WindyCity Step by Step Mock

I was hoping that we could try something out with a new mock draft. Instead of getting all of the picks at once we go one at a time discuss and then move on to the next pick.

1. Carolina: DE D'Qwaun Bowers [Clemson]
2. Denver: DT Nick Fairley [Auburn]
3. Buffalo: CB Patrick Peterson [LSU]
4. Cincinnati: WR A.J Green [Georgia]
5. Arizona: LB Von Miller [Texas A&M]
6. Cleveland: Marcel Dareus [Alabama]
7. San Francisco: CB Prince Akuamaura [Nebraska]
8. Tennessee Titans: QB Blaine Gabbert [Missouri]
9. Dallas Cowboys: DE Cameron Jordan [Cal]
10. Washington Redskins: WR Julio Jones [Alabama]
11. Houston Texans: OLB Robert Quinn [UNC]
12. Minnesota Vikings: QB Cam Newton [Auburn]
13. Detroit Lions: OT Tyron Smith [USC]
14. St. Louis Rams: DE Aldon Smith [Missouri]
15. Miami Dolphins: RB Mark Ingram [Alabama]
16. Jacksonville Jaguars: DE Ryan Kerrigan [Purdue]
17. New England Patriots: DE J.J Watt [Wisconsin]
18. San Deigo Chargers: DT Cory Luiget [Illinios]
19. New York Giants: LB Akeem Ayers [UCLA]
20. Tampa Bay Buccanneers: DE Adrian Clayborn [Iowa]
21. Kansas City Cheifs: OT Gabe Carimi [Wisconsin]
22. Indianapolis Colts: OT Nate Solder [Colorado]
23. Philadelphia Eagles: OT Anthony Costanzo [Boston College]
24. New Orleans: DT Muhammed Wilkerson [Temple]
25. Seattle Seahawks: CB Jimmy Smith [Colorado]
26. Baltimore Ravens: CB Brandon Harris [Miami]
27. Atlanta Falcons: WR Torrey Smith [Maryland]
28. New England Patriots: LB Justin Houston [Georgia]

1[29] OT Derek Sherrod [Mississippi State] 6’5” 321lbs.

The Bears will go into the 1st round of the draft looking to add talent to the OL a unit that was maligned and beaten badly last year. The Bears enter into the offseason with the ability to upgrade at every position on the OL. They will not be able to upgrade at every position, but any talent will be a significant improvement.

This pick is being made assuming that Tyron Smith, Anthony Costanzo, Gabe Carimi and Nate Solder have been picked, which I think, they will be.

The Bears do not know what they have at LT, the most important position in the Mike Martz passing attack. The Bears have a player in Chris Williams that has shown only brief flashes at LT, but was picked 14th overall to man the position. Williams has the size and athletic ability, but questions remain about his arm length and his strength. The Bears have a player in Frank Omiyale who did his best to hold down the position after failing at LG. Omiyale is not a starting OLmen, but at 1.25 million for 2011 he should be the swing tackle and key back up. And finally, the Bears have a young promising player in J’Marcus Webb who improved last season and has the physical make up of a LT, but we have seen what moving players around while they are developing does.

The Bears need to add someone to the LT competition. It appears that free agency will not happen till after the draft, which limits the Bears options at LT. The truth still remains that young good LTs do not hit free agency unless they are carrying baggage. The Bears will need to look to the draft to find a possible future LT.

Derek Sherrod is not a flashy player; he does not have the athletic ability of Solder, or the run blocking power of Carimi. What Sherrod has is solid feet and athletic ability [5.28/40, 28” Vertical] and good technique. He is not going to jump off tape at you, but he does everything well. Sherrod is similar to last year’s Rodger Saffold. Both players are celebrated for their footwork and technique and criticized for strength and anchor. Sherrod is only 21 years old heading into the draft and has a lot of time to develop physically to go with his feet and technique. Sherrod is also a very intelligent player and has won awards as a student, which should lesson his learning curve. People want to compare him to Chris Williams because if his lack of base strength, but Sherrod has much longer arms [35 3/8”] and his technique is more refined at this point.
Sherrod is not a flashy pick, he may never make the Pro Bowl, but he has the ability to start and hold down the LT position.

http://www.giantsgab.com/wp-content/...MissState.jpeg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HG8AW-S198

http://www.mstateathletics.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=16800&ATCLID=1087904

Windy if it breaks this way and JA won't trade up for either Carimi or Liuget then I'd pass on Sherrod, the 5th rated OT, who's just what you say he is and drop back to pickup Paea who's the 2nd best DT fit for the Bears. Like I've said all along with as much talent as there is at both spots this would not be the time to reach.

