Bears draft positional analysis: Center

Bears draft positional analysis: Center

michael C wright

Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith said unrestricted free agent Olin Kreutz remains a part of the plans for 2011, but a lack of resolution on that front and uncertainty about potential replacement candidates could have the club searching for a center in the NFL Draft.

Here’s a quick look at our top 20 at the center position, and what round they’re projected to be taken:


NFL DRAFT: CENTERS

RankPlayer School Height Weight Proj. Round

1.Rodney Hudson Florida St .6-2 299 3-5
2.Stefen Wisniewski Penn State 6-3 313 4-5
3.Alex Linnenkoh lOregon St .6-2 304 4-5
4.Jacob Kirkpatrick Texas Christian 6-2 301 6-7
5.Brandon Fusco Slippery Rock 6-4 300 5-6
6.Kristofer O'Dowd USC 6-4 307 7-FA
7.Tim Barnes Missouri 6-4 298 7-FA
8.Zane Taylor Utah6-3 309 FA
9.Zack Williams Washington St. 6-3 309 FA
10.Jason Kelce Cincinnati 6-3 280 FA


The next 10: 11. Ryan Bartholomew, Syracuse, 6-1, 302; 12. Colin Baxter, Arizona, 6-3, 311; 13. Kevin Kowalski, Toledo, 6-3, 300; 14. Howard Barbieri, Rutgers, 6-5, 3-5; 15. J.C. Brignone, Mississippi State, 6-1, 309; 16. Chase Beeler, Stanford, 6-3, 285; 17. Ryan McMahon, Florida State, 6-2, 285; 18. Ryan Pugh, Auburn, 6-1, 307; 19. Beau Warren, Virginia Tech, 6-3, 292; 20. John Gianninoto, UNLV, 6-3, 292.

Position grade: C-

Analysis: Although Smith expressed a strong desire to re-sign Kreutz, general manager Jerry Angelo seemed lukewarm about the notion, and mentioned young players such as Edwin Williams, and Lance Louis as potential options at the position. As it stands, the Bears don’t have a bona fide center under contract. So there’s a strong possibility the team will explore bolstering the spot. Even if the Bears are able to re-sign Kreutz, who will be 34 next season, the club needs to be looking for his heir apparent.

That's the first I've heard of moving Louis to Center. Interestingly enough only Hudson and Wisniewski are rated around the spot most of us thought they'd go. There may be a couple of bargains at the bottom of the draft or in FA.

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Originally Posted by soulman

That's the first I've heard of moving Louis to Center. Interestingly enough only Hudson and Wisniewski are rated around the spot most of us thought they'd go. There may be a couple of bargains at the bottom of the draft or in FA.

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weisneski as a 4th or 5th rounder good value.. and yeah hadn't heard a thing about louis a a center, not sure where that came from

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Originally Posted by dabears54

weisneski as a 4th or 5th rounder good value.. and yeah hadn't heard a thing about louis a a center, not sure where that came from

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Good technician and comes with a family pedigree and is a Penn State guy but can we up his functional strength? If yes and we can get him in the 4th or 5th he'd be a good pick.

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Originally Posted by soulman

Good technician and comes with a family pedigree and is a Penn State guy but can we up his functional strength? If yes and we can get him in the 4th or 5th he'd be a good pick.

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and that's what you get in 4th and 5th round guys.. "IF" didn't have questions or warts, they are 1st or 2nd round guys.. you hope the warts are either wrong or correctable and if so you have a "find".. and if not like 80% of the 4th and 5th rounders, they are either out of football in a few years or just wash around the league as depth guys

We all know Olin K is getting up there in years and is past his prime. BUT...
1. He still has probably 1-2 more decent years in him
2. He is the ONLY veteran OLman we have that is worth a damn (Garza being a distant 2nd in that category)
3. He is the captain and emotional leader of the OL due to his tenure & experience
4. He would be invaluable in grooming his successor who can hopefully get some PT @ backup OG/C this year
5. We have MAJOR needs to fill elsewhere on the OL (LT & RG especially) that are going to require both draft & FA attention
and...
6. Is there anyone in this draft besides Pouncey who could credibly start effectively from week 1 @ C in 2011? Don't think so.

Bottom line, the Bears MUST re-sign OK if they don't don't draft Pouncey and still SHOULD re-sign him even if they do (MP can play OG next year and take over @ C in 2012--kills 2 birds with one stone for '11). Whatever "lukewarm" signals JA sends out, this is a no-brainer if we intend upon fielding an OL that isn't literally an existential threat to the career of the fanchise QB. Simply put, due to the above factors we can't afford to prioritize C right now as anything beyond a developmental area for down the road when OK is gone so I hope that JA re-signs Kreutz as soon as this labor dispute ends.

It would be great if we could snag Wisniewski mid-draft as he could get some PT as a backup this year and hopefully be able to take over C in 2012-13. I would be in favor of drafting him with our late-3rd pick after filling OT & DT in the 1st 2. Kinda doubt he will fall to late-4th or beyond (all the better if he happens to). Something like:

1) Carimi
2) Nevis
3-4) Wis

or...

