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Greg Gabriel Breaks down Emery's first draft
Having lived and worked in Chicago the last 11 years, I know one thing: the media can be very tough.
What makes it hard for Phil Emery in conducting his first draft is that the local media didn’t trust previous GM Jerry Angelo and because of that there is a carryover effect to Emery. They want to believe but aren’t sure if they can.
Emery was on my staff while I was the scouting director for 3½ years, so I know him well. I know what kind of scout he is and I know how prepared he is and I can assure the Bears fans that he is very good at what he does. While saying that, I have had the opportunity to look at tape of each of the Bears first 3 selections in this draft. I saw 4 games from 2011 and 2 from 2010 on first round pick pick Shea McClellin. I watched 7 games from 2011 and 6 from 2010 on Alshon Jeffery and I saw 3 tapes from 2010 (Boise, TCU and Oregon) on third round pick Brandon Hardin. Hardin was injured and did not play in 2011 but he did play in the East-West game in January down in Florida. My opinion is that all 3 of these picks are very good selections and Emery has done quite well going into today’s final rounds. Here is a brief synopsis of what I have seen of the three draft choices.
Shea McClellin – DE – Boise State
ICONShea McClellin will bring upfield pressure to the Bears defense.
The first thing that stands out while watching tape on McClellin is his motor. This guy is all out on every play. He was the leader of the Broncos defense and played in a variety of positions. He was used at DE, DT, OLB and ILB. He is very athletic with speed and a burst. He gets off the ball quickly, stays low, defeats blocks and gets to the ball. He has the speed to burn the edge as a pass rusher and the moves to counter back inside. He shows very good hand use and doesn’t let blockers get into his body. He is one of the better pursuit players I have seen showing speed and taking excellent angles. If there is any drawback it’s that his arm length is only 32.87. You would like a minimum of 33 but 1/8 of inch isn’t anything to worry about especially because of his excellent hand use. Going into the draft I thought he would be a fit for most 3-4 teams as an OLB and teams like Chicago, Minnesota and Philly in 4-3 schemes. They want their DE’s to be upfield pressure players and that is what McClellin is. He’s a very good pick.
Alshon Jeffery – WR – South Carolina
Every scout agrees that Jeffery is a very talented receiver. He was a 3 year starter and one of the best receivers in the SEC. The worry was that he played at 235 in 2011 and that is too heavy for him to be effective in the NFL. Having talked to a person very close to Jeffery I have learned that he did not have the best eating habits and once he learned about proper nutrition he has controlled his weight. At the Combine he was 215 and was 212 at his pro day when he put up excellent numbers. He ran a 4.49 40, 36.5 VJ, 10’2 LJ, 4.09 20 shuttle and a 6.71 3-cone. Those numbers are on par with the most athletic receivers in this class. Yes, there is a worry that he could revert back to 230-plus, but I think his desire to be a top player won’t allow it.
Jeffery is a big receiver at 6-3 but because of his length he plays like he is 6-5. He has great hands and excellent ability to adjust to the ball and is a strong runner after the catch. I see Jeffery starting opposite Brandon Marshall in Chicago. When you add either Devin Hester or Earl Bennett inside the Bears will create some big time matchup problems. Defenses will have to decide who they can double and that will free up the others. In my opinion this too was an excellent pick.
Brandon Hardin – DC/DS – Oregon State
Hardin is an interesting pick, as he missed the entire 2011 season because he broke his shoulder during training camp last summer. He made a full recovery and was able to play at the East-West Shrine game and played well. He has great size at 6027 and 217 and runs 4.43. I know some scouts had him in under 4.4 at his pro day. He also did 24 reps of 225, which is rare for a DB.
Hardin played corner at Oregon State and showed that he could play excellent press coverage. He has a strong jam and turns quickly showing very good mirror skills. In zone he is very alert and reacts well to the ball in the air. Where he can struggle a little at corner is when playing off. He just isn’t quite as sudden in transition as you would want a corner to be.
One of the best parts of his game is run support and tackling. He is a fearless run support guy and can be a blowup tackler. You don’t see many corners as aggressive as this guy. The Bears plan to use Hardin at safety where he can easily match up against the athletic tight ends in the league. Pairing him with Chris Conte, last year’s third round pick, will give Chicago two of the tallest and athletic safeties in the league.
With Hardin not playing in 2011, could the Bears have gotten Hardin a little later? Maybe, but his workout numbers were so strong and combined with his good tape from 2010 it was no sure thing. To get a physical corner/safety at this point in the draft is a gift horse you have to take. I believe it was a very good pick.
