Pixote
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Agreed. Next to Washington, I think the Steelers are in the worst cap shape. Starks is 26, and so he could anchor the right side for years to come. That would fix a glaring whole in the Bear's line-up. Draft an offensive tackle in the 2nd round as a potential back-up, or even start him at LG for a year.
John St. Clair looked pretty good at LG for the last 3 games of the year. We could could do a lot worse then him as our starting guard.
I agree about St Clair. As a tackle he sucked IMO. However, it seemed that when he played at OG he found his calling. He was actually very impressive in that role and if given the reps at OG in preparation for 2008 he could be an excellent player for us in that position.
I am not sure on Starks. If he is only an option at ROT then I question the move because even though Tait is "ok" at LOT, his age is catching up to him and it might benefit him to move back to his natural position at ROT. The draft has some outstanding LOT prospects. I would hate to see the Bears pass up on one of these hard to find Gems.
I think to get Starks we would have to give him "starter" money, and if he started at ROT we would have Tait at LOT and if we drafted a stud LOT he would be on the bench for awhile, something you would not normally do with a top draft selection. I know it would give him time to develop. The other option would be, I guess, to trade Tait. He should fetch a decent return and good OLT/ORT veterans even at his age are valued by teams looking for solution to OL problems.
Is there a team in need of a player like Tait who is looking to trade a WR or RB that would be of interest to us?
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He isnt fast enough, but he was NDs return man? strange.
Not really knowing the guy I went to FootballsFuture.com and clicked on Combine Results, then on the link for Defensive Backs and found that Zbikowski was timed, on a fast track and ideal conditions, 4.52 for the 40.
I know nothing about the guy. Maybe he just had a bad day. If this is his typical speed, sounds like more of a strong safety for a traditional 4-3 defense. However, Mike Brown when healthy is a kick ass safety and he was never accused of being a speed merchant!
(4.52 is not really that bad when you look at the times of all the other safety prospects. He also had 24 reps, again, impressive for a safety.)
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In the Chicago Suntimes Article about the Briggs deal it gave a lot of interesting information.
First, Briggs accepted very close to what we originally offered him:
Briggs will receive $13 million guaranteed and $21.6 million over the first three years of the contract, the average of what he earned last season with the franchise tag. That total four-year total is consistent with what linebacker Adalius Thomas received last year from New England.The Chicago Tribune Article gave a different number on the contract:
The surprise six-year, $36 million contract with $12 million up front that Briggs hastily agreed to Saturday night should have been sealed with a handshake and a white flag. Quite simply, he caved.Briggs' total surrender capped two years of avoidable acrimony over a contract dispute that began when the linebacker turned down a $33 million, seven-year offer that doesn't look much different from the deal Briggs just signed.
It also appears according to the SunTimes we will also see some more contract extensions for the Bears in addition to working out a possible deal for Urlacher:
The Bears also have made the decision to start throwing more to Devin Hester. Money, that is. The team has held informal discussions with Hester's agent, Eugene Parker, about a new deal and it will move to the forefront along with efforts to extend the contracts of defensive tackle Tommie Harris, kicker Robbie Gould and, potentially, defensive end Mark Anderson. The idea is to ensure young core players are in place well beyond 2010.WR, yep we are still interested:
Bryant Johnson will arrive in Buffalo today for a visit and the Bears consider him a young Muhsin Muhammad who could be a ''Z'' receiver. They remain in contact with agent Joel Segal. Javon Walker is generating solid interest and Drew Carter, D.J. Hackett and David Patten are possibilities with the team expected to make receiver a higher priority in the draft. Carter will visit Oakland today before a trip to Tampa Bay.Bottom line, now that the wait to see what JA can do to keep Briggs/Berrian is over, I think JA will now be able to move forward.
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During the 2007 season every time he dropped a pass, and he dropped as many passes as his "wow" catches, everyone was screaming how we should get rid of the bum. When he missed blocking assignments there were posters wanting us to cut him. Now that the season is over the same posters want to give him #1 WR money or franchise him and make him a king.
