DE signed to reported 6-year deal in Chicago. Matt Bowen
The Bears became the big player in free agency today when they signed DE Julius Peppers to an reported 6-year deal that could be worth $40-million over the first three years, according to ESPN's John Clayton.
But, when the shock of Chicago and GM Jerry Angelo being able to open up their wallets for Peppers wears off, we have to look at this move from a football perspective — and discuss why it is such a big play for the Bears.
Head coach Lovie Smith wants to play his Tampa 2 scheme — the same scheme that seems to come under fire when we see attacking, pressure defenses in New York with Rex Ryan and in New Orleans with Gregg Williams and the Super Bowl champion Saints have success.
That is what the league is transitioning to, but that doesn’t mean that the Cover 2 scheme is out of date. Instead, it takes key players, like Peppers, to make this system run and to produce turnovers — the exact reason it is installed on the first day of training camp. It’s the same system that Peppers played in under Ron Meeks, who previously worked under Smith, down in Carolina.
With Peppers, Lovie now believes that he has that rush end that can produce pressure on his own. Sure, the Bears will still run their share of zone blitzes and man pressures, but when they need to get off of the field on third downs, Peppers will earn his big money. And Lovie will call “Green 2,” where the front four has a free run to the QB, and the back seven gets to their landmarks.
The principle behind it sounds simple: rush four and drop seven into coverage to specific landmarks — with everyone facing the quarterback. But, that front four needs to provide the pressure that forces the ball to come out — where defenders on this scheme can plant and drive on the football.
In "Green 2," the front-four in Lovie's defense has no gap rules. They will rush to get to the quarterback, while the safeties will extend their drop to close to 20-yards, along with the corners sinking hard to protect them on any deep 7-route. In this case, you need a defensive end that can win in a one-on-one siutation and force the ball to come out quickly. The back seven can react to throw, scramble to the ball and get off of the field.
And, that is why I am a fan of this move — because he helps the system work. Think of the 2010 Bears with a healthy Brian Urlacher at MLB and a healthy Tommie Harris at DT along with Peppers. Sounds good, right? Add another safety, and now we are looking at a defense that can make plays.
I will agree that Peppers is overpaid, but that is free agency in the NFL. Peppers was the top dog in a stale FA pool outside of Aaron Kampman. And, when you get to set the market — like Peppers just did — the rewards in terms of money come big.
And, the moves for the Bears could keep coming. Chicago signed TE Brandon Manumaleuna to a five-year deal this morning and RB Chester Taylor this afternoon. This weekend is the Bears’ version of the NFL draft.
But, it starts with Lovie’s defense. Jay Cutler, Mike Martz, the Greg Olsen rumors, etc. are fun to talk about. However, Smith needs the parts for his system to work. And, he got that in Peppers.
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Let me say, as a diehard 'Skins fan, it's not a good thing that the Bears are doing their best Redskins impression. It's fun now, but look out.
Jared Allen is much better than Julius Peppers.
Watch out Rodgers....
A job saver for Lovie.... they even sniff the playoffs and he is back in Chicago now that he has Peppers and Chet Taylor locked up.
We'll see.......
I thought they were going to the super bowl last year after they got Cutler?
I see big guaranteed money going to a bunch of 30 year olds.... a backup RB, a blocking TE, and a guy with a questionable heart who just got paid. All done by a HC and GM on the hot seat.
Oh, and I forgot to mention rolling Mike Martz into the mix.
This has all the elements of a disaster of epic proportions!
@GoSkins, I hear you re Skins experience. Looks like a new plan in Ashburn. I actually don't think Allen is better than Peppers. When he wants to, Peppers is virtually unblockable by anyone. Allen may have a more reliable motor, but he can be blocked. Plus, Peppers doesn't just sack the QB. He creates havoc and turnovers.
I think the odds are this experiment does not work for the Bears. This is a team that has had some poor chemistry, and adding a bunch of highly paid guys on the downsides of their careers rarely aids in that respect. They still have a lousy O line and their receivers scare no one. Cutler had some games last year that reminded me of Delhomme, after he forgot how to play. Chester Taylor is a nice back, but he is not Marshall Faulk. He also is not used to being the lead dog. Older players are also more injury prone, something that hurt the Bears this past year.
The Bears lacked character in their run game since the departure of Thomas Jones. They have it once again.
Can the Bears characters keep Peppers motoring full speed? Cover 2 doesn't have any space for let ups by pass rushers in the scheme. You are supposed to play run on the way to rushing the quarterback. If you are taking the pass rush off for a down or two, how does it affect you playing the run?
Let's not quibble over who's better - Allen or Peppers. Allen was a non-factor in that Nov. Monday nite game where the Bears effectively knocked the Vikes out of homefield.
Let's look at the similarities. The Vikes made killer FA moves that had me burning with envy - Berrian, Hutchinson, and Allen. And it put them over the top.
