clinks tankards of ale with SenorBeef****
Easy buddy. They are called “fire crotches” for a reason.
The one gripe I would still have with it is that they really reached for him in the 1st round. They could easily have taken DeCastro or Reiff at #22 and still gotten Weeden in the 2nd. There were really no teams the looked like they would have jumped him in between the Browns two picks and they would have gotten more value overall. The closest risk would have been the Broncos at #36, but even then you could probably have jumped up with the Colts or Rams for fairly cheap. Both teams were hungry or picks and had lots of draft options available to move down for.
People keep saying things like this, and not just about Weeden. A.J. Jenkins was said to be available later than #30, too. If there’s a player you like when you’re picking, pick him, because you might get screwed.
The Rams ended up with Brian Quick. Why? Because they traded back thinking they could land Blackmon at #6 (Nope), then FLoyd at #14 (Nope), then some guy at #33 by the name of… A.J. Jenkins (Nope).
Hot shot QB picks don’t always pan out. The Lions might have done well to get a development QB when they drafted Andre Ware, the can’t miss Heisman winner.
Which is the problem with having just one guy that you want. The Niners wanted Jason Slowney, so would you be upset if they took him in the first round? Would you say “well, they wanted him, and made sure they got him”? How about using a second rounder on Chris Owusu? Could you ever disagree with any pick if you go with “if there’s a player you like when you’re picking, pick him, because you might be screwed?”
I think the point is that if the guy is on the top of your board you take him and not really worry where you think he might go. Now this isn’t a hard and fast rule of course, but you really have to trust your own scout and coaching staffs evaluations.
Time to start the draft reviews*. And where better to start than the best team in the NFL:
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Overall: For years, Ted Thompson has been building the Packers’ roster by trading down, picking for value, and playing the numbers game of having more prospects. He rarely traded up for players (only 3 times in 6 drafts, but one of those was Clay Matthews), generally took solid character guys with high motors and a higher floor than ceiling. This way, he built a very deep roster (their Super Bowl winning year they had a lot of fill in starters) and continued to maintain it well.
Not this year. This year, Ted Thompson traded up the same number of times in this one draft than the prior 6. This year, he drafted for need, grabbing defensive players with his first six picks. And he drafted guys who carry a fair amount of risk and have a higher bust potential than any I can remember. He traded out of the middle round to move up into the second, and traded out of the later rounds to move up in the 5th. He only kept his compensatory picks in the 4th and 7th, and was clearly more focused on getting playmakers than contributors.
I like it. The Packers have built a pretty talented, pretty deep roster. There’s no real reason to keep maintaining the roster every year, so it’s more than OK to go for the home run instead of the single. And he clearly focused on the defense, where the team had the most gaping needs. As a huge fan of value based drafting, I generally dislike these kinds of draft, but I understand that, on occasion, it’s necessary to build your roster from the top down rather than from the middle up. Given the Packers roster and their status as a Super Bowl contender already, I have no problem swinging for the fences. I just kinda wish I liked the guys they drafted more.
Let’s take a look at the guys the Packers took swings at:
Round 1, Pick 28 (28) Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC
Going into the draft, the Packers had a desperate need to increase their pass rush production. They needed a OLB to put opposite Clay Matthews, someone who could take advantage of Matthews taking the attention of the offense and who could get to the QB quickly, while not being a liability in coverage.
Is Perry that? I don’t know. I don’t think anybody does. He was in the blob of college DE who might make the transition to 3-4 OLB. Or maybe he’s just a pass rush specialist in the NFL. He led the PAC 12 with 9.5 sacks this year, and is physical enough to set an edge against the run, but nobody knows how we will do as a ROLB. I like the idea of releasing him to get to the QB this first year, and hope he’s athletic and smart enough to learn a whole new position in the NFL. but the complete transition to a new position will take awhile if it happens at all.
Overall: Big risk at a position of desperate need and with big question marks. Lots of upside though.
Round 2, Pick 19 (51) Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan St.
