The Bears now must decide how to best utilizing newly acquired Chester Taylor (left), Julius Peppers and Brandon Manumaleuna. (AP)
By Brad Biggs
So the Bears have dropped $121 million on three free agents, or at least written contracts totaling that staggering figure.
Now what?
Well, a big question is how they are going to fit into the mix in terms of playing time. Obviously, they're joining new systems with new coaches and new players around them, but let's take a look at how they were used last season and how they might fit in on their new team.
First, let's explore Julius Peppers and his playing-time ratio in Carolina last season and what he will be asked to do for the Bears.
Julius Peppers: 776 defensive snaps in 1,023 plays for Panthers (75.83 percent).
Peppers will be replacing Adewale Ogunleye, who took 712 defensive snaps in 1,068 plays for the Bears (66.67 percent). Ogunleye was lost for the season in the Week 15 game at Baltimore with a minor leg fracture. Without the injury, he would have been on pace for more than 800 snaps (between 76 and 77 percent).
Others at the position for the Bears:
Alex Brown: 756 defensive snaps in 1,068 plays (70.79 percent).
Mark Anderson: 521 defensive snaps in 1,068 plays (48.78 percent).
Peppers figures to have a workload similar to what he was accustomed to in Carolina.
Now, let's look at running back Chester Taylor, who started in Minnesota in 2006 before spending the last three seasons as a backup to Adrian Peterson.
Chester Taylor: 369 offensive snaps in 1,094 plays for Vikings (33.72 percent).
Taylor touched the ball on 138 plays (94 rushes, 44 receptions), so he handled it 37.3 percent of the time he was on the field.
He is expected to challenge Matt Forte for the starting job, and Taylor will split the duties with Forte at minimum.
Here is how the Bears' playing time broke down at running back:
Matt Forte: 827 offensive snaps in 1,004 plays (82.37 percent).
Kahlil Bell: 96 offensive snaps in 1,004 plays (9.56 percent).
Garrett Wolfe: 46 offensive snaps in 1,004 plays (4.58 percent).
Adrian Peterson: 35 offensive snaps in 1,004 plays (3.49 percent).
The Bears talked about reducing the workload for Forte this past season and failed miserably. He was on the field for 84 percent of the team's plays in 2008, the highest figure in the league, and barely moved off that number in '09. Maybe the heavy workload goes a ways toward explaining the reduced production. That should not repeat itself this season.
Finally, tight end Brandon Manumaleuna is coming into a situation that will be new for the tight ends. He's primarily a blocker, but has some skills as a receiver even if the San Diego Chargers rarely deployed him that way.
Brandon Manumaleua: 522 offensive snaps in 1,006 plays (51.89 percent).
How that fits in with the Bears remains to be seen. That might be dependent on how many double tight end formations new offensive coordinator Mike Martz wants to use. Remember, Martz likes to involve the tight end in the pass-protection scheme, too.
Here is how the Bears broke down at tight end last season:
Greg Olsen: 844 offensive snaps in 1,004 plays (84.06 percent).
Desmond Clark: 366 offensive snaps in 1,004 plays (36.45 percent).
Kellen Davis: 227 offensive snaps in 1,004 plays (22.61 percent).
Olsen's playing time was up nearly 10 percent from the previous season. That figure will drop this season, but he still could remain as productive in the offensive scheme if Martz takes advantage of him. When you evaluate the offensive roster, Olsen is probably still the team's most consistent offensive playmaker.
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You have to hand it to the Bears for consistency. They bring in an OC who is still tied to an offensive scheme that is 10 years past its prime. Then you go get a TE that is 10 years past his prime. Then you get a defensive lineman that is almost 10 years into the league (and arguably past his prime).
Don't know how they plan to fit Chester Taylor into all of this -- I don't believe he is past his prime.
Nonetheless, I have faith in my Bears. If there is a way to ruin Chester Taylor, they will find it.
3 Bears? Hmmmmmmmmmm
Does that make Cutler, Goldylocks?
Martz doesn't like personel grouping to dedicate his offense, putting Olsen in does not create a decoy. It tells the defense the Bears can't do a deep drop and protect cutler, it also tells you its a passing down.
they could still rotate olsen in as a decoy or a two tight end set but as some have pointed out martz likes his tight asses oops ends to primarily block but olsen may not be the go to guy he was last year so he may want out.. understandably so but most teams use their tight ends as blockers first and receivers second
Greg, McKie has nothing to do with what Manumaleuna will be doing. Manumaleuna is the the new starting TE, its the Martz offense. If Olsen currently held more that a 5th to 6th round pick value he would be gone, but nobody currently wants him. Olsen's agent Drew Rosenhaus has been running around trying to get a deal done for Olsen, who does not want to be here. I still hope a team looking at a TE in the drafts second round will take Olsen instead. Speaking of the second round, now that we are seeing how high teams are valuing the picks in this draft, what a disaster that 2nd rounder for Adams looks and no I am not talking about the poor kids passing. But the fact that the Bears never used the guy, and gave up a 2nd rounder from this deep draft for a kid who would have held almost no value at all. That is a pure Angelo blunder. That second round pick would be looking real good about now, instead of making a trade for no real reason for a player who had done nothing but bust out on his old team.
