ASHKUM BEAR

Agreed! Please don't let one article saying he was manhandled label him. The article was apparently written to keep the pot stirring. Lets give these rookies some time to adjust to the NFL. I remember reading people saying the Urlacher pick was a bust his rookie year. One thing for sure is these kids have drive to succeed and they know they are on a hungry team with superstars in pursuit of a ring.

Report from day one TC: "The guy who appeared to be the most consistent Thursday, at least in terms of catching the ball, was rookie tight end Evan Rodriguez, who struggled during minicamp" I still sticking with this guy being a rock for Cutler. Hopefully they continue developing a chemistry early on.

It's been a little quiet lately (besides reading the "great debates" by Wesson and Jason), so lets start a discussion on players that may surprise us a little by contributing more than we might expect in 2012. I'm gonna give an offensive and a defensive player that I think will make a mark on the 2012 season. Offensively, I think we will see some great plays this year and I hope Alshon Jeffery makes a mark, but the one guy I think that will surprise us all with making big plays is TE Evan Rodriguez. I think he will rack up a lot of YAC and be Cutlers check down and them two will develop great chemistry. Defensively, I think Shea McClellin will also make his mark, but the surprise player will be S Brandin Hardin. He has great physical tools, size, and once Lovie gains trust or Major Wright goes down Hardin will come in and make the backfield a nightmare for opposing WR's. I think he will make his mark later in the season, but when he does it will be a bigger one than any of us would've thought. I can't wait for training camp to open and have a feeling Bourbonnias won't be ready!!!!

Come on, don't you know that I am really Michael McCaskey! Where do you think I got the idea to finally fire Jerry Angelo from, that's right Talk bears!

If Jeffery is all that, he would've been a top 10 pick and not a 2nd RD. He has to take steps in the NFL and if things are given to him, he won't put in any of the work. Opening day, he will be probably 4th on the depth chart, but later in the season he will hopefully earn more playing time.

Maybe this is the year it all comes together for Devin? If he could just grasp certain aspects of the game and now with a huge threat playing the opposite side, Devin could explode with his athletic talent. We will see.

I would hope one of those top 7 OT's are there at 32!!!

As the process never ends in my world I am making a list of players I think the Bears will keep a keen eye on as they draw out there scouting schedule. Next years draft, they will need two homeruns with the the first two picks as they have no 3rd RD. If things fall right this season, this should be a deep OLT draft. The positions as of today that they will need to add youth: OLT Chris Faulk LSU 6-6 325 Taylor Lewan Mich 6-8 302 Jake Matthews Tex AM 6-5 305 Oday Aboushi Virg 6-6 310 Luke Joeckel Tex AM 6-6 310 Ricky Wagner Wis 6-6 322 DJ Fluker Ala 6-6 335 DT Johnathan Hankins Ohio St 6-3 318 Star Lotuleile Utah 6-4 325 Kawann Short Purdue 6-3 610 Jessie Williams Ala 6-4 320 Kwame Geathers Ga 6-6 328 Sharrif Floyd Fl 6-3 205 CB Xavier Rhodes Flor St 6-2 215 Micah Hyde Iowa 6-1 185 LB Nico Johnson Ala 6-3 245 Jelani Jenkins FL 6-1 223 Tom Wort OK 6-0 229 Kevin Reddick NC 6-3 240 C Khaled Holmes USC 6-4 305 Dalton Freemon Clem 6-5 285 James Ferentz Ia 6-2 284 My first take (and I know its early lol) RD1- Luke Joeckel OLT Virginia RD2- Jessie Williams DT Alabama RD3- (traded to Miami-Brandon Marshall) RD4- LB RD5- C RD6- CB RD7- RB

I wonder how much he's sitting back and letting Tommie Harris mentor him? Tommie lost a lot of incentive based $$ with the injuries and Lovie benching him. I'm sure TH was bitter.

The oline needs 5 talented players, that's why hitting the draft consistantly with prospects is important. Chris Williams is heading into his last season on contract and Webb hasn't done anything but hold the door. Carimi suffered a serious knee injury, which I hope he can rebound and live up to being an all-pro at RT player. Garza is aging and we have hand me downs at G. We need to add young talent and some point.

They won't be "the" worst in the league, that leaves 31 other places and I'm confident they will still be in the bottom half. That is an improvement, but still a concern that needs to be addressed. Here's to hoping next year we get a RD1 or RD2 talent to add to the mix

Seems like a good chunk on this board and pretty much all the "professional" websites think different. Even on his good streak, he was running for his life every play, so going off sacks doesn't tell the whole story. Just a different opinion is all. Also, we are not going to add a vet in the mix at this point, so we have the guys we are going to have. I think they will improve with a offseason program, but they will also be learning different plays/schemes. Next year they will be adding a player or two from the draft. Emery said they had a OL player in sight with this year 2nd RD pick, but Jeffery was by far the bpa that would help the Bears win. I can live with that.

