Well now that the season is over, let's start looking forward to next year.
There will be a lot of moving parts (Urlacher and Hester could be gone next year) but we know absolutely for certain that we will have a new head coach and upgraded O-Line.
Head Coach
Reports say that the Chicago job is very attractive as the Bears have a strong QB and defense in place. The Bears are moving fast as there has already been 6 other coaches firings, 7 if you include Carolina, and with new GM's in NY (Jets), TEN and Jac there may be more coaching changes. Also, Garret may be out in Dallas and Mike Smith in Atlanta may be out if the Falcons lose in the first round. It is realistic that there may be 12 coaching changes in the off-season and the Bears are at least moving very quickly.
With that said, Denver OC Mike McCoy and Atlanta Special Teams Coordinator Kieth Armstrong will interview over the weekend. Current Special Teams Coordinator Dave Toub has yet to be fired so they may be considering him.
Also, the Bears are expected to gauge the interest of the following candidates: Chip Kelly, Oregon; Pete Carmicheal, OC New Orleans; Dirk Koetter, OC Atlanta; Bruce Arians, OC Indy; Jon Gruden, Andy Reid, Jay Gruden, OC Cincinnati; Greg Roman, OC SF; Bill O'Brien, Notre Dame.
One thing is for certain, the next Chicago Bears Head Coach will be offensive minded.
O-Line
This is the biggest problem in the organization. The Bears have only one lineman, G Lance Louis, that is considered above average and he will be coming off major knee surgery. Garza is considered a low level starter at Center but is considered and average to above average guard. The Bears do not have a starter level player at either of the tackle spots.
The 2013 NFL draft is loaded and this is a good free-agent class. Draft wise, there are 8 linemen in the draft with a 1st round grade. With the exception of Philly, Arizona and St. Louis, the teams picking ahead of the Bears have greater needs at positions other than the O-Line. Also, the upcoming draft is lacking skills position players so we are likely to see teams reaching higher than normal for QB, WR, RB and TE. With that said, the Bears should get good offensive line value at #20.
Prospects
Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M LT
Jame Matthews, Texas A&M LT
Taylor Lewan, Michigan LT
Chance Warmack, Alabama G
Eric Fisher. Central Michigan LT
Dallas Thomas, Tennessee T/G
Barrett Jones, Alabama G/T
D.J. Fluker, Alabama RT
There are some studs available in Free Agency and the Bears have shown that they will spend money on free agency, Julius Peppers, and be active on the trade front, Brandon Marshall. The Dolphins have indicated that they not give Jake Long the 15 million dollar franchise tender. Ryan Clady is also a free agent and with the money given to Payton Manning, the Broncos may not be able to franchise Clady. They have to sign him long term of he will be on the market.
Free Agency Candidates
Jake Long, Miami Dolphins LT
Ryan Clady, Denver Bronocs LT
Andre Smith, Cincinati Bengals RT
Sebastian Vollmer, New England Patriots RT
Andy Levitre, Buffalo Bills G
Ryan Lilja, Kansas City Cheifs G
Brian Waters, New England G
My Conclusion
The Bears are, primarily, a veteran team so a inexperienced head coach may not be on the menu for the Bears, therefore we can nix Chip Kelly and Bill O'Brien. The Bears have given new GM Phil Emery a lot of authority and the big name coaches will want some, if not all, of the personnel power so we nix Jon Gruden and Andy Reid. Jay Gruden will probably either stay in in Cincy of follow Jon Gruden, so he may be out. The Bears want and offensive mind so Dave Toub and Keith Armstrong are likely out.
That leaves: Mike McCoy, Bruce Arians, Pete Carmicheal, Dirk Koetter, and Greg Roman. I doubt that Phil Emery will go with a flash in the pan kind of coach and, of the group, only Mike McCoy got a head coaching interview last year. I'd be disappointed but I think our next head coach is Mike McCoy.
With regard to the O-Line front, I think the Bears have to get at least two of the guys listed above and draft a late round developmental pick or sign a less heralded free agent like Ramon Harewood.
Miscellaneous: We have to get younger at LB, and add depth at D-Tackle. Re-signing Melton is a priority and we may have to add a WR as Hester may not come back and Johnny Knox may not recover. The team may not address TE as we draft Rodriguez and Lovie played him exclusively at FB and we are not likely to add more depth at TE as we drafted Hardin who got injured early in the season.
