rawaction

I'm sure Tim Morris knew that Aboya had two broken bones in his face. I hope we get these clowns in the Pac-10 tourney. (This doesn't excuse my extreme disappointment in the effort these guys showed today. It's one thing to make mental and physical errors and lose while trying; it's completely different when the effort and toughness is lacking - whether you win or lose.) Yeah, they've had a couple lack of effort games this year. No sense of urgency yesterday.

I think it'd be justified under a few circumstances. It essentially boils down to whether the Bears think Cedric Benson is good enough to be the primary RB in this system. Honestly, I think he is good when he has an effective complement (see: Thomas Jones). I don't think Garrett Wolfe has the potential to be more than a special teams guy due to his size, so I'm a fan of someone like Chris Johnson or Steve Slaton to fill that role. 3rd down backs can usually be found in the 4th/5th round. On the other hand, if the Bears are ready to give up on Benson or think he needs a kick to the rear, someone like Mendenhall or Stewart would be a good pick. The running game last season was abysmal, whether you think it was Benson's fault, the OL's fault, Turner's fault, or some combination of the above. An upgrade at RB might do this team a lot of good. Honestly, my semi-realistic wish list at 14 looks something like this... 1) Ryan Clady 2) Brian Brohm 3) Jeff Otah 4) Kenny Philips 5) Rashard Mendenhall 6) Jonathan Stewart I need to brush up on my scouting reports for guys like Chris Williams and Gosder Cherilus. I've heard differing reports on where they're likely to end up at the next level. If either or both has the goods to be a LT, that'll move them up around Jeff Otah's level. If RT is in their future, they'll be below Stewart. Williams could be a LT, but Clady and Otah (along with Jake Long) have the potential to be all pros. Cherilus, I've heard is strictly a RT. If Phillips is there at 14, I'd gamble that Williams or Nicks is there. Another guy I like is Tony Hills, who may last til the 3rd.

He won't make it past Seattle and could go as early as Houston/Arizona, as I pointed out above.

FWIW, I watched some of the senior bowl practice on NFL Network, and Singletary can really coach. He was working with the LBs, but you can tell guys just listen to what he tells them. I know a lot has to do with his on the field play, but even if he never played he has a presence.

Both Mendenhall and Stewart will be there at 14. The run on RBs won't come til at earliest 16-18 whenever Houston or Arizona picks. I'd pick Stewart over Mendenhall, but that's 100% based on the fact that I trust Pac10 RBs more than I do Big Ten's. Really a toss up between the two talent wise.

Is this Tigers offense any better "on paper" than recent Yankees, Red Sox or Mets teams? What about the 05 Yankees specifically? C Posada/Pudge 1B TMartinez/ Guillen 2B Cano/Polanco SS Jeter/ Renteria 3B Arod/ Cabrera RF Sheffield/ Ordonez LF Matsui/ Jones CF B. Williams/ Granderson DH Giambi/ Sheffield Tino was the only weak spot on paper, but probably very similar to what Jacque Jones is expected to provide this year for the Tigers. Bernie had a horrible year in 05, but was coming off of a .360 OBP and 108 OPS+. The 05 Yanks were clearly better at C, SS, and LF. The Tigers are clearly better at 1B and maybe CF. I'd give the Yanks a slight edge also at DH and 3B, with RF being a toss up.

Its funny that Purdue took a page out of the UW book to beat them twice this season. They hustle, they're deep, they're versatile, don't make many mistakes, and they get in your face defensively. Seems like a team that will have trouble in a more closely called NCAA tourney game. They have a clear edge in the title race, being they only have 3 tough games left vs. MSU and on the road at IU and OSU. MSU has to go on the road to the other top B10 teams and has IU at home. Wisc. only has 3 more at home and 1 is MSU. IU has 5 tough games left, but 4 of them at are home. Purdue is gonna be a very touch matchup for IU, because they do a lot of the same things well that IU does well (shoot the 3, FTs, run the floor). The difference will be the major differences, Purdue's defense, IUs rebounding. I think it all comes down to the Calasan vs D.J. White match up. Can Calasan contain him defensively enough that he won't go nuts on the interior and can Calasan get his 3point shot going enough that it spreads IU's defense out? Calasan is no match for DJ. He does have some size, but he's weak on the boards, has no offensive game, and is foul prone. After him, their only "big" is 6'10", 210lb Johnson, who would get destroyed. I don't worry about a big man shooting the 3 with the zone we've been playing. In fact, I'd dare Calasan to shoot all night. I do worry about the slashing and them being able to get DJ in foul trouble on some help defense.

I'd do the deal with just Marshall substituted for Gallagher. I'd think of doing the deal as is.

