Ask Windy City Gridiron Virtually Anything

they got a 3rd rounder back but Olsen was a top target and I thought they would be looking for more targets rather than shelling away one. Im also curious to know how a bears fan feels about it.

Ok, so here’s the thing about Greg Olsen—I like the guy quite a bit, and I think he’s got a lot of talent. That said, he was not a fit for where this team was going forward.

Olsen is a great receiver, he has a lot of qualities that you look for but, he was lacking in some areas that would be key for the Bears going forward. He’s not a great pass-blocker (an absolute must in the Martzfense), and even for his size, he showed a tendency to shy a bit from big hits, earning himself a “Charmin” moniker from many folks at WCG.

Martz’s tight ends need to be double-threats—they need to be able to block effectively, and also be good at getting out into space to catch. Olsen was great at getting the match-up—he was too big for linebackers and defensive backs to cover particularly well.

In the end, part of me was sad to see him go, but I’d rather it be nwo andg et some value for him, than let him have unproductive field time and get nothing.

Olsen has led or been tied for the touchdown lead amongst bears recievers for the past 3 season and he made his fair share of plays. He usually did well against you guys so thats always a pluss =).

Like Kev said Martz never utilized him was olsen a great blocker? No. Did he improved noticeably? Yes. He was a good weapon and Jay trusted him alot and now the offense is carried by forte.

In the end getting the 3rd from carolina was higher than many of us expected but i hated to see him go.

Him and Cam are going to do good things

it is obvious that the Bear’s master plan of sending Olsen over to Carolina so that he could team up with an obvious (cough,cough) franchise QB in Cam Newton and deliver the Packers a week 2 upset did not work out. Therefore, it was a bad move.

the replacement in Kellen Davis does not have the talent or potential level of a Greg Olsen.

Greg Olsen though he may not have been the best blocking te is still on equal terms if not better than Kellen Davis at it… Like Bear Lovin said noticeable improvement, the part where its clear to decide who was better is in the passing game. The tough catches and third down conversions Olsen brought to the team Davis has yet to produce.

You bring in a Roy Williams to give Jay Cutler a big receiving target but you let go of one of his most valuable weapons, and now instead of having a starting pro bowl caliber te you now have an above average at best one… Horrible move

and not on behalf of WCG—-Vikings fans. Unequivocally.

They seem to have less history of the game embedded, and more of the territorial pissing fights. While that’s definitely not true of all of them, and I’m usually hesitant to paint an entire fanbase by its bad seeds, the Vikings fans I tend to come in contact with are….how should I say it politely…uncool.

Packers fans, on the other hand, while you still have your “winners” (which I will fully and readily admit, the Bears have also), I don’t feel like I say “That guy’s an a-hole” nearly as often when talking about Packers fans. And I had to be the kid in the Bears jersey when we lived in Horicon for 7 years when I was a kid.

I can safely attest to the fact that as much as we loved to hate the other person’s team, there is also tremendous respect for the people, as we all knew and accepted that they simply cheered for a different team. In 2003, at the height of my early anti-Bears phase, I still bought my grandfather (a lifelong Bears fan) a DVD of the “Super Bowl Shuffle.”

As for the Vikings, my dad went to undergraduate school in Minnesota, when Bud Grant was in his heyday as the Vikings’ coach. So Minnesota hatred is something that everyone in my family not only agrees on, but also uses as a unifying force at all times, meaning that if the Packers or Bears are playing Minnesota, we all cheer for Chicago or Green Bay. This happens every season, regardless of how good the Packers or Bears are.

he looks like he could develop into someone pretty decent. We’ll see, though, if health is something he can maintain.

Fortunately, defensive line will always be our deepest position, as long as Jerry Angelo is around. Nevermind that need for back up corners, or an offensive line who can block 5 pass rushers.

Without Forte, this offense is D.O.A.

I’ll tell you what I told CSC last week about Briggs:

He got 6 years, 36 million, most of it in the first three years.

After those three years, he decided he wanted more. From ESPN Chicago:

Briggs formally submitted a trade request last week, but it’s falling on deaf ears. He has three years left on his contract and no leverage in the matter. "What he’s doing is not something that hasn’t been done here in Chicago and around the league," Angelo said. Meanwhile, Briggs says nothing has changed for him on the field as he continues preparations for Sunday’s opener against the Falcons.

From rotoworld:

3/1/2008: Signed a six-year, $36 million contract. The deal contains $13 million guaranteed, including a $4 million signing bonus, a $3.75 million roster bonus in the first year, a $4.75 million roster bonus in the second, and a $3.3 million roster bonus in the third. Annual $250,000 workout bonuses are also available. 2011: $3.65 million, 2012: $3.75 million, 2013: $6.25 million, 2014: Free Agent

So, as you can see, in addition to 6 years, $36 mil, 13 was guaranteed, and he had 15.8 MILLION in roster bonuses. Hardly a chump deal. I can still understand he’s unhappy he doesn’t make more, but so are most people, and they’re not going to their boss and asking to be swapped with a different company.