The stupid thing would have been to overpay the guy. To be honest, I thought the Bears offered him too much as it was.
When we traded Booker many were pissed. What did he do in Miami?
When we lost Marcus Robinson to the Vikings many thought this was the end of the world, what did he do for Minny?
Both Booker and MRob were damn better WRs than Berrian.
If JA was, as you say, freakin stupid, for not franchising Berrian, thank God for stupidity, for I agree with JA all the way on this one, he was not worth a franchise tag and certainly not worth any where near what he signed for in Minny.
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http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3271283
4 years, $32, with $23 guaranteed. Maybe I would not of liked us to get him...
If he were 25, 26, 27 years old maybe, but to pay that much for a 31 year old guard, well, some have said he is a kick butt OG and surely has 4 or 5 more good years left in the tank. Isn't that the same mentality that got the Bears into the pickle they are in now with their OL, ignoring age and thinking they were all just going to continue to play as they did in the past even though we had the oldest OL in the NFL?
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Yep, the press has been very harsh and I feel unfair in their coverage of the Bears, but I could make a good argument that some posters on this forum make the press look like they are blowing kisses when you listen to how they perceive the Bears. I am sorry, I just do not see the reason some are so damn negative about everything the Bears do or do not do that is not exactly what THEY want them to do. There are days I think I could visit forums for our division rivals and find more positive statements about the Bears than I read here. The old adage about is the glass half full or half empty does not apply here to many, it is not just half empty, it is empty and dry as a bone.
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Yeah, my head might just explode if he ends up in Minne. I would match ANY offer they give him, and hope he realizes he doesn't want to wear purple, play on turf, catch passes from Tavaris, and get his ass kicked by his former team twice a year.
Yes, I had the same knee-jerk reaction when I saw he was going to visit MIN but then Deja Vu - remember when we all panicked when Marcus Robinson left the Bears and went to Minny? Many of us, including myself, were bummed out thinking OMG how could the Bears have let this happen?
I would of loved to have Berrian back but have to agree with others who have posted, he wants far more than what he is worth. He may get it from another team who is willing to over pay for him, but I like the fact that the Bears are "cap" smart and we will need the money we have pooled to fill all the holes we want to resolve this off season.
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Polish Sausage here. Ready for tailgating. Have been away a while. Just found the new home.
Great to see you, welcome aboard!! Looks like this will be a very interesting off season. Happy to see you join us to discuss FA, the draft, contract extensions, etc...
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Orton agrees to one-year contract extension
By Larry Mayer
LAKE FOREST, Ill. – The Bears on Monday agreed to terms with quarterback Kyle Orton on a one-year contract extension through the 2009 season.
Orton is expected to compete for the starting job in training camp with Rex Grossman, who agreed to a one-year contract with the Bears on Saturday.
Seeing his first regular-season action in two years, Orton looked impressive while starting the final three games in 2007. The former Purdue star completed 43 of 80 passes for 478 yards with 3 touchdowns, 2 interceptions and a 73.9 passer rating.
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Reading the article link of the original post it would appear that if a team came to terms with Vilma with a contract to his liking, the Jets might take a 3rd round pick. Maybe we offer them our 2nd 3rd round selection for their 4th round selection (simular to the trade for T Jones with us, LOL).
Or, since the Jets run a 3-4, would M Anderson fit their scheme?
I would love to see Vilma in a Bears Uni but suspect that JA is more than happy with Williams and Okwo replacing Briggs.
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Let's not forget that Dez Clark is considered a stud blocker and with the way our OL performed last year and our need to revamp that unit I am happy we kept Dez around for that reason as well as his being very willing to help tutor G Olsen. With us revamping our receiving corps, I can only assume our TEs may play a bigger part in our passing game as well so having two solid receiving TEs will certainly be of benefit to the Bears as well. I can not see why anyone would think this is not a good solid contract extension. He earned it and we need him to stick around.
