bradjock

That's a heckuva a point about the big safeties. But what you're over-looking is: 1. The gaping hole we've had at safety has not improved. 2. It would cost the Bears 5 million against the cap for next year to cut Vasher. He's been bad, but not nearly bad enough to pay him 5 million to go away. Start Graham at FS and let Vasher & Moore battle it out for the LCB job. That would leave us in pretty good shape IMO.

Instead of judging the players we don't have, why not judge the players we have? Based on the guys we have, we don't have a free safety. If we think Grahahm can play FS, make the switch. The main problem with Bowman is that our safeties are more likely to get injured. Bowman lasted one game . . . why not switch him and Graham? Bowman can battle it out with Vasher & Moore for the #2 CB spot, and Graham can be the starting FS. I personally like that idea.

Helluva a move. Seriously. Graham reminds me a lot of Tillman. He's listed at 6-0 193, while Peanut's 6-1 198. We always talk about moving Tillman . . . why not Graham? The majority of the talent in the secondary is at the corner position. Two years ago, Trumaine McBride looked ok at CB. We've added Moore. We've talked about moving Bowman to FS. Moving Graham "Fixes" the FS spot and allows for competition at the RCB position. Do it.

Ever heard of try and try again? Should we not have drafted Forte because we drafted Benson in the top 5? Hey, we drafted a 2nd and 3rd round WR, neither of which panned out for us long term. Pass on WR? I know the arguments you can make, but the point is, just because we drafted some others at the position, and yet they did not workout, doesn't mean we pass on a potential stud. What you're saying makes sense, but since we drafted Tommie we've swung & missed on d-lineman more often then not. All this will be a make or break year for several of them. Does it not help that Gilbert is the one pick most around the country are giving us huge props on? Why does that scare me? In 2006 EVERY expert ripped JA a new asshole, and that year Hester, D Manning, Williams, and Anderson were all significant contributors on the Super Bowl Team. Most would agree w/ your floor/ceiling comment. While I would agree his ceiling is limited some, I think it is higher than most would give credit. I'm hoping with the addition of Cutler we'll be saying, "We ain't in Kansas anymore." Not a bad prediction. On IR'ing Melton, didn't you say in another thread that we don't use the IR to "hide" players? Still just can't get too excited about a CB not quite 5'9, and lets not pretend 5'9 would be some great size. Don't care. Moore gets results. He'll be solid at worst. I think we want to load up on SS' and plan to send them all at the QB. Don't need to cover if the QB is on his arce. Lovie always talks about having interchangeable safeties, yet we always have a guy like D Manning dropping back in coverage every play and eventually getting burnt. They might as well take turns getting burnt. Mix it up damnit. Still hope we look at him at OL and not TE, but I just like the athleticism in the 7th round. And yes, please get rid of the FB position if we are not going to upgrade it. As for Louis, assuming we keep Buenning, we have 8 pretty good o-lineman with a lot of versatility. IMO he has a snowball's chance in hell as making it as a lineman. But as a blocking TE . . .

The fact that we didn't sign a FA QB makes me think we'll sign a veteran. That's a necessity IMO. True Cutler never misses games, but neither did Tom Brady. I know a lot of you are Hanie fans but I thought the medicine woman was a great pick-up and a nice #2 . .. .

As for safety, I'm convinced we'll find our answer with one of our cornerbacks. We've already talked about moving Zack Bowman. Currently at CB: CB #1: Peanut--Solid as hell. We said we won't move him & I believe that. CB #2: Corey Graham--I rarely heard his name when he was starting. That's good. I can't see him losing the job. Nickel: Dannieal Manning--He excelled at this position and he sucks at safety. That leaves: Nathan Vasher--We ain't paying him 5 million not to show up DJ Moore--He's a football player. Who cares if he's short & slow. Trumaine McBride--Luckily for him he's good on special teams. We have way more talent at CB then at safety. Somebody needs to move.

