jason

Also agreed. However, if he were given the 20-25 touches a game that Benson is supposed to get being the number one back, there is no doubt in my mind he would be more effective with this current OL. He'd find more room, more holes, more cutbacks, and more opportunities. And, eventually, he'd break some huge plays. Benson? 3-4yards, fall down. If the Bears upgrade their OL, then I think you have to give Benson a different look. He'd hit the 2nd and 3rd lines of defense enough to wear them down, and demoralize them...and that's when the effect of a running team takes over. Of course, I think if you put Wolfe behind a good OL, he'd put up good numbers too...but it wouldn't have the same effect.

Agreed. And if you look at the first video I posted, he has the ability to bounce off of would-be-tacklers. What he doesn't have the ability to do, however, and very few RBs in NFL history have this ability, is to bounce off one or two DT/DEs in the backfield. You gotta let a guy build up some steam. Warrick Dunn has never been a bruiser. Hell, I'd say he isn't really all that effective between the tackles. HOWEVER, he is dangerous enough if there is a hole there to squirt through and make a big play. I believe that Wolfe has this same ability, tenacity, and strength...especially after looking at his college highlights. Which makes the selection of OL in the first, and possibly second, that much more important and necessary.

What's your point? The entire purpose of a mock draft is to play it out, debate the picks, and see who may get a steal. When you throw in a completely unbelieveable pick, it throws off the entire course of the draft. Also, since this is a Bears message board, and I respect the group here more than most other boards/fans/mocks, I would expect a little more realism.

I respect the fact that you have reasoning behind it, but it is nonetheless a horrible pick. Maybe I was a bit harsh earlier when I said worst ever. I think that the Herschel Walker madness between the Vikings and Cowboys may have been worsee (in hindsight), and the entire draft for Ricky Williams was also worse (in hindsight). Either way, drafting Mendenhall when they have Henry, Bell, and Young is just insane...especially when you admit to targeting a DE and Ellis was still on the board. As for Cutler...I didn't think it was anything like this. Plummer never has been a very good QB, or a very trustworthy QB. Drafting Cutler was a pretty good move. Not to mention the fact that they were not nearly as stacked at QB then as they are at RB now (essentially three Grossman's at RB). Last but not least, I wouldn't say I "jumped to conclusions". I reacted to the selection. If I had said something before you made the pick, then I would agree that it was jumping to a conclusion. This is just disbelief at, no offense, a horrible pick when considering their team needs..

I can see the possibility of it happening, and wouldn't fault JA for making the pick. Everyone would give him a virtual BJ in the media for pulling the trigger on the "number 1 QB in the draft". HOWEVER, I would prefer he waits. There are several QBs who have serious potential (Johnson, Dixon, Brennan) and can be selected later. Personally, I'd love to see any of the three selected with the second third round draft pick or later.

By that reasoning, Warrick Dunn would have never seen the field either. When is Wolfe supposed to "prove" something?! Every time he got in the game, and wasn't run directly up the middle, he made plays. He juked, bounced off tackles, found holes, and made good runs. Aside from that, why can't he be compared to Dunn?! They are similar in so many ways...who else would you compare Wolfe to? How else does one make a comparison or guess about his potential other than comparing him to someone nearly identical in every way? If anything, he can ONLY be compared to a player like Dunn. So, what you are saying is, you have complete confidence in our coaching staff, and their ability to choose starters? I think just about everyone on this message board would have an argument to this idea considering the Bears' confusion at QB, RB, WR, OL, DE, S, and OC. By the way, the reason was probably that the coaches had some loyalty to AP, and they wanted to see if AP could handle the load full time, and because Wolfe was a rookie. When Wolfe got in, however, he did better than Benson or AP.

