dawhizz

I certainly understand that Williams is considered a backup at tackle. However, I'm fairly certain we are counting on him starting at guard if he's not at tackle. So if Webb gets hurt, you are moving Williams from G to T and moving a new G in. Or you're moving Carimi to LT and moving Louis into RT. The point of having a swing tackle is if a starting T gets hurt, you only have to swap the swing tackle in, instead of having to change at least two positions to account for the injury. That's why it's a valuable commodity - to minimize change on the line and maintain as much consistency as possible. If you have confidence in Horn at that position, fine, but you're putting confidence in an undrafted player who has been here two years and never played a down in the NFL. I'd rather take a guy in the draft and develop him in that role with an eye towards competing for the LT spot like Massie or even Nate Potter. You say that we'll upgrade on scheme alone. Maybe that's true, but why chance it when you can also upgrade on talent? Why would you say "this new scheme will really help us out" and then just trust that that's all you needed to do before you saw it in action? As for DT, there are three we can count on at DT - Melton (I assume they'll keep him at DT), Paea, and Toeaina. Izzy can play there, but is better at DE and that's where he's been most successful. I like to think he's found a home at DE and part of the problem with his production has been the Bears constantly jerking him around from DE to DT and back, having him bulk up and then slim down. Keep him at DE. The other DT listed is Jordan Miller, who I've never heard of in my life. Do you think he's going to be active on game days next year? If he makes it off the practice squad I'd be shocked. The Bears lost two veterans, Adams and Okoye, and have no one currently on the roster to replace their snaps, although I would acknowledge that they are counting on Paea to step up his involvement. So I'd argue that a 4th DT (which is what any DT drafted would automatically be) is much more valuable to this team than a 6th/7th CB (which is what you got in Frey and McCoy). So while, as I said, I hope I'm wrong, sadly, I'm not. Cheers!

C and close to D. Listen, obviously every team has their own method and draft board and if we wanted to excuse everything that way, everyone would get an A. What you look at is needs addressed, the qualities of the players drafted, and the value of the picks, and when I look at it that way, this draft looks as bad or worse than any JA draft. Even JA drafts had at least one second day pick where you said "that was one of the best guys on the board and fills a need." Looking at the picks - McClellin - I'm OK with it, but seemed a little high. - Jeffery - I admittedly really like this pick. - Hardin - At least a round too early and at a position where we already have two young starters we seem to like. Plus couldn't stay healthy in college. You don't draft a guy in the third round and justify by saying "he will compete for 3rd or 4th safety and play special teams, especially on a team with already great special teams. This team doesn't gain any wins by going from "really good special teams" to "really really good special teams." We did need depth at safety, but not this early. - Rodriguez - Maybe he's the next Aaron Hernandez, but, again, he's a reach in the 4th round, short for a TE, and will apparently push Clutts at FB, even though Clutts did a great job last year. I thought this team was high on Kyle Adams to fill this exact same role before he got hurt last year, and Adams at least has legit size. Character issues here as well. - Frey - Another player many had going undrafted, so I question value. Plus this team currently rolls 5 deep at CB (Tillman, Wilhite, Hayden, Moore, Jennings), so he seems at best practice squad material. - McCoy - Same as above, only moreso. I guess he's a great returner, but we have Hester and Weems already. How does he ever see the field, let alone make the team? Meanwhile we have only 3 DTs who figure to get playing time and no swing OT, two positions you had multiple chances to address. Emery apparently said after the draft that they took players they could see helping this team win games next year. After the first two picks, how is that even remotely possible? I certainly hope I'm wrong. I hope these guys are great. I will root hard for them. But if you're asking for a grade right now, I'm not impressed.

I have to think it will be a DT. Maybe Kheeston Randle?

Shocked so many corners are going before Dennard.

I admit I am somewhat troubled that we haven't drafted a single player without either an injury history or a character concern. I'm all for rolling the dice, but let's try for one guy who is a good guy and hasn't been seriously injured.

If you wanted to go TE, why not Orson Charles? Here's the one thing that I'll say - the Bears have no excuse for a bad O-line this year. I don't want to hear about injuries or scheme or anything.

I'm guessing DT in round 4 - mayeb Jared Crick (to keep the injury-prone player run going . . .)? I would prefer a swing tackle (Sanders, Massie, Potter), but it seems they are pretty comfortable with O-line.

I can't say I'm overly thrilled with the draft so far, but one thing we have seen that has been missing in recent years is SIZE. Justin Gage is the only WR I can remember in the last decade with Jeffrey's size (unless you count Marcus Monk, and I don't) and with all the safeties we have seen the Bears draft, I don't remember seeing one much over 6'0".

Bad pick that is too reminiscent of the JA tenure. Spending three straight third round picks on a safety doesn't make much sense to me. I guess we're going to have the best special teams in the world, but let's upgrade the units that are supposed to be scoring and keeping other teams from scoring. I have a hard time believing Brandon Hardin will make more plays next year than Brandon Thompson would.

Personally, I'm hoping for Massie as a swing tackle or Brandon Thompson.

