For as long as I keep tolerating collegiate athletics (and Y'all want me to update you guys on who to watch) I'll keep going. I agree on Kirk. The optimistic sides liken him to OBJ. And you're right--the bears need a playmaker on offense. They don't have one. Jordan Howard is nice, but he's a 2nd tier back right now. He wears down teams, he doesn't do what an Adrian Peterson or Le'Veon Bell do. He's not dragging 3 defenders at full speed to the end zone. He's also exceptionally bad as a pass catcher out of the backfield. Tarik Cohen is the brand new toy the bears don't want to damage. Or use. I'm convinced Shaheen is on a milk carton with the word "missing" under his picture. At least moreso than he is on the actual 53 man roster. Meredith wasn't it. We don't know if he will be it. Its safe to say Kevin White probably isn't. Mitch Trubisky is still in bubble wrap. So who is? Is it Dontrelle Inman? Has Markus Wheaton been saving it all along for this injury comeback? If playmaker is what you want, its this guy. I like Sutton's size, and he's a more athletic version of Alshon without the ticky tack small injuries. But his explosiveness doesn't parallel Kirk's. If you wanna protect the investment you traded up to get this past April--its gotta be an OT because one's not just going to be available. And if you want to help out Leonard Floyd and Akeim Hicks, you get an edge. I think they can upgrade Acho this offseason in free agency--but I'm not sure if they can get a top rotation guy without using a 1st round pick.
Even before Floyd went down yesterday it had become clear another OLB was a must. Top tier OLB's virtually never reach FA and even if they do you're looking at a $85-90mil contract a la Olivier Vernon. Thats one hell of a commitment. Or if you wanna drop down a tier you can give a $40mil contract to the Paul Kruger's of this world...... I'd love to upgrade the Tackle position, but Leno's not going anywhere and dropping a top10 pick on a RT is hard to swallow. Fuck trusting Pace to draft a WR that high. The Bears will be in a position to take one of the top 1-2OLB's in the draft next year, thats where im leaning at this point. Hey pat/aggie/anyone else, totally different subject but: What is your evaluation of the job Harbaugh is doing at Michigan? During the game yesterday i saw an advert for Ohio St. v Michigan and their ranking was #24. Thats pretty low isn't it? I thought Harbaugh was going there to get them a national title? Is he under-performing at Michigan and if so any chance he becomes available this offseason?
I think Harbaugh is doing a good job with what he has. A lot of meatball Michigan fans and donors don't like him for some pretty stupid things that are out of his control right now. Michigan has some of the country's best defenses, but unlike the NFL, when college kids move on, they have to get new talent, and this involves getting green, 18 year old athletes he begins to mold into players. Well, he has no quarterback (injury and just inexperience/bad at back up), very inexperienced/underclassmen at playmaking positions except for one guy, Grant Perry (after losing Jake Butt, Amarah Darboh, Jehu Chesson to draft this past April.) He's rebounded defensively and still has one of the best units after losing multiple playmakers in Charlton, Peppers, Glasgow, Jourdan Lewis, Delano Hill, and Chris Wormley. He's a bit of a victim having a very inexperienced offense with a defense that can contend and win a Big 10 championship. The problem is O'Korn, and Wilton Speight are just 2 guys who you cant win with playing quarterback without some kind of 1-2 running back punch--which the Wolverines don't have. Again, its frustrating to fans I know and some donors that they have the offensive line for one more year, the defense still looks good, but the rest of the offense isn't there. IF it is, we're talking about them in the CFB playoff. Overall, I'd say he's safe, but the honeymoon's definitely over. Harbaugh drew a lot of ire from donors/fans/meatballs alike when Urban Meyer, his counterpart/Michigan's main rival Ohio State coach took several 4 and 5 star recruits from Michigan, Harbaugh's back yard in 2016 and again in 2017. Michigan State has also taken some local kids considered targets. I mean I guess I understand the frustration of location--but Harbaugh is still recruiting like a boss, getting 4 and 5 star recruits elsewhere, like Florida or a non-pipeline state for recruiting. A story came out that he spent the night sleepover style just to get a 4 star DE recruit from Arizona. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...at-recruits-house-for-some-harbaugh-and-chill Michigan also hasn't beaten Ohio State since 2011. Its now Harbaugh's 3rd year there. If he doesn't win this upcoming Saturday--he's still safe, but his doubters will have more ammo to use on him. They already have on him that he's 1-2 against their other archrival, Michigan State in 3 years. Here's the thing if we want to see him as next coach in Chicago. Is McKaskey going to want to beat Harbaugh's yearly salary now (just under 8 mil per year with performance bonuses that can get him to around 10m)? And will Michigan charge a royalty to get him to leave his contract? I'm not saying he isn't a coach I'd like to see in Chicago, but he's gonna be expensive. He also brings some pretty expensive assistant coaches. Michigan's spending on coaches is one of, if not the biggest (unless Tennessee getting Gruden rumors are true) in the NCAA right now. That, and Harbaugh is an asshole. He wears out his welcome wherever he's gone, although in Michigan I'd say its only with the meatballs, not with people who actually make decisions. But its hard to ignore it at San Diego State, Stanford, and the 49ers. He's the right kind of asshole because he gets results, but he's gonna come with baggage.