The Packers gave up a fourth round pick to move up 8 spots and draft Worthy. The Packers are in desperate need of a 3-4 DE who can rush the passer and/or force double teams to allow the outside LB’s a chance to get to the QB. They did sign two this offseason (Anthony Hargrove who I don’t like, and Daniel Muir, who I really like), but the more the merrier. Worthy is almost all upside, he can be very special (First Team All American), and has the ability to penetrate off the snap. His production/performance dipped a bit this year, but was thought of as a clear first rounder last year. But there are serious questions about his work ethic, his penchant for disappearing at times, and his technique. If he doesn’t buy into his role in a 3-4 (where the DE is a hard worker who gets no recognition or stats), he may be just another guy. But if he gets motivated, acts like a professional, and has a chip on his shoulder (which hopefully a drop into the second round will give him), he could be special.
Overall: Big risk at a position of desperate need and with big question marks. Lots of upside though.
Round 2, Pick 30 (62) Casey Hayward, DB, Vanderbilt
The Packers traded up again to get back into the second round. This time they gave up their third round pick and their fifth round pick. They grabbed a talented, smart, mature ball hawk (13 int’s in 2 years) with huge questions in regards to his speed and athleticism. The NFL is a passing league, and after drafting for a pass rush in the first two rounds, the Packers went to shore up their secondary. Hayward played in the SEC and often lined up against the best receivers the conference had, like Julio Jones, AJ Green, Alshon Jeffrey. He’s quick (nice combine times in the short shuttle and 3 cone), but not fast (not a great 40 time), and is more suited for a zone defense than going man to man. But he’s smart and seemingly a professional, so he can learn and maybe even help right away. Although he’ll have to compete with my guy Davon House. And he was a reach in the second round.
Overall: Solid player at a position of need with questions about his speed and man to man abilities. May have a limited upside, but can make plays with very good ball skills and knowledge of the game.
Round 4, Pick 37 (132) Mike Daniels, DT, Iowa
Since compensatory picks can’t be traded, the Packers had to use this pick. And they used it to, once again, build up that defensive line. Daniels is another one of those high motor, never give up guys who make up for a lack of elite measurables by trying damn hard. He’s too short (6’ 0"), not bulky enough (291 lbs.), and coming off a shoulder injury, so my expectations for him are quite limited. He’s almost an Anti-Worthy, a guy who gets nice production through sheer effort and shiftiness rather than elite physical tools. A nice complementary pick to ease the risk if Worthy busts out, but he might contribute quickly as a pass rusher in Nickel defenses.
Overall: Classic overacheiver who works hard, has a great mentality, and can move pretty well, but may be too physically limited to be more than a situational player. Still, you root for a guy like this.
Round 4, Pick 38 (133) Jerron McMillian, SS, Maine
The Packers cut Nick Collins last week, because they weren’t comfortable playing him after his devastating neck injury suffered last year. They lost a vital part of their defense, a playmaker who made the calls and had big interceptions in big games. He was a three time Pro Bowler who was one of the top 5 safeties in the league, was just entering his prime, and was, seemingly, a good guy. He will be sorely missed.
That unfortunate news left the Packers with a gaping hole in their safety position. To deal with that, they went out and drafted a guy with some very nice measurables who looked pretty good at the combine. He’s another small school project (like Collins was), but he’s not the playmaker in the passing game Collins was, he’s much more of a strong safety than free safety. He’s a run stopper, blitzer, and aggressive hitter first, and a pass defender second. He’s good at deciphering plays, but lacks the ball skills and coverage ability and may be a liability in coverage. He’s a reach in the 4th round, but with his physical skills, he’s got some upside. He needs some serious work on his coverage abilities. And his biggest plus: he has great “Packer defensive back” hair.
Overall: A prototypical SS whose tackling was sorely needed last year, but could be a liability in coverage. He’ll help on special teams immediately, but needs a lot of work before I want to see him on the field defensively.
Round 5, Pick 28 (163) Terrell Manning, OLB, N.C. State
Having traded away their fifth round pick to move up earlier in the draft, the Packers went ahead and traded their remaining non-compensatory picks (a sixth and two seventh rounders) to move back into the 5th round and grab Manning.