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I did not mean to say all these attributes are not important. I just think many can be developed but some can not, such as football intelligence, character, arm strength, and height. If you have those 4 attributes, there is no reason you can not learn to refine other mechanics necessary to be a top NFL QB. If you lack those 4 attributes, those 4 critical points can not be taught and will be necessary to develop other mechanics needed to succeed.
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So who do we draft as a QB to develop if Rex and Kyle fall short of expectations?
Everyone seems concerned about QBs in the draft who have problems with mechanics, speed, agility, athleticism, quick release, Big School competition, etc...
There have been many QBs drafted who had all of these attributes that flopped as NFL QBs.
Ryan Leaf, drafted #2 in round 1 of the 1998 draft.
Cade McNown drafted #12 in round 1 of the 1999 draft.
How can we forget Rick Mirer drafted #2 of the 1993 draft.
All of these QBs had all the qualities we have discussed necessary to become an NFL Star QB.
But there have been QBs who lacked these attributes that succeeded. QBs who were too small, too inexperienced, had poor mechanics, etc... and therefore were not well thought of when they were drafted.
Johnny Unitas drafted in the 9th rd of 1955 by Pittsburgh and then cut, playing for $3 per game for a semi pro team before Baltimore picked him up for $7,000 in 1956.
Joe Montana selected in the 3rd round in 1979 by SF0.
Tom Brady selected in the 6th rd of the 2000 draft by NEP.
These three were passed over because they did not have these "required attributes" to make a successful NFL QB.
Well, it seems to me we worry too much about mechanics, footwork, quick release, Big Game competition, etc... I could care less if the QB runs a 4.0 or a 4.7 40 yd dash. I could care less if the QB comes from a run and shoot college system or a "Pro" system. I could care less if he throws over the top, 3 quarters, side arm, hell, he can throw underarm as far as I am concerned. I could care less if he dances the mash potato, fox trot, 2 step, or waltz, hell, he can have 2 left feet as far as I am concerned.
To me there are few things you look for in an NFL QB that are important when deciding if he is worth a risk to draft. These characteristics do not guarantee he will be successful but in my opinion are the most important things to be evaluated before drafting him.
1 - Intelligence. Can he learn the playbook. Can he study film and learn to read the defenses he will face. Can he pick up where the blitz will come from, the coverage the defense will use, etc... Will he know when to gamble and when to cut his losses? Will he do what it takes to prepare for the game?
2 - Attitude / character - Is he a team player more concerned with the teams success than his own statistics. Will he throw himself under the bus when the team struggles or will he blame everyone but himself? Will he share the credit with his team mates when the team succeeds or try to take all the credit himself. Will he be able to shake off a mistake, learn from it and keep a clear head or will he let it dwell on him and cause him to regress as a QB.
3 - The only physical attribute I worry about is arm strength, something that can seldom be developed, unlike many of the other attributes we seem to use as measuring sticks of a prospect. Most mechanics can be taught, arm strength, even with a good strength and conditioning coach, is more of a gift than an attribute that can be developed.
4 - If you want to throw in a 4th item, although it certainly is not a requirement, but could be argued as a big plus for a QB in todays game, is height. It does help to be able to see the field.
So if you ask me, we are looking for a player who has football intelligence, a great "team" attitude and personal confidence, a strong arm, and tall enough to see the field.
I do not know this years draft well enough to know which QBs fit this mold. You tell me, if I am correct and these are the attributes we are looking for in a QB, who do we draft?
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My guess is that we could put Wolfe or the RB we draft on the practice squad. If Benson has a bad year, he walks after the season, and our starter is AP or the draftee. If not, we might trade Wolfe and a 4th rounder to a team for a 2nd or 3rd. Just an idea...
Wolfe could not be put on our practice squad because he has an accrued season of NFL experience.