Grew up in the small town of Ashkum 70 miles south of Chicago off of I-57. Been a Bears fan for life, especially after 1985 as I remember being in 5th grade getting to watch the superbowl shuffle on one of those cart tv's with a vcr. I try to go to one away game each year along with one or two home games. It amazes me how many Bears fans travel and tailgate on the road games.

It's not directed towards one person, it's everything I read, hear on the radio etc. Like I said, I was deflated myself after I heard McClellin and I even said after Hardin another freaking safety in the 3rd RD? Myself personally had different ideas on who I would've taken. Now I'm reading more about these guys and think they can be huge contributors next season.

Every year its the same old whining and crying after the draft because we didn't take this player or that player. I start reading mocks in August and have hope built up come April, then feel deflated after we take a name I'm not familiar with like McClellin or Hardin. I remember last year after the Conte pick there was a lot of it, well he contributed very well and he was a 3rd RD pick? That's pretty good and he is now looking to be a starter come 2012. Lets ease up on the whining and find hope for the guys we have. The positions we drafted were very well known needs and I think we have 3 starters already. So instead of wasting energy on hate, sip some kool-aid!

This guy was a top 10 pick early on because of him game. Now we have 2 Beast's at WR!!!

I agree that DT is up there too, but talent wise we can get a solid safe OT prospect. After this group, there's not much left.

You beat me to my post. I think we have to go on the oline RD2, no solid depth at OT.

Like it or not, we added to our pass rush. We will all be gellin like McClellin soon I hope. But I like what round two can bring, the other big need, OT or Oline. One will be availale come #50 Cordy Glenn G Peter Konz C John Martin OT Mike Adams OT Bobby Massie OT Jeff Allen OT Mitchell Swartz OT I hope Emery's plan comes together like he planned and adding a potential starting OLT happens in RD2.

My guess and in order is: Floyd Coples Mercilus Brockers Perry Reiff Martin/Adams Glenn

Final Mock using Emery/Lovie draft board.... RD1 Whitney Mercilus DE IL 6-4 261 4.63 40yd Mercilus has been on the draft boards from the get go. He performed well on tape and did what he had to in the combine and pro day to maintain his status. The Bears have shown interest in him and the position makes sense. RD2 Harrison Smith FS ND 6-2 213 4.56 40yd Smith was a combine climber and has caught the attention of Lovie Smith. With Wright's health always in limbo and safety a big part of Lovies D the Bears seem like the same old Bears and take another FS. RD3 Jeff Allen OLT IL 6-4 307 33-1/2 arm Allen is a legit LT that will take some time developing. Mike Tice is known for his past developments and can work with Allen to get him up to speed to compete with Webb. RD4 Marvin McNutt WR IA 6-3 216 4.54 40yd RD5 Emmanuel Acho OLB 6-1 238 RD6 Vontaze Burfict ILB 6-1 248 RD7 Kevin Koger TE

Ditto! My big board in order: RD1: Floyd WR Coples DE Cox DT Martin OT Mercilus DE Adams OT

There are certain positions that you have to invest higher in than others, and OLT in probably #2 right behind QB. I don't think Martin would be a reach at 19 and would not be upset if the Bears took him. IMO, these are positions to spend 1st picks on: 5 years of draft history shows where picks were spent in the top 10. DT-10 OT-9 QB-8 DE-6 LB-6 WR-6 CB-2 Other-4 Top 10 picks in the first RD: 2011: 3 QB, 1 OT, O DE, 1 CB, 2 WR, 2 LB, 1 DT (#11-DE JJ Watt) 2010: 1 QB, 2 OT, 0 DE, 1 CB, 0 WR, 1 LB, 3 DT...1 S (#11-OT Anthony Davis) 2009: 2 QB, 3 OT, 1 DE, 0 CB, 2 WR, 1 LB, 1 DT (#11-DE Aaron Maybin) 2008: 1 QB, 1 OT, 3 DE, 0 CB, 0 WR, 2 LB, 2 DT 1 RB (#11-CB Leodis McKelvin) 2007: 1 QB, 2 OT, 2 DE, 0 CB, 2 WR, 0 LB, 1 DT 1 S, 1 RB (#11-LB Patrick Willis) With the Bears, we can throw out QB and maybe CB because this defense says it don't need expensive CB's. That leaves OT, DE, DT, WR and LB. WR and LB are not on our A list, but will be considered.

That is off of draft tek and most of those picks were how they picked them. I switched a few later on to my likings.