I’m confused about Manning. On one side, he’s a athletically gifted, productive (76 tackles, 3 interceptions, 14.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks), and very good in pass coverage (which is nice with the advent of the TE pass catcher). On the other hand he’s got durability concerns (2 knee surgeries) and I’m not sure where he will fit in the 3-4. I do like what he brings to the table and is a potential playmaker, but he’ll need a bit of coaching until he’s ready to play. The Packers say he’ll be an ILB, but they like his pass rush ability both inside and outside, and he’s pretty explosive, so he might fit OLB or in Nickel packages.
Overall: I like this pick, but I don’t see (outside of LB in Nickel) where he fits and I like our ILB depth already. Still, a nice player.
Round 7, Pick 34 (241), Andrew Datko, OT, Florida St.
Here’s how messed up I am: I am more excited about the Packers’ seventh round picks than their first and second rounders. Mostly because it seems that Thompson and I agree that the seventh round is (normally) where you can take risks and take guys with nice upside for their draft position. Datko is that type of guy, and I love this pick. He’s a big boy (6’5", 315 pounds), who moves well, and has been a starting LT at Florida State. He’s got the talent and demeanor to be a starting tackle (may just fit on the right side) in the NFL (although he does need to get stronger and better as a run blocker), and up until this year, was regarded as a second round draft pick.
And then he injured his shoulder and missed the final 9 games of the season. And it’s not the first shoulder problem he’s had, he’s had this issue for years. It’s extremely hard to play tackle in the NFL when your shoulder keeps popping out and you have no strength in it. Many teams took him completely off their boards because he may never play a down of football again.
Overall: Little Risk/High reward, which is just what I want in the seventh round. May never play again, but is worth a flier and we can hope he can get healthy, get stronger, and develop into a starter.
Round 7, Pick 36 (243) B.J. Coleman, QB, Tennessee-Chattanooga
I think every team in the NFL should draft a project QB in the later rounds, simply because the position is so important. Let other teams draft that guy in the 4th or hell, even the 8th pick of the draft. And I’ll smile as the Packers use a 7th. Of course Tannehill has much more upside than Coleman, but let’s overlook that for now.
With Matt Flynn riding off to the Seahawks, the Packers have an opening for backup QB, which opens the door for Coleman. He’ll have to beat out Graham Harrell, but at least he’s got a shot. Coleman is a small school project who transferred from Tenneessee after Lane Kiffin gave the QB job to Jonathon Crompton. Not sure I want a QB who couldn’t beat out Crompton, but hey, we take what we can get.
Coleman has nice size, a pretty good arm, and an obsession with playing QB that is a bit scary. He’s kinda a douche and needs some serious coaching to improve his footwork and abilities under pressure, but he’s certainly dedicated. A complete project QB taken when a project QB should be picked.
Overall: Likely to never start as an NFL QB, Coleman has the physical tools and determination to succeed, but may not have the head or attitude to make him a true leader. Worth developing.
Final Thoughts
The Packers too some huge risks early in the draft by grabbing Perry and Worthy. They have very nice upside, but also an uncomfortably high risk of busting out. To temper that risk, the Packers also drafted some backup plans in Mike Daniels and Terrell Manning. This high risk draft could work out very well, could be a complete flop, or, most likely, be a combination of the two. I’m not in love with the guys the Packers took (outside of Datko), but I see the necessity of doing it. Let’s hope it works out.
*Yes I know this is completely worthless. Yes I know it’s impossible to judge a draft for 3 years or so. Yes I know scouts know more than I ever will. Yes I know I’m going to be wrong on many of these guys. And, no, that won’t stop me.
Personally I think Hayward was second only to Claiborne in his ball skills at the CB position. His angles and his footwork are very impressive. And possibly even more important for the Packers is his ability to tackle, the guy can hit. I am not worried about his athleticism too much. He is my favorite pick for the Packers.
