Glass Half Full 2020

[MonserinNC]

3 minutes ago, JustAnotherFan said:

Everything went wrong last year and we still won 8 games against a tough schedule. With an improved roster and a new staff on the offensive side I can see 9-10 wins. 

This is kind of why i think it will be even more than that, everything went wrong, 8-8. When things went right 12-4......I would say we have a better roster than the 12-4 team currently.

GB kind of stood pat and invested in the future. DET got better but not significantly. MIN got rid of some vets and replaced them rookie deals.

I think 10-6 is pretty much the floor for this team. Im expecting a good year. We added Quinn to the pass rush and added Gipson at SS, on top of the offensive additions.

[JAF-N72EX]

8 minutes ago, MonserinNC said:

This is kind of why i think it will be even more than that, everything went wrong, 8-8. When things went right 12-4......I would say we have a better roster than the 12-4 team currently.

GB kind of stood pat and invested in the future. DET got better but not significantly. MIN got rid of some vets and replaced them rookie deals.

I think 10-6 is pretty much the floor for this team. Im expecting a good year. We added Quinn to the pass rush and added Gipson at SS, on top of the offensive additions.

We also need to keep in mind that it will only take about 8-9 wins to earn a playoff birth with the new format and the playoffs are an entirely different animal from the regular season. 

Edited May 29, 2020 by JustAnotherFan

[BEAR FACE DOWN ARROW]

The 2020 NFL season is going to be fascinating as I think the limited practice time is going to really change the level of play.  I think the benefits are going the Bears' way in 2 important ways:

 

Defense bias:  I think we're going to see some sloppy play from offenses, and likely simplified and watered down schemes, especially early in the season, especially with teams that have a lot of new players on offense. This should naturally favor defenses, right? 

Continuity:  Especially on defense, the Bears are returning most of their starters, and especially the key ones who are responsible for communication and tone setting.  The big asterisk is that we have ? at QB, and have 2 new TE to break in on offense, so the drawbacks of limited practice apply to us in a big way.

 

I think the Bears are a 9 win team, which might be enough to get to the playoffs.

[dll2000]

2020 is going to separate players who are self disciplined in their off season prep and those that aren’t.

I coached for years in little league.  There are strict practice limitations, when you can start, how long you can practice and how many days.

... And many, many people break those rules or skirt right to edge of them or liberally interpret them.  And many of those people win.

The guys who secretly got together and worked on execution.  The guys who had access to a real private gym and used it, with spotters and trainers and worked out like professionals rather than playing around ...  

Those teams and individuals are going to have a rather large advantage this year over those that sat home and followed the rules to the letter.

 

 

[BEAR FACE DOWN ARROW]

1 minute ago, dll2000 said:

2020 is going to separate players who are self disciplined in their off season prep and those that aren’t.

I coached for years in little league.  There are strict practice limitations, when you can start, how long you can practice and how many days.

... And many, many people break those rules or skirt right to edge of them or liberally interpret them.  And many of those people win.

The guys who secretly got together and worked on execution.  The guys who had access to a real private gym and used it, with spotters and trainers and worked out like professionals rather than playing around ...  

Those teams and individuals are going to have a rather large advantage this year over those that sat home and followed the rules to the letter.

 

 

It's concerning that my first thought when reading your post (which makes a ton of sense to me) is to worry about Roquan.

Seriously, who saw that coming?  It's like Pace drafts you in the first round and you get a gypsy curse on your ***

[dll2000]

26 minutes ago, RunningVaccs said:

It's concerning that my first thought when reading your post (which makes a ton of sense to me) is to worry about Roquan.

Seriously, who saw that coming?  It's like Pace drafts you in the first round and you get a gypsy curse on your ***

Smith was generally considered a very safe pick.  You know Pace first round history was in back of his mind, even if it was subconscious, when he chose the ‘safe’ pick.

Edmunds and Vander Esch are much bigger and pretty much as fast, probably faster straight line,  but said to have needed development. Not as safe.

Derwin James had higher upside and could play, but had an injury history. Not as safe.

All three of those guys have made pro bowls now and Roquan has not.

 

 

 

[dll2000]

Total team build would be a disaster, but honestly if hard core fans drafted for Bears every year overall picks would be much better.  

First three rounds anyway.  

[MonserinNC]

1 hour ago, RunningVaccs said:

It's concerning that my first thought when reading your post (which makes a ton of sense to me) is to worry about Roquan.