Overall, the thing that stands out about Emery’s first draft is he is drafting size-speed players. Emery was a strength coach before he got into scouting and that background gives him an appreciation of athletic skills. Look for more of the same the rest of the draft.
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Pretty much in line with what we're all coming to understand about these guys. Emery made some shrewd moves in FA and he's repeated them here in the draft. Gabe didn't get around to Rodriguez here but that was another similar move to add what we didn't already have and that it about 180 degrees opposite of JA's style.
Every one of the first four picks is a guy who fills a gap in our need for talent. McClellin is that faster, smaller annoyingly difficult to block MF who is gonna make a lot of big plays behind the line of scrimmage. Jeffrey is a redzone monster to pair with Davis and Marshall and even up-field Gabe is right. Who you gonna chose to cover? When we bring out Marshall, Jeffrey, Bennett and Hester as our top four pass catchers you're gonna hear a lot of "oh shit now they have a passing game too" from DC's in the league.
Hardin is a direct answer to all the bigger faster TE's everyone has to have now and in run support he's about the size of another LB who can hit like a freight train. Once he and Conte get settled in at Safety we just got a lot bigger and a lot scarier there over the last two years. Both of these guy were college CB's and they have CB type speed to go along with size. Rodriguez plays a TE position I can't recall us using for a long time if ever. Emery calls him a "F" type or "move" TE which is the same thing we used to call an HBack. You flank him out in the slot to block LB's not OT's and with his WR like speed he can run seam routes for you and give the defenses just one more guy to worry about in the deep middle.
Our defense won't change all that much as a result of these additions. It will just get better by being bigger and faster but the offense will. Get off the bus running will now become running and passing and attacking you anywhere you show a weak spot. For the first time in all my years of watching a Bears offense they have multiple ways to hurt you with top talent in all of the skill positions. Look at who plays in those spots now and compare it to 6 years ago when we went to a SB.
QB's; Cutler and Campbell
RB's; Forte, Bush, Bell
FB's; Clutts
TE's; Davis, Spaeth, Rodriguez
WR's, Marshall, Bennett, Jeffrey, Hester
And then the spare parts; McCown, Unga, Smith, Sanz, Weems, Thomas
Hell we were starting guys like the "spare parts" 5 years ago. Everyone worries about the Oline but we added some depth and the guys we have got better as the season progressed in 2011 even without their two best lineman. Lovie says it ans it's true. Getting Carimi back alone is like we drafted an OT in the first round and he's as good or better than anyone we could have taken this year except Kalil. CWill also returns and possibly at LT if Webb doesn't improve and if not he was still our best OG before he got hurt. That's at least as good as having gotten another vet OG/OT in FA and if Tice can bring Rachal up to par he's a good find.
This is a far better team than the 2010 version or the 2011 version.
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 
Pretty much in line with what we're all coming to understand about these guys. Emery made some shrewd moves in FA and he's repeated them here in the draft. Gabe didn't get around to Rodriguez here but that was another similar move to add what we didn't already have and that it about 180 degrees opposite of JA's style.
Every one of the first four picks is a guy who fills a gap in our need for talent. McClellin is that faster, smaller annoyingly difficult to block MF who is gonna make a lot of big plays behind the line of scrimmage. Jeffrey is a redzone monster to pair with Davis and Marshall and even up-field Gabe is right. Who you gonna chose to cover? When we bring out Marshall, Jeffrey, Bennett and Hester as our top four pass catchers you're gonna hear a lot of "oh shit now they have a passing game too" from DC's in the league.
Hardin is a direct answer to all the bigger faster TE's everyone has to have now and in run support he's about the size of another LB who can hit like a freight train. Once he and Conte get settled in at Safety we just got a lot bigger and a lot scarier there over the last two years. Both of these guy were college CB's and they have CB type speed to go along with size. Rodriguez plays a TE position I can't recall us using for a long time if ever. Emery calls him a "F" type or "move" TE which is the same thing we used to call an HBack. You flank him out in the slot to block LB's not OT's and with his WR like speed he can run seam routes for you and give the defenses just one more guy to worry about in the deep middle.
Our defense won't change all that much as a result of these additions. It will just get better by being bigger and faster but the offense will. Get off the bus running will now become running and passing and attacking you anywhere you show a weak spot. For the first time in all my years of watching a Bears offense they have multiple ways to hurt you with top talent in all of the skill positions. Look at who plays in those spots now and compare it to 6 years ago when we went to a SB.
