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Even After the Draft Emery is Still Shaping His Team................
Draft is over, but Bears' Emery isn't done shaping roster
Team signs Troy's Brown, perhaps best undrafted offensive lineman
Dan Pompei On the NFL 6:27 p.m. CDT, April 29, 2012
If Bears general manager Phil Emery had put a spin on Mick Jagger during the course of the NFL draft, he might have sung, "You can't always get what you need. But if you try sometime, you just might find, you get what you want."
From the third round on, Emery added three defensive backs and a tight end. That was all fine and dandy, you may say, but what about the seemingly greater needs at offensive line and defensive tackle?
Clearly, these were not major priorities for the Bears. But it's not like the team went into the draft intent on ignoring those positions either.
They ended up not selected an offensive lineman or a defensive tackle because of the way the draft broke. The Bears took players at other positions who were graded higher, which is the way you are supposed to do it.
That does not mean there will be no new blood at the positions when the season opens in September. The Bears roster stands at 83 after the team signed 11 rookie free agents Sunday. They can add seven more players, and they still are shopping.
The Bears on Sunday signed perhaps the best undrafted offensive lineman in James Brown of Troy. Several teams were trying to sign him, according to his agent, Bus Cook, but he chose the Bears because he thought they needed a blocker and he liked the idea of playing for Mike Tice.
Brown is an athletic blocker with an NFL body. Most NFL teams see him as a guard, and he likely will line up at guard for the Bears even though he played left tackle in college.
Before the draft, three front office men I spoke with said Brown had fourth-round ability.
"He is pretty athletic, he has some power and some bend," an AFC personnel director said. "He is not real explosive and is an inconsistent player."
Brown may have a good chance of sticking, but he probably won't be of much use to the Bears this year. Rather, he is the type of developmental prospect Tice can bring out the best in over time.
NFL front office men describe Brown as a raw player who needs to improve his technique, his footwork, his hand use and his pad level. One pointed out he played in a two-point stance in college, so he will need to learn a new stance as well as a new position.
He was clearly the best of the Bears' undrafted pick-ups, though it is likely they will sign more rookies who slipped through the draft.
The Bears also added a defensive tackle in Ronnie Cameron of Old Dominion. He probably will be a long shot to make the roster if the Bears can acquire a veteran at the position.
A familiar face could help fill out the depth chart at the position. Tommie Harris is unsigned and probably would be fairly cheap. It doesn't seem likely, but Anthony Adams could also be brought back.
Other veterans still on the market include Rocky Bernard and Aubrayo Franklin. It is possible other veterans will shake free now that teams have potential rookie replacements on the roster.
Another option would be to follow the suggestion of an NFC pro scout and move Chauncey Davis to tackle from end.
There appear to be fewer options to find a healthy offensive tackle at this point, though Adam Goldberg is looking better than ever. The Bears had the former Ram in for a visit in early April. Goldberg broke into the league playing for Tice in Minnesota in 2004, and could be a versatile backup because he has played tackle, guard and center.
Tice also has options with his own players if he doesn't like the depth at tackle. He can move Chris Williams to tackle from guard. He can keep Lance Louis at tackle instead of shifting him to guard. He can move Gabe Carimi from right tackle to left.
The point is the Bears are not done moving, shaking and signing just yet. In fact, they still may get what they need.
dpompei@tribune.com
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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The whole Cwill to LT thing I can't see happening. First off Cwill had to learn to play on his heels for OG he then would have to readjust to his toes for LT. He just got used to LG and was playing really well before injury. Carimi to LT if the Webb experiment falters is the best bet.
James Brown sounds intriguing. Throw in a celebrity hot-tub and call him good.
Arguing on the internet is like winning the special olympics, even if you win your still messed up.
Restore the roar!
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There was something in that article I thought was just too funny.
Pompei mentions that small school prospect UDFA James Brown chose to sign with the Bears over several other teams' offers because "he thought they needed a blocker".
[translation: "might be the easiest place for me to make an NFL roster"]
That's just rich and it speaks volumes about the reputation (pass pro anyway) the Bears OL has earned itself the last 3 years or so. That tends to happen when you give up 11 sacks on national TV, get your QB hurt in the NFC championship, and make Sportscenter for helping Jared Allen enter the record books. Even an undrafted rookie from Troy knows it.
Last edited by MPBears68; 04-29-2012 at 07:45 PM.
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I'm sure that came from his agent. The agents know the poop on the teams. We can say we are happy with our line all we want, but the stats and the play speak for themselves. They know what the teams need and where is a good place for each position. Making the Bears OL is easier than most.
Originally Posted by
MPBears68 
There was something in that article I thought was just too funny.
Pompei mentions that small school prospect UDFA James Brown chose to sign with the Bears over several other teams' offers because "he thought they needed a blocker".
[translation: "might be the easiest place for me to make an NFL roster"]
That's just rich and it speaks volumes about the reputation (pass pro anyway) the Bears OL has earned itself the last 3 years or so. That tends to happen when you give up 11 sacks on national TV, get your QB hurt in the NFC championship, and make Sportscenter for helping Jared Allen enter the record books. Even an undrafted rookie from Troy knows it.
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You know seeing Tommie Harris back as a backup wouldn't be a bad idea, if he could deal with that. What a tragedy that leg injury was. He was an incredibly dominant DT before that injury. Real shame.
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I'd like to think that there's an outside probability that we would go with Anthony Adams simply because he was playing well before the injury. The strength of this defense is its run defense, so I don't really see us as going out of our way to pick up someone who is a has-been UT over someone who would give us quality production right now.
That being said, I sincerely hope the Bears start Paea this year. Imagine a defensive line with Paea and Melton on the inside and McClellin and Peppers on the outside starting for us. Now THAT'S RICH!
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Originally Posted by
short faced bear The whole Cwill to LT thing I can't see happening. First off Cwill had to learn to play on his heels for OG he then would have to readjust to his toes for LT. He just got used to LG and was playing really well before injury. Carimi to LT if the Webb experiment falters is the best bet.
James Brown sounds intriguing. Throw in a celebrity hot-tub and call him good.
You know shorty I was tempted to write; "I wonder where they dug this James Brown up" but as a soul musician myself I just couldn't find it within me to be that disrespectful to "da Godfather". Oh fuck it!
I wonder where the dug James Brown up?
Baby...Baby...Baby...Huh!...I Feeeeeel Good!
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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Originally Posted by
soulman You know shorty I was tempted to write; "I wonder where they dug this James Brown up" but as a soul musician myself I just couldn't find it within me to be that disrespectful to "da Godfather". Oh fuck it!
I wonder where the dug James Brown up?
Baby...Baby...Baby...Huh!...I Feeeeeel Good!
My best guess is that they went down to Georgia, dug up his coffin, and removed his body.
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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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Sigh, it woulda been so nice. 
