Bears add Bullocks, cut Metcalf

The Bears have desperately needed to add someone at safety since the decision to part ways with Mike Brown was made early this off-season. It was obvious no one, perhaps outside of his immediate family and friends, was excited about the idea of Craig Steltz starting at free safety.

Unfortunately, Jerry Angelo’s solution to this problem is to bring in a guy – Josh Bullock – who lost his starting job in one of the worst defensive backfield’s in the NFL. Now Bears fans have to hope a guy who couldn’t stay on the field with Saints and never had more than two INTs in a season will be able to fix the team’s massive coverage void in the secondary.

In Bullock’s defense that entire defense is pretty messed up, with serious problems on every level. So there is a chance given he’s only 26, plus the move to a Cover-2, he could still make an impact. The scouting report on Bullock seems to indicate he’s at his best in coverage and specifically zone coverage.

That same scouting report also mentioned a tendency for Bullock to hesitate or jump routes on play-action, which seems dangerously similar to Danieal Manning’s problem. But the Bears wouldn’t be getting Bullock for 1yr/$1.2 million if he didn’t have some flaws, and even with those warts he’s still the best option currently on the roster.

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As the Bears add to re-tool their secondary they also subtract to continue re-tooling of the offensive line. Terrance Metcalf, a former 3rd round pick who made 25 starts in 84 games, was released after seven years with the team.

Although Metcalf signed a six-year, $12.2 million deal in 2006 the addition of Frank Omiyale, along with the presumed return of John St. Clair, made him expendable. Metcalf had been penciled in for the starting left guard spot before last season but a preseason knee injury opened the door for Josh Beekman and Metcalf never really got back in the mix.

Metcalf was also suspended four games this year by the NFL for violation of the league’s policy regarding anabolic steroids and related substances.

So with Omiyale, Beekman, Roberto Garza and Dan Buenning all in the mix at the guard position, and the likelihood the Bears will use another high draft pick on a tackle the offensive line transition would appear to be almost complete.