nfoligno

This was just a odd draft. I was so happy after the Cutler deal, that I found myself defending Angelo's picks as often as not. Hey, he is my BFF afterall With that said, Gilbert - I flat out did not want to draft DT early, much less w/ our first pick, but just can not argue this pick. In Gilbert, we got a huge value. Kiper called Gilbert the best value pick in the draft. Seems like an ideal fit for our scheme, and when I think about what Marinelli can do w/ him, well, I just love the potential here. Iglesias - I flat out didn't expect Angelo to want the same receiver I wanted. Not only did he draft Iglesias, but he was also high on Robiskie. Shocking Angelo and I are on the same page here. In Iglesias, I believe we finally found our possession WR to replace Engram, though I think he actually has greater upside. I didn't love all our picks after this, but when I factor Cutler w/ the above two, I just can not hate on this offseason. Melton - Angelo is my new BFF, but I just hate this pick. I watch Texas games more than any other, and not even most Texas fans I know liked Melton. I read about how athletic he is, and that may be true, but you sure didn't see it on the field. Was a decent run blocker, but showed so little as a pass rusher, despite playing w/ Orakpo. I realize he is raw, and the hope is Marinelli can work w/ him, but I just don't think he has the potential some believe, and do not ever see him being a pass rushing DE for us. Also felt this pick was a reach. DJ Moore - I am not as high on this pick, as I just can not get past the size, but I can't attack this pick either. No question DJ was a GREAT value, and is an ultra athletic, playmaking prospect. Will that traslate to the NFL? That is what I want to know, but in the 4th, we got a late 1st/early 2nd round value, and can't argue w/ that. Knox - I love this pick. We got our possession WR early, and now our downfield playmaker. I think we need to hold off on immediate expectations, as I think he will need time to develop. He dominated against lesser competition primarily w/ pure speed, but at the next level, will need far more polish (especially in route running) before he can be anything close to a consistent receiver. May not offer immediate imapct, but could develop in a very good pick in a couple years. Freeman - Individually, I like Freeman. Good value pick w/ solid athleticism. The question for me is, did we draft another player who will waste behind Briggs? Freeman began college at SLB, but was moved to WLB because (a) he struggled to shed blocks ( didn't show great power on the strong side and © staff wanted to better utlize his speed. He is a very good looking WLb, but I question whether he can play SLB, and if not, I fear his potential could be wasted behind Briggs. Afalava - I flat out hate this pick. We have drafted enough box safeties, and that is all alfalfa is. He is weak in coverage, and only asset is playing in the box. While I am not going to say we are lock set at SS, I just can't help but to feel we just drafted another Steltz, especially after reading Gabriel believes that while most view him as a box safety, we believe he can play FS. That just makes me sick. Louis - Love the pick. Not sure if we are looking at him as a blocking TE, OG, OT or FB, but the point to me is, he is a great talent and prospect. Raw, no question. But in the 7th round, to get a player w/ so much upside is a bonus pick IMHO. Kinder - Love this pick as well. Looked like a day one pick prior to the injury. Didn't look great last year, but that was w/ a new QB, new system and likely not yet fully recovered from a major injury. The bust potential is high due to the injury, yet at the same time, if he gets back to pre-injury form, we found another absolute steal here. The only two picks I really dislike are Melton and Afalava. I am luke warm on DJ Moore, though most are high on him, as well as Freeman, only because I question whether he can play SLB and whether he will waste behind Briggs like Williams. Otherwise, I think we found a few steals, and future starters. I see Gilbert and Iglesias being starters sooner rather than later. I see DJ Moore taking the nickel job from DM, though I would not mind seeing him at FS. And I love the potential our other two WRs offer. Overall, I think this was a great draft. I would give it a B+ grade, which jumps up to an A+++++ when Cutler is factored.

Bigger, more athletic version of Bobby Engram? Lesser talented Boldin? Somewhat similar to Hines Ward? There is the known factor w/ Iglesias. He uses his hands well, and gets clean sep off the LOS. Due to his lack of pure speed, I have often seen DBs move up to play tighter coverage, but he simply doesn't allow them to slow him down. Great route runner. Love the way the cuts into, and bursts out of his breaks. I remember watching DBs running w/ him and nearly buckling at the knees trying to stop and cut w/ him. Knows where the 1st down market. Sure it has happened, but I can't recall ever seeing him make a catch where he is just short of the 1st down market. Finds holes in a defense. Whether it is route running, play calls, or whatever, he just seems to have a knack for getting open. Hands - We may not be used to this in Chicago, but he plays w/ sticky glue on his hands. The above is fairly well known. What is not as well known: Iglesias may lack straight line speed, but he is no slow poke. Iglesias was not just a guy who came in on 3rd down to pick up the 1st. He was so much more. Did you know that Iglesias had a 15.5 ypc average? Did you know he had 10 TDs? I don't recall the stat, but I recall watching a game their talking about his YPC stat, which was also solid. He is not going to hit many homerun, as he will eventually be caught from behind, but he does have ability after the catch. He is a solid runner w/ the ball, shows good burst after the catch, and picks up yards after the catch. The other thing I love, and you can see this looking at his stat sheet. Every year, he furthered his development. Starting year one: 19-290-2 41-514-2 68-907-5 74-1150-10 His catches, yards and Tds continually went up. And his YPC average went up each year after his freshman year. I just can't tell you how much I like this kid. For a more in-depth report from a major site, check this out, http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/563875

