You will have a better idea come draft time at how well his knee has healed because he injured his early in the season. I like Jack as well but would be very surprised, barring any setbacks in his knee, if he was available when the Bears pick at #11. If he is, it probably is because the knee is not checking out because with Smith all but off the boards, Jack becomes even more valuable if on the road to full recovery. Emmanuel Ogbah, someone me and you talked about earlier in the season Patg, ran a 4.68 40. This kid was a sacking machine at OSU but has been under the radar due to the lack of defense played in the Big 12. His numbers compare to any of the top defensive lineman in this draft. I like this kid, not sure where he will end up getting drafted, but whoever gets him is going to get a very good player. One of my guys from Georgia, Leonard Floyd, just ran a 4.6 and weighed in heavier than expected at 244. His explosion is still there as he had a 39 inch vertical. The scary part is he can still get bigger and stronger and if he keeps that speed, this kid could be a great pass rusher in the 3-4. He has been flying under the radar but deserves more attention than he has been getting. Waiting for Reggie Ragland to run, want to see how fast he ends up being.
Reggie ran a 4.7, not bad. Still love him as MLB, think he has great instincts. Disappointed in Scooby Wright's 40 time but it is not unexpected. He ran a 4.9. If the Bears don't get a MLB in the first they need to take a hard look at this guy in the 2nd or 3rd. He is this years Chris Borland (and who was his DC in San Fran?) or Zach Thomas. He is a guy who won't have the measurables but get him on the field and he is an animal. Pick any game from 2014 for the University of Arizona and watch it. He was hampered by injuries this last season but came back for the bowl game and recorded 15 tackles and 2 sacks. I really hope this kid ends up in a Bears uniform.
Patg, It wasn't one of the positions I was looking at but since Pace got rid of Bennett and now has te ever fragile Zack Miller as our lone NFL starting caliber TE, I guess we need to be looking for a TE. I have two I like a lot in this draft. Hunter Henry is my favorite from Arkansas and not far behind is Nick Vannett from Ohio St. Think both would be nice pickups but don't know if the Bears want to spend 2nd or 3rd round picks on a TE. I haven't been watching this position closely, most of my attention has been focused on defense. You have any others you like?
If the Bears select a TE in the 2nd round, paired with what he had to do in the 1st round last year its a total indictment of Pace's approach to roster building. And dropping a 3rd rounder on the position wouldn't be much better.
^^^ This But I also think that the fact that Pace felt Fox could not get bennett on board with the team is an indictment on Fox as well. There is no almost a precedent set that if a player is unhappy (contract, coaching, play-calling, position, playing time, receptions, etc...) Fox gives up and Pace will sell him at bottom dollar.
Hey is there any chance that someone has the time to write out a comprehensive list of the new positions that the Bears have filled? I've been whirling in complete confusion these past 3 weeks and I need some help.
Mongo and Ev, I completely agree but at this point, who is the second string TE, Rob Housler? Pace seems to enjoy taking one of our few positions of strength and making it a weakness, he has done that for a second straight offseason. Pace did this last season which is all I have to base it on but he made almost the same exact trade he did for Marshall and then used our first pick on a WR. There is not TE worth taking at 11 but my fear with him going after CJ Anderson is that Ezekial Elliot is going to be considered at number 11. He made RB a question mark by letting Forte walk. The fact that they offered CJ so much money tells me they aren't sold on Langford or Carey just yet. I will lose my sh*t if that happens. So at this point, unless they sign another veteran TE with the money they gained by trading Bennett, I don't see how they don't draft a TE in round 2-4. There is no way you can rely on Housler with the always fragile Miller as your starter. The free agent TE market blows which is why the Patriots gave up anything for Bennett.
There is a real issue with a HC/GM pair who will jettison talent - good talent - just because they aren't happy with something. Imagine if we dumped Urlacher when he asked for a raise. Or Briggs. Or Olin... And I remember the Bears and Walter Payton having contract "debates" in the early 80's.
Completely agree. How good would the roster look next season with Forte, Bennett and Marshall? All could have been fit in with the cap money the Bears have along with every other signing they have made and draft pick they have made. They could still be drafting talent and building a roster but wouldn't have 3 holes left but unnecessary trades and letting the other walk away. But Pace gets credit for making the best of the trades.
I'm starting to really dig into scouting and film. I've got a handful of edge rushers (4-3 DE and 3-4 OLB) down. Pretty much all of the guys I'd expect to be in contention to be a first round pick. So far, I've got four first rounders: Bosa, Floyd, Spence, and Lawson, in that order. I'll go into detail once I get more done and can write up a more thorough review. But essentially, while the notion of drafting an OLB sounds fine, I'm unsure as to who's worth it at 11, for us. Bosa will be gone, and I think Floyd would be overdrafted there. He's a big potential bust in transitioning to the NFL, as well as a big potential star. I consider Spence a 4-3 DE. Lawson would be way overdrafted. Will have plenty more later.
Floyd is too skinny. Don't make that pick. The Ohio ST back is the pick if he is on the board. Young Forte without the short yardage issues. More power and he might have better vision. Right there with Peterson and Gurley as a prospect. Looking for Henry in the 2nd. Mix between Witten and Miller. Balanced TE. Draft is deep on DL and CB. Like Scooby in the mid rounds. MLB and RB. Well past time we beefed up at MLB. Good chance one of those elite 8 prospects drops to us at 11. Take em...
Even with Trevaith and Free, Scooby is on my board in the 3rd or 4th. Reader is the man in the 4th or maybe 5th. Read is a strong rotation 34 DT. BPA again, draft for need when we make the playoffs. There is no position that couldn't use depth, so this draft is wide open... Pace seems to be doing his work, so work thatboard like a boss and don't force a pick for perceived short term " needs ". If the player is talented... He will find the field...
Ram, Tun, Bosa, Buck, Stan, HIII, Jack, Ell. Catch who falls, and go to work in the 2nd... Worst case, they are all off the board and we try to trade down or take Fangio's prefered DL prospect.
There are 8 prospects that show multiple elite and all atleast average traits. This is a weak draft, but there is depth at DL and CB.
And if we do trade down, teams tend to give up better value for next year. Do that, because this years draft is kind of weak...
Two huge predraft trades tells you the prospects are a little weak over most drafts. Goff and Wentz are B plus to A minus QB prospects. You don`t give up that much shit unless you don`t like the draft...
BPA. Not all drafts are created the same. Drafting for " need " is about the dumbest thing you can do for the long term health of the franchise...
Yeah the constant replacement of established skill position players with high picks sucks, but we are getting younger. We kind of asked for this after we fired Lovie, hired a CFL coach, and asked a real coach to come in and fix this shit... We are moving in the right direction. Two high lvl MLBs will be huge for the defense. You can't hide the middle... Ell and Hunt. #1 at both positions.
Both are the best blocking prospects at their position in this draft. And they have the talent to support each other in the short game early ( running and passing ) so Jeffery, White, and Royal can work downfield. The additions at MLB in FA is going to make such a difference. We went from crap to possibly having a top 3 duo. Mongo and I have screamed bloody murder since Urlacher was forced out. I am feeling good now. Would love a Scooby pick...
