Camp kicked off, and it appears everyone is posting season previews. Seems waaaay too early at this point; I prefer doing them late Aug after INJs, trades, bottom of barrel signings…but hey, who am I to argue with the industry?

They make a good point about Bush. We assume he’ll be at least on par with Edmunds, but maybe we should slow our roll.
Edmunds was too reactive for my taste. He made more sense with the original HC/DC Flus whose D in general was more passive. Allen by contrast likes attacking D. We saw how the LBs, despite being backups, flew around more when both Edwards and Edmunds were out. Hopefully Bush and Co fit that mold more, but was Bush merely a byproduct of Gym Shorts’ very specific scheme?
Thieneman is definitely a high-upside prospect, but that’s all he is right now – a hard 7. He’s more of a fit than cautious Brisker, that’s for sure.
Byard was a proven commodity, leader, and secondary general – maybe the best since MB at FS.
That’s a lot for anyone to fill, esp in the TO dept, but I expect FA Coby Bryant to hold his own. Besides, I trust coach Harris to squeeze the most out of that secondary. That being said, I have been refraining this since last summer: TRADE Gordon ASAP before he tears his hammy rolling over in his sleep.

I won’t go over the Dline since it’s beating a deadhorse, but Steve and Sam both agree that Sweat can’t carry it by himself. He’s no Garrett, and both wonder aloud if the run D will improve.
Vito Vea demanded a trade, and many are connecting him to the Bears because of their shaky run D, albeit Vea allegedly wants to play his back 9 on the west coast, so who knows where his head is at – is he still chasing a championship, or cruising the rest of the way?

We know the deal on O. It should match last year’s production; however Braxton at LT and whoever replaces Dalman could be viewed as a step down. Everyone’s counting on Caleb’s 2nd year in BJ’s system to make up for it, but never know. Still, many studies have shown that great QB play affects Olines more than the other way around – that’s why it almost didn’t matter who the Colts drafted at oline during the Peyton years because that sack rate was going to be low, and comp% high almost regardless.

The ever mercurial DJ Moore is gone, so I guess we don’t have to see him dog it during the summer, or late season routes, yet make miraculous catches on one good leg. Nevertheless, I believe in Harvey Dent-Burden! Rome with one foot is another issue [I doubt Rome gets extended], and maybe this is why BJ wanted insurance in Khalif Raymond and Zavion Jones, ntm TE Sam Roush. BJ will scheme em open, and Caleb will hit em, and the machine should keep rolling.

The over under is currently set to 9.5 wins for Bears. If you don’t think the TOs and miracle comebacks can be replicated, or that Caleb stalls at sub-60% comp, then take the under.

If you Bearlieve that TOs don’t fall off too much, that the late game magic continues, and that Caleb enters the S-tier of MVP convo, then take the over and book the playoffs.

I wonder how much a long snapper moves the line…