SB Nation - D.J. Moore

Breaking Down Kentucky at Vanderbilt

Anything but Gatorade — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:01:36 -0000

Take the above image and repeat about five or six times and you have Commies at Cats, 2008. Several blogs lately have pointed out that the Doormat Bowl has evolved from answering the question of "who's going to be at the bottom of the league" to "who's going to be at the bottom of the league, but also gets to go to a bowl?" That wasn't the case in 2008, as Kentucky got torched and still went to the Liberty Bowl. It might not be the case in 2009, either, as South Carolina or Tennessee could easily fail their way to the same East basement that Vandy and UK have struggled so mightily to climb out of. Of course, every conference game is important, but, because UK/VU tends to happen so late in the season, it always seems like a fulcrum-type game, and 2009 looks to shape up that way, too. Chris Low calls the game a "fork in the road" for Kentucky, and Team Speed Kills calls it one of the 10 games that will shape the SEC this year.

Cocknfire over at TSK does a pretty good job breaking down the game, and I've taken a look at it myself recently, albeit a brief one. Of all the games on the schedule this year for both the Cats and Commodores, this was the hardest one for me to pick (or push). Here's a deeper look, and why it's probably not going to matter come November 14th anyway:

Coaches: Rich Brooks (123-150-4 in 24 total collegiate seasons, 32-41 in 7 years at UK); Bobby Johnson (87-92 in 16 collegiate seasons, 27-56 in 8 years at Vanderbilt). Oddly enough, Bobby Johnson is the longest tenured coach in the SEC. Both of these guys can really coach, and both have led historic turnarounds in their schools' football programs. I'll say this for Coach Johnson, though: he's done more with much less, and also without an athletic department. Brooks's efforts and success have been well documented, and the fact that he's still here after two and a half miserable seasons due to probation, etc., is a testament to his abilities and philosophy.

Offenses: Vanderbilt's offensive line last year was, in a word, bad. Luckily, they had fleet-footed Chris Nickson under center to scramble around behind them. Unluckily, Nickson's list of options was fairly limited: dump it off to someone who wasn't covered, try and run for yards, throw it away, or take a hard sack. The latter two options were the ones most often employed. Spelling Nickson occasionally was Mackenzi Adams, who played well enough in his opportunities but not so well to get the starting nod for 2009. It's my expectation that Larry Smith will get that honor, and he's got much better blockers this time around. Short white guy running back Jared Hawkins returns to a role he was oddly effective in last year. The receivers are young, and that's probably the biggest question mark in the whole unit (aside from "who the hell is that guy, these jerks don't put names on their jerseys").

Ken's going through this sort of thing for Kentucky, but the line for the Cats this year should be pretty good. Christian Johnson, Jorge Gonzales, and Zipp Duncan are all coming back, and T.C. Drake must've accidentally gotten his name on some watch list for tight ends. The receivers were bad last year aside from Dicky Lyons, Jr. and Randall Cobb, but showed some promise in the bowl game. The running backs are good, but it would be nice to see some gains between the tackles. I'm pulling for Hartline because it's too soon to throw a freshman into the SEC meat grinder and Cobb's way more effective in open space than behind center.

Who gets the edge? Like so many things about these teams, there's not much room for a difference. There are lots of questions at receiver. The lines are both good, though I'd give Kentucky's a better grade. I'd give Hartline a push at QB because even though he's more experienced, he wasn't good last year. Kentucky's got more proven backs than the Dores do. I'll give the Cats a slight advantage here.

Defenses: Vanderbilt's defense is why they made it to a bowl last year. D.J. Moore was a nightmare for everyone who faced him, and he had a freakin' coming out party against Kentucky last year. Fortunately for the Cats, he's gone now. In his place, though, are Myron Lewis, Jamie Graham, and Ryan Hamilton, all effective tacklers and coverage backs. The defensive line returns most of its starters, and the linebackers are an experienced group as well.

Kentucky's secondary is equal to if not better than Vanderbilt's, returning Trevard Lindley, Ashton Cobb, Paul Warford, and Matt Lentz. The linebackers are also a talented group, with Micah Johnson returning along with Sam Maxwell and Danny Trevathan. The question marks are all up front, especially at the ends.

Edge here is even more difficult to tell. Will Kentucky's D-line firm up by November 14? How much of a pounding has each unit taken over the season? The interesting part is the offense-defense matchup; neither offense is expected to be especially effective, so the defenses might be better than we think in this game. Push.

Special Teams: I'm not a Lones Seiber fan. Here's hoping he gets his act together this year, because if Kentucky wants to win games, field goals are probably going to be pretty important. Vanderbilt returns Music City Bowl MVP punter Brett Upson, who is about as good as Tim Masthay was in terms of putting the other team in a hole as far as field position. Ryan Tiddlywinks (I can't spell his last name without looking it up) will probably have his hands full this year unless the Wildcat offense becomes much more effective at keeping the ball.

