ASHKUM BEAR

So it's official, we hold the 14th pick in the 2014 draft. I see plenty of reasons to be excited this May when draft day arrives. There could be 4 or 5 QB's drafted ahead of us, 1 or 2 WR's, 1 or 2 OT's, and some talented 3-4OLB/ 4-3 DE's prototypes. That will hopefully allow our major needs to fall into our laps. I created a list of 5 players we may have a chance to draft. Out of those 5, I would be pleased with any of them and know we would have a difference maker. Also, they are not in my order of preference either. 1. Louis Nix DT Notre Dame 6'-3" 340 5.55 Nix is a rare breed of big and athletic, which don't come around often. He would be a 3-4 anchor if we decided to switch. He has the ability to stuff the run with his size and get after the QB. Closest comparision would be Vince Wilfork. If Chicago decides to go the 3-4 and Nix was available, I think it would be a no brainer. 2. Ra'Shede Hageman DT Minnesota 6'6" 311 5.37 Hageman has long arms and a nasty demeanor. Explosive athlete that is capable of getting to the QB and stopping the run. NFL comparison would be Richard Seymour, his body style is that of JJ Watt. 3. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix S Alabama 6'-1" 209 4.6 Playmaking S with skills to cover the field, TE's, and impact the running game. He is the leader on D and football smart. Tackling and angles can use some work. NFL comparison, Ed Reed. 4. Justin Gilbert CB Oklahoma St 6'-0" 194 4.47 Big physical CB, can play man to man, and shows up against bigger competition. NFL comparsion Charles Woodson 5. Darqueze Dennard CB Michigan St 5'-11" 188 4.56 Physical corner, shut down ability, smart and tackles well. NFL comparison is Darrelle Revis. Other notables worth considering: Trent Murphy DE, Stephen Tuitt DE/DT, Timmy Jernigan DT (3T), CJ Mosely ILB.

Agree, I think if we can lock him down for 2 years and Jay for 4, then we can concentrate on bringing the defense back to respectability.

Shea will be a Bear next year. The team cannot afford to take a 4million cap hit in dead space, then they would also have to pay for his replacement. I see this with Peppers also, but hope they can re write his contract to be more cap friendly. I love the Tuitt thought, he has size/speed. Can play DT in the 4-3 or DE in the 3-4. Also, comes from the University of Notre Dame! 2nd Round pick, I'd be happy with Verrit CB or if SS Dion Bailey from USC is available. Bailey played the WLB and SS for Monte Kiffen's Tampa2. He's known as a ball hawk and playing LB we know he can play the run as well. 3rd Round, I'd think Center also would be great with Swanson and Stork slotted around this round. As for CB, Seattle has done great at finding 6th round prospects. They drafted the tall DB's like Sherman and have turned out great. I hope whoever is DC next season, we run some 3-4. If you know a team is going to throw 70% or more, why not mix the defense up with different formations and blitzes.

Shea McClellin will not be cut and doesn't have to take a pay cut. Being a higher draft pick, right now he has the bull by the horns. He will make his 2.2 million. If we cut/trade him, it will be a 4.1million cap hit up front. Not going to happen. I doubt we cut Conte either, his cap hit won't be nearly as high but he is depth (warm body) at depleted position.

This team can't afford to cut players signed, even if they've stunk. Each player cut under contract will have a cap hit, plus you need to sign a replacement and we will be strapped to field a 53 man team. Right now, we need a lot of fingers to plug the dike. SMC, Conte and Paea will all be back next year and they can be serviceable if they can be put in position to succeed. Look at how Kromer/Trestman has brought along the offense. They may not play like all pros every game, but we see growth and glimpses of potential. Defense has been at a mighty mite level and to me, that reflects the coaching.

Briggs had said that earlier. He'd be on his last year, so maybe they can sway his opinion for the better of the team. If not, the I see DJ Williams back if healthy. I can't figure out were Greene will fit yet, that's why I think they need to find a new scheme to fit some of the players we have. This offseason will be a wild one. Id like to see a hybrid D, that's out of the norm. If Trestman can envision an offensive philosophy that works, lets hope he has an idea for a defense.

Speaking of LB, did you hear Emery on Bostic? He recently said he sees him as an OLB with his speed and would like to see him play there next year. Maybe he sees Briggs as an asset to trade for a pick or thinks them two swap positions. I think Briggs can play MLB and we would be more disciplined.

Glad you had a memorial time that you won't forget. Thanks for sharing.

