Matt Bowen; "Why I'm Holding My Opinion on Phil Emery..............I'm hold

I'm holding my opinion on Bears' Phil Emery

Chicago's new GM will be tested in FA and the draft. Matt Bowen

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Print This January 31, 2012, 09:00 AM EST

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I listened in on the press conference yesterday for new Bears’ GM Phil Emery. Standard answers from Emery and multiple deflections when asked about how the club would target players and fill the holes on the roster.
http://cdn.cloudfiles.mosso.com/c191...iwyg/Emery.jpgI want to see Emery work during free agency and the draft before forming an opinion on the new Bears' GM.


That’s expected even if the fan base wants an inside look at the Bears’ offseason plans under new leadership in the front office. Fans want to see change from the now departed Jerry Angelo.
And after that press conference, I was asked my opinion on the Bears new hire. Good move? Bad move? Could the team have done better?


My answer is simple: let’s see how it plays out first.


I heard very positive comments from people I trust in the NFL while down in Mobile last week for the Senior Bowl. A new GM that has a detailed scouting background and isn’t afraid to put in the work.


However, I’m still holding that opinion until I can get a glimpse on how Emery operates through free agency and the draft. Those are the answers we are looking for when it comes to evaluating a new GM in Chicago.


Maybe we see Emery go after a WR such as Vincent Jackson or Dwayne Bowe this March when free agency opens. A major need for a team that has a franchise arm at QB in Jay Cutler.


There is also the possibility of upgrading the left tackle position and the D-Line opposite Julius Peppers. Names such as Ohio State’s Mike Adams at LT or Melvin Ingram and Courtney Upshaw at the DE position if they are still hanging around at pick No.19 in the first round this April.


But regardless if the talent comes from veterans in March or rookies in the draft, I’m curious to see how Emery upgrades the roster in Chicago. His job is to shape this team to compete on a consistent basis with the Packers and Lions in the 2012 season and beyond. And it starts soon when the new league year kicks off.


Until then, I’m going to wait to hand out an opinion. Let’s allow Emery to get to work first.
Follow me on Twitter: @MattBowen41

Wes Bunting Mock Draft v2.0


RSS A top-flight early entry makes his way into the top 10. Wes Bunting


January 30, 2012 Share
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Our newest mock draft of the season…
1. Indianapolis Colts: Stanford QB Andrew Luck
With news coming out this past weekend that the Colts possibly have already made up their mind on QB Peyton Manning, Luck is looking more and more like a slam dunk.
http://cdn.cloudfiles.mosso.com/c191...orheisman1.jpgICONRG3 moves up to number two.
2. -TRADE- Washington Redskins via St. Louis Rams: Baylor QB Robert Griffin III
RG3 is the kind of athletic quarterback that would be an ideal fit in the Washington offense. He can make plays outside the pocket, throw on the run and create second lives with his legs.

3. Minnesota Vikings: Southern Cal OT Matt Kalil
Quarterback Christian Ponder has shown flashes in year one, but he needs to stay healthy. Therefore, bringing in the top offensive tackle prospect in the draft who has a chance to mature into a Pro Bowl-caliber lineman seems like an easy selection at three.

4. Cleveland Browns: Oklahoma State WR Justin Blackmon
Quarterback is the biggest missing piece in Cleveland. However, if they can’t land RG3, getting one of the best offensive weapons in the draft is a nice consolation prize.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: LSU CB Morris Claiborne
Tampa Bay has done a great job over the past two drafts improving the overall talent along its defensive line. Therefore, adding a playmaking corner who can capitalize on all the potential pressure is a must for this defense to take that next step.

6. –TRADE- St. Louis Rams via Washington Redskins: LSU DT Michael Brockers
As bad as the Rams need to add talent on the outside at receiver, they are also in need of some talent inside at DT. Brockers has the talent to develop into an All-Pro caliber lineman for the Rams and they can always add a receiver with their additional picks from the Redskins later in the draft.

7. Jacksonville Jaguars: Alabama CB Dre' Kirkpatrick
Kirkpatrick adds a physical element to the Jaguars secondary. He’s got the ability to press off the line, make plays in zone and consistently tackle the ball carrier. Plus, he has the size to handle some of the bigger wideouts in the AFC South.

8. Carolina Panthers: Penn State DT Devon Still
The Panthers need a big body inside who can anchor on contact, push the pocket and find the football. Still isn’t a dynamic pass rusher and there are some other linemen on the board with a little more talent. But he has the size to fend off blocks inside and in my mind is one of the safer defensive tackle prospects in this year’s draft.

9. Miami Dolphins: Iowa OT Riley Reiff
Who knows how the Dolphins offensive line is going to look after free agency. They have some potential holes looming and bringing in a talent like Reiff who can play both inside and out gives the Fins another talented blocker who eventually should win in both the run and pass game.

