Should The Bears Target A Veteran Receiver?

by Brandon on May 18, 2011 1:00 PM CDT in Green Bay Packers Analysis

CHICAGO IL - JANUARY 23: Sam Shields #37 of the Green Bay Packers intercepts a pass intended for Johnny Knox #13 of the Chicago Bears late in the second quarter in the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field on January 23 2011 in Chicago Illinois. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

While I liked the players selected by the Bears last month, one position that they needed to address (and didn't) was wide receiver. LB Brian Urlacher still thinks they're the best team in the NFC North, but the Bears offense is going to be held back until they give QB Jay Cutler and offensive coordinator Mike Martz more weapons to work with. Obviously that's a good thing for Green Bay Packer fans.

WR Johnny Knox. I don't know if he's underrated, but he's a very good complementary receiver. Only catching two passes in the NFC Championship game isn't getting it done as the number one receiver. WR Earl Bennett's fine, but he had one reception or less in 6 of 18 games played last season. Moving Devin Hester to wide receiver should be considered a failure.

If the Bears are going to do something to upgrade the position, they'll have to find someone in free agency or in trade. Windy City Gridiron was generally positive about a low draft pick trade for WR Steve Smith. There were a lot of problems with the Panthers offense that weren't his fault, but Football Outsiders said he was the worst wide receiver in the NFL last season. Maybe you could also blame that on injuries and age, but trading for an old injury prone receiver doesn't sound like a good deal either.

WCG also looked at bull riding, soccer playing, renaissance man Chad Ochocinco. Football Outsiders gave him a decidedly average ranking of No. 37 overall in 2010, which is a lot better than Smith. But obviously he brings a lot of distractions with him. Still he should be better than Smith in 2011 even if he isn't a No. 1 receiver anymore either.

In the end, while each player should have at least a couple of seasons left in them, it would cost money, and at least a draft pick to acquire them. And I'm not sure either is better than Devin Hester at this point in their careers. Maybe they'll trade for one of them and give Bear fans with some hope, but neither is going to make them a lot better next season.

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Should the Bears target a veteran receiver?

I think the first step is to get Cutler to stop throwing to DeAngelo Hall.

"A weapon based on Time . . ." mused Viktor Mulciber. "Well, why not? The one force no one knows how to defeat, resist, or reverse. It kills all forms of life sooner or later. With a Time-weapon you could become the most feared person in history."
"I'd rather be loved," said Root.
Mulciber shrugged. "You're young."

by I voted for Kodos on May 18, 2011 1:15 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

singlehandedly gave Hall a Pro Bowl appearance

disgusting

by handheld on May 18, 2011 3:02 PM CDT up reply actions

Tough position to be in.

Generally speaking, when a team signs or trades for a supposedly “impact receiver,” they overspend and the impact is marginal. Rare exceptions, like Randy Moss in New England, do exist, but the former is far mroe common (see: Randy Moss in Oakland and back in Minnesota).

It’s usually a lot easier to draft and develop a receiver, even if it isn’t a Julio Jones or Michael Crabtree, and get better production from them. The Packers’ vaunted receivers and tight ends don’t have a first round pick among them for example.

My point is the Bears are still deuced at receiver, and their options aren’t great.

by mpbMKE on May 18, 2011 1:18 PM CDT reply actions

No.

Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog.
Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog
Donna Noble has left the library. Donna Noble has been saved.

by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on May 18, 2011 1:34 PM CDT reply actions

The bears should target terrible route runners....

..so that they might have a shot at catching one of Jay’s errant throws.

Chad Johnson is one of the better route-runners of the past decade. How is he supposed to help their offense if he’s in the right place at the right time? Clearly any receiver who creates seperation from the defensive back is at a disadvantage trying to swat an interception……Is there really any surprise that their speedy receiving core has failed thus far?

After Further Review.........

The Bears Still Suck

by smackwaterjack on May 18, 2011 1:47 PM CDT reply actions

The Bears already have terrible route runners!

I’ve always thought that receivers took a couple of years to develop, especially in the area of repertoire with the QB (thank you spell check, wouldn’t have gotten that one!).

Remember Cutler’s first game with the Bears? Ended with the receiver basically giving up…Al took the ball and almost scored.

by msc32887 on May 18, 2011 1:51 PM CDT up reply actions

I think the word you are looking for is "rapport"

“Most successful MLB pitchers have at least three pitches in their repertoire, and a great rapport with their catchers.”

After Further Review.........

The Bears Still Suck

by smackwaterjack on May 18, 2011 2:02 PM CDT up reply actions

Oh, wow. I knew that. Now I feel stupid.

by msc32887 on May 18, 2011 3:00 PM CDT up reply actions

But thanks for pointing that out...now I'll be sure never to mix the two up again!

by msc32887 on May 18, 2011 3:02 PM CDT up reply actions

Bears receivers

Johnny Knox was the leading receiver with 51 catches (same as Matt Forte), 960 yards, and 5 TDs.

Just for comparison’s sake, we all agree that Donald Driver had a disappointing year, right?

Johnny Knox:
51 rec. 960 yards 5 tds

Donald Driver
51 rec. 565 yards 4 tds

Now, both James Jones and Jordy Nelson had similar numbers, because the ball was distributed equally among them, but we had a clear #1 target in Jennings, who had 76 receptions, 1,265 yards and 12 tds.

System be damned, if you don’t have a single 1000 yard receiver, and no receiver was able to catch more than 50 balls, you need a #1 receiver. Desperately.

