I think I said I reserve the right to change my vote. So butkus and I have been talking about his technique. I watched closely today. He gets in trouble when off the snap he has his feet parallel and the rusher gets in the first punch. That only happened a couple times. When he gets his hands on them right away, gets his pads low, and sets his anchor far back, he holds well. Jenkins was playing better today, and that also helps.
Yeah, too early to judge yet but I'm thinking about building an top-notch wall G-C-G before I worry too much about LT. You aren't gonna get a premier LT prospect in the draft anyway unless we bomb the rest of the season.
I'm leaning that way too. Of course it depends upon how the T play goes with a number of games left this season. I'm content just watching what happens and then judge where the greatest need is for upgrading the line in 2025. But a rock solid G-C-G is going to help Caleb a lot. It will help the run game too. For now (2024) it's looking like the OL could be good enough to get us to 2025.
Yeah, too early to judge yet but I'm thinking about building an top-notch wall G-C-G before I worry too much about LT. You aren't gonna get a premier LT prospect in the draft anyway unless we bomb the rest of the season.
I'm leaning that way too. Of course it depends upon how the T play goes with a number of games left this season. I'm content just watching what happens and then judge where the greatest need is for upgrading the line in 2025. But a rock solid G-C-G is going to help Caleb a lot. It will help the run game too. For now (2024) it's looking like the OL could be good enough to get us to 2025.
Benching Nate Davis had been addition by subtraction. What a POS that turd was. He was inactive today, that's how far he's fallen. From starter to deep bench in a month.
I think I said I reserve the right to change my vote. So butkus and I have been talking about his technique. I watched closely today. He gets in trouble when off the snap he has his feet parallel and the rusher gets in the first punch. That only happened a couple times. When he gets his hands on them right away, gets his pads low, and sets his anchor far back, he holds well. Jenkins was playing better today, and that also helps.
Yeah, too early to judge yet but I'm thinking about building an top-notch wall G-C-G before I worry too much about LT. You aren't gonna get a premier LT prospect in the draft anyway unless we bomb the rest of the season.
That is the pragmatic way to look at it.
We do have the draft picks to move up and get a franchise LT. It can be done.
Reality says we need four guys: LT, LG, C, RG.
Jones is not worth $20M, Jenkins is not worth $15M, C is bad and we have a stop gap at RG but not a proven solution.
Paying Jones and/or Jenkins is a great way to enter Cap Hell. You don't give Mids big money second contracts. Try and replace them in the draft or with better FA personnel.
There's no shame in using all four draft picks in the first three rounds on OL. Or trading up higher into the first to get a LT.
If we go the IOL route then it's draft two guards and sign a center. You don't want an OL with three rookie starters. We can still draft four guys and have two on the bench for 2026, but three rookies is asking for problems.
thanfully never. although neither did DC. he's only averaged 12mil. Average money for average play. Find yourself an elite LT that makes you happily pay top end contracts for.
Spoiler Alert: You can pay someone average money and still overpay them.
Besides, addressing LT is still a lot better of an idea than drafting a RB in round 2 or 3 like somebody mentioned the other day.
thanfully never. although neither did DC. he's only averaged 12mil. Average money for average play. Find yourself an elite LT that makes you happily pay top end contracts for.
Spoiler Alert: You can pay someone average money and still overpay them.
Besides, addressing LT is still a lot better of an idea than drafting a RB in round 2 or 3 like somebody mentioned the other day.
except you can do both. draft a LT rd 1, G or C and RB in the next 2 rounds. ***whaaaa*** yes it is in fact possible to address multiple areas in a draft early. Oh and since the Bears have 2 2nd rd picks you have an extra bite at the apple allowing for G AND C in rd 2 and 3 w/out the RB being an issue; also I never said next year, I said in the next few years.
Unless Herbert and Swift or RoJo go, they have no room in the RB club.
Leno wasn't overpaid, he's been a perfectly average LT, it's just nothing you want long term. Webb/Leno/Jones are all the same LT, easily replaced starters that you shouldn't get a 2nd contract to. Find yourself an elite LT.
Spoiler Alert: You can pay someone average money and still overpay them.
