Thread: Bears GM assesses draft's strengths, weaknesses

Bears GM assesses draft's strengths, weaknesses
By Brad Biggs
Tribune reporter

12:58 p.m. CDT, April 23, 2012
While Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery didn’t mention any specific names when it comes to the NFL draft, he did talk about the strengths of the board.

Chatting Monday morning in a pre-draft media gathering, Emery called it a good draft for wide receivers, defensive ends and defensive tackles. He also said there is a good crop of offensive tackles at the college level that project as guards in the NFL.

“We looked at the draft and we do every year in our planning process,” Emery said. “We come up with our own mocks. We do that based on our own research, talking to colleagues, listening, being a good scout, keeping our ear low to the ground, eyes open, ears open, not saying a whole lot, finding out where players are going to fall, putting that together. So in the conclusion, looking at that and versus the average numbers of players at their positions, historically I would say that this is a good draft for wideouts, I would say that this is a good draft for defensive ends and defensive tackles. I’d say it’s a good draft for projecting offensive tackles to guards. There’s a good number of offensive tackles that you can project inside.”

The strength of the draft at wide receiver is with big playmakers. The depth probably goes through at least the fourth round of the draft, meaning you can find help as the draft moves along. Emery said he didn’t believe the Bears are forced into a position where they need to address the position because of the injury situation with Johnny Knox, who is recovering from back surgery and very well might not play in 2012.

“That is part of the reason we brought in Eric Weems, that’s part of the reason we brought in Devin Thomas is that we don’t put ourselves in that position,” he said. “We feel very good about Earl (Bennett), we feel very good about Devin (Hester), we feel very good about Dane (Sanzenbacher). So, there are players on our roster that we know can compete and win at the championship level with. Just like all of the other positions, if we see a player that can help us, and it would be immediate in terms of the context of that player at that round can help us fill out a roster, fill out a need and help us get closer to a championship, we’ll do that.”
Where is the draft weak?

“I think where you see some weaknesses is the total number of running backs from rounds one through seven to historic numbers, the numbers that we would feel don’t balance out, they’re a little bit behind,” Emery said. “The top of the center draft is a little bit low compared to historic numbers as far as numbers taken in each round. There are very defined strengths and weaknesses in the draft.”

Most observers believe the draft is also weak at the tight end position, which is one the Bears may want to address. They’re seeking an F-tight end, a pass catcher. We’ll see by the end of the week if the position is addressed.

bmbiggs@tribune.com

Bears GM assesses draft's strengths, weaknesses - chicagotribune.com