By the way, the Broncos tendered RFA Ryan Harris today so that may remove him from the FA list depending on what the CBA outcome is.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by soulman

Windy if it breaks this way and JA won't trade up for either Carimi or Liuget then I'd pass on Sherrod, the 5th rated OT, who's just what you say he is and drop back to pickup Paea who's the 2nd best DT fit for the Bears. Like I've said all along with as much talent as there is at both spots this would not be the time to reach.

By the way, the Broncos tendered RFA Ryan Harris today so that may remove him from the FA list depending on what the CBA outcome is.

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I do not think Sherrod is the 5th rated OT in the draft I think he is better than Nate Solder.

I also think that at best Paea is the 5-6th best DT in the draft and would not want him over Sherrod. This team is as good as Jay Cutler and Sherrod is an investment in Cutler.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by WindyCity

I do not think Sherrod is the 5th rated OT in the draft I think he is better than Nate Solder.

I also think that at best Paea is the 5-6th best DT in the draft and would not want him over Sherrod. This team is as good as Jay Cutler and Sherrod is an investment in Cutler.

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You may think that and I might agree but so far most of the scouting world and draftniks don't agree with us. We won't get a shot at Smith and if we can't get Carimi I'm gonna pass up the other OT's for a DT at that point. I think if Liuget is gone we may be able to drop back to get Paea and then move up for an Olineman in round two.

If you rate Paea as only the 5th or 6th best but in most opinions I've read he ranks on par with Liuget and ahead of Wilkerson then who else ranks in front of these guys besides Fairley and Dareus? They go at numbers one and two in everybody's book but you could throw a net over the other three talent wise. For the Bears needs I'd rank them Liuget, Paea, Wilkerson and then put Nevis into the second round.

We all know that we have to get Cutler some protection but it isn't worth reaching beyond value for that LT spot. Besides while offense may win you games it's defense that wins you championships.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by soulman

You may think that and I might agree but so far most of the scouting world and draftniks don't agree with us. We won't get a shot at Smith and if we can't get Carimi I'm gonna pass up the other OT's for a DT at that point. I think if Liuget is gone we may be able to drop back to get Paea and then move up for an Olineman in round two.

If you rate Paea as only the 5th or 6th best but in most opinions I've read he ranks on par with Liuget and ahead of Wilkerson then who else ranks in front of these guys besides Fairley and Dareus? They go at numbers one and two in everybody's book but you could throw a net over the other three talent wise. For the Bears needs I'd rank them Liuget, Paea, Wilkerson and then put Nevis into the second round.

We all know that we have to get Cutler some protection but it isn't worth reaching beyond value for that LT spot. Besides while offense may win you games it's defense that wins you championships.

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Are defense was dominant this year and we did not win a championship. In fact in 3 games this season we almost allowed less points then the Steelers did in 1 game against the Champions.

I agree we should not reach, but I do not think that Sherrod is a reach.

I also do not really know enough about Paea because nothing about him other then his size [6'1" 303lbs] screams 3 technique DT to me?

I am sure he would be an upgrade for us but what happens if we take Paea with the OL?

Do we draft a 2nd and 3rd round pick and start them because there are no guarantees in free agency.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by WindyCity

Are defense was dominant this year and we did not win a championship. In fact in 3 games this season we almost allowed less points then the Steelers did in 1 game against the Champions.

I agree we should not reach, but I do not think that Sherrod is a reach.

I also do not really know enough about Paea because nothing about him other then his size [6'1" 303lbs] screams 3 technique DT to me?

I am sure he would be an upgrade for us but what happens if we take Paea with the OL?

Do we draft a 2nd and 3rd round pick and start them because there are no guarantees in free agency.

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Getting Peppers to agree to a contract modification changes the complexion of things quite a bit. Assuming a cap of $130 mil after the cuts earlier this week we had about $30 mil of free cap space. Now we have about $38 mil which should allows us to both sign our own FA's and dip a little deeper into the outside FA market too.

We had a top 5 defense this year but it wasn't dominant because, among other things, we lacked a strong inside rush which means that teams find it easier to pass right? Tommie Harris used to be THE guy that made that rush happen and Lovie thought that he might find the magic playing next to Peppers. He didn't, probably never will and now he's gone. So who do we play in that UT spot who can give us that penetrating kind of pass rush? We have no one currently on the roster who can do it and I don't see anyone in FA who can either.