Random general thoughts: I'd be happier with Dick Jarron Gilbert if it wasn't for Dusty & Tank. Not fair to generalize, but it is what it is. Julio's son seems to have a high floor and a low ceiling. That might be what the Dr. ordered with Cutler on board. Early prediction: Melton gets placed on the IR early. I'm marking this page and I'll be happy to point it out September 1st. DJ Moore was arguably the #1 CB when the college season ended . . . helluva a pick. We've got great depth at CB & no safeties. Interesting. I predict the guy from MTV's jackass will join Melton on the IR. I know you disagree NFO. Time will tell. Freeman: He could be the next Jamar Williams. Future special teams MVP. Afalava: You make a good point about the safeties. Are we planning on doing something different with them? Make them interchangeable? Louis: Helluva a pick. Hopefully the next John Gilmore. Can we just remove the FB position from out playbook? Kinder: I like his potential to be the next Mike Hass.

Why does it scare the hell out of me that everyone seems happy with the Bears draft???

Great pick! I do mean that in all seriousness. If you don't believe me, think of it this way: How many times last year did we fail to convert on one yard situations? We've really missed have a guy like John Gilmore who can be the "road-grating" blocker. McKie is a better receiver then a blocker. With Olsen, Clark, and Kellen Davis, wouldn't it make sense to just eliminate the fullback position from the play-book altogether?

Every year there are guys like that who drop a ton for no apparant reason. It's easy for us to read all the mocks and think "He's a 2nd rounder who's there in the 7th!" but there's a reason why these guys aren't getting picked. I'm guessing fans from every other team are saying something similar right now. Either the 32 general managers know something we don't, or everyone of them is retarded.

Jason must be going nuts right now. He wanted Duke in the 1st.

He reminds me of Rashad Johnson in that he's one helluva a player but lacks ideal size & speed. It'll be interesting to see where we play him. I'm guessing he dropped since teams don't view him as being able to match up against taller WR's. Do we play him at nickel-back? Strong safety???

He sounds exactly like Earl Bennett. How many #3 WR's does this team need? But we desperately needed a WR.

Thank Christ! We have a WR!!! I'd have been happy with him in round #2. Nice pick.

4 WR's taken in a row. There's about 12 picks left. I can't see Johnson or Iglesias lasting that long.

We drafted Harris, and I would argue we have a lot to show for it. We drafted Harrison, and he looked pretty good. Dusty was a bust. Who else did we draft relatively early at DT? Tank. He was a fairly high 2nd round pick. As for Dusty, while he's done nothing after 3 years, I was still optimistic that he'd turn it around. Again, as I said elsewhere, Dt is the key position in the cover 2, and the position you draft until you are set. We now have a great potential rotation. My problem is that we say that literally EVERY year, since every year we're adding & drafting players. Yet every year our DT's dissappoint. Hey, I wanted some other positions too, but in this kid, we get great value and I personally believe several of the players (WR/DE/DB) we might have been talking about for this pick could still be there for our next. Still no WRs have been drafted in the 3rd, meaning a good chance Iglesias, Murphy, or who ever falls to us. Ditto Rashad Johnson, Sidbury, etc. I can't argue with that. If we can significantly upgrade in 3 positions . . . The only player that hurt to pass on for me was Michael Johnson, who was drafted a couple spots later. But IMHO, Gilbert is to DT what MJ is to DE. Both are physical freaks. I'd have been much happier with Johnson. DE is a far greater need.

So does this mean that Dusty is likely out of the mix? I know you weren't a big fan of his, but I'm just sick and damn tired of drafting DT's early every year and have so little to show for it.

Except that it describes him as a DT in a 4-3 scheme . . . do we have to draft a DT EVERY damn year??? Seriously.

Will Gilbert be a DT or DE in our system? Draft guides list him as a DE, but he's pretty big . . . although he's also very athletic.

The last I heard they were wanting a one and a three . . . two 3's ain't going to do it.

We talked up Massaquoi and we talked down Johnson & Williams. Those are two players who could be available next. It'll be interesting. Either way, I understood the need to trade down once. Last year we traded down multiple times, and most of the players we added were cut. I hope we stand pat.

Beatty still available . . . but I'd bet will go Moore or Massaquoi

JA was on the SCORE earlier and did not comment either way. That gives us a sliver of hope. But other then that, nothing.

He gone to Cleveland @ #32

Agreed. Five picks until the Bears are up. We should have a pretty good player available.