As for Perry, I don’t think anyone should get too caught up in the 3-4 thing. The Packers play the pure 3-4 only about a quarter of the time and I think the Packers see Perry adding some flexibility. It’s interesting looking at all the draft grades for the Packers (which are overall pretty pointless) those who gave them an A like Perry, those who gave a B or lower had a lot of questions. Time will tell.
Sounds like Tony Boselli with the Texans. :dubious:
Love the Worthy pick by the way. God damn that pisses me off.
But sometimes their evaluation is “player A is better than players B, C, and D … but not by much.”
It doesn’t just matter how good a guy is; it also matters how good he is relevant to your alternatives are (which even includes free-agent and in-house options), and how pressing one need is relevant to other needs on the team.
It’s a complex calculus, and we’re never going to get a straight, honest answer from anyone involved about what their thinking really was.
My review of the 49ers’ draft:
Going into the draft I thought the 49ers’ needs were right guard, wide receiver, safety depth, DL/OLB depth, future RB, and future center. They hit on all those, just not in the way I figured. The team’s plan in this draft was clear: add speed on offense, then fill positional needs. I’m going to ignore where the players were drafted.
A.J. Jenkins, WR, Illiniois
I like his hands, I like his route running, I like his quick cut up the field after the catch, I like his speed. Watching tape he reminds a lot of Wes Welker, a little bit of Steve Smith, and he flashes some Jerry Rice every now and again. His speed is well known, but he didn’t just run go routes in college, he ran a lot of crossing and drag routes and made big gains with them. The best part is that he doesn’t have to be the #1 guy right away.
LaMichael James, RB, Oregon
I am a Ducks fan, so I’ve watch a LOT of James running through and away from hapless defenders. He’s not just a little guy with speed. He’s a smart runner who will hide behind blockers, squirt underneath piles, break tackles, and turn on the speed after finding the lane. He’s tougher than his stature would indicate, and can hit the hole hard on inside runs.
Joe Looney, OG, Wake Forest
Big mauler of a man, and smart. Plays with a mean streak. A foot injury could be an ongoing problem. He’ll compete for the right guard spot, and I think he’ll be an upgrade over Rachal and Snyder.
Jason Slowey, C/OG, Western Oregon
High upside guy I’ve never heard of from a small school. Looking at some tape on him, he tosses defenders around, then either goes to find another or just keep knocking around the same guy. It’s actually comical how mean this guy plays. He’ll eventually take over for Goodwin at center, and should make the team as an inactive backup this year.
Trent Robinson, FS, Michigan State
A little undersized at 5’10", but he can still cover. Fast, fluid, smart, and strong. I imagine he’ll be primary FS backup while pulling special teams duties this year. If Goldson can’t get signed long-term, Robinson will start soon.
Cam Johnson, DE/OLB, Virginia
The coaches will have to manage his snaps because he has sickle cell trait. However, given that he’s likely a situational pass rusher, it should work out OK. He projected more as a 4-3 DE, but on the 49ers he’ll be a tweener behind Aldon Smith and the other OLBs. I like what I see on tape.
Darius Fleming, OLB, Notre Dame
Haven’t watched him on tape yet. Scouting reports say he’s a skilled pass rusher and is good at setting the edge. Other than that I see him as a special teamer or practice squad guy.
Overall I like the players selected. Trent Baalke had a plan and executed it. Whether one agrees with the plan is a different matter. He and his staff have shown good judgment in this process, so I hope they’re right again. I’m going to really enjoy watching Jenkins and James this coming year.
Your comps don’t make a ton of sense. I know it’s just a first impression and it’s subjective, but the most accurate comp (coming from a guy who’s watched close to every NCAA snap of both guys) is Jeremy Maclin. Jenkins is a bit faster and shiftier, Maclin came from a more prolific offense, but their games are extremely similar. They make their bones after the catch and can run crisp routes. When you make a mistake on defense they will utterly destroy you, both have good recognition of coverages and are natural hands catchers.