Kentucky's bread and butter in the past has been its return game, and I don't see this year being any different with any combination of Randall Cobb, Alfonso Smith, Gene McCaskill, Derrick Locke, and Kyrus Lanxter filling those roles. They can't catch passes consistently, but at least the catch punts and kickoffs. I'm not totally sure who'll be returning kicks for the Dores this year, but I'd have to think Jamie Graham will probably be in the mix.

This is a push for me because even though I think the Cats have the better return unit, I have no confidence in their kicking ability until further notice, and Brett Upson is a stud.

Schedule: Vanderbilt plays 12 uninterrupted weeks this year and the Kentucky game falls on Week 11 of their schedule. This game will be the 10th consecutive game on the Wildcats' schedule also. Kentucky goes through the meat grinder a little earlier than the Dores do, playing Florida and Alabama in the first five weeks of the season, but they get a break before going to Nashville in the Eastern and Louisiana-Monroe games. Vanderbilt will be coming off a brutal stretch of games against Georgia, at South Carolina, Georgia Tech, and at Florida. No way do they make it through there without some injuries, so the lines and backs might be pretty dinged up at that point. It's a home game for the Commies, but Kentucky always travels well down to Nashville and the Dores have a tough time filling their stadium.

Conclusion: I think that the constant pounding in Vandy's schedule and what I hope is an emerging offense from UK will be too much for the Dores to overcome. Thing is, though, this game is always hard-fought and extremely important to both teams, and anything can happen. When the week before this game rolls around in a few months, you can probably throw all of the above out the window. Just be careful when you do that, though, there might be a person down there.

Live-blogging Bobby Johnson

cocknfire — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:26:23 -0000

3:25 p.m. ET Bobby Johnson says Vanderbilt wants to "take advantage of some momentum we have with our program." It must be nice for him to be able to say that. It's not easy to do that when you play 12 straight weeks -- something Johnson's "not happy" with.

3:30 p.m. ET Johnson said he voted for Tim Tebow. He seemed to do so reluctantly, almost as if facing an interrogation by Mossad. "I don't know if y'all are going to find the culprit who didn't vote."

3:32 p.m. ET Someone points out that D.J. Moore is gone. Johnson begins to weep quietly. That cheering you hear at the back of the room is Michael Hartline. I might have made all of that up except the Moore question being asked. Great natural player. "He's going to go on and I think do well in the NFL."

3:34 p.m. ET "I think it was satisfying but it was also necessary."

3:35 p.m. ET Going to Baton Rouge is a tough game. "There's no easy way to schedule them."

3:36 p.m. ET I want to ask Johnson about whether his team won games based on luck, but I just can't bring myself to rain on his parade here.

3:37 p.m ET "We weren't seeking respect. We were seeking to do the best we can do with our program."

3:42 p.m. ET I find a way to get the question in -- very tight games, one play one way or the other, is the next level winning more comfortably. "We won games like that. We lost games like that."

3:43 p.m. ET "We expect to compete for championships." No, that bowl game berth hasn't gone to his head at all.

Stack-Ups: Did Anybody Ever Tell You That You Look Like a Shorter, Clumsier Julio Jones?

Ivory Tower — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:00:49 -0000

Winning the SEC West requires a mixture of coaching, discipline, and luck. And to some extent, you just need to be better than everyone else in the Division. Or the really good team needs to be on probation at the moment. It's June, and that means here at RCR, we are just throwing words at the internet and seeing what sticks. Stack-Ups are what's sticking today.

Last week, we compared the SEC West's quarterbacks. And Gonzo was there in full force; so that was the bomb.

Today, we're all about that position that kinda sounds like "quarterback" when Larry Munson says it: cornerbacks (and safeties). DEFENSIVE BACKS!

ALABAMA

It is amazing - and indicative that the Tide is still quite talented - that when talking about Alabama, the punditry is not automatically talking about Javier Arenas. He is far more important to the Tide as a return man than as a cornerback, but for a guy that had 44 solo tackles (14 more than the more-heralded defender D.J. Moore at Vanderbilt) he ain't half bad at the day job. Justin Woodall brings back four interceptions. And Kareem Jackson is listed as a returning starter, as well at the other cornerback slot. Of course, these are the same guys that gave up 336 yards through the air to Utah, so only so much can be said for bringing back last year's guys. As a unit, these fellows return 9 interceptions, which is certainly a satisfactory number, if not electrifying. It's a group that has frustrating written all over it for Tide fans because, with all the experience returned, they are still going to give up big performances by the more challenging aerial attacks.