I guess we will see after this season is over which way the Bears think is best to go forward. I never said McCown can't run this offense and win. We've seen it, but we've seen Jay win too. If the Bears thought less of Jay, he would not be starting. Having two capable QB's should be a good thing. Every topic on every Bears board is numerous comparisons of the two. Nothing has changed my view, we have an offense that can score and the core is signed until 2015, except for QB. Starting over with McCown and a rookie with a core of Marshall, Forte, Jeffrey, and Bennett would be awful if McCown slips or gets injured. Continuing on with Cutler and McCown will assure we are capable under center and allow the team to focus on improving one of the worst defenses in the nfl.

I am on the Orange Koolade now. With Cutler under center we are a top 5 offense, maybe 3. Why waste a number 1 or 2 pick on a project QB that pick takes away a young solid defensive player. The best path is to keep the hated villian.

Cutler is not going anywhere. It can be debated, but he will get his contract. We know what he is, yes good and bad Jay. If this team is going to take advantage of what we have on offense to have a SB shot, it starts with keeping Cutler. The draft and FA will be used to solidify the defense. Draft a C/G and then draft heavy CB, DT, and S. The Bears are not far off and regardless of what happens the rest of this season, Bear nation will have high hopes going into 2014. Let Cutler go, and the Trestman era is over. We have a 2 year window left with the offensive core and counting on McCown to stay healthy and rookie to groom is doom. Emery knows it and will sign both Cutler and McCown, so take your money to Vegas and bet Da Bears 2014!!!

Safety is a need, but not as big of one as the D-Line and MLB. A safety does no good if you can't stop a RB at the LOS.

I think if our defense stayed relatively healthy, it would've been in the upper half. Not having a solid MLB does hurt, Bostic just isn't ready. Plus all the other losses, just hasn't been our year on that side of the ball.

Anything that will set off the metal detector you will want out, otherwise they will ask you to remove it until the detector shows you're clean. I went to the first game of the season, the Soldier Field wifi wasn't running yet.

Anything with metal will need to be out of the pockets. I would either turn the data off of the phone or try to find a wifi connection (I used a Verizon setup there). That will drain the battery in a quarter searching for signal. If possible, experience the tailgating. Chicago fans know how to get that done the right way!

Oh sometimes I may it was about putting connections together. Like how I'd also like to see us sign DE Michael Bennett too.

It was a pipe dream joke... they have great things going for them, no way would they trade their youth

I like those picks, all in the same line that I'm thinking. Nix/Hagelman would be a great addition. I'd like to see size up front to plug those running lanes which has destroyed us. Maybe we can trade Peppers to Stl for Chris Long. Stl can have the NC connection and we can have the Longs.

He seemed to walk fine at STL? I didn't see a cast either....but who knows?

I don't think there will be any trades unless we can trade down and I don't think we will cut as many players either because our team is depleted with UFA's. The defense is struggling at the front 7 first, they over pursue and get swallowed. For this team to improve, we need 2 DTs and I wouldn't rule out another MLB because the 3 playing now have been horrible. I think Bostic will make a fine WLB, but not so sure about the MLB. I don't expect Melton back and would prefer we get bigger up front. I would love to see Nix or Hageman in rd1.

The good thing is Bostic and Greene are getting valuable experience, they should only improve. Tillman just mentioned that he'd be open to playing S, and I think with his experience he can help guide Conte to improve. If we can resign Jennings, then we are looking at finding one starter in the backfield. I think when our pick comes up, we will have a handful of talent at CB were we can find that starter.

I don't know if they will Melton back. His asset was being able to pentrate using speed and he may have lost some of that. I think they take a page out of our blocking philosphy and realize you need to wreck havoc up front in the middle (Fairly, Suh, and Raghi). Thats why they wanted Long inside. This draft has a lot of CB talent, maybe we go that route or take a flyer on a guy that made it to the 2nd?

First we would have to re-sign him. I think he has played LG well also, so would we want to move him.

Not much has changed in my draft thoughts. I'd be looking at going the same route. 1 DT Ra'Shede Hageman Minnesota - love if he's availabe (Timmy Jernigan DT FSU #2) 2 CB Justin Gilbert OK St- size/speed combo and can play man 3 SS Ed Reynolds Stanford 4 C Hroniss Grasu Oregon-Need youth/strength added inside 5 WR Brandin Cooks Oregon St-slot rec 6 CB Wayne Lyons Stanford-more size/speed. 6 QB Bryn Renner NC- accuarate pocket QB development prospect

Thing about a stud safety, with out pressure up front he's less effective. It all depends on whose available when we select. I'm on board for a DT, Melton will get to test the waters and will probably sign elsewhere.