NFL Draft Scouts Player Rankings........

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Originally Posted by soulman

I love Badger lineman but what in the world do we need another OC for when we already have three on the team. It's like saying we need another TE. Garza just got an extension and was a Pro Bowl alternate and Spencer and EWill both play OC. If we needed a Center yeah, he'd be perfect but we have other priorities.

I don't know if Stevie Johnson is a good match for the Bears unless he drops the hot dogging act. That won't play well here with Lovie, Tice or Cutler. You may notice that Cutler made no reference whatsoever about RWill and he's exactly the size WR we need. If we got him Royal as a slot guy and a taller WR then moved Bennett out to flanker I thing he'd be ecstatic. Stevie Johnson, I don't know but Cutler should have some input of who we pursue. In addition to this we also draft a younger guy to develop.

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I admittedly have not watched much of Stevie Johnson, but from what I have seen I'm not too put off by his antics. I think someone in another thread compared him to Ochocinco. He might rub some people the wrong way with his TD celebrations or whatnot, but doesn't seem to be a true distraction/problem in the locker room. Like I said, though, I don't have a lot of personal experience watching him. I'll say, though, I thought his TD celebration where he shot himself in the leg a la Plaxico was hilarious.

EDIT: I should add that I do think Ochocinco became a distraction his last couple years in Cincy, but mostly I think he just enjoys life and maybe takes that too far sometimes.

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Originally Posted by soulman

I love Badger lineman but what in the world do we need another OC for when we already have three on the team. It's like saying we need another TE. Garza just got an extension and was a Pro Bowl alternate and Spencer and EWill both play OC. If we needed a Center yeah, he'd be perfect but we have other priorities.

I don't know if Stevie Johnson is a good match for the Bears unless he drops the hot dogging act. That won't play well here with Lovie, Tice or Cutler. You may notice that Cutler made no reference whatsoever about RWill and he's exactly the size WR we need. If we got him Royal as a slot guy and a taller WR then moved Bennett out to flanker I thing he'd be ecstatic. Stevie Johnson, I don't know but Cutler should have some input of who we pursue. In addition to this we also draft a younger guy to develop.

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You do not darft Konz simply as a C, you draft him because he can play OG and C at a higher level than our guys. He is also a consensus 1st round pick and highly ranked compared to the WR and the DE class.

Facts that worry me about the OL,

1. 25% of rushing attempts went for negative yards.

2. We have sucked on short yardage for a couple of seasons now.

3. We do not pass protect well at any position.

4. Chris Williams had a serious wrist injury and he plays a position where he punches 65 times a game.

5. Chris Williams is a free agent at the end of the season and I do not think he is worth a new contract.

6. Chris Spencer could be cut he is making close to 5 million this season, if not he is a free agent at the end of the season as well.

7. Roberto Garza is aging and is only signed for another 2 years at a reasonable rate.

8. Edwin Williams is a career back up and showed me nothing that would make me want him to start long term

LT: Webb/Collins [FA]
LG: Louis/Chris Williams
C: Konz
RG: Garza/Spencer
RT: Carimi

That is an increase in talent and an adds competition to every position on the OL.

I am not saying that Konz should be our pick, but there is a very good chance that he is going to be the highest rated player on our board in a position where we do not have a long term Pro Bowler.

SI Rankings

Andrew Luck, Matt Kalil, Trent Richardson top prospects for 2012 NFL Draft - Tony Pauline - SI.com

1. Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford* -- Luck has been the top NFL prospect in the nation for almost two years and nothing has changed. He'll be the first player selected in the draft and the Indianapolis Colts will barely notice the bump in the road as they transition from the Peyton Manning era.
2. Matt Kalil, T, USC* -- Kalil's pass protection skills are on par with former Trojan great and All Pro tackle Tony Boselli. The junior needs to improve his run blocking, but possesses all the skills necessary to be a big-time left tackle in the NFL.
3. Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama* -- Richardson is the most complete running back in this draft, and likely the only first-round pick from the position. He's a versatile ball-carrier who also positively effects the game as a pass-catcher. The junior has the skills to immediately produce as a rookie in the NFL.
4. Robert Griffin, QB, Baylor* -- Griffin has the misfortune of being in a draft that includes Andrew Luck, the best quarterback prospect since Peyton Manning. Despite that, he's a legitimate franchise signal-caller and a great combination of athleticism, arm strength and maturity.
5. Quinton Coples, DL, North Carolina -- The top senior on this list is a pure dominator who can play several spots on the defensive line. He's a man amongst boys when on his game, but scouts question Coples' intensity on an every-down basis.
6. Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State* -- His game was NFL ready last year, but Blackmon decided to return to school to improve his skills as well as work on his degree. Blackmon matured last season as a player and person. His style reminds many of Terrell Owens.
7. Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU* -- Though not the caliber of athlete as former LSU star Patrick Peterson, the fifth pick in last April's draft, scouts think Claiborne is more polished in his ball skills. The junior has the ability to develop into a No. 1 corner for an NFL franchise.
8. Riley Reiff, T, Iowa* -- Reiff is a tremendous pass-blocking left tackle, though many scouts think he could shift to the right side. He possesses the footwork, body type and wherewithal to break into a starting lineup early into his rookie career.
9. Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor -- Wright was the top recipient of passes coming from Robert Griffin, and scouts love his game. He's a legitimate field-stretcher with polished receiver skills. Wright's name sits atop the wideout position on a number of draft boards around the league.
10. Melvin Ingram, DL-OLB, South Carolina -- Few defensive prospects raised their game and draft stock as Ingram did last season. He's a playmaker who stands out in almost every aspect of the defense, with his ability to make plays behind the line of scrimmage or out to the flanks.
11. David DeCastro, G, Stanford -- Andrew Luck's top blocker has been the dominant force on Stanford's offensive line the past two seasons. He's rightfully being compared to All Pro Steve Hutchinson and offers potential in a variety of NFL blocking schemes.
12. Michael Brockers, DL, LSU* -- Brockers capped off a tremendous sophomore season with an awesome showing in the national title game. He's an explosive interior lineman who eats up blocks and collapses the pocket.
13. Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama* -- Kirkpatrick is a feisty corner who physically beats down opponents to defend passes. He possesses outstanding size, continues to display improved ball skills and projects as a No. 1 cornerback in the NFL.
14. Fletcher Cox, DL, Mississippi State* -- Cox is one of the hidden values at the defensive line position. Scouts feel he's one of few available three-down defenders and offers the ability to play as many as four different positions on the defensive line.
15. Courtney Upshaw, DE-OLB, Alabama -- Upshaw was the feared pass-rusher in Alabama's suffocating defense, and scouts expect much the same from him at the next level. The lingering question is which position will Upshaw play at the next level, outside linebacker or defensive end? Or both?
16. Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame -- Floyd opted to return to Notre Dame for his senior season, and that choice is paying off for the big wideout. He's a game-controlling receiver and the go-to guy who cannot be stopped. Floyd is not a field-stretcher, but a large target who consistently comes away with the reception.
17. Mike Adams, T, Ohio State -- Adams returned to the Buckeye lineup after missing seven games last season due to suspension, then played inspired football. He's a terrific pass-protector at 330 pounds, with the strength to overwhelm defenders while run blocking.
18. Zach Brown, OLB, North Carolina -- Brown is a terrific athlete who's been a consistent force for the Tar Heels. He's a three-down linebacker who stuffs the run or easily defends running backs and tight ends in coverage.
19. Jonathan Martin, T, Stanford* -- Martin is an athletic tackle who protected Andrew Luck's blind side on a weekly basis. He's rough around the edges and needs to complete his game, but comes with a big upside.
20. Nick Perry, DE-OLB, USC* -- The Trojan underclassman is a pass-rushing terror who combines quickness and speed to harass opposing quarterbacks. He offers tremendous potential and can stand up over tackle or be used out of a three-point stance.
21. Devon Still, DL, Penn State -- Still is a nuts-and-bolts type of defender in the middle of the line. He's explosive, tough and does the little things well. Still is not a play-maker with eye popping production, rather a steady lineman who won't make many mistakes.
22. Luke Kuechly, ILB, Boston College* -- Kuechly offers some of the best instincts of any prospect in this draft. He possesses almost a sixth sense on the field and makes up for deficient size/speed with intelligent play.
23. Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin* -- Konz is the best center prospect in the draft since Nick Mangold was selected in the first round in 2006. He's powerful at the point of attack as an in-line blocker and takes defenders from the action blocking on the move.
24. Don'ta Hightower, ILB, Alabama* -- A force in the middle of the Tide's defense, Hightower is a dominant run defender who controls the action in the box. He quickly makes waste of blockers and stop ball-carriers dead in their tracks. More of a two-down defender, Hightower can be a liability in coverage.
25. Mark Barron, S, Alabama -- Barron performed brilliantly as a senior at Alabama after a tough campaign in 2010. He's a dominant run defender who does not get enough credit for his coverage skills. Recent hernia surgery will set Barron back, but he'll quickly produce in the NFL once at full health.



