Mongo3451

I am in agreement that you are the one confused. Pre-draft Freeney was a beast and highly rated a great fit for a cover two. Of course you are going say Polian said what we all expected him to say; stating that he was the player we had targeted all along. Tell me how the Bears could say that about anything less than Clady or Williams? Otah and below, just don't cut it at #14. Unless JA and Co use a different rating system for left tackles than the rest of the NFL. Show me where any coach or GM says they drafted an LT prospect that fit their system. It's completely different when you draft a player for scheme. Anyway, If Otah or Albert were graded as a true LT we wouldn't be having this debate. You are right, that is extreme. If Forte rates that HIGHLY for the Bears and they want him, he's not a reach. Fact is: we simply don't know what is going through the minds of scouts and GM regarding players. My argument all along is picking a player you don't have graded that highly simply out of need or fear. I argued this point to you a couple of years ago. You are not allowed to use that against me. As much as I want OL, I am against drafting a player you don't have graded as highly because of need. It could send the bell curve toward mediocrity. If the player rates high for you, he is not a reach. And I have Polian comments that say other, his resume as a college player and a stated fact that Freeney was highly coveted by more than one team in the 1st round. Angelo and Lovie in particular coveted him. Back to perfect fit for scheme. Thus, NOT a reach. And my point is, you don't take them highly unless you have them graded highly. Otherwise, you take best player available. Reaching on the eyes of the media and value placed on a players talent by the indidvidual staff are two separate things. I'll never have a problem with a coach or GM standing in front of the room and stating they got the man they wanted. I'll always have a problem, same scenario, of them saying we had to pick him here out of fear of not filling a need.

Keep in mind a few factors: 1) Freeney missed several games with a broken foot, thus deflating his stats. 2) Freeney IS good against the run. As you know, he plays in our scheme and is asked to disrupt and penetrate. He's made it possible for the Colts to lose LB after LB and still make the shitty one thay have look good. 3) Find a stat on who draws the most double teams. I think you'll find it's Freeney. I'm not arguing against Peppers as much I am the fact that Freeney was NOT a reach.

I did a wire tap at Halas Hall and unearthed this jewel. JA: "Hello Cedric" CB: "yeah" JA: "Thought to call and offer my engouragement in your daily rehab at the facility" CB: "what" JA: "your rehab" CB: "oh, I thought that was voluntary" JA: "it is" "I would never wan't you expect to be cut for not re-habbing that would really hurt your career, let alone your bank account" "that simply doesn't occur in the NFL" "you have planned for the future right?" CB: "you know, I've been planning on being there but lost my entry key" JA: "I'll meet at the door with a new one tomorrow morning" CB: "yes sir" "thank you, sir" click

Agreed on Brohm. Only if we are truly re-building the team. I have always been on the half full side of the glass and will remain so until I see a true indicator. I'm almost there, but not yet. If I see a draft that does not help this years team, I will switch to re-build mode. For now, I remain stuck in rebuild the OL mode.

If I had a player strike a coach, he would be gone. That just can't happen. Money would be no object to get rid of that cancer. Look what it has cost Atlanta. Al Davis is also a cancer of an owner. Look what it is continuing to cost the Raiders. Bad apples need to go or they will destroy your franchise. Signing them to huge contracts or trading for them is the risk you take. I am for neither.

Hmm... The Devin Hester theory has converted you. FYI - Freeney is a beast against the run. It was concern coming into the draft because of his size, but he absolutely put that to bed. All other points are arguable.

Not a Ryan fan here.

Agreed on all counts! I'll go further in saying it will be hard to find a good LT prospect past Sam Baker, who is projected late 1st/early 2nd.

If he can be had at a bargain and is healthy, I could see us getting him back if needed.

Dude, I bust your chops because you bitched the last two drafts about reaching. Now you are all for it. Now, I have to answer this manifesto. That’s because he’s now projected as a RT due to displaying limited technique and mobility. That is a monstrous reach for us. The staff would have to have a major boner for this guy to take a known guard, instead of a tackle, especially at 14. It’s easy to argue Freeney VS Peppers. Peppers was supposed to be the greatest DL drafted since Reggie White. He has underperformed so far vs Freeney, let alone the expectations of being the #2 pick. I really wouldn’t consider a safety in the same class as a top DE, so I’m taking Reed out of the discussion. There’s a huge difference in DE’s fitting a scheme vs OT’s. I get the comparison, but OT’s, especially LOT’s simply do what they do for the most part.(Control the backside and seal the pocket) If they can’t do that they are a RT. I believe someone stated when he was drafted, that if he didn’t make it as a corner he would be an all-pro safety. Damn, I brought up Ed Reed again. Again, not a reach as he a typical cover two corner. My God man! You are still typing... What a machine!!!

