Response To A Critic
We here at WCG have been prognosticating and guessing and rumor mongering for quite some time as to who the Bears will draft and aside from trading down regardless of the names the positions we are talking about are always running back or offensive linemen.
The Bears were up in the SBN Mock Draft. The trade was negated, so I went with Rashard Mendenhall.
So today when I drifted over to our Draft site to take a look at what our expert had to say about the pick, I was a tad taken aback.
Here is what he had to say.
WTF? Please allow me to retort. He doesn't like it because we have needs at receiver, o line and defensive tackle.
We have a questionable o line, a questionable run game and a questionable QB and you want us to address receiver? Brillant!!!
Let us move to defensive tackle. Here is our projected starting defensive line for next year Ogunleye, Harris, Dvoracek and Alex Brown with Mark Anderson coming in for a pass rush. Dude, this sounds like one hell of a line. Sorry, but you don't draft depth at the #14 pick in the first round.
So drafting Mendenhall is a luxury? Have you even seen Benson? The guy has injury issues, a questionable work ethic and a piss poor attitude, but...
You also say you'd give us an A+ if we took a QB. Would you now? Brohm, Flacco and Henne are all currently projected in the late 1st, early 2nd. Sounds like one hell of a reach. Who says any of these three are ready to start as a rookie? And you want me to replace Orton or Grossman, two guys who have very good work ethics. Sounds like a luxury pick to me.
So that leaves us with offensive linemen. This comes down to two things preference and your draft board. Maybe you are a needs guy, maybe I am a best available guy. But to call drafting a potential stud RB at any position in the draft unless you have LaDanian Tomlinson on your bench is a good call.
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32 comments
Comments
Depends on who is there...
1.) Ryan Clady
2.) Chris Williams
3.) Jeff Otah
4.) Trade pick
5.) Rashard Mendenhall
Mendenhall comes in at the 5th option at that pick. Offensive line comes in at #1, #2, and #3 because that is what we need the most. A soild offensive line protects a QB and creates holes for a RB. A RB runs through the holes that are created by his offensive line. Not many RB's can run behind a wall...
by whitebearsox23 on Apr 4, 2008 11:07 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
nope
by mike b on Apr 5, 2008 12:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Easy there skippy
Not bad for a first post is it.
by warriorspath on Apr 5, 2008 12:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
fuck that guy
there wasn't a huge need for rb last year in minny either, they saw a special talent and took it.
even if i think we need as much oline as possible, i still don't hate a mendenhall pick.
by mike b on Apr 5, 2008 12:26 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
big difference
AP didn't do what he did by himself.
The guy is right - offensive line is a much bigger need than RB.
I don't/won't hate a Mendenhall pick, but it doesn't really address the Bears' major needs.
by big_lowitzki on Apr 5, 2008 1:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
not my point
those needs were not able to be adequately addressed with the people available at that pick
they picked the best talent available.
if the bears don't see a tackle they like, they should be picking the best talent available, especially if the best talent available upgrades a weakness.
by mike b on Apr 5, 2008 2:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
benson
The guy has injury issues, a questionable work ethic and a piss poor attitude, but...Still trying to find someone that can support such assertions about Benson.
I have been asking for any kind of support for over a year now, and have found very little backing to the assertions that he has a "questionable work ethic" or a "piss poor attitude."
Of course, somehow Benson and Jamaal Charles are the same type of back, so maybe I shouldn't expect actual facts.
by big_lowitzki on Apr 5, 2008 1:21 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
You've got to be kidding me........
by Peoria Matt on Apr 5, 2008 7:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
And here's some sweet Benson stats:
- $10,671.68 per rushing yard.
- $40,476.19 per carry at a 3.8 ypc average.
- $38,116 per touch.
- $1.7 million per touchdown.
by Peoria Matt on Apr 5, 2008 7:19 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mocking the Draft
Matt is right. I understand why WCG took a RB. Benson is garbage, and has been garbage since he was drafted. He was a huge mistake on Jerry Angelo's part, and imho should get Angelo canned. GMs cannot afford to fk up a #4 overall pick.
That said, RBs like Matt Forte, Chris Johnson, and others of the like will be available in rounds 2-4. These are the kinds of players at RB the Bears should look for. The issue for Chi-town is the o-line. It is wretched. Their receiving corps was always somewhat of a joke, and now it is a bad one. LT Chris Williams or WR Limas Sweed made more sense because they could become difference makers AND fill immediate needs.
It's important to note that the Bears are in rebuilding mode. They are not treating it as such nor are their fans viewing it as such. But, it IS a rebuilding team. With all the quality players they've lost, their now-decimated WR corps, and the fact that Rex Grossman is STILL their starting QB the Bears are in the process of re-working their entire roster.
by BigBlueShoe on Apr 5, 2008 6:46 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I'm not arguing
He offers up positions that the Bears GM should be fired if he took, unless somebody like Long fell.
WR, QB and DE are not good values for us a 14.
The only two positions that make sense are O line and RB. If you think O line, fine, but that doesn't make the Menedenhall pick a horrible pick.
by Adam T on Apr 5, 2008 8:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree with the first part.
The problem is what happens after the pick. They'll have to take an o-line in the second to hope they get a better o-lineman (Carl Nicks?). That means they're then looking at QB in the third. That's John David Booty and Colt Brennan territory.
