Here’s a little clip of Marshall talking about his early days in Denver and his goals for this season:

Marshall also said he’s not concerned about the offensive line, saying:

“When I look over and see our offensive line working, I get chills and get so excited,” he said.

“Those guys are working hard and I think they’re actually going to be the group that’s going to lead us to where we need to be.”

So you’re not concerned then?

“Oh, not at all,” Marshall said.

He got the “chills” part right.  It’s easy for him to say, he’s not the one who’s going to be getting pummeled back there.   I’m sure if you ask Jay Cutler, he might quote another line in that Beyonce song “Uh Oh Uh Uh Oh Uh Oh Oh Uh Uh Oh”

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Notice the clean pocket that Jay has to plant and throw? (Photo via Chicago Tribune)

Jay Cutler made an appearance at a Chicago school on Monday to help raise awareness on diabetes and also raised awareness on the new offense. The reviews were mixed. Let’s start with the thumbs down; Jay’s not sold on the offensive line:

“You know, the offensive line is definitely going to be a concern and seeing where those guys are going to fit in and seeing what five we go with,” Cutler said when asked a general question about the excitement for the upcoming season. “If Gabe [Carimi] comes back, if J’Marcus [Webb] pans out. Where are we going to put Chris Williams? There are some question marks there. Until we really get that resolved and get our front five settled in, we’ve got some work to do on offense.”

That’s about as true an assessment as you’ll get out of Halas Hall. Lovie Smith and Mike Tice will continue to sell you on the pieces that are in place and they’ll be fine and Phil Emery gives you undrafted free agents, but the guy at the trigger is concerned. Asked if the change of system from Martz’s system would help, Cutty didn’t back down:

“It helps,” Cutler said. “It’s not a cure-all by any means. They’re still going to be asked to protect. There are going to be times it’s third-and-8, it’s third-and-10, we’re going to have to take seven steps, we’re going to have to have a longer route, and they’re going to have to protect.”

This comes on the heels of the news that Chris Williams is likely moving back to tackle.  With the Bears cutting unproven tackle Levi Horn and letting Frank Omiyale go via free agency (did you ever think I’d be pining for Frank Omiyale?!?!), they’re left with Carimi and Webb.  Carimi is still rehabbing after knee surgery, so they’re a little thin at the position to say the least.  Lance Louis also has some experience at tackle and there is a dearth of guards, so it’s quite possible that Chris Williams will be competing with J’Marcus Webb for that left tackle spot he’d been drafted to anchor back in 2008.

It wasn’t all thumbs down from Cutler. According to Sean Jensen, he looked “lean” and was generally upbeat.  Jeremy Bates was a little more positive about Cutty and the prospects for the new offense.

“He does a good job of keeping his eyes down the field and making plays, so we’re going to take advantage of that,” Bates said of the possibility of Cutler rolling out more. “He’s a good athlete — a great athlete — so we’re definitely going to get him out in space and try to make some plays.”

Cutler would welcome that.

“I love to,” he said of rolling out. “We’re doing a lot of stuff we were successful with in Denver and kind of going back and looking at that film and incorporating some of the things we’ve done here in the past. So it’s a lot of give and take.”

What do you think? Are we all too excited about the new weapons like Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery and forgetting the nuts and bolts of the offense, the protection? Can the Bears’ offensive line as currently constructed get the job done?

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Bears Rookie Minicamp (Photo Courtesy Chicago Tribune)

The Bears wrapped up their 2012 rookie minicamp, a chance for coaches to evaluate their draft picks and undrafted free agents and even give a few guys a tryout.  What did we learn this past weekend?  Let’s see the Top 10.

10. The Bears signed 7 players who came in on a tryout basis.  Among them is former Wisconsin-Whitewater and Lake Zurich high school quarterback Matt Blanchard, who impressed coaches enough to get an invite back to toss the ball around camp.  Among others signed are:

Texas Southern wide receiver Joseph Anderson, Illinois State tight end Brandon Venson, Concordia tackle Tyler Hendrickson, Central Florida guard Nick Pieschel, Boston College punter Ryan Quigley and Connecticut kicker David Teggart.

9. Devin Hester will still be on kickoff returns.  Well duh!

“Hester is our punt returner and he is our No. 1 kickoff returner,” Toub said Saturday after rookie minicamp at Halas Hall. “He is still our No. 1 kickoff returner.”

And leave it to Toub, he’s already working on new wrinkles to put into the return game:

“We can put (Weems and Hester) back there and if they kick away from Devin, they’ll kick it to Weems and we’ll be in good shape.”