ARKANSAS

If everybody scored secondaries the way I score golf rounds, the 2008 Hog defensive backs would have a real argument that they were among the best in the SEC; nay the whole country. Instead, they finished tenth in the SEC and got lit the heck up by people like Mike Hartline, Tyson Lee, and whoever plays quarterback for UL-Monroe and Tulsa. (Full disclosure, the Rebels, don't forget, finished last in the SEC in pass defense, but we'll get to that in due time) This unit is full of guys whose middle name must be "If he can step up this season ..." and hopes of JUCO transfer production. Those JUCO's are named Anthony Leon and Rudell Crim (am I the only one who wishes Anthony Leon would transpose his name so that the Arkansas' secondary could be anchored by the very Arkansas-sounding tandem of "Leon and Rudell?"). It's not a top-flight squad, and adding insult to injury is that the guy about whom they ought to be most excited, Elton Ford, has been out since a neck injury in last year's game against Hootin' Dale.

AUBURN

Defensive backs, in keeping with a pretty respectable tradition on the plains, look to be the highlight of, perhaps, the whole team. The team leading tacklers last season, Mike McNeil and Zac Ethridge, are both still in school with eligibility (so, "returning" in one sense), but both missed time this spring with injuries (so, "returning" has something of a flexible timetable). Oh, and Jarraud Powers' replacement, senior Aairon Savage, is recovering from a knee injury. This is all to say that if the staff at Plains General Hospital can do for Auburn's safeties and cornerbacks what they haven't been able to do for Gregory House, the returning talent for what was a good Auburn defense ought to see an upgrade from "stable" to "wicked awesome."

LSU

Honorary Rebel Chris Low swears these guys will be better this year. And one thing, they don't lack is depth. Another thing they don't lack is coaching. Everybody seems to be a John Chavis fan; count me among the everybodies. Chavis moved their leading tackler from last year, Harry Coleman, from safety to linebacker. They're happy with Chad Jones at free safety and Patrick Peterson at cornerback. And, supposedly, Cornerback-to-Safety convert Ron Brooks is the class of this deep field. What's the storyline you keep hearing, though? Oh, yes, it's that, for all the hype, no one in this group was really a game-changer last year. Blue-faced professions of talent only go so far. The production on the field is yet to be seen.

MISSISSIPPI STATE

Ole Miss fans wish many happy returns to Derek Pegues, who parlayed a disappointing senior season into a disappointing draft day. But now he's gone, and nobody on this staff will be for State what Pegues as for the Maroon in 2007. Between their projected starters (Zach Smith and Charles Mitchell at Safety; Marcus Washington and Damien Anderson at Corner), there are just about 7 or 8 starts. I should also note that Jerrell Powe has infinitely more interceptions (1) than their projected starting secondary. I'm sure that, in reality, State's secondary will be serviceable (as it usually is) and, statistically, it might actually look semi-impressive (at some point teams will stop throwing the ball against them).

OLE MISS

In Oxford, for the first time in what seems like a long time, people aren't just talking about violations when they say "secondary." The defensive MVP of the Cotton Bowl, Marshay Green, looked good in spring practice. The Rebels have, I might say similarly to Alabama, solid experience at the position (if that experience was not all good). This unit was dead last in the conference in pass defense in 2008, and their solid performance in the Cotton Bowl may just have been the Dr. Jekyll to a more more prevalent Mr. Hyde. However, we can look to Kendrick Lewis, the second-leading tackler among Safeties in the SEC last year, to provide leadership along with Marshay. I expect moderate improvement.

WRAP-UP:

Every SEC West team ought to be a little tentative about calling its defensive backs "The Best in the West." Where some teams lack talent, they have experience. Where others lack experience, they have talent. And some teams might not have a whole lot of either. The punditry, though, seem pretty well agreed that LSU has too much depth, speed, and the leadership of old men not to turn things around and be a special unit. Who am I to disagree?

1. LSU

2. Auburn

3. Alabama

4. Ole Miss

5. Mississippi State

6. Arkansas

RCR Readership: Ranking the SEC

Juco All-American — Tue, 05 May 2009 19:00:13 -0000

While it's almost certainly too early to do this, I don't care. There's nothing going on right now, and I felt like our readers should at least have something to do today.

So here it is.

How would you rank the SEC football teams going into this upcoming season?

My ranking follows after the jump.

1. Florida - entering next season, every team in the SEC has questions except Florida. They are poised to win another national championship. Why did they have to be so incredible the one year that Ole Miss has any hope of going to the SEC Championship game? Two years ago, Orson Swindle described LSU as a werewolf with a chainsaw for a dick. This year, that's an adequate description of Florida.

2. Ole Miss - Yes. This is a homer pick by me. I don't care. After hearing several things about the improvement of our offensive line lately, I think we're the favorites to win the west. We have proven players at every single position (if we count OL as one position).

3. Alabama - Saban has stockpiled a ton of talent. Having to break in new QB Greg McElroy is the only reason I wouldn't put Alabama ahead of us.

