Post by riczaj01 on Jul 10, 2018 11:12:57 GMT -6
There are several vid's that can be watched also if you click on the site.
www.sportingnews.com/nfl/news/chicago-bears-2018-preview-offseason-depth-chart-mitchell-trubisky-allen-robinson/n4kmouaok6o81bz3mafibw63r
Breaking down new-look Bears: Mitchell Trubisky has what he needs to break out
NFL
July 10, 2018 12:04pm EDTJuly 10, 2018 12:04pm EDT
Chicago's offseason was all about stuffing its depth chart with players who can help its second-year QB grow. SN breaks down the changes the Bears have made for 2018.
Updated at 12:04 p.m. ET
In some ways, the 2018 Bears are a very different team than the one that ended the 2017 season. In other ways, they are building on more of the same.
Head coach John Fox was fired, and offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains was not retained. Those two were replaced by offensive-minded Matt Nagy and former Oregon coach Mark Helfrich, respectively.
Those were the first steps for Chicago in trying to get a breakout second year out of quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. Then, along with the philosophical and schematic reboot, came upgraded offensive skill personnel through free agency and the draft.
Defensively, however, with the Bears trending in the right direction in their base 3-4, Vic Fangio was retained to oversee a talented, mostly young unit that continues to grow. But the defense also got a key addition who can help take it to another level.
Here are the most notable changes that blew threw Chicago in the offseason as it tries to become a force in the NFC North.
Quarterback
Trubisky played his rookie season under great restraint. A combination of his inexperience, the team's conservative play-calling and its limited weapons in the passing game produced predictable mediocrity.
Nagy got the job in Chicago because he was instrumental in getting a career-best season from Alex Smith in Kansas City. But for what Trubisky might not have in athleticism in relation to Smith, he makes up for in arm strength. The trick for Nagy is trying to mesh Trubisky's mobility, his throwing while on the move with improved mechanics and his awareness while in the pocket so the QB can get the ball downfield with better accuracy and efficiency.
Trubisky also needed better targets so that, while going through his progressions, he actually could look to available deep, intermediate and short connections on each play.
Running back
Jordan Howard showed pop in a stellar rookie season, and despite a less effective Year 2 effort, he continued to be a strong runner behind an underrated offensive line. He should please the new offensive staff with power-oriented inside zone runs.
Howard as a receiver, however, went from somewhat passable to a liability with shaky hands and limited burst. That has prompted Nagy to get second-year dynamo Tarik Cohen more snaps and touches. Despite his big-play flair in the open field, Cohen was inexplicably underused for most of the 2017 season, even with Howard struggling in the passing game.
That won't happen under Nagy. Howard is trending toward two-down status, meaning Cohen will see an expanded version of the "Sproles Role" to complement the wideouts.
The Bears last season were tied for 20th in plays that went 20 or more yards and tied for 25th in plays that went for 40 or more yards. Cohen is a threat to break a big play with every touch; a good way for Chicago to get out of the Fox hole and more on the attack.
Wide receiver
In 2017, calling this position pedestrian for the Bears would have been a compliment. Kendall Wright in the slot was the only legitimate option for Trubisky. That prompted the Bears to break the bank for Allen Robinson, who is coming off a season lost to a torn ACL. They also added speed and versatility with Taylor Gabriel.
Chicago's limited interest in keeping Cameron Meredith was a little surprising, but not so much when one considers the fact that the team then would have counted on two receivers coming back from torn ACLs. That's not a comforting thought given how injuries have mounted against 2015 first-rounder Kevin White. The Bears' signing of Bennie Fowler filled Meredith's roster spot.
In trading up to draft rookie second-rounder Anthony Miller, the Bears found their Wright replacement, who is critical for Trubisky to keep hitting the routes on which delivered best last season.
Robinson, Gabriel and Miller are in classic roles: the finisher and the field-stretcher outside, the safety valve inside. The group is an organized 180 from Chicago's previous mess at wide receiver, and anything it can get out of White would be gravy.
The Bears were also wise to go after a polished receiving tight end.
Tight end
Trey Burton's career highlight thus far is throwing the "Philly Special" TD pass to Nick Foles to help the Eagles beat the Patriots in Super Bowl 52. No longer serving as Zach Ertz's elite backup, Burton with the Bears replaces Zach Miller as Nagy's new Travis Kelce.
Burton is not much of a run blocker, but that does not mean much to Nagy. The tight end was signed to line up in non-traditional spots thanks to his Kelce-like, hybrid skill set.
The Bears will incorporate some two-tight sets with second-year player Adam Shaheen ready to raise his game. Big and strong, the 2017 second-round pick also provides a little wiggle and good hands, making him the easy inline front-runner over Dion Sims.
