dawhizz

Not that it's going to make or break a Bears decision to push for Cutler, but keep in mind that he and Earl Bennett had a great relationship at Vanderbilt, to the point that Cutler came back after his rookie year to throw to Bennett at his pro day. If you're worried at all about Bennett's development, the fact that he has an existing good relationship with Cutler makes him look extra enticing.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-0...0,1624787.story I think this is a smart way to go about it. Williams is clearly the LT of the future, but after a injury-plagued first year, it makes some sense to have him at RT, learning and watching one of the best in recent years man the left side until he's ready to take over. Sounds like the Bears are making a real push.

If the Bears like Pace and Pace likes the Bears, would it be better to sign him now or later? You sign him now, and it means you have it done and can move forward in the draft accordingly. But if you wait, it allows you to keep Pace in mind while drafting. For instance, say Oher is still there at 18 or Loadholt falls to the 3rd or something. If you sign Pace, you probably aren't taking them. If you wait, you can take advantage of that kind of thing and just tell Pace, "we decided to go in a different direction." Just something to keep in mind.

I'm not quite sure I understand your general approach to the draft, looking at both. Why, for instance, do you see an OLB as a top-4 need in both? Why are you drafting a SS in the first draft when two SS spots are essentially locked up? Do you see DE as a need (3rd round in the first draft) or not a need (7th round in the second)? Is it just BPA? As far as your general approach, for me, OLB would not be a consideration until late, RB would bearly be a consideration at all, despite the Bears' apparent interest in James Davis (we have 4). I would go for an OG somewhere in the first 5 rounds or so. As far as the drafts themselves: First draft: Love Nicks, but I'm very nervous about Loadholt. I would go FS much earlier and OLB much later (someone like Darcel McBath or Sherrod Martin instead of Williams). I'm kind of torn on whether or not to go QB in the middle rounds, but I like Davis (and McGee, actually). I'd also like to another receiver earlier than UDFA. Second draft: My favorite of the two. First three picks are fine by me. I would switch out an OL for the OLB (maybe someone like Kraig Urbik or Troy Kropog) in the third and probably go DE instead of RB in the fourth, but other than that I have few complaints about it.

One could also see the Cardinals in the market for a CB, so maybe try trading one of those guys and our 2nd for Boldin, or our 1st and a CB for Boldin and their 2nd?

I think this would be a tremendous move. Grab a mid-round tackle to develop in the draft and free up the early rounds for WR and FS. Anyone know if he had any kind of good relationship with Lovie when they were in St. Louis that might tip the scales in our favor?

With the Pace visit, it may all be moot. But the more I watch and read the more sold I am on Nicks and the less sold I am on Loadholt. I REALLY want Nicks in the first. As a result, I think at this point I would prefer to see us go something like: 1) Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina - Did I mention I love him? 2) Rashad Johnson, S, Alabama - Let's bring back a smart coverage guy at safety. That seems to have worked pretty well with Mike Brown. 3a) Troy Kropog, OT, Tulane - Can play at both RT and LT and is used to opening holes for Forte, though he may need to put on some weight to be an effective RT. 3b) Mitch King, DE, Iowa - So similar to Aaron Kampman, I can't help but think he'll do well at the next level. Can play inside and outside in our scheme. 4) Jarett Dillard, WR, Rice - Nice 3rd down/red zone WR who can catch and jump. 5) Ramon Foster, OT/OG, Tennessee - A versatile RT/OG to help out whereever. 6) Glover Quin, CB, New Mexico - Corey Graham 2.0. 7a) Stephen Hodge, LB/S, TCU - If he's still there, Lovie will want to draft him (they're related). 7b) Marcus Mailei, FB, Weber State - Strong blocker for the practice squad who might be able to challenge McKie after some development.

If the Bears don't go OT in the first (Britton) and Loadholt ends up being gone in the 2nd (or the Bears just don't like him), where should the Bears go at OT from there? The draft seems relatively thin after that as far as pure RTs are concerned (Fenuki Tupou, Garrett Reynolds and the rising Sebastian Vollmer seem the only pure, consensus RTs), but there are a number of either swing tackles who can arguably play LT and RT (Jason Watkins, Troy Kropog, Gerald Cadogan), pure LTs (Xavier Fulton) or OG/OT tweeners (T.J. Lang, Kraig Urbik, Herman Johnson). So, if the Bears pass on OT in the first two rounds, any of these guys a particularly good fit for the Bears? If we really planning to keep Omiyale at guard, don't we need a swing tackle who can back up Chris Williams AND Kevin Shaffer as much as we need a pure RT like Loadholt, who probably wouldn't be able to step in and help if Williams went down again?