Well, there won't be a shortage on edge rushers unless a slew of injuries takes out the 1st round candidates, but for right now, its a top-heavy draft talent at the position. The bears can get an earlyish pick or 2nd round pick on one. But again, I agree Ev--they need at least 2. On top of the edge write up I did on the previous page, other guys are creeping into the upper rounds I didn't mention before. Dorance Armstrong had another strong game (amid a blowout) against Oklahoma. Harold Landry is still balling. Arden Key didn't play against Tennessee, and I still struggle to see how some consider this dude a top 1st round spec. Sam Hubbard I wish could have played more, then again, Urban Meyer pulled his starters against stone-faced Lovie Smith in the 2nd quarter of Ohio State's blowout of the Illini. My preference is Chubb, Landry, then Armstrong. Tackle.......you may have to wait a year on. I brought up Orlando Brown, McGlinchy, and Williams as 1st rounders right now (pre-underwear olympics), they're the only 3 guys I'd consider in the top round, and one or two may be gone before the bears pick around 8-15 range, leaving Connor Williams, a guy I need to see get stronger before I take him. Trey Adams has already said he's returning for his senior year. Now we're seeing the average being projected by pundits and mock draft "artists" benefiting from injuries and lack of talent at the position. Starting with Mississippi State OT Martinas Rankin--who immediately scared me away with his J'Marcus Webb impression letting his guy walk right past him as he doubled someone else, and did a Webb signature, "oh wait, that's my guy" as his QB picks himself off the ground because he got mangled by a blindside edge rusher who came in unchecked. Rankin's big selling point was that he didn't allow a sack in the first 4 weeks of the season. I agree with Blang, Christian Kirk has flashes of OBJ. If you're going to take a WR in the 1st (not ideal, I know), that's the guy, even though I like Sutton (I see a more athletic, faster, less damaged Alshon in Courtland Sutton). Kirk's the best, fastest, and explosive playmaker in college football right now. If he improves his catch radius and stays healthy--I can see an OBJ comparison talent. I'll say this, I'm jealous of Detroit's 1-2 combo of Marvin Jones/Golden Tate. Neither are elite, but both are mismatches against #2 DBs. Pick one to cover, and the other one burns you. I would like to see that here with Cam Meredith and another. Kirk would be fun to watch.
This is Harbaugh's third year there, shouldn't he have a QB? I mean his rep is kinda for developing QB's, its one of the plus points of him coming to the Bears I thought. So shouldn't he have recruited a QB and be bringing him on by now pat? So they would have to make him one of the highest paid HC's in the league. And pay off Michigan. Maybe the Bears would be prepared to do that if they felt they were getting a "sure thing", but I'm not sure Harbaugh would be that. And like you say, he's an asshole. Jim Harbaugh is a jerk. And maybe insane too. Now me personally I think it would be great fun seeing him come in and take a giant leak all over ownerships cynical marketing philosophy bullshit, where they basically try to manipulate and leverage every ounce of history and lineage of the team to get more money out the fans whilst also covering up for the shitty product they force feed us season after season. Absolutely get Harbaugh in here, let him go full Taz all over their shit. Hard to see them taking the bait tho. So there projects to be a lot of depth at rush LB this draft does there, interesting. Say it with me pat, TRADE DOWN!!