A copy and paste from another thread. I want to start a discussion on Garrett Wolfe. I think that Wolfe can be a solid contributor, and much more than a third-down back. Honestly, I don't see why everyone is so ready to quit on a guy who did nothing but look better than Benson and Peterson during his limited touches last year. I don't see why he can't produce like Warrick Dunn has produced throughout his career. If anything, having a smaller, shiftier RB is a better option behind a line that opens up massive holes for DTs and DEs. Every time he got in the game last year he was making someone miss...that is, of course, when Turner wasn't calling the FB dive for a guy who is 180 lbs. He puts on 5-10 lbs., and he's WARRICK FRIGGIN' DUNN. Of course, if Warrick Dunn were drafted by Chicago, you guys would have hated him from the start because of his size. You would have called the pick horrible, and he would have despised Chicago. Then he would have been traded, like he has been, and he would have produced, like he has, and he would have thumbed his nose at all who said he wasn't fast enough, big enough, or strong enough. I'd rather have him as a starting RB with AP or Benson acting as a third down back than the other way around. At least then we'd have a RB who can catch a ball out of the backfield and could possibly score from more than 20 yards out. I really don't understand the Garrett Wolfe hatred going on around here. More power for his size than Benson or AP... ...better moves BY FAR ...and probably faster than either of the two. Don't make me pull out the highlights of him busting Ohio State's ass!

Bingo. Red-shirt a guy all you want. Sounds like a good idea to me. But when your present starting OL is filled with guys who should be in the hospital or the training room, then the red-shirt idea is dumb as hell, and hindering the development and assessment of other players.

As a semi-side note to this...I think that Wolfe can be a solid contributor, and much more than a third-down back. Honestly, I don't see why everyone is so ready to quit on a guy who did nothing but look better than Benson and Peterson during his limited touches last year. I don't see why he can't produce like Warrick Dunn has produced throughout his career. If anything, having a smaller, shiftier RB is a better option behind a line that opens up massive holes for DTs and DEs. Every time he got in the game last year he was making someone miss...that is, of course, when Turner wasn't calling the FB dive for a guy who is 180 lbs. He puts on 5-10 lbs., and he's WARRICK FRIGGIN' DUNN. Of course, if Warrick Dunn were drafted by Chicago, you guys would have hated him from the start because of his size. You would have called the pick horrible, and he would have despised Chicago. Then he would have been traded, like he has been, and he would have produced, like he has, and he would have thumbed his nose at all who said he wasn't fast enough, big enough, or strong enough. I'd rather have him as a starting RB with AP or Benson acting as a third down back than the other way around. At least then we'd have a RB who can catch a ball out of the backfield and could possibly score from more than 20 yards out. I really don't understand the Garrett Wolfe hatred going on around here. More power for his size than Benson or AP... ...better moves BY FAR ...and probably faster than either of the two. Don't make me pull out the highlights of him busting Ohio State's ass!

Nice writeup and history. I enjoyed the thoughts. The one thing I'd say, however, is that if Beekman is so weak he couldn't beat out a one-armed veteran past his prime, or a collection of other guys who literally looked invisible during long stretches of the season, then a year with a strength coach is not going to stop him from getting plowed by Defensive Tackles in the NFL. And if he's that weak, I sure as hell hope the Bears are not putting much faith in the guy plugging any holes any time soon.

I'm not crying. I see that I have hit on a nerve. This trade and selection is precisely why I didn't participate in the draft. I knew that someone would not take it seriously. For the Broncos to not only trade up, but then to take Mendenhall, would be considered the worst move in draft history.

The Mendenhall love has already made a mockery of this draft. First of all, the trade is a bit steep. Seems like the Denver Broncos gave up a lot. Second, with the Broncos track record of picking up RBs late, and plugging in uknown guys, it's highly doubtful they'd go for Mendenhall that early. Third, the Broncos already have Travis Henry, Mike Bell, and Selvin Young. So drafting Mendenhall that early, or a RB in the first to begin with, is beyond ridiculous. Fourth, and probably most important, there is no way in hell that the Broncos pass up on Ellis (DT) given that they were 30th in rush defense last year. Once a pick like that is made, the balance of the rest of the draft is thrown off for a while because a team will have to go with an option that wouldn't have been their first if it actually played out realistically.