Joe Felicelli you are finally getting how Martz works. Yes thats exactly right, stubborn is putting it gently. By the way don't kid yourself Taylor is the new starting RB, he fits the offense better than Forte.
Peppers will probably get used on both sides, then again Lovie gets confused when players switch sides so he may put Peppers at one position and leave him, either way he is going to be seeing a TE on a regular basis, they may choose LDE, Lovie seems more concerned about trying to prove his defense is still relavent and Harris(he leads the team in almost sacks) can still play rather than winning games. Besides who says Brown can play LDE, he would have to play the run a lot more and have more responsablity in gap control. Either way we will see where the Simeon Rice clone plays this summer.
Brads mind has been effected by Pompei, who spends his days tring to convince the world of the true delicate genius of Lovie Smith, where every move is the perfect move and every play is the perfect play.
A2John 100% Right...A Team is suppose to be your team they signed the biggest Fa and a NEED and you people are still pissed than they get a REAL back-up for Forte so he dosent have to play Hurt all the time. They they get a TE who blocks helping protect Cutler and Greg comment is right this takes snaps away McKie not Olsen. So be HAPPY about this change of thinking.
Red on March 8, 2010 1:25 PM
These signings are nothing more than lipstick on a pig.
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Amen. If Angelo doesn't get fired after this season, he never will and this team may never see the playoffs again.
Brad, while it is true, under Ron Turner's Offense, Greg Olsen may have been the most effective weapon, it's a whole new ballgame now under Martz.
What if Devin Aromashodu had played more? Giving Cutler someone else to (lock down) for those 4-6 yard passes Turner called.
What if he utilized Hester in the slot instead?
And how many times did Forte have better games catching the ball than running it?
RT's offense stunk. 3 and out the norm; getting that "first" 1st down would take 3 possesions most Sundays.
Regardless, before Martz, Olsen's value dropped once he PROVED he could NOT make the "big play".
He's a top 10 TE receiving stats-wise, but, after that, I'll take the new offensive philosophy in town. Bringing in some blocking only made sense; especially after how beat up JC got this year.
He's a tough kid, and, is not given enough credit. Yeah, he made some terrible throws, and @ the wrong time, but, in time, he's going to bring glory to CHICAGO.
And this is not saying MArtz's Offense is the cure-all, but, let's face it, he's the brightest O-mind to come in here in many, many of years.
Watch and see, routes we've not seen, but against us. Blocking just 1/4 to 1/2 second more allows so much more space, and decision making time.
Wait and see. Olsen is the new BEAR NONE.
The Bears' Ticket increase was explained after Peppers signed late Friday.
Big Dipper - I know what will make you happy: A sale on Packers jerseys. Or Vikes, Seahawks, Colts.... Seriously, if nothing will make you happy, there are 31 other teams in the league. You don't have to agree 100% with the team's decisions, because everyone's free to vocalize an opinion. But you can really save yourself a world of grief if you adopt a different team.
Greg,
That would be great news if it happens. That would mean Martz got his head out of his a@@ and learned how to utilize a weapon by adjusting his scheme. But more likely, Olsen will not be a factor in the offense this season, because Martz is REALLY that stubborn, and will either trade him or sit him in favor of Manumaleuna, which makes about as much sense as a solar flashlight...
Ideally, all three play significant roles for the team, but if I had to guess, Peppers will be the only one who manages to play more than 50% of the time. Taylor hopefully will go on about a 40% split with Forte, who needs to bounce back from last year. Manumaleuna should be a situational guy for short yardage and goal line, but perhaps could see more time in base packages.
Here's a thought. What about using Louis as a short yardage FB, and keep 3 TEs on the field as well. That would be a lot of bulk moving forward with Louis at 300 lbs. and Manu at 295 (he looks more like 310 if you ask me).
The bigger question is whether you put Peppers on the left side, or you use him to abuse the guys on the other side, which Alex Brown has not been able to do. Peppers should be able to manhandle McKinnie, Clifton, and Backus/rookie without much trouble, and Alex can go up against lesser players on the right side. Should be a win-win for us.
Why can't the Bears just go back in time, re-do their drafts and/or fire Lovie and Angelo? I don't care how hard they try or how much they spend if they can't go back in time, nothing else will make me happy, NOTHING!!!
These signings are nothing more than lipstick on a pig.
Manumaleuna will take snaps away from McKie not Olsen.