2014 Chicago Bears Offseason Thread

[Guest]

I like mccullers's size and the fact he gives us the flexibility to go 3-4 at times

[RynoRules]

That boy is a beast:

 

 

 

http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/images/photos/002/321/331/rn_georgiatennessee_ms_18_crop_exact.jpg?w=1500&h=1500&q=85

 

[jersey cubs fan]

Dan Pompei is with sportsonearth now and participated in a 3-way mock draft.

 

http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/73305070/nfl-mock-draft-2014-houston-texans-jadeveon-clowney-khalil-mack-johnny-manziel

Round one:

Mike

 

Calvin Pryor

Louisville S Charles Tillman does not want to play safety. There is not much to be gained by making Charles Tillman do something he does not want to do. Let Peanut be Peanut, Bears. Draft a safety.

Dan

 

Aaron Donald

Pittsburgh DT Donald would be a good value pick here, a need fit and a perfect scheme fit. In fact, Donald to the Bears seems like one of the most logical picks in the draft unless Donald is snatched away by the Giants or Rams, or a team like the Cowboys leapfrogs the Bears to take him. Donald lacks ideal height and length, but as we have gotten closer to the draft it has become increasingly difficult for anyone to poke holes in him. This is a player who has passed every test. Other players who could be matches for the Bears include either Pryor or Clinton-Dix, should they drop, C.J. Mosley or one of the cornerbacks.

Russ

 

Kyle Fuller

Virginia Tech CB

Longtime starting cornerback Charles Tillman is not getting any younger, and aside from Tim Jennings, the Bears' other cornerbacks are not front-line players. Kyle Fuller has the length, instincts, technique, ball skills, athleticism and intangibles to fit what the Bears organization is all about under general manager Phil Emery. The addition of Fuller would give them three quality starters in 2014 to deal with Green Bay's high-powered passing attack.

 

Round 2:

Mike

 

Will Sutton

Arizona State DT The Bears revamped their defensive line late last season and through free agency. Now, they should add some players under 30.

Dan

 

Tre Mason

Auburn RB General manager Phil Emery usually has a surprise or two up his sleeve and Mason could be one. Emery is more likely to take a player at a position that some do not consider a primary need than he is to reach to fill one. If Emery lands a DT in Round One, he might not like what is left in round two at defensive back. The Bears could use a second running back to pair with Matt Forte, and some think Mason is the best running back in the draft. His presence would give the Bears as much talent in their backfield as any team in the league.

Russ

 

Timmy Jernigan

Florida State DT

Upgrading their defense has been the priority all offseason, and after adding two veteran defensive ends in free agency, Jared Allen and Lamarr Houston, and cornerback Kyle Fuller in the first round they continue with their defensive focus. Jernigan is not the explosive penetrating defensive tackle that he has been portrayed to be, but he is stout at the point of attack, can clog holes and can push the pocket when he bull rushes. Playing Jernigan next to Stephen Paea would give the Bears a strong interior defensive line.

[Soul]

Interesting wrinkle in the 2nd round. Haven't seen too many predicting an RB there.

[jersey cubs fan]

LooneyaboutSports ‏@LooneyonFox 29m

HBO and the NFL have narrowed down the HARD KNOCKS teams to a list of three: Bears, Giants, Steelers.

 

Rich Campbell ‏@Rich_Campbell 3m

Former Bears GM Jerry Angelo recently told @KapandHaugh there's a better chance of the Bears getting cheerleaders than going on Hard Knocks.

 

When you consider the NFL can more or less force a team to go on Hard Knocks, while they make their own decision on cheerleaders, this says something about Angelo's awareness.

[Guest]

LooneyaboutSports ‏@LooneyonFox 29m

HBO and the NFL have narrowed down the HARD KNOCKS teams to a list of three: Bears, Giants, Steelers.

 

Rich Campbell ‏@Rich_Campbell 3m

Former Bears GM Jerry Angelo recently told @KapandHaugh there's a better chance of the Bears getting cheerleaders than going on Hard Knocks.

 

When you consider the NFL can more or less force a team to go on Hard Knocks, while they make their own decision on cheerleaders, this says something about Angelo's awareness.

 

Yep

[Guest]

@mikefreemanNFL: NFL's Greg Aiello on report that Bears, Giants, Steelers are finalists for Hard Knocks: "totally inaccurate."

