While Torry Holt was making his rounds at ESPN , getting ready for his eventual post-NFL career on NFL live and SportsCenter, an interesting proposition was made.
He is still a decent wide receiver, and with his former head coach working as the offensive coordinator, Holt should be given a serious look by the higher-ups in the Chicago Bears organization.
He still has good legs and runs some of the crispest routes in the business and has some solid hands, not to mention he can help the young receivers in Chicago learn Mike Martz's complex system.
The biggest issue that plagued the Bears last season and undoubtedly caused at least a few of Jay Cutler's 26 interceptions was route running, and that is the one thing that Holt prides himself on.
Having Holt there to teach the young receivers like Johnny Knox, Earl Bennet, and Devin Aromashodu the intricacies of route running could be invaluable to the future of the Chicago Bears.
But Holt isn't just a teacher, he still has the ability to be a viable option in the passing game.
ESPN said that his ceiling last season was around 500 yards, but he produced just over 700 yards despite not catching a single touchdown.
This isn't just fantasy talk though, Holt talked about the possibility of coming to Chicago on the Waddle and Silvy Show on ESPN radio recently, and he also talked about going to Chicago on SportsNation recently.
"This year I would again consider coming to Chicago and helping that football team out, helping Jay Cutler in terms of helping him get settled in that offense and give him a quality and consistent weapon play after play along with Hester and Aromashodu and Knox and Bennett and Forte and Olsen, I mean the list goes on and on with the talent that they have," Holt said. "I think I could fit in really well with that ball club and add a really good veteran presence."
There has been article after article asking the Bears to trade for Brandon Marshall or Anquan Boldin (although the Boldin ship has sailed), but adding the much cheaper receiver could be just as helpful.
The Bears would be foolish to not take a look at the 34-year-old veteran receiver. Holt had eight straight 1,000-yard seasons under Mike Martz when he was with the Rams, and though a reunion likely won't offer the same statistics, it could be highly beneficial for all sides.
After spending big money early in free agency, adding a veteran for cheap could have effects lasting years, as he could help bring along the young receivers in the complex Martz system.
Will the Bears make this move? Maybe or maybe not, but if they don't at least make contact with Holt's camp, they would be making a big mistake.
Last week’s acquisition of Julius Peppers was a big one for the Bears in many ways.
First, it brought in a good pass rusher, helping out what has been a huge problem for the Bears. Second, it will help take some pressure off the other players on the defensive line to rush the passer and come up with some plays that might not have been there last season. Finally, Chicago can count on Peppers making it hard for opposing offenses to game plan against the Bears defense game in and game out: What an advantage.
As we saw last season, the Bears struggled on defense against the pass; most of that had to do with not getting any pressure in the backfield. Starting defensive ends Adewale Ogunleye and Alex Brown just couldn’t get up the field and get to the quarterback. The line only accrued 24 sacks in 2009, and this doesn’t get it done when it comes to stopping an opponent’s passing game.
Peppers has the athletic ability to get up the field in a hurry and reach the quarterback. He has a history of being a devastating force when the quarterback drops back, and this is something that every offensive coordinator is going to have to worry about. The obvious solution for any offensive coordinator would be to double team Peppers, but using two blockers will open up the opportunity for another defender to make a play. This could be defensive tackle Tommie Harris’ chance to really shine.
Another thing that offensive coordinators will have to think about when drawing up a game plan against the Bears' new defense is running plays to Peppers' side. Peppers is not only good against the pass, but he is also solid against the run, so opposing offenses may not want to run too many plays to his side. Once again, this poses problems for opposing offenses.
Peppers presence should make everyone on defense better as well. Look for guys like Harris, Jarron Gilbert, and even Alex Brown to do much better on the defensive line while linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs should be free enough to make more plays. The end result could be great for the Bears' defense.
Sure, the Bears spent a lot of money on Peppers, but in the end, if he plays up to his contract and everyone else around him stays healthy, then the defense could have a much better year than it did in 2009. However, the Bears also need help beyond what Peppers will give them, including some additional depth at the safety position. They have to do something about both safety positions in order to ensure that they don’t have issues in the secondary.
For the record, I am not a Bears fan. There are just certain teams that I like to be good. In the NFL, the Bears are one of those teams. It is easier to root against a team if they're good.
There are rumors aplenty surrounding Denver wide receiver Brandon Marshall. We all know that this malcontent wants out of Denver, and that Denver is willing to part with him.