QB's; Cutler and Campbell
RB's; Forte, Bush, Bell
FB's; Clutts
TE's; Davis, Spaeth, Rodriguez
WR's, Marshall, Bennett, Jeffrey, Hester
And then the spare parts; McCown, Unga, Smith, Sanz, Weems, Thomas
Hell we were starting guys like the "spare parts" 5 years ago. Everyone worries about the Oline but we added some depth and the guys we have got better as the season progressed in 2011 even without their two best lineman. Lovie says it ans it's true. Getting Carimi back alone is like we drafted an OT in the first round and he's as good or better than anyone we could have taken this year except Kalil. CWill also returns and possibly at LT if Webb doesn't improve and if not he was still our best OG before he got hurt. That's at least as good as having gotten another vet OG/OT in FA and if Tice can bring Rachal up to par he's a good find.
This is a far better team than the 2010 version or the 2011 version.
Well said, Soul. This is the best Chicago Bears team all around in a long time on paper. Now, barring major injuries, it's up to the (improved) coaching staff to use their chess pieces more wisely than Martz did and execute on the field. Turn potential into performance and we look like a very strong contender for the NFC Title.
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We can even sustain a few injuries as long as they don't take down our "bell-cows" like Cutler, Urlacher and Pep. I've never seen a Bears team this deep in certain spots. We could still stand to beef up a little more but even if we stood pat from here it's still a hell or good looking roster.
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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Fellas, I think that at the very least, we will be in the playoffs as a Wild Card team this year, but to be perfectly honest, I think we're going to win the division. We have so much talent now. Last year, we had the best defense in the NFC North despite the fact that it got raped in the latter stages of the season as a result of the offense hardly staying on the field long enough to give the defense some rest. This year, the defense just got a lot better with McClellin and Hardin being added in the draft, and who is to say that Frey won't make a solid corner back in the National Football League, or at least be a capable NB?
Look. WE HAVE, according to, I think MP, FOUR RECEIVERS WHO ARE OVER 6'0"!!! This is unheard of for us. Mike Martz liked all of his receivers to be shorter, around 5'10" or 5'11". Mike Tice is a realist when he said to the media that he wanted big receivers who can go up and grab passes. Well, he's got two of them now, one who is 6'3" (Jeffery) and a rookie, and another who is 6'4" and a perennial Pro Bowler (Brandon Marshall). Add in Bennett, Hester, and Thomas, and when we go to five receiver sets, opposing defensive coordinators are going to be scratching their heads wondering where this new and improved version of the Monsters of the Midway came from.
Also, we have Forte, Bush, and Bell in the backfield, with Clutts as the fullback. We will easily have the most dynamic running attack in the NFC North, along with being as potent in the passing game as the Packers and Lions.
Then, there's the vaunted special teams unit that finishes every year at the top of the league. Devin Hester is the greatest kick returner of all time, and he completely changes the complexion of the game with his speed - you have to account for him at all times, so often times, punters and kickers kick the ball away from Hester and out of bounds, giving us great field position. Won't our offense love that?
The bottom line is this: these aren't your daddy's or your granddaddy's Chicago Bears. This team is the type of team that fans have been dreaming of for nearly 30 years. This may be the best team coming into 2012 on paper the Bears have had since the 1980s; it's certainly more talented top-to-bottom than the 2006 NFC Championship team. If our defense plays like it's capable of playing now, we'll win the division, and maybe, just maybe, we will celebrate our 10th NFL World Championship.
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I agree - we have much more talent at most positions, however on both sides of the trenches - where it all begins, the SB champ Bears had some really great talent.
One thing I feel bad about this year is Knox. The guy was on the field being a producer when it was rough making catches becasue Cutler didn't have a lot of time on many plays. This year he could really have shined with the extra talent on the field. Hate to see him have to sit it out, but he is still on the team, so if we should get so lucky to win the big one he'd still get a ring - but it's not the same as helping to win it.
Originally Posted by
Dagan81 Fellas, I think that at the very least, we will be in the playoffs as a Wild Card team this year, but to be perfectly honest, I think we're going to win the division. We have so much talent now. Last year, we had the best defense in the NFC North despite the fact that it got raped in the latter stages of the season as a result of the offense hardly staying on the field long enough to give the defense some rest. This year, the defense just got a lot better with McClellin and Hardin being added in the draft, and who is to say that Frey won't make a solid corner back in the National Football League, or at least be a capable NB?
Look. WE HAVE, according to, I think MP, FOUR RECEIVERS WHO ARE OVER 6'0"!!! This is unheard of for us. Mike Martz liked all of his receivers to be shorter, around 5'10" or 5'11". Mike Tice is a realist when he said to the media that he wanted big receivers who can go up and grab passes. Well, he's got two of them now, one who is 6'3" (Jeffery) and a rookie, and another who is 6'4" and a perennial Pro Bowler (Brandon Marshall). Add in Bennett, Hester, and Thomas, and when we go to five receiver sets, opposing defensive coordinators are going to be scratching their heads wondering where this new and improved version of the Monsters of the Midway came from.