So, do the Bears need a receiver? Absolutely not. They’re mightly fine the way they are. So says Urlacher. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/05/17/urlacher-says-bears-not-packers-are-best-team-in-nfc/

"IT IS TIME"

by PackersRS on May 18, 2011 2:06 PM CDT reply actions

The problem is Mike Martz

The Chicago personnel doesn’t seem match Martz’s vertical “Air Coryell” type offense. Knox and Hester are both lightning fast and can change directions on a dime, but they don’t run good routes, and they don’t have great hands. Sending them deep all time time (especially with Cutler under pressure all the time) minimizes their effectiveness, IMO. Don’t you think it would make get these guys the ball quickly and focus on run-after-catch, when they’re so hard to catch? I’d think they’d be more effective in a West-Coast-type offense, driving linebackers to distraction instead of running long routes that allow safeties to sit back and pick off Cutler’s pop flies.

by LA Cheese on May 18, 2011 2:29 PM CDT reply actions

Forte

I should add that the Bears offense did well when Martz remembered that Matt Forte was his best weapon. But he’d often forget that for long stretches. Which worked out well for the good (Green and Gold) guys.

by LA Cheese on May 18, 2011 2:30 PM CDT up reply actions

Something I find interesting about the FO rankings...

Larry Fitzgerald actually had a -3 DYAR rating, meaning in theory, he was about equivalent to a replacement-level wideout. I’m sure a ton of that had to do with the Cardinals’ awful QB play, but it’s just interesting to see that someone widely touted as a top-3 WR in the league had such a bad season according to some of these advanced metrics.

Author at Acme Packing Company

@TexWestern

by texwestern on May 18, 2011 3:08 PM CDT reply actions

Thing is, they can’t evaluate if he ran the right route or not. And he’s not a guy that beats defenders with speed. He’s more of a guy you throw his way and he makes absurd catches, even when he’s not open.

Without someone decent throwing to him, he doesn’t get to make many of those amazing plays that would put his DYAR on the positive note.

"IT IS TIME"

by PackersRS on May 18, 2011 3:24 PM CDT up reply actions

As a Packer fan, I hope the Bears keep believing in Devin Hester as a WR

Should they target a veteran WR? Yes, if the price is right. This question could easily be: “Should the Bears improve their depth at WR?” That said, the commenters at WCG are kidding themselves if they think the addition of Mike Sims-Walker is keeping this team from earning a Super Bowl ring.

Of the available 2011 FAs, the biggest names are Santonio Holmes and Sidney Rice, followed by Braylon Edwards, Malcolm Floyd, MSW, Lance Moore, James Jones, Jacoby Jones, Santana Moss, Steve Breaston…

If I were a Bears fan (/shudders), I’d want them to go after a young player with upside like Jacoby Jones or Steve Breaston who might be available for a much lower price than some of the older UFAs assuming Rice signs elsewhere.

by handheld on May 18, 2011 3:23 PM CDT reply actions

Jacoby Jones or Breaston?

Thats the same WR they already have. If the go get a WR, it has to be someone who is going to make a difference. Neither of those 2 are better than Hester, Know or Aromashadu… They need to get someone different. Holmes, Rice or James Jones would add something to that offense that isn’t already present.

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on May 18, 2011 3:58 PM CDT up reply actions

Aromashadu is in Martz' doghouse and likely does not have a future in Chicago

You would agree Earl Bennett has a different skill set than Hester/Knox, right? Outside of former CLFer Andy Fantuz, Jacoby Jones would be the tallest WR on their roster. You’re suggesting that all Jacoby Jones is, is a speedy WR who runs spotty routes… I disagree. Jones =/= Hester/Knox.

Malcolm Floyd or Jacoby Jones bring something to the WR corps that the Bears don’t have: a reliable tall WR

by handheld on May 18, 2011 4:12 PM CDT up reply actions

Jones is playing opposite Andre Johnson

And he still averaged only 11 yds per rec. WHy the heck would you want that?! He get single coverage from the #2 or 3 CB while Johnson the best WR in the NFL gets doubled and a TE among the best recievers in the NFL and he can do no better than 50 rec for 500 yds?! Thats horrid… Why would the bears waste time on that? He has done NOTHING to make it worth signing him except as a backup WR and ST player. FLoyd would be a huge improvement. James Jones is a better WR than Jacoby.

They need a WR that will be a #1 WR for them. Floyd would be, Rice would be, and Holmes would be. Jacoby Jones is a #4 WR on most teams. Maybe even the bares…

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on May 18, 2011 4:40 PM CDT up reply actions

Texans fans really really don't like Jones.

They just…don’t. And there’s no reason to like him, for that matter, and it definitely includes the reasons you outlined.

Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog.
Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog
Donna Noble has left the library. Donna Noble has been saved.

by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on May 18, 2011 9:03 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't want to see Vincent Jackson on the Bears

probably because he is that deep threat with an insane YPC average. You never know, though.

Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog.
Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog
Donna Noble has left the library. Donna Noble has been saved.

by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on May 18, 2011 9:04 PM CDT up reply actions

They are in a difficult position because of their aging defense.

Plus they already have Earl Bennett and Johnny Knox, young players with upside. What they need is someone who can run routes, catch the ball (scratch Edwards/Jones), and isn’t a player on the downswing of their career (Moss, I think).

If they can’t get Rice, I think they’d do quite well with Malcolm Floyd (6’5"), who is a taller receiver that averaged 19.3 YPC last year. I’m thinking taller because the Bears only have one receiver on their roster over 6’0", and that is someone deep in the roster in Andy Fantuz at 6’4".

by msc32887 on May 18, 2011 4:08 PM CDT up reply actions