Wouldn't it be intersting if they ended up taking Dennard in the 3rd after taking Jeffery? I wouldn't rule it out - his skill set fits well with cover 2 and I've heard him compared to Javier Arenas, who the Chiefs took when Emery was there.

Love it. Huge drop off at WR after Jeffery and Randle, and they move up to make sure they get the guy the prefer.

I'd be fine with Hill. I'll also say that while I wasn't wild about Jonathan Martin in the first, I'd have no problem with him in the second.

I'm jumping in late here, but why is everyone acting like this is a college LB that was projected to LB in the NFL, that we are converting to DE? You realize he played DE in college, right? The reason he's being considered as a 3-4 LB is because 1) he's fast, 2) he's fluid, and 3) he showed an ability to drop back into coverage while he was in college. Those are all qualities I don't mind having in a DE. Now, maybe he works out and maybe he doesn't, but a projection to OLB in a 3-4 doesn't mean that much to me here when he played DE in college, especially if he's not undersized (he's comparable to Mercilus and Ingram).

I consider no news good news.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/footb...0,6270139.story So, I'm thinking: Floyd Mercilus Coples Then who? Probably at least one DT (Brockers probably). Other DEs probably, but would it be: Ingram? McClellin? OT? I wonder if guys like DeCastro or Kuechly might be on their board (I would assume not, since they are unlikely to be available). Maybe Kirkpatrick? Guess we'll find out in a couple days . . .

This is a bit of blend of what I want to happen and what I think will happen, based on my review of Emery's drafts with the Chiefs and Falcons: 1) Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina - I think he'll slide and I think we'll take him. Makes a ton of sense here where one NC lineman with motor concerns can learn from another. 2) Jeff Allen, OT, Illinois - The Bears' comfort with LT turns out to be a bit of a smokescreen. Allen has been moving up and is known as one of the best pass protectors in the draft, just what this team needs. Plus, Emery has a history with Illinois linemen (drafted Jon Asamoah). 3) Brian Quick, WR, Appalachain State - Emery loves big WRs (see Jonathan Baldwin) and isn't afraid to get them from small schools (Laurant Robinson from Illinois State, Quinton Lawrence from McNeese State). If Quick lasts this long, you draft him and tell him to watch everything Brandon Marshall does. 4) Mike Daniels, DT, Iowa - Emery tends to get his DL from big schools, and the Bears need a rotational pass-rushing DT with Paea likely to step in at Anthony Adams' run-stopping DT role. 5) Chris Rainey, RB/WR/KR, Florida - A huge curveball, I know, but Emery was with the Chiefs when they drafted McCluster even with Charles and Jones on the roster, and I can see him envisioning a similar player in Rainey. I wouldn't take him, but I can see Emery doing it. 6) Brandon Hardin, S, Oregon State - A player the Bears have brought in for a visit and they need another body at safety. 7) Danny Trevathan, LB, Kentucky - Even with the addition of Geno Hayes, the Bears need depth at LB. Emery seems to like LBs with big college production (Curtis Lofton, Michael Boley, Stephan Nicholas) and Trevathan led the SEC in tackles the last two years.

1) Alshon Jeffrey, WR, South Carolina - I don't hate him as a player, but I think the worst thing that can happen to him is for him to be a first round pick. 2) Mitchell Schwartz, OT, Cal - A college left tackle that can't stay there - if the Bears draft a tackle, he'd better be able to compete at LT. 3) Markelle Martin, S, Oklahoma State - Another 3rd round safety, except this one has worse ball skills than either of the ones we have.

IMO, a safety or CB would be much more likely to get lost in the shuffle than a top flight WR (unless you think you can get Barron in the 1st, which I doubt).

I certainly appreciate everything that Hester has done for this team - he's been the only aspect of this team I am consistently excited about. However, given the league changes that minimize the impacts of a returner, the Bears' apparent dissatisfaction with him as a WR (evidenced by the additions of Thomas and Weems, their focus on top WR prospects, and that he had his lowest receptions since his rookie year last year), and the fact that his contract is up in 2013, would you consider trading Hester if the right deal came along? I'm not sure what that would be (3rd round pick maybe?), I just look at the way last season andthis offseason has unfolded, and wonder how expendable he is.

I agree, but I'm actually thinking the more likely move is in the 2nd round. Say they go DL in the 1st (most indications are that's where they're leaning). They've obviously done their homework on the top WRs like Jeffrey, Hill, Randle, and Wright. I can envision a strategy where they take whatever DL they like in the first, then sit back in the 2nd until one of those guys is still on the board at around the 5-10 spot in the 2nd round (seems a safe bet someone will slide to around that area), then the Bears jump up to get him.

He's one of the guys that was discussed coming back to the Bears if the Lance Briggs trade with the Redskins had ever been consummated, if I remember right.

Also, according to Peter King, the Bears are bringing LB Donta Hightower in tomorrow.

I would be pretty stoked if we took a DL/OL in the first and managed to get Randle, Hill, or Jeffrey in the second, even if it took a trade up.

Here's the original article: http://www.draftinsider.net/blog/?p=6265