Bears Draft Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia

[jason]

I agree, it takes a few years before you get a real picture of how well a new GM, coaching staff, etc. works out. We need to have patience, the Trestman /emery experiment sunk this team to a new low and we as fans have to realize that it wouldn't get fixed overnight. Every GM and every coaching staff makes mistakes or misjudges players, they are human and we all are fooled by potential or there'd never be any busts in the NFL The difference between this staff and the previous is they seem to have a clue, and a vision, and a plan. They haven't entered the drafts last year and this year, like a student that didn't study for the final exam, they are prepared have their plan, and have prepared scenarios that may come up. We've had enough drafts in the past where they seemed to be making it up as they went, and you had to have google open cause we'd pick and you'd be like "Who???" No more drafting like we think we're the smartest person in the room while making the dumbest calls. We as fans don't have to agree with every move and we won't. This staff/FO gives me a sense encouragement, and optimism that we can turn this once proud franchise back into a consistent winner. I like the enthusiasm, vision, and most of the moves we've made. You can see the difference on the field even though we didn't make the playoffs, we finished under 500, the eye test spoke volumes to the difference between this past year's 6-10 team vs the 5-11 team the previous year under Emery/Trestman that felt more like 0-16 or worse. With them in charge the Bears had hit rock bottom and begun to dig for new lows. It was embarrassing and probably the first year I lost interest in watching the games simply cause I didn't want to put myself through that. While it was an up and down year as expected, I saw a team that didn't quit, played with enthusiasm, played their hearts out, record wise it wasn't good enough, but the wins will come. Building the solid foundation and changing the culture will be worth it down the road. The true test will be time, I have to say I'm encouraged by what I've seen so far.

 

The bolded part is how I feel.

 

Did I like the trade up? No. I want more picks, not less.

Do I think Floyd was the guy they should have picked? No. Tunsil was a great value there.

 

But do I feel upset? No. Why? Because I trust this staff so far. We haven't seen them make that boneheaded pick like the other staffs in the past. We haven't seen the ridiculous guy who posted a video, or the guy who was pretty good in a small college environment, or the constant passing on specific positions.

 

Thus far, in Pace I trust.

[Chitownhustla]

The bolded part is how I feel.

 

Did I like the trade up? No. I want more picks, not less.

Do I think Floyd was the guy they should have picked? No. Tunsil was a great value there.

 

But do I feel upset? No. Why? Because I trust this staff so far. We haven't seen them make that boneheaded pick like the other staffs in the past. We haven't seen the ridiculous guy who posted a video, or the guy who was pretty good in a small college environment, or the constant passing on specific positions.

 

Thus far, in Pace I trust.

 

 

I agree with you. When they traded up to 9 I thought for sure they were pulling the trigger on Tunsil.

 

Everyone that watched the SB saw a Denver Defense shut down Cam Newton with great pass rush. It pretty clear what the Bears are going for. I trust Pace, Fox and Fangio. I pray the Bears are able to turn Floyd into a Von Miller/ Aldon Smith player. If they don't and Tunsil turns out to be a stud LT for the 12 years I will be pissed.

 

[Stinger226]

I agree with you. When they traded up to 9 I thought for sure they were pulling the trigger on Tunsil.

 

Everyone that watched the SB saw a Denver Defense shut down Cam Newton with great pass rush. It pretty clear what the Bears are going for. I trust Pace, Fox and Fangio. I pray the Bears are able to turn Floyd into a Von Miller/ Aldon Smith player. If they don't and Tunsil turns out to be a stud LT for the 12 years I will be pissed.

I was afraid they were moving up to grab Paxton Lynch when it first happened. I have been reading and looking at everything I can find on Floyd and I have to admit, I am warming up to the idea. Fox and Fangio always have had stud pass rushers in there defense. I think with there excitement they think they got one.

 

I think in the first year he will be used excusably as a pass rush specialist, but as he gains weight and functional strength, he will be a regular OLB. Young could possibly be traded for a late round pick today, Getting rid of Houston is possible with his contract but the fact is those two arent our future at OLB. I think they are both good players but will be gone in a year and is not viewed as our future.

 

I think he ends up as a 250lb speed edge rusher that could get you 12 sacks a year and would be very good addition to our defense going forward.

[Stinger226]

I was afraid they were moving up to grab Paxton Lynch when it first happened. I have been reading and looking at everything I can find on Floyd and I have to admit, I am warming up to the idea. Fox and Fangio always have had stud pass rushers in there defense. I think with there excitement they think they got one.