Compared to the targets to whom he threw last year, Trubisky suddenly is rich with options all over the field and for every game situation.
Offensive line
The Bears are returning three fine starters in left tackle Charles Leno, center Cody Whitehair and right guard Kyle Long. But for Chicago to live with the weak link that is right tackle Bobby Massie, it needed to keep the chain strong after it decided left guard Josh Sitton was too expensive to keep.
Second-round draft pick James Daniels, an Iowa product who was graded by many as a first-rounder, was worth the investment. The early question was whether he or Whitehair would slide to guard, but the Bears wisely decided to trust the rookie to make the transition and not mess with the returning cohesiveness. Daniels, 20, gives them fresher and more athletic legs than those of Sitton.
Nagy has inherited better players for his hybrid blocking scheme, which will bring equal benefits for Trubisky and Howard. The continued theme of multiple looks will squeeze even more production out of the Bears' talent up front.
Linebacker
The Bears have high expectations for their returning defensive linemen and secondary players, but they needed extra punch inside at the second level. Rookie linebacker Roquan Smith provides that.
Chicago's first-round draft pick is reminiscent of the best playmakers who have anchored Fangio defenses in the past. Smith will fly around against both the run and the pass. He also complements the veteran pass-rush and coverage abilities of Danny Trevathan. Behind of the league's top inside combinations, Nick Kwiatkoski and rookie fourth-rounder Joel Iyiegbuniwe give the Bears exceptional depth.
Outside linebacker, though, comes with more questions. There's pressure on Leonard Floyd to be inspired by his former Georgia teammate (Smith) and deliver on his promise as a edge player.
Chicago signed Aaron Lynch, who played for Fangio in San Francisco, to tap into the pass-rush potential he showed early in his career, but the Bears might not be able to count on him as a solid starter opposite Floyd. Sam Acho tried to hold up in a regular role last season, but he was exposed several times. He's better suited to be a backup going into his age-30 season. If things are looking bad outside, the Bears at some point need to consider moving Smith and sticking with Kwiatkoski inside.
Chicago was a decent pass-rushing team last season, and if Smith and Floyd collaborate as lead Dawgs, the team can be elite in that regard.
In a division where Green Bay, Minnesota and Detroit have major passing firepower, Chicago's success will be measured most by sacks and takeaways. The offense's conservative ways with Fox did not make for good complementary football. Nagy's creative work with Trubisky and his weapons will in turn put the defense in more positions to succeed.
www.sportingnews.com/nfl/news/chicago-bears-2018-preview-offseason-depth-chart-mitchell-trubisky-allen-robinson/n4kmouaok6o81bz3mafibw63r
Breaking down new-look Bears: Mitchell Trubisky has what he needs to break out
NFL
July 10, 2018 12:04pm EDTJuly 10, 2018 12:04pm EDT
Chicago's offseason was all about stuffing its depth chart with players who can help its second-year QB grow. SN breaks down the changes the Bears have made for 2018.
Updated at 12:04 p.m. ET
In some ways, the 2018 Bears are a very different team than the one that ended the 2017 season. In other ways, they are building on more of the same.
Head coach John Fox was fired, and offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains was not retained. Those two were replaced by offensive-minded Matt Nagy and former Oregon coach Mark Helfrich, respectively.
Those were the first steps for Chicago in trying to get a breakout second year out of quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. Then, along with the philosophical and schematic reboot, came upgraded offensive skill personnel through free agency and the draft.
Defensively, however, with the Bears trending in the right direction in their base 3-4, Vic Fangio was retained to oversee a talented, mostly young unit that continues to grow. But the defense also got a key addition who can help take it to another level.
Here are the most notable changes that blew threw Chicago in the offseason as it tries to become a force in the NFC North.
Quarterback
Trubisky played his rookie season under great restraint. A combination of his inexperience, the team's conservative play-calling and its limited weapons in the passing game produced predictable mediocrity.
Nagy got the job in Chicago because he was instrumental in getting a career-best season from Alex Smith in Kansas City. But for what Trubisky might not have in athleticism in relation to Smith, he makes up for in arm strength. The trick for Nagy is trying to mesh Trubisky's mobility, his throwing while on the move with improved mechanics and his awareness while in the pocket so the QB can get the ball downfield with better accuracy and efficiency.
Trubisky also needed better targets so that, while going through his progressions, he actually could look to available deep, intermediate and short connections on each play.
Running back
Jordan Howard showed pop in a stellar rookie season, and despite a less effective Year 2 effort, he continued to be a strong runner behind an underrated offensive line. He should please the new offensive staff with power-oriented inside zone runs.