The Bears don't have much a draft, but for once they've got a plan and they are putting together the pieces they need to make a deep playoff run. They've got the QB, the OC, the edge rusher they need, and some other parts for the O.
Taylor fits Martz's system better than anyone you could find third round or lower. And I think that third round pick goes to an OL, unless the Bears can't complete the day with a FS.
Let's face it, Forte is a nice back but he's not special. Sure he was hurt last year and the O line had issues, but when Urlacher said the guy can't make anyone miss he wasn't completely off base.
Now, with two backs who can protect, run, catch and do damage in space, we're a lot better off. We had no real backup RB last year, now we have a 1A and 1B.
The issue will come when the NFL and the players finally do strike a bargain that includes a salary cap again. It just makes too much sense for the owners to go more than a season without one.
I love Peppers but Jared Allen was the better DE the last two years. Peppers will get his chance to prove differently.
Peppers will be fine but if none of this works then there will be a whole new coaching staff and management team for 2011.
I heard somebody say that they loved the ingredients for the recipie, the trouble is the Chefs who will prepare it
Anyone who thinks Jared Allen is better than Julius Peppers needs to do a little more homework. I'd say Jared's only assets are his straight line bullrush and his arm chops. Tough to stop for the average left tackle. But if the opposing tackle has quick hands and a strong base he's got Allen blocked most of the game. Peppers has one of the fastest spin and swim moves in the league, along with top notch strength, speed and agility. Peppers is also faster than Allen and weighs 30-40 lbs more than him. Some people forget Peppers was an All American in basketball and football at UNC. Peppers is probably the only 290 lb guy in the league that coaches would honestly consider putting at OLB in a 3-4 defense. You get a chip from a RB on Allen and 9 times outta 10 he's out of the play.
In the Peppers vs Allen debate why does everyone seem to ignore the fact that Allen played alongside 2 perennial pro-bowlers in the Williams dts and opposite ray edwards? Meanwhile Peppers played alongside damione lewis, a guy named Louis Leonard, a guy who had been out of the league this past summer in hollis thomas and opposite tyler brayton?
Uh, Professor7, Peppers was a walk-on player for the Tarheels b-ball team. He did score 18 points in a NCAA tourney game, but that's about it for the highlights. I'm sure if you ask him, he'd tell he was "All America" talent though.
Peppers was a Tarheel walk-on because you can't have 2 scholarships at once but he could have had his pick.
Peppers was a Tarheel walk-on because you can't have 2 scholarships at once but he could have had his pick.
I'm surprised that the McCaskeys opened the vaults as much as they did to bring in Peppers, Taylor and Manumaleuna. Peppers is a huge addition for the Bears...provided he doesn't shut it down now that he's getting mega-money...don't think it will happen, but Peppers does have a reputation for not always going 100%. Chester Taylor will provide a nice 1-2 punch with Forte. The Bears still look shaky to me on the O-line, although Manumaleuna will help in the run game. Credit the Bears for not standing pat after a disappointing season, and being aggressive in free agency to offset their lack of high picks in next month's draft. They still need to find a go-to wideout though...
Peppers was recruited by Duke to play basketball. He chose NC because football was always his primary sport. NC let him walk on to the basketball team, coached at that time by Bill Guthridge. He had his moments and was on a final four team. But he stopped playing basketball his senior to concentrate on his profession, football.
I mean, the guy's good, but he was nowhere near the All American level in round ball. So just stop making like he was.
I'm just glad that this probably takes the Bears out of the running for Aaron Kampen.
Umm...Taylor was the Vikings' lead back before the advent of AP....to the tune of 300+ carries and 1200+ yards. Not exactly Chris Johnson, but not bad for the Black and Blue Division. He sure hits the line a helluva lot better than Forte did last year, and he'll be their #1. Book it.
Hey Sean, long time no see. The opening of the floodgates started last year when the Bears woke up and realized you can't win without a real QB and that they cost money.
Without draft picks and in desperate need they finally came up with a plan that made sense - get what you can out of FA and get the rest in the later rounds. The good news is there are lots of O linemen who will be there in the third round. That new TE is as big as a DT. And it's a good year for DBs too. So maybe we'll have most of the holes filled by the end of the draft.
We smacked Minny by taking Taylor. Now they're going to have to live with AP's fumbles more.
You saw what Peppers did to Favre last year. He says he wants the coaching of Smith and Marinelli to bring the best out of him. Both GB and Minny are a little lacking at RT, no?
I expect things to be a lot tighter in the NFC. Should be a hell of a season.
You gotta love this, from former Panther teammate/DT Brenston Buckner on Peppers' motivation, taking off plays, etc.
""Chicago brings a toughness he wants, a classic 4-3 defense." Buckner said Friday on "The Mully & Hanley Show" on WSCR-AM 670. "You watch what (the Eagles) do in Philly, those guys dropping into coverage, they're moving around. But I think he wants to show people that he can be a classic 4-3 defensive end, great pass rushing, in one of the toughest divisions out there.
