By Brad Biggs
Josh Bullocks became the first Bears' restricted free agent to sign his qualifying tender Thursday, accepting a one-year contract that will pay him $1.226 million in 2010 if he's on the roster.
There's no hurry. The Bears do not begin their voluntary offseason workout program until March 29 Players can participate even if they have not signed their qualifying tender as a restricted free agent, as long as they agree to an injury waiver.
Restricted free agents can shop their services to other teams until April 15, the deadline to receive offer sheets, and expect linebacker Nick Roach to see what is out there. The Bears tendered the former Northwestern standout at the second round level, meaning they would receive a second-round draft pick as compensation if another team signed him to a contract and the Bears declined to match it.
Josh Bullocks became the first Bears' restricted free agent to sign his qualifying tender Thursday, accepting a one-year contract that will pay him $1.226 million in 2010 if he's on the roster.
There's no hurry. The Bears do not begin their voluntary offseason workout program until March 29 Players can participate even if they have not signed their qualifying tender as a restricted free agent, as long as they agree to an injury waiver.
Restricted free agents can shop their services to other teams until April 15, the deadline to receive offer sheets, and expect linebacker Nick Roach to see what is out there. The Bears tendered the former Northwestern standout at the second round level, meaning they would receive a second-round draft pick as compensation if another team signed him to a contract and the Bears declined to match it.
Roach could potentially interest teams with a pick near the end of the
second round. He finished fourth on the Bears in tackles last season
despite playing only a little more than half of the time -- 56.93
percent, according to playing-time statistics. That's impressive, even
more so when you consider 12 of his 15 starts came on the strong side.
The weak-side linebacker is the one who is in position to make the most
plays, but Roach still was very productive.
Of course, the Bears like to call their positions interchangeable and there are a lot of factors that go into tackling statistics, which are subjective by nature. Lance Briggs, the team's leading tackler, averaged a tackle every 6.55 snaps and a solo tackle every 9.93 snaps (see the charts below for more detail). Roach wasn't far off when it came to total tackles, averaging one every 7.41 snaps.
The numbers for Jamar Williams, who made two starts and was in on 25.56 percent of the defensive snaps for the season, jump out. Williams had a tackle every 5.57 snaps and a solo every 8.81 snaps.
They're impressive figures for another linebacker who is a restricted free agent. Williams was tendered at the original-round-level compensation, meaning the Bears would get a fourth-round pick in exchange if he signed an offer sheet and the team declined to match it. But Williams' numbers come from a smaller sample size.
His big game came Dec. 6 against the St. Louis Rams when Briggs was sidelined. Williams made a career-high 19 tackles, 11 of them solos, and had two pass breakups in the ugly 17-9 victory. The game play dictated Williams was in position to make a lot of plays.
For starters, the Rams ran the ball 30 times with Steven Jackson getting 28 of the carries. Nearly all of Kyle Boller's passes were short, too, in the range where Williams and the linebackers could make plays. Boller completed 17-of-32 passes for a meager 98 yards, 5.8 yards per completion. So it was the perfect storm for a weak-side linebacker that afternoon. Still, someone had to make the plays and Williams delivered.
Here is how the linebackers stacked up in terms of tackles and playing time in 2009:
Lance Briggs: 147 tackles, 97 solos, 963 of 1,068 snaps (90.17 percent).
Hunter Hillenmeyer: 105 tackles, 62 solos, 835 of 1,068 snaps (78.17 percent).
Nick Roach: 82 tackles, 47 solos, 608 of 1,068 snaps (56.93 percent).
Jamar Williams: 49 tackles, 31 solos, 273 of 1,068 snaps (25.56 percent).
Tackles per snap/Solo tackles per snap
Lance Briggs: 1 tackle every 6.55 snaps/1 solo every 9.93 snaps.
Hunter Hillenmeyer: 7.95/13.47.
Nick Roach: 7.41/12.94.
Jamar Williams: 5.57/8.81.
