Julius Peppers, Terrell Suggs, Leroy Hill

by cashless on Jan 14, 2009 7:48 PM PST

Watching the coaching signings, there it feels as though the team is transitioning towards a Tampa 2, although there really is not solid personnel evidence of that yet.

I know that we have good amount of money invested in the defense so far, but I think a good indication of whether we are seriously moving towards this is whether we go after Julius Peppers or Terrell Suggs. That of course is predicated on those teams not locking up those players in some way, which is very likely. But if one of them becomes available, or some other pass rusher with great ability, how we react to that situation I think should tell us about the long-term plans for this team.

Leroy Hill's situation is another one. If we do what it takes to retain him, we will still have two very good pass rushing OLBs, and Hill hasn't shown himself to be the most disciplined LB in coverage. I do not know Mora's defensive background. It was said by someone in a conversation here that he had more of a cover-3, cover-1, traditional 4-3 in ATL, which seems to jive with what our personnel looks like right now, as well as TR's drafting pattern. If that is correct, despite the coach signings, Mora could be the one putting the defense together and some of our fears would be for nothing.

This is completely speculation, we could not go after Peppers or Suggs, retain Hill, and transition to a cover 2. But my belief is that our moves involving these players will tell us a lot about where the team is headed.

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<3 Terrell Suggs

although the 3-4/4-3 transition could be a sticking point.

Also, he’s 26, 2 years younger then Julius Peppers, so there’s a good chance we’d be paying for below peak value, for his 28/29 seasons.

by Will Kier on Jan 14, 2009 11:05 PM PST reply actions

Did the Bears ever sign Lance Briggs to a longterm contract?

I’m not sure he’s a ‘Ruskell’ guy though. When I was in Chicago, he crashed his Lamborghini into a lightpost, then walked home and never reported anything to the police. He was probably drunk, obviously.

by LantermanC on Jan 15, 2009 9:10 AM PST reply actions

They did.

by redwolf75 on Jan 15, 2009 9:34 AM PST up reply actions

Oh well...

Well, whatever Briggs got, I’d be willing to offer him only 75% of that, since I don’t think Hill is that great. He’s good enough to go to the pro bowl on a good year of his, but I don’t think we need to pay top dollar for that.
Anyone know what Hill is asking?

by LantermanC on Jan 15, 2009 10:47 AM PST up reply actions

I'm sure he isn't demanding the world...

but some team is undoubtedly going to fork over exactly that much. God, I hate free agency.

by Fearless Frog on Jan 15, 2009 11:02 AM PST up reply actions

Some contract #'s

Briggs got 6yrs./$36M. The Bears’ other 2 starting LB’ers: Urlacher makes 5yrs/$40M and Hillenmeyer makes 5yrs/$13M.

For the Seahawks, Peterson is 7yr./$54M and Tatupu is 6yrs/$42M.

Obviousy, Hill isn’t going to to sign as cheap as Hillenmeyer (that’s DD Lewis money) but, realistically, I don’t think he’ll be as expensive as Briggs either – Briggs has better stats plus 4 Pro Bowls and 2 All-Pro selections on his resume.

The Bears have about $14M committed to their LB corps in ‘09. The Seahawks have about $13M committed to Peterson & Tatupu. But, I figure Peterson will restructure this offseason and free up some cap room. Even if Hill gets around a 6yr/$36M deal, if it’s structured right … I think it’s feasible to keep all 3 under contract.

by jteckmann on Jan 15, 2009 12:57 PM PST up reply actions

Key to Tampa 2 is ILB who can drop back

and cover deep center between the safeties, and both pressure and run stop from the front 4. Can Lofa fill that roll? Can he drop back and cover center field? If not, I don’t see how you make it work. Both Hill and Peterson are not known for coverage skills. Pressure and run stoppage are their forte’. It would help the corners and safeties by giving them smaller areas to cover, but can Lofa cover Boldin or Fitzgerald coming accross the field? I dunno. I think it would be easier given our current personnel to upgrade the CB and SS positions, retain Hill, pickup a DT in draft or free-agency, and go with pressure defense that we’ve been living on for a while. Were it not for key injuries to Kerney, Hill and lackluster DB play from 3 out of 4 positions, the D could have been dominating.

by diehard82 on Jan 15, 2009 1:35 PM PST reply actions

Peppers...

Wants out of Carolina. He mentioned his “preference” being in a 3-4, but mostly he just wants out of the scheme there, which if you ask their fans is vanilla and not adjusted for opponent.

Could be a 49ers signing theoretically.

by cashless on Jan 21, 2009 10:52 PM PST reply actions