Chicago Bears Predictions

[ZoomSlowik]

I couple of Bears related predictions. Looking to see what everyone thinks about some of these topics. Feel free to add a few.

 

1) Number of Bears wins.

 

I personally don't see them winning more than 4 or 5. Their schedule is pretty brutal. They're going to have a tough time with both Packers and Vikings games, and home versus Eagles and Colts, plus road against Cowboys, Bucs and Titans. The games at Jacksonville and home versus Washington aren't gimmes either. I think they got a decent shot in both Detroit games, versus the Titans, and at Giants(unless Warner comes back to MVP form). I think if they get some really good luck and a couple of players emerge, the best they are going to do is 8-8.

 

2) Number of rushing yards for Thomas Jones

 

My guess he is going to be somewhere between 1000 and 1200. Assuming he doesn't get hurt, the 1000 is a gimme, but I don't think he can do much better than the top end. Their passing game will probably struggle at times, making it harder for him to gain a ton of yards, plus he has a history of occasional great games with several mediocre to poor games. I think he'll be a solid back, but I'm not ready to put him in the Pro Bowl.

 

3) Winner of the NFC North

 

I gotta go with the Vikings. They have some pretty good weapons on offense and what I think will finally be a solid defense. I guess it just comes down to the fact that I have no faith in the Packer's D, and I really don't think Chicago and Detroit have much of a shot.

 

4) Major team needs that will be addressed either in FA or the draft

 

They seem like they really need a left tackle(right if they move Tait). That position looks brutal. They also look like they are going to need another WR(Mike Williams would be interesting), and a proven outside linebacker. Another corner also looks like it would make sense, especially since Azumah is hurt and McQuarters is a little shaky. They also look a bit suspect at QB, tackle, and one of the end spots, but they have a few young players there already that will hopefully develop(although I would like to see a veteran backup QB).

 

 

Thoughts?

[hammerhead johnson]

September 12 vs.Lions WIN

September 19 @ Packers LOSS

September 26 @ Vikings LOSS

October 3 vs.Eagles LOSS

October 17 vs.Redskins LOSS

October 24 @ Bucs LOSS

October 31 vs.49ers WIN

November 7 @ Giants LOSS

November 14 @ Titans LOSS

November 21 vs.Colts LOSS

November 25 @ Cowboys LOSS

December 5 vs.Vikings WIN

December 12 @ Jaguars LOSS

December 19 vs.Texans WIN

December 26 @ Lions LOSS

January 2 vs.Packers LOSS

 

4-4 at home, 0-8 on the road.

 

Actually, I hope that we finish with the worst record in the NFL so that we can land the #1 pick and those extremely high #2 and #3 picks. We could be a damn good team this time next year.

[Confederate_48]

Im going to go out on a limb and say that someone will pass Brad Maynard as the current team leader in Bears touchdown passes.

[The Critic]

I'm going to boldly predict that I will miss the overwhelming majority of Bears games this year.

The combination of fall softball, taking care of my kid and my general indifference to football in general and the Bears in particular will put the over/under of games I watch at 3.

[knightni]

1) Number of Bears wins.

 

8-8 would be easily met if the offense picks it up. 9-7 if Grossman finds himself this year.

 

 

2) Number of rushing yards for Thomas Jones

 

Hmm... tough one. I would say 877. A-Train will get 700+ himself I believe.

 

 

3) Winner of the NFC North

 

Packers

 

They still have the best team in the division.

 

4) Major team needs that will be addressed either in FA or the draft

 

A defensive back should be #1 on their list for 2005.

 

Then a 1st round quality WR or TE.

[hammerhead johnson]

4) Major team needs that will be addressed either in FA or the draft

 

A defensive back should be #1 on their list for 2005.

 

Then a 1st round quality WR or TE.

There is almost always at least one shutdown cornerback in every draft, and that is who we should select with our high first round pick. And if we get a Top 3 pick, we could probably trade down a spot or two and pick up some extra draft picks in addition to that shutdown corner. We'll have all kinds of options if we finish with a 4-12 record this year.

 

On the other hand, if we go 7-9, we won't be able to land that shutdown cornerback.

[WHarris1]

If we got a shutdown corner that would kick so much ass.

So far this preseason teams are just not throwing PNut's way.

[T R U]

There is almost always at least one shutdown cornerback in every draft, and that is who we should select with our high first round pick.  And if we get a Top 3 pick, we could probably trade down a spot or two and pick up some extra draft picks in addition to that shutdown corner.  We'll have all kinds of options if we finish with a 4-12 record this year. 

 

On the other hand, if we go 7-9, we won't be able to land that shutdown cornerback.

No one comes out of the draft as a shut down corner.. they may eventually be one, but no one comes out and automatically becomes Champ Bailey

[hammerhead johnson]

No one comes out of the draft as a shut down corner.. they may eventually be one, but no one comes out and automatically becomes Champ Bailey

Draft History 1994-2003

 

The first 2 cornerbacks chosen in each draft.

 

1994: Antonio Langham #9, Aaron Glenn #12

1995: Tyrone Poole #22, Ty Law #23

1996: Alex Molden #11, Walt Harris #13

1997: Shawn Springs #3, Bryant Westbrook #5

1998: Charles Woodson #4, Duane Starks #10

1999: Champ Bailey #7, Chris McAllister #10

2000: Deltha O'Neil #15, Rashard Anderson #23

2001: Nate Clements #21, Will Allen #22

2002: Quentin Jammer #5, Roy Williams #8

2003: Terence Newman #5, Marcus Trufant #11

 

Just draft someone who appears to have the potential to be a shutdown type cornerback. As you can see from the draft history, they're out there. It's very easy to botch a high pick if we're talking about quarterbacks, wide receiveers, and offensive linemen (the latter mostly because of injuries). If we're talking about corner, it's a hit way more often than a miss.

 

"But....nobody is a shutdown corner straight out of college....."

 

That's cool. Nobody ever said that you have to be. It takes time to adjust to the speed of the NFL.

[ZoomSlowik]

I definitely agree with the hammerhead's statements about CB's. If you get one of the top guys in the first round, many of them make an impact the first year, and even those that don't seem to show a lot of improvement. Of those guys in the top 10, Woodson, Bailey, McAlister, and Newman are all studs, and Springs is decent too. That seems to be a way higher hit rate than pretty much any other position(although technically Roy Williams is a safety). I'm not 100% sure that anyone in the coming draft is of that caliber yet though, I'll have to watch this college season to evaluate. Three guys I would look at are Corey Webster, Antrel Rolle and Marlin Jackson. I might be missing someone but those are the three big names if I remember correctly. I'm not so sure about the WR, a lot of the good ones seemed to come out last year, I'm not really sold on Braylon Edwards, so Williams is the only guy I'd take high. I'm not really sure what kind of draft status he will have with his situation though. I don't think any of the TE are superstuds like Shockey either, IIRC Heath Miller is the top guy. There are some really intriguing players at linebacker that I would love to see. The big one is Derrick Johnson, that guy is just awesome, I really think he can be a guy in the Derrick Brooks mold. The two guys from Tennesee are intriguing too(Simon and Burnett). I guess part of it will depend on where they pick. If they win 4 or 5 like I believe their talent suggests, then they could pick between Webster, Rolle, Jackson, Johnson, and Eric Winston(tackle from Miami, would be pretty nice) or Alex Barron(Tackle from FSU) but if they pull a 7-9(which I again, highly doubt), who knows what will happen.