Another Hit For the Bears Addiction to Drafting Safties................

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Smith turning heads at Senior Bowl

Irish defensive back might be good fit for Bears at either safety spot

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/...0-26183204.jpg Scouts are calling Notre Dame's Harrison Smith the best safety at the Senior Bowl. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Tribune photo)

By Vaughn McClure, Chicago Tribune reporter 8:29 p.m. CST, January 26, 2012

MOBILE, Ala. — One NFL scout referred to Harrison Smith as a potential second-round pick. Representatives from at least four different teams called him the best safety prospect at the Senior Bowl. ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay said Smith looked "absolutely shredded'' while measuring in at 6 feet 13/4 and 212 pounds.

Although Smith appreciated the high praise, the former Notre Dame standout refused to let it go to his head.

"All I can do is put my best foot forward, show them who I am and what I can do," he said. "That's really all I can do through the next two months.''

One of Smith's first meetings during Senior Bowl week was with Bears' Midwest scout Jeff Shriver. The Bears have identified safety as a position of need, although many believe rookie free safety Chris Conte has a bright future.

As for Smith, he could contribute on special teams immediately and play either safety spot.

"I'm very comfortable dropping down, playing the deep middle or half the field," Smith said. "And covering tight ends.''

The Bears have selected a safety in seven consecutive drafts. Only two — third-rounders Major Wright and Conte — remain on the roster. Craig Steltz, a fourth-round pick, is a free agent this offseason.

Quite a catch? Speaking of Notre Dame, some have projected the Bears to select former Irish receiver Michael Floyd with the 19th overall pick of the first round. NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock believes that's a good possibility.

"He's a big, good-looking, first-round wide receiver,'' Mayock said. "A lot depends on what he runs at 224 pounds at the combine. He could be right in that (No. 19) area.''

Mayock, who was the color analyst for Notre Dame games on NBC, was surprised the 6-foot-3 Floyd decided not to play in Saturday's Senior Bowl.

"I wish he was here,'' Mayock said after one of the Senior Bowl practices this week. "If your name is not Justin Blackmon (Oklahoma State), who's the next best receiver in this draft?

One source said Floyd was concerned about tweaking a hamstring before the combine after having some hamstring issues in the past.

High praise: Cardinals general manager Rod Graves had Jason Licht on his staff for the 2008 season.

Licht, who had a second interview for the Bears' general manager position Thursday, was a personnel executive for Graves when the Cardinals went to the Super Bowl.

"Jason did an outstanding job for us,'' Graves said during a break at the Senior Bowl practices.

Graves, who used to work for the Bears, declined to discuss Licht's role in detail with the interview process ongoing.

Licht moved from the Cardinals to his current position as the Patriots' pro personnel director.

Add on: Former Illinois receiver A.J. Jenkins has been added to the South roster after Alabama receiver Marquis Maze suffered a hamstring injury.

vxmcclure@tribune.com

Twitter @vxmcclure23

Copyright © 2012, Chicago Tribune
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Since the Bears seem to have a need to satisfy their addiction to drafting a Safety annually maybe Harrison Smith should be on their short list. He seems to have similar size and attributes to Chris Conte and he can play either Safety position like Conte. As much as I hate to admit it we do need help at Safety again this year. Our depth is poor and Wright has been pretty inconsistent in his play.

One thing I will say is that Notre Dame defensive backs often do well in the NFL. One of the best Safties in Bears history and a multiple Pro-Bowler was Dave Duerson who played his college ball at ND. If this kid is as good as advertised and depending how we do in FA and what we do in round one I could see us using that second or the higher third on a Safety.

For the same reason I like ND defensive backs I dislike ND wide receivers who usually don't have productive pro careers. Regardless of his ranking, his speed or what Todd McShay's opinion is I don't like Floyd with the #19 pick. For once wouldn't it be nice to make a first round selection who doesn't have an injury history?

Nearly positive I mentioned my love for Smith here months ago. He's not a flashy athlete, but he is certainly faster than Steltz, as well as a hugely more explosive and strong guy. He has that "it" factor as a leader and cerebral player, as well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lklrlolnlilklsox

Nearly positive I mentioned my love for Smith here months ago. He's not a flashy athlete, but he is certainly faster than Steltz, as well as a hugely more explosive and strong guy. He has that "it" factor as a leader and cerebral player, as well.

