Position Battle #2: Backup QB/Thoughts on the Black Unicorn

Hey all! Sorry it's been a little while but life and work have a tendency to get in the way (stupid life and work). I will highlight the battle to be Jay Cutler's backup in a moment but first, I'd like to share my take on the Martellus Bennett situation.

Unless you've been paying ZERO attention to the goings-on in BEARbonnais, you know that our starting tight end has been fined and suspended indefinitely for body-slamming rookie CB Kyle Fuller to the turf after a play in training camp. A surprising amount of people believe that the fine and suspension happened solely because of that play and that HC Marc Trestman and GM Phil Emery were unnecessarily heavy-handed in their punishment. This is not true.The fine and suspension were the culmination of a pattern of undesirable behavior on Bennett's part, stemming back to his first practices with the Bears last year. According to sources such as Brad Biggs and David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune, Bennett has been guilty of a lackadaisical attitude on the practice field, interspersed with meltdowns that have resulted in physical altercations with several different teammates over the course of last season and this spring/summer. Marc Trestman stresses that anything - ANYTHING - which detracts from the football team's constant improvement is unacceptable. To paraphrase Brad Biggs, no one on the team has done more jogging when the rest of the team runs and has walked when the rest of the team jogs than Bennett. Don't think that has gone unnoticed by the Bears' brass. The altercation with Fuller was the final straw. MY TAKE: the Bears were 100% correct in suspending and fining Bennett; the team is too close to serious Super Bowl contention to have distractions of this nature erupt. Marc Trestman has a plan and any deviation from that plan will not be tolerated. Now, don't get me wrong - Marty B is an extremely likeable guy and a supremely talented football player. The Bears are certainly better with him than without him. However, I believe this is his one big chance to 'get with the program' and buy in fully to Trestman's vision. The ball is in his court now and I can only hope that sees the light soon. The tight end position needs to get back to the business of creating matchup nightmares for NFL defenses - and quickly.

NOW... the battle for backup quarterback. This season, it comes down to two candidates (barring a late preseason acquisition): Jordan Palmer and Jimmy Clausen. Jordan Palmer entered training camp as the presumptive backup, having spent 2013 under Trestman's system. With the departure of Josh McCown to - where else? - Tampa, Palmer finally had his chance, or so it seemed. Enter one James Richard Clausen - signed off the NFL scrap heap. Not having taken an NFL regular season snap since 2010, Clausen has provided an interesting alternative to Palmer. Signed in June, Clausen has taken a crash course in Trestman's offense and has done well enough in the OTAs and early in camp to make it a neck-and-neck race to hold the clipboard for #6. Recently, there had been talk of Bears/Broncos/Chiefs/Cowboys retread Kyle Orton possibly being signed as an option but that appears highly doubtful to me. Orton does not appear to want to play anymore, as he walked away from over 3 million dollars to be the backup to a (now) very suspect Tony Romo (offseason back surgery; cannot throw a deep ball). MY TAKE: I think Clausen will emerge as the #2 guy only because I think Trestman believes Clausen has a higher ceiling than Palmer and can make the throws necessary to successfully run the offense. As I mentioned, a late preseason free agent signing is not out of the question but it seems as of now the Bears are content with the battle they have on their hands. NEXT POSITION BATTLE: Backup running back.

The preseason starts tonight at Soldier Field - the Bears host the Eagles. IT BEGINS. BEAR DOWN!!!

Position Battle #1: Safety


Hello all!

  This begins my look at the training camp battles currently being waged in steamy Bourbonnais, Illinois (which shall now and forevermore be referred to as BEARbonnais). It is no secret that a large part of the Bears' horrible defensive play in 2013 stemmed from general mass confusion at the safety position. To the surprise of absolutely no one, this position promises to have a completely new look in 2014. One half of last season's starting duo remains on the roster (Chris Conte) while the other (walking trash fire Major Wright) has departed to rest once again in Lovie Smith's cologne-scented bosom - this time in Tampa. Conte must sit and watch his job disappear as he rehabs from off-season shoulder surgery (oh, THAT was his problem???); the Bears have signed several middling-to-extremely capable options to take the starting reins. Ryan Mundy, formerly of the Giants, is currently battling with M.D. Jennings - a former member of Those Damnable Wretches from Green Bay. Roughly a month ago, the Bears signed former Arizona All-Pro Adrian Wilson (who appears healthy after missing all of last season with a heel injury) and drafted Brock Vereen out of the University of Minnesota. Vereen was the star of the spring OTAs, eventually lining up with the #1 defense for stretches at a time. Heading into camp, it appeared that Mundy and Vereen possibly had the inside track to being named 2014 starters.

  Now, what I find somewhat odd is that after 3 days of camp, NO ONE is reporting on this CRUCIAL position battle. For all we know, defensive coordinator Mel Tucker is throwing darts at a board to see who lines up with the 'ones' each day. I can only assume that the media silence is to be interpreted as an abject lack of surprise at what is transpiring - Mundy is solid if not spectacular, Wilson looks great in pads and stands to be a leader on the defense, Jennings is most likely slated for special teams duty, and Vereen looks to be a dark horse starter/special teams lock. The real 'X' factor in all this is if Chris Conte can put his MYRIAD of problems behind him and play more like the guy from 2011 - someone who didn't exactly remind you of Mike Brown but made enough plays for you to be comfortable with him roaming the secondary. To the Chicago media - I would VERY much appreciate an update on all this.

  MY TAKE: Personally, I would love to see Wilson and Vereen as the starters - provided Wilson remains healthy and Vereen continues to show Mike Brown-like instincts. Short of that, I would be okay with Mundy with either of the first two but would look to continue to upgrade the position. Exciting times in the shadow of Kankakee.

Next position battle (and next post): Backup Quarterback

Cheers and BEAR DOWN!!!

I'm back because sure, why not?

Hey all!

After a multi-year hiatus (mainly because I was sick of Lovie Smith's crap), I thought I would give writing a Bears blog another whirl. I am much more optimistic about our beloved Bears' fortunes these days for many, MANY reasons - not one of them named Chris Conte. A new (for this blog, anyway) general manager (Phil Emery), a new head coach (Marc Trestman), a new, record-setting offense - it all spells GOOD TIMES! The equally record-setting defense (OY GEVALT) should be much improved this season as well - as long as Chris Conte misplaces all his gear, is blindfolded, gagged, and is stuffed into a windowless white van destined somewhere north of Regina, Saskatchewan.

ANYhoo, Training Camp 2014 is mere days away and there are several positional battles that will prove interesting in the coming weeks. For the first time in perhaps my lifetime, these battles will not occur on the offensive side of the ball. These battles will play out at linebacker (strongside and middle), safety (the whole damn position) and kick returner. I'll highlight these battles in my next post. For now, suffice it to say that I believe last year's stupefyingly abysmal performance on defense is a thing of the past. More to come - happy to be back! BEAR DOWN!!!!