Offensive Players to Avoid at Projected Spots

Thought this may be of general interest because three of the five guys listed have been discussed a Bears first draft choice. The author isn't a well respected draft guru but he does give reasons why each is being touted at picks above where he feels they should go.

He's not saying that they will be NFL busts just that they're overrated at the spot many predict they will be drafted at.

Sorry all I could provide is a link. It's a slide show format so it won't copy over complete.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/6...ft-spot#page/1

bleacherreport

None the less I thought that his views on these players was accurate enough to not discard out of hand. The one of greatest interest to me is the one he does on Solder. Everything he's saying is exactly what I've observed watching the guy play. CU has been hyping the crap out of the guy because they're trying to turn around their program and a couple of NFL first rounder will help.

Despite the hype the guy is still a major work in progress before he becomes a starting LT in the NFL. It's always been hard for me to see just how excited some got about him a while back. At least now the sobriety is setting in and just like the emperors new clothes people are seeing just how naked he is in NFL ready skills.

I'm a Colorado native just like Solder so I should be pulling for the guy but in no way do I want to see this guy in a Bears uniform next year. To me he would be the most disappointing pick we could make.

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Originally Posted by soulman

None the less I thought that his views on these players was accurate enough to not discard out of hand. The one of greatest interest to me is the one he does on Solder. Everything he's saying is exactly what I've observed watching the guy play. CU has been hyping the crap out of the guy because they're trying to turn around their program and a couple of NFL first rounder will help.

Despite the hype the guy is still a major work in progress before he becomes a starting LT in the NFL. It's always been hard for me to see just how excited some got about him a while back. At least now the sobriety is setting in and just like the emperors new clothes people are seeing just how naked he is in NFL ready skills.

I'm a Colorado native just like Solder so I should be pulling for the guy but in no way do I want to see this guy in a Bears uniform next year. To me he would be the most disappointing pick we could make.

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Strengths

-He has the size that you need at LT complete with the long arms.

-He has a great kick slide and the best feet in the draft.

-He is an explosive athlete that comes off the ball hard in the run game.

-He has an unquestioned work ethic.

Weaknesses

-He over sets and does not fully understand taking away the angles from the defenders.

-He has inconsistent hand placement, which leads to problems.

-He needs more, not a ton more, but more upper body strength.

I do not think it is just CU who is in love with this guy he is a freak of nature and his footwork is not bad, that is an OL coaches wet dream.

If you asked me would I take a LT with a great frame, nimble feet and explosion off the ball, but he has technique issues and needs to get stronger I would in a heart beat.

Technique and strength can be taught, it is why we employ coaches. The size and athletic ability cannot be taught.

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Originally Posted by WindyCity

Strengths

-He has the size that you need at LT complete with the long arms.

-He has a great kick slide and the best feet in the draft.

-He is an explosive athlete that comes off the ball hard in the run game.

-He has an unquestioned work ethic.

Weaknesses

-He over sets and does not fully understand taking away the angles from the defenders.

-He has inconsistent hand placement, which leads to problems.

-He needs more, not a ton more, but more upper body strength.

I do not think it is just CU who is in love with this guy he is a freak of nature and his footwork is not bad, that is an OL coaches wet dream.

If you asked me would I take a LT with a great frame, nimble feet and explosion off the ball, but he has technique issues and needs to get stronger I would in a heart beat.

Technique and strength can be taught, it is why we employ coaches. The size and athletic ability cannot be taught.

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Think what you want Windy but the guy who wrote the article nailed it pretty good. You highlight his athleticism but being a good athlete does not neccessarily make you a great football player. To me Solder might be better off if he dropped 20-30 lbs and remained a TE. But that wouldn't get him the rating or paycheck he'll get as an OT.

Windy I've seen the guy play both live and on TV and he's just not all that and a bar of chips like some would like to believe. He's not a geat run blocker, he needs more weight and strength to play in the NFL, and he has a boat load of technical issues with his pass blocking. He's a converted TE who is still learning the ropes at LT and even with Tice's coaching he maybe a year or more away from starting. That alone is why I wouldn't take him with our first round pick. The other is that if he fails at LT he's really not built to play anywhere else. This guy has big risk written all over him.