What Does Gaines Adams Bring to the Table?
by JimmyMack on Oct 17, 2009 10:02 AM CDT
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On Friday, the Bears gave up their 2010 2nd round draft pick for Tampa Bay defensive end Gaines Adams. Adams was the Bucs' 2007 1st round pick (fourth overall). While the trade is very intriguing at the very least, it is a bit of a risk - considering the Bears already didn't have a 1st round pick next year. Now they will have to sit out the first 2 rounds of the 2010 draft.
As soon as the trade broke, I tried to find out as much as I could about Adams - as he hasn't exactly been on the front page very often over the past couple of years. What I found out was encouraging, namely that Adams is extremely athletic. He ran a 4.64 40, with a 35 inch vertical at the combine. The knock on Adams is that he may be a little undersized, even at 6' 5", 260 lbs. Scouts generally seem to think that he could add about 10 pounds in the weight room. He is considered a "speed rusher", who doesn't provide much else in terms of power or technique. He did a modest 21 reps of 225, on the bench-press at the combine in 2007. He doesn't appear to have gained much size or strength since then. Numbers-wise, he averaged 6 sacks over his first 2-years in the NFL. While these numbers are very average for a defensive end, he did lead his team in '07 and '08.
Although Adams was one of the most sought-after players in the '07 draft (picked 3 spots ahead of Adrian Peterson), his coach on the Bucs (Raheem Morris) felt that he was an under-achiever. Morris had basically given Adams an ultimatum in camp this year, telling him that if he didn't register double digit sacks, he would be considered a "bust." Adams responded by getting only 1 sack in his first five games this year. However, it doesn't appear that the Bucs were shopping him, so much as Jerry Angelo coveting the third-year player from Clemson. I'm sure Lovie Smith and Rod Marinelli were fully aware of the situation, and they probably had signifigant input in the trade as well. In any event, after Cedric Benson's "re-birth" on the Bengals, maybe we're due to have someone come to Chicago and turn their career around. Here's hoping that Marinelli can work his magic with this kid and help develop him into a stud pass-rusher!
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This is the first I heard of Vasher being traded
Do you have a link on that.
Vasher wasn't reported to be included in the trade.
Everywhere I looked, he wasn;t in there, until I looked at Adams’ wikipedia page, where it was falsely reported that Vasher was included in the deal.
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.
I fixed the Wikipedia page...
late last night. But I can verify that it did say that before.
by Shawn Domagal-Goldman on Oct 17, 2009 2:30 PM CDT up reply actions
Very good move
Gaines has more talent than any DE the Bears have currently. ABrown lacks the playmaking ability to play RE. He belongs at LE where he would be a more valuable player. While Ogun can still play some, his best days are behind him. Anderson is playing better this year, but compared to how invisible he has been the last two seasons, that is faint praise. This season under Marinelli’s coaching, we’ll see if Anderson has anything to contribute. Idonije is a valuable role player, better suited to be used as a DT in passing situations than as a full time DE.
Better to get a talent like Gaines and see what he can do than re-sign Ogun. Maybe Gaines is a bust, but I am anxious to see what Marinelli and a new scheme will do for an obviously talented young player.
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Oct 17, 2009 10:26 AM CDT reply actions
A common negative opinion on this deal
is that the Bears traded their 2nd round pick for him, and now do not own a pick in the 1st two rounds.
I don’t understand that mentality… because, essentially, with the 2nd round pick in the 2010 draft, the Bears selected Gaines Adams (a top 5 talent).
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.
by SackMan on Oct 17, 2009 10:48 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
I agree
they got Gaines cheap, but the naysayers will be back to say I told you so if Gaines is a bust afterall. That said, I like the deal very much, they got high 1st round talent for a 2nd round pick.
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Oct 17, 2009 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions
And the same naysayers would be here
to tell us our 2nd round pick was a bust… especially if we select another friggin Dan Bazuin, or Mark Bradley, or Roosevelt Williams.
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.
Don't forget
Michael Haynes… Wait, no we should try to forget him… nevermind.
Well... he was a 1st round disaster. LOL.
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.
Amen brother.
The poster formerly known as Freethefro.
+1...
anytime you can get a known commodity as opposed to a “potential” development prospect, you just have to do it. DEs are often projects anyway; and when you get a guy who has spent a few years in the league you are way ahead. Now Marinelli can concentrate on honing his talents and technical improvements to his game, not spending time telling him the basics of life in the NFL. Even if he is only good, the Bears have a first round prospect for 2nd round payment. Lastly, this may just be the best thing for a kid like Adams. He may not have lived up to expectations in TB, but he was drafted onto a bad team to be the defensive savior. Now he can concentrate on being a good DE on a better team and maybe have a legitimate of seeing the playoffs in the next few years; rather than languishing in the hell that TB has become and will be for a long time!
There are no stupid questions, but there are a LOT of inquisitive idiots.
Don't forget
that the Bears select in the first round of the 2010 draft…… well I’ll be damned. They liked him so much they drafted him again…. JAY CUTLER from Vanderbilt!!!!!
You can't believe everything you read on the internet, that's how World War One got started.
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by Ditkavsworld on Oct 17, 2009 12:04 PM CDT up reply actions 5 recs
if he can be a starter
this is a great trade. simple as that. we got a guy with upper first round talent for a 2nd round (and hopefully it’ll be low in the round) pick. that’s pretty damn good. now, the question is, can rod and lovie take that talent and do anything with it. if not, not a good trade.
by guy incognito on Oct 17, 2009 12:26 PM CDT up reply actions
Its not just about sacks/rushing the QB
How is Adams against the run? If he is a wuss against the run then this is not a good deal for giving up a second round pick.
