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[Red Zone]

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GM Red Zone Takes over
After a less than stellar 2013 season in Indianapolis, GM Red Zone decided to make a change and accept a Job with the Chicago Bears.

At first glance, It seems like a very good fit. Red Zone has long been an admirer of Bears QB Jay Cutler, having scouted him prior to the 2006 Draft when he was Denver's Assistant GM. Brandon Marshall is another ex Bronco that has a history with his new GM. Head Coach Marc Trestman and Red Zone have known each other for years and have similar ideas about what it takes to build a successful team and create a successful offense.

Chicago has its share of problems, mostly due to a salary cap that has gotten way out of control.
"Don't worry" Red Zone said at his Introductory press Conference "That's my specialty"
So what can Bears Fans expect this season?
We will keep you updated here on ChiTownBears.com

[Red Zone]

Things started out slowly in Chicago this offseason, prior to Red Zone taking over

MLB DJ Williams retired and DT Jonathan Babineaux was designated as the team's Franchise Player.

and then...The Salary Cap made some releases unavoidable

Since DT Babineaux held firm to his contract demands and refused to sign the 1 yr Franchise offer he was released.
Wr Josh Morgan, CB Greg Toler, TE Martelus Bennett, C Roberto Garza, WR Santanna Moss, OT Eben Britton, RB Armando Allen, OT Corey Brandon and QB Maximus DelGado were also, all released today.

[Red Zone]

DE Julius Peppers was Dealt to Indianapolis today, for pick 2.1 in this yrs draft.

The Bears also announced contract extensions for LG Stan Wight, LS Emmanuel Donovan and TE Kyle Adams

Rumor has it that 2 other players may be dealt soon

Kicker Robbie Gould and CB Charles Tillman

Construction also began today on 3,000 additional club seats at Soldier Field

[Red Zone]

CB Charles Tillman has been Traded to San Diego for the Chargers 2015 3rd round draft choice

In his 12th season, Tillman was in the last yr of his contract and most likely wouldn't be back in 2015.
Dealing him creates a hole in the secondary, but adding a 3rd will help us more.

[Red Zone]

Chicago adds to their Oline by adding OT Levi Brown from The Steelers for 2 late picks this yr and a 5th next yr

OT was an area that the team wanted to address this offseason, and they still feel like they could add more talent there in the draft or free agency.
The team is now working on the Running Game, and Play Action Passing Game... in their Offseason Practices.

[Red Zone]

The Bears signed Free Agent RCB Antoine Cason Today to fill the gap left by dealing CB Charles Tillman to San Diego.
Cason should team well with LCB Tim Jennings since both are strong bump n run coverage guys.
The team also announced that Chris Conti will be moving to Strong Safety, and Tom Zbikowksi will be taking over at Free Safety. This appears to be your Bears Secondary for 2014.
The team still needs a nickel back and some depth, but The Depth Chart is starting to have a solid group of Starters again as the Draft approaches. Friday could bring a few more FA signings to provide depth, but Nobody seems to know...what Chicago will do with Picks 1.24 and 2.1

[Red Zone]

The Bears signed FB Erik Lorig to a 3 year contract today.
Lorig, a former 7th round draft choice, played the last 4 seasons in Tampa Bay.

Chicago also dealt a 2016 4th round pick to Pitts burgh for WR Emmanuel Sanders.
This should allow the Bears to use some 3 WR sets with Brandon Marshall, Alshon jeffery and Sanders.

As Picks 1.24 and 2.1 get closer, the team will now turn its attention to the draft for the rest of this weekend.

[Red Zone]

Red Zone continued to reshape the Bears Roster today
Sending 2.1 and 2015 SDO 3rd to Division Rival Detroit for NT Nick Fairley and RB Mickel Leshoure.
Then Trading 1.24, SILB Jon Bostic, WR Earl Bennett and NT Stephen Paea to Division Rival Green Bay for 1.21 SILB AJ Hawk and 4.32.

Skeptics said that dealing Bostic was a bad move but Red Zone was happy to get Hawk, a player he considers a tackling machine, in the middle of the Bears defense.
Between Fairley and Hawk...Chicago's run defense just got a lot better.

The pick at 1.21 remains a mystery though...still 2 spots away

[Red Zone]

Well, it doesn't look like Chicago will have to learn a 3-4 defense after all.
DT RaShede Hageman was the Bears pick at 1.21
Insiders say that Chicago expected Hageman to be gone, and couldn't pass on him when he was still there.
This is a clear sign that The Bears will remain a 4-3 team, which is a surprise because Red Zone has always preached the 3-4.
In this case it appears talent was more important than scheme.

With Fairley and Hageman at DT, AJ Hawk at MLB and Chris Conte at SS, the Bears should have no trouble stopping the run this season...and with LCB Tim Jennings, RCB Antoine Cason and FS Tom Zbikowski the pass shouldn't be a problem either.
If 12th yr OLB Lance Briggs has some gas left in the tank, the pass rush should be ok to. DEs Lamarr Houston and David Bass should also be very involved in the pass rush.

There has been talk of a trade to bring in another OLB, but so far nothing has materialized.

[Red Zone]

Word out of Chicago is that the team dealt their 2015 1st to get 1.32 to try and add another OLB.
When Khalil Mack went to Green Bay at 1.24 There was some disappointment in the Bears Draft room.
With many of the top prospects on their draft board now gone...they may be open to dealing down again if the player they are after isn't there when 1.32 rolls around later today.

There have been discussions with QB Jay Cutler about using the cap out option to free up some more cap room this season, mainly to resign DT Nick Fairley to a long term contract. It's an option that GM Red Zone has considered, but hasn't yet made a decision on.



2013 Jay Cutler Highlights:
http://www.chicagobears.com/multimedia/ ... 3db5072502