An Early Assessment

by WCG on Apr 30, 2008 7:36 AM CDT

Here are ten assessments/predictions concerning the Bears draft picks for next year .

3. I know I am in the uncomfortable position of agreeing wholeheartedly with Mel Kiper Jr. that the Bears improved as much, if not more, than any other team in the draft. Whether that means they went from a 6-10 team to a 7-9 one or from 8-8 to 9-7, well, that will take training camp to crystallize those projections.

The offense, which could include new starters at as many as six positions, received an instant upgrade as long as left tackle Chris Williams and running back Matt Forte start from Day 1, even if it means matching up Williams on Colts right defensive end Dwight Freeney. Remember too that Grossman and Orton immediately improved with the addition of rookies likely to bolster the Bears' pass protection and running game.

0 recs | Comment 23 comments | Add your comment

Read Related

Story-email Email | Print |

Comments

tight sets

jsut going to have to put a tight end on williams side for a while.

by mike b on Apr 30, 2008 8:34 AM CDT reply reply 0 recs

How about putting dallas clark at fullback

for some same snaps, having him there in the redzone would actually make those passes to the fullback that never work, actually work.

"snuffalufagus fucks my shit up"

by leopoldjones on Apr 30, 2008 8:56 AM CDT reply reply 0 recs

I don't see anybody else has said this

and since I get hit with it a lot I will point this out. I believe you mean Desmond Clark?

Being Who You Thought We Were Since 2005!

by WCG on Apr 30, 2008 11:23 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Does anyone actually believe this?

1. I know that despite all the silly hand-wringing in Chicago over not drafting a quarterback, I would rather go into next season with the Bears’ top two quarterbacks, Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton, than, say, the Packers’—Aaron Rodgers and Brian Brohm—if the priority is winning in 2008. Green Bay might have positioned itself better for the future at the position but not the present, not with Grossman and Orton bringing a combined 52 NFL starts to training camp compared with zero for Rodgers and Brohm. And remember, the Bears’ 2008 draft, for a change, was more about now than later.

Really? Drafting a lineman in the first round, especially one who is only expected to start due to lack of viable alternatives, indicates rebuilding. Or not trading up (like the Jaguars) or trading for players (like the Vikings)? I guess I haven’t seen anyone say one way or another, and I don’t live in Chicago, but this sure seemed like a rebuilding draft to me. Despite what the Bears org. says to get us to buy tickets. No?

(Oh, and what’s with “for a change”? I pretty much think the exact opposite of what this guy has typed.)

"I've got a class (coming in) here, we've got a chance to do some things." --Tom Izzo on why he might not consider the Bulls coaching vacancy.

by tyger1147 on Apr 30, 2008 9:05 AM CDT reply reply 0 recs

kiper

called it a win now draft with 5-6 starters in it. i don’t know, i have heard everythign from williams can start day 1 and instantly imrpove the line (which he couldn’t make it much worse) to that he won’t be ready this year at all.

by mike b on Apr 30, 2008 9:08 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

I agree that Williams shouldn't make the line/team worse...

...but how much can non-Joe Thomas prospect actually make on the line (Cleveland also picked up my preferred acquisition from last year-Eric Steinbach)?

Think of it this way (not just you, but everyone), by how much will Williams be better than John Tait at LT? How much will Tait be better than Fred Miller at RT? I’m inclined to think that Tait will be significantly better than Miller, but (for this year) Williams will be even or a slight overall drop-off from Tait at LT. That doesn’t make the whole line significantly better. Had they signed a free agent at guard or something, then I’d say, hell yeah. As it is, it’s a marginal upgrade this year w/ an eye to the future. In my opinion, anyway.

"I've got a class (coming in) here, we've got a chance to do some things." --Tom Izzo on why he might not consider the Bulls coaching vacancy.

by tyger1147 on Apr 30, 2008 9:25 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

until recently

and recently being the draft and after, i was under impression that williams wouldn’t even be able to start his first year; so yeah not sure what he’ll actually give us. i think the big imrovement will come from one or both of the receivers and maybe some from forte. those wil both go with the line though. should have picked up at least a guard in FA, I agree.

by mike b on Apr 30, 2008 9:52 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

FA Guard

No doubt they should’ve gotten one, but with Harris, Hester, etc all looking to cash in, the Bears were being stingy with their cap space. Throwing a big signing bonus at a new guard wasn’t in the cards. If the mini-camps don’t produce a viable option at the other guard spot, then JA will probably look to the post-June 1st cuts for a bargain. Lots of veterans get “purged” around that time. A 1 or 2 year deal could bring in a vet for at least a marginal upgrade at the position.

by MuleTrain on Apr 30, 2008 10:00 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Agreed. And something I've been meaning to say.

I have no idea what Beekman can do. If he takes over because he’s better, that provides another small improvement. But these are marginal improvements for what was a horrible line last year. Cleveland is the only team in recent memory (my shoddy memory, that is) that went from horrible to darn good in one off-season. However, they picked up a Top-10 guard (remembering that 64 start) and one of the best LT prospects, that lived up to the hype, in the past 10 years.

I really think the Bears will get a huge loss of production from Devin Hester this year. I’m worried about it.

