Bears 2018 Offseason: Matt Nagy Hired as Head Coach

[Thrilho]

Been running around and have to keep running around so I can't stick around to chat on all this fun but felt like dropping in some thoughts on the draft.

 

I was throwing shade at Roquan before the draft because the one video analysis I'd watched on him showed him getting washed out on a bunch of plays and portrayed him as having the inability to play ILB. Welll apparently the guy who coached Patrick Willis thinks differently, so I'm gonna go with him over internet guy for this round.

 

I really just wanted to beef up the linebacking corp and get some pass rush going. Roquan seems to be really good at blitzing, with good timing and aggression to get around blockers and then good closing speed to finish it off. Excited to see him blitz. But then there's this thing I keep reading about how the NFL has changed and you need fast linebackers who can stay with an array of guys in pass coverage. This seems accurate to me.

 

We've been hearing for years that nickle is the new base package. So it makes sense to me that you'd want great athletes who can cover so they can stay on the field. Not many linebackers are going to be Urlacher size but still be able to cover like that, so you get a guy who is undersized and fast. As long as he can make it to the play and get the guy on the ground I'm good. And it's not like he's getting trucked by big backs or anything. From what I recall, even Urlacher had a bad wrap for a long time for not being able to handle o-linemen. That's why they went and got the beef to keep him clean.

 

Which leads me to being happy that they added another big body to the line. Obviously, they're going all in with light, athletic guys at ILB and even at OLB with Floyd. So make sure to get as many quality big guys in that D-line mix as possible to try and keep those guys clean. I personally love this idea. It really is a passing league now, so get a bunch of light quick linebackers who can cover and blitz. Maybe they get pushed around a little in the run game, but honestly? If you want to try to win the game by running up the middle on us in today's NFL go ahead and try.

 

This Bears offense isn't going to be one you can try and beat with 20 points or something. They're going to be scoring points and you are generally going to have to throw to keep up. So I'd just as soon build the whole defense on speed and cover ability. But again, love the idea of adding beef to the D-line. Quantity and quality there is going to be what stops teams from running straight at these tiny ILB we've got.

 

Then to the second round. I don't get people getting worked up over this trade. Anthony Miller seems like a very highly regarded player at a position of need for this year. The Patriots can afford to play around with waiting until next year to take their second round pick because they're already guaranteed a playoff spot this coming year. The Bears are trying to get into the playoffs this year for the first time in forever. They're trying to develop their second year QB and get a new offense to gel and also provide insurance to their injury prone receiving corps. And they're trying to do it with quality.

 

They wanted the impact LB in the first round, who is virtually universally regarded as a good pick, they needed to address interior line with a high pick and then they saw a guy they really liked at a position of need. Boom, done. Move next year's second and figure it out later.

 

I really like this guy though. He fills such a key need at slot guy who is a great route runner with great hands and knows how to get open. NFL.com Kendall Wright on him which is fine but he looks wayyyyy better than that. Based on that letter he wrote to the GMs, he's clearly motivated to become a high quality player. He cites Steve Smith a bunch of times, which is cool to me because Smith was a very hard worker who never took plays off and was consistently improving. But when I watch his tape I see him in the Marvin Harrison/Isaac Bruce. I won't say how far down that spectrum he can be, of course. I tried to watch his routes and his double moves, but I think my WR evaluation card is revoked for the time being after the Tanner Gentry debacle of 2017.

 

He really is getting a lot of love though, and his hands look very good in his highlights. And as he notes in that letter he does seem to always be wide open in those highlights, albeit against lesser competition. Love that he's one of these guys who has had to work for it though, and that he's in the mold of a slot receiver/route runner. Should translate quicker than the Tanner Gentry "go deep and jump" mold.

 

Then you've got the center. He seems highly rated everywhere. Pace is clearly using the Saints model of spending assets to firm up the interior line and then fill in at tackle. Which I think is great because Trubisky seems good at avoiding the outside rushers but he should be a lot better off if the interior line holding up. I wanted Landry, but he dropped a full round from where he was projected so clearly there's something I don't know. He's not a perfect prospect, given his size, so if they wanted to firm up the interior line and wait for an edge prospect they really like I'm going to put this one on "Fangio is in the room and they passed."

 

The ILB for the fourth round I'm going on trusting Pace. He's got a pretty good track record with drafting in the 4th round. His first draft he used the 4th/5th round on project secondary guys and none of them worked, but that was a long time ago with Emery's scouts. I'm interested to see if he plays alongside Smith long term or if they have a different plan, because together they are some pretty small guys. I've read where the in Fangio's defense they've got a Mike LB who takes on the o-line a bit more and a Joker (or Jack?) LB who is free to run around more. I'm guessing that to start it's going to be Travathan in that Mike role. Interested to see what happens at whatever point Travathan moves on, because the 4th seems pretty high to take a guy who you'd view as a career backup.

 

I'm interested to see if they move Kwit to edge. I'm hoping so, because they need rotation players there and I'd like to see how he can do. I'd guess they bring back Houston now. Then next year hopefully it'll be a great draft for edge and they can get a guy they really like.

 

And lastly, this team is going to be very good. I think they're making the playoffs, but I think this offseason has solidified that they will be competing for it at least. Pace is kicking ass right now. Anyone who doesn't see it now will see it this coming year. And Kyle, good on you for being out ahead of this train with the positivity. Good times are coming.

Edited April 28, 2018 by Thrilho

[davell]

Hoping for a pick from Tulane. Aruna or Nickerson.

 

Jets sniped Nickerson. Ejiofor gone too.