What do yall want to see!
There will be a lot of moving parts (Urlacher and Hester could be gone next year) but we know absolutely for certain that we will have a new head coach and upgraded O-Line.
Head Coach
Reports say that the Chicago job is very attractive as the Bears have a strong QB and defense in place. The Bears are moving fast as there has already been 6 other coaches firings, 7 if you include Carolina, and with new GM's in NY (Jets), TEN and Jac there may be more coaching changes. Also, Garret may be out in Dallas and Mike Smith in Atlanta may be out if the Falcons lose in the first round. It is realistic that there may be 12 coaching changes in the off-season and the Bears are at least moving very quickly.
With that said, Denver OC Mike McCoy and Atlanta Special Teams Coordinator Kieth Armstrong will interview over the weekend. Current Special Teams Coordinator Dave Toub has yet to be fired so they may be considering him.
Also, the Bears are expected to gauge the interest of the following candidates: Chip Kelly, Oregon; Pete Carmicheal, OC New Orleans; Dirk Koetter, OC Atlanta; Bruce Arians, OC Indy; Jon Gruden, Andy Reid, Jay Gruden, OC Cincinnati; Greg Roman, OC SF; Bill O'Brien, Notre Dame.
One thing is for certain, the next Chicago Bears Head Coach will be offensive minded.
O-Line
This is the biggest problem in the organization. The Bears have only one lineman, G Lance Louis, that is considered above average and he will be coming off major knee surgery. Garza is considered a low level starter at Center but is considered and average to above average guard. The Bears do not have a starter level player at either of the tackle spots.
The 2013 NFL draft is loaded and this is a good free-agent class. Draft wise, there are 8 linemen in the draft with a 1st round grade. With the exception of Philly, Arizona and St. Louis, the teams picking ahead of the Bears have greater needs at positions other than the O-Line. Also, the upcoming draft is lacking skills position players so we are likely to see teams reaching higher than normal for QB, WR, RB and TE. With that said, the Bears should get good offensive line value at #20.
Prospects
Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M LT
Jame Matthews, Texas A&M LT
Taylor Lewan, Michigan LT
Chance Warmack, Alabama G
Eric Fisher. Central Michigan LT
Dallas Thomas, Tennessee T/G
Barrett Jones, Alabama G/T
D.J. Fluker, Alabama RT
There are some studs available in Free Agency and the Bears have shown that they will spend money on free agency, Julius Peppers, and be active on the trade front, Brandon Marshall. The Dolphins have indicated that they not give Jake Long the 15 million dollar franchise tender. Ryan Clady is also a free agent and with the money given to Payton Manning, the Broncos may not be able to franchise Clady. They have to sign him long term of he will be on the market.
Free Agency Candidates
Jake Long, Miami Dolphins LT
Ryan Clady, Denver Bronocs LT
Andre Smith, Cincinati Bengals RT
Sebastian Vollmer, New England Patriots RT
Andy Levitre, Buffalo Bills G
Ryan Lilja, Kansas City Cheifs G
Brian Waters, New England G
My Conclusion
The Bears are, primarily, a veteran team so a inexperienced head coach may not be on the menu for the Bears, therefore we can nix Chip Kelly and Bill O'Brien. The Bears have given new GM Phil Emery a lot of authority and the big name coaches will want some, if not all, of the personnel power so we nix Jon Gruden and Andy Reid. Jay Gruden will probably either stay in in Cincy of follow Jon Gruden, so he may be out. The Bears want and offensive mind so Dave Toub and Keith Armstrong are likely out.
That leaves: Mike McCoy, Bruce Arians, Pete Carmicheal, Dirk Koetter, and Greg Roman. I doubt that Phil Emery will go with a flash in the pan kind of coach and, of the group, only Mike McCoy got a head coaching interview last year. I'd be disappointed but I think our next head coach is Mike McCoy.
With regard to the O-Line front, I think the Bears have to get at least two of the guys listed above and draft a late round developmental pick or sign a less heralded free agent like Ramon Harewood.
Miscellaneous: We have to get younger at LB, and add depth at D-Tackle. Re-signing Melton is a priority and we may have to add a WR as Hester may not come back and Johnny Knox may not recover. The team may not address TE as we draft Rodriguez and Lovie played him exclusively at FB and we are not likely to add more depth at TE as we drafted Hardin who got injured early in the season.
What do yall want to see!
