Which Safety would you take?

[ASHKUM BEAR]

If the Bears draft goes as planned and they get there OLT, QB, RB, WR in the first 3 rounds and when there 4th round pick is up and these two are available, who should the Bears take?

 

Josh Barrett S Arizona St. 6-2 223, 4.34-40 (4.34, 4.30, 4.43)

 

Very athletic for his size, 4.35 speed at combine, in the box safety who can tackle and deliver the big hit, plays the run very well, high football IQ, and a team leader, also can drop back and cover.

 

Tom Zbikowski S Notre Dame 5-11 211, 4.44-40 (4.44, 4.40, 4.58)

 

Hard worker and team leader, has a high football IQ, plays the run very well, in the box safety, cover skills need some work, makes plays when he gets the ball, excellant special teams player.

 

 

Both players have there flaws, but could be the SS the Bears cover-2 could use. Tom Zbikowski has Chicago ties and could become the fan favorite as he seems to be the John Lynch type of safety. His ceiling isn't as high as Barrett's, but his floor isn't as low. Josh Barrett has the speed that JA/Lovie covet. He's an amazing athlete in the mold of Sean Taylor. He could blow the roof off of the ceiling if he matures/develops, but he has potential to bust more than Zibby does. At the least, Zibby could be a backup SS but be a ST ace where as Barrett would just be a back up S as he has no history at playing ST. So out of the two Safeties, who would you take. Someone help me make a decision b/c I like them both.

 

For all those saying Zbikowski is slow, a 4.44 40 time is really not that slow and how fast was John Lynch?

[ParkerBear7]

I would go with Barrett but admit I have seen neither play.

[HoofHearted]

Going to ASU and seeing every play Josh has been a part of, I can say that I am not impressed by him whatsoever. Overrated as an in-the-box S, and his coverage has been terrible more often than not. Tight hips in transition, and his range isn't anywhere close to the equivalent of his 40 time. Still, I would rather have him than Zib, because he's a better athlete to go along with his better size.

[Mongo3451]

If the Bears draft goes as planned and they get there OLT, QB, RB, WR in the first 3 rounds and when there 4th round pick is up and these two are available, who should the Bears take?

 

Josh Barrett S Arizona St. 6-2 223, 4.34-40 (4.34, 4.30, 4.43)

 

Very athletic for his size, 4.35 speed at combine, in the box safety who can tackle and deliver the big hit, plays the run very well, high football IQ, and a team leader, also can drop back and cover.

With measurables like that and a high football IQ, you would think he won't make it past the 1st round. I also read NFL.com's analysis and it said similar things about him. Then you think he's to good to be true. Then you read that he doesn't change direction well, doesn't time his leaps well, has great clock speed, but not football speed. It's really strange that people have tremendous given talent, but between the ears is killing them. I want the football player. Of the two, I'd take the Zbikowski. He seems like a gamer.

[madlithuanian]

I keep hearing Z getting ripped. Cowherd the other day just shredded the guy. I've really not seen either guy play enough to make a call.

 

I like the physical attributes of Barrett more....not sure that's everything though. Although I've heard Z doesn't tackle well. That worries me...

 

If the Bears draft goes as planned and they get there OLT, QB, RB, WR in the first 3 rounds and when there 4th round pick is up and these two are available, who should the Bears take?

 

Josh Barrett S Arizona St. 6-2 223, 4.34-40 (4.34, 4.30, 4.43)

 

Very athletic for his size, 4.35 speed at combine, in the box safety who can tackle and deliver the big hit, plays the run very well, high football IQ, and a team leader, also can drop back and cover.

 

Tom Zbikowski S Notre Dame 5-11 211, 4.44-40 (4.44, 4.40, 4.58)

 

Hard worker and team leader, has a high football IQ, plays the run very well, in the box safety, cover skills need some work, makes plays when he gets the ball, excellant special teams player.

