dawhizz

Except I fear our defense is closer to the Texans than the Ravens...

What about Galloway? He was hurt last year, but had 1,000 yards each of the previous three years and he's still pretty fast.

Does this plan upgrade us anywhere? QB is about the same. RB is about the same, except if Forte gets hurt, we have no legitimate back-up for him. WR is demonstrably worse, which is saying something. I didn't love Booker and Lloyd, but I certainly have more confidence in them at this point than a 2nd year player who didn't catch a pass, a couple rookies, and Rashied Davis. OL is the same or worse, depending on how Williams does in his first real season. DL is essentially the same, except Sidbury has apparently killed Mark Anderson. LB is about the same with Williams instead of Hillenmeyer. CB may be a bit of an upgrade if you LOVE Byrd. S is OK, as long as you feel comfortable replacing the leader of the defense who just couldn't move as well as he used to with a guy who can fly but is a bust so far. Unless you're planning on tanking, this plan doesn't make much sense to me.

I think the best compliment back is Correll Buckhalter, a guy who actually seems comfortable coming off the bench and can do everything pretty well (run, block, catch). That's the guy I would go after if I was the Bears.

Not sure that deserved caps...

My guess is the Bears go after a guy like Reggie Williams (who has a contract option in Jacksonville, but probably won't be back). There's not a lot to be excited about out there, but I think the Bears have been hurt by not having a guy with size who can, at least theoretically, go up and get a jump ball. He's a young guy who could still develop, IMO.

Am I the only one who would have no problem whatsoever giving up a 1st and 4th THIS YEAR for Boldin? This team is in desperate need of a stud WR, and while the Bears have their share of problems, I don't a see a glaring 1st round need. If that's what it will take, I'm fine with it, especially if we end up with a decent comp pick for Berrian.

From Don Banks' "Snap Judgments" at cnnsi.com: By some estimates, it's going to be a double-digit year in terms of NFL head coaching changes. But if there's any silver lining to all that impending turnover, it's that teams looking for an upgrade at defensive coordinator might find an unbelievably deep buyer's market to choose from. How so? Well, consider the potential defensive coordinator prospects if there's a bloodbath in the head coaching ranks: Wade Phillips, Romeo Crennel, Marvin Lewis, Rod Marinelli, Jim Haslett, Dick Jauron, Herman Edwards and Mike Singletary are all ex-defensive coaches who are thought to be in varying degrees of jeopardy. And then there are the current defensive coordinators who could be free if the head coach they work for gets canned: Oakland's Rob Ryan, Philadelphia's Jim Johnson, Cincinnati's Mike Zimmer, Minnesota's Leslie Frazier, Kansas City's Gunther Cunningham, and San Diego's Ron Rivera. Throw into that group one more name: Ex-San Diego defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell, who was fired and replaced by Rivera in October. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ With the Bears defense clearly not getting it done against the pass, I wonder if a change at defensive coordinator would be in order considering the strong crop Banks mentions. I know the name everyone will jump on is Singletary, but that seems like it would be a horrible idea if you're someone who actually wants Lovie to succeed, because after the first loss, everyone in Chicago will be clamoring for Singletary as head coach. But a guy like Crennel or Lewis, if they just had to focus on defense, could be as important an addition as the Bears can make this offseason.

This is probably bad news for one of the on-the-bubble receivers (Monk, Hass, etc.). If the BEars had gone in with Forte, AP & Wolfe, you'd think an extra receiver would be retained for special teams purposes, since AP would presumably be the primary back-up to Forte and you'd want him on the field for ST less. Now, they can use AP more on ST, which helps to justify keeping 4 RBs (unless Wolfe is horrible), and that extra receiver is out of luck.

Yes, you're right. Two productive first day picks in the last three years is a super job. Look, I've given JA plenty of slack in the past, but his draft record is not looking good. Tommie Harris is the only first round pick who has really lived up to what you expect a first round pick to be (I like Olson, but it's still early). Has he done well in the middle rounds sometimes, sure he has. But so has every team. Finding diamonds in the rough is a great attribute for a scout. But I expect the GM to do a little bit more than that.

This puts the vomit on the crap sandwich that is Jerry Angelo's draft record.

