Stinger226

I think in any draft you have a plan and back up plan. Most fans and journalists would be happy with Ersery at 39 and Kaleb Johnson at 41. I think they planned on trading back in a deep draft. Waiting until the the 4 th round wasn't getting you another 2nd round pick. Burden pick popped up and they couldn't pass it up. He literally could be the best WR in the draft. So that left 41 to trade back . I think Trapilo was next inline if Ersery was gone or they liked him better. He's a RT that will get the chance to try LT in the NFL. I'm guessing here but they next targeted Cam Skattebo in the 4th. He got taken so they got more picks and had Kyle Monangai as their next choice knowing he would be there late. This is not the year one player puts them over the top. They had certain players they wanted so they stuck to a plan. Their draft board isn't put together with what media and fans thought was the best players. They actually have their own scouting department. Belicheck said once if you pick who the fans want you will one day end up in the stands with them. ( Don't remember the quote exactly)

Imagine a DC trying to cover Burden, DJ Moore, Rome plus Kmet and Loveland. Someone is wide open every play. Now does Caleb find that player is the question.

I think he makes the roster and DA uses him n blitzing situations.

I'm giving an opinion in what happened in the draft to suggest results. I mentioned several times, no one knows the truth.

My reference was to not taking Ersery with pick 39 or 41. I thought they would draft one later to compete but not be ready until 26. You do admit he's a RT that they probably change to LT. That doesn't scream day 1 starter. There is no way they change Wright to LT. Why Create two Question marks. If Tripoli is super T, they will just plug him in at LT.

With all this back and forth we are in alignment on a lot of things. Tape is the most important tool scouts use. We do need to address LT but,they did as I thought and drafted someone to be in the mix in 26 , not this year. I think Braxton plays this year, they offer him a contract but someone gives him 20 mil and he plays somewhere else. So next year Kiran or Tripoli will be our LT. RB needed another addition but never thought Jeanty was in the mix. I thought Skattebo or Brashard Smith would be drafted later to share carries with RJ and Swift. So it all come down to our opinion on the urgency of those positions. I also respect your opinion more than it might show. I don't always agree but you have been spot on with some you have been stubborn about. I loved Fields more so because ( he was our QB) at the time and if he succeeded that meant the Bears are winning. As soon as Poles choose Caleb, he's our new QB to rout for and has a lot of talent . You were right about Flus, at the time I thought with drafting Caleb we could overcome his deficiencies but the calamity of our OCs doomed the success and after the Washington game. He lost the team, my time to start agreeing with you. We align on a lot of things but our dislike for each other prevents us from showing it. Our next argument is Poles that is on going. He has made a lot of mistakes but has us in a good spot now. New GMs learn on the job and I think he is. When we're in a SB, we will be arguing about what play should have been called. I look forward to that.

At pick 39 they really didn't need a WR but the talent was so good they couldn't pass it up. At that time Ersery was still available, if LT was so important, why not take him there? At 41 , we traded back and Kaleb Johnson was still available at 56, we didn't take him. At 132 we took a LB and at that time only 8 RBs were off the board. Brashard Smith, jaydon blue and Devin Neil were still available. At pick 195 Smith and Martinez, Ollie Gordon were all available, we waited until 233 to take a RB. Does those decisions show a heavy need for LT or RB? I think not. Instead of Ersery they took a RT later in the round. I'm not saying he can't play LT, but changing positions doesn't sound like a first year starter. I think their draft decisions tell a story about what they thought were big needs on the team. LT and RB didn't appear to be at the top of the list.

As we go forward, none of these should expect to be rostered because our roster is a lot better now . That's a good thing. Before we use to look for a Sanborn type but now, it doesn't matter.

I find it interesting that you don't think other people look at tape in evaluation of every player. It's always 80% of any experts evaluation. So let me know what you think about Newman?

We are back to the same place we always are , we both have opinions that can be neither verified or denied. You list the same weaknesses you did before the draft except now Poles is one because he didn't draft who you wanted. If those were major weaknesses, logic says they would have addressed them in the draft differently. I think it's funny you never mentioned Tripoli once and yet the rookie RT is your savior at LT.

This is funny we are both projecting we think we know what they are thinking. When the season starts and we see who is starting will answer the question. So I will say now, if healthy, it's Jones , if not Kiran. You can fit your rookie RT in that mix anyway you want to. We can take on this conversation in training camp . again. Your narrative died when they didn't take a OL at 10. Lying season is over, when they say they like Braxton and Kiran it takes on a whole new light.

