jason

Dupe

You either believe OT not. I won't rehash or re-research everything again to prove what was already proven. It's about the frequency of OL error per play. Rodgers' number was higher because multiple guys had bad plays together. Cutler's was higher because multiply guys were taking turns sucking. The major difference being that Rodgers still had several plays where he had huge pockets with tons of time. Cutler did not. All things being equal, Rodgers is obviously better. But all things aren't equal on their respective OL.

A lot of people on here were clamoring for Mercilus, but I didn't like the idea. I was pissed the Bears went with SMC instead of the available Reiff, DeCastro, or Zeitler. I really liked Decastro.

Wow. This guy is inside my head. http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl-draft-nee...iNVhg4AVTUnnIlQ I don't like it all, but I agree with the sentiments about which positions are needed.

Regarding the second article, I liked the David Terrell pick as many here know, and liked the Carimi pick. Hated all the others...well, McCown was fun for a bit. I still think David Terrell was a wasted talent, a fragile psyche that got damaged through misuse and mismanagement by Shoop for three years, then spent one year with the offensive juggernaut minds of Terry Shea and Lovie Smith. By then he was too damaged to succeed. Had he been drafted elsewhere, I believe he had a much better chance at success.

This one seems pretty obvious to me. The Niners lost Patrick Willis, Chris Borland, and Ray McDonald. Meanwhile, Justin Smith is contemplating retirement. They signed Torrey Smith, Jerome Simpson, and an aging Darnell Dockett. They need defense. With the 15th pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, he 49ers select Malcom Brown, DE/DT, Texas. He's projected as having flexibility in a 3/4 or a 4/3. Perfect for a team with uncertainty. Houston Texans (scs787) is on the clock.

For the record, the fanspeak draft ended up: 2-BENARDRICK MCKINNEY, ILB, MSU (Machine. Starts day 1) 3-DERRON SMITH, S, FRESNO ST (Ballhawk, future leader in the secondary) 4-ROB HAVENSTEIN, T, WISC (Allows Long to stay inside) 5-IFO EXPRE-OLOMU, CB, ORE (I don't think he'll last this long, but if so...wow) 6-SEAN MANNION, QB, ORE ST (Prospect with good intangibles) I'd be ecstatic about that draft.

What if DT LEONARD WILLIAMS falls to the Bears at 7? I did two mocks and it happened twice. I also had this happen on fanspeak. Assume there are no partners for a trade down. They have to draft Williams, right? If so, that certainly would be a curveball to the draft plans. What would the rest of the draft have to be to alter the unexpected?

That's a very solid, well reasoned breakdown of how WR makes sense.

Good question. Which is why I still have an inkling of hope that it's Scherff. I think I'd still rather have Collins, but Scherff would make me happy. Bushrod - Slausson - Montgomery - Scherff - Long Great running on the right side.

This is based on what I think the Bears will do, which is based on the FA moves and talk of pure BPA. With the 7th pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Bears select Amari Cooper, WR, Bama. Atlanta (Stinger) is on the clock.

The Tennessee Titans select Leonard Williams, DE, USC. Jacksonville (Ashkum) is on the clock.

I was also troubled by that game, and initially doubted him afterward, but felt like the body of work outweighed a single bad game.

