Peppers signs with the Bears (updated - again)

Is Orakpo at LB really a bad idea? I thought he made a pretty good transition and should only be better in year 2, and he's definitely a better fit for LB in the 3-4.Orakpo is much better with his hand in the dirt than in a 2 point. When you're getting beat by Witten it's one thing, Jeff King is another. He will be better as a 3-4 OLB than in a 4-3 (easier to expose him in coverage in a 4-3), but he's most effective as a true RDE.

Don't get me wrong, Orakpo will do well at LB or DE, I'm just for maximizing the potential of each player.

Orakpo is much better with his hand in the dirt than in a 2 point. When you're getting beat by Witten it's one thing, Jeff King is another. He will be better as a 3-4 OLB than in a 4-3 (easier to expose him in coverage in a 4-3), but he's most effective as a true RDE.

Don't get me wrong, Orakpo will do well at LB or DE, I'm just for maximizing the potential of each player.

I agree that he is better on the end. But what if that means you have to take Andre Carter off a lot to do it and HB Blades is covering the tight ends?

I'm still trying to figure out why Haynesworth at NT is a bad idea. It's not like he would be locked in at NT full time either, I'm sure he would work in at DE as well.He's not built as a 3-4 NT. He doesn't have that low center of gravity like a Wilfork, Hampton, Jamal Williams, etc. It will be easier for opposing Gs to get into his hips and thighs. AH is a 1 tech DT, yes he gets doubled, but he knows where it's coming from. A 3-4 NT has to play basically a 2 gap technique and just swallow up blockers for the LBs. AH will not be happy (motivated) or effective in that role. As a 3-4 DE he'll know where the double is coming from and he'll have more of a chance to make plays on his own.

Orakpo at RDE and AH at the 1 is as good as it gets in the NFL for a right side of the DL. It ain't broke, why fix it. I keep hearing about how successful the 3-4 has been, the Eagles and Giants have done some pretty good things over the last few years with their attacking 4-3. Looking at the top D rankings over the last 3 years, there's a mix of teams running 3-4 vs. 4-3.

i agree. i think shanahan's decision to use a 3-4 defense is motivated more by novelty than necessity.

Hmm, I think Kedric Golston and Monty are on their way out. I don't know if Peppers is going to be an OLB or 3-4 DE.

I agree that he is better on the end. But what if that means you have to take Andre Carter off a lot to do it and HB Blades is covering the tight ends?In a 4-3, AC & Jarmon can rotate at LDE. We still need LB help in a 4-3 or 3-4, just in a 3-4, you need more LB help. If we go to a 3-4 base we're going to need to retool the DL, why do this when we need to retool the OL, QB & RB? Change for the sake of change is usually not a good thing.

Orakpo at RDE and AH at the 1 is as good as it gets in the NFL for a right side of the DL. It ain't broke, why fix it. I keep hearing about how successful the 3-4 has been, the Eagles and Giants have done some pretty good things over the last few years with their attacking 4-3. Looking at the top D rankings over the last 3 years, there's a mix of teams running 3-4 vs. 4-3.
Orakpo as an 3-4 OLB will basically be a 4-3 RDE 80-90% of the time. DeMarcus Ware is listed as an OLB but he usually rushes the QB.

Hmm, I think Kedric Golston and Monty are on their way out. I don't know if Peppers is going to be an OLB or 3-4 DE.

Getting rid of Golston would be a mistake.

im going to trust that allen and shanny are well aware of peppers reputation for taking plays and games off, not having a drive for football, etc when they are determining whether to enter the peppers sweepstakes.

imo peppers probably took plays off b/c of the franchise tag and that he just doesnt live and breath football. for those reasons i wouldnt even consider him but maybe allen can structure an incentive based contract with "out clauses" for the skins if peppers gets here and continues what he did in carolina.

i dont want guys who dont live breath and love football, no matter how well they did when they first got into the league.

i think the fear that the salary cap won't come back is greatly exaggerated. its a scare tactic in my opinion. right now, it makes sense for teams to not have a cap, as a lot of them want to unload dead weight. however, having a salary cap and salary floor is far too beneficial for the league and the players. i would be shocked if the cap didnt return whenever a new CBA is reached.

You could be right, but any bonuses paid out this year in the uncapped year would not count towards a 2011 salary cap (if there is one). Unless they came up with a new rule during negotiations that does not exist today.