Because another team can sign any player off our practice squad if put on their 53 man roster, we would not put any player drafted to compete with Benson on the practice squad for that reason (and it would be hard to compete with Benson if not on our 53 man roster). (If another team did try and sign a player off our practice squad I do believe we can keep him by putting on our 53 man roster also?)
We would never get a 2nd & 3rd for Wolfe and a 4th. Until he contributes more than he has I do not see any team trading for him, period. If we did get a trade for him it would be a late day 2 pick at best.
I can only assume we will carry 4 RBs on the roster in 2008 until something develops.
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I was thinking that maybe we should go after solid and just above average OL men then just 1 or 2 big name guys, like Faneca. We could get a guy like Stacy Andrews from Cincy who would only demand around $5-$6 million a year, and Jason Brown from Baltimore for the equal price of Andrews. With saving money there, we could then sign Berrian, DJ Hackett/Bryant Johnson, and maybe Ayanbedejo.
Or, would you rather us address the WR position in the draft and just spend all the cap room on Faneca?
You know what is interesting to me? We look at our needs for the team. We are concerned about our OL, WR, & QB. We will be losing ? Briggs. We have a ? mark at RB, & depth at S.
When we go to a site like Football's Future where they rank Free Agents in the order they feel are best to worst I notice that at QB Rex is #2 behind Anderson who likely will stay with CLE making Rex #1, At WR Moss is #1 but Berrian is #2, At OL R Brown of the Bears is listed #1 with Feneca #2, and of course, Briggs is the #1 LB on the list.
There are some nice OLmen available. Yes, I definitely like Feneca, but there are some other good options as well.
Ruben Brown, UFA, Chicago BearsAn aging veteran, Brown has a lot of experience opening holes for backs and allowing time for passers. He’s a solid guard who holds down his position quite well. If he decides to stick around, he may have a couple of good seasons left. Teams won’t line up to sign him, but there should be a handful that show interest.
Alan Faneca, UFA, Pittsburgh Steelers
Faneca seems to be the most likely of this group to leave his current team. Rumors suggest that he plans on leaving after the season and contract extension talks have gone nowhere. Faneca is a quality guard who has started in five Pro Bowls and been selected as a first team All-Pro five times as well. He also still has some prime seasons of his career remaining. Faneca will receive the most interest at his position, could be the most coveted offensive linemen after the season, and should also be one of the most coveted players available in all of the NFL.
Flozell Adams, UFA, Dallas Cowboys
A veteran left tackle, Adams should hit the market and receive decent interest. A second-round pick in 1998, Adams has developed into one of the league’s better offensive linemen. His size, experience, and performance will lure teams into making a considerable offer for his services. The Cowboys are developing young talent behind him, and depending on how that youth pans out the rest of the season, the team could allow him to leave in favor of saving some money.
Jordan Gross, UFA, Carolina Panthers
With Gross’ contract voiding at season’s end, the Panthers will need to increase his salary in order to keep him around. The ownership seems to agree that he deserves a pay raise, and the team appears to want to keep him around as their starting right tackle. A former first-round selection who has played well, Gross will be looking for a considerably larger check come next season.
Ryan Lilja, UFA, Indianapolis Colts
A quality guard, Lilja is relatively young and has a Super Bowl ring to call his own. The Colts will do well to sign him to an extension, but there’s a chance that Lilja tests the market. In reality, the system that Lilja plays within is a nice fit, and he gets to protect Peyton Manning, so he could easily stay.
Max Starks, UFA, Pittsburgh Steelers
Starks is young and massive, and another Pittsburgh player that may leave the Steel City. He’s 25 and is listed at 6’7” while weighing 337 pounds. His size and age will make him a desired player on many team’s list. A top tier tackle will always garner interest and Starks may lead the free agent class at the spot because of the potential he has shown on the field.