4. South Carolina - I think that this year's Spurrier-led team is going to surprise a lot of people. This season could be one that makes Spurrier's lifetime membership at Augusta all worth it.

5. LSU - I don't think Jordan Jefferson is good enough to take this team to the next level. I just don't. They lost a ton of players on defense as well as several important pieces on offense. I know this pick will be unpopular among LSU fans, but I don't care. Geaux to hell LSU.

6. Georgia - Wow. It has to suck to approach a rebuilding year after a disappointing season. Georgia fans have to be wondering at what point it's couth of them to ask Richt to play for a national championship.

7. Arkansas - I think Arkansas is going to surprise several people this season, just not as much as some other people are predicting. The fact that they travel to LSU, Florida, Alabama, and Ole Miss means it's going to be tough to get over the hump. Things are looking up in Fayetteville though. And, by "things," I mean "people," and by "looking up," I mean "obsessively searching websites for Houston Nutt references, filing FOIA requests, and making sure that any mode of transportation associated with Bobby Petrino is completely devoid of fuel at all times.... yes, that does mean his own feet."

8. Auburn - Auburn's offense lacks playmakers, and even Gus Malzahn (whose greatness cannot be understated by Arkansas fans) can't make Kodi Burns an accurate passer. Auburn looks to have put a solid staff together outside of the head coach though, and with the unimportance of a head coach in modern football, they really could go far. Just, not this year.

9. Tennessee - Signing David Oku and Bryce Brown puts Tennessee in the (prestigious) top nine. Still, they're going to be a game that everyone circles on the schedule. Gator bait, Hey Vols, Go Dores, etc.

10. Kentucky - It's amazing that Kentucky comes in tenth on this list. I don't think they're a really bad team. They just don't stack up with the "top" nine.

11. Vanderbilt - Bowl hopes are very low without DJ Moore. Oh well, Commodore seniors. At least you have that fallback plan in nuclear physics or Slavic linguistics.

12. Mississippi State - Why do I even have to explain? Tyson Lee? Three scholarshiped receivers? The worst O-line in the SEC? A defense that loses Derek Pegues and Keith Fitzhugh? Mississippi State is certainly the worst team in the SEC at this point, and it's not just because they misspelled Mississippi on a campus sign or one of their players' names on his jersey--they just don't have what it takes to win right now.

The Bears Den - 5/5/09

ChiFan13 — Tue, 05 May 2009 05:00:13 -0000

....where we can't tell who we dislike more: Jason McKie or Rashied Davis.

In The Den

Chicago Sun-Times

Looks like Jerry and Lovie are worried about Brett Favre going to the Vikings.

D.J. Moore and Al Afalava had good minicamps and added to the muddled safety positions.

At this point, Afalava will miss most of the OTA's due to the NFL's school rule.

Mike Brown is still without a job and Lovie seems happy with who he has at both safety spots.

Brad Biggs thinks that the confidence that Lovie has for Graham in the safety spot actually shows confidence in Vasher.

Guess what? Don't expect Will Ta'ufo'ou to unseat Jason McKie. Sounds like the coaching staff is happy with McKie.

Chicago Tribune

Steve Rosenbloom is really excited about the Favre-to-Minny rumor.

Daily Herald

Bob LeGere thinks that Marcus Freeman was a big steal for the Bears. He also thinks that he's a traditional Will backer but will see more action at the Sam this year.

Ball State P Chris Miller is hoping to get an invite to Bears training camp.

Official Chicago Bears Website

Formers Bears Steve McMichael and Ken Margerum will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Are you going to be at the Bears Expo? If so, Jay Cutler, Matt Forte, Orlando Pace, and Greg Olsen will be doing a Q&A session.

Meet Your 2009 Chicago Bears Draft Picks!

ChiFan13 — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:23:10 -0000

Here are your 2009 NFL Draft picks!

Round	Pick	Overall	Name	Position	School
3	4	68	Jarron Gilbert	DT	San Jose State
3	35	99	Juaquin Iglesias	WR	Oklahoma
4	5	105	Henry Melton	DE	Texas
4	19	119	D.J. Moore	CB	Vanderbilt
5	4	140	Johnny Knox	WR	Abilene Christian
5	18	154	Marcus Freeman	OLB	Ohio State
6	17	190	Al Afalava	S	Oregon State
7	37	246	Lance Louis	TE	San Diego State
7	42	251	Derek Kinder	WR	Pittsburgh

Let's run down our new prospects. All videos are courtesy of CloudyFuture.

Jarron Gilbert, DT, San Jose State
Height: 6'5" ¼ Weight: 288 lbs.

Combine: 4.87 (40); 28 reps (bench); 35 ½" (vertical); 9-11 (broad); 7.70 (cones); 4.56 (shuttle)

Breakdown (Fantasy Football Toolbox):

Gilbert gained fame when he made the now famous YouTube video in which he showed his athleticism by jumping out of the shallow section of a swimming pool in just one motion. He was very productive in college and was the Western Athletic Conference's co-defensive player of the year after registering 22 tackles for loss with 9.5 sacks.