[We Got The Whole 9]

Took an EDGE- Kylie Fitts out of Utah

[davell]

If he could stay healthy, his draft stock seems like it'd have been much higher. Glad they addressed the spot, I guess.

[raw]

Fitts is interesting. I really liked him during the Senior bowl week. But he's been injured a lot. Has only played 1 full season collegiately due to injuries. Was a pretty highly recruited kid who started at UCLA. But he transferred, and I'd guess he's about 23 now.

 

But he's not exactly raw. He's a guy that can help some this year if he's healthy. He's white so he's a high motor guy, but he's also pretty darn athletic and decent technique. Probably a guy that's going to be at best a 3rd or 4th pass rusher and get you around 4-6 sacks a year. Nothing special, but could be a solid rotational guy if healthy.

 

Probably need to bring back Lamarr Houston or Willie Young at this point.

[davell]

What is Holton Hill's off field stuff?

 

If it's not some ridiculous horsefeathers, then he's a steal. But, the fact he's still available, probably says a lot.

 

Anyway, Tolliver or JC Jackson would be very nice. Double up on WR with Cribbs or Tate. Desmond Harrison would be a cool project for Hiestand.

[WrigleyField 22]

Upgrade to Kevin White at the WR6 spot.

[jersey cubs fan]

He's white so he's a high motor guy.

He better be.

[raw]

What is Holton Hill's off field stuff?

 

If it's not some ridiculous horsefeathers, then he's a steal. But, the fact he's still available, probably says a lot.

 

Anyway, Tolliver or JC Jackson would be very nice. Double up on WR with Cribbs or Tate. Desmond Harrison would be a cool project for Hiestand.

 

Hill has multiple failed drug tests, and was suspended from the team.

 

Tolliver was a really highly recruited guy out of HS. He wasn't very good at LSU though despite having a ton of potential. He was also suspended for team rules violations (think he missed some meetings).

 

Jackson was kicked out of Florida after an armed robbery and home invasion.

[davell]

What is Holton Hill's off field stuff?

 

If it's not some ridiculous horsefeathers, then he's a steal. But, the fact he's still available, probably says a lot.

 

Anyway, Tolliver or JC Jackson would be very nice. Double up on WR with Cribbs or Tate. Desmond Harrison would be a cool project for Hiestand.

 

Hill has multiple failed drug tests, and was suspended from the team.

 

Tolliver was a really highly recruited guy out of HS. He wasn't very good at LSU though despite having a ton of potential. He was also suspended for team rules violations (think he missed some meetings).

 

Jackson was kicked out of Florida after an armed robbery and home invasion.

 

Hill or Tolliver appear like they're at least worth a look then. Armed robbery though? Geez.

 

Ryan Nall, a RB from Oregon is the first UDFA signee.

 

Meeks went to the Jags.

[davell]

Bears got Dejon Allen, an OL, who is 6th on Optimum Scoutings list of 212 UDFA's.

 

Nall is 61.

[davell]

Bears get CB Michael Joseph, out of Dubuque. 100 on that list.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Bears get CB Michael Joseph, out of Dubuque. 100 on that list.

 

 

I love this, having grown up just across the river

[raw]

Kevin Toliver is a Bear.

 

Dejon Allen OT Hawaii

Michael Joseph CB Dubuque

Nyles Morgan LB Notre Dame

Ryan Nall RB Oregon State

Nick Orr CB TCU

Kevin Toliver CB LSU

Andrew Trumbetti Edge Notre Dame

Ryan Winslow P Pittsburgh

 

is what I see so far

[davell]

Bears got Kevin Toliver, which is awesome.

 

Also got CB Rashard Fant, 150th on that list, out of Indiana.

[davell]

Bears get DE Bunmi Rotimi, out of ODU. 86 on that list.

 

Also get Simmie Cobbs!

 

Cobbs and Toliver are both extremely nice gets.

[We Got The Whole 9]

We Got Simmie Cobbs. Anyone know what caused him to bottom out?

[raw]

We Got Simmie Cobbs. Anyone know what caused him to bottom out?

 

Personal preference I guess. Not the fastest or best route runner, but he wins every 50/50 matchup. Probably underwhelmed enough at the combine that nobody really wanted to spend a pick on him. Some lesser WRs were drafted simply because they were more athletic, I think.

 

Uphill battle to make the team, and doesn't seem like a great fit, but hopefully he can show enough to get a shot somewhere in the league.

[davell]

We didn't get Cobbs, he went to the Redskins instead.

[WrigleyField 22]

Rough cut at depth chart post-draft. All UDFAs asterisked. This is at 88, so they have 2 more open spots without any other cuts. DL, OT, RB, or S could use additional depth. OLB could use more quality depth, but there is no shortage of bodies.

 

Blue I see as locks or near-locks, which number 37. So the bubble guys are competing for 16 spots (plus PS spots).

[Old Style]

Isn’t the expectation that Daniels will start at C moving Whitehair back to G?

[We Got The Whole 9]

Isn’t the expectation that Daniels will start at C moving Whitehair back to G?

Everything that's been reported says Daniels will compete at LG, and keep Whitehair at C.

[minnesotacubsfan]

Isn’t the expectation that Daniels will start at C moving Whitehair back to G?

Everything that's been reported says Daniels will compete at LG, and keep Whitehair at C.

 

Why not just draft a true guard then?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Isn’t the expectation that Daniels will start at C moving Whitehair back to G?

Everything that's been reported says Daniels will compete at LG, and keep Whitehair at C.

 

Why not just draft a true guard then?

 

Because it's literally the exact same job minus snapping the ball?

[Brian]

https://www.instagram.com/p/BiKcKBhhUp4/?taken-by=ifjayhadinstagram