AZ54

You only got 5min to take that mini test. Score is simply the number of answers you got right in 5min. For those who ran through the sample questions keep in mind we did that cold. The players have agents who are giving them prep sessions with sample questions so it's safe to assume they are as prepared as they can be to take the test. If they sat around for a couple months and didn't prepare that's just as a bad an indictment on their work ethic ala Andre Smith.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/footb...0,7151782.story ===================== Offensive tackles: None of the tackles were too far off the acceptable mark. Andre Smith of Alabama scored 17, which is borderline. Faring much better was Arizona's Eben Britton with 31. Others: Eugene Monroe of Virginia had 24, Jason Smith of Baylor 23 and Michael Oher of Mississippi 19. Wide receivers: NFL teams would like for receivers' test scores to be about 18, but several of the top prospects fell below that mark. Michael Crabtree of Texas Tech scored 15, Darrius Heyward-Bey of Maryland scored 14, Percy Harvin of Florida scored 12 and Hakeem Nicks of North Carolina scored 11. The test result is particularly interesting in the case of Harvin, who will have more learning to do than the others based on the offense he played in at Florida and the fact he could be used in multiple roles. Jeremy Maclin of Missouri was outstanding by comparison with a 25 test score. ===================== DHB's score concerns me if we were thinking about taking him at #18. Below him is Hakeem Nicks is way down in DT territory with an 11! We just spent a season watching Bennett struggle to learn our playbook and quite honestly Hester has struggled to do the same. Some background: http://espn.go.com/page2/s/closer/020228.html Charlie Wonderlic Jr., president of Wonderlic Inc., says, "A score of 10 is literacy, that's about all we can say." If that's the case, more than a few pros are being delivered the Books-on-Tape version of the playbook. Each year, about 2.5 million job applicants, in every line of work, take the Wonderlic. The average NFL combiner scores about the same as the average applicant for any other job, a 21. A 20 indicates the test-taker has an IQ of 100, which is average. And if you want to take the test go here: (it's an old link) http://espn.go.com/page2/s/closer/020228test.html

deleting double post

Outside of running a 4.3 forty DHB hasn't really done much of anything. He seems destined to be this years combine stud who turns into a dud. I hear absolutely nobody talking about anything he's done in college, just that he's fast and tall. Watching his highlight videos, many of the plays they show are him catching a short route and running the distance. That doesn't impress me as far as translating into an NFL WR. Then I keep hearing how he was limited because the coaching staff reigned in the offense and the QB was limited. Maybe, but part of the reason the coach did that could have because DHB wasn't that good running routes, or because of his questionable hands? Right now I want a WR not a track star.

Again, another good special teamer and another reason I think AP finds new home this year.

No reason not to get both.

I hope Harvin does sneak in there because it means some other WR who I value more (for our needs) will fall to us.

Pass on DHB in Rd 1. We're in no position to gamble on a WR. If we go WR in Rd 1 I prefer to take Nicks.

It's hard to know who is a leader until they are a leader. We simply are not in the locker room, and film room, etc. I will say that I think Williams might be that guy for us. First his play on the field needs to be competent but assuming he does that I think he has already shown some good things coming back last year and doing whatever he could to get some snaps. According to reports he has worked hard this offseason too.

I was expecting more from him since he started so quickly in college. The NFL is a different beast and Turner's offense isn't that simple, IIRC Olsen had some struggles with plays his first year too. At least Bennett was open to admitting it which I take to be a guy owning up to the fact it was his own limitations that kept him off the field. With an improved Bennett and Hester more up to speed as a WR things should be better for us at the #2 and 3 role. We need a #1 but a decent #2 opposite Hester will suffice this year. No doubt feedback from the minicamp is deciding how aggressively we pursue a veteran versus waiting for the draft. There was a comment today about Boldin's stock dropping: http://blogs.suntimes.com/bears/2009/03/fo...march_18_e.html Not sure where his value is but I was willing to give up our second but if it gets to where we have to give up our 3rd to get him I'd gladly do that. That allows us to use Rd 1 OT, Rd 2 OG/FS. Of those needs I prefer to go FS in Rd 2.

We had a somewhat decent, if inconsistent, passing game last year with a poor Oline. Oline isn't going to help all those drops that would have made a big difference in some games. Adding a rookie WR just isn't likely to change things all that much, history has shown that time and again and especially if the QB has no time to throw. Grab a RT with our first pick and Forte and Orton both get better. Those are known commodities so we can be more confident in that.

