Inside the Bears

I totally agree with Kyle`s assessment of the new look talent that the Bears have put together. I feel Booker is an up grade over Moose, who was dropping balls like $100 dollar bills at the crap table, and adding a couple of well coached rookies will bring lots of energy to the offensive side of the ball. I am really looking forward to seeing this tight end Kellen Davis play in the pre-season, he sounds like he is a monster. If we can just get the offensive line solidified, then we are going to be a pretty decent ball control offense, with the ability to go deep at any time. Go Bears!!

I don't know about an upgrade at WR, although the Bears may be a little better in the passing game because of another year of tight end and Hester development. Plus a blind pig could throw more touchdowns than the Bears did last year, so when you are that poor in the passisng game it isn't too hard to imporve from an F to a D grade, it would be nice to see A grades sometime in the not to distant future. As for Berrian, he was good on the go routes, but he also dropped a few last year and who will throw him the ball in Minnesota. Their quarterback can run but he sure can't hide or throw with any accuracy. The Bears D will destroy the Vikings this year. I see Berrian's arms are shrinking into alligator arms, already.

Berrian was overrated. He's a nice #2 but is not a #1 guy. Bradley could be better if he could stay on the field.

Glad to see Kyle is coming in ready for the competition. He has the tools. From afar, he gave off an attitude that he wasn't as dedicated as a good NFL QB needs to be. Hopefully he or Rex will step up and separate themselves and give the coaches and players someone to rally around and give them some hope for the season.

Booker and Bradley together are improvements over Berrian and Moose. The new guys are unproven, but Olsen should be ready for a great year with the hands and speed he has.

Berrian wasn't THAT good. Don't get me wrong, he was the greatest deep threat reciever the Bears have had in the last several years, but he isn't Randy Moss...even though the Vikes seem to want to pay him that much.

He forgot to mention we have the best TE corp in the league.

Bennett will be Berrian in 6 weeks.

I think the bears have a good core of wide outs young guys that want to prove to themselves that they can play at the pro level.now the biggest surprise if the bears are not to stuck on one or two gys and believe with the young group that they can help deliver i see marcus monk being a real nice fit for the offense it gives rex or orton a big body they can throw to earl bennet hes a sure handed reciever who i hear is a really good route runner forte should lock up the starting job at the tail and when you look at book a much better fit than moose so its a wait and see type of season and hopefully we will win more this year than we did last year go bears.

Its gonna be nice to see what happens in the pre season. The QB RB and the WR possitions might come down to who wants it more.

Last year was suspect of some of the WR's taking plays off and did not want to run a route in the middle of the field. Maybe this year the Bears can get the most outta this group of Wide Outs.

Hopefully it will be a fair competition and the Brandon Lloyd incident was just a misunderstanding, I'm confident it was. One thing I have always liked about Orton is his Poise in the pocket and his confidence even when things are getting bad, and it seems like this offseason Orton has an abundance of confidence. I think with improved receiver play and time to get his timing down with them you will see an improvement in Orton's accuracy. Actually his accuracy wasn't that bad, vs the Vikings and the Packers Orton was 57% comp not bad and close to that 60% comp.

As far as the receivers go, its all about staying injury free this will be the key to success. I think Booker is a definite upgrade over Moose. As far as replaceing Berrian its what I said earlier just staying healthy and I was referring to Mark Bradley, who if healthy is an upgrade over Berrian for the simple fact Bradley has more to his game then just going deep. I'm confident he will remain healthy, there have been a lot of receivers who were banged up earlier in their career and came on to be durable productive wideouts. Im also excited to check out this Earl Bennett kid who was the SEC all time leading receiver with 236 cathches in just three seasons. What I like the most about Bennett that I read in many scouting reports was his ability to create separation with his head and shoulder fakes which is obviously effective with the 236 catches, and keep in mind this is vs SEC corners. I also like Greg Olsen to come on with a big season, Olsen will also help out the receivers and our overall offense. If this unit stays injury free Angelo could lose the rep of not being able to bring in offensive talent GO BEARS!!