8. Brandon Hardin impressed coaches on special teams and started working at Free Safety.  Wait, I thought he was going to be a strong safety.  What’s up with that?

During the draft, the Bears said Hardin would be worked primarily as a strong safety, but he spent the majority of the camp at free safety. That’s an easier transition for a cornerback and it’s the first phase. Eventually, he’ll learn both spots.

7. The Bears may have gotten a steal in undrafted rookie James Brown.

“He has stood out in the drills,” coach Lovie Smith said. “You notice him. He’s slim, athletic, good size, smile on his face and he was a pretty good player in college. However (he went undrafted), we’re just glad he’s in our camp.”

6. Shea McClellin shows good work ethic and plays with a motor.  Lance Briggs thinks he’ll come in with something to prove:

“It seemed like it happened overnight. Boise State players, I think they come with a chip on their shoulders, with something to prove to the country. And now he’s going to come with something to prove in the NFL.”

5. Mike Tice wants to run a potent offense and might finally have the tools to do it.

“We’re going to play fast and we’re going to make sure the players are able to show us their speed and their explosiveness and their quickness and their toughness up front,” Tice said at this weekend’s rookie minicamp.

“We’re going to make sure that they know what we’re asking them to do, they can go out and play fast, not going on the football field thinking but going on the football field being athletes and athletic. We have some great athletes on offense. We have to put them as coaches in a position to show us and show the fans and show the people that love the Bears their athleticism and their explosiveness.

“We want to be explosive. We want to be able to get the ball down the field. We want to be able to run the ball explosively, and we’re going to do those things.”

Are you fired up about the offense yet?

4. Even Rodriguez is an interesting prospect.  Dan Pompei called him a “waterbug tight end”.  When I think of waterbug in the NFL, I think of Darren Sproles.  So it Even Rodriguez the Darren Sproles of tight ends?  Michael Wright doesn’t think he’s even the best TE in Bears camp.  He told me so.

3. Alshon Jeffery “looked smooth” despite suffering some cramps.  He was “picking peanuts” in some of the drills.  Don’t ask me, ask Mike Tice what that means.

2. The draft picks ‘are who we thought they were,’ to paraphrase Lovie while borrowing a line from Dennis Green.  You know Lovie, it’s all sunshine and balloons with him.

1. Nothing.  We didn’t learn anything this weekend.  It was a bunch of rookies running around in shorts and shells.  Most of these guys don’t know their way to the bathroom.   Wait until the veterans show up; wait ’til the pads start popping in Bourbonnais.  Then we’ll start to see if Shea McClellin can beat an NFL right tackle to get to the quarterback.  We’ll see if Alshon Jeffery and beat press coverage and “pick peanuts” off of veteran corners.  We’ll see come September.  We’ll see…

BEAR DOWN!!!

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May 11, 2012; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears defensive end Shea McClellin during rookie minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE

Shea McClellin, DE

There’s been more than a little speculation about where McClellin will line up and what role he’ll have in this defense.  The first round defensive end will most likely line up as a situational pass rusher opposite Julius Peppers.  Can a situational pass rusher make an immediate impact?  Ask Mark Anderson?  He notched double digit sacks as a rookie, and he was a fifth round pick that helped lead the Bears to the Super Bowl.

McClellin will compete with Izzy Idonije and his playing time will have a lot to do with how well he can play the run.  He’s a top-20 pick, so he should make an impact, but is he going to make an immediate impact?  His value could be bigger in a year or two, when and if the Bears change schemes or move him around.

May 11, 2012; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery during rookie minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE

Alshon Jeffery, WR

The second round wide receiver should look really good opposite Brandon Marshall, but rookie wide receivers can be inconsistent to say the least.  So far, Jeffery had done everything you’d hope a players whose draft stock pushed him out of the first round.  He’ll need to know his playbook, work on defeating press coverage and get those routes nice and crisp.  If Alshon were the only wide receiver joining the Bears, I’d be a little nervous, but with some other weapons like Brandon Marshall in the fold, the pressure isn’t as high.

May 11, 2012; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears safety Brandon Hardin during rookie minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE

Brandin Hardin, S

I’m a little more skeptical that Hardin will be able to make an immediate impact, but since the safety position has been a revolving door for Lovie Smith for the last few years AND since it’s such a critical position in the Cover-2, you’ve got to consider it.  Here’s some more food for thought – consider Hardin’s combination of size and speed.  The converted corner could be really valuable covering tight ends and big wide receivers that they Bears will see plenty in 2012.  If Hardin lives up to some of hype and if that shoulder is really healed, he could be that missing piece to the Bears’ secondary.

