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Silverman: Bears Looking For Defensive Help With First-Round Pick
Silverman: Bears Looking For Defensive Help With First-Round Pick « CBS Chicago
Silverman: Bears Looking For Defensive Help With First-Round Pick
March 29, 2012 10:47 AM
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Whitney Mercilus. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Reporting Steve Silverman
By Steve Silverman-
(CBS) Best available athlete?
Not a chance.
Teams that love to spout that they will be looking for the best available athlete on Draft Day are just filling your ears with soupy oatmeal.
The best available football player in the NFL Draft this year is quarterback Andrew Luck of Stanford. He will be selected by the Colts with the No. 1 pick. There’s no way Luck is the best available athlete. You can make a case for almost-certain No. 2 pick Robert Griffin III of Baylor, but is he a better athlete than Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon or LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne? Probably not.
So you are not looking for the best athlete. You are looking for the best football player. Luck and RGIII may be legitimate game changers, but teams like the New England Patriots (Tom Brady) and the Green Bay Packers (Aaron Rodgers) would not have a need for either prospect. Both teams would almost certainly trade out of the position if they had the top picks.
The point is that no matter what you hear, all teams consider their most important needs before drafting. Luck and RGIII command explosive draft value, but outside of those two, all teams must consider their most important needs before selecting.
For the Bears, that means wide receiver, defensive end and the secondary. The acquisition of Brandon Marshall gives Jay Cutler a big-play, downfield threat who will make opposing defenses respect the Bears’ ability to hit home runs. Marshall is a diva who may wear thin as the season moves along – just ask his teammates and coaches with the Dolphins – but the Bears obviously believe in him. The Bears also signed Devin Thomas, who appears to be a solid special teamer but a longshot at wide receiver. Phil Emery may be tempted to use the No. 19 pick in the draft on a wide receiver like Kendall Wright of Baylor or LSU’s Reuben Randle, but he is more likely to go the defensive route.
A legitimate pass rusher who has the speed to turn the corner like Nick Perry of USC or Whitney Mercilus of Illinois might be the right move for Emery to make. Perry is a bit of a reach because he will probably be better as a 3-4 outside linebacker than as a 4-3 defensive end since that’s the system that the Trojans played. He’s also a bit undersized at 6-3 and 274 pounds, but if you can overlook those two factors you have a legitimate game changer. He led the Pac-10 with 9.5 sacks last year and can make plays with his speed or strength. He can play the run and punish the ball carrier as well as come around the corner and get to the quarterback.
Mercilus is an explosive player who was a sack machine for the Illini with 16.0 sacks in 2011. He has the kind of speed to come around the corner that would complement Julius Peppers and make the Bears’ pass rush that much harder to stop. Mercilus started for one year and does not have the power to handle the running game on a consistent basis. While he will not back down from any challenge, it may be a bit too much to ask him to stop power running attacks on a consistent basis.
Jerry Angelo did not view cornerback as a game-changing position and rarely turned his attention to the position with his top draft picks. Emery does not have that mindset. He may be looking at Alabama’s Dre Kirkpatrick, who has All-Pro type self-confidence and wants nothing more than to face the opponent’s top receiver on a one-on-one basis. He has the size and strength at 6-2 and 186 pounds to do it and the speed to turn and run downfield. He has excellent ball skills even though he did not record an interception. He had nine passes defensed last season, seven tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.
It will probably come down to Perry, Mercilus or Kirkpatrick when the Bears select April 26. None of those three are a sure thing, but Kirkpatrick will provide an upgrade to a secondary that needs help. His confidence will allow him to win a job in training camp and help the Bears from the start of the season.
Look for Emery to consider offensive line help along with a pass rusher in the second round.
Last edited by Papa Bear; 03-29-2012 at 12:01 PM.
"Give 100%. 110% is impossible. Only idiots recommend that." - Ron Swanson
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This guy is an idiot.
1. He bashes our WR pickups Marshall [Diva], Thomas [Bad WR] and then says we need to go defense.
2. There is 0 actual information and insight in this article.
3. The last sentence he says they will go pass rusher in the 2nd round.
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High Fives / Like - 1 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
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Originally Posted by
WindyCity 
This guy is an idiot.
1. He bashes our WR pickups Marshall [Diva], Thomas [Bad WR] and then says we need to go defense.
2. There is 0 actual information and insight in this article.
3. The last sentence he says they will go pass rusher in the 2nd round.
Agreed ! It's obvious that he is "reaching" for something to write about during the "slow time' of the off season. The man obviously doesn't have a clue!
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Originally Posted by
WindyCity This guy is an idiot.
1. He bashes our WR pickups Marshall [Diva], Thomas [Bad WR] and then says we need to go defense.
2. There is 0 actual information and insight in this article.
3. The last sentence he says they will go pass rusher in the 2nd round.
1. He doesn't say we need to go defense. He said that's what the Bears are likely to do.
2. Par for the course this time of year.
3. That's because he is obviously in favor of Kirkpatrick in the first round.
Not sure why this article riled you and omc up, but not sure it warrants that. lol
"Give 100%. 110% is impossible. Only idiots recommend that." - Ron Swanson
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Originally Posted by
WindyCity This guy is an idiot.
1. He bashes our WR pickups Marshall [Diva], Thomas [Bad WR] and then says we need to go defense.
2. There is 0 actual information and insight in this article.
3. The last sentence he says they will go pass rusher in the 2nd round.
Taken in context with the rest of the article he's saying that would be a fall back if they drafted Dre Kirkpatrick in round one although that isn't likely to happen for two reasons. 1) he's not all that likely to last until #19 and, 2) the Bears seldom value CB that highly that they'd use a #1 pick on one if there was a pass rusher on the board they valued higher.
