BearFan PHX

I think it depends on the question. If the question is "what is the approach that might end in Carter being a consistently good player" then yes, Eberflus is the best way. But if the question is "what kind of player best fits Eberflus' way and has the best chance to succeed?" I dont think its Carter. So from Carter's point of view, it could be good, but from the Bears' point of view, less so?

I cant speak to Punter per se, but just because we have a young player at a position from last year doesnt mean we wouldnt draft another rookie at the same position if we thought they were gonna be better, and this is especially true for picks after the 2nd round. I think we were in such dire condition last year, that we were plugging holes, and some of those guys could be replaced, even if they played well. Anything is possible this year.

I think it's worth asking whether Carter will take to Eberflus' mode of coaching - all the extra conditioning and HITS principles. I suspect Carter wouldnt fit well with that approach, even if he is one of the top talents in the draft. And you know me - I really want a dominant 3T! If Carter didnt have the love of the game questions, and didnt take plays off, I'd be yelling for him over any of the OTs. But I think Carter is not matched well with Eberflus, so I'm hoping we land Darnell Wright instead.

it would be the best Bears OL since the 85 Bears I do see us signing vet DL after the draft for sure, but I dunno if it will be problem solved. but its probably the way to go. 2024 is the real target, and solving problems for the long term is better than trying to field the best possible team this year with 75%ers

Its hard to say. We could trade down and get a better 3T and a lesser OT, but it sure wouldn't be Wright's level. I would love to see this OL, but we are gonna be complaining all year about the lack of pass rush. But maybe that's what's got to happen to get to where we are headed in 2024

I want everything now, but yes.

Also, in looking at tape today, I sure wouldnt mind Cody Mauch at Center. Think what this line would look like: Jones - Jenkins - Mauch - Davis - Wright Scary. If we can get Wright, Mauch and a legit starting 3T out of this draft, that would be a homerun. And there'd still be room to add a pass rusher, CB, RB, or whatever else you like to that too.

Makes sense. He is an extra fast athlete with a huge frame, so there's that. But being fast and handling speed are two different things i agree.

Here's Darnell Wright's tape breakdown from TTNL. It begins with him going against Anderson. Skip to 11:25 to avoid (most of) the BS

That's where I'm at too. A nasty right side like that would (will) be amazing to see. I also think that we'll end up with someone other than Whitehair at Center. There are lots of options out there with our second round picks, and lower if we have a sleeper. Also, I'm not sure Wright does struggle with speed. He certainly handled Anderson, who said Wright was the toughest opponent he faced in college. That's good enough for me. I sure hope he's there for us. A trade down and to still get him would be great, but if hes there, and we trade down and miss him, that's gonna be a big black mark against Poles in my opinion. I mean, assuming he takes another OT, and not a 3T or something, where he might make the case he wasnt taking an OT anyway.

That's what I see too. He puts himself in excellent position, but doesn't deliver the blow. It's possible that's the coaching at Northwestern, but I want someone who moves people, and not just someone who basically pass blocks, even on running plays. And also, if you're going to be an "absorb energy" style blocker, he has to get his butt down, because I see him bent back too often. I worry that the pros will be able to defeat his style. Darnell Wright, on the other hand (and on the other side lol) not only moves people, but he shut down the top pass rushers in this years draft. Id be a lot more comfortable with a guy like that as the pick.

I dont disagree at all. His body position is always excellent, and he gets the job done. He is not a mauler, but more of a catcher. And Im not comparing him to Leno at ALL, only that that's where I first found these guys. And I admit they are obnoxious, but they have more film than anywhere else I can find.

let me add this: A lot of times my contrary views (like early on Leno Jr) come from a channel called "The Tape Never Lies" - and first off I gotta admit they are obnoxious as hell. You gotta forward through like 15 minutes of replays and hype and BS to get to the meat. They are bull headed and egotistical and generally unpleasant. BUT, they do film analysis (I just skip ahead until I see all 22 on the screen lol) and I really like the way they see things. And rather than taking their opinion, i see the film myself and I can evaluate whether i agree with what they are saying or not. I highly recommend the channel for good info, and i highly recommend skipping past all the self serving crap they put before the film too LOL Skip ahead to 11:45 to see their analysis on Skoronski?

dude thats very kind - thank you! And I totally respect you and your knowledge as an OL too - I wonder if you ever got to look at that film, and what you might think of it. I see highlight reels that look amazing, but when i watched that all 22 rep after rep, I thought I saw something different, and I honestly would be interested in your opinion, if you saw it?

I dont like Skoronski. His feet ARE elite, but he isnt as physical as Id like him to be. I know this is contrary to the current narrative, but that doesnt make me wrong, it just makes me an outlier. There have been many highly touted OL who shot up the draft and were busts. Some very famous names. And of course there are lots of highly touted OLs that turned out to be great too. I posted some all 22 film a while back that really changed my mind on him. It's a sports talk situation, so its OK to disagree, and even to hold outlier positions. Time will show of course. If he's there on the board when we pick, Poles' choice will tell part of the story, and of course his performance over the next couple of years in the league will tell the rest, and we will see.

yup

depends what they gave for him I guess

Yeah this time of year everything is changing, and we get one narrative from the media that seems to recirculate, and then we sometimes get pieces of info that clarify the picture. The good news is the staff knows these players much better than the media or we can, so i guess from our points of view its all still dynamic, and it speaks well of you that you can take in new info and change your mind - a lot of people cant do that, and not just in football but all kinds of things. Ive been watching all 22 film on The Tape Never Lies channel, and it has reenforced my feelings on some players and completely changed my mind on others. And I still dont know even a fraction of what Poles does (or should!).

I've been watching all 22 film, and I gotta say I do not like Skoronski at all. There are a bunch of OTs I like better than him. I realize that this is counter to the prevailing narrative right now in the media, so i expect it will sound stupid to most of you, but I'm watching the tape, and I don't see the explosion in his blocks. He is often in bad position, and cant absorb his opponent's energy, getting pushed back or folded over. he doesnt attack with a strong hit, but catches opponents instead. He is not a HITS guy. And I assume the Bears are looking at the tape too, and from my point of view, seeing the same things.

probably right stinger

Mauch is not a first round pick at all, but later near the bottom of the second would be a great place to pick him up.

RJ is a physical beast. He doesnt have the finesse and polish that PJJ has on the left side, but he has the physical tools to make any coach drool. Think Big Cat Williams. There are lots of intriguing OTs this year, and RJ is definitely on that list.

I think we are working options, and the trade down for Darnell Wright is definitely one of them.

I agree with all of that, but for example, is Kancey for real? Any edge rushers that might be there?

I think we need to be looking for at least one blue chipper. We could take this year to build depth, but next year a lot of these guys could be replaced by our first round picks. So why bother to build depth as job one? I love getting more picks, and I know that for some positions taking them at 9 instead of say, 14, is overpaying, but who cares if youre going to miss out on them by 17? Maybe they will show me that I am wrong about Carter, and take the player. Id sure love to see him thrive - but again, Im getting excited about the position, not the player, not the value. I wish there was a perfect 3T out there who fit the value at 9, or maybe 6 and fell because of QBs. I do see what everyone else sees - that the value is right for a choice of OTs at that point, and OT is certainly a position of need. But I wish we had more to look at on the DL, both 3T and pass rushers for that 9 pick.