I like James, but I’m not sure I like him for San Fran. I’m not sure where he fits with Gore, Jacobs and Hunter. This wasn’t a need area for them and that’s a pretty high spot to take him. You could have drafted Lamar Miller at the top of the 4th round afterall, a similar player who I actually think is a better prospect. James will certainly add a dimension to the offense like Sproles does in New Orleans, but I dislike the cost. Plus James doesn’t project as an eventual replacement for Gore…Miller might.
BTW, I think the Dolphins were brilliant to get Miller and the Colts were fools to let him get by.
Cam Johnson could be one of the steals of the draft. Love his pass rushing ability. I don’t think he’ll be any good as a 5 technique but I think he can play standing up and get after the passer. He might push Ahmad Brooks for playing time in a year or so in spite of that big contract, or if Aldon Smith flames out he could be insurance there. In either case, you guys will need the depth there.
I don’t follow NFL football too much anymore. however it is kind of hard to miss of the draft coverage of the last week.
I have seen several talking heads making comments on how they won’t be able to accurately evaluate the draft for another few years.
Do they ever do an autopsy of drafts, 3 or 4 or 5 yrs from the time of the draft?
Do they hold Mel Kiper accountable for his evaluations?
Mel isn’t raked over the coals for being wrong, but it IS brought up. Unrelated question: Read a draft grade story, one team was praised for drafting “high character” guys. How HARD is it to have high character?! 
:rolleyes:
**Chicago Bears Draft Analysis. **
Round 1, Pick 19 (19) Shea McClellin DE 6’3" 260 lbs Boise St.
I’m starting to back off the ledge a little bit on this pick. My initial reaction was shock and horror. Most of that had to do with them passing on DeCastro here, a guy I expect to be a perennial Pro Bowler and team captain for the Steelers. Before I dive in on McClellin lets take a look at the situation at OG for the Bears.
I’ve done a lot of reading on this and it’s starting to make a little sense. First, the Bears have said all along that they are pretty satisfied with what they have on the OL. There’s a lot of room for improvement, improving the personnel, improving the players skills and improving the scheme. Improving the scheme is the first component and Tice stepping in as OC has everything to do with it. No idea how effective he’ll be calling plays and scoring points, but you can bet he will protect the QB, they’ll chip rushers, move the QB off his spot and avoid 7 step drops on most occasions. Next is the skills, the line is very young and they believe that guys like Webb and Louis will improve a lot through coaching and experience. Neither guy has been able to settle in and learn a position due to injuries and the organization believes that there will be incremental growth there. Last is improving the personnel, part of that will be getting Carimi back into the fold, he’ll move Louis back to his natural inside position. They brought in Rachal who has gotten mixed reviews. They have such a log jam at OG that they are almost certainly going to move Chris Williams back outside to OT. With Spencer, Louis, Rachal, Garza, Chris Williams, Wrotto and Edwin Williams the Bears have 6 guys who’ve started over a dozen games and all but 2 are 27 or younger. Taken in this light I can see how adding DeCastro wasn’t a welcome thought. I still say he’s so good that you have to make it work, but drafting him would have meant a major roster upheaval at a relatively low impact position in the new Tice scheme.
Back to McClellin. At Boise State they used him like some kind of Joker, lining him up on both sides as a DE, both sides as a OLB, 2 point stance, 3 point stance, 5-2 DE and 4-3 Sam and 4-3 Mike and even a little 3-4 ILB. I’ve been watching a bunch of tape on him and I’m starting to come off the opinion that he’s a pure 3-4 OLB. Frankly the tape he laid down as a OLB was some of his worst and when he stood up as a 2-point DE in the 4-3 or 5-2 he was pretty ineffective. When he had his hand in the dirt it seemed like his first step and speed was at it’s most impactful. As a 4-3 DE in passing downs he almost always got the edge and made an impact. As a OLB he seemed to play high and get stood up repeatedly by blockers. When he played as a ILB or a Sam/Mike he almost always was blitzing the interior of the line. I don’t think he has the skills to convert and play the LB position in a 4-3 at all. Long story short he’s a pure speed pass rusher. He’s never going to impact the game as a tackler in space and he’s not going to knock many balls down. He’s also not particularly good at taking on blocks and shedding them to impact the ran game.
