Chicago Bears : Chalk Talk Top Stories

Who was Bears' defensive MVP?

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:52:00 -0600

Wondering about a player, a past game or another issue involving the Bears? Senior writer Larry Mayer answers a variety of email questions from fans on ChicagoBears.com.

Who do you think was the Bears’ defensive MVP this past season?

Mike W.
Indiana

Linebacker Lance Briggs, defensive end Julius Peppers and cornerback Charles Tillman all made impact plays during the 2011 season, but middle linebacker Brian Urlacher was the defensive MVP as far as I’m concerned. Urlacher consistently produced big plays both against the run and the pass. I know he’s not getting any younger, but it doesn’t look like he’s lost a step to me. Plus he has great intangibles in terms of his leadership, knowledge of the defense and ability to make his teammates around him better.

How active is new Bears general manager Phil Emery in the search for a passing game coordinator?

Ross P.
Elgin, Illinois

While new general manager Phil Emery has the authority to hire and fire the head coach and control of the 53-man roster, it is my understanding that head coach Lovie Smith is responsible for his coaching staff. So it’s Smith who is most involved with searching for a passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach as well as an offensive line coach to work under new offensive coordinator Mike Tice.

I know this isn’t Bears-related, but who do you think will win the Super Bowl and why?

John G.
Syracuse, New York

I’m going to go with the Giants 31-27. Picking against Bill Belichick and Tom Brady probably isn’t the smartest thing I’ve ever done. But the Giants have a better team top to bottom in my opinion. They’re capable of generating a consistent pass rush with their front four, which is something they absolutely must do to beat the Patriots. Offensively, Eli Manning is playing the best football of his career and he has two excellent targets to throw to in starting receivers Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz.

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Did Bears score most defensive TDs in 2011?

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:04:00 -0600

Wondering about a player, a past game or another issue involving the Bears? Senior writer Larry Mayer answers a variety of email questions from fans on ChicagoBears.com.

I know the Bears scored six defensive touchdowns this past season. Was that the most in the NFL?

Steve G.
Rockford, Illinois

The Bears’ six defensive touchdowns tied for second in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills, trailing only the Detroit Lions (seven). The Bears defense returned four interceptions (two by Charles Tillman and one each by D.J. Moore and Major Wright) and two fumbles (by Brian Urlacher and Israel Idonije) for TDs.

I know that Cliff Stein is regarded as one of the top salary cap specialists in the NFL and was wondering if general manager Phil Emery plans on retaining him.

Bruce L.
Glenview, Illinois

During his introductory press conference Monday, new Bears general manager Phil Emery indicated that he would work closely with lead contract negotiator Cliff Stein, saying: “Cliff Stein is a great resource. He’s in the forefront in that role in the league. … I will be leaning on Cliff, and I know he’s a good teammate. I was here [as an area scout in 2002] when Cliff came in and he’s very good at his position. Cliff, along with other people in the building, we’re going to help one another. We’re going to be a cohesive team. Sometimes in a team you have some weaknesses and you have strengths and the key is putting those things together to help one another move forward.”

Now that Phil Emery is the new general manager and the Bears are in need of a wide receiver, is there any chance they will sign Chiefs star Dwayne Bowe in free agency given the Kansas City connection? He is young, fairly injury free and I think he and Jay Cutler would be a beastly combo.

Zack F.
Champaign, Illinois

New Bears general manager Phil Emery has made it clear that he’s not going to tip his hand when it comes to revealing which players and positions he feels most need to be upgraded because doing so would create a competitive disadvantage. In terms of Dwayne Bowe, we don’t know whether he will even reach the open market (the Chiefs could re-sign him or place the franchise tag on him). But I can tell you that I’m sure that Emery is very familiar with Bowe both as a player and a person given the years they spent together in Kansas City. So it will be interesting to see whether the Bears pursue him if he’s available.

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Why did Bears choose Emery over Licht?

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:48:00 -0600

Wondering about a player, a past game or another issue involving the Bears? Senior writer Larry Mayer answers a variety of email questions from fans on ChicagoBears.com.

What was the deciding factor in the Bears hiring Phil Emery over Jason Licht? I was very excited about the possibility of getting a general manager in house that had learned how to win in an organization like the Patriots, who seem to have success every year with names no one recognizes.

Cass L.
Minneapolis, Minnesota

According to president and CEO Ted Phillips, the depth of Phil Emery’s plan to build the Bears into a championship team was one of the main things that separated him from the other candidates. I’ve received a few emails from fans (including one from Sebastian in Denmark) questioning why the Bears hired someone from the Chiefs and not the Patriots. First of all, the Chiefs had success when Phil Emery was there. In 2010, they won the AFC West after selecting safety Eric Berry, receiver Dexter McCluster and defensive back Javier Arenas with their first three picks in the draft. Secondly and more importantly to your point, Emery’s last two bosses—Scott Pioli in Kansas City and Thomas Dimitroff with the Falcons—were longtime Patriots employees who enjoyed great success in New England. During his introductory press conference, Emery said that he intends to implement elements of the “Patriot system” into the Bears scouting department. So the individual the Bears hired to be their new general manager does in fact have strong connections to the Patriots and the way they do business.

I was confused after listening to Phil Emery’s press conference on Monday. Does he have the authority to fire coach Lovie Smith after next season and control over the 53-man roster?

Michael G.
Romeoville, Illinois

Yes, new Bears general manager Phil Emery has the authority to fire coach Lovie Smith after the 2012 season as well as control over the 53-man roster. But rather than pounding his chest and proclaiming “I’m in charge,” I thought Emery did an excellent job at his press conference of stressing how it’s a team effort and he intends to work with Smith to build the Bears into a champion. Said Emery: “My whole mindset is I’m here to help this team. I’m a teammate. Yes, I’m in a leadership role, but I’m here to provide support, help, guidance and talent toward winning championships, and I’m going to do that with every fiber of my body; to develop within that role and to sync with coach Smith and to help bring those championships.” Bears president and CEO Ted Phillips revealed that the contractual authority that Emery has is the same as what predecessor Jerry Angelo had, saying: “He contractually can hire and fire the head coach, he can contractually have final say on the 53-man roster." Phillips went on to say that he told Emery just as he told Angelo when he was hired that he does not expect "to ever have to pick up your contract and read the language between you and Lovie. The idea is you work together to find the best team for the Bears. I don’t know of a single team that’s been successful with a general manager jamming players down a coach’s throat, so I don’t expect that.”

Phil Emery was with the Bears from 1998-2004 as an area scout. It has been publicized what players he brought in to Atlanta and Kansas City, but who is the top player he helped bring to the Bears?

Lisa B.
Brimfield, Illinois

I would say the top player that Phil Emery directly helped bring to the Bears during his tenure as an area scout responsible for the southeast portion of the country was receiver Marty Booker, a 1999 third-round draft pick from Louisiana-Monroe. Booker remains the last Bears receiver to be voted to the Pro Bowl and top 1,000 yards in a season, and he owns the top two most prolific years by a Bears receiver with 100 catches in 2001 and 97 in 2002. A close second for Emery probably would be defensive end Alex Brown, a fourth-round draft pick in 2002.

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