"I've got a class (coming in) here, we've got a chance to do some things." --Tom Izzo on why he might not consider the Bulls coaching vacancy.

by tyger1147 on Apr 30, 2008 10:13 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

no doubt

if the offense starts slow, noone will kick to him at all, they’ll just watch us punt from the 35.

wish beekman would have got some time last year. instead of us pretending we were still in it.

by mike b on Apr 30, 2008 11:01 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Here's a few

You must be forgetting the Bears went from 5-11 to 11-5 in 2005 (plus 6). The Saints went from 3-13 to 10-6 in 2006 (plus 7). The Rams went 4-12 to 13-3 in 1999 (plus 11). There are really many more, but I thought these were some notable teams.

Kick it to me... I'm open!

by #23 on Apr 30, 2008 4:38 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Williams will be the starter

1. Pass protection is what he’s known for and is IMO the harder skill to develop in the NFL. He’s gone up against elite college rushers in the SEC. Vandy is usually losing, therefore they must pass a lot, lots of rushers coming after the QB, Williams had lots of reps pass blocking.

2. He scored a 32 on the Wonderlic which tells me he won’t have much problem picking up the protection and blocking schemes. Ron Turner’s offense isn’t exactly complicated either. I think everyone on this blog can predict what’s coming next and can draw up the 4 running plays the Bears offense uses.

3. He’s got 3 months to hit the weight room under Rusty Jones supervision. He’ll no doubt improve his run blocking this way.

4. He may not be as good as Joe Thomas, but he’s definitely a better prospect than Tony Ugoh; who as a rookie protected Peyton Manning all year.

by MuleTrain on Apr 30, 2008 10:45 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Manning does a truly incredible job protecting himself.

Rex Grossman doesn’t. At all. Pathetically so.

"I've got a class (coming in) here, we've got a chance to do some things." --Tom Izzo on why he might not consider the Bulls coaching vacancy.

by tyger1147 on Apr 30, 2008 10:59 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

if you are so inclined

espn radio 1000 has podcasts (or just a wmv file) of its local programming available almost daily for every show. great bears and cubs content on waddle and sily and MJH. you could also stream online. i bring it up becasue they’ve obviously talked abotu the draft quite a bit, and had kiper and angelo on in the last couple days. worth a free download.

by mike b on Apr 30, 2008 9:11 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Thanks. I probably will.

"I've got a class (coming in) here, we've got a chance to do some things." --Tom Izzo on why he might not consider the Bulls coaching vacancy.

by tyger1147 on Apr 30, 2008 9:17 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Bears Kool-Aid drinker

Consider me optimistic now. An improved line will mask a lot of offensive deficiencies. Any back other than tip-toe Benson will improve the run game. No Fred Miller or false-start Reuben Brown will improve the running game. Rex, with an improved pass protection (C.Williams specialty) and improved run game will rise up to mediocrity! A vast improvement. Double tight-end sets with Clark and Olsen will mask receiving corps issues (assuming Ron Turner has this figured out).

On defense, a benched Archuleta will make a huge difference. Alex Brown as the starter will improve the run defense. Healthy Tommie Harris and any nose tackle not named Darwin Walker will improve the defense. A healthy (and hopefully skinnier) Nate Vasher will improve the defense. If injuries hit, Trumaine McBride in his 2nd year will make a fine replacement. Rookies Steltz and Harrison should be able to step in and fill holes at safety and DT if necessary.

9-7 or 10-6 is my prediction.

by MuleTrain on Apr 30, 2008 9:13 AM CDT reply reply 0 recs

I think we'll see Clark stay in and block more...

...with Olsen taking a bigger part in the passing game.

"I've got a class (coming in) here, we've got a chance to do some things." --Tom Izzo on why he might not consider the Bulls coaching vacancy.

by tyger1147 on Apr 30, 2008 9:28 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Did anyone else

Read #8 in the article? That is pretty ballsy stuff from “We have a number and we stick to it” JA.

by GallopingGhost on Apr 30, 2008 11:48 AM CDT reply reply 0 recs

Angelo is talkin out his ass

when asked “Is Brian Urlacher holding a gun to your head?” and he responded “If he is, it’s filled with water.” Urlacher is to this Chicago team what Walter Payton was in the early 80’s… EVERYTHING!!! U don’t talk about ur franchise player like that no matter what he’s complaining about. Urlacher is the glue to this franchise and when he retires JA will be crying his eyes out.

"URLACHER IS GOD"....."PLAY-MAKERS STAND UP!!!!!"

by Acreman20 on May 2, 2008 2:23 AM CDT reply reply 0 recs

yeah

he really glues this d together when he’s gettign blocked out of the play 50% of the time.

by mike b on May 2, 2008 9:12 AM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

ha

u expect him not to get blocked when darwin walker and folks like toeaina, idonije, and adams are in front of him? tell me how many other linebackers in the league had 5 ints. and 5 sacks last year as well as play on an injured riddled defense that probably would’ve lost 12 games without him

"URLACHER IS GOD"....."PLAY-MAKERS STAND UP!!!!!"

by Acreman20 on May 3, 2008 3:52 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs

Urlacher

the end of the year was much better than the beginning of the year. I wonder what his stats would have been if he played that what for the whole season. I’m not faulting him, he was not himself. I wonder how he did what he did, because I’m still not sure he is himself.

Kick it to me... I'm open!

by #23 on May 3, 2008 4:27 PM CDT up reply reply 0 recs