Floyd Womack, UFA, Seattle Seahawks
A big, experienced guard, Womack could get a decent offer from any team missing out on a top tier target like Faneca. If Womack isn’t the outright starter in Seattle this season, look for him to find work elsewhere with an expanded role guaranteed.
Jake Scott, UFA, Indianapolis Colts
Scott is the starting right guard for one of the top offensive line units in the entire NFL, and his ability to help protect Peyton Manning should equate to a nice contract number. Indianapolis has found a way to retain most of their line talent in recent seasons, and it should come as no surprise if Scott is locked into a long-term deal in the near future.
Todd Steussie UFA St. Louis Rams
Steussie has been a solid offensive tackle for several years, but he was placed on injured reserve earlier this season because of a foot injury. He’s approaching forty years of age, but he may still have a good season or two in him. He should receive some attention as a free agent simply because of his experience and the position he plays.
Travelle Wharton UFA Carolina Panthers
A late third-round selection in 2004, Wharton has developed into a solid starting left tackle. He has been a key reason for the successes that the Panthers have had, and his absence in 2006 was a key reason for the team’s struggles. Wharton’s rookie contract will expire at season’s end, and his value on the market should be fairly strong. A quality left tackle is hard to find, and team’s looking to bolster an offensive line will have to consider Wharton. Carolina will likely make every effort to work out an extension.
Other Free Agent Offensive Linemen
OG P.J. Alexander UFA Atlanta Falcons
OT Nat Dorsey UFA Cleveland Browns
OT Trai Essex RFA Pittsburgh Steelers
OG Chris Kemoeatu RFA Pittsburgh Steelers
OT Cory Lekkerkerker RFA Miami Dolphins
OT Sean Locklear UFA Seattle Seahawks
OG Brian Rimpf RFA Baltimore Ravens
OG Keydrick Vincent UFA Baltimore Ravens
OG Fred Weary UFA Houston Texans
Another interesting note, if we could fix our OL in FA with a LOT & OG, and had the luxury of picking another need at #1 instead of OL, (and before I go further, I do not think JA would do this) how about a RB? I say this only because of this note:
An NFL Network analyst reported during NFL total access that Darren McFadden's stock is dropping, he expects to see him drafted no earlier than after the first 20 picks. Darren McFadden is also not considered the the number one RB going to the draft, Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall is number one.If this is true I think if McFadden is on the board when the Bears select you will hear the following announcement:
With the 14th selection in the 2008 draft the Chicago Bears trade with the Dallas Cowboys their selection for Dallas' #22 in round 1 and #59 in round 2For those who are scrambling for their draft trade value charts that is our #14 (1100 pts) for their #22 (780 pts) and #59 (310 pts) or 1100 for 1090.
Jerry Jones is reportedly so much in love with McFadden that he would probably jump all over it. There was speculation that they might even trade for the #1 slot to get him. If they could get him with our #14, wow, they have saved themselves a ton of money and it will cost them much less in trade of picks with us than Miami.
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I look at it in a different way. Instead of asking if now is the time to trade Hester, I think it is time to ask if it is time to rework his contract.
Hester is a tremendous ST player who "MAY" become an important piece of the puzzle on offense (the jury is still out). If he has a big year in the WR role this year his price to resign him goes soaring. If we can convince him to renew his contract now, we could possibly wind up with a real bargain. If he has a big year as WR we are in a win win situation. We have a valuable WR/KR at a bargain price or, if he becomes discontent knowing he blew it by resigning before emerging as a WR, because we resign him at a reasonable price, we could then get a huge return for him in trade.
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1 vote for the smiley, 1 vote against the trade.
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Anyone that has Woodson as the #2 QB is a flipping idiot.
And anyone saying Flacco is not worth a first day pick is stupid IMO. I think he is definately worth a #2. I would never draft him in the first.
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I've listened to the SCORE from day 1 over 15 yrs ago. Hell, I remember when Buddy Ryan was the SCOREs football expert and he never watched any games. My listening habits have definately changed since then. I listen to both station off and on along with WLS. They both have there good and bad points - I simply change the channel when it gets out of hand.
