Thread: ESPN Chicago: Top 5 needs

What's interesting is that this article sees it about the same way I do. The order or sequence of the needs makes sense and LT isn't as high on this list either. Here's my take on it.

WR: This is a must but the immediate help has to come from an established #1 guy, not a rookie. So we need to make this our biggest splash in FA and go for the top dog. I like this years selection even better than last years. That doesn't mean we ignore WR in the draft either. The article is spot on, we need two, but we just don't use our first pick on one is how I feel. Not enough production soon enough. We have guys entering into their "breakout phase" in Bennett and Knox and I think we can depend on one of them to become a stable #2 guy and if Sanz gets over his case of the drops he makes a good #3. He gets open enough he just needs to hold onto the ball.

DE: This is the second area that should be addressed both in FA and the draft. We need a sure fire rusher to pair with Peppers and Wootton is still a big question mark. Either the guy is injury prone or he's not willing to play hurt if a hand injury could keep him out. All he's done so far is flash a little potential and we need more than that. So again we make a splash here for a guy like Cliff Avril or the like and maybe this is where we spend that first pick on another if a guy like Ingram is still on the board. In order to keep running this defense we have to get better pressure from our front four so like the Giants we stock up on pass rushers and try to pick up two.

DB: Some may disagree but I do rate this ahead of taking another shot at drafting a LT. Like WR we need to upgrade now so that means someone with experience and not another rookie unless he's a sure fire first day starter and outside of Kalil I don't see one in the first round of the draft. So if we've done our job getting a vet #1 WR and a pass rushing DE in FA and there isn't another DE we like there but a guy like Dre Kirkpatrick is then I take a CB who can play now. I watched him in the BCS game and the guy fits the profile of a Bears type CB to the tee.

LT: I'll just restate that we need help now and a draftee in the mix to develop and I think we can get OT's in the 2nd or 3rd round who fit the bill. I don't think we'll see the wealth of Olineman hit FA that we did last year but if we can find a vet with a few years left in his tank who can push Webb either up or out that's about what we can expect. Some have even speculated that Tice may give CWill a chance to unseat Webb since our OG play developed so nicely this year. The other factor that buys us a little grace here is that Tice isn't gonna run an offense with 7 step drops and straight pocket passing like Martz attempted and he's already stated the necessity to keep Cutler protected better by moving him around so the burden on whoever plays LT will probably lessen some.

QB: Somewhat depends upon what they decide to do with Hanie and McCown. Neither is an adequate #2 right now but then again it's not like they had everything in the world going for them when they had to step in. I still think Hanie is better than he showed but regardless of who plays #2 that guy has to become better prepared than Hanie was. That "deer in the headlights" look came from confusion with the offense not from being timid or lacking mental toughness like Grossman. Martz never liked the guy and did him no favors. McCown is mobile and athletic and may be the better choice of those two but we still need an upgrade for a #2 and let Hanie, McCown, and Enderle compete for scout team QB and the #3 spot.

Whoever comes in as the GM has a mountain of personnel issues to deal with so he better be a top notch evaluator of talent. We need to upgrade ours and there are still a lot of Bears hitting free agency too.

2012 draft: Early look at Bears' needs - Chicago Bears Blog - ESPN Chicago

2012 draft: Early look at Bears' needs

This year marks just the second time in franchise history the Bears hold the No. 19 overall selection in the NFL Draft. Back in the spring of 1980, the Bears used pick No. 19 to select Louisville linebacker Otis Wilson, who eventually went on to have eight impact seasons on defense before injuries cut short his playing career.

This is the type of player the Bears need to find at No. 19. An impact guy who can contribute immediately, although Wilson didn't technically become a full-time starter until 1981, and remain in the starting line-up for at least the next five or six seasons. Those players do exist. Now it's up to the Bears to find them.

Here is early look at who might be available based on positions of need if the Bears remain at No. 19 in the first round. This list is subject to change based on the upcoming Senior Bowl and NFL Combine, where plays both rise and fall based on performance and interaction with NFL front office personnel.

Receivers

Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame: Several mock drafts have Floyd going to the Bears at his spot. Based on his college career, it would appear Floyd has the big-time playmaking ability the Bears desperately need at wide receiver.

Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor: A vertical threat who draws comparisons to Pittsburgh's Mike Wallace. If he's truly the next Wallace, I'm onboard with the selection.

Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina: Jeffery might be considered a reach at No. 19, but the 6-4 wideout had 3,042 receiving yards in just three seasons in the rough and tumble SEC.

Safety

Mark Barron, S, Alabama: Barron represents the best of a weak safety class. He has the reputation of being an intelligent player but also a big-time hitter.

Cornerback

Alfonzo Denard, CB, Nebraska: The Cornhuskers' shutdown corner is pegged by many to be a mid-first round selection.

Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama: Jenkins is supposed to be supremely talented, but troubled off the field. Jerry Angelo stayed away from these picks in the post-Tank Johnson era. Will the new Bears general manager share the same philosophy?

Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina: A big cornerback (6-1,194 pounds) who intercepted eight passes and recorded 181 tackles in three college seasons.

