2014 Chicago Bears Offseason Thread

[Soul]

Hated the punter pick but I hope he's good because replacing Podlesh with a good punter will help this defense a bit too.

 

 

big dude, big leg...but yea, he better be really good if you're going to waste a pick on him.

 

He should be able to brush Podlesh aside without any problems. At least there's that. I don't need to see Podlesh punt for the Bears again.

[Thed Hoyerstein]

Hated the punter pick but I hope he's good because replacing Podlesh with a good punter will help this defense a bit too.

 

 

big dude, big leg...but yea, he better be really good if you're going to waste a pick on him.

 

He should be able to brush Podlesh aside without any problems. At least there's that. I don't need to see Podlesh punt for the Bears again.

 

http://espn.go.com/blog/chicago/bears/post/_/id/4691604/pittsburgh-steelers-sign-former-chicago-bears-punter-adam-podlesh

[Banedon]

Hated the punter pick but I hope he's good because replacing Podlesh with a good punter will help this defense a bit too.

 

 

big dude, big leg...but yea, he better be really good if you're going to waste a pick on him.

 

He should be able to brush Podlesh aside without any problems. At least there's that. I don't need to see Podlesh punt for the Bears again.

 

Podlesh is already gone.

[Guest]

Top 8 his rookie year and pro bowl by year 3 or I remain pissed at the punter pick.

 

Absolutely. Total hipster pick

 

Yes, hipster.

 

Since 1993, there have been 36 punters selected in the NFL Draft. Only once from 1993-2012 was a punter drafted in the second round. There have been five instances of a punter being selected in the third round, five of a punter being selected in the fourth round and six of a punter being selected in the fifth round since 1993. 11 punters were taken in the sixth round from 1993-2012, and seven were selected in the seventh round. One punter, in 1993, was taken in the eighth round. (Yes, there were eight rounds back then.) Based on the last 20 drafts, the average pick for a punter is 162, which is in the fifth round.

 

http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2013/2/21/4012156/nfl-draft-punters

[jersey cubs fan]

Hated the punter pick but I hope he's good because replacing Podlesh with a good punter will help this defense a bit too.

 

 

big dude, big leg...but yea, he better be really good if you're going to waste a pick on him.

 

He should be able to brush Podlesh aside without any problems. At least there's that. I don't need to see Podlesh punt for the Bears again.

 

Podlesh is already gone.

 

The big question is what happens to Butthead Jr.

[jersey cubs fan]

Top 8 his rookie year and pro bowl by year 3 or I remain pissed at the punter pick.

 

Absolutely. Total hipster pick

 

Yes, hipster.

 

Since 1993, there have been 36 punters selected in the NFL Draft. Only once from 1993-2012 was a punter drafted in the second round. There have been five instances of a punter being selected in the third round, five of a punter being selected in the fourth round and six of a punter being selected in the fifth round since 1993. 11 punters were taken in the sixth round from 1993-2012, and seven were selected in the seventh round. One punter, in 1993, was taken in the eighth round. (Yes, there were eight rounds back then.) Based on the last 20 drafts, the average pick for a punter is 162, which is in the fifth round.

 

http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2013/2/21/4012156/nfl-draft-punters

 

That is skewed by only reporting on the average slot for punters by GMs dumb enough to draft a punter.

[Guest]

Not surprising who Dane Brugler picked as the Bear UDFA who had the best chance of making the team and getting snaps this season:

 

Chicago Bears – LB Christian Jones, Florida State

Jones went undrafted due to some durability concerns and questions about where his best position will be at the next level, but if he stays healthy, he might be able to carve out a niche on special teams coverage. Jones has the versatile ability to help in sub-package situations at several front-seven spots.

 

http://mweb.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/24559656/nfl-draft-nfc-udfas-to-watch

[Guest]

Top 8 his rookie year and pro bowl by year 3 or I remain pissed at the punter pick.

 

Absolutely. Total hipster pick

 

Yes, hipster.

 

Since 1993, there have been 36 punters selected in the NFL Draft. Only once from 1993-2012 was a punter drafted in the second round. There have been five instances of a punter being selected in the third round, five of a punter being selected in the fourth round and six of a punter being selected in the fifth round since 1993. 11 punters were taken in the sixth round from 1993-2012, and seven were selected in the seventh round. One punter, in 1993, was taken in the eighth round. (Yes, there were eight rounds back then.) Based on the last 20 drafts, the average pick for a punter is 162, which is in the fifth round.

 

http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2013/2/21/4012156/nfl-draft-punters

 

That is skewed by only reporting on the average slot for punters by GMs dumb enough to draft a punter.

 

Indeed, but with 36 punters selected in 20 years, it certainly isn't a "hipster" selection.

[jersey cubs fan]

Indeed, but with 36 punters selected in 20 years, it certainly isn't a "hipster" selection.

No hipster has ever done anything truly unique.

[Guest]

I have no problem with a GM wanting to do things his way.

[Soul]

Hated the punter pick but I hope he's good because replacing Podlesh with a good punter will help this defense a bit too.

 

 

big dude, big leg...but yea, he better be really good if you're going to waste a pick on him.

 

He should be able to brush Podlesh aside without any problems. At least there's that. I don't need to see Podlesh punt for the Bears again.

 

Podlesh is already gone.

 

The big question is what happens to Butthead Jr.

 

Ahh, my bad. Didn't realize that he was gone.

[cubbyvirus00]

Top 8 his rookie year and pro bowl by year 3 or I remain pissed at the punter pick.

