Highly recognized Peter King of Sports Illustrated listed 10 things that peaked his interest over the last week within the NFL Draft.  Out of the 10, number 5 intrigued me the most as a Bears fan.  He wrote:

5. The rules of top picks aren't the rules anymore. With a rookie wage scale likely to be in effect this year, Mayock's right when he says: "There are younger GMs who don't necessarily think the way the veteran guys do. A solid player might be picked higher than normal now, even if he's not at the traditionally more valuable position.'' It's the Logan Mankins theory -- if a very good guard is on the board against a good tackle, take the guard who's going to be better longer. That's why it's not inconceivable that Patrick Peterson, a corner, goes number one or two -- if he's the cleanest guy in the draft.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/peter_king/03/27/mmqb/index.html#ixzz1I7WuIqo4

This is something I didn't consider until today and I'm sure many of us really didn't think of either.

Given this scenario, it is conceivable that the Bears might jump on a player slated as a 2nd or 3rd round selection if they really feel he "fits" their system and is able to be coached up by week 1.

Given this scenario, perhaps a offensive lineman like Derrek Sherrod, Stefan Wisniewski, or DeMarcus Love might fit one of several positions the Bears will have to find a "hit" at in this offseason to stay competitive and improve.

Thoughts?

I was listening to Steve Young and Matt "Detroit's Curse" Millen post-game reaction last night and got wrapped up in their assessment of the Bears and their play over the course of this season. (SIDENOTE: Urlacher doing the interview in a T-shirt and ball cap while Millen & Young were dressed in "frozen tundra" wear was pretty hardcore!)
They discussed some of the big wins (i.e.-- Packers) for the season and some of the let downs (i.e.-- Giants).  They also started speculating of a first round bye for the Bears and a playoff game in Soldier Field in January.

Steve Young went one step further and speculated that it is not out of the realm of possibility that you could see a NFC Championship game for the Bears if they are the no.2 seed in this playoff year.

Immediately following Young, was the very blunt Trent Dilfer who mockingly remarked that the Bears are NOT a contender in this year's playoffs and would not win another game this season.  (Ouch?)

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Last night's victory against the Green Bay Packers might be the major turning point in this year's NFC North division race.  The Bears will not have another division game until week 10 against the Vikings and are approaching the "sweet spot" in their schedule.    Barring some catastrophic meltdown by the Bears over the next few weeks,  the two division wins and the Bears NOT seeing the Packers until week 17, could prove to be a good sign for the 2010 Bears.  In fact, last night's performance has been called "2006-like" by many sports pundits who appreciate the COMPLETE team effort that the Bears displayed.

However, with the resurgence of Brian Urlacher, MUCH improved offensive play, and a Devin Hester sighting last night...

... There are still some major areas of concern

(CLICK and continue to read after the jump...)

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Gotta admit, Bears fans...

... I'm still shocked that Cutler and the Bears offense actually got "better" with Frank Omiyale at LT.  Omiyale, who Jerry Angelo projected as a left guard when he was brought in last year, was a bust as a left guard last season and hasn't exactly proved himself at right tackle this year.

But, this past Sunday, Omiyale stepped in "in a pinch" when Williams went down with injury and actually outperformed Williams at the position.  With that being said, If Frank Omiyale is able to show a solid performance against Clay Matthews and the dangerous front 7 of the Green Bay Packers...

... Would it be an awful precedence to keep Omiyale at LT and move Chris Williams to RT?

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Listening to Jeff Dickerson on ESPN 1000 with Waddle & Steve Silvy and he reported that he thinks the Major Wright is really, really bad.  He noted that the injury might be worse than the Chris Williams' injury and might be more substantial in the long run.

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I strolled over to the Lions blog to see some of the updates on the team and concerns going into the week 1 contest in Chicago this weekend.

Let me tell you this...

... The "new season" optimism is alive and flowing!  Haha!

In the Lion's Den defense, there are some quality writers over there who report what is going on and has a good ear to the pulse of the team, but some of the posts are a bit much for even the most non-biased NFL fan to stomach.

