BearFan PHX

I guess we know what Johnson thinks of Kmet. I see OT and HB as being our biggest holes, but if you dont believe in Kmet, then TE would be pretty important too.

I wanted an OT, and when Banks was gone, I wanted a trade down. It's easy to be disappointed in the move. But none of that changes Loveland as a player. He's a great route runner who can get open at the top of the route. He does a lot of what Kennan Allen did last year. His NFL comp is Tyler Eifert, and that's not a bad guy to have at all. I hope Johnson makes us love Loveland. In my mind, I feel like we might trade up into the bottom of the first for an OT. But maybe someone falls to #39.

SO far the top three went in order, not to the teams expected necessarily but the board is the same. Now at pick 4, new England is the first possible landing spot for an OT. THis is a big pick.

I just mean Cunningham keeps Poles from getting too nervous and trading up.

Here's something to chew on: Does the fact that Jacksonville didn't hire Ian Cunningham make it less likely that the Bears will trade up for Jeanty? I remember Cunningham keeping Poles from trading up for Odunze. If he wasnt here this year, maybe Poles would be more untethered? And the irony is that rpoerts say we are talking to the Jags about a trade up. And like I just said, talking and doing are two different things. But if Jacksonville have Cunningham at GM, would it have made a Bears trade with them more likely? Irony! lol

I want the beef, but the kid in me wants Jeanty.

Poles doesnt really hae to leak it. If you think about it, this is the guy who interviewed a thousand coaches when he knew it was Ben Johnson all along. He is definitely thorough. He's also said the phones have been ringing. So my guess is that he was in talks with everyone asking the price to move up, to move down etc. Not because hes going to do it, but just to have all the data for any scenario. So then a bunch of GMs talk to eachother, and they share the info that Poles is feeling around. Then Schefter hears it and reports it. So it's TRUE, but it doesn't mean Poles is actually doing anything either. That's my guess.

LOL

I don't know Winston, but I believe you. I guess he and Simmons are in somewhat of the same position, and both available to be sure. I know about 50 or 60 players. 35 or so near the top, and then some favorites sprinkled through the rounds. There are lots of great 3rd round and lower guys I've never heard of. I know Poles has! But if he's a stud at S, and we have a year for him to rehab and get well before needing him next year, that's a plus for sure.

I really like S Malakai Starks - he wont be there in the 2nd, but in mocks he is sometimes. If the right DL is there, you gotta take em, but I love Starks' game too. He's a real ballhawk who can hit too.

I want the OT, but I totally get the love for Jeanty, and if that's what happens I'm gonna love him. i just think if you do that, you might have to trade the 2nds up into the bottom of the first round for an OT, at maybe pick 20. And I hate that! Then again, if all we got was Jeanty and Ersery or Simmons (with a good bill of health?) that's still be a pretty damned good Draft. But would Banks, Kaleb Johnson or TreVayon at HB, and a 2nd round pick on defense be better? Thats how much better I think Jeanty has to be. And maybe he is!

Not all risks are the same. The odds that Banks will be great in the NFL are better than 50%. If they draft Banks, he will start on day 1. Even if hes better by game 9 than he is in game 1. He will still start. We are comparing the risks of Banks becoming a dominant LT vs Amagadje becoming one? And you're saying because there are risks on both sides, it's even? All risks are the same? I feel like we've been over this ground before.

I agree, and he may even want OL anyway.

I agree it means nothing. Im saying that you can see how it was "true" that Poles actually did discuss the price of moving up, which generates a Schafter report that isnt a lie, but neither does it signal ANYTHING about what Poles will do! So it's true and worthless all at the same time. Schefter isnt lying, it just doesnt mean anything.

