Dan, Do you think the Packers’ success this year will lead to Jerry Angelo feeling the need to spend big in free agency again this off-season in order to keep up with them? Are we likely to have the finances to be big players in free agency this year?
— Mark Duxbury from Facebook
I think the Bears will be players in free agency again, though I wouldn’t expect any more Julius Peppers to be signed. The Bears have the wherewithal to add some significant talent, though it really has nothing to do with the Packers. It has to do with the Bears and their specific situation. When the team traded away two first round picks, a second round pick and two third round picks for veterans Jay Cutler and Gaines Adams, the Bears knew they would be more dependent on free agency than they usually like to be for at least a couple of years. This is probably the last year the Bears will be big players on the free agent market.
What do you think the chances of the Bears trading their first-round pick for multiple later picks? I know we haven’t had first-rounder in a couple of years but we might have a better shot of filling some key spots.
— Brandon Montgomery, Pekin, Ill.
I certainly would not rule it out, considering the Bears have traded down with their first draft pick three times since Jerry Angelo has been general manager. If they don’t have one player rated considerably higher than a number of other players, it might make sense to move down a few spots and try to pick up extra picks. Seeing the Bears have had a deficit of high-round picks in recent years as a result of the trades for Cutler and Adams, they can use all the young, talented players they can find.
Dan, I grew up in the Chicago area and have moved but still get back for some games and follow the Bears religiously. So when I watch games I wonder why the Bears offensive line gives up 50 plus sacks. Why do I read that Jerry Angelo doesn’t want to be a slave to one position in the draft? I mean, why wouldn’t you take the best guard available in the first round to play left guard, and a tackle to develop in the second? Why not suck it up and just admit we need to draft some lineman?
— Portland Bear, Portland, Ore.
I am fairly certain Angelo and the Bears front office will try hard to add one or two starting-caliber offensive linemen in the off-season. No one has denied the Bears need more talent up front. But it doesn’t make much sense to go into a draft focused solely on one position. By doing that, you run the risk of passing up much more talented players at other positions. Certainly, every team considers need to some degree with their high round picks. But teams also have to stay true to their draft board and not take inferior players just because they match needs.
Do you think that Mike Pouncey from Florida would be a good selection given his brother Maurkice has made a good transition to the pros? I hear he plays both guard and center and if they do keep Olin Kreutz for one more contract, using Pouncey at guard for a year would help transition to becoming the team’s next long term center.
— Shane Higgins, Camdenton, Mo.
Sounds like a plan to me. I’m not sure Pouncey will be there when the Bears pick at No. 29, but if he is I’d say he will have to be a strong consideration. The only issue with Pouncey is teams usually don’t like taking interior offensive linemen in the first round. Over the last decade, an average of 0.7 guards and 0.6 centers have been taken in the first round each year. But if you can find a superior guard or center who can be an anchor for your line for a decade, it’s hard to argue with that.
I read that Chris Williams will likely be moved back to left tackle next season. Is there any truth to this? If so why? The guy has moved all over the line and seems to be unsuccessful everywhere he’s played.
— William Edwards, Biddeford, Maine
Nothing has been announced about where Williams will play next season, and the truth is the coaches are probably not 100 percent sure yet. Williams’ position may depend on whom the Bears acquire in the draft and free agency. I would think there is at least a good chance he will be tried at either right or left tackle though. He wasn’t very good at guard last year, and he played the right tackle position pretty well in 2009. Remember, he was drafted to play tackle, not guard.
Do you think the Bears would go after Chad Johnson in a trade and what would it take to pull it off?
— Jason Ford, Columbia, Md.
Chad Johnson is 33 years old. His production in two of his last three seasons was mediocre. He is very high maintenance. Now let me ask you a question. Why would the Bears go after Johnson in a trade?
You wrote: “The difference in opponents between the first-place and second-place schedule is the Bears get the Eagles and Seahawks while the Packers play the Giants and Rams.” Wow! Don’t you think the Bears have already caught their first break of 2011? I mean, the G-Men will be playing to save Tom Coughlin’s job and the Iggles will likely still be in disarray with their QB situation. I also really think the Seahawks and the Rams are moving in opposite directions. Do you agree?
— Zee-Man, Denver, CO
I think it’s way too early to make judgments about how teams will play next fall and winter. That’s why I never put much stock into rating a team’s schedule in the off-season. The only time you can really tell how strong it might be is the week before they play. A lot is going to happen between now and September, let alone now and December. Teams will lose players and add players. Starters will become bench warmers. Injuries will hit. Young players will step up. Sorry, but I can’t get worked up about a schedule in February.
In conjunction with the stories prior to both home playoff games about the bad Soldier Field sod and the negative comments from players about how poorly rated the playing field is in Chicago, the idea of replacing the ‘grass’ at Soldier Field with some form of Field Turf seemed to finally get some traction (no pun intended). If the Martz offense is ever going to reach its full potential and if the Bears defense is going to be able to take advantage of its speed in order to play fast and downhill as they prefer, don’t we have to get rid of the bog marsh the Bears are playing on and go to something more conducive to the speed game they want to feature, and do you see it finally happening for next season?
— Sam Athens, Lewisville, Texas
I think, based on what we know, an artificial surface at Soldier Field would be for the best. The Bears have been reluctant to make the switch because they want the safest possible playing surface. Because infill surfaces are relatively new, there have not been many studies on injury rates. When you play in the winter in Chicago, you never are going to have a perfect field, no matter what the surface. There are going to be problems because of the climate. But an infill surface probably is the best option. I think there is a chance Soldier Field could be converted before the start of the 2011 season.
I thought the season was a great success given the expectations going in, but I feel like a great many of my peers feel like the season was a waste due to the outcome of the NFC championship game. That being said, I would like to see the Bears get younger and upgrade the talent on both sides of the ball going into next year in order to help them stay competitive with Green Bay an up and coming Detroit. Given their possible contract situations I thought two players within the division who may potentially be cap casualties this off-season might look great in a Bears uniform. I was thinking A.J. Hawk to help fill a need at linebacker and would fit great in our 4-3 scheme and Sidney Rice to give Jay Cutler the big physical receiver that we clearly lacked this season. Any thoughts?
— Justin Cambron, Rock Island
I like Hawk, but wouldn’t see Hawk as a possibility in Chicago unless the Bears are ready to cut Brian Urlacher. And there is no reason for them to do that, given Urlacher’s play in 2010 and what he means to the franchise. If the Bears added Hawk to the payroll, they would have too much money tied up in one position. Hawk, I should add, is under contract for 2011 with the Packers. There appears to be a good chance he won’t be in the near future, however. I’ve said many times I think the Bears have bigger needs than wide receiver, but if they could get a star like Sidney Rice for a decent price and weaken a division rival, you’d have to like that move.