I despise trading down and am pretty sure I've articulated that A--it doesn't work as much as people think and B--it has to be the right time and the need has to be there for the other team. However Lamar Jackson, Josh Rosen, Sam Darnold are 3 guys you want to root for at QB in college. They do well enough, you have a team desperate enough to move up for a quarterback. You'll want to also root for Baker Mayfield, Luke Falk, Mason Rudolph, and Josh Allen to fight their way back from mid-round projections now to top rounds. As many top 10 specs as can make themselves. Buffalo is a team to watch. They have multiple picks over the next couple of years, have the need at QB because their coach fucked up in starting Nate Peterman because he didn't like Tyrod Taylor. You want them to obviously succeed, because Sean McDermott wants his own guy, and after yesterday, I think he learned its not Nate Peterman. And if he doesn't want Taylor.....I'd say Buffalo needs a guy. And I get its still too early to speculate, but I don't know any bad team right now dying to trade up just to get a quarterback. Maybe Denver, but they're worse than the bears. But it goes without saying. This isn't Madden. You don't just force a trade down in the name of accumulation of draft picks. If the opportunity is there to move back a few spots in the 1st, get a guy, pick up the lost 3rd round pick, and get an additional future pick if you're getting your choice of your 1a, 1b, 1c, etc then by all means. If Pace is looking to get out of the spot because he doesn't care for a flooded available draft board with one position of need, he loses the upper hand in negotiations. The good news is, I have faith in Pace in trading back; he's earned the benefit of the doubt with Trubisky and Floyd. He's gotten a package of picks in the haul the couple of times he's done it, and I like Shaheen even though we Pace could have kept that pick and taken my guy Arizona traded to get, Buddha Baker.
Call me a pessimist, but in addition to the pricetag for Harbaugh, the headache factor he'll bring, that he's an asshole, and one thing that isn't brought up when it comes to talking about Harbaugh coming back to the NFL. Harbaugh had control in San Francisco. He made a lot of the draft picks, more than the standard level of influence/opinion a General Manager wants his coach to have when it comes to drafting college football players. He made a couple of nice picks, but he struck out on a lot. AJ Jenkins--Illini fans remember him. The rest of the country doesn't. Lamichael James, Joe Looney, Darius Flemming, Trenton Robinson, Jason Slowey, and Cam Johnson. And that's just the draft for San Francisco in 2012. Guess how many are still in the league today? 2013 started off right with safety Eric Reid. who's an excellent player. Then Tank Carradine, who's still in the league but a back up rotational player and the 2nd round pick. Vance McDonald is still around too, but a back up tight end no longer in San Francisco. Then Corey Lemongier--no longer in the league, Quentin Patton, who's jobless, and Marcus Lattimore, who retired after a year and a half. Quentin Dial has bounced around the league and has a job being a bad back up NT for the packers. Nick Moody also has been out of the league. I can go through 2014 if I have to as well just to prove my point..... But I'm going to move to my rationale, which is that there are too many barriers from making this happen. Pace and Harbaugh will be an impasse. Like I put up above, Harbaugh had the hand in making those draft choices. That's detrimental to a team, you can't afford 2 years of bad drafting like that--with multiple 1st and 2nd rounders and they missed on many of them. And I can already tell the logical counter-argument being proposed to my contention--which is that "this is simple, don't let Jim Harbaugh do the drafting. Its his second stint in the league, so he shouldn't get as much leeway with team #2 as he got in San Francisco." But that's the problem. Harbaugh will want that power. He's in a strong position at the bargaining table right now, why not demand it? If the NFL wants him back that badly, a team will have to let him call the shots. He doesn't have to leave Michigan for anybody. And I see this ultimately the reason why I don't believe Harbaugh is coming here as Fox's replacement. He will want power beyond that of a head coach, and Pace wont give it to him. Nor should he. And this reason is just barrier one, on top of the huge financial investment just to get him and his staff. You have to be ready to hand 5 years and a lot of money, and stick it out if he becomes chief asshole again--because you're paying him. I want Harbaugh, but in knowing he will be expensive, I make certain I put a clause or two that's an out in case he wants to run back to college. An out when bad coach needs to go so that the 50 million for 5 years or whatever they sink into prying him away from Ann Arbor, so that a college can take him and pay a penalty when he inevitably wears out his welcome with his jackassery and isn't producing results.
