New Look Bears From Head to Toe…..

As a Chicago Bears fan for a the last 11 years our offseason aquisitions and draft process has been nothing to really brag about. Jerry Angelo has been at the head of the table when it came down to evaluating talent in and entering the NFL, and his vision seemed kind of blurry to the rest of us. That’s ok, there is a new era now and holding the reins is new Chicago Bears GM Phil Emery. With his first draft as a part of the Bears organization I would have to say job well done. With their first selection Chicago chooses Shea McClellin OLB/DL out of Boise State, not a bad pick, just unexpected. Most people just knew the Bears were going to address the defensive line especially because this years draft class was deep in that position. So in essence Embry did not disappoint with that pick, I had to do a little more research on that kid in order to understand the thought process of Emery and the Bears. After watching more film and seeing what Shea McClellin is capable I was fine with it, (as if my opinion mattered anyway). McClellin is a versatile player, he can play on the line with his hand in the ground or you can stand him up and just let him go to work as a OLB. Then you go to their first pick in the 2nd round and they grab Alshon Jeffery from South Carolina. This was the surprise pick by the Bears because of the fact that they addressed the needs of that position, something we were not used to seeing. Great move, first snag 6’4″, 230lbs Brandon Marshall from the Dolphins who was most productive when teaming up with Jay Cutler, then get 6’4″ 230 lbs Jeffery to play across from him, not to mention 6’0″ 206 lbs of Earl Bennett. The Bears actually have a WR core that will be very productive this up coming season, so maybe now they can put Hester back to return kicks. The rest of the Draft, the Bears went after one TE/FB and 3 DB’s, not a bad draft at all. I still feel like we could have used an offensive lineman, but where the picks were for Chicago it was nothing there worth grabbing, Mike Tice will do fine with the guys he has right now. In the time GM Phil Emery has been in Chicago this is a list of things he has done to improve this team:

February 7, 2012     Named Jeremy Bates quarterbacks coach

February 8, 2012     Named Tim Holt offensive line coach

March 1, 2012          Released DT Anthony Adams and OL Frank Omiyale

March 14, 2012        Agreed to terms with KR-PR Eric Weems on a three-year contract

March 15, 2012        Agreed to terms with DL Israel Idonije on a one-year contract

March 16, 2012        Agreed to terms with S Craig Steltz on a two-year contract

March 22, 2012       Agreed to terms with RB Michael Bush on a four-year contract

March 28, 2012       Agreed to terms with WR Devin Thomas on a one-year contract

April 5, 2012            Agreed to terms with CB Kelvin Hayden on a one-year contract

April 11, 2012          Agreed to terms with LB Lance Briggs on a one-year contract extension

April 13, 2012         Promoted Chris Hanks to athletic trainer and Bobby Slater to assistant head athletic trainer/director of rehabilitation

April 19, 2012         Agreed to terms with LB Geno Hayes on a one-year contract. Released WR Max Komar

April 23, 2012        Signed G Chilo Rachal to a one-year contract

April 29, 2012        Agreed to terms with RB Alvester Alexander, OT James Brown, DT Ronnie Cameron, LB Adrien Cole, S Trevor Coston, WR Terriun Crump, WR Britton Golden, OT A.J. Greene, S Jeremy Jones, WR Chris Summers and LB Ronnie Thornton

This is a pretty good start to putting a stamp on this team! So far, successful in offseason acquisitions via trade or free agency, and nicely done with the 2012 NFL draft as well, impressed with the efforts of the organization (meaning Phil Emery) and it’s plan of attack. New look for the Bears, now let’s hope the front office progress relates to progress on the field also.