10. Buffalo Bills: Stanford OT Jonathan Martin
Martin is a finesse tackle with good feet, natural range and the ability to mirror in space. He has some holes in his game, but offers the Bills a better athlete than anyone playing their tackle spots now.

11. Kansas City Chiefs: Stanford OG David DeCastro
The Chiefs need to improve at a number of spots up front on their offensive line and DeCastro is by far the best prospect still on the board.

12. Seattle Seahawks: North Carolina DL Quinton Coples
The Seahawks have a real unique blend of athletes on the defensive side of the ball and because of that it makes me think Coples would be able to fit right in and fill a number of roles at both DT and DE. Plus, Pete Carroll seems like the kind of coach that could get the most out of Coples’s talent.
http://cdn.cloudfiles.mosso.com/c191...splayimage.jpgICONPerry could rise with a big postseason.
13. Arizona Cardinals: Southern Cal DE/OLB Nick Perry
Finding a long term complement for OLB Sam Acho this offseason is becoming more and more of a need for the Cardinals. Perry is a little tight, but has a great first step, is learning to use his hands better and can cleanly turn speed into power off the edge.

14. Dallas Cowboys: Wisconsin OL Peter Konz
Center and guard are both needs in Dallas and the idea of adding a potential blue-chip lineman who has the skill set to play either spot is simply too good to pass up even at 14.

15. Philadelphia Eagles: Boston College ILB Luke Kuechly
A tackling machine with good size, natural instincts and knowledge to fend off blocks and find the football. Is the kind of talent the Eagles need inside to improve their struggling linebacking corps.

16. New York Jets: Alabama OLB Courtney Upshaw
Upshaw is a thick, powerful kid who can line up all over the Jets 34 front and get after the passer. He’s got the power to win consistently on contact vs. both the run and pass game.


17. Cincinnati Bengals: Alabama RB Trent Richardson
Running backs always seem to fall on draft day and the Bengals get a steal at 17. Richardson has the ability to be the workhorse back in Cincinnati for the next 5-7 years and gives the Bengals another talented young skill position player.
http://cdn.cloudfiles.mosso.com/c191...ichardson5.jpgICONThe Bengals get a great value at pick 17.


18. San Diego Chargers: Alabama ILB Dont’a Hightower
ILB Takeo Spikes will turn 36 next season and adding a physical body inside like Hightower will go a long way in improving their front seven. Hightower is a “plus” run defender who can be used as a blitzer inside or a pass rusher off the edge.

19. Chicago Bears: Ohio State OT Mike Adams
You have to think after the struggles the Bears have had at left tackle this season, drafting a guy like Adams who has the size and athleticism to handle premier NFL pass rushers is a must for them this off-season.

20. Tennessee Titans: South Carolina CB Stephon Gilmore
With starting CB Cortland Finnegan potentially leaving via free agency, getting a tall, physical defensive back who displays a natural feel in zone and can go get the football could become a pressing need in Tennessee.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: North Alabama CB Janoris Jenkins
Jenkins is a bit undersized and he does have some character concerns. However, he’s a fluid kid with a “plus” initial burst and when motivated he’s about as tough as any corner in the draft to separate from.

22. Cleveland Browns: Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill
The Browns missed on their quarterback in the top ten. However, they get a good athlete in Tannehill who can throw on the move, create with his legs and has as much upside as any prospect at the position outside of RG3.

23. Detroit Lions: Georgia OL Cordy Glenn
The Lions need to improve both their tackle and guard spots on the offensive line and Glenn has the talent to play either spot. He’s a gifted athlete for his size with natural movement skills and if he can ever put it all together he has the skill set to play at a high level in the NFL.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers Iowa State OG Kelechi Osemele
The Steelers have a ton of holes up front, but adding a talented body who can play some guard or right tackle like Osemele is a solid value at the end of round one.

25. Denver Broncos: Georgia TE Orson Charles
NFL teams are looking for mismatch tight ends who can play with their hand on the ground, split out into the slot and play in the backfield as well. The Broncos don’t have much in the terms of dynamic skill position guys and Charles can mature into a real safety blanket for QB Tim Tebow down the line.

26. Houston Texas: Notre Dame WR Michael Floyd
Floyd is a good value at this stage and would give the Texans a legit number two threat to take pressure off WR Andre Johnson in the pass game.

27. New England Patriots: Alabama SS Mark Barron
New England has had to piece together their secondary this year, but in terms of talent they could certainly use an upgrade at a number of spots. Barron is a smart, instinctive safety with good ball skills, can play in the box and be effective bumping/running with tight ends underneath.
http://cdn.cloudfiles.mosso.com/c191...2iyt2ucla1.jpgICONBurfict to the Ravens makes a lot of sense.
28. Green Bay Packers: South Carolina OLB/DE Melvin Ingram
Finding another pass rusher off the edge is becoming more of pressing need for the Packers and Ingram has the ability to reach the QB in a number of ways off the edge.