So, on one side, you could go:
Mendenhall
Nicks
Booty/Brennan
Or you can go:
Williams
Brohm
Forte/Charles
Really, which one looks better? I do love how everyone says there aren't franchise tackles at No. 14, but there are "supremely talented" and "stud" RB's there. Right.
Seriously guys, a good o-line really makes the running back look that much better. "It starts up front." "It's dominated by its line." You've heard these cliches? They're there for a reason, ya know.
by tyger1147 on Apr 5, 2008 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was acutally hoping
by Adam T on Apr 5, 2008 12:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Virginia Boy
by SuperBowlXX on Apr 5, 2008 3:59 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
QB's 1-3 rounds.
- Williams(pass)Clady(run)
- Sween/Kelly or Manningham
- Matt Forte (4.44 40 @ 6'2" 218lbs) Nice./ Jamaal Charles (in 3 yrs only behind Ricky Williams and Earl Campbell in rushing)
- Haruki Nakamura / Kenny Phillips/ Tom Zbikowski
- Erik Ainge ( if id draft Qb @ all)
- Andre Fluellen ( DT FSU) undersized but verry disruptive
- Best player available
- X3 picks OL and best players available for SP.
by SuperBowlXX on Apr 5, 2008 3:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
chris leak sucks
by leopoldjones on Apr 5, 2008 4:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I disagree
If Brohm or Flacco are sitting there, I really don't know how I feel about Henne yet, we have to take a shot.
We have to have a backup plan, unless it is to pay big bucks and go after Anderson after this year.
by Adam T on Apr 5, 2008 6:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If you don't know what they have...
by tyger1147 on Apr 6, 2008 1:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I really think it's a wasted pick.
Running backs are a dime-a-dozen.
by tyger1147 on Apr 5, 2008 11:22 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
this is my question
"The biggest drawback to this pick is that Williams may not be able to help a lot next year (and that's the biggest reason I see them passing on him)"
Someone has to play this year, if the 14th pick lineman won't, who's to say you can't pick one in next year's free agency or the draft? odds are we'll be picking high again anyway if we're rocking the current line or the current line with a first round pick on the bench. huge fucking gamble though, say #14 is ready next year and you didn't pick him, and then you don't get one in FA, AND you aren't picking high enough to get one that will start right away again.
sounds about what the bears would do actually.
by mike b on Apr 5, 2008 11:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think you guys understand
Also, if these guys aren't going to be ready to come in and start right away, we may as well draft oline later and let them develop or go free agency in the next couple of years.
I want a big time talent and that is what Mendenhall is. If we could get the next Jonathan Ogden or Orlando Pace, fine. But he aint in this draft.
by Chad on Apr 5, 2008 12:22 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
It's a tough position to make a pick
Now, I agree I do not think that RB is our biggest need. But, the draft did not turn out well for us in this scenario. I think Angelo would have basically no choice but to trade down if this happened. The talk about taking WR Limas Sweed seems strange. The draft is incredibly weak in WRs. Sweed would probably be a 2nd rounder at best in better drafts. So once again, taking him would be need way above talent.
A lot of drafting is looking at who you expect to be available in the next round. There will be good OTs available and probably good QBs (Flacco perhaps). Mendenhall is one of the last elite-level talents available in this draft. Taking him is a completely understandable choice. The critic made some good points, but he either greatly overvalues Benson or he really believes that teams should only draft based on their top need. WCG, I think you made a good choice in a tough position.
by quartz77277 on Apr 5, 2008 1:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
You guys are making stuff up.
And if you take someone in the second round for o-line, than your QB of the future is Erik Ainge or Dennis Dixon or some po'dunk that no one has heard of. Sweet. Great plan. When Orton and Grossman bust out, the Bears will have a great running back, a so-so line and Jerry Lewis playing QB. Rock!
And if you say, "Well, there are good lineman in the NFL who have been drafted all throughout the draft," then you're COMPLETELY IGNORING the fact that the same can be said of running backs.
I know you guys you have got yourself in a tizzy over a local boy, and at this point, there's pretty much no way to change your mind, but my gosh.
BTW, I'm still waiting for someone to name me a RB that was called "supremely talented" going into the draft and has proven to be so in the NFL. Who else besides Adrian Peterson? You know, the guy who was running behind the best offensive line in the league... LaDanian Tomlinson? Great!!! I can't believe I missed the boat. Rashard Mendenhall is going to be as good as LaDanian Tomlinson and Adrian Peterson. HOT SHIT!!!! Draft him yesterday. Can I change my mock pick?
by tyger1147 on Apr 6, 2008 1:16 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I've seen your extensive endorsements of Otah and
by rob in iraq on Apr 6, 2008 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Let's be very clear...
I have said that most scouts don't think he can step in and play right away. He needs time to develop. So, my thoughts are that if we won't get a starting tackle for this up-coming season then why take him? We can wait until the next couple of free agent periods and get a known quantity. Williams or any of the these guys may not pan out.
Having said that, the Bears don't have anyone who can run the ball as a starting running back. Benson may never play football again and AP is not a starting running back in the NFL.
Rashard may not Peterson or LT but he has some promise of that. I think he will be a superstar and soon. So, under my plan we get a quality line in the next couple of years AND a great running back. Under your plan (best case scenario) we get a good line and no star running back.
by Chad on Apr 6, 2008 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
and
by mike b on Apr 5, 2008 5:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
lol
by SuperBowlXX on Apr 5, 2008 9:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe if he
by Adam T on Apr 5, 2008 9:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
OT
by suchman on Apr 6, 2008 1:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

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