Peace
I also have been a score head since day one. I remember when they shared a wave band with another station and you could only hear the score during the daytime. I was in heaven when they finally went 24/7.
Mike North has always been an idiot from day one. At first he was tolerable, IMO, and not nearly as radical and stupid as he is now. Over the years he has become more and more unbearable.
I still remember back in 2000. He was crazy over the reports of Sebastian Janikowski. He had him as a guest on the score and went around doing remotes with him at different polish deli locations.
When the draft came about that year he crucified the Bears GM, Coach, Ownership, etc... for not drafting Sebastian Janikowski #9 in the first round but instead drafting someone he described as an over hyped player without a legitimate position, guaranteed to be a wasted pick, when they could have drafted the player who would be an instant impact player for the team (Sebastian Janikowski).
Of course that wasted pick was Brian Urlacher.
I think that says it all about his football IQ.
A total clueless jerk.
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Done, Bears #1 then reversed the order of the leaders below the Bears.
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I came across a new site that really impresses me. How often do you find a draft site that gives a 7 round mock draft with "what if" scenerios and updates it's projection frequently getting readers inputs and adjusting team needs charts as the off-season progresses? That is what I found at
Draft Tek Sports Information Web Site.
There I found a 7 Round Draft Simulation that rocked. I did not necessarily agree with all the selections but found it to be one of the most credible mock drafts I have come across and am anxious to see the future updates to this mock as we progress through the free agency period and teams needs change as a result.
I hope you guys enjoy this site as much as I am!!
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I watched very little college football this year do to work, work, work....
I went to a couple of sites looking at the sleepers they have listed that had write-ups on the players (lists without some knd of breakdown on the player is meaningless to me for I do not even recognize the names, LOL).
Here are some I found on two sites. Do you guys have any to add I should be aware of? Angelo loves sleepers and small school prospects and has actually done well in this area of the later rounds.
2008 NFL Draft Sleepers (From Footballsfuture.com)Josh Johnson, QB, San Diego
Johnson has put up amazing numbers at the Division I-AA level. He has been ridiculously efficient, throwing for 113 touchdowns to just 15 interceptions, while completing over 68% of his passes. He is an excellent athlete, that has the mobility to elude the rush and throw on the run, but is a legitimate threat with the ball in his hands as well. He has the arm to make all the throws and has been extremely accurate and productive throwing the football. He has only average size and will have to pack on some weight to his frame however. Johnson has not played against the greatest competition but he has the talent and has dominated at his level. With some time, he is a player that could definitely out play some of the bigger name QB’s from more well known schools.
Tim Hightower, RB, Richmond
Hightower was a solid all around back his first three years as a Spider, but he took it to another level this past season. He ran for 1,924 yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground, but also added 32 receptions for 228 yards and three touchdowns as a receiver. The 225lber can run it between the tackles and does not go down easily. He runs with authority and is decisive in his cuts with the ability to make the first defender miss. Hightower has also proven to be a real weapon as a receiver out of the backfield. His size and all around skills should be a welcomed addition to some NFL team next season.
Hershel Dennis, RB, USC
Injuries and the depth chart at USC have hindered Dennis’ ability to put up big numbers during his career. He was behind three senior tailbacks as a freshman, then was the starter as a sophomore. That was the year that LenDale White and Reggie Bush began their Trojan careers. Two knee injuries and stardom for those two has caused Dennis to see more time on the sidelines. He appears to be healthy again even though he spent the year with just mop up duty. When at 100%, Dennis has very good balance, quickness, and elusiveness. He runs tough and has always been an excellent receiver out of the backfield. He has only average size and the health of his knee is a major concern, but do not be surprised to see Dennis make an impact in the NFL.