I would absolutely love that. Then in the third, one of those RBs will be there, as will some decent WRs with question marks, as will the QBs with question marks. Imagine getting a franchise OT, OG, and still having two third rounders to grab a combo of Manningham and Forte, or Johnson, Chris and Johnson, Josh. The Bears draft can go either way, but what happens in the third is where the success can be found.

I'd love if the Bears managed to snag Johnson, but I would hate to see them spend an early pick on him. If he's there with the second of the two third rounders, grab him. Otherwise, there are more pressing needs. Oh, also, I'd hate that draft. Aside from the good start in the first, it doesn't work out anywhere near the way I'd like it to.

DING DING DING! We have a winner. Go to NFL.com, look at the reviews of the games. Benson gets hit in the backfield continuously. When he doesn't, he actually made some decent plays. As for the Mike Williams pass, regardless of whether or not someone thought the Bears should draft a WR (which they should have...still a need on this team to this day), drafting a RB at #4 was DEFINITELY a bad choice, especially when they already had TJ. It's the same this year. You draft for need and talent, but you should not throw out the need portion of the equation. Mendenhall in the first would be a mistake.

You're right. Because a player's off-field activities (Pacman), and character (Chad Johnson), and complete dedication (Benson) have nothing to do with on-field production or how teammates relate to them.

Agreed...we don't really know. What we do know, however, are the following two rules that are nearly undeniable. 1) A good OL will make a RB look better than he actually is. 2) A bad OL will make a RB look worse than he actually is.. Very rarely does a good RB make a bad OL look good (Barry Sanders).

That draft is one of the worst ones I have seen. It's absolutely ridiculous. First of all, the Flacco pick in the second is sandwiched between two RBs who will probably be just as good as Mendenhall. And those guys are considered great value picks at that point by that website. Waiting to get an OT until the third round is stupid. Waiting until the third to grab John friggin Greco is beyond retarded. Also, pay attention to the fact that he's considered one of the biggest reaches ever at that point by that website. This draft would suck. Anyone who likes this draft either didn't watch the Bears play last year, or doesn't really understand why the Bears had a poor offense.

As opposed to drafting a first round RB who is destined to become a bust behind a line that looked absolutely horrible last year? Doesn't matter what kind of slick tires you get if the engine that drives the tires is a piece of crap.

I'd be moderately pleased with this draft. I don't like the 2nd or 3rd draft picks that much, but can see how others might have them graded there or higher. I would have preferred OG Chilo Rachal in the second (A beast, tons of upside, younger than most, and has a head on his shoulders), and WR Mario Manningham in the 3rd. Of course, that would have changed the entire complexion of your draft...but it would have been much better in my eyes.

Correction. I have mentioned that several times. I would LOVE a draft that went OL, OL as long as the guys weren't horrible reaches or Jerry Angelo hunches.

To be honest, I could give a shit less how a guy has fun during his off time. It's only when that action starts to interfere with how he performs on the field or in the locker room that I have a problem. Did his partying get him rocked against the Rams? Did his drinking break his collarbone? Did his faux homosexual act cause the coaching staff to give Kurt Warner more snaps? If he were producing before hand, it wouldn't be as big of a deal. But since he wasn't living up to expectations, this will snowball (no pun intended).

Yep...crazy. I have seen Mendenhall play several times, and I just don't understand how anyone thinks he's a top ten back, and a can't lose prospect. He's good, and will be an average pro at best, but if the Bears pass up on an OL prospect for him, then I think it's a horrible decision (especially since the Bears have 3 RBs). You feel we'll regret passing him, but I'm nearly positive that if the Bears select him, we'll have deja vu in about two years in pre-draft discussions.

I would be pretty happy with this draft. Addressing two OL positions in the first three rounds is great. Also adding a stud WR in the second would be nice.

Very good point. Having two running backs who want to be "the man", and both having something to prove (CB and a rook both have something to prove), there is almost a guarantee that the Bears lose in the situation. If Benson wins out, the rookie is shelved and the first round selection is a waste. IF the rookie wins out, the Benson is a bust. I'm probably the biggest Benson hater on this board since I've been against him from the draft; however, I know that drafting another RB is not the answer. Fixing the OL is the answer.