Gilbert was the most impressive player at the San Jose State Pro Day. He ran a 4.76 40, which was faster than the 5.00 scouts projected. He has a good size/weight ratio and is very athletic and always in motion. Quick in and out of his stand, Gilbert is very flexible (can play inside or outside). He has good range and moves well in the second level.

However, Gilbert lacks mental toughness. He is still very raw and just needs more experience. He played most of his career as a defensive tackle, but has gotten by with pure athleticism against lesser opponents. His level of competition is a legitimate concern. Despite speed and agility, Gilbert moves awkward laterally. He also does not slide fluidly and tends to lose focus on inside plays.

Gilbert is a physical phenomenon; Big, strong and now, fast. The Spartan senior put up a show at the 2009 East-West Shrine Game. He followed his impressive showing with an even better one at the NFL Combine. Gilbert is a good third round pick who could pan out in the long run.

Video: Video 1; Video 2

San Jose State fan's take (BaronVonCurrentEvents): Anyway, Gilbert is a hell of a pick for the Bears. I was hoping he'd last until the 49ers' pick in the third round because he'd be excellent for their needs. He's extremely athletic and fast and has great size. San Jose State's defense was their strongest suit last season and Gilbert was the anchor of the D. He's used to the 4-3, so he should fit in just fine. Since he was a round 1 or 2 talent, you guys should consider this at least a minor steal. Keep in mind I'm a bit biased because I go to San Jose State, but I'm so proud of my guys getting drafted. With Gilbert and CB Christopher Owens going to Atlanta in the third round, my crappy school already has two guys drafted.

WCG's Take: I know it surprised a lot of people and I think most of us have come to terms with this and are ok with it. The Bears reportedly had a player they thought they could get at 49, but the Raiders picked him 2 in front of us, so we traded out. We then pick up one of the top guys left on Day 2.

Angelo traded for Cutler and he got him two new receivers later, so at this spot he stuck to Bears football. Last year we could not get to the QB and we could not stop the run without using our linebackers. We brought in Rod Marinelli to coach up our D-line and now Lovie is going to call the defense. Angelo got those two a player they can work with and fit into the game where needed.

I don't know how he projects to the pros or what he will become, but despite the need at other positions, I like the pick.

ChiFan13's Take: There is no doubt about Gilbert's athleticism. Regardless of where the Bears are going to play him, he offers some versatility. If injuries occur at either DE or DT, we will be able to plug Gilbert in. I expect him to play at DT, but the versatility is the key to me. Like every other third round prospect, he's going to need some coaching. Do not expect him to walk into camp and have a starting spot ready for him. Let Marinelli work his magic; I promise it will pay it off sooner rather than later.

Juaquin Iglesias, WR, Oklahoma
Height: 6'0"7/8 Weight: 210 lbs.

YEAR	REC	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD	ATT	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD	FUM	LST
2005	19	290	15.3	34	2	1	9	9.0	9	0	0	0
2006	41	514	12.5	37	2	2	6	3.0	4	0	0	0
2007	68	907	13.3	51	5	8	87	10.9	41	1	0	0
2008	74	1150	15.5	48	10	1	7	7.0	7	0	0	0

Combine: 4.54 (40); 34 ½" (vertical); 9-8 (broad); 4.40 (shuttle)

ChiFan13's Breakdown:

Pros: Great route-runner....no character issues....great vision after the catch....appears to take pride in his blocking....will not go down after the first hit....will go across the middle....above-average awareness along the sideline.

Cons: More quick than fast; will not be a deep threat....has some past fumbling issues....separation from corners at NFL level is a question mark.

Video: Video 1; Video 2; Video 3

Crimson and Cream Machine's Take (courtesy of Matt): Juaquin Iglesias led the Sooners last season in both receptions (74) and receiving yards (1,150) and was second in yards per reception (15.5) and touchdowns (10). He's got very good game speed and great hands. Playing in the shadow of Malcolm Kelly for three of his four years at Oklahoma we had seen glimpses of Iglesias' potential but in '08 he had his breakout year by becoming Sam Bradford's go to receiver.

Standing at an even 6-0 he most likely won't have the size to play on the outside but can be very dangerous from the slot and has proven that he only needs a little space to secure the ball.

WCG's Take: This is one of my favorite picks of our draft. I'm still reeling with all this talk about the Bears being on the phone with AZ about Boldin and not wanting to give up whatever else the Cards wanted, but I like this pick. In the SBN mock draft, I was considering Iglesias with our 2nd round pick. To get him with the 2nd 3rd round pick is value.