Take a look at THIS thread and my comments after the jump...

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In 11 days, the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears will kick off their 2010 season at Soldier Field.  There is this overlying feeling that "assuming" the Lions are the underdog is flawed logic.  In fact, fans of BOTH ball clubs are starting to debate the outcome of the game now...

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This might upset some of the hardcore Minnesota Vikings fans who happen to look over at this page every now and then, but I don't mean it as an insult-- just as an interesting observation.

Allow me to explain...

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David Haugh wrote an interesting piece on the Bears defensive woes Saturday, but this stood out the most for me:

Outside of Peppers, nobody made a consistent impact. The Raiders' No. 1 offense converted 5 of 10 third downs behind quarterback Jason Campbell. What will Aaron Rodgers and Tony Romo do?

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According to Chip Scoggins of Access VIkings for the Minnesota Vikings, Percy Harvin's injury is not the only wide receiver that they should be concerned about...

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I think it's going to be a VERY tough 53-man roster for the Bears in 2010.  Take a look at this "mock" (I use that loosely) depth chart I have put together:

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Kevin Seifert of ESPN answered a pretty interesting question in his daily NFC North blog this morning:

Who do you think will be the biggest name to NOT make the 53-man roster for each of the NFC North teams?

I thought this would open up some interesting discussion for the 2nd day of the week.

I think we can rest assured that it won't be any "NFL big-names" like Brian Urlacher or Jay Cutler cut from the squad, but players who have a certain status or have unrealized potential on this team are the ones in question.  SOme of those players would be:

Rashied Davis: With the odds on favorites being Devin Hester, Earl Bennett, Johnny Knox, Devin Aromashodu, and the possibility of a 4th tight end on roster (which hasn't been done in Bears past), its easy to see that there is a battle at the WR position for a 5th and possible 6th receiver spot on this team.  In my opinion a lot of factors play into that battle.  Those include the tight ends, the safeties, and the running backs.  Rashied Davis might be one of the most disliked Bears on roster, but he has produced on SP/Ts.  He also excelled in the slot position in 2006, which is where one would believe Martz would play him.  He has decent route running and championship experience to back his special team prowess.

Kellen Davis: Coming out of Michigan State, Kellen Davis was a guy that many Bears fans saw could possibly be a book end tight end with Greg Olsen.  He combined freakish size with exceptional athleticism.  The problem was that he was raw and had played various positions at MSU.  In his first couple years, he really lacked aggression and blocking skills.  He had a decent 2009, where he caught 3 TDs.  His size is hard to dismiss and you can't "teach" that, but with 5 TEs on roster one can say see this not working out if he doesn't pick up blocking fairly quick.

Al Afalava: Kevin Seifert writes...

... After starting 13 games last season, Afalava seems to have fallen off the map. Last week, general manager Jerry Angelo mentioned five players while discussing the Bears' safety position. Afalava was not among them.

He showed promise in last offsseason, but does that carry over after all the transactions in 2010?

Garrett Wolfe: Is the Garrett Wolfe finally over?  I've met Wolfe several times on the weekend in Chicago... Nice guy, but I can't see how he remains on roster year-to-year.  Perhaps, it's a matter of him being a 3rd round draft pick on a draft [2007] that has yet to produce a bonafide success (Please, lets not call Olsen a "success" just yet).  With 4 remaining picks in that draft class, perhaps Angelo and Lovie are hoping that Wolfe still has some untapped potential in his tank.

These are just some of the possible names.

Who do you think will be the surprise of the 2010 offseason roster trimmings?  Why?

That was Mike Martz statement after one month of offseason workouts.

“I love our receivers,” Martz said Sunday after the Bears concluded their rookie minicamp with a 90-minute practice. “I think that our receiver corps will be the strength of this team.

“You can put that in granite. I can promise you that one. There’s not very many things I would say are unretractable, but that one is pretty strong. This will be the strength of this football team. It’s a terrific group.”

