Thread: Bears #1 Priority in the Draft Still a Mystery?.....................

NFL draft: Bears’ No. 1 priority tough to figure

BY MARK POTASH mpotash@suntimes.com April 15, 2012 10:04PM


FILE - In tis Dec. 24, 2011 file photo, Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Marshall (19) hauls in a touchdown pass against the defense of New England Patriots defensive back Kyle Arrington, behind, during the second quarter of an NFL football game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. The Chicago Bears acquired Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall from the Miami Dolphins on Tuesday, March 13, 2012, for two undisclosed draft picks. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)




Updated: April 16, 2012 10:05AM


What do the Bears need in the upcoming NFL draft? Don’t ask. New general manager Phil Emery addresses his team’s weaknesses with the same philosophy as he does with his team’s strengths.

‘‘The more information you put out . . . the more advantage you give your opponents to outdo you in the draft — jump in front of you, understand where you’re going,’’ Emery said. ‘‘We don’t ever want to put ourselves in that position.’’ (Angelo said the same but he couldn't stay out of the spotlight so he wasn't very good at it. In my book Phil is a seasoned player at draft poker)


Emery doesn’t have to say a word, as long as he acknowledges the Bears’ weaknesses as clearly as he did with the acquisition of Pro Bowl wide receiver Brandon Marshall in free agency. A big-play receiver has been an obvious void to many Bears observers for years, especially after former GM Jerry Angelo finally filled the previous obvious void by acquiring a ‘‘franchise’’ quarterback in Jay Cutler. (I'd say taking two shots at a pass rushing DE in FA was a pretty strong shout out of the weakness there too. Anyone disagree?)

Angelo acknowledged the impact of big, big-play receivers, but he resisted the notion that the Bears needed one to go with Cutler, who had his best success in Denver with the 6-4 Marshall as his primary target. Emery not only got a Pro Bowl wide receiver six weeks after he was hired, but he got the one his quarterback wanted. (A GM who listens to his franchise QB. What a difference huh?)


The Bears are doing their best to keep everybody guessing. Maybe that’s why coach Lovie Smith, straying from the company line just a bit, hinted last week that the Bears might draft an offensive lineman with their first-round pick. (If you guys get a shot at DeCastro and pass him by the we're gonna let Windy run the draft the next time there's a future All Pro lineman on the board when your pick comes up. We all know what he'd do don't we? LOL)


‘‘You just never know,’’ Smith said. ‘‘We have the 19th pick in the draft this year, right? It’s good to have all of our picks. Not to say that we’re going to take an offensive lineman, but that will give you something else to think about.’’ (I already did and unless it's DeCastro or the DE's and DT's you could take are gone then I wouldn't take one at #19. Maybe Glenn or Zeitler a little farther back but for the love of God not Martin. We can move CWill to LT and get the same or better)


Mock drafts can’t pinpoint the Bears’ biggest need. ESPN’s Mel Kiper has the Bears taking Illinois defensive end Whitney Mercilus at No. 19, and colleague Todd McShay has them taking South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore. Other mock drafts have the Bears taking an offensive tackle (Stanford’s Jonathan Martin, Michigan’s Mike Adams), a wide receiver (Georgia Tech’s Stephen Hill, Baylor’s Kendall Wright), a defensive tackle (Memphis’ Dontari Poe, Mississippi State’s Fletcher Cox) and a linebacker (Boston College’s Luke Kuechly). (This tells me that Lovie and Emery are doing a great job of putting up a smokescreen. There's usually at least some consensus about one or two players. There are nine different players on these lists)


With the possible exception of linebacker, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Bears addressed any of those positions in the first round, which underscores the biggest advantage they have in this year’s draft. After trading for Marshall, they can afford to take the best player available without ignoring an obvious need. (Yes and no. A WR would be a luxury in the first no matter how much potential he has and you can't even totally ignore the possibility of Kuechly either if the pass rushers they like in one are gone)


So with 10 days to go before the draft, here’s a look at the Bears’ biggest needs:


Defensive end:

Israel Idonije is a solid all-around player, but unless Julius Peppers plays at a Jared Allen-level, the Bears need more than five sacks from their other end. With Corey Wootton injured last season, the Bears didn’t even have anybody to push Idonije for playing time.


Offensive line:

The Bears seem to believe they will upgrade their offensive line with the return of injured right tackle Gabe Carimi and injured left guard Chris Williams (with the unspoken upgrade of Mike Tice coordinating the offense instead of Mike Martz). But until Carimi proves he can stay healthy and J’Marcus Webb proves he can play left tackle, it’s going to be a question mark.


Cornerback:

Charles Tillman made the Pro Bowl last season, and Tim Jennings is a good tackler who fits Smith’s defense. But the Bears could use an infusion of youth and expertise here — someone to push or beat out Jennings and eventually replace Tillman.


Defensive tackle:

The Bears were neither as good nor as deep as they thought they were at this position in 2011 and need help after cutting Anthony Adams and losing Amobi Okoye to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free agency. Henry Melton had seven sacks but was inconsistent as an impact player. Matt Toeaina is a capable DT, and Stephen Paea, a second-round pick who developed slowly as a rookie, needs to make sudden improvement if the Bears are to upgrade here.


Wide receiver:

Though Marshall should be an obvious upgrade, the possible loss of Johnny Knox could leave the Bears in need. Knox, who suffered a devastating back injury in December, likely will miss the offseason program and possibly part or all of the regular season.


Wild cards:

With Emery in his first year, the Bears could go a lot of directions in the draft. It’ll be interesting to see if he likes his safeties as much as Smith does. As strong as the Bears are with Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs, they could use a young, impact linebacker. And they could always use special-teams help, especially after losing Corey Graham and Sam Hurd. (Don't anyone let 4th and 26 read this, LOL)