The thing I like the most about him is he has good hands. We have enough issues with dropped passes. A few years back we had Moose, Hester has some issues, Davis got nicknamed based on his bad hands. The rumors that the Bears would take Massaquoi scared me. No way should we take anybody with questionable hands. Iglesias isn't a burner, but he doesn't need that. We have Hester. We need a possession guy and I think this could fill it.

ChiFan13's Take: "Iglesias is one of those players who you root for. He's a high-character individual who does a lot of little things right. The problem with drafting Iglesias is how he'll fit on an NFL team. He won't outrun anyone, which leaves him as a #4. If has a good 40 at the combine, his stock will dramatically rise."

That's what I wrote prior to the combine. I am thrilled with this pick. As WCG said, he's not a burner. He will not be a #1 or #2 WR. What he does do is run good routes and has great hands. He will be able to come into the Bears and help us immediately, which is something that Sir Jay desperately needs.

Henry Melton, DE, Texas
Height: 6'3" Weight: 280 lbs.

40 time: 4.79

Breakdown (SI):

POSITIVES: Relatively athletic defensive end with adequate size/speed numbers. Moves well on his feet, plays with balance, and fluid making plays in all directions of the field. Keeps his pads low to the ground, stays within his pass rush angles, and quickly gets into the backfield to disrupt the action. Works his hands throughout the play, and rarely off his feet.

NEGATIVES: Lacks top first-step quickness. Does not show a burst of speed. Raw at the position, and does too much thinking rather than playmaking.

ANALYSIS: After bouncing around as a reserve early in his Texas career, Melton may have finally found a home at defensive end. He possesses the build for a two-gap lineman, yet he is a developmental prospect who needs a lot of work on his overall game.

Video: Video 1

Burnt Orange Nation's take (courtesy of PB):

Melton didn't have the benefit of a redshirt year, playing right away at running back for Texas. Incredible speed for such a big body, but he wasn't cut for the tailback position (rushing instincts weren't great) and was moved to defensive end prior to his junior season. He was overshadowed by Brian Orakpo (#13 pick to Redskins) but played exceptionally well his senior year, garnering some all-conference mentions.

Chicago's getting a guy with tremendous physical tools whose played just two years at his position. He's the definition of high upside. A potential steal.

WCG's Take: I have to admit I know next to nothing on this guy, but I like the position. It is never a bad idea to draft either side of the line. One more guy for Marinelli. Ogunleye has never lived up to his value. Mark Anderson is still a mystery. Alex Brown is the only guy we have that we know is a baller at that spot.

ChiFan13's Take: I like this pick for all the reasons PB mentioned. Do I think he was a bit of a reach? Yeah, but Jerry must have really wanted him. Melton is a guy who I compare to Danieal Manning in terms of being moved around throughout his career. Originally, he came to Texas as a RB. When Jamaal Charles started dominating, Melton was relegated to a spelling role. He was moved to DE his junior year and did fairly well. Is he a little raw? Yes. However, he's a physical specimen and I never heard anything negative about his coachability. Marinelli will work his magic and hopefully we'll have a mainstay DE.

D.J. Moore, CB, Vanderbilt
Height: 5'9" Weight: 192 lbs.

Combine: 4.56 (40); 17 reps (bench); 39.5" (vertical); 9-10 (broad); 7.02 (cones); 4.28 (shuttle)

Breakdown (NFL):

Positives: Good upper body build for his size. Very quick to support the run or attack quick screens and passes in the flat. Quick reactions and instincts make him a natural in zone. Not contact shy, so receivers will expect to get hit on shorter routes. Sits on routes and closes very quickly to make quarterbacks pay if they birddog. Looks like he knows routes as well as the receiver does. Very good straight-line speed and will chase his teammates' receivers downfield. Tries to knock the ball out after securing the tackle. As a slot receiver, Moore has the strength to get off the line, elusiveness in the open field, reliable hands to adjust to poor throws and an ability to track the ball over either shoulder. Extremely quick feet on routes, accelerating past defenders. Uses those receiver skills after interceptions.

Negatives: Barely adequate height for a corner. Thin legs. Not asked to press much. Lack of size could make bringing down bigger and quicker NFL receivers tough when closing fast. Can be dominated by good blocking receivers. A bit slow to react when receiver stutters and heads up the field. May not have the recovery speed to catch up to quicker NFL receivers using fakes or double moves, and his aggressive style could also cost him in this regard. Doesn't always secure the ball or make good decisions on punt returns while trying to do too much.

Video: Video 1; Video 2; Video 3

WCG's Take: Another great value pick. I've seen him projected to go as high as the second. Is he a better pick than Sean Smith or Rashad Johnson? He is ranked higher than Smith on nfldraftcountdown. He is a shade under 5'9", but he has a nose for the ball and I think that fits very well with what we do on defense.

ChiFan13's Take: Moore's going to need some coaching. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. If he can be properly taught, I think this could be a borderline steal. He fell hard down draft boards after mediocre performances at the combine and his pro day, but I think he's a great pickup for us. If anything, he offers some depth.