1) Liuget
2) Franklin/Cannon/Ijalana
3-4) Wis

...Would go a a long way to shoring up our key needs. Add Joseph + Floyd in FA and we just might have an offense that is finally worthy of our defense.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MPBears68

We all know Olin K is getting up there in years and is past his prime. BUT...
1. He still has probably 1-2 more decent years in him
2. He is the ONLY veteran OLman we have that is worth a damn (Garza being a distant 2nd in that category)
3. He is the captain and emotional leader of the OL due to his tenure & experience
4. He would be invaluable in grooming his successor who can hopefully get some PT @ backup OG/C this year
5. We have MAJOR needs to fill elsewhere on the OL (LT & RG especially) that are going to require both draft & FA attention
and...
6. Is there anyone in this draft besides Pouncey who could credibly start effectively from week 1 @ C in 2011? Don't think so.

Bottom line, the Bears MUST re-sign OK if they don't don't draft Pouncey and still SHOULD re-sign him even if they do (MP can play OG next year and take over @ C in 2012--kills 2 birds with one stone for '11). Whatever "lukewarm" signals JA sends out, this is a no-brainer if we intend upon fielding an OL that isn't literally an existential threat to the career of the fanchise QB. Simply put, due to the above factors we can't afford to prioritize C right now as anything beyond a developmental area for down the road when OK is gone so I hope that JA re-signs Kreutz as soon as this labor dispute ends.

It would be great if we could snag Wisniewski mid-draft as he could get some PT as a backup this year and hopefully be able to take over C in 2012-13. I would be in favor of drafting him with our late-3rd pick after filling OT & DT in the 1st 2. Kinda doubt he will fall to late-4th or beyond (all the better if he happens to). Something like:

1) Carimi
2) Nevis
3-4) Wis

or...

1) Liuget
2) Franklin/Cannon/Ijalana
3-4) Wis

...Would go a a long way to shoring up our key needs. Add Joseph + Floyd in FA and we just might have an offense that is finally worthy of our defense.

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And that's taking a chance since he struggled with it unlike his brother. I like either of those draft set-ups and would be thrilled if either worked out that way. Realistically it probably won't because I think someone will lunge at Liuget very early and Carimi only slips if the run on OT's is supplanted by one on QB's.

I'm thinking the Bears are lining up to pick their second choice at DT in the first and then manuveuring for what ever OT they want in two. I could live with either Wilkerson or Austin as the DT depending on how Lovie and Marinelli view them. Then Ijalana in the second since he could start at guard and move to LT if or when he beats CWill out of it.

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Originally Posted by soulman

And that's taking a chance since he (Pouncey) struggled with it unlike his brother.

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I know...all the more urgency to re-sign OK for another year even IF we get Pouncy in #1. MP should be a solid starting-OG in '11 and then take over for Olin in '12.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by soulman

I like either of those draft set-ups and would be thrilled if either worked out that way. Realistically it probably won't because I think someone will lunge at Liuget very early and Carimi only slips if the run on OT's is supplanted by one on QB's.

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I know...but humor me here LOL. Damn that would be a great draft 1-3! Gotta hope some teams take flyers on Ponder, Locker, etc. Yeah, we are probably gonna need some lucky reaches in the 20s to have a shot at either of those guys.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by soulman

I'm thinking the Bears are lining up to pick their second choice at DT in the first and then manuveuring for what ever OT they want in two. I could live with either Wilkerson or Austin as the DT depending on how Lovie and Marinelli view them. Then Ijalana in the second since he could start at guard and move to LT if or when he beats CWill out of it.

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Back to reality: I know all 3 of those guys have great athletic talent/potential but...
Austin missed a whole season last year and may have "character issues" (minor concern or not?)
Wilks & Ija played for "lesser" football programs (important or not?)

Any of them could end up being stellar contributors...guess I'm just hoping that somehow our very 1st pick can be someone without pre-existing "question marks". Oh, for a #15 pick right now.....

They played for smaller schools playing lesser teams and that's probably why they didn't rate as 1st round picks. But both dominated at that level and both have exceptional athleticism so they won't fall far. Austin is definitely a concern but it seems to me that ever since his pro day his stock has risen. I assume he proved that he hadn't lost any of his ability because of it.

If one or the other of Liuget or Carimi drops to us I'm gonna guess that it will be Carimi. He rates in the 20's and may not have far to fall if teams trade back into the first for a QB. Liuget on the other hand is definitely a more certainty at his position and I keep seeing him going to either the Rams at #14 or the Chiefs at #21.

If we take Carimi, and I hope we would if he's there, then guys like Wilkerson, Paea, and Austin won't be around at pick #62. There we'd most likely be looking at Nevis or McClain as 3t guys.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by MPBears68

I know...all the more urgency to re-sign OK for another year even IF we get Pouncy in #1. MP should be a solid starting-OG in '11 and then take over for Olin in '12.



I know...but humor me here LOL. Damn that would be a great draft 1-3! Gotta hope some teams take flyers on Ponder, Locker, etc. Yeah, we are probably gonna need some lucky reaches in the 20s to have a shot at either of those guys.



Back to reality: I know all 3 of those guys have great athletic talent/potential but...
Austin missed a whole season last year and may have "character issues" (minor concern or not?)
Wilks & Ija played for "lesser" football programs (important or not?)

Any of them could end up being stellar contributors...guess I'm just hoping that somehow our very 1st pick can be someone without pre-existing "question marks". Oh, for a #15 pick right now.....

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I wouldn't mind that draft at all, and agree with signing kreutz for at least 1 more year- at "worst" have a leader and very good back up.. and think at least 2 of those 43 draft choices likely depending on how breaks thursday night