"And then he wants, I think personal for him, he wants to show the world that, in the same division as (the Vikings') Jared Allen, that he is still the premier defensive end in the league."
As for concerns that Peppers doesn't play hard all the time, Buckner said, "At 80 percent, he's better than anything (the Bears) have got on the defensive line."
Looks like he wants to show Jared Allen there's a new marshall in the NFC North.
Good point about the coaching aspect of it, Bear Market. Peppers will definitely benefit from the tutelage of Marinelli and Smith. It will be interesting to see how Tommie Harris responds to the presence of Peppers on that line; Harris was a dominant player a few years ago, and I've been mystified why he's been such a non-factor the last few years. He needs to prove he's still an impact player.
Not sure if Peppers will line up at left or right end, but the Packers OT situation is definitely a concern, especially at LT if Chad Clifton leaves in free agency. Clifton (and Mark Tauscher at RT) are near the end of the line anyway, so the Packers must address that position, and I suspect they will in the draft. And I think Minnesota's young RT, Phil Loadholt, is going to be a solid tackle for years to come, so I have to say the Vikings O-line situation is better than ours right now.
You're right, should be another great race in the NFC North...even more so if Whats-His-Name comes back for the Vikings again this season.
Wish I had kept the exact quote from Matt back in December in his article about Jay Cutler, but I'll paraphrase.
"The Bears have no running game to speak of, their receivers look like 2nd stringers you see during training camp, the offense line is full of holes, and the once vaunted Bears defense has been getting torched by everyone in 2009". Not exact, but close.
So, the question is how much of the deficiencies in the above did the Bears solve by signing Peppers and Taylor? This team is still 3-4 players at least away from challenging for the NFC North, much less the NFC Championship.
It's well known that Peppers takes weeks off, not just plays. So, if you're MIN or GB, the question is whether he's going to take off the week he plays against you.
Subdude, just watch the last two regular season games. Amazingly enough Mike Martz, who I have to think knows a bit more about receivers than you do, likes the WR corps.
The big hole in the OL was O Pace and he's gone. Chris Williams looked pretty good, with some help, denying the Vikings homefield.
How much did the Bears help themselves by signing the two best FA guys available? Well, probalby better than signing no one. But you're the expert. They're still 3-4 players away? Well, now they're maybe 2 or three away. But that's what the draft is for.
Keep telling yourself how many players we are away from whatever. And chew on this: the Saints didn't even make the playoffs last year. NFL = Not For Long.
I love it when guys like you regurgiate the common knowldedge that guys like Peppers take weeks off. That, of course, is why teams line up to sign them. He's averaged 10 sacks per year for his career. That's all you need to know. The fact that's he double teamed and chipped etc. means nothing to you.
Just watch the game against the Vikes where he used Favre. You know, the game where Chili wanted to save Brett's ass. You can expect that twice a year against the Vikes and Pack.
I don't think this is as great a deal as people are thinking. I know Chicago is desperate to win ( i live there) but this doesn't bring them closer to a Super Bowel. They still have a hole on the OL (LG), no WR's, No DB's (name the Bears starting safties?), question at SLB and DT. That's a lot of holes. This D is old, while adding another 30 yr old player (Peppers).
I thought they should have focused on Rolle, Daunte Robinson, either Schobel/Kampman/VandenBosch, and get a wide out. Get better while getting younger. You got a stud QB with an older D. When the O catches up in a few years, they'll be replacing everyone on D. Look at all their ages.
Pleasant dreams Bear Market. GB and MIN 4th and 5th receivers are better than any of CHI's WRs. CHI is reportedly giving up on Greg Olsen after 2 years and he's their best receiver. Do you want to compare the Bears receivers to New Orleans???? Good luck. So, I think we can conclude CHI needs at least 2 WRs. I'm sure you can find at least 1 or more 2 below average players on the Bears.
The Bears were 1-7 against teams that made the 2009 playoffs and in those games were outscored by 249-133. Beating DET twice, SEA, CLE, and STL for 5 of your 7 victories is not a road to the playoffs.
You have to be joking to compare CHI to New Orleans.
The bears did an amazing job getting peppers. I am not sure why the panthers let him go. He is one of the best defensive players in the league.
Mar 05, 2010
03:35 PM
If those are the terms, I don't think it's a bad deal for the Bears. What does Jarred Allen make? Must be similar. They are the two premier guys in the league at that position, and he fills a huge need for the Bears. If they were ever going to go to the bank, now is the time to do it with Urlacher not getting any younger or healthier. The Chester Taylor deal also seems financially not too bad, but I question the reasoning behind it when there are so many stud RBs in the draft.
I bet Aaron Rodgers loves this news...not.