Liuget and Paea are of a similar size but Paea is probably capable of playing both NT ands UT whereas Liuget is a pure 3t UT. Paea is more the bull and has incredible natural strength. Liuget is more quickness and technique and most like Tommie Harris when he was first drafted. I'd probably prefer Liuget but considering that he may go before us Paea may be a good choice and also maybe one whom we could move down and still get.

So much depends on what the needs are in front of you and like your mock the top guys at our two highest positions of need will go long before we pick. The most interesting thing to me is that both of them were dominant players on mediocre to lousy teams so it wasn't the supporting cast that made them what they are. I drool over what either of them might do playing next to Peppers.

30. NY Jets: S Rahim Moore [UCLA]
31. Pittsburgh Steelers: OG Mike Pouncey [Florida]
32. Green Bay Pakers: CB Aaron Williams [Texas]

Round 2

33. New England Patriots [Car]: RB Mikel Leshoure [Illinios]
34. Buffalo Bills: QB Jake Locker [Washington]
35. Cincinnati Bengals: QB Ryan Mallett [Arkansas]
36. Denver Broncos: LB Martez Wilson [Illinios]
37. Cleveland Browns: WR Jonathan Baldwin [Pitt]
38. Arizona Cardinals: QB Colin Kapernick [Nevada]
39 Tennessee Titans: DE Cameron Heyward [Ohio St]
40. Dallas Cowboys: OG Marcus Cannon [TCU]
41. Washington Redskins: OT Ben Ijalana [Villanova]
42. Houston Texans: NT Phil Taylor [Baylor]
43. Minnesota Vikings: TE Kyle Rudolph [Notre Dame]
44. Detroit Lions: C Stefen Wisniewski [Penn State]
45: San Francisco 49ers: DE/LB Brooks Reed [Arizona]
46. Denver Broncos [Miami]: OG Ridney Hudson [Florida St]
47. St. Louis Rams: WR Leonard Hankerson [Miami]
48. Oakland Raiders: OG Danny Watkins [Baylor]
49. Jacksonville Jaguars: CB Ras-I-Dowling [Virginia]
50. San Deigo Chargers: WR Titus Young [Boise St]
51. Tampa Bay Bucanneers: LB Bruce Carter [UNC]
52. New York Gaints: RB Daniel Thomas [Kansas St]
53. Indianaplis Colts: DT Stephen Paea [Oregon St]
54: Philadelphia Eagles: CB Davon House [New Mexico]
55. Kansas City Chiefs: DE/LB Jabaal Sheard [Pitt]
56. New Orleans Saints: LB Greg Jones [Michigan St]
57. Seattle Seahawks: DT Christian Ballard [Iowa]
58. Baltimore Ravens: OG Clint Boling [Georgia]
59. Atlanta Falcons: CB Curtis Brown [Texas]
60. New England Patriots: WR Randall Cobb [Kentucky]
61. San Deigo Chargers: S Deunta Williams [UNC]

2[62] DT Drake Nevis [LSU] 6’1”| 297lbs.

With the release of Tommie Harris and the contract status of Anthony Adams the Bears are thin at the DT position, specifically the important 3 technique. The Bears were unable to take advantage of Julius Peppers and Israel donidje’s abilities because pockets stayed intact up the middle.


On the roster right now are Marcus Harrison, who has disappointed and fallen so far down the depth chart he may be released. Matt Toenia who was a revelation last year is more of a NT in our defense as he is stout and strong. Rounding out the group is Henry Melton who has solid pass rush skills, but is undersized and may be better at the LE spot.


I believe Drake Nevis will be there at the 2nd because of all the players in a deep DT class he is physically the least impressive. This does not mean that he does not fit our system perfectly as he is shorter and has an explosive first step. He may never have the power or length to be a dominant run defender, but he does have the pass rush ability.


http://proprospects.files.wordpress....ke-nevis-2.jpg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htpcIDTOOcw

Can't see the Pukers going CB at all early.

Dareus, Fairley, Quinn and Bowers are a jumble at the top of my board, but you picked reasonable places for them to land within the constructs of this draft. Let me just say, though, that I think Chico builds his new line inside-out and goes with Dareus or Fairley.

Don't see Clayborn going that early.

Still not a huge Sherrod fan, but I could easily stomach him there if the board were to fall that way.

If it came down to Austin Vs Nevis in the second, that is the ultimate test of "Skyscraper ceiling, low floor" Vs "High Floor, above-average ceiling." I personally take Austin every single time because of his prototype size and athleticism for the UT to go along with his Frosh and Jr season. Not to mention I'm a big UNC guy. The program might have questionable characters, but much like 90's FSU, those characters were exciting football players.