So on a rare Bears Saturday matinee's eve, I have 3 more prospects (Edge, OT, and WR) I've been coming to really like. Two of them for certain are coming out, and the third can, but some pundits he will stay for his RS Junior year. When I did my initial write up, these guys were mid-later round guys except for the offensive tackle, the RS Sophomore wasn't expected to come out. I'm starting at edge, though if you watch film--he plays a couple of positions for Wake Forest's defense that bring a little bit of nostalgia home for me. And no--when I mention Wake Forest, I don't mean basketball. I'm starting with 4-3 DE/3 tech/1 tech/edge prospect Duke Ejiofor....... Game against Florida State this year. Wake Forest shows a 4-3/4-4 defense depending if they want to get rid of a safety to put another linebacker in the box, which they do from time to time. The 6'4, 270 lb Ejiofor is widely expected to increase his stock further (now projected a 3-4 round pick, could move to 2-3 after underwear olympics and offseason work) by also working as a 3-4 edge, which is a position I've harped on for some time about the bears needing multiple of. I don't think FA is likely for edge. Its thin. The Redskins have Trent Murphy, but also 52 million in cap space before cuts. And if they decide Kirk Cousins isn't worth big money, its safe to say Murphy wont hit the market. Even if they keep/tag Cousins again--Murphy is 1b in terms of priority for the skins at that point. After him? Junior Galette, Alex Okafor, and old man Dwight Freeney highlight the FA market, unless an unexpected cut happens. Which is why I think drafting 2 is necessary at the moment. Back to Ejiofor. Known for his swim move, rip, spin, and hand battling. He lines up frequently as a DE, but sometimes at 3/1 techs of the 4 DL front. Excellent upper body strength. Knows his role as contain on weakside when called for, takes great angles towards ball carrier/QB, and is very good as a 2 way defender in pass rush and run blocking. Commands constant double teams. Knocks on him? He mainly looks to shoot around the blocker rather than anchoring and disengaging. Ejiofor features enough quickness to slip past the block and make plays away from his frame. However, his hand usage and leverage mean that he could improve his anchor with some added strength. Ejiofor doesn’t have much experience dropping into coverage, but flashes the athleticism and balanced needed to make that transition. (from: https://withthefirstpick.com/2017/12/06/duke-ejiofor-wake-forest-2018-nfl-draft-scouting-report/) Some more game tape. I really like this cat as a trade down in 2nd, even an early 3rd. WIth the glut of edge rushers, we may get lucky. Another year he may be a late 1st.
The new WR trending is Memphis WR Anthony Miller. The 5'11, 190 lb WR from Memphis is putting up video game type-numbers this year, which initially scared a lot of scouts off, because they thought he was another product of a College Air Raid offense where they throw 50-60+ times per game. 92 receptions for 1427 yards and 17 TDs. This game alone was 14 catches for 224 yards and 4 TDs. He's #3 in White in the tape. He's going up against a pretty good CB, Jamar Summers, a projected 2-3 round pick from UConn. He smokes him. Explosive and quick at the LOS, known in open spaces to be a nightmare for defenses. This led a lot of scouts to think he only belongs in the slot, that's where his most effective place is. Until the season kept unfolding, Miller held his own as a flexible option, lining up Z/X/Slot WR positions and consistently turning in exceptional performances. Does not get tackled easily, fundamentally sound as well--he knows how to box out and position himself with his smaller frame and beat bigger DBs that cover him. His reflexes in adjusting to the ball is arguably among the best in the class coming out. Watch the tape on Memphis' offensive play 36 seconds into the youtube clip. I had to rewatch that one handed masterpiece 5 times. He bailed out a bad QB impression of Shitwad throwing across his body off his back leg with worse fundamentals. His current knocks include size and bulk. Some teams think that his quickness is all he's worth, so that he need not be a traditional downfield threat, which is why he was thought to be a later round pick early in 2017. I think after watching his TD at the 3:30 mark of the video would show otherwise, albeit with same Shitwad QB buying himself some time with his legs. He's also average for a run blocker, could stand to upgrade at the next level, but he's not unfixable He makes a few good blocks in the clip as well. The TD at the 2:40 mark is excellent. Beat Summers, who was smothering him. A quick double move that looked effortless. My fear with Miller, is that he becomes a 1st round pick. Its easy to want to see more of this guy after one bout of game tape.