 

I think in the first year he will be used excusably as a pass rush specialist, but as he gains weight and functional strength, he will be a regular OLB. Young could possibly be traded for a late round pick today, Getting rid of Houston is possible with his contract but the fact is those two arent our future at OLB. I think they are both good players but will be gone in a year and is not viewed as our future.

 

I think he ends up as a 250lb speed edge rusher that could get you 12 sacks a year and would be very good addition to our defense going forward.

Just seen some stats from PFF on Floyd. in 178 pass rush snaps he (54% of his playing time) had 4.5 sacks, 8 QB hits, and 29 hurries.

This keeps sounding better.

[madlithuanian]

Right there with you jason...

 

 

 

The bolded part is how I feel.

 

Did I like the trade up? No. I want more picks, not less.

Do I think Floyd was the guy they should have picked? No. Tunsil was a great value there.

 

But do I feel upset? No. Why? Because I trust this staff so far. We haven't seen them make that boneheaded pick like the other staffs in the past. We haven't seen the ridiculous guy who posted a video, or the guy who was pretty good in a small college environment, or the constant passing on specific positions.

 

Thus far, in Pace I trust.

 

[bradjock]

Personally, hate it. It's arguably the Bears most talented position.

 

Edit:Spent my time tonight watching politics and didn't realize the draft was tonight. I was thinking it was May 2nd for some reason. I'm out as a fan until there is a new regime. I may stop by and give a comment from here and there to support the board and community.

 

I'm done as a super fan like others here until they get a competent GM. He's made too many mess ups in my personal opinion in his trades, and 2 fourths to get a position of strength with so many weaknesses while having so many needs is too much for me.

 

I hope there are people that get drafted that you can be excited about. Way too many trade mess ups for me with a horrible resume with this GM. Spent too long with the last horrible GMs.

 

TD, that's crazy. If you don't want to spend time on this, I completely get it. I often lament the amount of time I waste on sports. But how the hell can you quit cause you don't like the GM who's just in his second draft?

 

The draft is often frustrating. For example, one of my favorite picks was Gabe Carimi. One of my least favorite picks was Kyle Long. Enjoy it. Or don't. At the end of the day, it's ultimately about a stupid meaningless sport.

['TD']

TD, that's crazy. If you don't want to spend time on this, I completely get it. I often lament the amount of time I waste on sports. But how the hell can you quit cause you don't like the GM who's just in his second draft?

 

The draft is often frustrating. For example, one of my favorite picks was Gabe Carimi. One of my least favorite picks was Kyle Long. Enjoy it. Or don't. At the end of the day, it's ultimately about a stupid meaningless sport.

For me, this goes back to Emery and Angelo for many year. I just see Pace as a continuation, it's a lack of faith in the organization.

 

I won't go detailed into my judgment of Pace, but I will say a little to explain why. I honestly wasn't big on him when he came in, as he had a big part on a team, that in my opinion, is one of the worst ran teams in the league. I don't like how he neutered the offense for little in return, and this is just another example of a bad trade in my opinion.

 

Last year, I went to being a casual fan. This year I have absolutely no interest in the team.

 

[AZ54]

I understand more about why we traded up to get Floyd. Go back and look at Kevin White last year, these kids are from good families, good character, and team first. Floyd has a lot to learn but I think he has the right mindset to get it done.

 

http://www.chicagobears.com/multimedia/vid...f0-b9caa8a2f715

[Stinger226]

For me, this goes back to Emery and Angelo for many year. I just see Pace as a continuation, it's a lack of faith in the organization.

 

I won't go detailed into my judgment of Pace, but I will say a little to explain why. I honestly wasn't big on him when he came in, as he had a big part on a team, that in my opinion, is one of the worst ran teams in the league. I don't like how he neutered the offense for little in return, and this is just another example of a bad trade in my opinion.

 

Last year, I went to being a casual fan. This year I have absolutely no interest in the team.

You are in a minority on Pace but are entitled to your opinion. Ultimately when him and Fox turn this around as soon as making the playoffs this year, maybe you will recant your hate.

I love what he has done. In the second year, he has remade the front 7 Hicks-Goldman-Bullard

Floyd-Travathan-Freeman-McPhee

He has added Amos and Porter the back end and is not done drafting yet.

He has rebuilt the OL, adding Massie, Larson,Grassu,Ramierz,Whitehair, Fabulso , this will become our stength this year.

He has added Langford, and will draft another RB today.