I still dislike this pick. The Bears need a situational speed rusher who can replace Idonije in passing situations and I think McClellin can do that. He also can be used as a blitzing LB in similar situations. In the past Lovie hasn’t used that tactic often and with McClellin lined up that way there wouldn’t be much surprise factor, but long term it could be a way to get him involved in more plays. Really what stings most about this pick is the poor value it represents. Taking a player who will only impact the game in certain situations at 19 overall is a bad use of the pick. I suspect he’ll be a useful player, but I think they could have gotten some of the same impact from a guy like Vinny Curry in round 2. Maybe McClellin can develop better hand technique to win battles inside and outside and shed blockers with some coaching and a focus on one position. Maybe he’s athletic enough that you can build packages around him to create mismatches. Maybe he’s going to grow into Jason Babin, unfortunately he’s not there now and he’ll have to in order to justify this pick. I’m hopeful, but not optimistic.
Round 2, Pick 13 (45) (From Cowboys through Rams) Alshon Jeffery WR 6’4" 230 South Carolina
Unlike the McClellin pick I don’t have to try very hard to get excited about this one. He’s not Michael Floyd, but the upside is off the charts. I’ve been clamoring for a big bodied receiver for as long as I can remember and now the Bears have 2. Even after the Bears traded for Marshall I didn’t back of the push to get Floyd in the first round, and Jeffery in the second is a terrific consolation prize. Personally I liked Quick a little better than Jeffery because of the lower knucklehead factor and elite run blocking skills but Jeffery isn’t a slouch there either. Still, Quick was off the board and Jeffery is a bit more polished and is a proven weapon in the red zone, a top need for this Bears offense.
There’s certainly some risk with Jeffery but I’m inclined to think that his effort issues stemmed primarily from frustration over poor QB play this year. In 2010 he was arguably the best WR in all of college football. Hopefully with Cutler slinging the rock and a professional environment this will be the guy we get. I love the way he gets up for the ball and the way he works around the boundaries. With the combo of Marshall and Jeffery on the edges and Bennett/Hester/Sanzenbacher in the slot we should generate a lot of mismatches. I’m pretty excited. It’s a shame we had to trade up to get him, but considering Quick and Hill came off the board when they did it was clearly the correct move. Certainly better than reaching for one of those guys at 19.
Round 3, Pick 16 (79) Brandon Hardin FS 6’3" 217 Oregon St.
This is a tougher one to judge. We have needs at several spots, namely CB, LB, DT, S and OT. Of those Safety might be the least pressing. On paper there’s a lot to get excited about with Hardin. His measurable are impeccable, he put up Taylor Mays type numbers and has played as a CB in college which should translate to adequate ball/coverage skills as a FS on the Bears. He’s a hitter and excellent special teams contributor. He certainly will have the physicality to match up with TEs like Gronkowski, Finley and Graham. All these are big pluses, and it’s easy to see why the Bears felt they needed to take him in the 3rd round.
Of course you can’t mention the measurables without talking about the injuries. The guy is practically the $6 million dollar man with a broken wrist and broken shoulder in college, the latter costing him his entire senior season in 2011. He’s not had many soft tissue injuries which is great and hopefully those breaks are isolated incidents, but those medical red flags and the lack of playing time they dictated are issues. Hardin might be rusty and struggle to get back up to NFL speed, that coupled with a likely position change could be troublesome.
Still, he’s certainly going to help us on special teams by filling the void left by Bowman and Graham’s departures and should offer depth in case the injury bug with the rest of our safeties continues. Lovie has a bad track record with safeties, they always seem to suck and/or be hurt and he’s picked a ton of them. Hopefully Hardin is Danieal Manning and not Al Afalava. I’m talking myself into the pick, but I’m still pissed that we missed out on Jamell Fleming. Especially since with the injury there’s a better than fair chance we could have had both Fleming here and Hardin in round 4 or maybe even 6.