I worry that Jones wont be ready for mini camp with his injury, and while I do give Kiran a pass for last year, he hasnt yet shown anything I can hang my hat on to say "sure he can play LT" We beefed up the rest of the OL, it seems like the job is unfinished if we dont fix this last piece, and protecting Caleb is paramount this year.

i dont think this is Poles leaking information, not if hes serious about it anyway, maybe as a smokescreen. But most of these reports are reporting on rumors going around in NFL circles. If a rumor is going around between GMs, it might leak that the Ravens GM heard a rumor about Chicago for example. It doesnt affect them, but its stil a rumor. But is it true? Who the hell knows. These GMs do call eachother and feel out prices for different moves, and Poles did say the phones have been active, so maybe hes been exploring prices on trading up - not because hes going to, but just to do his due dilligence so he knows the price of all his options. Then several GMs are talking and all say Poles asked about that, and then it "leaks" out - but no one can say this is what he WILL do of course! And that includes Poles himself. If he told the truth about his intentions for the draft to any of us, he might still go another way depending on how the draft falls. For example NO ONE thinks the Bears will take Travis Hunter. But if he fell to 8 or 9 might we consider something? Wed THINK about it for sure. No one is predicting that, including Poles himself, but if it fell that way, he'd think about it.

yeah he said this one was "wild" and I believe it - I think this is the murkiest draft I can remember. Its a fun one for sure.

Yeah, what a horrible thing to happen to a guy who was so powerful. Mongo was a real hero on and then off the field. RIP. And my condolences to his namesake Mongo

I think Banks is a much better player than Jones right now. His floor is already pretty high. If you watch him, he's amazing. He's a pro bowler in the next couple of years for sure i think, and his ceiling is even higher than that. Cant say he will reach it, or injuries or whatever, but there is a decent chance you get a true 14 year player at LT who goes to the HOF at the end of it all. He has the tools for that. ANd he has Roushar to help him grow to fulfill that potential. But he is a starter right now, and your point about contracts is a good one too. Maybe they're thinking they'll ride with Jones this year, and draft a LT next year. Or maybe a draft day trade includes a vet LT from a team looking to draft a new one. That's a wrinkle we havent really talked about, but happens in my DraftBuzz mocks sometimes. Anyway, I think he is a blue chip prospect. But so is Jeanty and some others. You all know I think the disciplined move is to take the LT, but my heart would do flips if we got Jeanty. My brain would be concerned about LT, and my heart would be looking forward to Sundays, having a real Bear HB again.

I frickin' love draft time. This could be true, false, a lie that turns out to happen anyway, who knows. I could feel like we overpaid and we should have taken a LT, and I could feel like we have an electric back in Chicago again! All at once. Love it.

Thank you for saying that. I am really not interested in blame, you or anyone. I just feel like I'm in crazytown sometimes because I see one thing clearly on tape, and keep reading things that don't align with it. it reminds me of the early days of coming to grips with the idea that Justin Fields wasnt going to work out. Or that Caleb Williams would be a bad pick. Or when PFF tells us Charles Leno and Braxton Jones are top 15 OTs in the league. It's insane! And anyway, you've been a pretty constant Banks supporter, so i dont think it was you. But again it doesnt matter who it was, Im not looking to be right, especially at the expense of anyone on this board! I'm just baffled again by how the common wisdom gets so twisted out there in the mediasphere. I think it's reasonable to believe that a guy like Brugler, who has spent so many hours, should be an authority and know something. But when i read what he says, it's completely crazy to me. well we will all know soon enough now!

You know me, I want a LT. Not because I am a huge fan of anyone, but because I think it's the prudent thing to do. But I'm not gonna lie, if we got Jeanty into a Bears uniform, that'd be really exciting.

youre probably right. Im just saying that if the talent is so good, it can transcend the plan. I want to stick to the plan and get a LT. But I was tipping my hat to the idea that if you believe in a player enough, you can break the plan.

The old dad on the bottom of the screen was a successful college head coach, and he was offered OL coach positions in the NFL multiple times. So he understands blocking schemes and technique, and he taught is son, Phil, OL play all growing up. Phil played WR at Hofstra. He wasnt very good. Not fast enough. LOL But when the old guy says something, I definitely listen and look at what hes talking about to see.

thats always the best. my advice is dont just judge the outcome of the rep, but the style, the technique, you wanna see low pads, arching back when absorbing energy, low butt. One thing that could be better for Bansk is that he sometimes tries to initiate contact a little too early int he run game, so he lunges. But I think its better to teach someone patience, than to try to light a fuse under them. I highly recommend that TTNL footage on the Georgia game, Ill link it here again. He goes into detail about what to look for. I know hes abrasive, but he knows what hes talking about and he is like a guide to remind you where to look. ANd hes facing two top draft prospects 1 on 1. Definitely start at 19:00 in to skip the crap.