Evan Rodriguez, TE

May 11, 2012; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears tight end Evan Rodriguez during rookie minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-US PRESSWIRE

This 4th round draft pick is less likely to make a big impact (that’s what happens with lower round draft picks), but I’ll make a case for him.  With Kellen Davis as the only real pass-catching tight end on the roster and tight ends emerging as the new weapon of choice, E-Rod could cause some mismatches in the red zone and challenge the seams of opposing defenses.  That could spell some big touchdowns and those will have a big impact.

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YOUR CAPTION HERE (Photo courtesy of Chicago Tribune)

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We should expect a lot of celebrating from Jay Cuter in 2012. (Photo courtesy of REUTERS/Frank Polich)

The Bulls and Blackhawks are out of the playoffs and the Cubs and White Sox are under .500.  It’s officially football season (at least in my world)!

I think there is no better way to kick it off than by talking about everyone’s favorite QB, Jay Cutler.  With his new cast of wide receivers and no more Mike Martz making his life miserable, he’s going to be breaking more than his thumb this year.  I’m talking about Bears QB records.

Cutler has missed six games in his three seasons as a Bear but has racked up some pretty impressive numbers.  He has completed 779 passes, ranking him fifth on the Bears all-time list, just 241 behind the leader Jim Harbaugh (1,023).  Now that Roy Williams is gone, we can expect Bears receivers to actually catch the ball and catapult Jay to the top of the list.  Cutler already holds the Bears record for most completions and attempts in a season going 336-555 in 2009.

Sid Luckman currently holds the Bears record for passing yards with 14,686, while Cutler ranks seventh with 9,259.  It would be a stretch to say Cutler can throw for 5,427 (his career high is 4,526), but in this day and age, barring injury, you never know.  If Matt Forte holds out, the Bears may be relying heavily on the pass this season.

Luckman also holds the records for career TD passes with 137 and Cutler is a long way away in sixth with 63.  However, second place is Billy Wade with 68.  Cutler should easily take over second by the third game of the season against the Rams.  He also has a great shot at becoming the first Bears QB to throw 30 TDs in a season.

Cutler already has the best career QB rating of any Bears QB with 100 or more passes at 82.1.  If last year was any indication of how he has matured, we can expect that number to jump up even more.  Sid Luckman holds the record for highest QB rating in a single season with 107.5 (202 pass attempts).

Finally, there is one dubious record that Cutler could reach if this season is a flop.  He has been sacked 110 times as a Bear. If we have a repeat of 2010 (when he was sacked 52 times) he would grab the title of most sacked Bears QB from Jim Harbaugh who has 157.  With Martz and Frank Omiyale gone, I think that record is safe for another year.

The most amazing thing about Cutler’s statistical success as a Bear is that he has only played in 41 games, ranking him 38th on the Bears all-time list.  That being said, I think this year we will finally see what Cutler can do with a better offensive plan and capable receivers.

Get ready, it’s less than three months until Cutler Camp begins!

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Shea McClellin signs on the dotted line. (Photo courtesy of ChicagoBears.com)

The Bears signed first round draft pick Shea McClellin as he was heading out to the practice fields to start rookie minicamp on Friday.   There are high hopes for McClellin, who will compete to line up opposite Julius Peppers at defensive end.  The more work he can get between now and September 9th, the better off he’ll be to start contributing immediately.

Terms of the 4-year deal with an option for a 5th year were not immediately disclosed, but with the new rookie wage scale in place, the salaries are slotted, so there’s not a lot of negotiating to be had.  It makes you forget the days of training camp holdouts that cost rookies a decent chunk of their first season due to missed time in camp.

No pressure on Brandon Hardin, but he’s the only draft pick yet to sign with the Bears.

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Aug 9, 2008; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Colt Brennan (5) looks down field as tackle Devin Clark (62) and offensive tackle Jason Fabini (69) block Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Jason Jefferson (98) and defensive tackle John McCargo (97) in the third quarter during a preseason game at FedEx Field. Washington won 17-14. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-US PRESSWIRE

The void at DT has Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune speculating that Tommie Harris could get a look at a comeback with the Chicago Bears.  After leaving the Bears, Harris made a stop in Indianapolis before ending up in San Diego, where he actually had a decent season in a limited role.  Harris was never the same since his leg fell apart, but he might have been a decent option as a 4th tackle in a rotation.

But it appears the Bears may have gone another direction by signing two other defensive tackles on Thursday, John McCargo and DeMario Pressley. 