Kendall Langford, DL, Hampton
Langford has an impressive combination of size and athleticism. He has the size to play inside at tackle, or on the end in the 3-4. He can hold his ground at the point of attack, but also shows the quickness and burst off the line to get into the backfield. His career numbers of 56 tackles for loss and 24.5 sacks speak to his playmaking ability. Langford is the ideal 3-4 end but also brings value to a 4-3 defense. A quality post season could make him a first day selection.
Spencer Larsen, LB, Arizona
Larsen is a little older than your average prospect, spending two years away on a Mormon mission before returning to the gridiron. He is a tackling machine though when he is on the field. He has excellent instincts and flies to the action in front of him. He has only average size and athleticism but he will not back down and will make plays solely on determination. Larsen is not the physical specimen you see in a high selection, but he is a true linebacker and will play on Sundays.
Terrence Wheatley, CB, Colorado
Wheatley is one of the best pure corners in the draft. He is athletic, quick, and fast but couples that with excellent ball skills and playmaking ability. On talent alone, he is a Top 50 selection. Wrist injuries have sidelined him and bothered him at various points though, which may be of concern. He also only has average size at best, and will lose out to bigger, physical receivers. If healthy though, Wheatley has the ability to develop into a quality NFL defender.
2008 NFL Draft Sleepers (From Deathrattlesports.com)
Pig Brown (S, Missouri) - Brown is as tough a safety as you will ever see. He's a very physical presence in the middle of the field and that alone will force quarterbacks to try and keep the ball away from his area of the field. He was one of the keys to Missouri's stellar run this year and racked up 70 tackles, 4 PBUs and 3 INTs in just 8 games before tearing his achilles. He also has top notch intangibles including great leadership qualities and could end up being the captain of an NFL defense in the next few years.
James Hardy (WR, Indiana) - Ok, so this isn't a true sleeper pick, but I really think Hardy is going to end up being the 2nd or 3rd best receiver in this class just behind DeSean Jackson and possibly Malcolm Kelly. There is no way that defenders will be able to match up with him at 6'7", especially in the end zone. That alone gets him the nod. Not to mention the guy runs a 4.6 forty too. Hardy also has shown improvement in each of the last three years and finally cracked the 1,000 yard barrier this year and had 16 touchdowns to boot. I look for him to end up somewhere in the late 2nd/early 3rd round.
Jamar Adams (S, Michigan) - This is one of my favorite sleepers in the draft. After a couple years of mediocrity, Adams finally, finally, finally lived up to the hype that came with him out of high school. He racked up 92 tackles this year along with 10 PBUs. Adams will test off the charts with his 6'2" and 210 lbs. frame and 4.5 speed, but his best attribute is his sure-tackling, football IQ and character. As a safety, it is important to embody leadership qualities and good character off the field and Adams truly does that.
Chase Ortiz (DE, TCU) - Ortiz has been overshadowed for much of his career by teammate and fellow end Tommy Blake. No longer will this happen as I see Ortiz having a better overall pro career than Blake. His numbers are solid...not amazing (42 tackles, 16.5 TFL, and an impressive 9 sacks). However, Ortiz's biggest asset is his non-stop motor and relentless drive to succeed. This willingness to continue to work hard and learn will bode well for him at the next level.
Thomas Brown (RB, Georgia) - Brown has had the unfortunate role of backup for most of his career to either Danny Ware, Kregg Lumpkin, or Knowshon Moreno. Most of this was simply due to injuries that plagued him throughout his career at Georgia. There is no doubt that Brown is undersized at just 5'8", but he plays much more physical than his frame would indicate. He hits the hole with force and has really quick and active feet. Though his stats aren't gaudy, he did average a solid 5 yards per carry over his career. He proved at the Shrine Game that he's ready to prove himself and was the running back that really stood out the most. If he can stay healthy there's no reason why he can't be a solid NFL running back.