I hadn't seen this posted yet. Lots of notes on WRs, OTs, and other miscellaneous players we might have some interest in. http://blogs.suntimes.com/bears/2009/03/dr...out_to_ent.html Discuss (or something).

Those aren't reasons they will absolutely still be available in the 5th, though. You might not like them in the third/fourth rounds for those reasons, but there is plenty of evidence to suggest some teams might, and that the Bears might be one of those teams.

I don't understand why you keep saying that. You can certainly not like both players, but all I've seen suggests they are at least in the mix in the third round with the rest of those at this point, if you go by the projections on most draft sites.

I had always kind of figured on the Bears drafting a WR early (round 1 or 2) and then another WR late (round 5-7), but the way the draft is shaping up, I wonder if it might be wise to go WR with both 3rd round picks. Let's say an OT is the pick in the first (Britton would be the most likely candidate here). If you want a FS to compete right away for a starting spot (and, personally, I do) I think the second round is the place to get one, whether you want one of the projects (Sean Smith or Jairus Byrd) or one of the true FSs (Louis Delmas, Rashad Johnson, Darcel McBath, William Moore). That still leaves a glaring hole at WR, but the Bears seem to be doing a lot of scouting on those middle round WRs. So maybe you take a deep threat and a possession guy by mixing and matching whoever is left out of guys like Collie, Iglesias, Massaquoi, Tate, Barden, Dillard, Gibson, whoever. If you've shorn up RT, and move Omiyale to OG for sure, I think I would be pretty comfortable with bringing in two of those guys and seeing what they can do (hopefully more than Bennett did last year). Would you?

I predicted this as soon as St. Clair was signed. IMO, this does decrease the chance an OT is taken in the first. Shaffer is still relatively young, is starter-quality, and signed to a three-year deal. Maybe the Bears look more at a developmental tackle in the 3rd-4th round (Jason Watkins, TJ Lang, Gerald Cadogan, Xavier Fulton). I can see a situation where Omiyale starts at RT with Shaffer backing him up.

To the extent people trust Mel Kiper (and I, for one, do), he answered my question about Nicks in his chat today: Greg (St. Louis): Is Hakeem Nicks' weight gain cause for concern? Mel Kiper: (1:22 PM ET ) For some people it may. I talked to one person in particular say that it's a red flag. Someone at UNC said he had a tweak of the hamstring and tha'ts why he hasn't been able to work out and put on some weight. He went from 212 to 226. So he put on 14 pounds from the combine. He's not a fast guy, so if you put on weight all of a sudden, you're not getting open. Hopefully he can get the weight down. I think he could be a first round pick. He could go to Minnesota, Giants, Tennessee, Baltimore.

Why is that? What about the scheme makes it difficult for him to play FS?

He got hurt. He couldn't work out. He let himself go. He got better. He shed the pounds. Something to consider, but not a big deal IMO.

If the Bears do go WR in the 3rd, also keep in mind they are said to be high on Brandon Gibson from Washington State, they were at the NC pro day, obstensibly to scout Nicks, but probably also got a good look at Brandon Tate and Brooks Foster, and were also at the Oklahoma pro day where they had a look at Juaquin Iglesias (and the Bears have not shied away from drafting from Oklahoma in recent years).

The more I think about it, the less I see OT as a first-day pick. The Bears "big offseason pick-up" has been Omiyale, and they aren't going to pay him $6 million this year to be a backup. I think they see him as the starter at RT, and while they don't have a legitimate backup at RT at the moment, I'm not convinced an early pick at RT who could supplant Omiyale is a priority for this team. If they take someone who can play RT moderately early, I think it will be an OG who can play some RT, and then a developmental tackle in the middle rounds. If that's true, you might see something like this: 1) Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina - Heavily scouted and with good reason. It will be interesting how the additional pounds he's put on since the combine (http://blogs.nfl.com/2009/03/23/wr-nicks-puts-on-14-pounds-since-nfl-combine/) affect his draft status. If that's strength without losing speed, I think he's the pick. 2) Jairus Byrd, DB, Oregon - Sure, he's one of the coaches' sons, but he also fills the need as he projects well to ballhawking FS. Not to play conspiracy theorist, but he has yet to run for scouts, which has kept his draft stock in limbo. Maybe there's a Bears promise out there...? 3a) Andy Levitre, OG, Oregon State - Or whatever OG is available, though it helps that he can play RT if needed. 3b) Lawrence Sidbury, DE, Richmond - Another scouted player to try to punch up the pass-rush. 4) Jason Watkins, OT, Florida - I'm guessing this is where you see the Bears take an OT, probably a guy from a big program, but with some upside. 5) Tom Brandstatter, QB, Fresno State - A nice developmental player to compete with Basanez. 6) Brannan Southerland, FB, Georgia - It's not like McKie is anything special. 7a) Greg Orton, WR, Purdue - Adds some size to the WR corps. 7b) Terrill Byrd, DT, Cincinnatti - Potential rotation DT that fits the scheme.