Poles said in an interview that Luther was not on their big board because they didn't think he would make it out of the first round . I don't think they expected to take him but couldn't pass on the talent. The deeper you dig into the other draftees the more you like them. Hippo was the biggest surprise because pundits appeared to ignore him because he didn't go to the combine. After his pro day, he started moving up draft boards. Team captain for 2 yrs, good production, high football IQ, and speed to burn. He would have been the fastest LB at the combine which would have gotten him drafted in the 4th round where we took him. Also he did come in on a pre draft visit, no one had that info. DA likes to blitz LBers, why not the fastest LB in this draft. On YouTube ( Chicago bears channel) watch his interview, mature player, team leader in the future. https://youtu.be/UWw_zsqquaU?si=ejgEPMed26-xKV7c

Yes and the statement was more pointed at other members that disagree.

They had several chances to draft a RB higher but they choose to trade down. Let's say Henderson was their guy and got picked the player before us. Why not just pick your next option right now instead of trading down? I think that indicated it may not be a priority. The same with the other trade downs plus in the 4th with lots of options at RB, they took a LB. They had several opportunities to grab a higher rated RB. They may have targeted Monongai all along knowing he would be a late pick.

Poles said they were bringing in competition for Jones and Kiran. Why? Jones isn't ready to play yet. Also Jones would have to play top ball to even considered to get a contract. So they speculate he might not be here, so they draft a T. It's just speculation that they would have drafted Banks if available. Not any different than me saying they were drafting Loveland anyways. Both are opinions that can't be proven. We have to assume by their actions and also their statements that they are fine with Braxton and Kiran as their LTs this year. The ( we need a LT) was clearly fan based chatter.

I think we now have a 90 nan roster. To add anyone else they have to cut someone.

1) they like Swift better than fans do 2) they like RJ better than fans do 3) they think Monongai can play All along fans were putting Swift down while coaches like him. Because of the fake story ( the bears are trading up for Jeanty) fans assumed we want a load back really bad. Clearly a disconnect between what the coaches feel and the fans don't know

I'll look for it. I watched so many videos, I lose track where I seen it. Thanks

The Pace comparison confuses me, Poles actually manages the Cap brilliantly. Doesn't give huge contracts to average players. All the contracts he gave to core players in yr 2 looks like a bargain. If you mean he thinks he's the smartest guy in room when taking people we never heard of, they all do that. This is the year the rebuild pays dividends. I thought it was going to be last year but I think keeping Flus sealed that not happening. Burden will be in the rotation, tripoli will become the swing T, Turner gets in the rotation on the DL, and the RB will be the duel back guy. Newman will make the 53, we finally are adding depth. The LB and CB Will probably be PS all year.

I watch some tape on Newman and on one play the defense was stunting. He slung the first guy on the ground slide to the right and knocked that guy on the ground. Went down field in front of the RB and run over another defender to the ground. Literally blocked 3 guys and everyone got the ground. It was awesome. I'll try to find it.

I agree we needed to add more bodies but not sure how it's a weakness? Swift had a lot of positive for a totally inept offense. The bad OL affected Caleb's play but it didn't affect the running game? I don't get the logic. Safety is not a weakness with all 4 Ss coming back. They clearly don't think it is or they had added in free agency. Next year absolutely but they don't need to address that now with other needs. Loveland was not a reach, most had him in the top 15. Burden was mostly projected as a first round pick. The next two were top 100 players, not sure where they were slotted. The rest of the draft may have been reaching but they drafted players they wanted.

After the draft, I get on here and hard to find positive statements. Of course it's a board to express opinions but let's be honest we may not know how well this draft was for 2 years but I'm not going to pretend I know the answer the day after the draft. It seems like most predict failure. I love the new coaching staff and most of the roster, so I am optimistic. When Johnson and DA clearly influenced the draft, it's same old Bears, Poles is now the new Pace, instead of trying to figure out what they are trying to do. If this year does not excite you especially with Caleb as the QB, in not sure you're capable.

To me this could be a Trey Smith pick, major school, taken in later rounds ends up being very good.

To me, they wanted Henderson, he got picked and traded back. Skattebo got picked right before our pick, traded back. Brashard Smith got picked, backup plan was Monongai. They waited to the end and still got someone that can play duel RB role. They guess where a player is picked and design their board according but always had a backup plan. Clearly they had targeted some players, on their board. I would say questions on LB and CB but everyone else makes the roster.