't tip his starting lineup for Sunday's game at Houston but he did say he believes center is the best position for Whitehair and knowing that, it's hard to imagine Whitehair doesn't play there and play soon. Grasu had a rough rookie season but made the kind of strides that at least made the coaches comfortable with starting him and playing Whitehair at left guard. Then, Grasu suffered a torn ACL in his right knee and now the team has to move forward putting the best lineup on the field it can.
Grasu is going to turn 26 during training camp next summer when he'll be in his third NFL season. If he bounces back and plays well, the Bears have another option to consider. Too much talent on the offensive line is never a problem. If Whitehair plays center and plays well, it could be difficult for Grasu to reclaim that spot and that's just the way things go in the NFL. Availability is paramount.
How much of an upgrade is Josh Sitton over Matt Slauson? -- @kylebeckrich
I think it's fair to classify Sitton as a considerable upgrade over Slauson. Sitton has played at a high level for the Packers and really has been considered the leader of the offensive line in Green Bay. As I have written in the mailbag numerous times, the Bears' evaluation of Slauson's play last season was substantially different than the public's evaluation of him. What matters here right now is how much of an upgrade Sitton is over veteran Ted Larsen. Because ultimately I think most see Larsen as the odd man out on the line. The Bears will want to get second-round draft pick Cody Whitehair on the field as a rookie and coach John Fox has already said he considers center to be Whitehair's best position. This move should make the Bears better up front.
Has the acquisition of Josh Sitton and key players available for the start of the season changed your outlook for the team from training camp? -- @bulls_Bears_Chi
The signing of Sitton has certainly given the Bears a little boost here right before the start of the season and they¹ve also got some injured players back on the field with right guard Kyle Long and cornerbacks Tracy Porter, Kyle Fuller and Bryce Callahan returning to practice on Monday. How much better will the team be with Sitton this season?
That's a little hard to quantify. I don't know if he makes the team two games better. If you figured the Bears were going to be 8-8 do you all of a sudden believe a left guard is going to make them 10-6? I don't know about that. Ultimately, difference makers are generally players that score touchdowns or players that prevent touchdowns (pass rushers, cornerbacks, etc.). It's evidence though the Bears are exploring every possible avenue in an effort to improve the roster.
In your opinion who is better: Willie Young or Leonard Floyd? When Pernell McPhee comes back who are the starting outside linebackers? -- @nmyers042
Right now, Young is a better player. He¹s got a lot of NFL experience and understands the game and Floyd is still settling in. But Floyd's flashes in preseason were strong and I don't think there is any fear that he's going to be a one-trick pony. He showed the ability to set the edge and play the run and that bodes well. I wouldn't worry about McPhee cracking the starting lineup until he's off the physically unable to perform list.
Reality is with McPhee that the Bears might make the decision that he's best being used in a situational role given the condition of his knee.
That's what McPhee was for the Ravens. Even if McPhee is playing in the sub package, he'd make the defense better. Let's see how Floyd plays in the time that McPhee is out to make a determination on how the team needs to proceed with the starting lineup.
Over/under 12 games played for Alshon Jeffery this year? -- @cer8915
Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery
It's hard to predict injuries but I will go against the grain here and say over. He struggled staying on the field in 2015 but many forget Jeffery played in all 16 games in 2014. He¹s got a ton riding on this season as once again he finds himself in a contract season. If Jeffery is on the field for more than 12 games, that will bode well for the offseason. He could put up a 1,500-yard season if he¹s out there for 16 games.
What happened with Ego Ferguson? I thought for sure he'd work out. -- @chadwmark
Ferguson was waived/injured and general manager Ryan Pace indicated he was facing shoulder surgery. Ferguson was with medical personnel after the final preseason game last Thursday in Cleveland. By waiving Ferguson injured, it's an indication to me they probably don't have plans for him in the future. He reverted to their injured reserve when he went through waivers unclaimed. The Bears can reach an injury settlement with the 2014 second-round pick or wait until he can pass a physical and then release him from the injured reserve. A lot of people I spoke with thought the Bears reached when they drafted Ferguson. He's got stiff hips and had some poor tests at the scouting combine showing he's not as athletic as you would probably like. Add in the arthroscopic knee surgery last season and a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance enhancing drugs and it wasn't going to happen for him here. Maybe in a 4-3 scheme he can get things going but I would be surprised if he's ever more than a rotational player.