The Pats were a good team until they found a cornerstone in Brady, a guy likely headed to the Hall of Fame. Suddenly once you have that guy everything else looks so much better. Yet be realistic, the Pats haven't always won in dominating fashion. Take that QB level down a notch to occasional Pro Bowl level and are they still wearing 3 rings? I remember people criticizing their owner for being cheap when they let key players walk away and signed nearly washed up vets to fill in cheaper. I don't want to belittle their success but that one guy was key piece to the puzzle and he alone attracted several of those key vet players who at the end of their career just wanted a shot at a ring. Find a franchise QB and we'll attract some of those guys too.

I watched him at the pro day and despite the weight loss he's still sssllllloooowwww. No way I see him at OT in the NFL, just guard and he's a 3rd Rd pick at best.

I always felt he'd be back and that JA would match a reasonable offer. It doesn't even appear as if he came back to Bears to see if they'd counter. No biggie, time to move on.

What they fail to address is why Cleveland would even make that trade. They end up with Cooley and 5th Rd pick. I don't view Campbell as a decent QB, he always looks lost in the pocket. It makes more sense to keep Quinn. I just don't see it.

I'd move Harris too. I look at him as having 3 maybe 4 good years left. We have Harrison to step in and he's supposed to have pretty good talent. Again getting a big name Pro Bowl player like that makes the deal easier to sell to fans especially if they can get Sanchez in Rd 1. I think they'd look at that as a good situation especially with all the defensive woes they've had the last few years. I know there'd be a draft pick thrown in there too. Make it happen.

Do you think JA is going to pick him up right out of jail? I don't see it after all the Tank and Ced fiascos.

Trade Hester and a 2nd Rd pick. If they want him I'd throw in Orton plus a 3rd Rd pick next year. They get a dynamic KR/PR and a WR who seems to be able to develop into a decent #2. It takes big bait to catch a big fish and this one will keep fan interest in Denver and won't run the coach out of town but I think they'll want to take Sanchez at #12. In other words I wouldn't expect a deal unless it's blockbuster until draft day. I'm assuming they'd like Sanchez but if they pull that off they have Orton to handle the reigns for year if needed and Sanchez as the future. That gives the new coach a reasonable chance of success in year one with a brighter future in year two. We get a franchise QB and with our draft picks this year we can still fill in OT/WR/S all key needs. We will also take a big cap hit losing Hester but we have the cap space so it's moot point IMO. Although I can't remember the details of his contract the flipside for Denver should be a reasonable contract for Hester. We will only have the rookie WR plus Bennett and if this deal went through I'd over spend to get Holt on our roster or we're taking a WR in Rd 3 too.

Very likely indeed. A good agent knows he must have another bidder to increase the price. It seems to me your thought makes sense since the word is Cleveland only wants him as a backup. St Clair has to face the fact there was no market for him other than the Bears and that is where he is most likely to get the playing time he wants. He can wait until after the draft too when some team could only find a late round OT and want StClair for competition. But at that point he's not likely to get much of a contract. This late in FA is basically the scrap heap where guys are just hoping they can find a job for next year.

I'm not surprised at all. White is a guy we should consider late on day 2 because of his versatility. I can see Hanie as being a #3 possibly a #2. White has thrown the ball very well but is not likely to be a full time starter at QB so the questions about him are can he get to the #2 QB level and will he play special teams and possibly take some direct snaps in game? If Orton doesn't pan out we're still looking for a #1 QB unless Hanie suddenly stuns everyone which I doubt will happen.

He's so good Singletary sent him off the field. Not exactly the picture of a blue chip prospect helping his team.

I think this will be a great help for special teams. Idonije was just ok at DT, and he's just ok at DE. But when he's at 270 he's a beast on special teams.

I think the early CB selection depends a lot on how the staff feels about Bowman. If they think he can step up to be our #3 CB along with an improvement from Graham then they will likely wait until Rd 4 or 5 to grab a CB.