No, no, no. I'm sure he's talking about Dave Ball.

Maybe we aren't thinking of the same thing. The thing I watched was the State Farm College Football All Star Challenge, which aired on ESPN. They had a QB competition, a WR/RB competition, and a K competition (that I remember). The RB/WRs I remember were Nicks, Norwood, Barden, Iglesias, and Donald Brown.

I'm pretty sure it was Jordan Norwood you watched (another Penn State WR), not Deon Butler. He was in the WR challenge thing they did with Nicks and others.

Just so I'm clear on the chain of events here: -The Bears offer John St. Clair, their starting LT the previous year and who has started 19 straight games, a three-year, $4.5 million contract to return to play RT and make it relatively clear he is their offseason priority. -St. Clair makes a counter offer. The Bears refuse to address it, allowing him to enter free agency. -The moment FA opens, the Bears sign Frank Omiyale, a former LT, to a contract which is worth between $11-14 million, with a $1.8 million signing bonus, a $6.3 million first year figure, and worth about $1.5-1.85 million in the subsequent years. The Bears immediately indicate he will play guard, that they are still pursing John St. Clair, and would have actually liked to sign St. Clair first, presumably because then moving Omiyale to guard makes more sense. This seems to indicate the Bears believe St. Clair to be a better RT than Omiyale. Angelo specifically says they don't want to hand Omiyale the starting job at tackle. -Several other starting-caliber free agent options at guard and tackle sign. The Bears appear to show no interest in a single one. -Mini-camp begins and despite the fact that St. Clair has shown no willingness to sign the Bears contract that has been hanging out there forever, the Bears line up Omiyale (who is making over $6 million this year) at SECOND TEAM LG. Your starting RT is Cody Balough. Says Omiyale, "I feel comfortable at tackle, but today I was a guard and it felt pretty good." Lovie Smith talks about the importance of letting guys "lock in" to a position. John St. Clair heads to Cleveland. -The next day, St. Clair visits and signs with the Browns for $9 million, a $2.85 million figure in the first year, and $1.25 million guaranteed, roughly double the contract the Bears initially offered (which it appears was never improved), and yet much less (at least initially) than the contract Omiyale signed. -One day later, the Bears announce that Omiyale will be moving to RT. "Tackle is more what I'm used to" says Omiyale. "We're trying to lock guys in," says Lovie. "It's hard enough learning a new system playing one position, so we'll lock him in there for a while and go." IMO, there's two ways to look at this: 1) The Bears are paying more money to a guy in Omiyale they view as a worse RT than St. Clair. What they said when they signed Omiyale was that they were putting him at guard because they anticipated St. Clair being back. Since we already know St. Clair can play and start at guard (he's done it before), if they thought Omiyale was the better RT, why not just sign him, say he's the starting RT, and say you want to bring in St. Clair to compete at guard and back up at the tackle positions? 2) The Bears were trying to screw St. Clair. Here's the diabolical plan: The Bears sign Omiyale and say he's locked in at LG to get St. Clair to return at RT by saying he gets a starting position. They induce St. Clair to sign a well-below-market contract for a starting RT, but he signs because he wants to start. Shortly thereafter, the Bears announce Omiyale "seems like a better fit at RT" and will compete with St. Clair. Omiyale wins the job (as they hoped he would) and St. Clair returns to a spot starter for spot starter salary he signed under the impression he would be a full-time starter at RT. Do I have that all right? I'm not necessarily saying how things worked out was horrible for the Bears (I thought Omiyale made much more sense at RT from the get-go). It just seems either dumb or shady. Maybe I'm just in a mood.

I'll bet you see them go hard after Shaffer.

I do agree that great players will (within reason) be great no matter where you play them (Colvin would have been a good DE, Urlacher would have been a good S). The problem is that when you are dealing with very good, good, and decent players, I think it's the organization's responsibility to put them in a position where they can be the best players they can be. And those players have much less margin for error than the great players, because they depend on getting reps at a constant position to be able to prove themselves. I mentioned Manning and Idonije originally. I don't think anyone would argue either are great players. But if you put Idonije at DE only, instead of forcing him to fluctuate weight to play DT and DE, I think you get a better overall player. The same thing with Manning if the Bears had put him at safety and kept him at safety. And I certainly understand that there is, as many have said, "not much difference" between some of these positions. But for very good to average players, those subtle nuances are the difference between being in position to make a play or allowing a touchdown. They depend on those repeated reps at one position to learn from mistakes, and putting them at another position can often slow that learning curve in a way that doesn't help anyone.