My guess is that they see McBride's size and quickness as a better slot matchup than Graham, who is bigger and better matchup on the outside receivers. So they want to keep McBride in the slot to give him reps there and give Graham reps on the outside, particularly with their problems with injuries to Tillman and Vasher in recent years. I wouldn't read it as seeing Graham as better than McBride, but as a better matchup given what they ask those spots to do.

http://www.pastapadre.com/2645/madden-09-p...tings#more-2645 Arguably OT, but interesting reading for those who care. The Bears overall are rated 80 (3rd in the division ahead of the Lions at 78). Depth Charts look like this: QB: Grossman (79), Orton (76) RB: Benson (80), Forte (80), Peterson (78) FB: McKie (84) WR: Booker (82), Hester (81), Bennett (79) TE: Clark (86), Olson (85), Davis (72) LT: Williams (79), St Clair (73) LG: Metcalf (78), Beekman (78) C: Kreutz (93) RG: Garza (85), Beekman (76) RT: Tait (86), Barton (70) LE: Ogun (89), Anderson (83), Idonije (76) RE: Brown (85), Anderson (84), Bazuin (76) DT: Harris (95), Dvoracek (79), Harrison (77) LOLB: Hillenmeyer (79), Okwo (70) MLB: Urlacher (98), Wilson (69) ROLB: Briggs (95), Williams (73) CB: Tillman (91), Vasher (91), McBride (78) FS: Brown (87), Manning (82), Gattis (73) SS: McGowan (83), Steltz (73)

According to the SCORE, he had his knee scoped and he'll be out for a bit. Didn't hear specifics on the injury. In other breaking news, William Perry is fat.

Pro Football Weekly seems to be only one who reported it, and seem to also be the only ones continuing to reference it (check out their review of the Bears draft). But there's been no report or confirmation of where it came from or why anyone's giving it more credence than the people who said there was a team in the teens who wanted Chad Henne. You can also dispute the who "short arms" argument PFW is also trying to keep alive. His arms are short than some others (32 7/8), but they're the EXACT SAME LENGTH as Jake Long's. For anyone to think that concerns about short arms would never arise until the week before the draft is silly, considering most prospects, especially offensive linemen, have had their arms measured probably 5 times in the last three months. Not sure what PFW's deal is, but they need to get over it.

Either you like the pick or you don't, but the Pats were poised to take Zack Bowman if the Bears hadn't: http://blogs.suntimes.com/bears/2008/04/be...re_pa.html#more

You can apparently also add Ashton Gronewald, WR, Missouri Science & Technology. Hard to believe he wasn't drafted... http://www.whig.com/Gronewold-for-4-29-08

Other "expert" grades: Pete Prisco, Sportsline: Best pick: Third-round pick Marcus Harrison will become a force in the middle of their defense. Some off-field issues prevented him from being a higher selection. Questionable move: Taking tackle Chris Williams with the 14th pick in the first round came after several teams took him off their boards for medical reasons (back). Chicago better hope that doesn't become a problem. Second-day gem: I love tight end Kellen Davis, whom the Bears selected in the fifth round. He's a strong, athletic player. Overall grade: B+. Aside from the questions about Williams, they did a nice job. Harrison will make this draft. Mel Kiper: Chicago Bears: GRADE: B Chris Williams is the left tackle the Bears need from a pass-protection standpoint, and he'll start as a rookie. Matt Forte is a hard-nosed running back. He's not flashy, but he's elusive. I like what the Bears did on Day 2, starting with Vanderbilt WR Earl Bennett, who reminds me of Hines Ward. Arkansas DT Marcus Harrison lasted until the third round because of some off-field concerns, and Nebraska's Zack Bowman is a big corner who was once projected as a first-round pick, before he suffered injuries to both knees. LSU safety Craig Steltz -- who reminds me of former Bear Doug Plank -- will be a solid special teams player and could push for a starting job. With his height, Arkansas WR Marcus Monk could be a red zone threat and he qualifies as a very good seventh-round pick. He looked like a second-rounder after his junior year, and ran a 4.42 in the 40-yard dash, which is excellent for a 6-foot-4, 220-pound receiver. Tight end Kellen Davis has tremendous athletic ability but he needs to be more consistent. Clifton Brown, Sporting News: Bears. No, they didn't get a quarterback, but they got three players -- Chris Williams, Matt Forte and Earl Bennett -- who can help an anemic offense, plus a defensive tackle (Marcus Harrison) who has first-round skills. (B-)

Don't know if any other draft picks will be introduced. Chicagobears.com will have the feed.