As far I can tell, the most rumored landing spots for Marshall are the Seahawks and the Bengals. Well, I couldn't care less about either of those teams. If given the power, I would veto those trades.
The Bears have a petulant, but big-armed QB. The kid needs someone to throw to. Brandon Marshall is arguable the best in the game right now, and he's available. Not a good idea to pair them up?
Recent moves by the Bears suggest that they are going all in this offseason to build a winner. Why not get Marshall?
He pouts and whines...fine. Throw him the ball enough, and I'm sure he'll be happy. Besides, he is light years better than any of Jay Cutler's current targets.
Why is this not done yet? Wouldn't the Broncos consider the Bears a better trading partner than an in-conference rival like the Bengals? Does anyone think he'd be a bad fit?
The 2010 NFL Combine is history and now teams are focusing on watching players at their Pro Days and sitting back trying to figure out what players would fit their team as they prepare for the draft. The Bears have many needs but don’t have that many draft picks, so they have to be wise with the picks that they do have.
So what players might give the Bears some interest with their early picks in the 2010 NFL Draft? What players would be a good fit in their system and which players would be worth the value? Let’s take a look at two potential draftees, one on offense and one on defense, that could interest the Bears enough to draft them in the 2010 NFL Draft.
Darrell Stuckey, Safety, Kansas
The Bears need help at the safety position for their cover-two defense and what they need is a player who can be relied upon to support against the run as well as cover receivers as needed. Stuckey has a lot of what you would you like to see in a good safety. He is a very physical player who isn’t afraid to hit someone and make them think twice about making that tough catch over the middle. He is also someone who isn’t afraid to go against the run either.
Stuckey was productive at Kansas and tackled well and came up with some big interceptions. However, some people feel that he doesn’t have the kind of speed that you would want to have at the safety position and may not be able to cover faster wide receivers.
What would a player like Stuckey mean for the Bears? At least in terms of run support, the Bears would have the kind of safety that they would like for their cover two defense. A safety that can play the run well is the kind of safety that the Bears need in the kind of offense that they are running. If Stuckey is around when the Bears start making their first picks in the draft, they should take a look at drafting him.
Kyle Calloway, OT, Iowa
The Bears need some help at the offensive tackle position and Calloway, a guy that they should be able to grab in the third or fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft, may just be the guy that they are looking for. While he may not end up starting right away, he could help provide some depth for the Bears at the offensive tackle position and make that position much less of a worry.
Calloway has the ideal size for the position coming in at 6’6” and 322 pounds. His technique is sound and with some additional development he should get even better. He is very intelligent, hard-working, and can block in the running game very well. Although he might be a bit of a developmental prospect he could be ready to start in a year or so.
The downside to Calloway is that he doesn’t always play aggressively and isn’t always set right when making blocks. He also needs to get stronger and learn the finer points of the game. However, he has a lot of promise and could end up being a real find if the Bears take him in the draft this April.
Chicago has gotten some help at the defensive end position now that they have Julius Peppers in the mix and don’t have to worry so much about that in the 2010 NFL Draft. Now they can concentrate on other areas of need and perhaps these two guys may be a couple of players that they are interested in. We will find out next month.
While many Bear fans are still in a tizzy about the team's major splash in free agency last Friday, there is still one major issue lurking around Halas Hall, and that is the future of Tight End Greg Olsen.
Lots of trade buzz has been circulating recently about Olsen, who isn't exactly an ideal fit in the traditional scheme of new offensive coordinator Mike Martz.
Despite the recent signings of Julius Peppers, Chester Taylor and Brandon Manumaleuna, the Bears are still a ways away from being a championship contender, and having already traded away both their first- and second-round picks in 2010, a good value deal may make sense.
But is dealing the former first-round pick, who will only be 25 by the beginning of next season, really a smart move for a team who is already criticized for its lack of weapons on the offensive side of the ball?
Especially when that team desperately needs to see success from its "franchise" quarterback.
There are quality arguments to make on both sides of the issue, and even though many of you are likely smart enough to decipher them yourself, I have an unfulfilling life and access to a site which allows me to "articulately" share my own beliefs on the matter.
So in that spirit, here are the pros and cons of what an Olsen trade may mean for the Bears:
Pros:
The Bears Need Draft Picks:
Peppers, Taylor and Manumaleuna were all quality signings. That said, the Bears still have a lot of weaknesses, most notably on the offensive line and in the secondary, which need to be addressed.
