rawaction

You're much lower on Gilbert than I am, otherwise I like it. Probably would flip Ealy and Hageman too. I wouldn't be shocked if at least one of Hageman and Ealy is gone at 14. I'm more low on the CB position. I think a good player can be had in the 2nd or later, that's why the CBs are low on both lists.

I've been reading a lot about the hybrid defense, and I'm pretty sure this is the way the Bears go. The only question is if Tucker runs it or not, which I'm sure Trestman and Emery are trying to figure out themselves. The talk of moving Bostic to OLB. The talk of moving McClellin from the DE position. The leadership talk leads me to believe Briggs will stick around. With the hybrid D, Bostic looks like he'd be able to play the SLB. The SLB lines up, obviously on the TE side, but he is close to the line of scrimmage and is responsible for the TE, keeping contain, and can blitz off the edge. This seems like it would lessen Bostic's responsibilities as he would just have part of the field, with just the TE as a key, and also have SS help directly behind him. McClellin could also play SLB in a hybrid as the OT to that strong side, will be occupied by the DE lined up over him....giving him some 1-on-1s with a TE or RB in the pass rush. McClellin could also play the rush LB on the weak side as he'd be standing up and just going after the QB/holding the edge. That's more desirable on pass downs though, as teams would be able to run all over him. It would also play into the versatility of a lot of guys on the roster. Paea could play the NT, the 3-tech or the 5-tech. Ratliff the same, if back. Wootton, if back, could play the rush LB or 5-tech with this ability to play inside the tackles. But most important probably to Emery is that it really opens up every defensive prospect in the draft. You don't have to gear your draft board to just players that fit into a single scheme. You can draft an Aldon Smith type and not have to worry about can he hold up at 4-3 DE. You can draft a Stephon Tuitt and not have to worry about if he's quick enough off the edge at 4-3 DE or can get off blocks enough to play 3-tech. Emery can draft the best athletes and the scheme will find a spot for them so they get the best of their abilities.

If I was running the Bears draft, my draft board for pick 14 would look like: Louis Nix, DT- Notre Dame Ra'Shede Hageman, DT- Minnesota Kony Ealy, DE- Missouri CJ Mosely, LB- Alabama Darqueze Dennard, CB- Michigan St. Nix gets a huge edge if the Bears go hybrid or straight 3-4 D. If the Bears trade down, that brings these guys into play: Stephon Tuitt, DE/DT- Notre Dame Trent Murphy, DE- Stanford Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S- Alabama Timmy Jernigan, DT- Florida State Justin Gilbert, CB- Oklahoma State Those are pretty much the only realistic players I would take in the 1st round.

I'd have taken Nix in round 1 and definitely would have taken Bradley Roby, Calvin Pryor (S, Louisville) or Dominique Easley in round 2. Marcus Smith sounds like another tweener DE in a 4-3; they better not pick one of those again unless they're shifting the defense. I guess he has Kony Ealy returning for his senior year because there's no other reason for him to not be in the first few rounds. Marcus Smith is awesome. He looks like he can bulk up too. I'd absolutely love that pick. I agree with your 2nd round picks too. I still think Roby is the top CB despite his down year.

IMO he's done enough to keep his job heading into the offseason programs, starting as a rookie at a tough position from a low round position in the draft. I know Cutler has said that he deserves as much credit as Long for what he did this year. Yeah, give him another year. I'd definitely re-sign Britton too. He can play 4 of the 5 OL positions and did well as the extra T on several plays this year. I wouldn't hand him the job, but he'd definitely start camp as RT being his job to lose.

Watkins won't get past Detroit at 10. I hope to God, he's gone before 10.

Yep, he was a FB/TE then moved to DT. Great athlete at his size. Was a really good HS basketball player too, like scholarship worthy. But because he's not a finished product, he has more than normal bust potential. I wouldn't complain about either (as they're probably my 1a and 1b right now) but I'd feel more comfortable with Nix. Both have scheme versatility.

Interesting stats. AJ McCarron career when he passes the ball over 30 times. 2013 Miss - 25 for 32, 180 yards, 0 TD, 1 Int. (win) UK -21 for 35, 359 yards. 1 TD, 0 Int (win) MSU - 18 for 32, 187 yards, 2 TD, 2 Int. (win) Okl - 19 for 30, 387 yards 2 TD, 2 Int. (loss) 2012 Miss - 22 for 30, 180 yards, 2 TD, 0 Int (win) TXAM - 21 for 34, 309 yards, 1 TD, 2 Int (loss) 2011 PSU - 19 for 31, 163 yards, 1 TD, 0 Int (win) Vandy - 23 for 30, 237 yards, 4 TD, 0 Int (win) LSU - 23 for 34, 234 yards, 0 TD, 0 Int. (win) That Vandy game is the only "really good" game. Granted, no really bad games either, but every other game is either lacking ypa, TD/INT, or completion %. If a team loves his intangibles he could go 2nd round, I wouldn't touch him before Day 3.

Matt Miller is really good. If you have a chance, read all his weekly updates from all year. My favorite source this year, I'd say, though a lot of others haven't really gotten going on the draft just yet.

