| 20 April 2010
Well it's the most anticipated week of the NFL off-season, the 75th annual NFL draft takes place this week in New York City. In case you've been living under a rock (or have a life outside of Chicago Bears and NFL football) this draft this year is following a different format, the first round kicks off on Thursday night. The first time the NFL draft has ever been shown in prime time meaning it will go head to head with Grey's Anatomy, Community, and Survivor the Thursday line up power houses.
However it's not just the NFL draft that is dominating the headlines for the Chicago Bears, the Bears are also going through voluntary workouts out together. The offense is going through the nuances of Mike Martz's play book learning all the demands that the new offensive coordinator has of his QBs and receivers. Jay Cutler and Caleb Hanie have been working out throwing the ball around to the receivers, looking as dominant as possible in T-shirts and under wear. Johnny Knox has been featured prominently in the offense showing off his skill set as one of the most polished receivers on the team.
Hanie is simply continuing to do what he does best, develop and make Bears fans more comfortable with his play in case he is ever called upon. Mike Martz also interviewed with reporters and spoke about TE Greg Olsen and where he fits in the offense. Martz wasn't afraid to make the obvious statement that the area Olsen needs to improve in most is his blocking. The following video clip from the Chicago Tribune features the entire quote on what Martz had to say regarding Greg Olsen:
Martz then went on to further compliment Jay Cutler and just how talented Cutler is. Martz has been full of high praise for his quarterback since his arrival in Chicago, but added more to sugar to the sweetness regarding Cutler's talent. Martz stated,
"He's better than I thought," Martz said. "I've got to smile because he's just been remarkable. He really has. He's so intelligent that he can intimidate you. He really can. He is extremely bright, one of the smartest people I've been around. Very humble though. He really loves this game, has a great passion for what he does." With Cutler working in his third offense in as many years, Martz stripped it down to the basics. They're starting from square one and Martz emphasized the work being done now is to teach the system. He's not going to focus on position battles in other areas until training camp. By then, Cutler ought to have a firm grasp on what they are doing.
"We started with him and how he holds his hands under center to how he steps, his stance underneath the center, just like he's a high school quarterback," Martz said. "We go back and re-train all the basic fundamentals how we see it with him. He's bought into everything that we do. He's been a dream for me. I couldn't ask for a better situation."
Danieal Manning until recently had been choosing to skip the voluntary workouts until his contract dispute is resolved. He has been replaced on the depth chart by Craig Steltz who just like last year is running with the 1s as the starting free safety. Lining up with Steltz has been Josh Bullocks who signed another one year deal to compete with the Bears for depth in the secondary. Obviously there is no expectation that either Steltz or Bullocks will remain the starters once real practices begin in June.
Manning decided to show up for voluntary workouts as of yesterday (April 19th) and take part in conditioning and team activities. His agent stated that they are confident that Manning's contract situation will be resolved by June. Manning is as being reported working out at the strong safety position, most likely as a result of showing some stronger ability in the box last year than he has at any other point in his career. He is a fierce blitzer with his speed either through the A-gap or off the edge. He had the big safety on Aaron Rodgers off the edge and also got pressure on some occasions that caused some errant throws throughout the season.
If Manning is going to take over the starting role as the strong safety and team with a potentially young athletic true free safety prospect it will provide the defense with the most versatile safety combo they have had since the 2006 season. Manning is the most athletic of any of the safeties and he has the ability to come into the box and he is the best one on one coverage safety on the team from his experience as a nickel back and the fact that he's one of the fastest players on the team.
In restricted free agency news Bullocks as we mentioned signed another one year contract deal. Also signing their tender offers, Nick Roach who figures to compete for a starting strong side linebacker role along with Pisa Tinoisamoa. Tinoisamoa as expected re-signed with the Bears and will be given a chance to win the starting role he had won before his injury last year ended his season. Roach had his best season of his career last year and was the best play maker on the team outside of Briggs. Roach made the most plays from the MIKE'backer position (when Hillenmeyer was out) but hurt with his lack of knowledge of the defensive alignments and his line calls.
Also in the secondary CB Corey Graham has been given a chance to run with the starters in the absence of Charles Tillman who is still recovering from his big rib injury and bruised lung from the 2009 season. Newly signed Tim Jennings is settling into his role on the team, showing his comfort level with the defense, essentially the same style of defense he played in with the Colts.
Juaquin Iglesias last year's red shirt wide receiver lost some weight during the off-season and is reportedly looking a lot quicker in his drills and is showing a better ability running his routes. Iglesias if he develops as he should come wind up filling out the depth chart at wide receiver because that's what he was drafted to do. Iglesias' continued development is a testament to why the team retained the services of wide receiver coach Darryl Drake when they decided to let loose most of the rest of the offensive coaching staff.J'Marcus Webb West Texas A&M 6-foot-8 328-pounds
Levi Horn Montana 6-foot-7 327-pounds
Will Barker Virginia 6-foot-7 317-pounds
Ramone Harewood Morehouse 6-foot-6 341-pounds
You can find a complete updated work out list here:
List updated Monday April 19th
Perhaps important note of the off-season, the health of linebacker Brian Urlacher. Urlacher suffered a season ending injury in the first game of the season last year and has since fully recovered. Jerry Angelo said he is 100-percent ready to go and may have actually had his career extended by being able to take a year off of his career. Urlacher missed a year of banging bodies and because of that should be well rested and ready to go. This could be the last possible year Urlacher has to return to dominant form. Urlacher will be 32-years-old in May and if he's ever going to be close to the dominant player he once was 2010 is the year it will happen. He has been able to lift weights and full workout with his teammates during the voluntary workout portion of the off-season schedule. If he is back to the level of play that is expected of him the run defense could be back to form it enjoyed in 2008 when it led the NFL in tackles for a loss.
Also today offensive coordinator confirmed that LG Frank Omiyale will be moved back out to RT his more natural position. Omiyale struggled for six games last season as the starter at left guard before finally being benched, only to be brought back again at the LG spot. Omiyale turned in a better performance over the last four games of the season, but still left a lot to be desired.
Omiyale as an offensive tackle should bring welcome stability to the right side of the offensive line and also provides a bit of an inkling into the Bears' draft day thinking. They may in fact be targeting an offensive guard at 75th overall or later in the fourth round. My guess is that Lance Louis could also get a shot at the left guard spot assuming he comes through his legal troubles without missing much time or being missed from the team.
Louis showed a lot during the pre-season games last year as a rookie and was able to earn a roster spot even though he was selected in the seventh round, quite an accomplishment for a seventh round pick.
Finally in a bit of free agency news the Bears are said to have some interest in veteran QB Josh McCown who has taken on the role of NFL journeyman QB after bouncing between numerous NFL franchises over the last five years. McCown would provide that veteran stability presence behind Cutler and serve as a mentor for both Cutler and Hanie.
The Bears also put in a bid on the waiver wire for offensive guard Trevor Canfield of Seattle only to lose that bid to the Detroit Lions. The Lions were also the team that signed guard Rob Sims away from the Seahawks earlier this spring.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
