Bleacher Report - Articles by Spencer Taylor

The Tragedy of Mike Brown: A Tribute

Spencer Taylor — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 23:18:15 -0500

After Chicago's 2008 season fizzled out in Houston, a swarm of articles began hitting sites, assessing Chicago's needs and premature draft projections. While I can't deny adding to this flurry, I feel a major part of the Bears' defense is being swept under the rug.

The heart-wrenching destruction of Mike Brown.

I'm not going to read the numbers and the history; any person who calls himself a Bears fan knows who Mike Brown is and what he has accomplished.

Those same fans also know that Mike Brown has been hurt as much as he has been healthy.

While Lance Briggs, Tommie Harris, and Brian Urlacher (undeservedly) received contract extensions last season, Mike Brown signed a re-constructed contract that protected Chicago from his injury-prone ways.

A downgrade, essentially.

Sure, you can't rely on an consistently injured player, but Mike Brown took this contract with dignity and played Chicago football.

It seemed that Mike Brown would make it through an entire season without a season-ending injury. But unfortunately, seasons consist of more than 15 games.

Writers will talk up Nathan Vasher, the poor receiver corps, and even Rex Grossman's more-than-certain departure. But nobody seems to remember the REAL Bears defensive playmaker.

Mike Brown has most likely played his last game as a Chicago Bear, and, sadly, it seems no one has noticed.

****UPDATE****

An article on the Sun-Times website reported that Chicago will not seek contract talks with Mike Brown. This follows on the heels of Marty Booker's release, and amid talk that Brandon Llyod will not return and John Tait will retire. Alas, M. BROWN won't be on number thirty for the 2009 season.

Dear God, It's Me, Kyle: A Look At Round Two of The Chicago Bears QB Shootout

Spencer Taylor — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 14:56:40 -0500

It should not be news to the general population that the Bears will be pursuing a quarterback during this offseason to compete with Kyle Orton. While I think that this is a smart move, I can't help but feel exhausted at the thought of not knowing who my QB will be in 2009.

Strike that. Reverse it.

Kyle Orton IS the starting quarterback going into the offseason, but let's get real: Chicago will be looking for an upgrade to help push him, and no, my friends, his name is not Rex Grossman.

Kurt Warner and Kerry Collins are highlighting the "over the hill" QB column, and both will certainly command a heavy price tag, if retirement doesn't grab them first.

Matt Cassel is the next big name, but as of the writing of this, the Pats are expected to slap him with a franchise tag—and why shouldn't they, with Tom Brady's injury possibly keeping him from one hundred percent next season.

Another name not mentioned as much as I would like is Jeff Garcia, a quality QB in my opinion, and provided retirement does not claim him, would be welcomed in the Chicago locker room.

Other quarterbacks to enter free agency include: Kyle Boller, Charlie Batch, J.P. Losman, and Patrick Ramsey.

The other Chicago QB, Caleb Hanie, is a talented rookie who I believe could compete for the job, but at this point it seems unlikely that he would unseat Orton. At the very least, I like putting him in on Madden 09 when I feel like scrambling for yards.

Chicago doesn't need a home-run-hitter. They need consistency.

Read your history, and you'll see that Chicago is a team built on running backs and line backers. Jim McMahon wasn't Jim Thorpe, but he did his part.

Kyle Orton is about to be put through the mill one more time, and this time, he's not fighting to get a job, he's fighting to keep one.

Spencer Taylor on ESPN: "Bear Down, the Pressure Is On"

Spencer Taylor — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:21:31 -0500

Although ESPN has not returned my calls, I figured I would post my pre-scripted interview I have worked up with SportsCenter, and at the very least, I may get a call to appear on Around the Horn.

SC: ..Joining us now from Halas Hall is Chicago Bears analyst Spencer Taylor, Spencer?

ST: Hey, thanks for having me, great to be here.

SC: Well, Spencer, another season is officially in the books, and Chicago will miss the post season for the second straight year. Your thoughts?

ST: Well, it certainly is sobering, and although Chicago finished with two more wins than last year, there is still no playoff spot, and the draft pick is even farther back. If you look at it that way, those two wins really don't mean a lot in the long run.

What is even worse, I believe, is how hot and cold both the Bears' offense and defense were at times throughout the season. One only has to look at the number of rushing yards allowed by the Bears D from game to game, and that acts as a microcosm for the whole season, in my opinion.

SC: Right. Well, Bears GM Jerry Angelo has recently put many people in Chicago, both players and coaches, on notice.

ST: Yeah, that's right. Jerry put (Defensive coordinator) Bob Babich on notice, and although he did not name any players specifically, I will tell you the majority are probably defensive players.

When it comes time to cut some people, the only "untouchable" players I see are Urlacher, Briggs, Harris, and maybe Alex Brown. Although, (laughs) unless he picks up his game, I'm not so sure Urlacher should be untouchable.

SC: Really? You're saying Brian Urlacher should not be a guaranteed linebacker for Chicago?

ST: Well, I look at the big picture. Brian comes off his weakest season in his career last year and makes a big stink, asking for more money. He gets it, and then repays the team with an even worse performance than last year. His arthritic back has long been discussed, and we all know that the life-expectancy for that position is not really that long.

SC: So that merits a demotion, or even a trade?

ST: I really don't think either will happen, but in the recent words of Thomas Jones, "If you're holding the team back, you need to be on the bench."

SC. Ok. And how about the offense?