Of course, the Bears like to call their positions interchangeable and there are a lot of factors that go into tackling statistics, which are subjective by nature. Lance Briggs, the team's leading tackler, averaged a tackle every 6.55 snaps and a solo tackle every 9.93 snaps (see the charts below for more detail). Roach wasn't far off when it came to total tackles, averaging one every 7.41 snaps.
The numbers for Jamar Williams, who made two starts and was in on 25.56 percent of the defensive snaps for the season, jump out. Williams had a tackle every 5.57 snaps and a solo every 8.81 snaps.
They're impressive figures for another linebacker who is a restricted free agent. Williams was tendered at the original-round-level compensation, meaning the Bears would get a fourth-round pick in exchange if he signed an offer sheet and the team declined to match it. But Williams' numbers come from a smaller sample size.
His big game came Dec. 6 against the St. Louis Rams when Briggs was sidelined. Williams made a career-high 19 tackles, 11 of them solos, and had two pass breakups in the ugly 17-9 victory. The game play dictated Williams was in position to make a lot of plays.
For starters, the Rams ran the ball 30 times with Steven Jackson getting 28 of the carries. Nearly all of Kyle Boller's passes were short, too, in the range where Williams and the linebackers could make plays. Boller completed 17-of-32 passes for a meager 98 yards, 5.8 yards per completion. So it was the perfect storm for a weak-side linebacker that afternoon. Still, someone had to make the plays and Williams delivered.
Here is how the linebackers stacked up in terms of tackles and playing time in 2009:
Lance Briggs: 147 tackles, 97 solos, 963 of 1,068 snaps (90.17 percent).
Hunter Hillenmeyer: 105 tackles, 62 solos, 835 of 1,068 snaps (78.17 percent).
Nick Roach: 82 tackles, 47 solos, 608 of 1,068 snaps (56.93 percent).
Jamar Williams: 49 tackles, 31 solos, 273 of 1,068 snaps (25.56 percent).
Tackles per snap/Solo tackles per snap
Lance Briggs: 1 tackle every 6.55 snaps/1 solo every 9.93 snaps.
Hunter Hillenmeyer: 7.95/13.47.
Nick Roach: 7.41/12.94.
Jamar Williams: 5.57/8.81.
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Roach was very impressive last year, we are getting long in the tooth with briggs/url and I dont feel HH is as good in coverage as Roach. Roach is quick and a strong tackler, we know he is worth a second so are you serious? Keep the man, durn he was good, did anyone actually read the 4th in tackles part at all? and he wasnt in there that much. He is that good. A draft choice is always a gamble and Roach is a knowN very good LB.
Roach for a 2nd Rounder and Williams for a 4th Rounder? Sounds good. Hope some teams sign them.
It would suck to lose Jamar Williams for only a 4th rd pick. Chances are you aren't gonna find a better LB in that round. I guess they don't have the money to offer him long term. I'd rather we kept Roach and Williams and let Tinoisamoa find another team in FA. These guys have gotten better every year and Pisa and Hunter as well as Urlacher and Briggs aren't getting any younger.
I almost would hate to lose Roach... but a 2nd Rounder pick??? dam, see ya later
If I were the Giants, who are continually struggling to find LBs, I would bring in Williams for a look at weak side, especially if we only get a 4th rounder for him. I think Kirk Morrison has more appeal than Roach, and only has a 3rd round tender on him. So odds are we will get Roach back unless a team falls in love with him and negotiates a lesser compensation trade. But Williams should be appealing, especially given his performance when he got his chance.
Both are solid special teams players, and Roach can play middle or strong in a 4-3, especially if they use a base Tampa 2 style. Indy might even be interested, since they dropped a couple of LBs after this season. Brackett needs some help, and getting a guy who already knows the system for a mid round pick is a pretty good deal. I am curious to see whether RFAs move at all this year, or if teams will stand pat and let the uncapped season pass them by.
We're assuming of course that the Bears checked the correct box on their offers. They've screwed it up before.