"Chance favors the prepared mind." - Pasteur
In the scheme Lovie runs,
the number one priority for the ends is to get to the pass rusher, so if Gaines ends up being a 10-12 sack per year guy, it’ll more than make up for any run stopping shortcomings he has. Plus, as long as the tackles fill their gaps and get upfield, our LB’s are more than fast/strong enough to pick up the slack on run plays.
Metal sharpens metal.
And this guy right here understands and knows what leadership is all about: The coach, the hall of famer......... Dick Butka! George Ryan
No doubt
No doubt sacks are important, but recall that Anderson was good with the sacks but weak against the run and a lot of us were upset when he was given the start over Alex Brown, who is a more complete defensive end. Like I said I think if he brings sacks to the table it isn’t enough, I think in order for him to be worth giving up a second round pick, he has to defend against the run well.
"Chance favors the prepared mind." - Pasteur
he's averaging
60 or so tackles a season. That’s a respectable amount for a speed-rusher. Gaines, I mean.
Here's how I envision Marinelli developing Adams...
Given Marinelli’s use of video as visual aid, this is what I’m hoping he does for Adams: a montage of Brett Favre getting sacked, trains smashing cars on railroad tracks, sharks eating baby seals, Adrian Peterson getting tackled, bear traps snapping shut on animals limbs (that’s kind of a pun there…), grizzly bears mauling vikings and eating cheese (didn’t see that one coming, did you?), and pythons wrapping up large prey. Just strap the kid to a chair while watching those clips for an hour or two a day and he should be everything we need him to be.
I'd say I'm 75/25 in favor of the move
I was hoping the Bears would use a high draft pick on defense anyways, though that other 25% would rather have seen a cornerback. But since I’m not following the college football season very closely, I had no prospects in mind.
I guess we'll have to wait until the end of the year to see how he pans out...
I was hoping that they’d use the pick next year on a DB or O-lineman. But Lovie and Rod are obviously thinking defense first, so that’s why they wanted to get this guy.
I'm hoping they did
this move, because they knew the draft pick they really wanted will be going to someone else… Taylor Mays
"I'm sorry Josh, I'm with Chicago now, you need to stop calling me" -JerBear50 as Jay Cutler
by BearNecessities on Oct 17, 2009 3:36 PM CDT up reply actions
Oh, yeah Mays should be long gone - maybe a top 10 pick if he stays healthy
I’m just a little concerned about the secondary and the O-line. But then again, a good pass rush makes it a lot easier on Tillman and Bowman, doesn’t it?
Angelo’s still gonna have to try and shore up the O-line and secondary through free agency. I don’t know if any good lineman or DBs will be hitting the market, though…
Secondary
Bowman has to show he can stay healthy first, i still think it needs to be addressed, But we definitely need someone at Guard soon, and some DBs
"I'm sorry Josh, I'm with Chicago now, you need to stop calling me" -JerBear50 as Jay Cutler
by BearNecessities on Oct 17, 2009 3:50 PM CDT up reply actions
Will have to wait and see..
I was hoping for a left tackle to take over for Pace either next year or the year after..but I guess that will be in 2011 1st round..either way good deal if Marinelli can get him going..I like the idea of the tape of grizzly bears mauling vikings and eating cheese.
We have a LT
Chris Williams, and Omiyale will slide to RT, Beekman will take C, so we need guards
"I'm sorry Josh, I'm with Chicago now, you need to stop calling me" -JerBear50 as Jay Cutler
by BearNecessities on Oct 17, 2009 3:37 PM CDT up reply actions
I don't trust Omiyale to play anywhere yet.
The poster formerly known as Freethefro.
Beekman will never take a snap as C as long as Olin's around
which will be for a very long time.
Camp ifuwanna, we hold you in our heart...
by ifuwannacrownem on Oct 17, 2009 4:52 PM CDT up reply actions
Camp ifuwanna, we hold you in our heart...
by ifuwannacrownem on Oct 17, 2009 4:54 PM CDT up reply actions
That' sucks
cause the way I see it, Olin isn’t the same Olin from the past…watch him during film, he’ gets beat more than you might think…
Perfect fit
This is exactly what we need. With Rod teaching him the small things his technique should improve dramatically. Remember Prince takes years off (last year being one) and it kind of bothers me win players magically have awesome years when there contract is up. My only question is what side will he play? If my memory serves me he has usually been on the right side which for his skill set is where he should remain. I don’t know if he is strong enough against the run for the left. Plus next year should be a good and DEEP draft.
An excellent acquisition
Gaines Adams fits to a tee what this defensive line and the Lovie Cover-2 scheme need. At least with respect to pure physical skills.
Rod Marinelli no doubt played a major role in the evaluation of Gaines Adams before Jerry Angelo pulled the trigger on the deal.
I like this move. A lot.
"Cubs will win 79 to 83 games." BLou (7/21/09)
Hey...think about this!
If I remember correctly, Alex Brown was sometimes used as a DT early in his career. What if they used this lineup… RE: Gaines Adams DT: Alex Brown DT: Tommie Harris LE: O-Gun. That would be one fast D-Line.
It really looks like the Bears are pushing for a 2010-2011 Superbowl run. Giving up next year’s Rookies, for guys who can come in this year and get comfortable for next year when Urlacher’s back.
I’m not saying this year is a throw-away year by any means, but I can’t wait for next year!
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