Per CNNSI, he was moved to OL his junior season, so I think he played TE in college some too. Honestly, I can see us going either way w/ him. Definitely looks capable of being a blocking TE. On the other hand, while raw, he looks like the has the potential to be a damn good OL, whether that be OG or OT, where he played his senior year. CBS Scouts has him listed as the 12th best OG in the draft. Not bad for a guy who essentially had one year at the position. One thing I wonder is, can we not develop him at both? A pure blocking TE is really not much more than a 6th OL, and likely only involved (and thus needing to learn) a few plays. So I wonder, can we not begin his development as an OL, while also working him in as an extra blocker?

Well, we agree on Duke (shock) and Harrell. That is about it, though I don't know much about King. Barden isn't a bad lookng prospect, but (a) I like Iglesias better ( I think equal value can be had later and © have to say, loving the gilbert pick. Bruton just seems like a questionable prospect to me, and would more likely be a pure need pick. DJ Moore is a player so many love, and I do love the value aspect, but just worry about a guy not quite 5'9 playing CB. Imagine DJ against Barden. Yikes. I like Fiammetta, but you have to factor the staff and scheme, and I just don't think we give a crap about the FB position. I like Freeman, but he seems like a pure WLB and a questionable fit at SLB. We already have Williams rotting behind Briggs. HATE the Alfalfa pick. pure box safety, and we have enough of those.

Okay, I'm game. 3rd - Jarron Gilbert - While I am not going to pretend he would have been my pick going in, I have a hard time arguing it today. Considered one of, if not the, best value pick in the draft by many. While others available I like, just not sure any have the upside/potential and value of Gilbert. 3rd - Iglesias - One of my favorite WRs heading into the draft, and love that we got him. Gives Cutler a consistent chain mover, and will better allow Hester and Olsen to work downfield. 4th - Louis Murphy - I got my solid possession WR, and not I add my big play prospect. Nearly 6'3 200 and sub 4.4/40 speed. Building up the arsenal for Cutler. 4th - Duke Robinson - Gotta get my mauler here because I have my 5th rounder set for another player. 5th - Hamlin - I want Marideth, but only have so many picks, and I gotta get my safety. May have played SS in college, but is not a box safety, and is similar to Mike Brown in my opinion. 6th - Coye Francies - Raw CB prospect w/ upside. 7th - Derek Kinder - Actually liked this pick. Kinder was looking to be a day one prospect before the injury. Last year he played, but was not the same player. Now, two years after the injury, the gamble is he is again the player seen pre-injury. 7th round pick is worth the gamble. 7th - Harrell - Always liked him, and looking to give keep some competition for our backend depth.

Agreed. That hurt.

I like the pick because (a) as you said, we have a QB who can help the develolpment of a downfield WR, rather than hinder, ( we have worked to upgrade the OL, which buys a WR time to work deep routes, and © we drafted a possession WR earlier, and thus he Knox will not be forced into action too soon. Honestly, I think Knox has potential, but will take 2 or 3 years to develop. Anyone expecting much this year I think will be disappointed.

Local guys here in Dallas have talked about Knox a lot. Talent is incredible. Great combo of hands and speed, and what speed he has. W/ that said, we need to hold off on early expectations. He is going to take some time. He was at a JUCO school and transfered to a bigger, yet still small tier school. Competition level he is used to is minimal. Also, he was able to dominate w/ speed, but his routes will need work and refinement. Could be a very good receiver for us in time, but early on will more likely play teams and maybe specific plays on offense, but I do not see him as a very productive WR early on.

Sorry, but as a short guy myself, when the tenths of an inch is that important, the size is questionable.

He is only 5'8 and change, and ran a relatively slow 40.

Anything is possible, but I don't think we should refer to Anderson as a RFA. If there is not a new CBA, many things can and will change as many players who would be UFAs will not be.

Are you sure Anderson will be a RFA? He is entering his 4th season, and I didn't think his rookie deal was a 5 year deal. I thought he was set to be an UFA.

I didn't want a CB, but hard to argue against the value of the pick. Was considered a potential 1st rounder until a weak 40 time dropped him, but that knock is more negated in our zone scheme. I am not in favor of the Melton pick, but otherwise, we have gotten incredible value. Gilbert was easily considered a 2nd round prospect, who we got in the 3rd. At one point, there was discussion of Iglesias for our 2nd round pick, and while that was likely always considered a reach, not many felt he would fall to where we got him. And DJ Moore was considered a late 1st/early 2nd until the weak 40 time, and again, reflects incredible value. We may not all agree on the need aspect of this draft, but from a value standpoint, we are looking as good as any team out there.