Johnny Knox, WR, Abilene Christian
Height: 6'0" Weight: 185 lbs.

Combine: 4.34 (40); 35" (vertical); 10-2 (broad); 6.81 (cones); 4.15 (shuttle)

Breakdown (NFL):

Positives: Adequate height with wiry upper body strength and good muscle definition in his arms. Not your typical slight small-school receiver. Good initial quickness off the snap to get into his route. Reliable hands; snatches the ball and adjusts to poor throws. Gets up to high-point and secure the catch. Sinks his hips and displays quick feet going into and out of routes. Has good vision and is elusive running in the open field. Works hard to block downfield, and will sustain and even dominate against smaller corners. Experienced as a punt returner.

Negatives: Thin through the hips and legs. Gets a lot of his yardage after short routes, screens and swing passes. Lacks elite speed or quickness, but had enough to be special at the FCS level. Easily tripped up in the open field. Does not switch the ball to the outside hand. Despite his strong effort, he lacks the bulk and strength to be effective against NFL defenders. Dances and runs backward too much after the catch or on returns -- will not get away with that at the next level.

Video: Video 1

WCG's Take: Has very good speed. Should be an immediate help on special teams. Another guy with return skills. Really too small to be a big time NFL receiver, but with our inexperienced squad, who knows?

ChiFan13's Take: Knox is a quick guy who can be immediately used in ST and maybe as a slot WR. With that speed, I see him as a poor man's (and smokeless) Percy Harvin. However, I realize that Knox is very raw and will need some coaching before he sees the field, at least on offense.

Marcus Freeman, OLB, Ohio State
Height: 6'0" Weight: 239 lbs.

Combine: 4.74 (40); 30 reps (bench); 37" (vertical); 9-5 (broad); 6.98 (cones); 4.12 (shuttle)

Breakdown (NFL):

Positives: A bit shorter than scouts would like, but a well-built athlete with room for additional mass. ... Instinctive defender who flows to the ball quickly. ... Athletic enough to elude blockers and make plays at or near the line of scrimmage. ... Reliable open-field tackler. ... Breaks down well and can drive the ballcarrier into the ground. ... Good awareness and speed in coverage. ... Gets good depth on his drops. ... Reads the quarterback's eyes and closes quickly. ... Excellent special teams player. ... Tough and plays through pain. ... Solid week of practice at the Senior Bowl.

Negatives: A bit smaller than scouts would like. ... Likes to avoid blockers rather than facing them up and struggles in disengaging. ... Lacks the bulk to hold up when targeted in the running game. ... Athletic in coverage, but seems content to allow the reception to be made and make a secure tackle, rather than breaking on the ball. ... Has struggled with durability: torn knee ligaments and a subsequent staph infection forced him to redshirt the 2005 season. Had his knee scoped following the 2007 season for a possible torn meniscus. Struggled through the 2008 season with a recurring ankle sprain.

Video: Video 1

We Will Always Have Tempe's Take (courtesy of Sam): In many ways, I consider Marcus Freeman a superior pro prospect to his former teammate James Laurinaitis. The Bears got a late round steal with this guy. Freeman is faster than Laurinaitis, he defeats blocks far better, and has the quickness and toughness to bring down any back for minimal yardage. He lacks, however, in football smarts at times; he has been known to bite on play-action on occasion, and can overpursue and get himself out of position to make the play. He just overthinks a little often, and I think that's why he dropped as he did. Nonetheless, Freeman is a pure athlete, and with the right coaching, he could develop into a lethal run stuffer for the Bears. He has all the tools one could ask for.

WCG's Take: Another good pick. Nfldraftcountdown has him as a 2nd or 3rd rounder. The strong side is obviously one spot we haven't nailed down yet. Freeman has very good speed. He has the range and ability to cover a lot of space. Special teamer to start, but may have a shot at starting at some point.

ChiFan13's Take: Hey, I will never complain about getting great value out of a prospect. Freeman looks to have a lot of the tools to succeed. Again, it's not a sexy pick, but it's a necessary one. Freeman will help us on ST right away, and I wouldn't be surprised if he eventually displaces Hunter Hillenmeyer or Nick Roach, whoever the Sam backer ends up being.

Al Afalava, S, Oregon State
Height: 5'11" Weight: 213 lbs.

Breakdown (NFL):

Positives: Good build for the position. Instinctive defender who reads the quarterback's eyes well and breaks on the ball. Very quick to read run and come up in support. Physical hitter who can be an intimidating presence over the middle. Reliable open-field tackler. Willing to take on blocks to make the play. Durable performer with experience at strong and free safety.