 

 

Both players have there flaws, but could be the SS the Bears cover-2 could use. Tom Zbikowski has Chicago ties and could become the fan favorite as he seems to be the John Lynch type of safety. His ceiling isn't as high as Barrett's, but his floor isn't as low. Josh Barrett has the speed that JA/Lovie covet. He's an amazing athlete in the mold of Sean Taylor. He could blow the roof off of the ceiling if he matures/develops, but he has potential to bust more than Zibby does. At the least, Zibby could be a backup SS but be a ST ace where as Barrett would just be a back up S as he has no history at playing ST. So out of the two Safeties, who would you take. Someone help me make a decision b/c I like them both.

 

For all those saying Zbikowski is slow, a 4.44 40 time is really not that slow and how fast was John Lynch?

[jason]

Easy for me. I like Z. He's tough, and could fit in well. I think his measurables are not the same as his football measurables.

 

I don't know much about Barrett. But for a guy to have that much going for him, and still be considered a mid to late rounder, that makes me think of the old saying: Look like Tarzan, play like Jane.

[madlithuanian]

I really know little about Z...anything you can share?

 

I've heard he has tackling issues and has coverage problems... Especially agasint good teams. He looked good agasint Navy I'm told, but who doesn't?

 

Easy for me. I like Z. He's tough, and could fit in well. I think his measurables are not the same as his football measurables.

 

I don't know much about Barrett. But for a guy to have that much going for him, and still be considered a mid to late rounder, that makes me think of the old saying: Look like Tarzan, play like Jane.

[Guest TerraTor]

if take zbikowski, speed at SS is kinda hit or miss. u need a tuff bastard who can diagnose plays instead of catch up to em.

[nfoligno]

This says it all for me. From NFL.com

 

Compares To: ADAM ARCHULETA-Chicago...Zbikowski spent the last few years living off the reputation he made as a big-play specialist in 2005. He has been anything but that player since, trying to come up with the big play to compensate for his mental blunders and being caught out of position on a regular basis. He is an adequate punt returner, but not of NFL quality. For a player that thrives on big plays, he is caught out of position too often to warrant consideration as an instant starter. However, he could provide good relief in the sub package and on special teams. That is not enough to justify him being an early pick. Is a player who reached his peak in college -- what you see, is what you get.

 

We just got rid of Archuleta. Why would we bring in the rookie prospect who compares most to him.

 

By the way, Bartlett also compares w/ Arch. Ouch!

[HoofHearted]

We just got rid of Archuleta. Why would we bring in the rookie prospect who compares most to him.

 

By the way, Bartlett also compares w/ Arch. Ouch!

 

We didn't get rid of AA, and are we talking about football players or pears? His name is Barrett, and judging a player on the comparison they give at NFL.com is pretty mindless.

[AZ54]

i'm taking Barrett. In the 4th round the higher floor doesn't mean as much to me. I watched Barrett in a lot of ASU games and he'll make boneheaded plays at times but when he does connect he connects in a big way. If we were talking about an earlier pick I'd take the higher floor.

[jason]

I really know little about Z...anything you can share?

 

I've heard he has tackling issues and has coverage problems... Especially agasint good teams. He looked good agasint Navy I'm told, but who doesn't?

 

What I know is this:

-He doesn't appear to be fast, or get clocked fast, but he sure as hell runs away from and around people when returning punts. He's football fast.

-He doesn't appear to be the biggest hitter, but he sure does jar the ball loose a lot.

-He may not be the best in coverage, but he seems to be in an opportune spot a lot of the time.

 

In all honesty, he reminds me of how I would describe Mike Brown. Not overly impressive in any way, just knows how to play football. The one obvious difference, however, is that Z seems to have problems with angles. He gets caught out of position at times, and it looks bad when he does. But the thing is, he always seems to be around the ball when it's important on fumbles and INTs.

 

I would still love to see him in a Bears uniform. Many will say he dropped off, but I would say that his team just plain stunk. When you can't rely on your teammates to be in the right place, then your play is going to suffer, and you'll be put in odd situations.

[shadevtx]

I wouldn't take either one of them. Why reach for something that isn't there? We have 2 safeties returning from injury, plus 2 that ended the season in the lineup, one Lovie won't let go, and another we signed late last season of someone else's practice squad. We have bodies with potential. We should use this draft to fill glaring needs on offense and look safety next year...