Ben Moffitt (LB, South Florida) - Moffitt's most notable asset is definitely his maturity. Recent aligations of cheating in college shouldn't dampen his reputation or hurt his draft stock all that much. Moffitt has been able to stay healthy and had over 100 tackles in each of the last two seasons including 41 TFL. He also had all 4 of his career interceptions this past year and was the anchor of USF's defense along with George Selvie all year long. Not the most talented player on the field, but with his grit and determination will definitely get the most out of his abilities and give 110% on every single play. Doubting this guy just makes him stronger.
Chevis Jackson (CB, LSU) - The word for Jackson throughout his career is consistency. He has been a three-year starter in the toughest conference in college football and has been solid each and every year. He definitely improved this year with learning how to make the best out of his 6'0" 190 lbs. size as he had 16 PBUs and 5 INTs. Could benefit by getting a little faster, but it shouldn't hurt him too much. He's not as much of an athlete as he is a football player and if put in the right scheme, he could really shine.
Sam Keller (QB, Nebraska) - There's no doubt that Keller has underachieved since his breakout year at Arizona State in 2005, but the talent still lies there, brewing underneath the surface. He showed flashes of it this past year at Nebraska before injuring his shoulder nine games into the season. In those nine games, Keller threw for over 2,400 yards and was completing 63% of his passes. He has great size for the position. If he can avoid the injury bug his talent could boil over to the surface again.
Keilen Dykes (DT, West Virginia) - In terms of size, Dykes is one of the best DTs in this class. Unfortunately, it isn't all about size, but it does help because it is something that you can't teach. He positioned himself well when he and the rest of WVU's defensive line were able to overpower a seemingly unbreakable Oklahoma offensive line in the Fiesta Bowl. His maturity throughout his career along with his aggressive style of play should be something that an NFL team can look forward to.
William Franklin (WR, Missouri) - Franklin may not have been the flashiest of the Tigers in recent years, but he has most certainly been the most consistent. He racked up over 2,100 receiving yards in his career at Missouri and caught 49 passes this year, despite being basically the 3rd or 4th receiver in the offense. Franklin has good size at 6'2" and 205 lbs. and is cut like a greek statue. He has 4.45 speed and he's not afraid to go across the middle and has some of the best hands of anyone in this year's receiving class. I really like the way he plays the game.
Kellen Davis (TE, Michigan State) - Great prospect physically, but character is most definitely a concern. Davis really had a breakout year in 2007 catching 32 receptions for 513 yards and 6 touchdowns. If he gets with a coach who knows how to keep players heads on straight he will definitely be an intriguing prospect to watch over the next couple of years.
Ezra Butler (LB, Nevada) - Butler is amazingly quick for his size. He runs a 4.55 at 6'2" and 248 lbs! Opposing running backs and receivers will need to watch out when heading this guys way. He will truly deliver a cannon-type blow. A guy who has truly only gotten better over the last three years and I look for that trend to continue. Plays with a nasty edge and having a good team around him will only make him better. Would've gotten A LOT more attention had he played in a major conference, in my opinion. I look for him to go late 3rd round or early 4th round.
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Congrats to the Giants. They played a great game. My only regret now is we have to deal with the 72 Dolphins still.
Peace
Yep, I have mixed emotions. I am a Bear fan first, and NFC fan 2nd, so I am thrilled that the NFC won the Super Bowl when everyone is saying how much better the AFC is than the NFC. However, like you, I would have loved to see the Dolphins old timers shut up for good. Guess this leaves it up to the Bears to go 19-0 in 2008
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What a sore loser Belichick leaving the field early, classless.
Yep, a heck of a HC but always has been and always will be a jerk on the field.
Unbelievable!! What a game!! Manning brothers win Super Bowls back to back.
Griese to Tampa
in Bearstalk
Posted
I am amazed we got a trade done, period. It was obvious to everyone in the league we were going to cut him before the 300K bonus came into effect soon. We need to open up a spot for a QB in the draft to develop behind Rex & Kyle. Hopefully it turns out to be higher than a 6th or 7th but if not, well, something is definitely better than nothing.