I'd rather take Malcolm Kelly. Ditto. I love my potential to run with the ball after the catch, but a lot of my value is gone if I'm with the Bears, that's my ability to run back kicks. Kelly is a big WR with some speed. Only negative, if you see it that way, is he's pretty similar to Mark Bradley minus the injuries. i've seen every college game each has played and Kelly is so much better a wide receiver that it isn't even comparable. Bradley was a big, fast, raw (no offense) guy. Kelly has the best hands and body control that I've ever seen. Yeah, on 2nd look. Kelly is not as fast as I thought. Still, I think he's a potential #1 WR.

I'd rather take Malcolm Kelly. Ditto. I love my potential to run with the ball after the catch, but a lot of my value is gone if I'm with the Bears, that's my ability to run back kicks. I think you can get a WR to step in right away as a #2-3 with the same after the catch ability in Early Doucet, and draft him in the 2nd. Kelly is a big WR with some speed. Only negative, if you see it that way, is he's pretty similar to Mark Bradley minus the injuries.

Its funny that Purdue took a page out of the UW book to beat them twice this season. They hustle, they're deep, they're versatile, don't make many mistakes, and they get in your face defensively. Seems like a team that will have trouble in a more closely called NCAA tourney game. They have a clear edge in the title race, being they only have 3 tough games left vs. MSU and on the road at IU and OSU. MSU has to go on the road to the other top B10 teams and has IU at home. Wisc. only has 3 more at home and 1 is MSU. IU has 5 tough games left, but 4 of them at are home. Purdue is gonna be a very touch matchup for IU, because they do a lot of the same things well that IU does well (shoot the 3, FTs, run the floor). The difference will be the major differences, Purdue's defense, IUs rebounding.

If the Bears stay at 14. There are really only 2 worthy picks. Clady and Phillips. If neither is there and you can't negotiate a trade down, Mendenhall would be interesting as would Keith Rivers, Brohm, and Malcolm Kelly.

I'd question the necessity or even utility or an "every down back" in today's NFL anyway. With Benson in tow, someone who can burn and catch some passes would be a great complement to him. And with the depth of RBs in this draft, the Bears might not even need to use a 1st or even 2nd rounder to get a quality player that fits that description. That's my problem is that Jones would have to be a 1st rounder, even if they did trade down. The more I think about, the more I think the Bears getting a RB wouldn't be a bad idea. I'd take the BPA regardless of most positions, probably in every round this year, especially if the Bears can add an OT in free agency.

Great win in Columbus. Everyone "played within themselves". Gordon didn't force any action. Got good defensive contributions from the non-DJ big man for a change. And speaking of DJ, he was an absolute beast today. Scored 21 points with very few half court set touches. Scored all of his points off of his own offensive boards or drive and dishes by his guards. Jordan Crawford with a great contribution today. 8 points and career bests 6 boards ands 7 assists, with 0 turnovers. Biggest win of the season. 6-1 on the road. Keeps us in control of our Big Ten title destiny. Going on a high into 3 games against the rest of the conf. title contenders which are all at home. I'd like to take all 3 because we're at home, but vs. Wisc., Mich St, and Purdue is going to be tough. Two of 3 may be good enough, as long as one of those wins is Purdue.

I wouldn't like that draft. Jones is not a franchise back. He's a guy that I see having to share time. Cherilus is a RT. That leaves Tait at LT, which isn't good. Baker will be gone by the 2nd. And I think that's too high to pick Flacco.

I like Brohm, but not at 14. If the Bears were picking 18-25, I'd love him there. He may be worth the pick, but I don't want a QB in the top 1/2 of the 1st round. I think guys like that get too much guaranteed money, whereas a late 1st rounder is usually similar in talent, yet much more affordable. I love Josh Johnson. The Bears have been enamored with mobile QBs forever, just can't seem to pull it off. As for Flacco, uh, what's wrong with another Drew Bledsoe? Bledsoe was a franchise QB for a good while, and lost his jobs to younger franchise QBs (Brady, Romo).

Didn't see the game, but seriously? 31 freethrows from ND to 8? 22 fouls to 12.

Man, are the Raiders and Falcons that poorly run that you are leaving them out of the discussion? FYI, there are 32 NFL teams.

I think you are misunderstanding me. I'm not saying that the Bears should spend a first rounder trying to get a franchise back. I'm saying there is value at RB in this draft and the Bears currently have poor running backs. I wouldn't say that Oakland had an elite rushing attack. I also think it's pretty obvious that we are not in agreement regarding Benson's talent level. Jacobs a possible edge over Benson? Jacobs is everything Benson wishes he could be but isn't. Jamal Lewis isn't as talented as Benson? Lewis is old, but Benson will never ever be as good as Jamal Lewis is. Draft Position =/= Talent. Out of backs with more than 75 carries last year, Benson ranked 49 out of 56. I understand the position that RB's are more a product of circumstance but getting a good back can improve the running game. I don't think we're likely to agree about this. Where did Peterson rank? Also, fyi, Oakland was top 5-7 in YPC. I agree the biggest disagreement we are having is over Benson's talent level. I agree that draft position =/= talent. But I think most Bears fans conceeded that Benson was a better back than Thomas Jones after 2006. How did he go from better than TJ to one of the worst in the league talent wise? He has started for 1 season and probably barely has a full seasons worth of NFL carries in his career. It's too soon to give up on him. Drafting a RB this year, anywhere, means the Bears are giving up on Cedric, as Wolfe and Peterson are cheap and aren't going anywhere either because of versatility.