Besides, addressing LT is still a lot better of an idea than drafting a RB in round 2 or 3 like somebody mentioned the other day.
except you can do both. draft a LT rd 1, G or C and RB in the next 2 rounds. ***whaaaa*** yes it is in fact possible to address multiple areas in a draft early. Oh and since the Bears have 2 2nd rd picks you have an extra bite at the apple allowing for G AND C in rd 2 and 3 w/out the RB being an issue; also I never said next year, I said in the next few years.
Unless Herbert and Swift or RoJo go, they have no room in the RB club.
Leno wasn't overpaid, he's been a perfectly average LT, it's just nothing you want long term. Webb/Leno/Jones are all the same LT, easily replaced starters that you shouldn't get a 2nd contract to. Find yourself an elite LT.
No not really because math is hard.
Three picks in two rounds with four holes on the OL.
The picks need to be OL. Lower round picks on OL are how we got here in the first place. Build the OL right and even Swift can gain yards.
except you can do both. draft a LT rd 1, G or C and RB in the next 2 rounds. ***whaaaa*** yes it is in fact possible to address multiple areas in a draft early. Oh and since the Bears have 2 2nd rd picks you have an extra bite at the apple allowing for G AND C in rd 2 and 3 w/out the RB being an issue; also I never said next year, I said in the next few years.
Unless Herbert and Swift or RoJo go, they have no room in the RB club.
Leno wasn't overpaid, he's been a perfectly average LT, it's just nothing you want long term. Webb/Leno/Jones are all the same LT, easily replaced starters that you shouldn't get a 2nd contract to. Find yourself an elite LT.
No not really because math is hard.
Three picks in two rounds with four holes on the OL.
The picks need to be OL. Lower round picks on OL are how we got here in the first place. Build the OL right and even Swift can gain yards.
4 holes that cannot all go to rookies in 1 draft. There is FA in there also, you put 4 rookies on an OL and they'll all get blitzed and destroyed all year. 2 vet FA's and 2 draft picks and one more rookie that sits and learns/plays backup.
At no time ever has a team drafted 4 linemen to start in one draft.
Yeah, too early to judge yet but I'm thinking about building an top-notch wall G-C-G before I worry too much about LT. You aren't gonna get a premier LT prospect in the draft anyway unless we bomb the rest of the season.
That is the pragmatic way to look at it.
We do have the draft picks to move up and get a franchise LT. It can be done.
Reality says we need four guys: LT, LG, C, RG.
Jones is not worth $20M, Jenkins is not worth $15M, C is bad and we have a stop gap at RG but not a proven solution.
Paying Jones and/or Jenkins is a great way to enter Cap Hell. You don't give Mids big money second contracts. Try and replace them in the draft or with better FA personnel.
There's no shame in using all four draft picks in the first three rounds on OL. Or trading up higher into the first to get a LT.
If we go the IOL route then it's draft two guards and sign a center. You don't want an OL with three rookie starters. We can still draft four guys and have two on the bench for 2026, but three rookies is asking for problems.
Just looking ahead early, some potential free agents on the offensive line are as follows:
Left Tackle:
Cam Robinson - 30yo
Garrett Bolles - 33yo
Ronnie Stanley - 31yo
Joe Noteboom - 30yo
Patrick Mekari - 28yo
Jedrick Wills - 26yo
Left Guard:
Ben Bredeson - 27yo
Jon Feliciano - 33yo
Dalton Risner - 30yo
Michael Jordan - 27yo
Aaron Banks - 28yo
Tevin Jenkins - 27
Center:
Connor Williams - 28yo
Coleman Shelton - 30yo
Evan Brown - 29yo
Liam Eichenberg - 27yo
Josh Meyers - 27yo
Right Guard:
James Daniel - 28yo (ducks out of the way of flying shoes)
Three picks in two rounds with four holes on the OL.
The picks need to be OL. Lower round picks on OL are how we got here in the first place. Build the OL right and even Swift can gain yards.
4 holes that cannot all go to rookies in 1 draft. There is FA in there also, you put 4 rookies on an OL and they'll all get blitzed and destroyed all year. 2 vet FA's and 2 draft picks and one more rookie that sits and learns/plays backup.
At no time ever has a team drafted 4 linemen to start in one draft.
You draft four. The positions are dependent on FA. Let Jenkins walk. Try and sign the best C money can buy.
Two guards and two tackles if you get a C in FA.
Otherwise it’s two guards, a tackle and a C.
Start the two guards. Let the other two sit on the bench. In 2026, get the other two in. The line is fixed for four years.