bradjock

Wootton is listed at 6-6 270. Our typical DT weighs around 300 pounds. That means we'd need Wootton to gain 30 pounds. What we really need to happen is for Wootton to outplay Idonije and win the RDE position. Despite what they say, I only expect to see McClellen on nickel downs.

I'd say it's surprising just because we can keep up to 90 players on the off season roster. Winston was actually good enough to get into a few games. Most of the guys coming to training camp won't get that opportunity.

True, but more often than not, guys were benched for being real bad. Brandon Merriweather and Chris Harris went from being starters one game to benched the next for getting beat deep in coverage repeatedly. Considering Chris Harris had a damn good year in 2010, Merriweather was a pro-bowler, Major Wright was a 2nd round player, and Craig Stettz a veteran 4th round pick, it's concerning Conte was lifted to the starting position not because he earned it, but because everyone else was worse.

The worst part of the 2007 draft was the Bazuin, Wolf, and Okwo were all considered significant reaches. It was like everyone new they were bad except for the Bears. Makes me worry about the Hardin pick.

Good question about the history. Could somebody fill this in? I joined bearstalk.com in the March of 2004. At the time I wanted to know if we were going to sign John Tait. Since I wanted more information I googled "chicago bears chat" or something like that. Bearstalk.com came up right away. On a side note, would that method work today? This seems to be sort of an exclusive club with few new members. We don't have many random people finding this site like I did. Am I wrong about that? I still fell like a newbie compared to those who were here long before me. I remember hearing there was a site before bearstalk.com. I think it was called the same, it just had a different format.

Ideally, yes. But we have trouble in short yardage situation and it's nice to have the "lead blocker." Rodriguez is listed at 244 and Clutts 260. More importantly, it's about roles. We want Rodriguez to be the deep field threat. He wants to be the deep field threat. Will he give it his all in the "bowling ball" role?

I'll add this: most agreed the #1 target in the draft would be a d-lineman with the ability to get to the QB. What we didn't expect was that we would focus on a smaller outside speed rusher. What gave me clarity on this is when I heard we passed on Mercilus because he was more of an inside pass rusher. We specifcally targeted a guy who could turn the corner and ge the edge. When Rogers, Stafford, or whoever is 3rd and 5, McClellen will line up to try and close before the QB can release. The focus will be on going past or around, not going through. I don't believe for a second we'll see McClellen on run downs his rookie year. But if he can do what we can drafted him to do, Lovie shouldn't have to worry about getting fired.

Why don't we just bring back Anthony Adams? He was solid as the NT, just never anything special. It's far from ideal, but at this point you have to take what you can get. Also, Tommie Harris is available. He looked ok at times for San Diego. Like Adams, not ideal.

I'm sure it was to some extent. But I remeber the first game they kept showing slowed down replays how J Webb was doing a great job stopping Allen one on one. The 2nd game they kept showing replays of how Webb appeared to looking for something on the ground and allen was bursting past.

"Jock" is an abbreviation of my last name "Jockisch." Jockisch is pronounced "Joke-ish" although it looks like "Jock-itch" and the correct German pronunciation is "Yoke-ish." Growing up in Central IL near Peoria, in terms of baseball, you have to declare youself as a Cardinal or Cub fan. But everybody is a Bear fan. I really fell in love at age 12 when they won the Super Bowl. This love ratcheted up in the '90's for several years as a dated a girl from Palos Hills whose family had season tickets, so I went to at least two games a year.

You say, "if the great Kellen Davis doesn't pan out." I'm thinking Davis was a 5th round pick. Pretty good blocker, pretty good hands, and a decent red zone threat. He's never going to stretch the field and he's never going to "wow" you. He is a very average starting NFL TE. No more, no less. He is what he is. With Hernandez you're hoping he can be a "game-changer" at the position. I don't expect him to do much his rookie year.

It might be our best option. Hell, J Webb looked great the first time we played Minnesota last year. The 2nd time he was an embarrassment to the point we had to triple team Jared Allen. Was the first time a fluke? Was the 2nd time injuries?

I'm convinced C Williams is moving back to tackle and this was our plan all along. We already have 8 o-lineman who are a likly to make the roster IMO. When you look at these guys/projected starters: LT Chris Williams/J Webb--these two battle it out for the spot IMO LG Chris Spencer--it's reported we loved how he played at guard. He'll start C Robert Garza--he's aging, but he's the line leader who has a good rapport with Cutler RG Lance Louis--he kicked ass at this spot before he had to move out to RT RT Gabe Carimi--it's his job if he's healthy Others: Chilo Rachal--a 5th year player and former 2nd round pick. He'll make the team. Edwin Williams--he started 5 games in 2010 and 7 in 2011. We seem to like him. He'll make the team.

I give it a B+. Here's my reasons: 1. Shea McClellin--We decided in order to get to the QB we needed an undersized speedy DE. This is different from the typical cover 2 thinking. Getting to the QB was priority #1 and we addressed it. 2. Alshon Jeffery--If we hadn't pick up Marshall, we'd be saying, "Jeffery is our new #1 WR." Great pick. 3. Brandon Hardin--The league is becoming TE driven and we picked up a guy with the size to match up with TE's. 4. Evan Rodriguez--All last season we asked why the Bears didn't have a TE who can make high-light reel plays. 5. Isaiah Frey--see below 6. Greg McCoy--we have a lot of mediocre & aging CB's on the roster. Hopefully one of these guys can stick. At worst, they can probably play special teams.

Emery is saying Rodriguez has the ability to at adequate lead blocker, while at the same time, be a game-changing threat teams have to account for. I guess it's possiblel it could become good at blocking . . . Kind of reminds me of when Martz has Olsen line up as a FB on 4th & 1. Sounded good in theory, but it "blew-up." How much are the Patriots TE's asked to block for the run game? I know other league TE's like Jimmy Graham and the TE from San Diego don't do do much.

I hope Patrick Mannelly is healthy. Although, he's getting up there in age.

Yep. PFT listed him as one of the top UFA's available. Considering we did not address the o-line, I figured we might be his destination.

Good. Good depth for competition. In fact we have depth at every position except offensive and defensive tackle. At DT I look for us to resign Anthony Adams. At OT I look for us to sign about 6 unrestricted free agents . . .

Angelo couldn't draft a good offensive lineman in the first round if his life depended on it, but he owned round #7. I look for Emery to continue that tradition and draft our new starting left tackle here shortly. Any predictions?

I LOVE IT when everybody gets pissed on draft day! It livens things up a bit.

I hope everyone understands Rodriguez won't play fullback. I know I cursed out loud when our pick came across ESPN with "FB" next to it. Rodriguez is not physical or a good blocker. He's more of a speed guy. You draft him in the 4th round hoping he can stretch the field and be a game changer.

CAN HE PLAY SPECiAL TEAMS!!!!????!!!!!!!

But thats the thing, of course any GM is going to be somewhat criticized. As of now Emery looks like the same guy we had. Stretch/Project/Players that do not fit our scheme and also a complete ineptitude to address the OLine. This is the reason there are more pessimists than optimists. I am sure we all hope most of these early rounders pan out but as of now it seems extremely questionable. Two things I disagree with: 1. When did Angelo get players who did not fit our scheme? Example? 2. As for the o-line, JA never groomed young talent. When you think of the super bowl line he put together with John Tait, Reuben Brown, Olin Kreutz, Roberto Garza, and Fred Miller--that's a pretty damn impressive line . . . at least by comparison. It's been 27 years since one of the most storied franchises has won a Super Bowl and since then have only been in one. There are smaller market teams like the Denver Broncos who have been to the dance 5 times in that span....