Defensive linemen

Quinton Coples, DT, North Carolina: Might not make it out of the Top 10, but Coples is a versatile lineman whose calling card is getting after the quarterback.

Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State: Lovie Smith wants athletes on the defensive line. Worthy never had huge sack totals at MSU, but has a quick first step and all the necessary athleticism to make an impact in the NFL.

Nick Perry, DE, USC: Not a traditional fit in terms of body type (6-3, 250 pounds) for Smith's defense, but Perry did lead the Pac-12 with 9.5 sacks.

Linebacker

Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College: At some point the Bears must replace Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs. Kuechly was the 2011 Butkus Award winner.

You should slot Dre Kirkpatrick in at corner. He may go long before #19 but that guy is a Lovie Smith prototype CB if ever there was one.

1) New Ownership that gives a shit.
2) President who keeps his nose out of on the field product, and knows more about football than bloggers or socialmedia pundits..
3) G.M who can draft better than a seeing-eye dog.
4) H.C who can motivate overpriced malcontents.
5) O.C and D.C who can consistently make half-time adjustments that are effective.

Originally Posted by BULLITT

1) New Ownership that gives a shit.
2) President who keeps his nose out of on the field product, and knows more about football than bloggers or socialmedia pundits..
3) G.M who can draft better than a seeing-eye dog.
4) H.C who can motivate overpriced malcontents.
5) O.C and D.C who can consistently make half-time adjustments that are effective.

Great post and a LMAO at the pic of Lovie. There are those times he seems to be almost asleep on the sideline.

I tend to agree with you that for as long as I can remember most of the Bears issues revolved more around the ownership, front office, or the coaching staff even more than it did the players. What has me hopeful is that the three biggest blockades to a new tomorrow, Mike McCaskey, Jerry Angelo, and Mike Martz are gone. Now let's see if things improve under new management.

Just for the sake of comparison the National Football Post sees the Bears greatest needs as; LT, WR, FS, DE

I don't disagree with the LT but what's hilarious is the photo they put next to this. It's of Matt Kalil and talks about how much the Bears could use him. What are they kidding? The closest the Bears get to Matt Kalil is when they have to play against him twice a year in a purple uniform and a helmet with horns on it. We won't even get a sniff of Matt Kalil.

I don't so much disagree with the order of the needs but at least the WR has to be filled in FA and then take a prospect to work into a starters role in a year or so. I don't see any Calvin Johnson's or Larry Fitzgeralds in this draft.

I also think we need a CB more than we need a FS. Conte looked pretty good for a rookie and if Corey Graham can play Safety he can replace Meriweather. We'll most likely draft one anyway since we can always find some use for them on ST but I wouldn't use a real high pick. We also have Walters coming back off injury.

I think if we can pick up some LT help in FA and sign a #1 WR as well then DE moves to the top of the draft list as long as one of the top two guys is there and both Coples and Ingram rate mid first right now. Mercilus is a bit farther down the list. If these guys aren't still on the board and Dre Kirkpatrick is then I take him. And in the very unlikelt event a guy like Riley Reiff falls that far I guess you'd have to take him ahead of all the others. The need is there and you don't get too many shots at good LT prospects.

Originally Posted by soulman

Just for the sake of comparison the National Football Post sees the Bears greatest needs as; LT, WR, FS, DE

I don't disagree with the LT but what's hilarious is the photo they put next to this. It's of Matt Kalil and talks about how much the Bears could use him. What are they kidding? The closest the Bears get to Matt Kalil is when they have to play against him twice a year in a purple uniform and a helmet with horns on it. We won't even get a sniff of Matt Kalil.

I don't so much disagree with the order of the needs but at least the WR has to be filled in FA and then take a prospect to work into a starters role in a year or so. I don't see any Calvin Johnson's or Larry Fitzgeralds in this draft.

I also think we need a CB more than we need a FS. Conte looked pretty good for a rookie and if Corey Graham can play Safety he can replace Meriweather. We'll most likely draft one anyway since we can always find some use for them on ST but I wouldn't use a real high pick. We also have Walters coming back off injury.

I think if we can pick up some LT help in FA and sign a #1 WR as well then DE moves to the top of the draft list as long as one of the top two guys is there and both Coples and Ingram rate mid first right now. Mercilus is a bit farther down the list. If these guys aren't still on the board and Dre Kirkpatrick is then I take him. And in the very unlikelt event a guy like Riley Reiff falls that far I guess you'd have to take him ahead of all the others. The need is there and you don't get too many shots at good LT prospects.

Dre Kirkpatrick, according to the scouting reports, is considered to play very well in zone defenses. He would be a fit with the Bears. Unfortunately, I think he's projected to be a top 10 pick in this year's draft, so we are shit out of luck. Most likely, we'll have to settle for Alfonzo Dennard, a Whitney Mercilis, an Alshon Jeffrey, or a Donte' Hightower. With Hightower, my guess is that the Bears would work him at first as an outside linebacker and then phase him in at MLB when Urlacher decides to call it quits.