You don't have to convince me. I think he's pretty good and have him in my mock draft. I just ain't buyin' in the 2nd round. Nothing you have said has him projected there either.

I just want to address this point, as it is valid. We don't know why the OL sucked last year, they just did. We have to assume the coaches weren't so bad bad as to ruin the continuity of a veteran OL that had played together for years. The staff has determined by grading game tape and having intimate knowledge that 40% of the OL needed let go. Knowing this, how can we add skill positions with no blockers. It's like buying a race car and putting low octane fuel in it. It will now run like a used Yugo.

What happens is this... You put him at right tackle and you attempt to draft a left tackle the next year. You MUST understand this key point. We could have Peyton Manning and he would underperform this year. Not because he has no-one to throw to but because he is on his back. IE: our situation last year. It all starts up front for offense and defense. Always has, always will.

Last I heard, he is not a projected 2nd rounder. One of our 3rds should suffice.

You of all people should never be accepting of a reach. (and that is what both are at 14) Otah is a true RT, unless you know he's going to be an all-pro, he's a reach at 14. Albert is still too unknown and huge reach. Trade down and you can probably draft two of these three in the 1st two rounds. (Otah, Albert and Baker) The Freeney analogy is not very solid. He was a stud that was highly coveted by Polian and Angelo. IE: Great pick for the scheme and not close a reach in Polian's eyes, he is arguably the most accomplished player of that entire draft.

I wish I would have read this one before posting about this on another thread. Because, of course, you said it better!

You have to start somewhere. From day one of this off-season this has been my mantra! Fix the OL first. Nothing will ever be good about our O untill this happens. We really needed to pony up and get a good G or T in FA. Hasn't happened yet. I'm really hoping Rueben Brown proves he can get healthy for one more season and a cap cut will happen on an OT somewhere. OL needs to be our top pick, but if it shakes out that we miss out on the top 3, I don't think Otah is worth our pick. In that case, I hope we get to trade down. I wouldn't even be against trading up to ensure we get Clady or Williams. But, you know JA is not going to do that. The way these mocks are turning out, my concern is that we are not going to get maximized value on needs vs talent available. Two weeks ago it looked like we were OK to get a good LT. Now, BPA may be Mendenhall with no blockers.

If that is the way the OT position plays out, I'll be depressed. It is a very likely scenario though. All in all, I have to agree with you given the options.

I'd sign him to an incentive laden 1 yr deal and tell him and Benson that this year is an audition for their NFL career. In all likelyhood, if they both flop, we'll be drafting RB high next year anyway.

LOL! I know, I know. I just couldn't part with the 1st rounder for Pete's sake. The Kool-aid fountain is on!

Here's mine. I posted it another thread, but should've placed it here. We give AZ nexts years 2nd and 5th for Boldin. Followed by the draft 1) Chris Williams- OT 2) Chad Henne(1) or Joe Flacco(2)- QB 3) Chilo Rachal- OG 3) Matt Forte- RB 4) Owen Schmitt- FB 5) Adarious Bowman- WR Stopped at 5th round. I really don't care to see us stockpile any more defenders this draft.

Do you have any charts or links to the velocity numbers? I would like to compare that to QB's over the last two decades. Just for kicks.

No to Chris Brown and Shawn Alexander. I want a young guy with a little fire in his belly. I don't think a couple of laid back vets are going to push or inspire Benson, nor will they be very productive. To get through our line, it's going to take the explosion only young legs produce.

Modest contract with a little frontloading should do. Not 4 mil per year.

Let's pull the trigger for JA! Hell, I'll do the draft too. We give AZ nexts years 2nd and 5th for Boldin. Followed by the draft 1) Chris Williams- OT 2) Chad Henne(1) or Joe Flacco(2)- QB 3) Matt Forte- RB 3) Chilo Rachal- OG 4) Owen Schmitt- FB 5) Adarious Bowman- WR Sorry, after I blew a nut I stopped drafting. Screw defense this year. We'll just pray for Mike Brown to stay healthy.