ST: Well, while I think Jerry Angelo is making the right move in wanting to create some competition for Kyle Orton, I think that he should be more focused in giving him targets to throw to.

SC: Targets as in receiver or tight end?

ST: Oh receiver for sure. He already has the best tight end tandem in the league, and not to mention a running back in Matt Forte who has incredible hands. If you look at the roster, Chicago's receivers were made up of guys operating on one-year contracts. Lloyd, Rashied Davis were both just temporary help. Old man Marty Booker is on until 2010...

SC: And Hester?

ST: I don't doubt this guy can make a great wideout, but the season after cutting your No. 1 and 2 receivers is not the time to be experimenting.

SC: So where does Chicago need to look for help?

ST: I think they need help in both the draft and free agency. They need a free agent WR to come in and make an immediate impact; they need a playmaker who can step in and help Kyle Orton out a little in the passing game.

This guy can then help young talent that enters via the draft to grow and develop at the position. Chicago has been pretty lackluster at doing that, just look at Mark Bradley, and the fact Earl Bennet had next to nothing in playing time this year.

SC: So who stays and who goes?

ST: Well, it really is too early to say, but I think there is a good chance that both Rashied Davis and Brandon Lloyd will be gone.

SC: Who could you see Chicago picking up at receiver?

ST: Is it too late to get Bernard Berrian back? (laughs) No...no...Well, if you mean in terms of free agency, again, it's hard to say. T.J. Houshmandzadeh is set to be a free agent, but I don't see both him and Chad "Ocho Cinco" staying in Cincy together.

I would hope Chicago would bring someone in if one did leave. Lance Moore also made some big plays for New Orleans this last season, and I think he will be looking for a bigger role after playing under Marques Colston.

SC: We have time for one more question. What are your thoughts on the quarterback position?

ST: Well, to the viewer, it may have appeared that I put much of the blame on the receivers. I did, but I do think that Kyle Orton needs to step it up. We all know the story about his decline in performance after his ankle injury, and he still needs improvement.

There is no better way to get that improvement than to create some competition for him, and hope he develops. Jerry (Angelo) made it no secret that he desired to create this competition, which, as a post script, pretty much seals Rex Grossman's fate as a Chicago Bear.

This strategy can be flawed, however.

SC: How is that?

ST: Well, think of the money that Cassel, Warner, or Collins would command, especially when two of them took their team to the playoffs, or both maybe to the Super Bowl. I find it hard to believe Chicago would shell out the dough, just to have a second-stringer.

SC: So you are certain this competition would come from free agency?

ST: I would hope so. Chicago has much more pressing needs than to be spending their first round draft pick on a quarter back, and logic tells you that a QB taken any round after would create less competition with Orton.

Am I saying a QB taken in rounds two on up can't go toe-to-toe with Orton? No. But a free agent QB REALLY can, and there is no price for experience at quarterback in this league.

SC: Ok, final thoughts?

ST: Well, I mean, Chicago really has some work to do in this offseason, but I can't put off this gloomy feeling. Go back to the Holy Word of Ditka, Book of Payton, Verse 12, when he made the comment toward the end of his career saying George Halas "threw dimes around like the were manhole covers" (laughs).

The franchise has grown less frugal since then, but if Jerry Angelo plays it like he most likely will, he'll patch up the defense, but leave the offense for dead.

SC: Well, Spencer, we are all out of time. Thank you for your input and here's hoping for a successful season in 2009.

ST: Yes, and thank you, I hope so, too.

Kellen Davis: Player Spotlight, Part I

Spencer Taylor — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 18:17:10 -0400

Recently, I began thinking of a way to produce a constant stream of articles, yet without boring the reader or regurgitating old news. After all, NFL news should be pretty slow until training camps kick off next month.

I decided that, for the next few weeks, I will do a series on players to watch on the Chicago Bears roster. These are players I hope to see light up the field. I'll most likely select from the rookie crop, yet some more experienced players may pop in, too.

To start off, I chose former Michigan State tight end Kellen Davis.

I'll be completely honest: I don't really know much about Kellen Davis. But one thing really stands out to me: this guy is tall. At 6'7", Davis towers over the rest of the receiving corps. The closest player in terms of height is Marcus Monk at 6'4".

Now some of you may be thinking, "Big deal. So what, the guy has a little height."

Well, as depleted as the receiver position is right now, I'll take what I can get.

Kellen Davis can be an invaluable player up the middle, snagging passes out of the air that the standard coverage may fail to reach. The guy opens a whole new dimension of passing options that the starting QB will need desperately this season.

Only one real problem surfaces. The tight end position is pretty well stocked as it is. Desmond Clark is a grizzled vet who will continue to be a reliable target.

In my last article I made the comment about how Greg Olsen will look to be possibly the greatest tight end in the NFL next year. That's not just fanhood talking. Olsen has the talent to become the next Mike Ditka, the only Bears TE to lead in receiving yards during a season.

So with that said, Kellen Davis may see only limited action, or perhaps be utilized just as a blocking TE.

Desmond Clark's contract runs out after 2008, and at 31 years old, the Bears may not have him on the roster after that. It very well could be the 2009 season before Davis sees any solid action.

Either way, I find it interesting that he'll wear the number 87, which was Muhsin Muhammad's jersey number. He also came from Michigan State.

If used properly, Kellen Davis has the right stuff to become a great resource in the Bears' offense. And when he becomes a star, remember who you heard it from first.