Thread: Bears Feel They Accomplished Their Goals in Emery's First Draft.......

I am a big fan of Phil Emery and the draft that he put together.

I thought he was creative and committed in making picks that would add to the team and picking players regardless of media or fan attention.

I thought he did an excellent job of balancing picks,

Safe [McClellin]

High Upside [Jeffery, Hardin]

Creative [Rodriguez]

Need [Frey, McCoy]

I was a little surprised at how complimentary the NFL Network guys were about our draft because we left the beaten path a bit.

I just wanted to examine this from a little different perspective than just who did we pick and how do we like them. Here we get it straight from the horse's mouth why Emery took the guys he did and what he saw in each they made them his pick.

Shea McClellin:
This pick answered the mystery question "who was at the top of that Magnificent 7 list". Not only was this guy a "need pick" but he was also the guy at the top of their board from the start. How do we know? How many teams would have passed on DeCastro at that point in the first for anyone but their top guy. So we know two things from this reading. McClellin was his guy all along and........he's not an OLB and won't be playing OLB for the Bears. Like Lovie says, his hand goes in the dirt at the first practice and that's final.

Ashlon Jeffrey:
Listening to Phil it seems that Jeffrey was really more of a BPA pick than a need pick at that point in time. He makes it clear that Jeffrey was then their BPA and worth no more than a 5th to move up for. I suspect he wanted to get in front of San Diego was probably had their eye on him as a replacement for VJax. Emery also makes it clear that he's expected to come in and be part of a 3 man WR rotation this year.

Brandon Hardin:
I think Hardin is the first of what I would call back to back tactical picks. To me a tactical pick is a guy you draft to meet a specific need immediately while he vies for a starting role. In Hardin's case it's a dual role they're expecting from him. One is as a ST standout. With his speed and ability to hit in the open field he could be another "assassin". The other is as a defensive coverage specialist. Initially I see him being used as a CB in goaline situations where you want to match his size and physicality up with a bigger taller WR and as he learns the Safety position I see him as a coverage man who'll be given the job of shadowing the big fast TE's we're seeing.

Evan Rodriguez:
I didn't get this pick until I read his scouting report and then I got it. He's not a TE in the traditional sense. He's an HBack or whatever they're referring to that position as these days. Half FB and half over sized Slot Receiver. Once again a tactical pick that Emery and Smith explain very well. Call him a missing link pick. A guy who could play in a style that we wanted but didn't have on the roster. He'll be a key blocker in the run game just like Clutts is but he's also a huge pass catching threat with his ability to use his speed to run seam routes. If our two big wideouts are "aircraft carriers" than Rodriguez is more like a fast missile cruiser.

Isaiah Frey and Greg McCoy:
I just lump these two together since they are both CB's "without a cause". Neither will take anyone's job away from them but Emery and Hoke must feel they have coachable skills and it never hurts to have a spare CB or two on the PS. If their lucky that where they'll end up.

Originally Posted by BigBadPapaBear

“Go back to the original formula: Production, playmaking ability, dynamic athletic ability,”

Now that's what I like hearing from our GM! Gone are the days of drafting clowns like Jaron Gilbert, simply because you saw him jump out of a pool. We need to get guys that have actually produced and have freakish tools to boot.

You wouldn't be so hard on him PB if you knew that he will be representing the USA in the next Summer Olympics. His sport is "Reverse High Diving" where the athletes attempt to jump from the pool back onto the 5 meter board. He's in training now and they say he has a very good shot at a silver medal in the World Championships next month.

Originally Posted by MPBears68

I didn't want to say that but was thinking the same thing. Drooling over the idea of a 6-3, 220lb SS who runs a 4.45 and has coverage & tackling skills. I'd be worried if I were Major "bad angle whiffer" Wright. Hardin just has to show he can make the transition to S and I think Wright's job will soon be in jeopardy.

Hardin + Conte ... our Plank-Fencik duo of the future???

Well like Matt Bowen wrote when you're a vet and they draft your position they're giving you a pretty good snap shot of how you rate in their book. Steltz came in to replace him last year and outplayed him but given Steltz limitations in coverage we needed to go one higher. My guess is that if he doesn't step up his game Major Wright will become Major Wrong and it will be bye bye time. He's gonna have a tough time holding Hardin off once Hardin gets the hang of playing Safety.

Originally Posted by MPBears68

I didn't want to say that but was thinking the same thing. Drooling over the idea of a 6-3, 220lb SS who runs a 4.45 and has coverage & tackling skills. I'd be worried if I were Major "bad angle whiffer" Wright. Hardin just has to show he can make the transition to S and I think Wright's job will soon be in jeopardy.

Hardin + Conte ... our Plank-Fencik duo of the future???

Now THAT is a really good thought