Sounds a lot like Conte but maybe a better candidate for SS than FS. I liked Conte at FS last year and I can only see him getting better but Wright's inconsistency bothers me and so does Steltz's lack of speed so I guy like Smith may be a good fit if we land him. Apparently he's having a good week.

I have to say that Conte really surprised me with his play this year. We may have found a nice little gem there and considering he had no real off season due to the lock-out, you have to think he will come back even better this year. As for Steltz, I think he really showed up well when he finally got the opportunity late this year. I just hate seeing guys that magically have the "Light come on" right before Free Agency. You always have to question the motivation, or if he did just finally get himself to that level.

As for Harrison Smith, I'd be cool with that, but those that have known me for years, know how long I've been screaming for O-Line. Who knows what Free Agency will bring and what holes will be filled as a result, but I still put some of the holes we have on Offense as a higher priority than Safety. If Jerry was still here, I would pencil Smith in with our first 3rd rounder, but with our new GM as yet unknown, all bets are off this year.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4DaBERS

I have to say that Conte really surprised me with his play this year. We may have found a nice little gem there and considering he had no real off season due to the lock-out, you have to think he will come back even better this year. As for Steltz, I think he really showed up well when he finally got the opportunity late this year. I just hate seeing guys that magically have the "Light come on" right before Free Agency. You always have to question the motivation, or if he did just finally get himself to that level.

As for Harrison Smith, I'd be cool with that, but those that have known me for years, know how long I've been screaming for O-Line. Who knows what Free Agency will bring and what holes will be filled as a result, but I still put some of the holes we have on Offense as a higher priority than Safety. If Jerry was still here, I would pencil Smith in with our first 3rd rounder, but with our new GM as yet unknown, all bets are off this year.

I think we were all on an OLine kick this time last year and until the latter part of this year but with the inside guys coming on fairly strong by seasons end and Carimi and CWill returning the volume on we need lineman can get turned down just a notch. What we need most is another LT but as long as Tice keeps insisting he can get by for now with Webb it's hard to see them making a major effort to do anything about it unless they find a too good to be true situation either in FA or the draft.

Conte looked real good for a rookie. Probably one of the best FS guys we've seen for quite a while. I think if the guy had played more Safety in college instead of CB he may have ranked much higher in the draft. I wouldn't exactly call him a steal but I think he extremely good value for a third round pick. It's Wrights inconsistencies and Steltz lack of coverage speed that concern me. We could really use an upgrade at SS and let Wright and Steltz become the bench guys in a rotation to keep them fresh.

Cheers for my hometown boy, Harrison Smith! He snubbed going to UT in favor of playing at Notre Dame instead. That was probably wise, as he would have had to have competed for playing time alongside Eric Berry.

I would like us see what's going on in fa first at safety. We got two young guns already maybe the problem at safety is there is no vet presence since brown and no I don't count bums like Archuletta as a presence lol

Quote:

Originally Posted by motownbear

I would like us see what's going on in fa first at safety. We got two young guns already maybe the problem at safety is there is no vet presence since brown and no I don't count bums like Archuletta as a presence lol

Sox says there'll be some good players out there to look at and if we don't manage to keep Graham I'd say we need some experience back there too. I wouldn't rule out getting one in FA and another in the draft if we do lose Graham. Those guys are usually top ST guys waiting for a chance to move up and around Safeties R Us that usually doesn't take long.

I'm with mo. We need a veteran presence. Lovie never has liked Corey Graham going back to his early days with the Bears when he underperformed while playing in the secondary. About the only thing this team is grateful about him for is his Special Teams play, and Graham has made it abundantly clear that he is sick and tired of only getting his cracks at the playing field doing simply that. Personally, I think he would make a good safety, as he really came on last year. In the case that Graham is kept to play safety, we will most likely need to address the corner back position in the draft since the going rate of the top corners in the league are surely more than the Bears are willing to pay.