Even as early as it is in the offseason, the Bears have "committed" to at least three position switches that I've seen: Frank Omiyole from OT to OG, Zackary Bowman from CB to FS, and Israel Idonije from DT to DE. While I am aware that often a position switch is both natural and logical (like the move from safety to MLB for Urlacher when he came into the league), it seems to me the Bears make their positions switch decisions based on the present shape of the roster and trying to find a cheap way to solve problems without any real eye towards what is best for the player. Thinking of position switches in recent years for this team, the vast majority of those that were effective were done right out of the draft and were somewhat natural (Urlacher, Rosevelt Colvin, Jerry Azumah, to a lesser extent). I generally have no problem with this, and a certain amount of it is expected as a part of effective scouting (moving a college OT to OG because of mobility concerns, moving a college DE to LB because of size concerns, moving a college CB to S because of speed concerns, etc.). However, despite those successes, the vast majority of position switches this team has attempted have been miserable failures, or only successful insofar as they corrected an earlier position switch mistake. The ones I could think of (and feel free to add to these if possible): Qasim Mitchell - Moved from OG to LT and had limited success before becoming an abject failure and perhaps one of the more reviled Bears offensive linemen in recent memory. He was tried at LT, correct me if I'm wrong, simply because we needed a LT, not because that was necessarily the best place for him. Dustin Lyman - College LB drafted to play TE (in the third round!) despite the fact that he was widely considered a legitimate LB prospect. Never a factor. Michael Haynes - Moved from DE to DT in his later years in a vague attempt to scrounge some value out of a bad draft pick. It made no difference and he was cut. Rod Wilson - Moved from S (where he played in college) to LB. Didn't make much difference, but this was a pretty natural change given the Bears scheme calls for smaller, faster LBs. Danieal Manning - Has shifted between safety and CB several times and while he has had his moments, he has been unable to stick at one position. Israel Idonije - Has shifted from DE to DT several times, which requires him to bulk up and slim down at the whim of management. Rashied Davis - Played WR and CB in college, but was a productive WR in Arena Football. The Bears signed him and immediately moved him to CB, where he was unremarkable. They moved him back to WR, where he became a relatively productive WR. Devin Hester - See Davis, Rashied (without the Arena football sidebar). I guess my point is, the majority of the position switches the Bears have made were made for one of two reasons: 1) We need a guy at "x" position, maybe we can get this guy who plays "y" to do it, or 2) This guy is really bad at "x" position, maybe if we move him to "y" he won't be so terrible. Which, it seems to me, is the wrong reason to move someone. You move someone because you legitimately think they would be better there. And when you move them, you should committ to them at that position. Israel Idonije might be a good DE, but I'd never know because he's been shuffling between DT and DE too much to establish any consistency. How much more developed would Hester be now if we hadn't wasted time trying to make him a CB? Would Daniael Manning be a better safety if he was allowed to concentrate on only playing safety, instead of jerking him from CB to S? Now, I certainly understand that a player is essentially the team's property and should move if it is what's best for the team and the player. But the track record for the Bears shows that, more often than not, it is rarely what's best for the team and even more rarely what's best for the player. Zackary Bowman hasn't done anything in the last month that makes him a better candidate for FS than he did the previous seven. He's not moving there because it's what's best for him, because if it was what's best for him, he would have been moved there as soon as they drafted him. He's being moved there because 1) The Bears have a need at FS, and, most importantly, 2) THEY ARE TOO CHEAP TO GO OUT AND SIGN A FS. By the same token, Idonije is moving to DE because it's cheaper to demand a player slim down to play DE than to actually sign a DE who could help. I really am sorry to ramble and rant like this, and it's very likely that I am blowing this out of proportion, it just seems like this is indicative of the larger problem many have posted about that this team appears largely unwilling to spend money to improve this team this offseason. Essentially, the Bears are saying "Why spend money on a FS and a DE when we have players we can just move, regardless of whether it is actually the right position for them to play?" I sincerely hope we see Bowman starring at safety for years, and Omiyale locking down the LG position, and Idonije providing the pass rush we need at DE. But, based on this team's record with these kind of moves, I'm not counting on it.