I've been a defender generally, but it's hard to give them more than a C. Williams - We needed a LT. We got a LT. We know he can play LT. Maybe he isn't a great run-blocker, but I'd venture it's easier to get stronger and meaner than it is to teach pass-blocking technique to someone who doesn't have great feet. Forte - I like what I've seen. Seems above average at everything and I think he'll be the back this year. Bennett - Another good pick. We have speed guys in Hester and Bradley (theoretically at least). Booker a good big target. I like Bennett as a 3rd or 4th to start the season and make the tough catches over the middle, for first downs, etc. Hard not to like the Hines Ward comparisons. Harrison - This was where you get a QB. Upgrade DT sometime, fine. But when you have two QBs on the roster and no real plan for the future, you HAVE to get a functional QB in the draft, not take injury-prone character risks. Maybe he'll be a fine player. Steltz - A guy I took in every mock draft I ran for the Bears. Good fit in the system & can play on special teams. Don't let the door hit your a$$ on the way out, Arch. Bowman - If he's healthy, he's got all the talent in the world. I'm actually OK with this pick. I don't think Ricky Manning Jr's long for this team, which leaves you with only 4 CBs on the roster. Probably worth the risk as much as Jake Ikuguonu was for the Iggles. Davis - The Bears did have a need for a 3rd TE in the draft somewhere, though I would have preferred a better pure blocker. He certainly has the size to block and speed to burn, so he's got the skill set you want. Baldwin - I didn't know anything about him, but I don't know why. He's got legit DE size (6'2" 270) and was really productive last year with 18 1/2 TFL and 8 sacks. Seems like he'd be worth a pick to me, though it's hard for me to see how he makes the team with Ogun, Brown, Anderson, Bazuin, and Idonije. Adams - Too late to start addressing the O-line, particularly since none of the other players the Bears have drafted this late on O-line have done anything. To me, that says you need to make it more of a priority, and the Bears didn't. Maybe we're in the market to trade a DE for an OG. LaRocque - Should step right in if Urlacher sits out Barton - Injured, but probably worth the risk here. 4-year starter at a top program. He may be your back-up RT at the moment. Monk - At least he brings a size dimension the Bears don't really have. He wouldn't have to try hard to be as good as Justin Gage, but hope they actually give Mike Hass a shot this year. So, I actually liked most of the picks. But the inability to recognize the glaring need at QB and OG are pretty inexcusable. Methinks the Bears are banking on signing whoever doesn't make the Bucs (Gradkowski probably).

My main concern is all the guys with an injury history. I understand getting a couple of those guys, especially with Jerry's habit of redshirting players, but after Earl Bennett, seems like everyone's been injured recently: Harrison - tore left ACL in 2007 Spring practice Steltz - Shoulder injury in National Championship Bowman - left ACL 2006, right pateller tendon 2007 Barton - offseason arthroscopic surgery on shoulder after a strain in the Senior Bowl practices Monk - Two surgeries on right knee this year Maybe a good team can make those picks. I'm not sure the Bears can. Maybe we should have drafted a cadaver for spare parts...

Bears | N. Hill agrees to terms Sun, 27 Apr 2008 16:47:12 -0700 Brad Biggs, of the Chicago Sun-Times, reports the Chicago Bears have agreed to terms with undrafted free-agent QB Nick Hill (Southern Illinois). Terms of the contract were not disclosed. I kind of figured they had something worked out with him if he didn't get drafted. He was a draftable player though.

Plus, I'm not sure how much longer Manning Jr. is with this team. I wouldn't be shocked to see Bowman redshirt for a year like we do with some picks to make sure he's healthy.

Woodson can't be THIS bad, can he? So he has a hitch in his mechanics. At least he has a strong arm,

This is not what I had in mind when I wanted "weapons" on offense... As a bonus, he's represented by Rosenass: "Second round is what we're hoping for and we feel good about it," said Davis, who like Thomas is represented by NFL super agent Drew Rosenhaus.