That was an interesting statement at a VERY interesting time in the offseason.  With so many fans and NFL analysts seeing so many "uncertainties" on this 2010 Bears team (including wide receiver), it comes as a pretty big statement for Martz to say that this particular unit will be the position of strength on this team.

With the addition of Julius Peppers ont eh defensive line, Jay Cutler at the QB, and the return of the dynamic duo-- Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher-- it's hard to say that the WR will be the best unit on this football team.

What do you think?  What will be the best unit on this football team in 2010 and why?  Rank the 8 units on this Bears team and a brief explanation as to why they are ranked where they are.

We all KNOW that the Bears need to answer the FS position in this year's draft.  Curently, two of the better FS are still on the board in Nate Allen and Taylor Mays.  Either one of them I wouldn't "toot my nose" in the air about having on my football team.  Neither of them will be on the board at the #75 pick, so the Bears will have to do something in order to get one of these sure-fire safeties.

Let's look at this in a couple different pieces, Bears fans...

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I know, I know, I know...

...This doesn't make any logical sense whatsoever with the PRESSING needs at FS and LG.

However, as we all know all to well...

... Jerry Angelo has never seen a defensive lineman that he didn't like and WOULDN'T pick given ANY type of circumstance!

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The Chicago Bears have a sacred and hollowed football history, that has fostered and developed some of the greatest players in the game.  Butkus, Sayers, Payton, and Grange among others.  However, since the very late 70s, there has never been a solid franchise QB in Chicago Bears history.

And why should we be banking on one now with Rex Grossman.  Chicago Bears football has always been about tremendous DEFENSE and a strong RUNNING GAME.  But as of the past two years, it seems as if us Bears fans have become enamored with the idea of having a franchise QB.  We've turned into a fan base divided along the lines of "Anti-Rex" or "Pro-Rex."  Personally, I don't think that Grossman is a complete QB, but I can also say that last year his receiving corps could have done more to help pull him through his struggles.  I also think that Turner has got to take a bit of responsibility in this matter as it is HIS offense and he has to tailor it to fit his personnel.

At this point though, I am wondering if the need for a FRANCHISE QB is necessarily what the Chicago Bears need to be focusing on.  I mean... if you think about it, the Bears have won REGARDLESS of who was at the helm the past 2 years, and I expect the same this year.  As quickly as fans like to point at the 7 plus-100 rating games, many others are quick to point at the other Rex who put up performances that was less than 10 points!?

However, the Bears are solid from every other point.  Their defensive unit boasts several all-pro players and/or players in the top 5 of their position.  Their depth is unparalleled compared to many other teams in the league.  Although aging, the offensive line has played together several years and boasts several probowl players past and present.  The run game has been solid the past two years and the special team unit is unrivaled with Devin Hester and NOW Garrett Wolfe and Daniel Manning in the backfield.

More importantly... despite Rex Grossman's erradic play, the Bears have won time and time again.  Sometimes seemingly as if Grossman was playing for the other team!?

The Bears, at this point, only need a game manager.  Similar to what Ben Rothelisburger was in Pittsburgh and Tom Brady was in the Patriots first championship run.  Someone who can make the intermediate pass when need be, but also effectively drive the ball down the field and manage the game.

Now at this point in his development, I don't think that Kyle Orton is ready to fill those shoes.  Hell?  I don't know if he's ready for the role as a backup QB.  However, I do think that Brian Griese is capable of steadying the course and doing the little things that made the offense successful in those seven games last year.

I believe that the Bears have to make a SERIOUS decision this year about the inconsistent play of Rex Grossman.  They have to be VERY mindful of the "window of opportunity" to be atop of the division and conference.

I know many of you will see this as an opportunity to say, "Give Rex a chance," or to say, "I agree!  We should start Griese."  But, all I am saying is that we need to assess the right now.  And the right now is this...

... The Bears are Super Bowl ready right now-- regardless who is at the helm of QB.  But there needs to be an accurate assessment of what Rex is capable of doing. Free of emotional attachments and void of desires to have a "franchise QB."