Negatives: May lack the speed and agility for NFL coverage. Makes most of his plays coming downhill and isn't the same playmaker with his back to the quarterback. Questionable deep speed. Lacks the hip flexibility to turn and run with receivers one on one. Rarely tested deep in this defense due to Oregon State's good pass rush and veteran press corners - both of whom will be drafted this April. Character red flag: Suspended for the first game of 2008 after he crashed his car into an empty bus shelter and left the scene on foot. Reached plea agreement to reduce original DUI, hit-and-run charges.

Video: Video 1

WCG's Take: Again my one issue is we needed a safety. However, is this guy worth passing up Johnson or Clemons?

ChiFan13's Take: I have problems with this pick. I actually have huge problems with this pick. Afalava is a SS and we need a FS. Second, he was just recently arrested on a DUI charge. I know that Henry Melton did the same, but Melton did it during college and has stayed clean since. Afalava ran into a shelter and then ran. I don't like people who do that. Regardless, he'll be a good ST player and decent depth in our secondary.

Lance Louis, TE, San Diego State
Height: 6'3" Weight: 300 lbs.

Breakdown (source):

Positives: Gets out and pulls well. Athletic. Quick feet.

Negatives: Needs work on angles and keeping his anchor. A project who may intrigue a team. Will probably need a year or two on a practice squad and NFL weight training.

WCG's Take: Coming soon

ChiFan13's Take: Y'all said it. We have Kellen Davis and a host of other people who can block. This was my big "duh" pick of the draft.

Derek Kinder, WR, Pittsburgh
Height: 6'1" Weight: 210 lbs.

Breakdown (SI):

POSITIVES: Nice-sized receiver who struggled making his way back from injury last year. Consistently looks the ball into his hands, makes the difficult over-the-shoulder reception, and not afraid to get vertical in a crowd for the catch. Possesses strong hands and pulls the fastball from the air. Comes back to the ball out of breaks, effectively using his frame to shield away opponents.

NEGATIVES: Marginally productive last season. Inconsistent as a blocker. Lacks the speed to get downfield separation.

ANALYSIS: Kinder possesses NFL size and displayed a lot of skill in the past. His game took a step back last year, and he must return to prior playing form for any chance to make a roster this summer.

Video: Video 1; Video 2

WCG's Take: Coming soon

ChiFan13's Take: I like this pick. We took a risk on a guy who was injured with an ACL injury. He has nice size and decent speed. If he doesn't work out, we didn't really lose anything.

Poll

What grade are you giving Jerry Angelo?

A

271 votes

B

703 votes

C

252 votes

D

44 votes

F

24 votes

Grading drafts before they've stepped on the field is useless.

264 votes

1558 votes | Poll has closed

2009 NFL Draft Round 5 - Open Thread

Adam T — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 18:16:22 -0000

Jerry and the boys are making good moves. Lets see if they can keep it going.

2008 NFL Draft- Bears Selections
Round	Pick	Player	Pos.	College
3	68	Jarron Gilbert	DE	San Jose St.
3	99	Juaquin Iglesias	WR	Oklahoma
4	105	Henry Melton	DE	Texas
4	119	D.J. Moore	CB	Vanderbilt
5	140	Johnny Knox	WR	Abilene Christian
5	154	Marcus Freeman	LB	Ohio State
6	190
7	246
7	251

Glover Quin Is The Newest Texan!

Tim — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 16:57:01 -0000

I know nothing about this kid, but I'm betting his height was a big reason for the nod over D.J. Moore. If nothing else, it's nice to see the secondary finally addressed.

2009 NFL Draft Round 4 - Open Thread

Adam T — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 16:09:24 -0000

Let us see if the Bears actually address the spots we need. Those of wide receiver and safety.

2008 NFL Draft- Bears Selections
Round	Pick	Player	Pos.	College
3	68	Jarron Gilbert	DE	San Jose St.
3	99	Juaquin Iglesias	WR	Oklahoma
4	105	Henry Melton	DE	Texas
4	119	D.J. Moore	CB	Vanderbilt
5	140
5	154
6	190
7	246
7	251

Day 2: 2009 NFL Draft Day 2

VanRam — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 13:44:45 -0000

So it begins again... We'll have lots more thoughts, afterthoughts on the picks tomorrow and over the week ahead and it'll be topic du jour on Turf Show Radio this Thursday, 7 p.m. Central. RIght now, we're just a few minutes away from starting all over again, and the Rams have the second pick in the third round, the second pick of the day...unless they swing a trade, which Devaney has mentioned as a possibility.

If they keep the pick, there are some intriguing picks to be had. Georgia Tech DE Michael Johnson is still on the board. He's an athlete in need of good coaching to bring out his full potential. The Rams have had success with DEs in the third round before (though different leadership), Leonard Little was a third round pick in 1998. Another player still on the board who's on lots of top 50 prospect lists is Vandy CB D.J. Moore. Either of those guys would probably be my pick here, but draft boards are a crazy thing when you get to the third round. We'll see.