I can't really argue against that since technically that is pretty much every players floor. He may be more likely than others to find it but his red flags are different in the sense that they suddenly showed up. When you look at guys like Moss those issues were surrounding the player since high school and stayed all throughout college. I don't Smith's background at all but it doesn't appear that way with him. It seems he got caught up in his own press clippings and let it go to his head in the last 6 months. It's still pretty stupid what he's done but to take this around and question his family background for a lack of guidance as others have done doesn't make sense to anyone who has raised several kids through their teenage years and into their 20's. At some point most teens or young adults struggle finding their balance between work and the fun things in life. Staring at a $40mil salary would have affected me when I was 21, and not for the best. If I were a GM the question I'd be pressing my scouts to answer is what was this kid like his first couple years at school? Was he working hard early on? Here's some of his accomplishments that indicate he was. How do you start at LT as a freshman and perform like he did if you don't put some work in? Playing through games with both ankles sprained? http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1255104 ------------------------------------------------ An impressive physical specimen who compares to Dallas Cowboys' guard Leonard Davis, Smith possesses outstanding agility and quickness for his size. Regarded as a premier offensive line prospect out of high school and one of the standouts of the 2005 recruiting class, he went on to establish himself as the elite at the college level, as evidenced by being named the recipient of the 2008 Outland Trophy. Even at 343 pounds, Smith displays excellent foot speed and agility. He started every game (38) in which he played for the Crimson Tide, missing the 2009 Sugar Bowl when he was ruled ineligible for direct contact with an agent. In addition to earning the Outland Trophy in 2008, he was won Alabama's Paul Crane Offensive Lineman Award, shared the Southeastern Conference's Jacobs Blocking Trophy with Arkansas' Jonathan Luigs, was twice chosen an All-SEC first-team pick and added consensus All-American first-team notice in 2008. ....Smith enrolled at Alabama in 2005, taking over at left tackle. He became the seventh true freshman in school history to start in his first career game since 1972...He delivered 70 knockdown blocks as he led the team by being on the field for 831 offensive and special teams plays. Smith garnered team Player of the Week honors four times during his sophomore season, when he shed over 25 pounds from his once 370-pound frame prior to the season opener. He started all 13 games, as he was named All-SEC and earned the league's Jacobs Blocking Trophy. He led the conference down linemen with 116 knockdowns and had fifteen touchdown-resulting blocks while allowing only 1.5 quarterback sacks on 472 pass plays. He was penalized five times and played the second part of the season with a left ankle sprain suffered vs. Tennessee and a right ankle sprain incurred the next week in the Louisiana State clash. As a junior, Smith was a consensus All-American and unanimous All-SEC first-team pick. The Outland Trophy and Jacobs Blocking Trophy recipient saw his campaign get off to a rough start. He suffered a knee sprain in the season opener vs. Clemson that forced him to sit out the following week vs. Tulane and play just two quarters upon his return, vs. Western Kentucky. He also sprained his elbow in the season's sixth contest vs. Kentucky, but still delivered 103 knockdowns while pacing SEC blockers with seventeen touchdown-resulting blocks. ----------------------------------------------- and some things that say he's not a hard worker but does seem to love playing the game: ------------------------------------------------------------ Character: Runs hot and cold. The coaches have cited "growing pains," especially with his work ethic. He gets by a lot on physical talent and while his suspension was well-publicized, there have been other "minor" issues that make one wonder if he will just go through the motions or that he will mature at the next level. GRADE: 5.5 Competitiveness: On the field, Smith will challenge any opponent that dares to get in his way when drive blocking. He knows how to use his explosive upper-body power to punish, but will get lazy during the games and shows inconsistency shooting those powerful hands. There are times when he simply dominates the action, but when he feels that he is not being challenged, he will throttle down. Scouts have often shown concerns about his lack of a consistent motor, especially questioning his overall aggressiveness. GRADE: 6.5 Work Habits: Smith has always battled the "bulge" and while he is best playing at 335-340, he has seen his weight balloon to the 375-380 range, where that added bulk has affected his overall mobility. He needs to be monitored in the training room, but will respond to tough coaching. --------------------------------------------------- and an interesting thought when looking at what his floor might be: ----------------------------------------------------- Compares To: LEONARD DAVIS, Dallas -- Davis is at least two inches taller, but both could be better lined up inside. Davis proved to be a better interior performer after trying to play on the edge. While Smith might be a good fit at right tackle, some prefer him better as an interior lineman, feeling his lack of lateral range (especially moving to his left) is a big concern for a player that must protect the quarterback's blindside. To date, he has made a nice living vs. smaller opponents (average weight of his main blocking assignment over the last two years is 262.4 pounds, more than 80 pounds lighter than Smith), but in the NFL, he will face much bigger and much quicker defensive ends and his excellent straight-line explosiveness will compensate for his lateral mobility problems. -------------------------------------------------- Between the hard working Britton and the highly talented but hot/cold Smith who might end up having to move inside who would JA pick? If he feels he needs more confidence in filling the RT spot now it might be Britton.

I'm simply not reading anything much, neither positive nor negative except for the fact he's still here and Metcalf is gone. Therefore can we all agree he's better than Metcalf? That's a start to making our depth better, how much is unknown.