 

 

Not like that first report was a hard thing to make up anyway. Of the teams they can force to do it, those are the 3 most obvious ones, IMO.

[dew1679666265]

I like mccullers's size and the fact he gives us the flexibility to go 3-4 at times

 

For what it's worth, McCullers is pretty raw and struggled to use his body as he should, but seems like a good kid and a hard worker. I like him a lot, but probably not before the third round (maybe late second).

[pitchcs]

Zach Zaidman ‏@ZachZaidman 1m

Phil Emery says he has narrowed down his choice at 14 to 6 players.

[Banedon]

Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) tweeted at 0:11 PM on Thu, May 01, 2014:

LM: HOF LB Mike Singletary reportedly will announce #Bears' second-round pick at draft . Singletary was Bears' second-round pick in '81.

[jersey cubs fan]

Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) tweeted at 0:11 PM on Thu, May 01, 2014:

LM: HOF LB Mike Singletary reportedly will announce #Bears' second-round pick at draft . Singletary was Bears' second-round pick in '81.

 

Cannot play with him, cannot coach with him, cannot win with him, can't do it.

[cubbyvirus00]

Zach Zaidman ‏@ZachZaidman 1m

Phil Emery says he has narrowed down his choice at 14 to 6 players.

 

CB Gilbert

CB Fuller

FS Dix

SS Pryor

DT Donald

DT Hagemen

 

 

Those are my guesses. I threw Hagemen in there because he's a classic Emery guy. (Boom or Bust pick)

[Wilson A2000]

Zaidman also said that if a team really doesn't want to be on Hard Knocks, Goodell won't force it even though he could. Emery could make the case that they are working on a new defense and don't want give that away on the show.

[UK1679666180]

Zach Zaidman ‏@ZachZaidman 1m

Phil Emery says he has narrowed down his choice at 14 to 6 players.

 

CB Gilbert

CB Fuller

FS Dix

SS Pryor

DT Donald

DT Hagemen

 

 

Those are my guesses. I threw Hagemen in there because he's a classic Emery guy. (Boom or Bust pick)

 

Good luck guessing this one.

[pitchcs]

Listening to Zaidman on B&B yesterday, he sounded convinced the Bears will take Calvin Pryor if he's available at #14.

[Soul]

Yeah, but Zaidman is probably the most chatty guy I've ever heard, and gets going on stuff & then just doesn't stop. If you listen long enough, you'll probably hear just about every possible opinion at some point.

 

Sometimes he's cool to listen to for awhile, but I wouldn't put a lot of stock in many of the things he says.

[Banedon]

Yeah, but Zaidman is probably the most chatty guy I've ever heard, and gets going on stuff & then just doesn't stop. If you listen long enough, you'll probably hear just about every possible opinion at some point.

 

Sometimes he's cool to listen to for awhile, but I wouldn't put a lot of stock in many of the things he says.

 

Haha, yeah. Bernstein really seems annoyed by Zach too. If Zach ever leaves the Score, I bet Bernstein would unload on him.

[Guest]

http://www.chicagobears.com/multimedia/photo-gallery/Behind-the-scenes/b29520fc-ef39-4575-a597-1f9abeb36d9d

[Guest]

http://prod.images.bears.clubs.nflcdn.com/image-web/NFL/CDA/data/deployed/prod/BEARS/assets/images/imported/CHI/photos/clubimages/2014/05-May/tempMcClellin_FlexGreen_050214--nfl_mezz_1280_1024.jpg?width=960&height=720

LB Shea McClellin

 

http://prod.images.bears.clubs.nflcdn.com/image-web/NFL/CDA/data/deployed/prod/BEARS/assets/images/imported/CHI/photos/clubimages/2014/05-May/tempCutler_Throw_050214--nfl_mezz_1280_1024.JPG?width=960&height=720

The most interesting man in the world. Smiling.

 

http://prod.images.bears.clubs.nflcdn.com/image-web/NFL/CDA/data/deployed/prod/BEARS/assets/images/imported/CHI/photos/clubimages/2014/05-May/tempJeffery_Scream_050214--nfl_mezz_1280_1024.jpg?width=960&height=720

remember when he was fat?