 

Absolutely. Total hipster pick

 

Yes, hipster.

 

Since 1993, there have been 36 punters selected in the NFL Draft. Only once from 1993-2012 was a punter drafted in the second round. There have been five instances of a punter being selected in the third round, five of a punter being selected in the fourth round and six of a punter being selected in the fifth round since 1993. 11 punters were taken in the sixth round from 1993-2012, and seven were selected in the seventh round. One punter, in 1993, was taken in the eighth round. (Yes, there were eight rounds back then.) Based on the last 20 drafts, the average pick for a punter is 162, which is in the fifth round.

 

http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2013/2/21/4012156/nfl-draft-punters

 

That is skewed by only reporting on the average slot for punters by GMs dumb enough to draft a punter.

 

Indeed, but with 36 punters selected in 20 years, it certainly isn't a "hipster" selection.

 

Picking a REALLY ATHLETIC PUNTER near the top of the 6th round violates logic and reason. They can be had as a UDFA. Hell if we were a dome team that can accurately project how a Punter would fare at the home stadium, it might add some relief to this pick. Fact is, Soldier Field is a hard place to kick and you cannot project how a Punter will do there.

 

It's a wasted pick unless like the above poster said, the guy is a Pro Bowler or a top 10 Punter. This team is majorly lacking in TE depth.

[Soul]

Wait a minute.....

 

Ahh, there it is.

 

I just decided I like the pick. This stud punter is going to blow up the league like Hercules at the Olympics. Book it.

[Guest]

So two punters get picked every year and we took the best one this year. I don't see a problem.

[WrigleyField 22]

So two punters get picked every year and we took the best one this year. I don't see a problem.

He might not be the best one.

 

I guess I could be swayed by solid analytics, but I would expect the average UDFA or street FA punter is in line with a drafted punter. The only value I really see is that you guarantee yourself the player (for 4 years too) over having to compete with other teams. But is he really going to be better than the current street FA? And if he's about the same, he better develop to he much better than then in the near term.

[WrigleyField 22]

But yea cubbyvirus' hipster GM meme makes no sense and in this case actually let's hipsters off too easily.

[Guest]

I don't hate the use of that pick on a punter out of hand.

 

1) what is the success rate of 6th round picks even making the team? I can't imagine it is a sure thing.

 

2) what is the rate at which those picks contribute anywhere other than special teams?

 

3) How much would an experienced FA punter cost? How much did Podlesh cost us?

 

The cost savings with a rookie on a 6th round contract may allow us to spend money on an experienced player that can step into a role on offense or defense sooner rather than later. Meanwhile, the sixth round pick contributes more on special teams as a punter than a safety or TE would have as a gunner or blocker.

 

While it certainly isn't an exciting pick, I'm not against it if the Bears feel he is a sure thing as a punter.

[Guest]

But yea cubbyvirus' hipster GM meme makes no sense and in this case actually let's hipsters off too easily.

 

Thank you.

[Soul]

I don't hate the use of that pick on a punter out of hand.

 

1) what is the success rate of 6th round picks even making the team? I can't imagine it is a sure thing.

 

2) what is the rate at which those picks contribute anywhere other than special teams?

 

3) How much would an experienced FA punter cost? How much did Podlesh cost us?

 

The cost savings with a rookie on a 6th round contract may allow us to spend money on an experienced player that can step into a role on offense or defense sooner rather than later. Meanwhile, the sixth round pick contributes more on special teams as a punter than a safety or TE would have as a gunner or blocker.

 

While it certainly isn't an exciting pick, I'm not against it if the Bears feel he is a sure thing as a punter.

 

Yeah, it's a 6th round pick. If it was round 4 or something I'd probably go ballistic. Not worth really getting upset over.

[davell]

Emery has certainly been active in FA and has said we'll continue to be. We'll address backup TE and anything else we see as an actual need at that point after the June 1st cuts.

[Guest]

My issue is that very few teams are even shopping for punters. If they hadn't drafted him there, would he have been drafted at all. Why waste a draft pick on someone you can add as a UDFA. In that same light, it seems like the trade up could have easily been avoided by taking Vereen with the previous pick and then taking the running back with the following pick, assuming he was still there. Even if he wasn't, there was value still available to grab someone else. Now they will be out a 5th rounder next year.

 

I like the draft and I like what they did on defense through free agency. But, to me, the real head scratchers were the trade up and picking up a punter.

[Guest]

Here's a challenge for anyone who hated the pick:

 

choose one guy drafted after the punter who the Bears missed out on as a result of "wasting" the pick. Let's see who generates more value in 2014. No fair picking the entire field after, though, you gotta pick one guy.

 

I'll bet more people will be wrong than right.

[Guest]

My issue is that very few teams are even shopping for punters. If they hadn't drafted him there, would he have been drafted at all. Why waste a draft pick on someone you can add as a UDFA. In that same light, it seems like the trade up could have easily been avoided by taking Vereen with the previous pick and then taking the running back with the following pick, assuming he was still there. Even if he wasn't, there was value still available to grab someone else. Now they will be out a 5th rounder next year.

 

I like the draft and I like what they did on defense through free agency. But, to me, the real head scratchers were the trade up and picking up a punter.

 

They clearly valued Carey more than the safeties available with their original 4th rounder, including Vereen. I can't imagine Emery felt backup RB was a bigger weakness than S.

[rawaction]

Of the 17 punters with over 1 mil guaranteed in salary on their contacts, Only 3 were undrafted.

[Soul]

I disliked the Ego & Carey picks more than O'Donnell. Ego especially.