Read more: Andrew Luck, Matt Kalil, Trent Richardson top prospects for 2012 NFL Draft - Tony Pauline - SI.com

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Originally Posted by soulman

Windy should be pleased that his boy Cordy Glenn is creeping up the board. Given his ability to play anywhere on the line should really help is status on draft day.

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Cordy is not an LT, and I even have doubt about his ability on the right side. He's a terrific athlete for his size, but he can get his ass worked with speed off the edge. With the OG depth this year and our current interior depth, I see zero sense in drafting a guy like him in the first. A guy like Adams who can play LT, sure, but if you're not giving Williams the go-ahead at LT (and every single sign points to no on that front), you have to play to the classes depth and wait it out for value later. The top 3 Cs are all players I want on our team, and there's a good four rounds worth of OGs that I see as high quality prospects.

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Originally Posted by lklrlolnlilklsox

Cordy is not an LT, and I even have doubt about his ability on the right side. He's a terrific athlete for his size, but he can get his ass worked with speed off the edge. With the OG depth this year and our current interior depth, I see zero sense in drafting a guy like him in the first. A guy like Adams who can play LT, sure, but if you're not giving Williams the go-ahead at LT (and every single sign points to no on that front), you have to play to the classes depth and wait it out for value later. The top 3 Cs are all players I want on our team, and there's a good four rounds worth of OGs that I see as high quality prospects.

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Cordy Glenn is an OG only prospect.

I see what you are saying about how their is great depth in this draft and not a ton of guys at the top. But I think it applies to a number of positions.

My thinking on the interior OL guys is that there are 3 elite players, DeCastro, Konz and Glenn, that come in and start from Day 1 and provide a serious upgrade in the talent level of the team. It is rare to see interior OL players ranked so high by almost everyone and this tells me that a couple of these guys are special players.

Where as Mercilus and Mike Adams carry 1st round grades because of potential and position played, Konz does because he has dominated in college.

I like our depth and the drafts depth, but I want a dominant interior OL player and while I see good prospects I only see a couple of guys who should be in Pro Bowls early in their career.

With the DTs in our division, K. Williams, B.J Raji, Suh and Nick Fairley I think our struggles in establishing a firm pocket are just beginning. Drew Brees and Tom Brady are not successful because they have dominant OT play they are successful because they can step up into the pocket, step into throws because the pocket is firm up the middle.

Who are your top 5 realistic targets for the 19th pick in no order, just 5 guys you would be happy with?

WR Kendall Wright

WR Rueben Randle

C Peter Konz

DE Melvin Ingram

OT Mike Adams

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Originally Posted by WindyCity

You do not darft Konz simply as a C, you draft him because he can play OG and C at a higher level than our guys. He is also a consensus 1st round pick and highly ranked compared to the WR and the DE class.

Facts that worry me about the OL,

1. 25% of rushing attempts went for negative yards.

2. We have sucked on short yardage for a couple of seasons now.

3. We do not pass protect well at any position.

4. Chris Williams had a serious wrist injury and he plays a position where he punches 65 times a game.

5. Chris Williams is a free agent at the end of the season and I do not think he is worth a new contract.

6. Chris Spencer could be cut he is making close to 5 million this season, if not he is a free agent at the end of the season as well.