Look at some of the NFLs top rushing attacks. Obviously teams like Minnesota, Jacksonville and San Diego had star quality backs. But you have teams like Cleveland, Tampa, Green Bay, Oakland, NYGiants, and Denver among the league's elite rushing attacks. None of those teams had franchise backs. Jamal Lewis, Ernest Graham, Ryan Grant, Justin Fargas, and Selvin Young (those teams leading rushers) are not as talented as Cedric Benson. Nobody wanted those guys before this season. I'll give Brandon Jacobs a possible edge, but he's been just as injury prone. I'll also point out that the 9 teams I've named in this post probably had 9 of the top 12 offensive lines in the league (add in Colts, Steelers, Pats).

Terrell Pryor isn't changing positions ever. He's the #1 player in the world as a QB. He will either be an NFL QB or be a bust at QB on the college level. He will not be a DE or WR.

I agree and disagree here. While the line was brutal (I've banged that drum all year) I think that Benson has shown that his ceiling is pretty low. That fact combined with: Peterson being pedestrian as a fill in, Wolfe clearly being a situational scat back, and the unbeleiveable depth at RB in this draft, I can easily see the Bears taking a RB in the 3rd. The Benson/Peterson combo is no worse than the Jones/Benson combo that took the Bears to the Superbowl in terms of production or upside.

I can't believe the IU/U of I discussion is still going on. But Illini fans....I AGREE WITH YOU! Sr. is a grown man. He should have clearly expected to be heckled along with his son and family. But it was mostly 19 year old kids, man. Get over. Stop drawing attention to yourself. He did so by wearing the black jersey (which are nice btw). He did so by making the statement that the whole family would be there (I don't think they've showeds up in those numbers in Bloomington, 40 miles away from their hometown). Nobody cares about you and they wouldn't know you exist if your son wasn't a good basketball player. One thing I will take exception to is "it could have been worse". That doesn't excuse the fans actions. Neither Sr. nor Jr. has ever done anything personally to any Illinois fan or player. Just because it's typical for idiot fans to try and make themselves make a difference in a game doesn't mean they should.

Crayton just got a big payday to stay in Dallas for the next 5 years. I do agree with you that a RB should not be a high priority for the Bears. Benson got a ton of flack this year, but give him a season with a revamped offensive line and see how he does then. I don't think it's fair to him to judge him on one season where he played behind, arguably, the worst line in the NFL. Grossman needs to be given another chance as well. Crap. I forgot about Crayton signing. I wonder if a trade for Roy Williams would be of interest for the Bears.

Defense. Order of need: playmaker at any position, DT, S, LB, CB DE- Not much of a need just yet. Brown, Wale, Anderson (assuming he has a better 08) is a good 3 man rotation. Idonje also gave them a few flashes. Drafted Bazuin in the 2nd last year, gotta see what he can do. This group could need a major overhaul by 2009, though. DT- This is an area where I could see a high (2nd round) pick going. Walker is as good as cut. Most success still depends on Tommie Harris getting healthy. But Dvoracek is also a huge injury issue now and the Bears spent the entire season mixing and matching people in the middle. Anthony Adams and Antonio Garay showed flashes. But none of the 3 non-Harris DTs are more than complimentary. Guys like Pressley, Moore, Balmer would be great picks at 45. LB- This area all depends on Briggs. On one hand, if you re-sign him, you lose a lot of resources to improve a team that suddenly needs a ton of help. But on the other, he emerged as the team's top LB. I feel that Jamar Williams can fill his spot admirably, but I think it gets interesting if you re-sign Briggs. If the Bears re-signed Briggs, I'd look to move him to the middle. Urlacher to the outside. And most surprisingly, I'd look to trade Hillenmeyer for a 4th or 5th round pick. I think the combo of Williams/Okwo could do well at SLB and I think you get something for Hunter before he declines further. CB- Could always use help here. A healthy Vasher will again make the 1-2 great at CB. They also got some good experience and flashes of solid play from McBride and Graham. Ricky Manning had a bad year, and may be expendable, but I think you bring him back simply because you have too many other needs to worry about drafting a CB again. S- I don't think this is as big a need as most think. D Manning and McGowan are decent and young. Payne showed flashes. Mike Brown will hopefully contribute. Archuleta probably needs to go, but I can see them bringing him back. I'd look to bring in a cheap veteran SS as Mike Brown insurance. However, my #1 need for defense is a playmaker, regardless of position. If Kenny Phillips falls to 14, I think he'd have to be the clear choice for the Bears.