dawhizz

LB Matt Mayberry from Indiana as well. http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/...t-products.html

Looks like the Bears got an early start on a guy I think can really help this team (per KFFL): Bears | Freddie Barnes signed Comment (0) Sat, 24 Apr 2010 14:44:30 -0400 The Chicago Bears have signed undrafted free-agent WR Freddie Barnes (Bowling Green), according to Daniel Mogollon, of NFLDraftBible.com. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

We knew Tice liked him going into the draft, so not much of a surprise. He's got good size and bloodlines working for him.

I like the pick too. Very similar physically to Alex Brown, in that he's a bigger DE who still has quickness and pass-rush abilities. If he gets back to 100%, I think the can make an impact.

If Mike Tice wanted one of the O-linemen available, I think we would have drafted one. All reports have been that he's reasonably happy with the group we have. I don't think this is a "JA is so stupid" situation as much as it is a new guy in Tice who has come in and thinks he can turn this group around. If that doesn't happen, then we can freak out. But, given his track record, I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

I figure it will probably be an O-lineman, which we certainly need, but, as much as I don't think we necessarily need another WR, I'd be really intrigued if Carlton Mitchell was still there.

According to the Trib, the Bears had targeted Jerome Murphy, Amari Spievey, Morgan Burnett, and Wright in the 3rd. So, at least they got one of them, I guess.

Of course, there's never any telling with JA and company, but as I see it, the Bears are most likely to go DT, CB, or OL. Guys who could be had here: Al Woods, DT, LSU Geno Atkins, DT, Georgia Arthur Jones, DT, Syracuse Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland Mitch Petrus, OG, Arkansas Jason Fox, OT, Miami Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, CB, Indiana (PA) Perrish Cox, CB, Oklahoma State Syd'Quan Thompson, CB, Cal Domonique Franks, CB, Oklahoma The Tribune is saying the Bears are looking most closely at CB and DL with the next pick. I'm guessing they are targeting Owusu-Ansah, and he'd be the pick if available, but we'll see in 11 hours or so...

It'll be interesting to see how he ends up comparing to Burnett, taken a few picks ahead of him, and Chad Jones, taken right after. At least it wasn't a reach here and he should be able to step right in and compete for the starting job.

I still say the 3rd round pick is a CB. AOA, Murphy, or Spievey.

I don't see the Bears having the ammunition to get up to the Rams pick, particularly with other teams really pushing for the pick with even more to offer. But I do see how this could ultimately work in the Bears' favor. Let's say the Rams do trade down to one of the teams looking at Clausen/McCoy (Bills, Browns, Raiders). Even after they trade down, Taylor Mays is available when they pick and is the best guy on their board. If they take him, that might make them more comfortable trading Otogwe.

Something to keep in mind going into the draft, from the Sun-Times (http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/bears/2187374,CST-SPT-bear22.article): ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Angelo confirmed the Bears are looking at safeties, admitting they need help at the position. He said the team had a chance to make a move for a veteran safety a couple of weeks ago and opted to wait out the draft first. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We've talked about guys out there like Hamlin, Otogwe, Sharper, etc. I haven't seen any signficiant FS signed in the past few weeks, so it seems likely that whoever they had a chance to get is still out there. Might end up figuring into the equation in the next couple days, if there's a veteran safety they have in mind.

First, let me say I have a hard time believing this rumor. Second, the people who think this is terrible value for Olsen are nuts. As defiantgiant says, this is the first pick in the 2nd round, for which the Bears would be giving their third round pick. If you want to go by the old pick value chart, the Rams pick is worth 580 and the Bears pick is worth 215, making the difference (Olsen) worth a mid-2nd round pick, which, I think, is what we all wished we could get for Olsen. Not to mention the fact that the pick will be a highly desireable pick for trade value. The Bears could probably trade down, pick up a lower 2nd and lower 3rd round pick or high 4th round pick, and still get a guy like Nate Allen in the 2nd.

What's interesting is the number of CBs the Bears are looking at who have also, to one degree or another, been projected at safety. Spievey and Owusa-Ansah (AOA to you) have both been talked about as NFL free safeties, as has Jerome Murphy from South Florida, who Lovis Smith apparently met with when the Bears were down at the South Florida pro day. If the Bears were really solely interested in upgrading the CB position with that 3rd round pick, you'd think they'd be spending more time with those prospects who would be available around that time who are strictly projected at CB, like Javier Arenas and Syd'Quan Thompson. Since they're not, I think the Bears are trying to figure out if one of the CBs available at the 3rd round pick might be a better NFL safety than one of the college FSs available. Just something to keep any eye on.

He doesn't add anything Hester and Knox doesn't already have, unless we want a team full of slot receivers. No thanks.