If a quality pick is available, perhaps a second rounder, this could be an enticing offer, as a young player who could make an immediate impact (let's face it, no one will be heart broken if names like Omiyale and Aflava don't make it onto the starting roster) would be a very welcome addition.
The "System" Argument:
The major reason the trade rumors started was because of Martz's belief that a Tight End should be a blocker first, receiver second. This of course doesn't suit Olsen who can't throw a decent block to save his life.
Naturally, if there is no possibility of carving out an effective role for Olsen in the offense, there is no reason not to try deal him in order to find a player who can be of service both next year and beyond.
Inconsistency:
While Olsen has show flashes of the brilliance the organization hoped for when they used a first round pick on him in 2007, his production has been anything but steady.
For all the good moments (three TD's against Arizona last season,three clutch TD's catches in the final four games of '08), there has been just as many ineffective ones (the combined 5 catches for 21 yards in weeks 13-15 last year, his disastrous two-fumble effort at Carolina in week two of '08).
Perhaps if he had exhibited more consistent play, Martz would be fully cooperative in working Olsen into the offense next season, and this entire subject would never have been broached.
Cons:
The Need For Offensive Weapons:
While the Bears young receiving corps was heavily maligned last season, young players like Johnny Knox and Earl Bennett showed a great deal of promise to make optimistic fans believe they could mature into formidable NFL receivers.
But while there is a good deal of promise on the roster, Jay Cutler is still a ways away from having an elite unit of weapons.
Thrown in the rumors of Devin Hester's offensive reduction and my firm belief that Lovie Smith will do what he does best by wasting the obvious promise of Devin Aromashodu, finding a role for Greg Olsen may prove to be necessary.
And seeing as how Martz has only coached one tight end with Olsen's playmaking skill set (more on him later), it may benefit all parties to find a way to co-exist.
The Grass Is Always (Considerably) Greener
In recent years, the best way to boost your productivity in the NFL has been to leave the Bears for another team.
Be it a transition from worthless to slightly below average (Justin Gage), average to good (Chris Harris) or selfish, drunken, narcissistic bastard to bona fide NFL rushing champion contender (you know who), Bear fans have had to watch in disgust as player after player has reached new levels of success with different franchises.
Of all the players mentioned above, Olsen achieved the greatest level of success in a Bear uniform. If he manages to take his game to the next level with another team, it could be a tough pill for Chicago to swallow.
Vernon Davis:
No matter how excited you are about the implementing of Martz's offense in Chicago, even the most optimistic of fans are fully aware this move has the potential to be truly disastrous (picture Detroit and San Francisco and throw in a notoriously difficult QB).
If this experiment proves to be a one-and-done debacle, trading away a valuable offensive commodity could make things even worse.
To see the potential corrosive element, one needs to look no further than the previous tight end in Martz's system, San Francisco's Vernon Davis.
After two inconsistent but ultimately promising seasons in '06 and '07, Davis made nearly zero impact as a receiver in his one year under Martz, catching just 31 passes for 358 yards and two scores.
After being widely hailed as a bust, Davis finally reached his potential last season, as he exploded for 78 catches, 965 yards and a league leading 13 touchdown receptions under coordinator Jimmy Raye.
San Fransisco got lucky, as Davis, a beastly blocker, was still serviceable in Martz's scheme. If this doesn't prove true of Olsen, dumping him could be debilitating if Martz's recent string of failed coordinator gigs continues. It's hard to think there is absolutely no way to work a playmaker like Olsen into the mix. I mean, Dallas Clark is no one's idea of a bone-crushing blocker, but it's hard to envision any offense not benefiting from his talent, no?
So with all the possibilities, what exactly should be done with Olsen? Well, at this point, I can honestly say (despite the noticeably longer "Cons" section) I have no idea.
The Bears still do need a good deal of help without the proper draft picks to fix them. And while Olsen can possibly help attract said picks, trading him could also explode in the franchises face.
If a good deal is out there, I'd say Jerry Angelo and co. should seriously consider it. However, before anything is done, I think a serious conversation needs to take place with all parties to make sure there is no way for Martz to work Olsen into his scheme.
Watching Olsen put up '09 Vernon Davis-like numbers for another team could be a crushing blow for fans who have already felt the sting of countless wasted draft picks in recent years. Especially if the guy who sent him packing ends up exiting on the very next train.