Also, we have Forte, Bush, and Bell in the backfield, with Clutts as the fullback. We will easily have the most dynamic running attack in the NFC North, along with being as potent in the passing game as the Packers and Lions.
Then, there's the vaunted special teams unit that finishes every year at the top of the league. Devin Hester is the greatest kick returner of all time, and he completely changes the complexion of the game with his speed - you have to account for him at all times, so often times, punters and kickers kick the ball away from Hester and out of bounds, giving us great field position. Won't our offense love that?
The bottom line is this: these aren't your daddy's or your granddaddy's Chicago Bears. This team is the type of team that fans have been dreaming of for nearly 30 years. This may be the best team coming into 2012 on paper the Bears have had since the 1980s; it's certainly more talented top-to-bottom than the 2006 NFC Championship team. If our defense plays like it's capable of playing now, we'll win the division, and maybe, just maybe, we will celebrate our 10th NFL World Championship.
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It doesn't look good but I won't count Knox out yet, at least no down for the count. He's had to battle his way into the league and God knows he'll want to stay there. He turned down an extension like Bennett got so he's still playing for short money. That's motivation enough to get back to 100% again. I don't think we'll ever see him as a KR any longer but as a WR yeah, I think he'll make a comeback.
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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God bless Johnny Knox. He was/is a true warrior on the field.
Houston, there is no doubt that the 1985 Bears had great talent on both sides of the ball, but you have to admit that, with the exception of running back and the offensive line, the 2012 offense is going to be far more explosive than the '85 team ever dreamt of being provided that it lives up to all the hype.
We don't have Walter Payton; we instead have a greedy and very selfish RB in Matt Forte who is very talented, but is not the best in the league like Payton was during his day at every aspect of the position. Our offensive line doesn't have that killer anchor like Jimbo Covert; instead, we have J'Marcus Webb, who is rated as the worst left tackle in the NFL right now, and the rest of the line is a patch work of players that probably will be much improved over the long off season, but will still not be as good as the '85 team outside of maybe Carimi at RT.
The 1985 wide receivers were good, but they were not dynamic like receivers like Brandon Marshall and what I think Alshon Jeffery has the potential of being like. I never thought Willie Gault was anything more than a zoom-on-down-the-field type anyway, and McKinnon was probably the closest to being like the receivers that we have this year in how he goes across the middle.
And come on, Jay Cutler vs. Jim McMahon? I take Cutler there, hands down.
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Dagan - I agree - that's why I singled out the two lines as being better. I think as far as the rest of the team goes (well, the 85 Bears had better S also), I think this team is better. I would even argue we are better at even RB. Payton was one of the very best, but he was nearing the end of his career and we have three good backs now.
The thing is that having two dominant lines opens the game up for you and makes everyone better. If we had that component with todays team, I would argue that we would be a favorite to get to the SB
Originally Posted by
Dagan81 God bless Johnny Knox. He was/is a true warrior on the field.
Houston, there is no doubt that the 1985 Bears had great talent on both sides of the ball, but you have to admit that, with the exception of running back and the offensive line, the 2012 offense is going to be far more explosive than the '85 team ever dreamt of being provided that it lives up to all the hype.
We don't have Walter Payton; we instead have a greedy and very selfish RB in Matt Forte who is very talented, but is not the best in the league like Payton was during his day at every aspect of the position. Our offensive line doesn't have that killer anchor like Jimbo Covert; instead, we have J'Marcus Webb, who is rated as the worst left tackle in the NFL right now, and the rest of the line is a patch work of players that probably will be much improved over the long off season, but will still not be as good as the '85 team outside of maybe Carimi at RT.
The 1985 wide receivers were good, but they were not dynamic like receivers like Brandon Marshall and what I think Alshon Jeffery has the potential of being like. I never thought Willie Gault was anything more than a zoom-on-down-the-field type anyway, and McKinnon was probably the closest to being like the receivers that we have this year in how he goes across the middle.
And come on, Jay Cutler vs. Jim McMahon? I take Cutler there, hands down.
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Here's what I love: We were all getting sick of Angelo picking athletes over true football players so most, if not all, of us were hoping Emery would start picking up football players. But, he went out and did something even better. He picked up athletic football players! That's brilliant! lol Not sure why Angelo never figured this out, but Emery already has. Of course, we need to see how these picks pan out, but I feel pretty optimistic about that.
"Give 100%. 110% is impossible. Only idiots recommend that." - Ron Swanson
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