I'm supportin' Orton

Reading some of the comments above, Chicago has some of the most blind faith homer fans in the country. Where is Creighton when we need him? Yeah right, Booger is an upgrade over Moose. Here's a clue: Check his dropped passes stats. You people were saying that the team was "loaded with talent" last year and primed for another Super-Bowl run. If that team was loaded with talent, I'd hate to see one that you thought was mediocre.

I like Orton, because he, unlike Rex, he doesn't seem to spread the ball to the other teams. With Rex we really couldn't test out the WRs and with Orton, I beleive that we can do just that. Hopefully he IS in fact in a better shape, and I hope that he will get the starting position due to his ability and the position won't go to Rex due to the confusing biases by the coaching staff to him. Hopefully this year we'll hear "Kyle is OUR quarter back". GO BEARS!!!!

Bennett is stout at 6'1" 210, and has sure hands. His physical style of play (IN COLLEGE!!!!) does remind me of Hines Ward (NFL is diff animal though). Forte instantly helps at running back as he can play all 3 downs, and Benson can return to punishing game finisher he was when Jones was here. That is the best role for Benson. Monk might be a steal or a nobody. But there is no risk with taking potential in the 7th round. Even before they drafted Kellen davis, the TE position is stacked.

But it all still hinges on how good Chris Williams will be immediately at left tackle. I say give him the position and let him take his lumps early in the year, and if he is good, then he will be fine. If he is as good as Bears think he is, then Tait improves RT, and the interior line will play better b/c of it. If Williams is good, then the entire OL will be good. Lot to put on a young player, but that is exactly what the deal is. It would be cool if Cheese Adams turns out to be good, because he is huge and will dominate at the point of attack. If he can pull (doubtful at 340lbs), then he'll be a starter by season's midpoint.

The defense has to stay healthy, and they will return to 05 and 06 form. We need the more physical 05 version this year. Remember the Bears defense was more than dominant against a stellar SD offense last year WHEN HEALTHY. So they can be dominant again right away.

With that being said, the same ole story in Chicago ----- QUARTERBACK will decide if team makes playoffs or not. Too bad for us. Well, I hope Orton does well. Grossman has shown to be a Flutie type of QB that can win a game or two but not much else. Orton can at least see over the line to throw over the middle when teams blitz (which they will early and often).

GO BEARS!!!

Ryan, you said that Grossman is a Flutie type of QB. Is that because Flutie is 5'10" and Grossman is 6'1"? Flutie had a good college career and played well in the CFL, but how is Grossman like Flutie other than a 3" height difference? Grossman did take the Bears to the Superbowl for the first time since 86'. I suppose that Brett Favre and Steve Young shouldn't have played QB since they weren't 6'4" right? How about the thought that an NFL QB should have a really strong arm? I bet you think that Orton has a great NFL arm right? Wrong. At least Grossman has an NFL arm and has taken the Bears to a Superbowl.

Hey Dave if we are Bears fans and most live in Chicago or have lived in Chicago, are you following me so far? that would make us homers don't ya think?

Dave Parks, actually 15% of the balls that came Muhsin Muhammad's way were dropped, which led the NFL. So no matter where Booker is ranked he is an upgrade over Muhammad in this aspect. Marty Booker is three years younger than Muhammad, also another upgrade. Marty Booker had 10 more catches than Muhammad with less superior QB's, no way is a banged up Trent Green, Cleo Lemon, and John Beck better than Griese, Grossman, and Orton, so yes another upgrade. Also Dave, yes the team was "loaded with talent" they were just injured most of the season. I guarantee if the Bears would have stayed healthy last season they would have made a playoff run. Want some proof, take the game vs the super bowl champion Giants on Dec 2nd the Bears lost that game 16 to 21 thats 5 measly points, just think if the Bears would have had a few of there injured players for that game? Heck, I would of took a healthy Urlacher and Tommie Harris, who both played but did so banged up and for most of the season. Bottom line Dave, I fail to understand your negativity, so GO BEARS!!