Flat do not like this pick. I talked about Melton pre-draft, and just never cared for him. He was a RB for a couple years at Texas, and a big one at that. actually liked him in that role more than after he was converted to DE. There is raw, and there is Melton. I don't mind raw w/ the vets and satff we have, but at the same time, I don't see the upside here I would want in a raw player. All the way around, this is just not a pick i like. But w/ a stud DT, the WR I wanted, oh yea, and a franchise QB, I'll give my BFF a pass

4 WRs in a row hurts.

LOL. Honestly though, using a bit of hindsight, it appeas if we went w/ a WR or most other players (other than Michael Johnson) w/ our early 3rd pick, it would have been a reach. I just look at the way the 3rd has gone, and to me, it is obvious Gilbert was going to go off the board soon, while others we like are continuing to fall.

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. Forgot him. But though we draft him high, he is gone so it doesn't really matter. As for Dusty, I am just very down on him. He was flat out awful last year, and I think the staff has all be given up on him. Durability issues (IR all three NFL seasons) combined w/ being flat out awful when he was on the field last year. IMHO, as soon as he was out of the lineup, our DL picked up. Also, once he was out, Urlacher and Harris began to play better. 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. Not sure I agree. Harris is a pro bowler. Harrison showed enough to give some hope. Dusty was okay, but character sent him packing. Really, Dusty was the only pure bust top 3 round DT picked. I'd have been much happier with Johnson. DE is a far greater need. Still possible we are looking at Gilbert as a DE. Also, what if we get Sidbury still?

This will be very interesting to hear where we project him. In most schemes, he would seem like an ideal LDE, and thus a solid replacement for Wale, who is a FA next year. On the other hand, in our scheme, he almost seems to big to be a DE. Maybe he has the explosion to play DE in our scheme despite his size, but I still think we are looking at him more at DT.

While some are not sure about drafting a DT early 3rd, I think it worth pointing out that, other than maybe Michael Johnson, I think any of the players many here wanted w/ that early 3rd are still on the board. The way this is going, I think one or more of the WRs we might have liked (Iglesias, Murphy, Barden, etc) will still be there at the end of round 3. Also, several OL (Duke, Merideth) are still there. Sidbury is still on the board. Gilbert was not going to last much longer, but others we may want look like they will. Plus, if we want (for example) a WR and a run begins, we have the ammo to move up and get one.

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? 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. 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. 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.

Yes, we have drafted many, but (a) Dusty appears to be a total bust, and ( it has always been said that the DT is the A#1 position in the cover two. I think that w/ Harris, Harrison and now the rookie, we should look very good at DT. Also, I just don't think we can get away from the fact that we got so little pass rush out of the DL last year, and if this kid helps in that area, great.

I think he is a DE for many schemes, but in ours, he is a prime candidate to play DT. 288lb would be on the light side to play DT for most schemes, but in ours, it is closer to ideal. Also, 288 is way heavy to play DE in our scheme. Even if he lost some weight, he is nearly 30 lbs heavier than either of our DEs. I think he will be immediately added to our DT rotation, and between he, Harris and Harrison, I think DT could become a huge area of strength, now and long term. I would say it is possible he could kick outside on run downs, but I think the main area we are looking at him is at DT.

I would say DT. He played both, I think, in college, and many project him outside, but our system uses lighter DTs and he just seemed like a prime fit for DT in the cover 2. Dusty is on his way out.

No question I wanted others, but (a) Gilbert was the best (or among the best) remaining available for many, thus I don't think we can argue the value aspect ( as much as we have other needs, I think DT may be an under-rated need © I agree WR is a huge need, but at the same time, the way it is going, I think similar or equal WRs will be available at the end of the 3rd as were available for us early 3rd.

Talking w/ a fellow bear fan, and he brought up Michael Johnson. At one time, we seemed to be tied to MJ w/ our top pick. Since then we traded away our pick, but also, MJ seems to have slip. I told him I do not think he will slide all the way to our pick, but his arrow does seem to be pointing down as Kiper, McShay and Mayock all have him falling past us. Anyway, what are ya'lls thoughts. Top two knocks on him appear to be that he is still a bit raw and he may never be great against the run. At the same time, he would appear to be an ideal fit for us. We have a scheme that places speed above run stoppers. We have one of the top DL coaches in the league. Oh yea, and one of the players MJ has most often been compared to is Simeon Rice, who Marinelli coached and helped take his game to another level. Finally, w/ Brown and Wale already in the starting lineup, MJ would have time to develolp before getting thrown in, but could also play on pass rush downs as a rookie. If Nicks or Robiskie are there, I still want one of them. I also still like Rashad Johnson. But more and more, I wonder if we may not be looking at DL w/ our top pick, and the more I read about MJ, the more it seems he would be a prime pick for Angelo, Lovie and Marinelli.