29. Baltimore Ravens: Arizona State ILB Vontaze Burfict
If Burfict is going to end up going in round one, a team like the Ravens would be an ideal situation for him. He’s got a great role model to look up to in Ray Lewis and can be brought along slowly under him.

30. San Francisco 49ers: Baylor WR Kendall Wright
Wright might be the draft’s top vertical threat and has the ability to open up a lot of options for the 49ers offense down the field.

31. New York Giants: OLB Zach Brown: North Carolina (6-2, 230)
Brown’s a gifted run and hit athlete who adds some much needed range to the Giants linebacking core. He should be able to come in and make an impact on special teams early on as well.

32. New England Patriots: Illinois DE Whitney Mercilus
Age is creeping up on the Patriots at the defensive end position and Mercilus has the type of measurables to really move up draft boards with a solid post-season.
Follow me on twitter: @WesBunting

I'm usually seeing mock drafts post something like us drafting a WR or a LT in the first round. I like the idea of taking Adams over anyone else, but the only other position that I would accept without shitting all over myself with consternation would be DE. Therefore, if we traded up to get Coples or even one of the more elite LT's, I wouldn't be upset.

Yeah, I'm all up for a good young LT.....

About the time I was finally realizing how full of :jimmipost:Hub Arkush is I was realizing how solid and in-touch with the game Matt Bowen is. Glad he is on The Score to help equalize the worthlessness on the station (i.e. Arkush, Boers&Bernstein, etc.).

Someone tell me about this Hub Arkush fellow. I don't live in the Chicagoland area, and I've only heard about the guy.

I still believe judging Emery right after this year's free agency and the draft would only be a snap judgement call. A better opinion of his work can be made after his third year when we can truly judge the production of the team when mixed with his choice in talent. The 2012 draft class should be contributing starters at that point and the team's roster make-up should be fully transition away from Angelo. At that point as well we can see if he's meeting his set standards of regularly battling for a playoff spot.

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Originally Posted by Dagan81

Someone tell me about this Hub Arkush fellow. I don't live in the Chicagoland area, and I've only heard about the guy.

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He runs a tabloid called The Bears Report and is a frequent commentator on radio shows. Don't know if he has his own though. As PB points out most of his stuff is pure bullshit. He talks like he's "in the know" like he has some kind of inside info and what he really knows you could fit into a thimble. I don't think he's very well liked around Halas Hall at all.

Matt Bowen on the other hand is a guy who played the game and has some tremendous insights to share. I've posted any number of strategies for the Bears to use against opponents and the article on the Michael Floyd debate is his.

Bowen is saying exactly what I have been saying. Floyd or any other rookie WR does us no good this year and now is when we need the help. He's played the game as a Safety so he would have a very good idea about how rookie receivers standup to the abuse they get in the NFL compared to college where they get a free release of the line. It's also very easy for any of us to take the time to research the stats on top receivers in their first year or two in the NFL. Few are very productive those first two years.

Buntings mock is interesting as it applies to the pass rusher. Following the Senior Bowl both Upshaw and Ingram are now being listed more as 3-4 OLB than true 4-3 defensive ends. That leaves Coples as the only legit DE in the first round. Bunting has him going at #12 which would take our second round pick to trade that far up but for him I'd do it. He looks like he could be a Julius Peppers v2.0.

If we don't do that and the picks fall like Bunting forecasts Adams would be a logical choice but there is one other guy who we might look at and we might even be able to pick him up later than #19 and get an extra pick. That's Mark Barron the SS from "Bama". You don't find all that many Safeties rated as first round picks and when you do they're usually outstanding players who, like OG's, slip sometimes because of the position they play.

Given this mock falling this way you'd have to think that Adams, Ingram, and Barron may all be guys near the top of the Bears board. There is a need at all three spots so it just comes down to which is the BPA and of course whatever happens in FA will have a big impact as well.

Thanks for the insight, soul. I was kinda getting the picture that Arkush was a bull shitter, but I didn't want to say anything simply because I had never listened to him talk over the radio before. I'm taking by some reactions that Boers and Bernstein, too, are full of shit as well.

Soul, what about that DE out of Virginia, Cam Johnson? Do you think he would be adequate in our system? He did really well at the Senior Bowl from everything I've read.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dagan81

I'm taking by some reactions that Boers and Bernstein, too, are full of shit as well.

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B&B are worse because they're on daily for 4 hours. Bernstein is the main:asshat3:. Boers just kind of adds his own worthless two cents when Bernstein finally shuts his yapper.