Now that we're inside two weeks before the draft, and we've gotten some idea of the players the Bears have brought in for workouts or observed at pro days, I'm wondering what people are thinking about what the Bears will do. This is not necessarily what you want them to do, but what you think will actually happen or what their strategy might be. I'm going to go all seven rounds, based on what I've been seeing in newspaper reports and who I think might be available when the Bears draft: 3) Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, CB, Indiana (PA) - I don't think any of the good FSs like Nate Allen or Chad Jones will be available, though the Bears would almost certainly take one of those guys if they were available. The Bears keep working out 2nd-4th round CBs (Owusu-Ansah, Amari Spievey, Trevard Lindley) to the extent that I'm really starting to think it's a major possibility for their first pick. This is such a good CB draft that you can get a really good player when the Bears pick. We've all seen how much the Bears love to take the small-school DB (Manning, Tillman, Roosevelt Williams, Corey Graham), so my money's on Owusu-Ansah, who's a great fit in zone coverage and many are already comparing to Charles Tillman. While everyone's expecting a FS here, I think they wait one more round to take... 4) Robert Johnson, S, Utah - The Bears have been all over him this offseason, and with good reason. After guys like Allen and Jones, you can make a case that Johnson is the best pure FS available. Even though reports are his draft status is rising, this is still probably a little higher than most places have him slated to go. At this point, barring some kind of trade into the 2nd round, I really think Johnson's the odds-on favorite to be the Bears FS pick in this draft. 5) Tony Washington, OT, Abilene-Christian - Yes, this is the player who has already become notorious for having sex with his sister when he was a teen, so several teams are shying away from him. However, most reports say he's been up front about whatever the situation was and is trying to move on. Plus, he has legitimate talent as a tackle. Most say what he really needs is a strong support system and the sky's the limit. With a father-figure Texan as coach and fellow Abeline Christian alum Daniel Manning, not to mention a need at tackle, Washington actually makes a good amount of sense for the Bears. **Trade down in the 6th to pick up an extra 7th. The Bears would like to get either DT Earl Mitchell or DT Nate Collins around this point, but when they're both gone, they trade down** 6) Reggie Stephens, OG, Iowa State - Mike Tice worked him out personally recently and reportedly came away impressed. While there are ton of zone-blocking guards in the draft, there really aren't that many power, isolation guys, which figures to be what the Bears will be looking for. Stephens is one of those exceptions, with real size (6'2" 322) and strength, with the versatility to play center or guard. If you believe the reports, Tice actually likes the O-linemen the Bears have, which helps explain why we haven't heard of a lot of 2nd-4th round linemen working out for the Bears. 7a) Brandon Deaderick, DT, Alabama - I think the Bears want at least one more body on the defensive line. They might prefer someone smaller and quicker, but both Gilbert and Melton fit that description, so the Bears might be interested in a guy who has a bit more size, but still has some quickness to him, and who comes from a big time program. Deaderick might be snatched up by 3-4 team to play end, but if not, he'd be good value here. 7b) Shay Hodge, WR, Ole Miss - It's pretty clear the Bears aren't in the market for a major upgrade at WR. But that hasn't kept them from looking at late round guys like Naaman Roosevelt and Freddie Barnes. So don't be surprised if the last pick of the day for the Bears is the best WR still on the board. This is always a crapshoot (like the rest of the draft, actually), but Hodge is one of those guys who has enough skills to intrigue (6'1", 214, 4.55 speed, 1,100 yards and 8 TDs last year), but doesn't stand out in any particular area. Worth taking a flier on at this point.

He signed his tender today. This article seems to suggest he'll be available for less than a 4th round pick. If that's true, you HAVE to pull the trigger. I can only assume this was the plan all along: Redistribute the money that would have gone to Brown to Sims. Let's see if it ends up happening. http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/...ttle-guard.html

I'm also wondering where the money we save goes. If it ends up going towards Sims or Otogwe or addresses another need, then I'm fine with the move. If we never see that money being put towards something that improves this team, and we don't see adequate production from the DE who ends up replacing Brown, it's just going to be one more strike against this regime.

He gone . . . Would have liked to see a draft pick, but no one else wanted the price tag. I say good luck to him and hope he doesn't go to a team in our division. http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/news/story?id=5047383

Sounds like maybe Seattle's not so interested in the trade: http://blogs.suntimes.com/bears/2010/03/be...sims_but_s.html Still, if you trade a 4th for Sims and trade Brown for a 4th or a 5th, I guess it works out about the same way. This O-line needs help ASAP, and I doubt you're going to find a guard in the 4th who can step right in. This article from the Bleacher Report says that Sims graded out as the 8th best guard in football last year (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/369821-chicago-should-jump-on-brown-sims-swap).

