BearFan PHX

So I assumed that Wilkenson will compete at RT, becasue that's what all the articles said, but in looking for highlight film ont he guy (which i didnt find) I found some articles about how he was competing to be the starting LT last year in Denver. So hmmmm. What does it mean? I surely dont know more than the sportswriters do.

Im not really talking about distance, but velocity. If you even watch his highlights from last season you see he has to put a LOT of body behind each throw (no flick of the wrist like Wilson) and the ball moves slow, its easy to see. BUT he is smart, and knows how to read a defense. If Nady is a magic offensive guru, maybe Dalton can execute and it'll look amazing. But I wouldnt put a ton of money on that.

Yes, while Trubisky cant read a Defense, Dalton has a weak arm and isnt a threat to run. Daltons delivery is slow and he looks to heave the ball with his whole body, and the velocity is still really slow after all that effort. And it takes time to deliver a ball with that much motion, and is impossible with someone hanging on you. BUT Dalton reads defenses a lot better than Trubisky does. If you keep the pocket clean (lol) and get guys open with good route running, he can be serviceable - but then again so can a lot of guys. Hes not special, but he is definitely smart and knows the game.

LOL Grizzly, it sure is! I think the problem with Leno is that these stats all grade how well he handles the guy he engages with. But the myriad of times he took the wrong guy, and double teamed with the LG, while letting someone go free doesnt show up in this stat. What they see is that the guy Leno mistakenly took didnt get in, and of course not because it was a double team. If thats the case, and he is just grading out average even with double teaming help, then he is actually one of the worst OTs in the league. And he is one of the worst OTs in the league. Week in and week out, he blocked the wrong guy and got no movement / didnt provide protection. Weve seen our QBs running from free blockers, weve seen running bakcs encounter first contact at or behind the line of scrimmage. Hopefully Pace sees this and will do something about it, but, I wont BET that he will again, because I was totally wrong about that. I bet that wasnt as dumb as he now seems to be.

nah he's more of a right tackle from what I read. And anyway, the crow Im eating is just how stupid Pace is, so Im good with that

agree. I think the odds are high that our first two picks go OL and QB, not sure which order, and whether we will have to trade up to get one or both.

I agree, and although a lot of the claims relate to stuff that happened after he was already drafted, they may have gotten the information that he wasnt the greatest guy. If so, that's a plus for Pace since we were so QB hungry, and looking to draft up to get Trubisky, at least he had the smarts to avoid this guy no matter what the upside looked like.

Maybe Pace had a good reason to take him off of his list, and maybe that's why we didn't ever meet with him.

we are going to need to run the ball, and move people on the OL.

yes, even I, very pessimistic about Nagy and Pace, agree with that. Given the extra deep and cheap free agency expected for this year, anything can happen. There are bright spots on the roster. But looking at tape, Dalton isnt very good. Even his highlights look labored, slow. But I think he does know how to read a defense well. He is basically the anti Trubisky. Still half a player, but the exact opposite half to Trubisky. He has a good QB brain, and not much physical talent. If we run the ball, and play defense, and if Nagy is disciplined as a play caller and a game planner, we could potentially play possession ball and support a defense. We will still need more FA help too, but there should be options available. If they take a QB in the draft, the possible ceiling rises, and if we are looking like an up and coming offense with the rookie, we won't even mind just missing the playoffs, or exiting early, and be excited for next year. But the stars would have to align perfectly for Dalton to be the starter on a Bears team that wins a playoff game, no less makes a run. Wouldnt it be great if a first or second round QB (Mond?) turned out to be a baller for us? I'm really not enjoying being the pessimist. I never was one before about the Bears, and Im not one in my regular life either. But this has been really hard to watch, and while Dalton may be our best option available, and present a different kind of limited puzzle piece for Nagy to work with, he isn't a very good QB.

thank you

I think PFF is insane. They have said so many things that I disagree with, i discount them as a source for my opinion anyway.

thank you! EDIT - forgive me but I dont see AV scores there, just regular stats.

I think they all see he cant read a defense.

where are you getting your AV numbers?

totally, and I am reading nerdy papers right now about approximate value LOL

adam, yes this is what its all about. Pace may not use the exact same grading scale, but in the end, production vs cap hit is what it is all about - thanks for sharing this - great analysis.

I think they have to look at every possibility. Nagy will know the KC OTs so he may have some insight. Then again, Nagy LOL

yes if thats his price, we are better without him. when the music stops a few guys will be left standing cheap.

I wouldnt mind seeing them trade up for one of the top five QBs either. Of COURSE you know I agree with you about an OT too, but there is only one first round pick, and QB is so important. Also, while I would be nervous having Pace and Nagy choose the QB they think is worthy for a trade up in the first round, I know that it is such a crap shoot, that the odds that they will swing and miss because they are wrong are probably similar to hitting a homerun by accident too. Top ten pick Qbs have a 50% success ratio, and no one knows i guess anyway. If on the other hand, any of the QBs you mentioned turn out to be good, then that would be fantastic. Also, if they don't, you have a pretty good team just needing a QB, and perhaps a new GM coming in with a high first round pick with which to get one next year. But what a hole we are in to be considering these scenarios. Ugh.

agree, even the best GMs only hit on a real QB 50% of the time int he top ten draft picks.

Im thinking some teams are able to read this and others arent. Some watch how you are under pressure, while others are charmed when you meet them for dinner. I think what it really comes down to is whether you look for a player with production, or someone with traits that you think you can coach up. And this goes along with my theory that Pace and Nagy think they are the smartest guys in the room, and their ego allows them to think things are possible because of their input, that just arent possible. The way Nagy turned a multidimensional NFL offense into a paint by the numbers made me think that Nagy doesnt really understand what it is to be, or even really want to be, the head coach. He wants to be the QB and call the plays. He thought he could move Mitch from the sidelines like a puppet, like a video game with Xs and Os. In fact, this league is about players, and thats where Pace and Nagy have missed.

exactly. Mitch does not have what it takes to be an NFL QB. He seems to be a really nice guy, likeable, humble, hard working. He's married now, still in his 20s, and a multimillionaire - all because the NFL is so desperate for QBs, that they'll make a millionaire out of a kid who only started a few games in college and never had production. Good for Mitch! I wish him well in his future life. I also wish I could get $1.5M for failing at my job as poorly as he failed at his. But that isnt his fault, it's Pace's. If I was foolishly chosen to QB the Bears by Pace I'd have been much musch much worse than Trubisky. And that's not my fault either. I am not an athlete. It's the GMs fault for drafting him.

It feels like Nagy is saying "look if Im going to get fired, Im going to go down swinging with a chance to be an offensive team. Im not gonna ride the D one more year and fail to ground it out." which goes along with "geez, I wasnt even part of taking Trubisky, Id like a chance to prove Im an offensive genius please" And that makes sense, and it is "Be You" for days, but I think he is going to want a better QB, and I dunno how we would get that guy and still build the OL. I'll bet we're going to trade up in the draft into the top ten for a QB tho.

they must think there will be a glut of free agent CBs that have to take cheap one year deals. They probably have a list of acceptable candidates, it probably includes Fuller, and they will make a play for the last or second to last one standing at the lowest price.