Yeah, I like Orton too (big Rex fan) but Rex has had his day and it's time. The WR is an upgrade but it's hard to say given how poor the offense as a whole did last year. Was it the WR? or QB? or Line? I agree it's up to Williams (and the later round guards)
I really feel the WR/QB/RB can hold their own given a decent line. We added some good WR/RB and as stated above I would really like to see Monk.
Really excited about the new guy's Williams/Bennet/Forte/Harrison/Monk especially, actually after Williams we HAVE to get a guard or 2 out of our later picks.
I guess it's time to stop bitchin (aka Jay) and start hopin again.

If Rex can play like he did after the benching, he's leaps and bounds better than Kyle. If he can't, then Kyle may have the ability to "manage" the game better if the defense can dominate again. I forsee a lot of lower scoring games next year, with the D making big plays to keep the team in every ball game.

honestly, how could the receiver corp be any worse than last year? Turner has to step up and start calling plays that the offense can execute! i love the orange & blue, go to all the home games and at least one road game every year, but this year is gonna suck! Walking out of Ford Field last year was frickin' horrible! All i can see this year is a 4th place finish in the NFC North. Tavarias Jackson, Aaron Rodgers, John Kitna all suck the big one, but they got protection. Joe Montana, Joe Namath, Joe Mamma could'nt do anything with a rookie LT and a pair of guards that can't run block!
With the anticipated QB rotation expect center OK to have a ton of offside calls. Put yer CB chubby away and grab da bourbon! ViQueens, F...Packers and Lions will always suck! GO BEARS! (2009)

i think a rookie left tackle can start and be productive marcus mcneil did it with the chargers in 2006 and tony ugoh did it with the colts in 2007, both second rounders to boot. I know though that the chargers and colts have a better supporting cast than the bears and that might have most to do with it but i'm still hoping williams can follow that trend.

i'm hoping that orton will get a fair chance this season, i'm usually hopeful for the bears but i can't take another rex grossman year, one game is too many. so i guess everything i say about the offense will be under the assumption that orton starts.

i think mark bradley will be a serious upgrade over berrian. its seems like bradley has a lot more chemistry with orton. grossman never really seem to have that with him, to me it looked like the timing was off between them, i'm not sure but something seemed off. berrian was a deep threat but really couldn't do much else. i don't know how many times he blew blocking assignments with a half-hearted shove. i'm glad moose is gone. if marty booker has a season like musin muhammad's last year i'll consider it an upgrade. i don't know what goes on in the locker room but blaming the QBs for your problems can't be good for the teams. i don't ever remember booker complaining about shane matthews, jim miller, chris chandler and everybody else. thats an instant upgrade.

as long as grossman stays off the field, i think we have a chance. the passing offense was ranked 15th last year, i think. 15th isn't too bad considering that we couldn't run the ball at all, our recievers dropped all the time, the o-line sucked and grossman started a few games, only contributing to the turnovers. I know a lot of those yards were put up by griese but i don't believe that he's all that better than orton.

Etim, actually Kitna's pretty good but he does not have decent protection. That guy gets hit and sacked so many times it's unbelievable he's still walking. The Lions have this thing about taking WRs with high picks and quite frankly forget about protecting their QB.

First off anonymous, thanks for pointing out all the stuff you think is wrong with my opinion.

Second off, I think Grossman and Flutie are both small men with a big arm but can't see over the lineman to throw with accuracy against a blitz up the middle. Which, BTW, is the way most teams blitz Grossman as, knowing what I just said to be true--- that he can't accurately throw over themiddle against a blitz with accuracy. This was Flutie's same weakness. Plus both their hands are small, so they are prone to more fumbles.

I am for Orton right now because I believe that I have seen the best of Rex. And that was 5 of the first 7 games of 06 (GB, DET, SEA,BUF

With Orton, the Bears will have a 6'4" QB with below average NFL talent. But still enough talent to get the job done (ala 05). Plus, I assume he is better now because of more experience in the system, and generally more talent than the 05 team. Face it, that 05 team over achieved, and last years team under achieved (by about 4 games). Orton will not lose a game while Rex will (see MIA, NE, and Indy). Orton has had 1 atrocious game in his career---throwing 5 int's against Cincy the 3rd game of 05.