He draft White which will prove to be a stud WR this year, and if Royal stays healthy can become who he was with SD two years ago(62-778-7)

Our offense will be a pleasant surprise this year, you just have to watch it develop. It takes 3 to 4 years to rebuilt a team that was devastated with bad drafting and FAgency.

He will show results in the second year.

When he is up for GM of the year this year, I will expect you the recant of terrible GM.

[Alaskan Grizzly]

I understand more about why we traded up to get Floyd. Go back and look at Kevin White last year, these kids are from good families, good character, and team first. Floyd has a lot to learn but I think he has the right mindset to get it done.

 

http://www.chicagobears.com/multimedia/vid...f0-b9caa8a2f715

 

Right on. I think and hope there are more kids like this, especially for the Bears, than the Johnny Manziel types. This is refreshing to see a great kid, hopefully and eventually a great player playing for a great organization.

 

I remember earlier this year when the team went after Akiem Hicks I wasn't all that sold on the idea. But after his first interview after becoming a Bear he talked about how excited he was because his mom is a huge Bears fan and lived near Chicago(?). And that now she'd actually get to go to games and cheer her son on her favorite team. That's good stuff.

[Stinger226]

Right on. I think and hope there are more kids like this, especially for the Bears, than the Johnny Manziel types. This is refreshing to see a great kid, hopefully and eventually a great player playing for a great organization.

 

I remember earlier this year when the team went after Akiem Hicks I wasn't all that sold on the idea. But after his first interview after becoming a Bear he talked about how excited he was because his mom is a huge Bears fan and lived near Chicago(?). And that now she'd actually get to go to games and cheer her son on her favorite team. That's good stuff.

Here is a good article on Floyd

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/colum...430-column.html

 

Seems that Fangio's friend coached him a few years ago and called to tell him to track him down when he graduates. a stud

[dawhizz]

Interesting note from Peter King's column today: The Cowboys considered trading down from #4 to #6. If they did that and lost out on Elliott and Ramsey, they would have taken Floyd.

['TD']

You are in a minority on Pace but are entitled to your opinion. Ultimately when him and Fox turn this around as soon as making the playoffs this year, maybe you will recant your hate.

I deleted the rest of your message, because I'm not going to bring negativity. I have a solid argument against Pace in my head. The points of it can't be changed by what happens in the future. The choices for GMs and the QBs the Bears dedicated to are not something I have supported for a wide number of years, since Orton and went prior with Grossman. It's an organization wide frustration that a trip to the playoffs would have me recant. I am not saying I wouldn't root for them to win, I just won't change my opinion on the situation so easily.

[AZ54]

Interesting note from Peter King's column today: The Cowboys considered trading down from #4 to #6. If they did that and lost out on Elliott and Ramsey, they would have taken Floyd.

 

Worth noting is that last year everyone viewed the lack of a true speed rushing OLB in the new scheme the biggest missing component to Fangio's defense along with a NT. Reality is NT are much easier to find than good edge rushers. Last year we took Kevin White in the draft at #7 (relatively deep draft for WRs) and immediately after us Vic Beasley was taken. Later in the 1st Rd Bud Dupree was taken at #22 and Shane Ray at #23. In the second round we passed on Randy Gregory for the second time (thankfully).

 

Among those four players we could have either taken Beasley at #7, traded down and picked up Dupree/Ray and still taken Goldman in Rd 2, or taken a 2nd Rd shot at Gregory.

 

Point is that we didn't do any of those things last year. I would say our OLB group played well enough in the 2nd half of the season to make OLB less of a need this year. Obviously we still needed to mix in a speed edge rusher. This year we traded up to get Floyd so it seems there must be something much better we see in him than the crop of edge rushers we bypassed last year.

[dawhizz]

It's also interesting to think how the draft would have unfolded had we not been able to trade up to #9. Bucs probably still take Hargreaves. Giants take Floyd. I've read where the Bears were not considering Tunsil. Do we take Lawson?

 

Then the second round actually gets really interesting. The Bears tried initially to trade up from #41 to #34 with Dallas but couldn't get a deal together, reportedly targeting Hunter Henry. If we still have our early 4th round pick we traded to get Floyd, does Dallas bite on #41 and #106 for #34 (that's pretty good value according to the value chart)? Then your first three picks are maybe Lawson/Henry/Bullard instead of Floyd/Whitehair/Bullard and maybe Slauson's still here.