Howard as a receiver, however, went from somewhat passable to a liability with shaky hands and limited burst. That has prompted Nagy to get second-year dynamo Tarik Cohen more snaps and touches. Despite his big-play flair in the open field, Cohen was inexplicably underused for most of the 2017 season, even with Howard struggling in the passing game.
That won't happen under Nagy. Howard is trending toward two-down status, meaning Cohen will see an expanded version of the "Sproles Role" to complement the wideouts.
The Bears last season were tied for 20th in plays that went 20 or more yards and tied for 25th in plays that went for 40 or more yards. Cohen is a threat to break a big play with every touch; a good way for Chicago to get out of the Fox hole and more on the attack.
Wide receiver
In 2017, calling this position pedestrian for the Bears would have been a compliment. Kendall Wright in the slot was the only legitimate option for Trubisky. That prompted the Bears to break the bank for Allen Robinson, who is coming off a season lost to a torn ACL. They also added speed and versatility with Taylor Gabriel.
Chicago's limited interest in keeping Cameron Meredith was a little surprising, but not so much when one considers the fact that the team then would have counted on two receivers coming back from torn ACLs. That's not a comforting thought given how injuries have mounted against 2015 first-rounder Kevin White. The Bears' signing of Bennie Fowler filled Meredith's roster spot.
In trading up to draft rookie second-rounder Anthony Miller, the Bears found their Wright replacement, who is critical for Trubisky to keep hitting the routes on which delivered best last season.
Robinson, Gabriel and Miller are in classic roles: the finisher and the field-stretcher outside, the safety valve inside. The group is an organized 180 from Chicago's previous mess at wide receiver, and anything it can get out of White would be gravy.
The Bears were also wise to go after a polished receiving tight end.
Tight end
Trey Burton's career highlight thus far is throwing the "Philly Special" TD pass to Nick Foles to help the Eagles beat the Patriots in Super Bowl 52. No longer serving as Zach Ertz's elite backup, Burton with the Bears replaces Zach Miller as Nagy's new Travis Kelce.
Burton is not much of a run blocker, but that does not mean much to Nagy. The tight end was signed to line up in non-traditional spots thanks to his Kelce-like, hybrid skill set.
The Bears will incorporate some two-tight sets with second-year player Adam Shaheen ready to raise his game. Big and strong, the 2017 second-round pick also provides a little wiggle and good hands, making him the easy inline front-runner over Dion Sims.
Compared to the targets to whom he threw last year, Trubisky suddenly is rich with options all over the field and for every game situation.
Offensive line
The Bears are returning three fine starters in left tackle Charles Leno, center Cody Whitehair and right guard Kyle Long. But for Chicago to live with the weak link that is right tackle Bobby Massie, it needed to keep the chain strong after it decided left guard Josh Sitton was too expensive to keep.
Second-round draft pick James Daniels, an Iowa product who was graded by many as a first-rounder, was worth the investment. The early question was whether he or Whitehair would slide to guard, but the Bears wisely decided to trust the rookie to make the transition and not mess with the returning cohesiveness. Daniels, 20, gives them fresher and more athletic legs than those of Sitton.
Nagy has inherited better players for his hybrid blocking scheme, which will bring equal benefits for Trubisky and Howard. The continued theme of multiple looks will squeeze even more production out of the Bears' talent up front.
Linebacker
The Bears have high expectations for their returning defensive linemen and secondary players, but they needed extra punch inside at the second level. Rookie linebacker Roquan Smith provides that.
Chicago's first-round draft pick is reminiscent of the best playmakers who have anchored Fangio defenses in the past. Smith will fly around against both the run and the pass. He also complements the veteran pass-rush and coverage abilities of Danny Trevathan. Behind of the league's top inside combinations, Nick Kwiatkoski and rookie fourth-rounder Joel Iyiegbuniwe give the Bears exceptional depth.
Outside linebacker, though, comes with more questions. There's pressure on Leonard Floyd to be inspired by his former Georgia teammate (Smith) and deliver on his promise as a edge player.
Chicago signed Aaron Lynch, who played for Fangio in San Francisco, to tap into the pass-rush potential he showed early in his career, but the Bears might not be able to count on him as a solid starter opposite Floyd. Sam Acho tried to hold up in a regular role last season, but he was exposed several times. He's better suited to be a backup going into his age-30 season. If things are looking bad outside, the Bears at some point need to consider moving Smith and sticking with Kwiatkoski inside.
Chicago was a decent pass-rushing team last season, and if Smith and Floyd collaborate as lead Dawgs, the team can be elite in that regard.
In a division where Green Bay, Minnesota and Detroit have major passing firepower, Chicago's success will be measured most by sacks and takeaways. The offense's conservative ways with Fox did not make for good complementary football. Nagy's creative work with Trubisky and his weapons will in turn put the defense in more positions to succeed.
