balta1701-A

Watching the games doesn't really tell the whole story when one of the 2 first round picks on the line has played what, 1 quarter this season? The line actually even, IMO, played quite well for about 4-6 games in there, when the Bears hit that winning streak and Martz had good run/pass balance going. In particular, they were mauling people on the run to the right side by getting Williams out in front and having Webb seal off the back. But then, they lost Williams. Next year in July, if the Bears do absolutely nothing, their O-Line will have 2 extra first round picks in it, will be deeper, and will have everyone with another year of experience. These are all big benefits. The only real debate I can buy from anyone is whether or not something can be done to upgrade over Webb. If the Bears are going to invest heavy FA dollars in the O-line, then I can see an upgrade happening there...but a new starting LT still winds up being my third or fourth priority on the list for the offseason (WR, DE, backup Tackle to replace Omiyale, backup QB). And I really don't like the idea of replacing Webb with a first round draft pick, because I think you actually will lose a lot if you try to stick a rookie in at that spot compared to a guy who has had to be on an island in the Bears O for 2 years now

Eh...I'm iffy at "drafting a RB". There's a lot better positions to use a 5th or 6th rounder on, unless the Bears find a guy who also is useful on ST.

Barber is the perfect compliment to Forte if Forte is healthy...he doesn't need a lot of carries, but he does the one thing that Forte is just really bad at...getting short yardage when the other team expects the run.

At this point, it's just fate laughing at the Bears.

Seriously, look at this list of WR's: Bennett (actually good but not great) Knox (will be lucky if he plays football again) Hester (belongs on ST) Sanzenbacher (right now a 5th-6th WR at best) Roy Williams (should be gone next year, is a FA anyway). Hurd (one of Chicago's largest drug dealers) Add in Davis, an average-at-best TE, and it's no mystery here why the RB's are the Bears most reliable passing targets. There's 1 guy in that list who really ought to be getting regular playing time as a top 3 WR, and he keeps getting hurt for 1/2 the season.

If the guys who wanted him and are likely in his court come out and say he's not ready, then I'll take their word for that.

If you make those 2 big signings...then your first round pick ought to be a DE or highly touted safety, and your 3rd round pick ought to cover the other position.

Frankly, more strength at the DE position is a need for this team as well.

Williams was performing quite well this year before a freak injury.

I'm going to bet you that it's because Angelo looks more at what they could do than what their injury history is. A guy like Carimi might well not have fallen to the late 20's in the draft if he never had an injury. A guy like Williams might well have been a top 10 pick had teams not graded him lower because of injury risk. Angelo is trying to find guys who will outplay their draft spots, and that involves going for the guy who dropped because of the injury risk.

If the Bears came away from this draft with a first round O-Lineman and a 2nd or 3rd round WR, I'd be genuinely disappointed. The Bears need a major upgrade at WR and a guy who can step in and make a difference ASAP, and they're not getting that anywhere but the first.

100% agree. With what just happened to Knox and Hurd last week, the Bears could use 2-3 WR's this offseason.

Link. If it weren't for about 7 other injuries, this would be a big deal.

Link

Man this would have been a great week to look forward to if the Bears were healthy.

Especially for the people who don't get the games, it's really helpful to read these things in terms of looking forwards to next year's roster. For example, 2 more games like this from Webb and I will have to switch sides in saying that he needs replaced next year rather than being given another year to grow into the spot.

Link

Official statement says lower back injury, taken to the hospital.

Here's the stuff that was known by the authorities before the Bears signed him in August.

I'll say again here...a big problem with tallying up pro-bowlers or elite players for this team is that the Bears gave up 2 first rounders for Jay Cutler. 2 first rounders is a big price.

It certainly seems like the initial stages of what led to his arrest was going on at the time the contract was signed...and a guy doesn't become this big of a drug dealer overnight. He's been doing this for years to get to this point. He's basically been a drug dealer with an NFL career as cover for it, based on the amounts of material he was looking to move. There has to be some way to catch something this big. If your screening process can't catch "is also one of the biggest drug dealers in the state", then there's something wrong with your screening process.

Well of course they're drafted there for a reason...but that doesn't mean I can't find a dozen examples of pro-bowlers from the back of the draft or UDFA almost every year.

Limping to the finish.

But once we're past the point of the actual draft and guys are in for workouts with the team, it's just as dishonest to consider their draft status in almost any way. If a guy comes in faster than he was at the draft, or stronger, or healthier, who cares if he was a 7th round pick?