Seriously, who saw that coming?  It's like Pace drafts you in the first round and you get a gypsy curse on your ***

Seriously though haha. My GF went to a Auburn so we went to an SEC bar every Saturday. I watched a ton of Georgia games and he was a BEAST. Not just physically but he was smart and played with a ton of emotion. Like he was clearly a leader on the field.

[BEAR FACE DOWN ARROW]

1 hour ago, dll2000 said:

Total team build would be a disaster, but honestly if hard core fans drafted for Bears every year overall picks would be much better.  

First three rounds anyway.  

It is just astonishing that you can have some many unique ways to fail at first rounders.  What's funny is that the only one I seemed to think was a reach at the time was Floyd. Kevin White was pretty universally regarded as a top receiver and a good fit.  Trubisky wasn't a consensus top QB but if I had to guess I'd say most people ranked him highest.  Roquan Smith was the perfect fit and perfect prospect. Instead we've got injury bust,  underperformer/bad fit, can't ******* count linebackers and closet waste.  Pace has got to be terrified to have a first round pick again next year.  He's had some freaky bad luck in r1, which is part of the reason I'm fine if they keep him next year short of total meltdown. 

[MonserinNC]

1 hour ago, RunningVaccs said:

It is just astonishing that you can have some many unique ways to fail at first rounders.  What's funny is that the only one I seemed to think was a reach at the time was Floyd. Kevin White was pretty universally regarded as a top receiver and a good fit.  Trubisky wasn't a consensus top QB but if I had to guess I'd say most people ranked him highest.  Roquan Smith was the perfect fit and perfect prospect. Instead we've got injury bust,  underperformer/bad fit, can't ******* count linebackers and closet waste.  Pace has got to be terrified to have a first round pick again next year.  He's had some freaky bad luck in r1, which is part of the reason I'm fine if they keep him next year short of total meltdown. 

Well the one link between them is that he tends to go with raw prospects. The only time he didnt go raw(excuse the pun) was with Roquan over Edmunds and that burned him haha....the irony.

[The_Romen]

29 minutes ago, MonserinNC said:

Well the one link between them is that he tends to go with raw prospects. The only time he didnt go raw(excuse the pun) was with Roquan over Edmunds and that burned him haha....the irony.

Man I loved Edmunds as a prospect...

[beardown3231]

I think we're all being harsh on Smith. He was pretty good in 2018 and his best game was the Philly game. His start of 2019 was rough, but after the London game he was really good.

He likes to drink and hang out with pornstars. So what? Mongo was a lunatic and Payton cheated on his wife repeatedly. If they perform, I don't give a damn. If Smith plays like he did after week 5, I'll be happy.

[beardown3231]

2 hours ago, RunningVaccs said:

It is just astonishing that you can have some many unique ways to fail at first rounders.  What's funny is that the only one I seemed to think was a reach at the time was Floyd. Kevin White was pretty universally regarded as a top receiver and a good fit.  Trubisky wasn't a consensus top QB but if I had to guess I'd say most people ranked him highest.  Roquan Smith was the perfect fit and perfect prospect. Instead we've got injury bust,  underperformer/bad fit, can't ******* count linebackers and closet waste.  Pace has got to be terrified to have a first round pick again next year.  He's had some freaky bad luck in r1, which is part of the reason I'm fine if they keep him next year short of total meltdown. 

Which of these is Smith?

[dll2000]

2 hours ago, RunningVaccs said:

.Pace has got to be terrified to have a first round pick again next year.  He's had some freaky bad luck in r1, which is part of the reason I'm fine if they keep him next year short of total meltdown. 

Best use of first rounders has been trade for Mack.  He should just keep doing that.  

Trade for a star player and call it a day.  

[BEAR FACE DOWN ARROW]

21 minutes ago, beardown3231 said:

Which of these is Smith?

Closet waste.  Everything I recall from pre-draft was hard worker, solid character. It's one of the reasons it was so confusing that he and his agent were fighting so hard on a behavior clause in his contract. Since then we've gotten: held out signing rookie contract, mystery absence, some really up and down play in 2019, and now getting notoriety for partying on a boat during a global pandemic.  He was supposed to be a boring solid pick! 

I hope for the best from him, but would you say that you have no concerns about how his off field stuff affects his play?