The Bears are better off if Orton can win the job. I predict 10-6 if he wins job, Chris Williams wins and does good at LT, and the defense stays away from severe injuries.

Go Bears!!!!

man, all im hearing is i hope orton starts,lol. just a couple months ago everyone was saying that grossman should start, and how there wasnt any good FA QB's out there and crap like that. can ya'll make up your minds? we need a QB to go out and make ron turners offense more exciting, and thats rex. does everyone want to see another year of kyle throwing these little dump passes that get us 2 yards again? I DONT!!! dont get me wrong i like KO, but as a backup. i also think that the bears to be a good offense have to get rid of RT. he wasnt that good the first time around and hes still not that good now.

WELL LET'S GO THEN, SHOULD BE GOOD COMPETITION FOR THE QUARTERBACK
POSITION AS WELL!
THE BEST THING TO DO AT RECEIVER IS LET THE BEST PEOPLE PLAY OUT
OF CAMP, DON'T HAND ANYONE ANYTHING!

I agree with many of the these posts - the ones that are optimistic about our team. And I totally agree we likely will be better at WR this year. Berrian was over rated. But most are missing one thing - more chatter about Marcus Monk. I'm telling you if he's healthy he will be one of our top three by season's end. We're stronger this year at Safety, DT,, O line WR, RB, and I believe either Rex or Orton - while not the long term answer - will step up and improve over last year. By improve I mean a modest improvement in pics, first downs, and TD passes and with Forte we will have better time of possession which leads to a healthier D that doesn't tire in the 4th quarter.

No question though Chris Williams has to show us by mid-season he's a legitimate starter and that he's not just developing for year 2.

ORton was 2/10 for 13 yards vs Atlanta in the first Half.

I'd say that qualifies as a BAD game.

paul, suggesting bennett will be berrian in 6 weeks is one of the most ridiculous homer comments i've ever read in my life.

berrian is a prototypical flanker where bennett is a slot receiver, two completely different positions with different responsibilities and skill sets. berrian runs the go/fade route as well as anyone in the nfl, drops some easy ones and is a willing but not necessarily effective run blocker. was berrian worth the cash he got from minnesota? no, he's being paid as a top 4 wr, when in reality he's a top 25 receiver. it just amazes me when guys leave the bears how quickly and conveniently bear fans turn on them.

the bears wr corps was amongst the worst in the nfl last season, so they have nowhere to go but up. i don't see how lloyd and booker are much of an upgrade from moose & berrian, because they aren't. pinning hopes on two rookies to come in and make a difference is pretty silly as wr is one of the most difficult transitions from college to pro.

the bears improved the competition at wr, but their wr corps is still one of the most unproven in the nfl. aside from hester, i don't see a single wr opposing defenses will double team/roll coverage towards.

Well I have to disagree with EtIm. The Bears are not going to finish fourth in the division, no way and no how. The Bears will not lose to the Lions twice this year like they did last year, I say they sweep the lions. And at worst they split with the Packers and Vikings. The Bears will win the division and be in the championship game of the NFC and have a gooed shot to win the SuperBowl if they can get through the Championship game. P.S. ANd I anot smoking anything or belong to a Canibis club.

I know that I am one of the few left standing on Grossman, But I truly believe he is capable of being a leader that can win the big one THE SUPERBOWL, if he uses his brain and is a smarter QB than in the past( he showed signs of it late last year). The Bears have improved in every position vs last year and will have a championship level defense. My main concerns are the youth mistakes on offense at OL, RB and WR not QB and the poor coaching adjustments the Bears continue to not make at halftime. The Bears should have won the Giants game and both Lions games last year, they were ahead at halftime and played extremely poorly after half time. That would work out to 10-6 and playoffs baby, with a team that was severly depleted with injuries.