Lucky me, I no longer have to speculate on the 3rd guy coming out or not. Pitt RS junior Brian O'Neill declared earlier this afternoon. The 6'6, 305 lb LT prospect brings another good prospect to the top of the draft in regards to the OT position. #70 in White. Elite pass blocker, scouts and pundits alike grade him above Brown, McGlinchy, and even my guy Trey Adams. 0.8% of his playing time in 2016 did he allow a pressure. And he was also graded 10 best tackle run blocker in 2016, although he played right tackle and switched to left in 2017. Hyper athletic, Pitt has a few trick packages that involve him as a TE, FB, RB, and yes, even QB. He was a 235 lb tight end in high school before putting on weight to be a tackle at the NCAA level. Terrific bend, he just seems to lock up his opponent and stand them up, neutralizing talented pass rushers. Overall there's very few flaws with him. 37 game starter, and he has played LT one year. Its too early to see where in the first he's being projected, but unless he shows poorly, I think there's a pretty good shot he's out of range because the bears have 4 wins.
Well shit. Clemson's 2 first round defensive prospects, Christian Wilkins--the 5 tech and Clellin Ferrell, edge are both staying in 2019.
Pat I know you weren't high on Campbell but where do you think he expected to go? I think you said the knock on him was he ran shit routes, and couldn't get separation. It just seems from this reel he made his living off bubble screens, but you can't deny that speed.
This this is hard to answer because there are just different opinions on him. The speed and quickness are there. No question. But how does he only catch 40 passes, with 26 of them in the first 6 weeks? Then he disappeared. And he was part of a high powered offense that throws. 5 times in 12 games did JT Barrett, Ohio states qb attempt less than 30 passes per game, and I’m counting one he was yanked early against Michigan because of his injury. Some people think his potential is as high as round 2-3. I have him as a 5-7 rounder right now. Plenty of time to fix his stock, but right now, just my opinion, his floor is Deonte Thompson, his ceiling is Bernard Berrian. He’s had success deep threat but I don’t know if his route running can or will improve, just like B.B. some time back. I want more than “go” routes and bubble screens. We can be awestruck by his ability, but I’m among those skeptical because the production as a #1 WR isn’t there. He was nonexistent against USC, and a few others. I like Kirk, Miller, and Burnett better right now, knowing full well we have a ways to go before draft day. Lots can still happen.