Round 4, Pick 16 (111) Evan Rodriguez TE 6’1" 242 Temple
I learned something today that I didn’t know, Mike Tice doesn’t believe in the fullback. Surprising considering his tough smash-mouth persona, but in Minnesota who didn’t carry a FB on the roster in half his seasons and when he did they rarely saw the field. He converted Kleinsasser to a H-back and 90 percent of his snaps were from the TE/F position. So, with that in mind it looks like Clutts’ days are numbered and the Rodriguez pick makes a ton more sense. Kellen Davis fits the stereotypical in-line blocking TE role and will run old school TE routes. Spaeth will back him up. Rodriguez, who is repeatedly compared to Aaron Hernandez, will be much more of a gadget player. He’ll line up as a FB occasionally and has passable lead blocking skills, but his forte will be motioning out into the formation and lining up as a H-back (what the Bears call the F-Tight End, in homage to Norv Turner’s F-Back). I checked out a bunch of his tape and he’s a pretty impressive athlete and a natural receiver.
That Aaron Hernandez comparison is the one I keep coming back to. I suspect it’s just a lazy Mexican-named TE association, but if any of it’s apt this would be an indication that the Bears are about to get much more interesting on offense and from a former TE like Tice it makes logical sense. I don’t remember watching much film on Hernandez coming out of college but in the Pros when he lines up outside as a WR he’s really skilled at working the sideline and beating smaller corners. He tracks the ball amazing well in the air and gets it as it’s highest point. In the somewhat sparse YouTube footage I found of Rodriguez you don’t see any of that, it’s not that he can’t do it it’s just that the way he was used was almost always in the middle of the field on short breaking routes. Maybe the Bears see that WR/TE/FB blend that they want, if they are right I’ll turn around on this pick in a hurry.
Not to be a broken record, but I have to think Rodriguez would have been available later in the draft. No one had him this high on their board, certainly not ahead of Orson Charles, and with those character red flags (which might be overstated admittedly) the odds are really good that he’d slide well into the lower rounds. Also, he’s smaller (and faster) than Hernandez and most all tight ends so he’s not the prototype many people would be looking for with his substandard blocking skills. Considering the Bears somewhat serious need at LB I’m quite disappointed that they didn’t wait on Rodriguez* and bring in Keenan Robinson, he’d have been a great developmental prospect to try and hone to replace Urlacher or Briggs in a couple year and maybe fill in at the Sam and on special teams right away. James-Michael Johnson sounds like another good choice in a different mold, a guy who can be a pure Sam and a thumper.
Round 6, Pick 14 (184) Isaiah Frey CB 5’11" 188 Nevada
Here’s where things get a little pear shaped. I’m not nearly as familiar with these guys as the others and hopefully later I’ll be able to scrape up some video of them, but I’ll go on what I’ve read. I’ve repeated mentioned how important it is for the Bears to get a CB in this draft, but I’m not happy they waited this long. Frey looks like a slight but active zone DB. He’s got Cover 2 written all over him, but unfortunately the Bears don’t play that all the time. The Bears need a replacement on hand for Tillman and Fleming could have been that guy. Frey, I don’t see. He’s a ball hawk and instinctive and has live hands which is textbook Lovie, but he’s not stout against the run and isn’t going to be able to handle physical receivers. Unless this kid bulks up a lot, I don’t see him being anything more than camp fodder. And yes, this is stupid, but I hate the name Frey.
I REALLY wish the Bears had drafted David Molk here. Grooming a new Center is important because Garza is getting old and he wasn’t that great last year. I’m not convinced Molk is a Tice type guy, Tice loves huge road graders, but I think Molk can be a Kreutz-like leader. He’s a grinder and we need some grinders in that locker room. The Bears seem to like Edwin Williams as the future center and the aforementioned logjam on the inside of the OL would have made it tough for Molk to stick. Frey can give special teams help that another OL can’t, but I still would have liked to get him into camp to see what he could do.