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/footb...0,5519790.story I don't know much about Sims, but the thought of getting a starter at guard for Brown seems like a good idea, particularly if the alternative is to release him or trade him for a late pick.

Here are some other guys I've generally thought would be good fits with the Bears: 3rd Vladimir Ducasse, G/T, UMass LaMarr Houston, DT, Texas Amari Spievey, CB/FS, Iowa - I already wrote about him in my other post Javier Arenas, CB, Alabama - Not that we need another guy with return skills, but he's a legit CB too. Reshad Jones, S, Georgia 4th John Jerry, G, Ole Miss Ciron Black, G/T, LSU Geno Atkins, DT, Georgia Myron Lewis, CB, Vanderbilt - Go back to the well? Alterraun Verner, CB, UCLA Kendrick Lewis, S, Ole Miss Darrell Stuckey, S, Kansas Robert Johnson, S, Utah - The Bears have already brought him in for a workout. 5th Brandon Carter, G, Texas Tech - He's the one with the crazy face paint during games Shawn Lauvao, G, Arizona State Kyle Calloway, RT, Iowa Adam Ulatoski, RT, Texas Earl Mitchell, DT, Arizona - Has been moving up a lot of board recently Crezdon Butler, CB, Clemson Devin Ross, CB, Arizona Dezmon Briscoe, WR, Kansas - He's been disappointing in workouts, so he might fall this low. Shay Hodge, WR, Ole Miss 6th Chris Marinelli, RT, Stanford - Really underrated. Chris Scott, RT, Tennessee Nate Collins, DT, Virginia - The Bears have already brought him in for a workout. Vince Oghobaase, DT, Duke Jamar Wall, CB, Texas Tech - A guy I really like. Patrick Stoudamire, CB, Western Illinois - Has been very impressive against lower competition. Stephan Virgil, CB, Virginia Tech Freddie Barnes, WR, Bowling Green Arthur Moats, LB, James Madison 7th Dace Richardson, G, Iowa - He's having a horrible offseason, but if he's healthy, he can play. Mick Williams, DT, Pitt - Very undersized, but a carbon-copy of Eric Foster, who has been very productive in the Colts defense, which is similar to ours. Stevenson Sylvester, LB, Utah - Speedy LB like we like. Mike McLaughlin, LB/FB/LS, Boston College - Hard-worker who can do a bit of everything

The more I look at this draft, and working under the assumption at the moment that the Bears don't move Olsen for a 2nd, I feel like the best value pick when the Bears pick might very well be at CB. Guard is a need, but they tend to fall anyway, so unless you fall in love with someone like Jon Asomoah (and he's available there), you might be able to wait a round or two and get Mike Johnson or Brandon Carter or someone like that. The best pure free safeties (Morgan Burnett, Nate Allen) will probably be gone, so I'd rather not reach for Major Wright when you can probably wait and get Robert Johnson or Kendrick Lewis or Darrell Stuckey. But the CB crop is loaded this year, and not only that, it seems to fluctuate the most as far as where guys are projected to go, to the point where one projection's late first round pick is another's early third. Now, I actually like Bowman and Graham, but Tillman's really regressing in my opinion and Moore hasn't shown anything. With that in mind, the guy I'd have my eye on is Amari Spievey from Iowa. Great tackler, good fit in the cover-2, good CB height. Kind of a Tillman clone from a couple years ago. Plus, several projections say he might be even better as a free safety. Even if he's not the pick, there's plenty of other good cover-2 corners that might still be around in the 3rd (Kareem Jackson, Donovan Warren, Syd'Quan Thompson, Javier Arenas). Something to think about, I think.

Am I the only one shocked to see Peanut this highly rated? I feel like in the last two years (and last year especially) he has started to let his talent for forcing fumbles go to his head to the point that he misses a lot of tackles because he's too busy trying to get the ball out, or at least the player gains an extra ten yards by the time he gives up and tackles him.

My hopes, not using draftek, but rather, how I'm thinking things will shake out. Same needs, same Olsen trade, different strategy: 2. Morgan Burnett, FS, Georgia Tech (in a deep safety, I'm thinking he or Nate Allen falls here) 3. John Jerry, OG, Miss (as you said, need a big, mauling guard) 4. Alterran Verner, CB, UCLA (productive, playmaking corner who is ready to compete right away) 5. Earl Mitchell, DT, Arizona (penatrating DT) 6. Freddie Barnes, WR, Bowling Green (won't wow in shorts, but catches everything in games) 7. Chris Marinelli, OT, Stanford (legit potential RT or G who helped pave the way for Toby Gerhart)