His comments about Marshall and Thomas are dead on. Marshall brings baggage but despite that he's been a solid 1000 yard plus receiver for 5 years in a row with QB's of far less talent than Jay Cutler. He emphasizes that in what he writes. Saying he's been a diva is just speaking the truth. That's not trashing his ability to produce. Thomas appears to be an excellent ST guy and we needed another Gunner. So we signed the guy for one year on the cheap. Big whoop.
He makes a comment about the temptation to take a WR although mentioning Wright and Randle in the same breath tells me he doesn't have all that much of an idea where they rank. While Wright is a certified 1st round pick I'd say that few if any see Randle going that high. Then he goes into the two guys who seem most likely to be available at #19 and he's probably pretty accurate with that.
One day a scribe has the Bears drafting for a downfield passing game and going with a WR. The next day it's a DE. A while back it was an OT until Adams shot up the boards and this article even includes a CB. I could write and article a day and post it here making a case for almost anyone of those positions as well as an OG. There are talented players in each of the first two rounds that would help the team. The question is what helps most and fastest.
Windy, I think every writer will seem to be an idiot if he doesn't agree with your logic as to how we should draft.
Last edited by soulman; 03-29-2012 at 12:50 PM.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. 
Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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High Fives / Like - 1 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes
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What I take exception to in his article is his "Assumption" that Marshall is still a "Diva" and that his Miami teammates would support that.
First, he has had NO issues Off field since being diagnosed and treated for his condition.
Second, I have not heard even one of his Miami teammates complain about him in the locker room. The only one who complained was Ross who is trying desperately trying to cover his ass (and Ireland's) regarding trading their #1 "O" weapon. We all know Irelands well documented history as being a first class jerk and players have confirmed that ("no one wants to go to Miami" etc.). I'm not saying he is now a choirboy and it's possible that he may relapse but to this point it looks like he has controlled his problem since being treated.
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Originally Posted by
soulman Taken in context with the rest of the article he's saying that would be a fall back if they drafted Dre Kirkpatrick in round one although that isn't likely to happen for two reasons. 1) he's not all that likely to last until #19 and, 2) the Bears seldom value CB that highly that they'd use a #1 pick on one if there was a pass rusher on the board they valued higher.
His comments about Marshall and Thomas are dead on. Marshall brings baggage but despite that he's been a solid 1000 yard plus receiver for 5 years in a row with QB's of far less talent than Jay Cutler. He emphasizes that in what he writes. Saying he's been a diva is just speaking the truth. That's not trashing his ability to produce. Thomas appears to be an excellent ST guy and we needed another Gunner. So we signed the guy for one year on the cheap. Big whoop.
He makes a comment about the temptation to take a WR although mentioning Wright and Randle in the same breath tells me he doesn't have all that much of an idea where they rank. While Wright is a certified 1st round pick I'd say that few if any see Randle going that high. Then he goes into the two guys who seem most likely to be available at #19 and he's probably pretty accurate with that.
One day a scribe has the Bears drafting for a downfield passing game and going with a WR. The next day it's a DE. A while back it was an OT until Adams shot up the boards and this article even includes a CB. I could write and article a day and post it here making a case for almost anyone of those positions as well as an OG. There are talented players in each of the first two rounds that would help the team. The question is what helps most and fastest.
Windy, I think every writer will seem to be an idiot if he doesn't agree with your logic as to how we should draft.
He has no actual information, but is saying that the Bears will look defense. Why does he think that they will go defense other than a surface analysis of moves without any insight.
You said it yourself that he dis-credits himself with his connection of Wright and Randle.
This is a much more interesting article.
Northwest Herald | Analysts’ opinions vary on Bears’ draft plans
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Originally Posted by
WindyCity He has no actual information, but is saying that the Bears will look defense. Why does he think that they will go defense other than a surface analysis of moves without any insight.
You said it yourself that he dis-credits himself with his connection of Wright and Randle.
This is a much more interesting article.
Northwest Herald | Analysts’ opinions vary on Bears’ draft plans The fact that Silverman's article is poorly written doesn't change the facts or the circumstances that exist and here are those facts.
The Bears have spent approximately $25 mil plus in 2012 cap money on offensive acquisitions at skill positions alone. That doesn't include the money they spent on the extensions for Garza and EWill on the line. As of this last signing of Devin Thomas we've signed, re-signed or traded for; 4 WR's (two of whom also play ST's), 1 TE, 2 QB's, and 1 RB plus we have a franchise tag on Forte for another $7.74 mil. So roughly $33 mil total without the lineman.
So far the defense has gotten Jennings for just $900k and Steltz for $820k plus Castonzo on ST coverage for $1 mil so about $2.7 mil 2012 cap total. It wouldn't take much take much guess work on his part or anyone else's to figure we might spend draft picks on the defense especially since rookies are far less costly than vets especially at positions like DE and CB.
As it stands the major needs are pretty simple. DE/DT, CB, LB, SS, and OT. Four out of five are defensive positions so it seems reasonable right now that if we don't fill any of those before the draft then they would have a priority in the draft especially when we have a defensive minded coach. Windy I think you or I could have guessed as well as Silverman did and probably wrote a better article but crappy writing doesn't alter those facts.
Yes, the other article is written much better but all he does is point out the wide disparity amongst the guru's over who we'll take. If that keeps the rest of the NFL guessing then it's a good thing isn't it. No sense giving away our strategy before the draft. The needs haven't changed so far and unless they do I just think projecting defensive picks makes sense. That's where the unfilled holes are.
Last edited by soulman; 03-29-2012 at 03:49 PM.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap. Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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