Hester and Knox if Roy and Bennett are out.

Originally #1 and #2 were Williams and Hester. Why? We dont even know.

The most consistent is Bennett, Solid hands, good routes, deceptive speed and will make the tough catch and take the hit.

Knox had the most yards and tied olsen for most td catches so it was surprising to see him get demoted and not even be able to compete.

Hester and Knox are notorious for getting mugged by opposing Db’s and not doing anything about it. (last week).

Sanzenbacher- has looked good similar to bennett he is a shifty guy with good hands but he is a undrafted rookie and will look like it.

Williams- looked good week one made some catches and i dont think he dropped anything (shocker) but he is hurt and is sorely missed.

Hester is still confident in his abilits and many forget that Knox was a probowl returner his rookie year.

They are taking Knees if they dont see a chance to return it but they will take their chances

to bring just about any kick out if they think that they might sorta maybe see a hole forming somewhere. It’s Hester’s gift, and it’s his curse. If he runs North-South, he’ll find that gap and then he’s gone.

When he starts running east-west, well, it’s him running about 30 yards to net 4.

When Forte gets the ball in the open field he is as dangerous as it gets, he has great speed, he is elusive (juked Dunta Robinson BAAAAD) and many people forget he is 6’2 so he wont go down easy. With 15 catches (10 vs Saints) Forte is our best reciving option because honestly Knox/Hester cant get open against decent dbs.

To your point last week forte took what should have been 4 yard loss into a 11 yard gain i know it sounds like im sippin the kooliad lol. If im greenbay i make hester or knox beat me and take forte away in the ground and air.

I can’t wait till we play the Eagles…

Puppies a shot at Vick?

Im eager to play them because o line still is shaky and against our improved d line i think we cause probelems as i think you all would.

Paea been in active first two games he would another body to the d line rotation adding even more depth.

As for regular puppies i love’em!

Paea is completely a development project right now. He’s luxury of depth on the DL, and I’m ok with that.

Melton has looked real-deal so far, and so has Okoye. They’ll be our main guys, and we’ll work on continuing to get rotations for the other DTs throughout the season.

It’s still grass, it’ll still get re-sodded several times this season, and it’ll still be dead and hard as a rock when November/December rolls around.

The argument is still between the Parks District and the Bears over whether to change the turf. The Bears are hesitant to do field turft because they haven’t seen much in the way of studies showing it’s any better than grass, but the Parks department aren’t good enough at their jobs to keep it looking decent, because they keep scheduling other events on it (soccer games, u2 concerts, etc), and tearing up the field on off weeks.

Thanks Bears Den!

because there’s a very real, very scary chance that he get severely injured this season.

He has his knocks—he can hold the ball too long, and rely on his arm to make throws he shouldn’t be throwing, but right now, he has NO CHOICE but to play scared—who knows what’s coming around on his blindside?

Another coordinator would probably be great—but only if they play to their strengths. Cutler is great on the move, out of the pocket, and has the arm to make that throw once a play breaks down. He’s not your ideal candidate for a seven step drop pocket passer, but he can only run the plays that are called.

If there’s another repeat of the Saints game this season, you can be guaranteed Martz is done. He might be anyways, but any repeat of that seals it.

You guys may not know what its like having so much of a circus at that position. (going from favre to rodgers). But as a fan getting Cutler was one of the best things to happen for this offense . Cutler is as tough as it gets in the NFL after the beatings he takes and puts up IMO fairly good numbers with a lack of a true #1 WR and the worst o line in….. well a while.

Many say hell never be elite. Well look at the other qbs in the league.
(in no order)

Brady
P. Manning
A-rod
Rivers
Big Ben
Romo
Ryan
Freeman
Stafford finally looks good as well

Of these guys they all of somewhat of an offensive line and all those QBs have atleast ONE good weapon. some have many like Ryan Rivers Romo Brady Arod.

If Angelo can ever get Cutler a LEGIT WR he can and will take his game to the next level.

Qbs have won without a great WR and no o line before but its extremely difficult to do it without both.

He’s had his successes, which have been good ones, but his failures have been so much more glaring that it’s hard to see the good moves.

Jerry Angelo has what seems to be an obsession with defense, particularly the defensive line. This is largely what he knows from his time in the league, so I can’t necessarilyf ault him on it, but at the same time, even Matt Millen would be able to tell that the Bears need more offensive linemen who can play at the NFL level consistenly, and produce. With even an average offensive line, this team could really, really go places.

I would say that most fans probably wouldn’t be that sad if he was gone. That said, if they do well this season, or god forbid, win something really important, I don’t think he’ll be going anywhere. Nor will Lovie. Or probably even Martz.

But before he was injured, he was making good progress and definitely proving he was a first round talent. Like any rookie, he needs some work, mostly in pass protection. But he’s a mauler in the ground game and his pass protection is passable even now.

The Bears were lucky that he fell to them.

Than knocking the bares out of the playoffs… AGAIN!!! LOL

Thanks to Kev for posting this as well. It’s nice to gain a view from the Bears fans perspective and to talk football with you.