Hmm, what to make of this...

[NCChiFan]

"Chicago Bears ‏@ChicagoBears 8m

LM: #Bears will remain a 4-3 base defense in 2014 but will be versatile enough to take advantage of what players do best. "

And what do you think this does to the draft. I'm guessing we don't draft a 320lb NT.

 

[cubzzzfanincali]

I think it depends on what happens in free agency. The period between now and the draft is the period of maximum disinformation from most league front offices. Judge things by what happens and what they do, not what they say.

 

[NCChiFan]

Oh, to add to the mystery:


Dan Pompei
‏@danpompei
RT@UIsean15 Do you think Corey Wootton ends up resigning?... At this point I'd say 65 percent chance he's gone.

 

[richig07]

I am absolutely fine with sticking with the 4-3, we just have to find a better way to execute it this season.

No excuse this year if this offense is once again near the top of the league in scoring and we miss the playoffs.

I don't expect the defense to be "good". I expect them to improve, and be towards the middle of the pack. I expect offenses not to score on them at will during pivotal moments in the game.

Like Cubz said, and like many have said. No point in discussing the draft, until we see what happens in free agency. I think this defense is in total rebuild mode. I think you build from the inside out. It starts up front. It's not a coincidence that we lost two of our starting DT's, while Peppers play dropped off, and Wooton played out of position... that Conte and Wright went from looking like mediocre NFL safeties to suddenly looking GOD AWFUL.

 

[anotheridiot]

the bulk of your roster talent is linebackers with no heir apparent for the middle linebacker position just makes the 3-4 make more sense, especially with Shea going back to linebacker. Why keep one of them off the field when you are finding a new defensive line? I think some of this is misdirect. If they can get Nix III at 14, you dont move him to a three technique, you play him at nose.

 

[nebearsfan70]

I was hoping the Bears switch to a 3-4 with the personnel on that team, especially at LB. Not sure if they add a 3-4 wrinkle during games or not, but that would be interesting.

 

[NCChiFan]

I was hoping the Bears switch to a 3-4 with the personnel on that team, especially at LB. Not sure if they add a 3-4 wrinkle during games or not, but that would be interesting.

Ah, well from today's presser at the combine:

"Brad Biggs ‏@BradBiggs 8m
Emery says Bears will be primarily a one gap defense as they have been. That of course makes under tackle a very important position"

Now, that could still leave room for other variations depending upon the situation. But Emery also mentioned bringing back Melton, how he would like to see him back.

 

[cubzzzfanincali]

well, he better move fast then. When free agency opens, a lot of teams need a 4-3 undertackle. Atlanta, Dallas, Miami, Minnesota, New England, NY Giants, Oakland, St Louis, and Tampa Bay all need them.

My guess is Melton winds up signing with NY, Oakland, or Tampa Bay, since they all have the money for him.

 

[anotheridiot]

I was hoping the Bears switch to a 3-4 with the personnel on that team, especially at LB. Not sure if they add a 3-4 wrinkle during games or not, but that would be interesting.

Thats it in a nutshell, I feel better lining up Shea, Bostic, Briggs and Greene against anyone. Just makes no sense leaving one of them on the bench.

 

[cubzzzfanincali]

the current situation is a bit of a dilemma. I don't know what's supposed to happen with Shea in a 4-3. I can't see them using Shea as the strongside backer...I mean, his main weakness was that he was terrible at the point of attack, so putting him as the Sam makes no sense to me. The weakside, we already have 3 LBs whose best position is there (Briggs, Bostic, and Greene)...so I can't see them giving him the weak side at all. So what does Shea do, play MLB? Bostic really belongs at weakside, he displayed no natural aptitude for the Mike, but Shea just doesn't strike me as a MLB.

So if Shea is going to be playing more LB, and we stay in a 4-3, where does he go?

