Pixote

I am sure some have read this article on the Sun-Tmes website, but for those who have not you might want to check it out. http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/be...c-approach.html It basically explains differences on how players are graded in the system Emery uses, an off-shoot of the "Patriot Approach" It will probably come into play with how he selects players not only in FA but the draft. You can certainly see how his FA this season was effected by his past experiences with this system. Basically, he wanted to go into the draft without huge needs making him select a players for need instead of BPA. I suspect that is exactly what we are going to see, BPA, regardless of need, and if it happens the BPA is a need, all the better.

Money isn't as much an issue with the new rookie cap structure lowering what rookies get with the new contract. However, the cost of picks needed to fill other needs is a concern.

Every year some player drops do to character concerns. Many knock Coples due to being "lazy". I hope he drops because between Peppers (former NC player) and Marinelli working with him I have no doubt this guy would be dynamite for us. Realistically, I am hoping Mercilus is still there after another team breaks my heart and picks Coples.

I will probably finish mine up this weekend, sure hope some more guys join us. In the past we have had a good turn out for this type of draft prediction contest. I was hoping for a dozen or more just to make it a bit more fun.

We want BPA in the draft for a change, we want a player who can contribute in 2012. I may disagree with some of the assessments in this article but I love the way it is presented. http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/09000d5d828...HP11_hot_topics

I think the only "untradeable" picks are the compensatory picks awarded, which we do not have this year.

They may have changed the rules for kick-offs, but Hester has always been a better punt returner than a KO guy, IMO, and nothing has changed there. Every player is "tradeable" for the right price, but it would have to be a very sweet deal!

I bet he goes in the first round, just my guess, every year there is a run on the OL in the first and players you never thought would be picked 1st round disappear.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that we get Forte finally signed to a long term contract before the draft. It sure would make things sweet. I also would not be surprised if there was another FA addition before the draft. Players that are FA are coming down in their asking price.

One thing for sure, if he tested positive for Marijuana at the Combine, he has to be out-right stupid!

I have a heck of a lot more faith in Tice as an OC, OL Coach than I do our WR Coach Drake, who I have never cared for!

Experienced and young, good combo for added depth to our roster http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/footb...0,1464473.story

Yep, they are out kicking the tires, FA is like a used car lot, sometimes you can find a gem, other times a lemon. Out of that group I would love to take a chance on Rocky McIntosh or Zac Diles, both of which I think would be an upgrade over Roach.

Problem is, it is almost as difficult to predict how good an OLT prospect will be as it is a QB. Tony Mandarich - 2nd pick of the 1st round by GB in 1989 I thought this guy was going to be the best OLT of all time, I was hyped. This was back before the NFL draft was such an "event". I remember I was pissed that the Bears did not trade up for this guy, I wanted him on our team bad, and when GB selected him (skipping over Barry Sanders, Derrick Thomas, and Deion Sanders) I was so upset I turned off the radio coverage I was listening to. You know "the rest of the story". This is only one of dozens of sure bets for OLT that were blown. Robert Gallery - 2nd pick of the 2004 draft by Oakland. When that years draft came up he reminded me so much of the hype that Mandarich had, he was a guaranteed blue chip LOT that was destined for the HOF. Actually, he was adequate at best at ROT, when he played LOT he gave up a ton of sacks and was moved to OG. He is above average there but certainly not worth the #2 1st round in the draft. The list goes on and on, so I am just saying that this whole draft thing is more like a crap shoot than an exact science. Hopefully Emery is better at rolling the dice than JA was (although I still think JA did a lot of good things for the Bears).

Agree, I am sure Tice, Smith, and Emery know exactly what they are getting, I have faith that Tice can get this guy motivated! If not, no risk, he will be cut before we even start the season.

I think he would give us some excellent depth and insurance in case of injury, heck, he might be a starter in place of Roach who I have never been that impressed with. http://espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/story/_/id/...ars-sources-say

You should be ok:

If you have to play 2 games in 5 days, this is the perfect way to set it up for the Bears. They will have all preseason to game plan for the week 2 game against GB Short trip, the Bears are obviously familiar with the opponent, their stadium, etc... We have what should be an easy game prior to the matchup (the team better not think that) but the Packers in week 1 have to deal with SF I am getting excited already!

I did some research and fond this excerpt from an article:

Are they doing TNF for the whole year in 2012? In the past it wasn't until around Thanksgiving they started the TNF games.

Agreed, we have all said it before, there will be picks we will certainly question, players will be available that we personally drool over but will not be selected in favor of another we do not care for, but it all comes down to how the players he drafts show up on the field, and in many cases we will not be able to fully evaluate any draft until we look back on it a few years down the road.

I think it is going to depend on just how good Emery is at sorting out this big mess we call the "Draft". Every year big name 1st round picks flop, later round picks become future HOF caliber players. It is such a crap shoot. I am more interested in how Emery handles this draft than any draft I can remember in the past. He has impressed me in FA, I hope he continues to impress me in the draft.

If there was a chance to grab the top OLT in the draft, I would trade big time with either spot, but WR can be filled later, not even sure if Blackman or Floyd will be the better or the two, not sure what DE would be the best, etc... but franchise caliber blue chip LOT prospects usually, not always, but usually come from the top of the draft.

Fantastic, did you signup to the league I created? I do not see your team listed? I hope we can get a dozen or more forum members to take part in this, we have done this type of event in the past with great success with various members tallying the results by hand, just thought it would be cool to use this interface and get a shot at a trip to the SB.

I have a feeling Emery knows we need to add bodies to the OL. My guess is he is waiting to see how the chips fall in the draft and if we do not get a chance to get good value in an OL selection we will wind up signing someone in FA like the one of the two we had in for a look, both of whom had worked with Tice in the past.