The Bears are hoping to catch lightening in a bottle for the second straight year.  Last season, they were able to get a strong season from former first round draft pick Amobi Okoye when they brought him in as a free agent.  Since he bolted for the Bucs, the Bears will hope that former Bills first rounder John McCargo can step in and do the same thing.

McCargo was the 26th overall pick by the Bills in ’06 while Pressley was a 5th round pick by the New Orleans Saints in 2008.

The Bears did not address the defensive tackle position in free agency and took a pass on drafting a DT.  With the departures of the aforementioned Okoye and Anthony Adams, the Bears need to find some warm bodies to take all those snaps that walked out the door.  Before adding McCargo and his former NC State teammate DeMario Pressley, the Bears only had Henry Melton, Matt Toeina and 2nd year man Stephen Paea to anchor the middle of the line.

What do you think?  Do the Bears have enough depth along the defensive line, and the DT position?  Would you bring back Tommie Harris?

BEAR DOWN!!!

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What are the requirements?  It’s simple.  First and foremost, we are seeking individuals with a passion for the Chicago Bears.  You can be a glass half full guy, a glass half empty girl or anywhere in between; just be passionate.

If you’re an aspiring writer and want to build up your portfolio and hone your craft or you’re the ultimate Monday Morning Quarterback and want to rip Lovie Smith blowing yet another challenge and share your opinion with thousands of Bears fans, this blogging thing could be just the thing for you.

You’ll be asked to contribute at least one article weekly.  Maybe your area of expertise is the draft or fantasy football?  Maybe you enjoy Bears history and want to share some insights of Bears teams from long ago?  Maybe you’re an aspiring comedy writer and want to have some fun at the Bears’ expense while we laugh along with you (or at you!).  Maybe it’s all of the above.  If you’re passionate about the Bears, we’ll find a spot for you on our team.

How do I apply?  Just send a writing sample, preferably something Chicago Bears related, to beargoggles.boomer@gmail.com with the subject line Writing Submission.  Be sure that whatever you write, you let your passion and personality come through.  I’ll sift through the submissions and let you know if I think you’ll be a good fit.

 BEAR DOWN!!!

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November 26, 2011; Columbia, SC, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (1) makes a touchdown reception in front of Clemson Tigers cornerback Coty Sensabaugh (15) in the second half at Williams-Brice Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-US PRESSWIRE

The Bears will put their rookies and select returning players through the paces as they host their first minicamp this weekend in Lake Forest.  It’s a chance to see how well Phil Emery did in his first draft.  It’s a chance to see how well Shea McClellin gets off the line with his hand in the dirt.  It’s a chance to see how much Alshon Jeffery weighs and if any of their other picks are worth a damn.

Matt Bowen has been killing it lately both in the Chicago Tribune and National Football post, really giving some great advice to rookies.  There’s some mandatory reading for the rookies.  First, from the Tribune earlier this week:

You’re not on scholarship anymore.

That’s the advice I would give to Shea McClellin, Alshon Jeffery, Brandon Hardin and the rest of the Bears draft class. No more draft hype, high-fives or news conferences.

Try not to get lost on your way to Halas Hall, don’t bother the veterans and get ready for your first test in minicamp.

The goal is to get noticed this weekend. Do something. Anything. Give the coaches a reason to talk about you in the staff meeting after dinner.

Play under control, stay off the ground and don’t be caught bent over at the knees, sucking air after four plays.

I could literally pull the entire article into this post; it’s OUTSTANDING insight from a Bowen.  Do yourself a favor and GO READ THE WHOLE THING. 

The other piece from Bowen is in the National Football Post and this article should get printed and posted in the Wide Receivers room, and not just for Alshon Jeffery but for Devin Hester, Earl Bennett and Johnny Knox to read too.

For rookie WRs, it can be a struggle to transition to the NFL game. Gone are the basic zone looks, free releases off the line of scrimmage and CBs that play with a soft cushion to avoid giving up the deep ball. And when I look at receivers coming into the league, there are two techniques that need to be developed: route running and the ability to defeat press coverage.

Bowen goes on to outline the two important techniques that wide receivers must master as they transition from college to the Pros – route running and defeating press coverage.  Again, it’s a really outstanding piece and everyone who intends to catch a pass for the Chicago Bears should memorize this article.

We won’t know too much more about these rookies when next Monday rolls around, but it will give these rookies a chance to get to know themselves and start to understand the speed of the game.  It will start to prepare them to compete with the veterans and really see how they measure up.

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