 

http://prod.images.bears.clubs.nflcdn.com/image-web/NFL/CDA/data/deployed/prod/BEARS/assets/images/imported/CHI/photos/clubimages/2014/05-May/tempAllen_Laugh_050214--nfl_mezz_1280_1024.JPG?width=960&height=720

wine em, dine em, 69 em

[jersey cubs fan]

http://prod.images.bears.clubs.nflcdn.com/image-web/NFL/CDA/data/deployed/prod/BEARS/assets/images/imported/CHI/photos/clubimages/2014/05-May/tempAllen_Laugh_050214--nfl_mezz_1280_1024.JPG?width=960&height=720

wine em, dine em, 69 em

 

Is that really a football player?

[Guest]

can barely recognize him

[Butterscup1679666578]

is he ill?

[Guest]

Facial hair adds like 30 pounds

[jersey cubs fan]

Facial hair adds like 30 pounds

 

And the animal pelt over the shoulder puts on another 15.

[WrigleyField 22]

Trying to Figure out Emery's 6, I have it down to 8 guesses. Listening to his comments there's obviously a range, as they seem to think best case scenario 2-3 will be there (although obviously this is assuming we take him at his word- a risky proposition, even for a relative straight shooter like Emery). So I think at least a few of those 6 will likely be gone and must be graded as borderline top 10 prospects. My 8 guesses at Emery's 6 (no particular order)

 

Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix Alabama S 6'1" 208

- Position of high need. Fairly good overall measurables, but not elite athelticism. Experience in Big time conference and program a plus. Pre-draft visit is big indicator he could be on list.

 

Anthony Barr UCLA 6'5" OLB/DE 255

- A very good athlete and I think any pass rusher would have to be considered. No pre-draft visit, but a pro day visit. A guy who was an early top 10 guy, but now is projected to fall by some places, so hard to figure out.

 

Louis Nix Notre Dame 6'2" 331

Another pre-draft visit. For his size, a pretty good athlete. While strictly a NT, should be able to play across schemes. Emery has talked about size, so he fits in that regard.

 

Kyle Fuller Virginia Tech CB/S 6'0" 190

Deone Bucannon Washington St S 6'1" 211

Calvin Pryor Louisville S 5'11" 207

- Top safety prospects with pre-draft visits. So all worth mentioning. Fuller worth mentioning because he's a CB who may switch to S. Pryor worth mentioning as he is often up there with Dix as the consensus top ranked S. Bucannon worth mentioning just because he's by far the top athletic performer, across many fields. Hard to imagine the Bears would work out all 4 of these safeties and not have some separate from the pack. Hard to say which ones would have though.

 

Ra'Shede Hageman DE/DT Minnesota 6'6" 310

- One of the more versatile picks in the range, with great size and athleticism. So checks a lot of marks, yet no sign of pre-draft, pro day or other visits. Still we didn't know about Long last year until after the draft, so Hageman's worth mentioning.

 

And for my surprise pick, although this player has picked up steam, so I don't think he will be there:

 

Taylor Lewan Michigan OT 6'7" 309

If I had to pick an offensive position Emery would consider, it would be OT. For a long time he was in the 10-20 range, and now there is talk he could go top 5. He's probably at least top 10, but still it would make sense that at least a few of "Emery's 6" are top 10 guys. No indication the Bears are interested, but he gets mention over others for his measurables and for being a good fit for Kromer's scheme.

 

Even looking at this list, its hard to look and say that we'd be ecstatic for 3 guys to make it (even taking away the worst two). Three guys who should be on the higher end of the range, but I couldn't justify based on rumors and history were Mosley, Gilbert, and Dennard.

 

Taking those three extra guys as wild cards and actually forcing it down to 6 I'm saying Lewan, Mosley, Clinton-Dix, Pryor, Bucannon, Barr.

 

The following guys I "evaluated" while doing this and while I didn't think they were Round one considerations, I think could be round 2 targets:

Kony Ealy DE Missouri 6'4" 273

Kelcy Quarles DT South Carolina 6'4" 297

Dominique Easley Florida DT 6'2" 288

Will Sutton Arizona State DT 6'0" 303

Jimme Ward S 5'11" 193

Joel Bitonio Nevada OT 6'4" 302

Keith McGill Utah CB 6'3" 211

Kyle Van Noy OLB BYU 6'3" 243

The most interesting guy on this second list was one I hadn't really read much about until researching this. Joel Bitonio gets a mention for being an absolute top athletic performer. He actually sounds like Kyle Long, but with actual experience- though not at a top program. He seems to be grading as a 2-3 round prospect, but reads like a dark horse round 1 guy to me.