Sorry guys and gals, I've been busy. This past weekend was the East-West Shrine game, or an exhibition of lower level prospects for the draft. This is where the 4-7 rounders move up. These games should have limited stock put into them because its a week and a half of practice, meetings by teams, and nothing complex in terms of scheme or playcalling really stand out. I'm keeping it brief with the highlights. Miami Edge Chad Thomas had a game. Thomas finished his 2017 strong with back to back strong performances against Clemson in the ACC championship game and against Wisconsin in the Orange Bowl. Fundamentally strong for an edge against the competition, he beat up small school wunderkid Greg Senat from Wagner, the 6'8 power forward on their basketball team with tremendous bend, movement, and hands--he just hasn't played tackle for very long. Wisconsin CB Natrell Jamerson turned in a strong performance as well. A later round projection, Jamerson gets no love because Wisconsin's #1 DB, Nick Nelson is the one getting all the attention. Nelson projects as a late 1st-early 2nd right now. Jamerson had a pick 6, multiple pass deflections, and made some plays against good (not great) college QB trio of Riley Ferguson (the yutz in the Anthony Miller highlight above who cant throw), JT Barrett and USF's Quentin Flowers. I see a Corey Graham 2.0 in the making with Jamerson. Will definitely start in the nickel spot, but will improve his way to starting CB when he gets his chances. Colorado scat-back Phillip Lindsey and Northern Iowa WR Daurice Fountain stuck out on the offensive side of he ball in terms of playmakers. In regards to the Senior Bowl this Saturday, much is going on. More eyes will be on this game, and Ryan Pace has been thought to use this game as a base scouting point, in 3 years he's taken 6 senior bowl players (Deondre Hall, Houston-Carson, Whitehair, Langford, Amos, and Jordan Morgan). The sole reason I use walterfootball is that he details who bears met with, and that hasn't been posted yet. I'll put that up when available. I've brought up the hybrid safety before on this thread, the Kam Chancellor/Deone Buchannon/Sua Cravens/Jabril Peppers type. Kyzir White from West Virginia is a guy the bears have met with, and he's actually Kevin's little brother--which I did not know. They've also met with UTSA Edge Rusher Marcus Davenport, who's flying up draft boards right now like Dee Ford did a couple years back. Marcell Ateman, or James Washington's backup at Oklahoma State, the #2 WR also has met with bears staff, Brandon Parker, Tarik Cohen's LT at his small school. There's also Jaleel Scott, the 6'6 WR from New Mexico that can jump out of the stadium, and Western Michigan CB Darius Phillips. Ryan Pace and Nagy have to be rooting for the QBs. Here are the rosters: https://www.seniorbowl.com/rosters-2018.php?squad=South https://www.seniorbowl.com/rosters-2018.php?squad=North
Yeah I just read about that in the paper today because he was defending his older brother. I saw some highlights vs Mizzou and his success seems to be based on him being unaccounted for because once he is engaged his play is over. but can he jump out of a swimming pool...stay tuned! At 6'4" 220 He seemed to move up, while many sites still list him as 4-7 round range a couple others have him tabbed as high as 2nd or 3rd.
Its one of a few knocks, but if we define terms that he'd be used in one of these hybrid safety roles, like a Kam Chancellor, I want his box safety ability, and his fundamentals in coverage are just smooth. His pass rush could stand to improve--but remember: Fangio doesn't love blitzing. He has excellent hip placement, and is proficient in man-coverage against slot WRs and TEs. Now I don't think the Vikes use Rudolph enough, but he and Ebron are 2 guys that while I've loved Amos/whomever stepped up--but its a spot that could improve. And I think its inevitable that this position just keeps coming out because if you look at colleges recruiting at the HS level, more guys like White/Peppers/Cravens/Chancellor/Buchannon/etc are coming. I know I'm being greedy here, but I'd prefer the bears stay ahead of the curve on this one. Or we could see what Seattle does with their secondary/offseason. They are in a huge cap crunch with Sheldon Richardson, a guy they gave up a top pick to get earlier this year and Paul Richardson (I think Pace needs to make him a priority) set to hit the market. Now I understand obviously Sheldon Richardson wont hit the market, unless Seattle wants to be stupid about giving up a top pick for a rental that didn't take them to the playoffs--yet is still elite. But numerous people think they're going to trade some of their secondary. If Kam or Sherman don't retire, they could be cap cuts or trade bait. Hopefully Kam's neck injury isn't career threatening (report came out yesterday that he's expected to be on 2018 roster for now, not retire), because that guy seems like the perfect bears defender, even at 30. Sherman is the luxury CB with a price tag and a mouth, yet still plays at a high level. LOL. I'm not as optimistic on Scott. His enablers see Julio Jones. I see Bryan Finneran. The NFL isn't going to create lazy separation from him the way the WAC did. He knows/can get to the top catch point and can use his 6'6 body and jump to piss off the 5'10 DBs of the world--but the NFL in gameplanning for him is going to smack the shit out of him and not allow YAC, and they're going to be ready to contest passes to him. His film of course says day 2 draft pick, but he's a day 3 pick for me right now unless we see him shred some defenders and show up at the underwear olympics. Ateman has been flying up boards in a late run at the end of the year. Great timing for him too. James Washington, Oklahoma State's #1 WR went down towards the end of the season with a high ankle sprain, giving Ateman more looks. He can be a deep threat and go over the middle route running. I'm concerned just why he couldn't overtake Washington as the #1 WR at Oklahoma state. Washington wasn't as athletically gifted and is short. You'd think the 6'4 athletic WR could overtake the 6'0 deep threat.