What is the reasoning for Will Sutton's roster spot? He's been rather quiet in his career and doesn't fit in a 3-4. -- @pete_brueck
I think the Bears would like to upgrade here because you're right, Sutton isn't a great fit for what the Bears do. He can play behind nose tackle Eddie Goldman and unlike Ego Ferguson, he can help a little bit on special teams. Reality is it is hard to find quality defensive linemen at this time of year. What has surprised me a little is the team has signed nine players to the practice squad and none are defensive linemen. They will probably change that in the near future because you need extra linemen to practice with as the season unfolds.
Finding a lineman with potential upside would be a good thing too. In the meantime, Sutton will be available in a reserve role.
What role do you see for Leonard Floyd based on what you have seen? Is he a situational pass rusher or an every down player? -- @steveoatms
I would not pigeonhole Floyd as just a pass rusher at this point. My guess is Willie Young and Lamarr Houston start but I would expect Floyd to get ample time in a rotation there. The more he proves he can do and when he shows he can play on a consistent basis, the more playing time he will receive. But I could see Floyd playing in pass-rushing situations and in the base scheme.
Do you believe the Bears stay put with their corners or look to upgrade? Probably a C at best if you ask me. -- @pokrpd
I'm not sure there is any place to turn right now for an upgrade with the season upon us. It's not like quality cornerbacks are sitting on the street waiting for the phone to ring. If Tracy Porter can remain healthy and Kyle Fuller can take a step forward this season, the Bears will be adequate. I am interested to see if fourth-round draft pick Deiondre Hall can get onto the field this season. It's also a big year for nickel cornerback Bryce Callahan. He had a very strong offseason and now that he's back from a hamstring injury, he needs to show in game action that he's improved. The Bears think they have a nice developmental player in Cre¹Von LeBlanc, claimed off waivers from the Patriots. Let¹s see how this position group shakes out.
Everyone seems to think the Bears will be a seven- or eight-win team. I disagree. Is it not possible for them to win nine or 10 games? -- @barbersquires
Anything is possible and the difference between 10-6 teams in the NFL and 6-10 teams generally isn¹t as great as you might imagine. The Bears were 6-10 last season and as easily as they could have finished 8-8, they probably could have gone the other way in a few games too and wound up 4-12. If the Bears remain healthy, they could compete in the division for sure. The offense consistently made mistakes in preseason and while they are all "correctable" as they tell you, the mistakes were across the board so there is plenty to clean up. I think there are some natural concerns about depth but that's going to be the case with most teams throughout the league. If you just look at the quarterbacks the Bears will face this season, it's not a murderers' row of gunslingers.
I personally thing 10 wins is a little ambitious for this team but let's see what shakes out.
At this time last year, the Bears' greatest needs were offensive line and cornerback. On Saturday afternoon, despite clear improvement, the Bears' greatest needs were still offensive line and cornerback. That seems to justify the Bears' otherwise clumsy foray into free agency, but they haven't been so lucky with free agents (Eddie Royal and Pernell McPhee come to mind and Josh Sitton is rumored to have a bad back). On the other hand, the switch to a 3-4 defense and a zone-blocking run scheme should make drafting much easier and in turn make these (risky) free agent splurges less common. Here are my questions: What teams have made such huge shifts in scheme and personnel (from Tampa-2 based 4-3 to a Fangio-like 3-4) and how long did it take for these teams to become competitive? -- Matt H., Chicago
There's a lot to tackle here. For starters, I would make the point that the Bears greatest need at this time last year was inside linebacker. I'd submit the Bears admitted as much by making a concerted effort to overhaul the position in free agency signing Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman. I¹m not discounting the needs at offensive line and cornerback but they were deficient at inside linebacker last season. I think you could make a case right now that the Bears have a greater need at tight end than any other position. They really lack depth there. I think schemes get overrated from time to time and people put too much stock in, "This coach is changing things up with his scheme and everything will be fixed in quick fashion." Reality is the NFL is a players' league. The teams with the best talent are the ones that rise to the top. Scouts will tell you that talent always transcends scheme. I'm not trying to dodge your question here but the Bears are going to be better when they have a more talented roster. They look a little bit better than they were a year ago so we'll see if that translates in more victories. I would agree with you that as they stack some more draft classes they will not need to be quite as active in free agency where it's hard to find values.
Copyright © 2016, Chicago Tribune