7. Roberto Garza is aging and is only signed for another 2 years at a reasonable rate.

8. Edwin Williams is a career back up and showed me nothing that would make me want him to start long term

LT: Webb/Collins [FA]
LG: Louis/Chris Williams
C: Konz
RG: Garza/Spencer
RT: Carimi

That is an increase in talent and an adds competition to every position on the OL.

I am not saying that Konz should be our pick, but there is a very good chance that he is going to be the highest rated player on our board in a position where we do not have a long term Pro Bowler.

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Holy shit you do have a lot of issues don't you. When your RB's average 4.6 yds per carry you gotta be doing something right.

We had trouble on short yardage because we had no short yardage back. When we signed Barber that changed.

All three of guys I mentioned play OC and OG too so even if Konz is an upgrade he's a luxury more than a need.

I have serious doubts about that 25% of the carries were for negative yardage. You'd need a whole lot of runs over 5 yards per carry in order to offset that and still average 4.6 ypc. You don't believe in the line and I don't believe in that number. It doesn't jive with what I saw either and I watched virtually every game.

Chicago Bears: Most everyone has the Bears pegged to pursue wide receivers in free agency and/or the draft, and Outsiders doesn't discount that possibility. But based on its analysis of the Bears' 2011 season, offensive tackle should be the Bears' top priority. Left tackle J'Marcus Webb allowed 10 sacks and was "among the worst [left tackles] in the league." The Bears' running game, meanwhile, was stuffed for a loss or no gain on 24.1 percent of its runs, a "catastrophic" figure blamed mostly on poor run blocking.

NFC North Blog - ESPN

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Originally Posted by WindyCity

Chicago Bears: Most everyone has the Bears pegged to pursue wide receivers in free agency and/or the draft, and Outsiders doesn't discount that possibility. But based on its analysis of the Bears' 2011 season, offensive tackle should be the Bears' top priority. Left tackle J'Marcus Webb allowed 10 sacks and was "among the worst [left tackles] in the league." The Bears' running game, meanwhile, was stuffed for a loss or no gain on 24.1 percent of its runs, a "catastrophic" figure blamed mostly on poor run blocking.

NFC North Blog - ESPN

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Sayin' it don't make it so. I think whoever wrote that should check his stats because I don't understand how a team that rushes for 1700 yards and averages 4.6 ypc can do that behind a line that blocked poorly. That means only 281 runs actually gained yardage and their average then climbs to 6.1 ypc. Barber was the only back to average less than 4.0 ypc mostly because he got the majority of the short yardage carries and Forte had the longest run from scrimmage, 46 yards.

Even if we accept that as being true where's the catastrophe? They gained yardage on 76% of their plays, averaged 6.1 ypc on those plays and had a top ten rushing offense. I wouldn't call that a catastrophe. I'd say somebody had to be blocking someone some of the time. My guess is that he's including the yardage lost on sacks and the number of sacks in his calculations. Those are not rushes. They're charged against passing yardage.

My calculations are based on just what the three RB's did. I didn't include QB scrambles where the average ypc on those runs would tend to be higher because it doesn't measure the efficiency of the run blocking. I question the accuracy of Seifert's report. He's grinding his axe over Webb and the rest of the line gets unfairly drawn in and he goes looking for data to support his position. Sorry but the true stats don't jive. When a team runs for 1700 yards and averages over 4.5 ypc run blocking can't be "catastrophic". The Bears run blocking was okay. It was the pass blocking that sucked. Even Webb is fair run blocker.

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Originally Posted by Papa Bear

I'm pretty sure he means to trade down in the first and pick up an extra 3rd rounder in the process. If so, I think I'd be okay with it. If a guy they're targeting is likely to stay on the board for a few more picks there's no reason not to. That'd be great to not reach on a prospect and have three 3rd round picks. Then, if needed, we could maybe package some of those to move up in the second or get a second 2nd round pick.

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this is what I meant.

Trade our 1st for PIT 1st and their 3rd
Something like this