[Stinger226]

It's also interesting to think how the draft would have unfolded had we not been able to trade up to #9. Bucs probably still take Hargreaves. Giants take Floyd. I've read where the Bears were not considering Tunsil. Do we take Lawson?

 

Then the second round actually gets really interesting. The Bears tried initially to trade up from #41 to #34 with Dallas but couldn't get a deal together, reportedly targeting Hunter Henry. If we still have our early 4th round pick we traded to get Floyd, does Dallas bite on #41 and #82 for #34 (that's pretty good value according to the value chart)? Then your first three picks are maybe Lawson/Henry/Bullard instead of Floyd/Whitehair/Bullard and maybe Slauson's still here.

ya you never know how that works out,if Spriggs is still there at 41, do we take him? I think that was a possiblity.

[bradjock]

It's also interesting to think how the draft would have unfolded had we not been able to trade up to #9. Bucs probably still take Hargreaves. Giants take Floyd. I've read where the Bears were not considering Tunsil. Do we take Lawson?

 

Then the second round actually gets really interesting. The Bears tried initially to trade up from #41 to #34 with Dallas but couldn't get a deal together, reportedly targeting Hunter Henry. If we still have our early 4th round pick we traded to get Floyd, does Dallas bite on #41 and #106 for #34 (that's pretty good value according to the value chart)? Then your first three picks are maybe Lawson/Henry/Bullard instead of Floyd/Whitehair/Bullard and maybe Slauson's still here.

 

That's damn interesting. Here's a few thought:

1. If we didn't trade up to get Floyd, we could have went a ton of different directions. Supposedly we tried to trade up to get Ramsey. When that fell through we traded to get Floyd. So we went from targeting a DB to targeting a speed rusher. Who knows what our next target was?

2. Where did you here the Bears were trading up to get Hunter Henry? The SCORE speculated we wanted DT Chris Jones. Granted, we were trying to trade with the Cowboys and we didn't make much of an effort after that. It could also have been Jaylon Smith or Myles Jack.

3. I think Slauson was gone regardless. You don't dump a guy immediately because of a late 2nd rounder. I don't understand the move. But when we signed Ramirez and Lawson, the speculation was Slauson was gone. We waited until after the draft to try and trade him.

[scs787]

It's also interesting to think how the draft would have unfolded had we not been able to trade up to #9. Bucs probably still take Hargreaves. Giants take Floyd. I've read where the Bears were not considering Tunsil. Do we take Lawson?

 

Then the second round actually gets really interesting. The Bears tried initially to trade up from #41 to #34 with Dallas but couldn't get a deal together, reportedly targeting Hunter Henry. If we still have our early 4th round pick we traded to get Floyd, does Dallas bite on #41 and #106 for #34 (that's pretty good value according to the value chart)? Then your first three picks are maybe Lawson/Henry/Bullard instead of Floyd/Whitehair/Bullard and maybe Slauson's still here.

 

The buzz going in was about Floyd and Rankins. The Floyd buzz was obviously on point, so if I had to guess, they would have went with Rankins.

 

I'm not sure Lawson brings the type of athleticism they wanted. He seems more like a power player.

[bradjock]

The buzz going in was about Floyd and Rankins. The Floyd buzz was obviously on point, so if I had to guess, they would have went with Rankins.

 

I'm not sure Lawson brings the type of athleticism they wanted. He seems more like a power player.

 

There was also buzz on Lawson. That being said, I think we have to go back to what Pace has said repeatedly about wanting explosive playmakers. We are hoping that's Kevin White and we are hoping that's Floyd. While Rankin is a really good player, he doesn't fit the explosive playmaker category. We did well getting Eddie Goldman last year and Ballard seems like a steal this year.

 

I gotta admit, I have no idea who we draft without the trade-up. Assuming Tunsil was off our board, looking at all the other players who were drafted in round #1, there's nobody who excites me.

[Stinger226]

There was also buzz on Lawson. That being said, I think we have to go back to what Pace has said repeatedly about wanting explosive playmakers. We are hoping that's Kevin White and we are hoping that's Floyd. While Rankin is a really good player, he doesn't fit the explosive playmaker category. We did well getting Eddie Goldman last year and Ballard seems like a steal this year.

 

I gotta admit, I have no idea who we draft without the trade-up. Assuming Tunsil was off our board, looking at all the other players who were drafted in round #1, there's nobody who excites me.

I think SCS was right, it the board fell like it should have, Hargraeves would have been gone, Giants would have took Floyd, actually I think we would have took Rankins the next other speed rusher available.