Round 7, Pick 13 (220) Greg McCoy CB 5’10" 181 TCU
Things get really interesting with this guy. He’s another CB who doesn’t do what we need like Frey but with worse size. That’s not what’s interesting though. McCoy is a prototypical KR/PR. Adding a KR/PR is common at the back ends of drafts, but it raises an eyebrow when you have a guy named Hester on the roster. It becomes doubly interesting when you sign a player like Weems in free agency. I have to wonder what Emery is thinking here. Does he think the turkey timer is about to pop on Hester? Is he aiming to renegotiate that contract? Is he grooming a replacement for when Hester’s deal expires and the Bears lose him to someone else? Hester is due $2.7M this year and a $1.9M base in 2013, however that 2013 number comes with a $10M deescalating bonus. Chances are that $10M will be something like $1.5M but you never know. Could McCoy be here to replace Hester? Could he be simply insurance in case Knox never comes back and Weems can’t hack it? Maybe he’s just a gunner replacing Graham. Maybe he’ll handle Kicks while Hester sticks with Punts. We’ll see, but it made me sit up and take notice.
Not on TV, but the better websites do it all the time. The really good ones even do it as a “why were we wrong?” analysis.
I am so glad to hear that. The team that gave up the 5th most sacks in the league despite having a mobile QB who works like hell to avoid sacks is satisfied with their O line. That brings a smile to my face.
Remind me who was the Offensive Line coach for the Bears last year?
How have they done? Pro Football Focus had that O Line as the worst in the league last year, with only one having a positive grade was Edwin Williams.
Personally, I think not drafting any O lineman will come back to bite the Bears in the ass. It’s something I look forward to with great anticipation.
I just don’t see where he fits, and I’m always hesitant to take Boise State guys. Seems like a nice kid, and I think his biggest asset is his versatility, which could give Lovie a tool to play with on defense. Move him around, put his hand in the dirt one play, have him standing up and dropping in coverage the next, and blitzing him the next. Hell, maybe even groom him to become a MLB for when Urlacher retires. I’m just not sure Lovie needs a tool like that.
I’m not sure how having two guys who are basically the same kind of receiver (Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffrey) will work, but he certainly does have some very nice upside. I think too much was made of his weight changes, but he does have some issues with his desire. He’ll be interesting to watch.
A guy who has been off the field with injuries for almost as long as he’s had starting experience should be tough to judge. He looks good in shorts, but with a whopping 1 interception and one year of starting experience at cornerback and none at safety, he’s certainly a project. Should be a very good special teams guy, with the potential to develop.
I couldn’t believe the comparison either. It’s like they went with a first shorter TE with a Hispanic sounding name for the comparison. Hernandez had 111 catches for 1382 yards at a major college program and a bad passing QB for part of it. Rodriguez had 69 catches (one more than Hernandez did in his final season) for less than 1000 yards in his whole career at a bad school known for playing juggernauts like Bowling Green and Kent State. Add in getting kicked out of West Virginia after hitting a woman and suspension at Temple, and I’m not seeing it. At least when the Packers drafted a 6’2" H back, he was the Mackey Award winner for best TE in college football, a solid character guy and they got him a round later.
The other guys are important to me only in that they weren’t offensive linemen. CB was a need, and I don’t know them from Adam, so I can’t say either way. But I was really happy that they went CB/ST with their final two picks, rather than getting an O lineman or even prospects with massive upside.
Overall, I think McClellin is a bad fit, Jeffrey could be special, but you already have a guy just like him but much, much more productive, Hardin is a nice safety prospect, and some CB/ST propects that do nothing for me. And almost all of them went a round before I thought they would be good value. Intriguing draft by Emory, and it will be interesting to see how these guys play out.
And no need to worry about a hold-out, he already signed.
Couldn’t find a better place to put this, but it looks like Terrell Suggs tore his achilles and is out for the year. Bad news for Ravens fans, better news for offensive players in the AFCN…
Initial reports said he did it playing basketball. He then tweeted back that he did it during a conditioning test. Will be interesting to see if this gets contentious.