Nix had knee surgery (I believe). That's the only reason he's below Hageman. People don't really know what to expect from him, but I think he'll be fine. Hageman is intriguing though. Strong as an ox. 6-6 in the middle of the D would be beautiful. But despite being bigger, I think Nix is quicker off the ball. Also allows you to put him at nose if there's a hybrid D or 3-4 D in place. My thoughts exactly. Nix had season-ending knee surgery this year, and the Bears absolutely must hit on these defensive draft picks. I have no idea how Emery will draft at this point, but it seems like a pretty big risk to pick Nix when you already know coming in that he's got a health issue. Wasn't an ACL or anything. He should be able to at least to pro day stuff, though I doubt he'll be ready for the combine. Nix is a legit top 10 talent, knee will probably keep him on the board til the teens at least.

Nix had knee surgery (I believe). That's the only reason he's below Hageman. People don't really know what to expect from him, but I think he'll be fine. Hageman is intriguing though. Strong as an ox. 6-6 in the middle of the D would be beautiful. But despite being bigger, I think Nix is quicker off the ball. Also allows you to put him at nose if there's a hybrid D or 3-4 D in place.

Seems like weakside would be best for Bostic, though. Strong side still gets him having to fight off blockers. The best player on the D plays WLB right now.

I'd rather the Bears protect their asset as opposed to putting their current offensive collection effectively on hold while they try to build up a replacement or trade for/sign someone who isn't there. I think that he's only missed as much time as he has despite having the [expletive] kicked out of him is an argument in his favor as opposed to to him being fragile or increasingly injury-prone. Isn't that what they basically did this year, with the added issue of it being a new offense? I know UK mentioned replacing him, but that was always my worst case scenario.

Cause it would be the most recent season. Further gets away from injury the more confident you have to feel about him staying that way.

For the record, I agree work TT and its the point I was kinda of half assed making earlier today when talking about franchising Jay for 2014. I don't know if the chances of Cutler getting hurt are more or less than anyone else. But it would definitely be less of a shock if Cutler got hurt again vs say Eli Manning getting hurt and missing games for the first time ever. Stafford seems to have beaten the injury big and I hope Cutler does too. I think training with Marshall could help a ton (did with Jeffery who not only improved but didnt get hurt like he did multiple times last year).

This thread contains the only Bears fans in the continental United States that like this deal. -What has he done to earn this? -Best move Green Bay will make all offseason -He doesn't deserve Manning, Brady, Brees money Bears fans are stupid.

He's also only about 190lbs. He's a different type of WR. He's not what I would call a burner though. Which I don't think is necessary. I think the last few years have shown you have a better chance of completing a deep ball to a big WR like Jeffery vs. a fast one like Knox.

I'm sure it'll happen soon. More of a restructure to lower his number this year and give him probably 2-3 extra years. I'm excited about Wilson with those guys. Dynamic ability. Definitely excited about Wilson. Surely the first time I've ever seen you write that. Is Wilson a possession receiver like Bennett or does he have downfield speed? Downfield speed. He's not a guy that timed well in the 40, but he can certainly get down the field. But he was also pretty elusive with the ball in his hands at Washington St.

I'm sure it'll happen soon. More of a restructure to lower his number this year and give him probably 2-3 extra years. I'm excited about Wilson with those guys. Dynamic ability. Didn't he just restructure last year? And generally speaking constant restructuring just makes the inevitable cap hit that much worse? Typically, but this would give Marshall more guaranteed years/money, so I'm sure he'd be all for it. The last restructure just moved money around.

Definitely liking that Wilson is partof that group. Certainly sounds like Earl Bennett is not going to be back. Ha, didn't think of it that way. Doesn't look good for him, I guess. Emery and Trestman did praise Earl's performance by name. He can probably come back with a reduced salary. He already did that this year.

Definitely liking that Wilson is part of that group. Certainly sounds like Earl Bennett is not going to be back. My guess also. He's under contract, but doesn't have a huge cap number. But I think he's cut just to get Wilson on the field.

I've been the only one not completely rejoicing and I've said how I would have handled it. I've also said that I'm very happy with the deal. Also, the #1 priority of the offseason wasn't to improve the defense. It was to get the QB situation under order. Granted, now that shouldn't be an issue for at least 3 offseasons to come. So you'd franchise him, thus giving him an unavoidably gigantic cap number and leaving the QB position in continued flux? By not doing that they are more free to improve the rest of the team and draft a decent QB next season. Not going to be a significant difference between the franchise number and his cap number. If rumors are correct. ....he's averaging 18mil throughout the deal. Franchise number is 16mil. Even if u backload the deal, its not going to be low enough this year to make a difference between fixing the defense and not. Even if its "only" 1.5 mill that's significant given how many wholes they need to fill. No really its not.

I'm sure it'll happen soon. More of a restructure to lower his number this year and give him probably 2-3 extra years. I'm excited about Wilson with those guys. Dynamic ability.

I've been the only one not completely rejoicing and I've said how I would have handled it. I've also said that I'm very happy with the deal. Also, the #1 priority of the offseason wasn't to improve the defense. It was to get the QB situation under order. Granted, now that shouldn't be an issue for at least 3 offseasons to come. So you'd franchise him, thus giving him an unavoidably gigantic cap number and leaving the QB position in continued flux? By not doing that they are more free to improve the rest of the team and draft a decent QB next season. Not going to be a significant difference between the franchise number and his cap number. If rumors are correct. ....he's averaging 18mil throughout the deal. Franchise number is 16mil. Even if u backload the deal, its not going to be low enough this year to make a difference between fixing the defense and not.

That actually makes me feel a lot better. But again, I fully support this deal. It makes me feel better too that the coach/GM saw enough to do this deal this soon.