First, I compared the time Cutler had vs. the time the other QBs had, which is a completely valid point. Second, regarding the Rodgers red herring, it was pointed out during those previous discussions that Rodgers may have been harassed, but his harassment was more often in the form of blown up plays. Many guys doing things wrong simultaneously. Cutler, on the other hand, had to endure his OL taking turns, so that there was virtually never any certainty about remaining upright. In other words, Rodgers got 2 or 3 guys who screwed up in one or two plays, then had outstanding protection for several other plays, which is more a sign of miscommunication than anything. Cutler had 4 or 5 guys mess up in 8 or 9 plays, where it was almost impossible to predict or correct the failure, and multiple drives were hindered. You're right, however, about the OL during Long's rookie year. Imagine that, the offense did VERY well that year. Then the OL regressed in 2014, the offense couldn't carry a horrible defense, and the coaching staff got fired. Third, a discussion about the OL need not include your hatred for Cutler. Nobody will disagree with the notion that McCown looked like a superstar within the offense...which was in 2013, BTW. Why that is so makes this a much more complex debate. But since you brought in other players, consider this: the offense had the same weapons in 2013 and 2014, yet the OL performed different from one year to the next. If skill players made more difference, then the offense should have been much more productive last year despite the OL. Right? Finally, I'm throwing out the OL point since everyone is clamoring for BPA. I don't even really want him drafted at #7 if Collins is there. Or a trade down for either Scherr or Collins. That's who I'd prefer at this moment. Right now, it's very difficult to tell which way this team is going. But I know one thing to be true, the two positions the Bears have had a lot of trouble with for years, and years, and years are OL and S.

I guess it's just a difference of opinion. I think he's a special player, and could solidify the defensive backfield for years.

If the Bears ever fixed their OL it might change. The simple fact is, however, that the weakness of the OL has hindered this team offensively for a decade. The fact that the Bears always seem to be near the bottom in protecting their QBs, and near the top in allowing sacks would be one thing if they ran great, but they are also perennially near the top in the number of running plays where the RB is hit behind the LOS. We don't know the potential of the offense until it has time to start, use all its weapons, and progress forward. Give you less than three seconds in a car and you never get to feel 5th gear. Same thing here. Ever notice how it seems like guys like Brady, Romo, Rodgers, Brees, and Manning have all day to throw in the pocket? Ever notice how this is not the case on 95% of the Bears' passing plays? At MAX, Cutler gets to his second read before getting planted. Hell, even the incoming staff realized Cutler got rattled during his stay in Chicago thus far. Until this team prioritizes OL, it will have offensive inefficiency, and won't be consistently good.

Depends on where you read. Top 10 - http://www.turfshowtimes.com/2015/1/31/794...on-scherff-iowa Early 1st? - http://fanspeak.com/nfldraft/2015/03/04/br...couting-report/ Top 20 - http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2015bscherff.php Late 1st? - http://withthefirstpick.com/2015/01/31/bra...uting-report/4/

I don't care how it happens. Move him inside and keep Long where he is, or flip-flop, but these two together would dominate. He is NASTY, and plays with a serious mean streak. Completely rag-dolls opponents.

I still think Landon Collins' is a FS candidate, and at worst he becomes an all-pro SS in a few years.

I don't think it's that clear cut. The Bears lost Marshall, but they added Royal. Not the same player, but the Royal-Jeffery combo looks more like what Fox has had before. As we get closer and closer to the draft, I think more and more that the Bears should select the safety Collins out of Alabama. 1. Rolle is older, will need a replacement sooner. 2. Some have mentioned Collins is a SS instead of FS, which would work just fine since the Bears need a SS too. People have made a big deal out of the Ole Miss game, but each time the flaw had less to do with ability and more to do with eye discipline. Collins was clearly peaking on the first one, and just got caught. On the second one he was switching WRs while trying to read the QB's eyes, and there was a great pass. 3. Collins would immediately come in and get tons of playing time, but a rookie WR might not see as much time behind Jeffery, Royal, and potentially Wilson. Aside from that the Bears still have the Unicorn and Forte to feed on offense, which means minimal rookie touches for a WR.

You're probably right, which is fine with me. The guy I like a lot this year is Hroniss Grasu, but he's more of a finesse player. I'd rather have a bull on the OL than a quick-footed guy. Put him next to a beast OG, then put Long at RT, and you pretty much can guarantee a first down every other play when running to the right side.

Interesting quotes considering the other notes about him being a stop-gap.

Exactly. I'm figuring this means the Bears will push for Wiz.

Meh.