GOOD RUNNING GAME + GOOD O-LINE= GOOD REX
BAD RUNNGING GAME + BAD O-LINE= BAD REX
The o line was horrible last season in all aspects and that led to everything else being horrible.....i think Benson/Forte will have a good season and i say the bears go 11-5 if the defense stays healthy(glad to see they didnt waste time cuttin Archeletta he was a BUM!!!!!!)

Of course, as a couple of you have pointed out, any improvement in the passing game hinges much more on the offensive line than on the receivers,quarterback,and running game.Even so, getting a little opening away from defenders seems more likely with the new receivers. Even Peyton Manning looks bad when he has no protection,in spite of his quick release and accuracy.

The Wide Reciever could SHOULD be better this year, especially if Bradley plays to form and Hester becomes a legit deep threat. Monk could also turn out to be a terror in the red-zone.

And not of this speaks to the TE's.

This is why I think REX should be our QB.

Orton is boring. He is not very accurate, especially on deep route.

The fact is, if the Defense steps up, and the line blocks better, we can live with a few games of bad Rex.

And hopefully, there won't be but one or two this season, if the line learns to block.

I don't agree IDC, Orton can throw the football, that's all they did @ Purdue. He also manages a game better than REX, and I'm not talking about handoff here and there, I talking about seeing the blitz, handling the football from center, avoiding the rush, To me he has matured and will be able to give us some solid play at the position. I do not have a problem with INT's., all QB's throw them, it's the ball-handling, that is critical, especially with a team that is defensive oriented like ours. Keep REX around in case Orton's not ready, but if he is give him the job and move on. One thing is for certain, by having competition we will have the best player behind center and that's all any BEARS fan wants. Go BEARS

You're right Idc, Orton is boring. We don't need that. We need to laugh! We need fun! Hee hee! That's why have we have the short qb who runs backwards 20 yrds. and then falls on his face, who can't take a basic snap from center to save his life, and who makes mind numbing decisions that only a religous think tank could decipher.

This is not a carnival genius. This is football.

I'll take the boring qb who just makes plays and won't blame everyone else around for his failures.

BEARS

Success all hinges on the effectiveness of the running game. If it falters like last year, then it's another top-15 draft pick. If Benson, Forte, and the O-line do their jobs then it's possible the Bears will win 10 games. WRs just need to be servicable and nothing more. Catch the ball when it hits your hands!

well i dont think we can safely say right now that our WRs are better, but last year they were horrid and it LOOKS like they are better this year
and I agree with IDC
I don't want a QB who can manage the game I want one who can win it
I think thats one of the biggest problems here in Chicago
we want a good QB don't we then expect your QB to go out there 100% each time
with Rex I believe we have the better oppertunity to preform at a high level on offense
Kyle is solid, but I wouldn't pick him over Rex

A-1 job Angelo. Jerry signed Robbie Gould through 2013. Thats a 5 year extension. Terms were unknown!

The Chicago Bears embark upon the new season with yet another quarterback "controversy." I posted comments concerning Grossman last season and I repeat: what were the receivers doing to help out Grossman last season? If three more passes were actually caught by the Bear's "receivers" last year against Dallas, Grossman would have stayed as the starting qb. If Benson could actually recognize a blitz (something Thomas Jones could do very well), Grossman wouldn't have been pasted in San Diego and would be the starting quarterback.
Grossman played well when coming back as the starter. That "defense" let the team down time and time again. Quit with the whining about Rex and sign some offensive tackles/guards! (Williams was an excellent addition).
Looking forward to this season....Go Bears!

All I gotta say is there are a bunch of crystal balls out here.

More importantly, if Orton had a bad attitude because he was expecting to start, he needs to grow up. He is not a pro bowler, not a franchise qb, and definitely did not take any team to the superbowl. He should have been motivated to play from day 1. If it took him till now to realize he needed to be in shape in this NFL, what a goof! Smacks of selfishness to me, grow up kid.

Hey chitownbear, how can you really say those things about Orton? He hasn't done a damn thing?! At least Rex has had some good games and made some great throws. Orton has shown ZERO upside in ALL of his starts. Your right about him being a