Ask Windy City Gridiron!

I appreciate that.

The O-line had a pretty good preseason if you’re willing to disregard that Buffalo disaster, but apart from the preseason version of Justin Tuck and Jason Pierre-Paul, there really wasn’t much in the way of big-name rushers.

I’m pretty worried about both of ‘em, but Frank Omi-Ole isn’t starting anymore for us so I guess that’s a tackle improvement…?

Right. Your question. Sorry, I tend to ramble.

There’s chances of stopping them, but there’s chances of me winning the lotto and starting on the first line for the Blackhawks too, and I don’t see those happening. If the O-line contains them to two or three sacks combined, I think we’d take that as a victory for the line.

and Tim Jennings will likely go against Julio Jones. Though I think no matter how it’s sliced, it’s advantage Falcons in that department. Ryan doesn’t let himself get picked, so the only other option I see for the Bears is to limit the yards per play, not let the Falcons get deep, and try to hold to field goals.

Could take a big step forward this year; just too talented for it not to be a possibility.

There’s two things Briggs is good at – playing weakside linebacker and being a professional pain in the arse when it comes to his contract. And it’s not conducive for him to tank one to get the other – he should be playing like his normal self this year.

Williams hasn’t exactly shown much but has stuck to his “I’ll turn it on in the season” mentality, with which Martz and Co. are apparently willing to foster his entitlement.

Knox’s problem is that most of Cutler’s interceptions came from him either not finishing a route or not attacking the ball – I recall that something like 11 or 12 of the 16 picks came on throws to Knox.

but with a coach that didn’t know how to use him in Ron Turner and now a coach that didn’t want to use him in Mike Martz, he was never going to realize his potential here. Davis will be fine, but Olsen was a solid weapon.

Honestly, sometimes I wish Martz wasn’t so rigid in wanting everything done his way with his players (Manumaleuseless, Todd Collins), but I like the concepts his offense brings.

I think we can still be pencilled in for second in the division with a chance to take the division if the offensive line and receivers are any good. The Lions are an improved team, but I still have them more likely to finish third than second, not because they suck (not anymore) but because they still have some ground to make up and they took a four game win streak at the end of last year to hit six wins.

The Vikings, who knows. Don’t see it as good, though.

I’m a fan of the man’s offensive philosophy and working in more deep balls (especially after suffering through Turner, Shoop…), but I’m not a fan of the man’s insistence to have as much control over the players and personnel moves as he does. Like I said above, I think Martz is pretty much the reason we don’t have Olsen now. Martz also gave us Manumaleuseless and Todd Collins last season; so far this season has given us Nathan Enderle, Matt Spaeth, and to an extent Roy Williams (like the first two, not sure on Williams); and resulted in deactivating Dez Clark, probably the best all-around tight end on the roster last season, into obscurity.

It could be successful, and I don’t mind when a coach wants to acquire players that fit his scheme, but we just don’t have the necessary roster to run it the way he wants to run it, especially in the offensive line.

What effects do you think the Matt Forte contract discussions will have on his production this year? I greatly overpaid for him in a fantasy league because I thought he could be a top 5 RB this year.

Barber’s supposed to fill the power/short yardage role Taylor never could, and Bell’s a continual project and special teams contributor who ran decently well this preseason. Plus he has somewhat of a cult following from dat one 72 yard run dat one time!

Unequivocally, absolutely, yes. Peppers practically won Packers Round 1 by himself and he didn’t have a sack that game. The man brings so much in terms of pressure and intimidation that he’s making an impact nearly every play, whether it be through being doubled, forcing a penalty, or making a play himself. Course, you guys saw him twice a year, so you know that.

One of Izzy’s bigger problems was being shifted all over the line year in and year out; having settled in a spot might help him out, and we just drafted Stephen Paea with a second round pick. In fact, lots of emphasis this year was placed on taking advantage of the opportunities for sacks that Peppers makes by forcing single blocking on the others – see Okoye, Amobi and Melton, Henry. This year was also supposed to be a big year for Favreslayer (Corey Wootton) in a rotation role and/or taking Izzy’s spot completely, but being hampered, we’re carrying Nick Reed and UDFA Mario Addison – hopefully keeping Peppers and Izzy fresher gives more results in sacks and pressures for INTs.

they went and replaced the whole thing. Not just resodded, but replaced the whole crappy turf. They (meaning the Park District) said the old turf had “too much clay content” in it – I’m no herbologist, and definitely not an expert in grass, so I have to take them at their word, though I have to question people whose sole purpose is to make sure grass grows when they said at the cancellation of Family Fest that the field wasn’t watered enough.

It’s been operating like normal turf – bad – but hopefully after the replacement it actually stays together.

Charles Tillman is the #1 CB whose strengths are in ball-punching, coverage and tackling, though he may be losing a step as he gets older.

Tim Jennings is the #2 currently, can man up, can play the ball pretty well, decent supporting against the run.

DJ Moore is the nickel and definitely best suited for that role. Other CBs currently include Zackary Bowman, who’s a ballhawk with size and started once upon a time, but inconsistency issues have kept him benched, and Corey Graham, who’s one of the best special teams gunners around. Josh Moore came to camp with a little extra muscle, but was waived upon the Meriweather signing.

At safety, it’s a bunch of heavy hitters – Chris Harris and Major Wright are the starters, with Brandon Meriweather likely to be the backup to Wright for this contest. Chris Conte and Craig Steltz are a little banged up and Winston Venable is a UDFA who the Bears are keeping as an inactive/developmental project.

He fits the mauler RT mold best, although he was fine as an LT all through college. He doesn’t back up anywhere else; Frank Omi-Ole! is the backup LT.

In preseason, he was probably the second-best O-lineman; former franchise LT Chris Williams really embraced his new LG role.