Some nuggets to keep everybody still interested posted..... South about to finish clobbering the North in the senior bowl. Josh Allen looks good, which is good for the bears/fans who love trading down. Baker Mayfield continues his jackassery. He's played like trash, and he reportedly turned down a meeting with the bears, telling scouts that wanted standard 15 minutes with him, "didn't y'all draft Mitchell Trubisky, so what do you want with me?" https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/loc...ack-baker-mayfield-report-says-471455554.html And while Mayfield kind of has a point, he's been a problem child, like Johnny Manziel some years back. He's been "boisterous," or planting flags on opponents fields, grabbing his junk to taunt Kansas players/coaches, and other selfish acts his apologists and fans chalk up to "his personality." He's talented, but he's going to piss off people at a whole new level in the NFL. Luke Falk however, did meet with the bears. I was high on Falk last year with a 2nd or 3rd round draft grade; and while he still put up numbers this year, its become more apparent he doesn't have an arm for the NFL. Brains are there, senses there; he'll probably have no issues learning to play under center--but he's a 5th rounder. And sadly, all eyes were on Falk this past week not for his play or his ability, but because his teammate/back up Tyler Hilinski committed suicide last week. This kid from Richmond, the converted punter into QB Kyle Lauletta; this kid's putting on a show. Went from undrafted to now mid round grade. Notre Dame has a penchant for pumping out decent two-way TEs. Durham Smythe showing his ability to block and catch. Follows a few underrated names like Ben Koyak, Troy Niklaus (if he could stay on the field for Arizona, he's a free agent), Rudolph, Eifert, and Anthony Fasano. And with Miller presumably done and Dion Simms a waste of 18 mil, there will be one spot open at the position because while I have nothing against Daniel Brown or Ben Braunecker, I've seen enough from the both of them to know another TE should be in the mix. Nagy/Andy Reid have utilized multiple packages including 2 TEs this past year in KC. Demetrius Harris saw his targets go up in 2017, and while we'd all love Shaheen to be the second coming of Travis Kelce, I imagine Nagy wont tailor that much of the offense to have Shaheen be the focal point, at least not in 2018. In other notes, bears spent some extra time the past couple of days with a pair of tackles, Tyrell Crosby out of Oregon and Brian O'Neil from Pitt. I'm probably not the only one hoping this isn't a smoke screen, because the bears need a tackle.
I had a rare hour free this past weekend, and did some scouting on the top OT's in the draft, that might be picks in the first round. I got about 20-minute looks at each of Orlando Brown, Connor Williams, and Mike McGlinchey. Once I'm home, I can take a look at my specific notes. But, if we're looking for a franchise LT out of those guys, McGlinchey's the only one with a chance. I'm not convinced that he'll be a top LT, able to stand up to bull-rushers and speed-rushers alike. But, he's got a shot at it. Brown will get eaten alive by decent speed rushers, power rushers who can get under him, and a decent defensive coordinator. I see what everyone else does - if he gets his mitts on you, you're done for. He can get a jump so quick off the line I thought he was offsides on numerous occasions. That said, he has incredibly poor lateral movement and foot speed. I watched him pull and wondered why Oklahoma was even having him bother. Connor Williams was decidedly average, with numerous easily exploitable flaws in his game, for the next level. I'll have to defer to my specific notes for more, but I don't remember being impressed. I'm hoping to find a guy beyond those three that will impress me. I have hope - there are a couple names that Pat mentioned, in addition to others like the guy from GA, that might surprise. Hopefully I get an hour free in the next handful of days. But, we may have to start pondering the reality of dealing with our current OT's...
It was hard to watch McGlinchey and not keep seeing Nelson flash repeatedly. I haven't looked at him specifically enough to see whether get could make an OT at the next level. I'm conflicted about taking him as a G in the top 10...