 

[nebearsfan70]

the current situation is a bit of a dilemma. I don't know what's supposed to happen with Shea in a 4-3. I can't see them using Shea as the strongside backer...I mean, his main weakness was that he was terrible at the point of attack, so putting him as the Sam makes no sense to me. The weakside, we already have 3 LBs whose best position is there (Briggs, Bostic, and Greene)...so I can't see them giving him the weak side at all. So what does Shea do, play MLB? Bostic really belongs at weakside, he displayed no natural aptitude for the Mike, but Shea just doesn't strike me as a MLB.

So if Shea is going to be playing more LB, and we stay in a 4-3, where does he go?

IDK either... But as stated by another poster, Bostic, Greene, Briggs, and Shea in a 3-4 would be interesting.

 

[nebearsfan70]

Otherwise, I'm not sure where he would be besides the bench.

 

[cubzzzfanincali]

oh man, just went to ESPN, they have an article now on this very subject. They are saying Shea at Mike or Sam. For God's sakes the guy can't play Sam, he fucking sucks in run blocking. The Bears can't be serious here. This must be misinformation. If Shea is our strongside backer, I'm going to be very concerned. Teams OBVIOUSLY game planned to attack Shea this past season.

Shea at Mike, I don't know. I'm not sure I can guess at that. I'd be a little skeptical he is fast enough, but who knows?

 

[NCChiFan]

Shea at Mike, I don't know. I'm not sure I can guess at that. I'd be a little skeptical he is fast enough, but who knows?

Actually, it wouldn't surprise me if Shea isn't at Mike. He has the size, and speed for this spot, now if he can hit the proper gaps and cover the deep middle remains to be seen. If DJ goes else where, I could see Briggs, Shea, Bostic/Greene as the line up.

 

[63bears40]

Thats it in a nutshell, I feel better lining up Shea, Bostic, Briggs and Greene against anyone. Just makes no sense leaving one of them on the bench.

The only proven LB we have is Briggs. The next best was DJ Williams. After that Anderson seemed like the best cover LB.
Why would you want to go to a 3-4 w/ mostly unproven LBs. Especially when Anderson & Williams are unsigned?

 

[anotheridiot]

Actually, it wouldn't surprise me if Shea isn't at Mike. He has the size, and speed for this spot, now if he can hit the proper gaps and cover the deep middle remains to be seen. If DJ goes else where, I could see Briggs, Shea, Bostic/Greene as the line up.

I thought he was a good urlacher replacement when he was drafted. But Urlacher was a safety, so he was used to going back covering the middle of the field. Shea at mike more like Singletary or Lewis would work, thats forward and sideline to sideline. Urlacher was a freak with his coverage skills, but bottom line, I want my mike linebacker going forward chasing the football sideline to sideline. They just need to get safeties that can cover deep middle now.

 

[richig07]

IDK either... But as stated by another poster, Bostic, Greene, Briggs, and Shea in a 3-4 would be interesting.

Neither Bostic, nor Greene are cut out to play at ILB. Arguably not cut out to play much at all. Shea is a big question mark.

It doesn't interest me, at all. Not one bit. This team needs to resign DJ Williams. He came for 950k last year. He'll come just as cheap, if not a tad bit cheaper this year. He's a really good LB. IMO, him going down was the backbreaker. The D was middle of the pack up until then. When DJ went down, that was the night Brandon freaking Jacobs ran wild. It only went downhill from there.

 

[NCChiFan]

I thought he was a good urlacher replacement when he was drafted. But Urlacher was a safety, so he was used to going back covering the middle of the field. Shea at mike more like Singletary or Lewis would work, thats forward and sideline to sideline. Urlacher was a freak with his coverage skills, but bottom line, I want my mike linebacker going forward chasing the football sideline to sideline. They just need to get safeties that can cover deep middle now.

The Tampa 2 cover shell requires the Mike to cover down the middle fairly deep. Shea has the speed, it remains to be seen if he has the smarts. In my opinion. DJ Williams hopefully can be signed for cheap as well.