Following the draft there was a lot of discussion as to which UDFA's the Bears should pursue. Most of this revolved around the WR position and IMO focussed too much on picking up the tallest WR and not the one that is most likely to succeed in our offensive system. That got me thinking about a couple of players at different positions that weren't necessarily the flashiest players, but players who's playing styles made them a good fit for what the Bears like to do, and therefore increase their likelihood of success.

Jefferey Maehl, WR Oregon: Maehl is a guy that I have really preached on since the combine. Many others around WCG have/will shoot him down due to the fact that he is only 6'-0" and they will say the Bears need a 6-2+ #1 WR. They may be right. However, my response would be that we should not be looking for a #1 WR in the UDFA crop. When I look at Jeff Maehl I see a guy who has some of the characteristics that Mike Martz looks for in a WR. These include

A). Quick feet (as shown by his record setting 3-cone drill performance at the combine, and very quick 20 yard shuttle)

B). Crisp route running

C). Solid run blocking (As shown by the fact that he played WR in an offense that averaged 286 yards per game and is built around the outside rushing game)

Also add in that he has very good hands, isnt afraid to go over the middle, and can go up and adjust to the ball and I believe that Maehl can become a very solid slot receiver in the mold of Mike Furrey or Austin Collie.

Combine Results

Scouting Report

Highlights

Noel Devine, RB West Virginia: I was kinda hesitant about including Devine on this list because I think his style of player is one that just about any type of offense should have in it. However, I really like his potential and we need a speedy change of pace back (C. Taylor wont be around much longer and didnt show much last year). The big knock against Noel Devine is his size, and at 5'-7" it is a legit argument. However, when I look at his measureables and and his production I cant help but think that he's worth a shot:

A). He ran between a 4.26 and 4.38 in the 40

B). Has very quick feet

C). Showed good route running ability and hands out of the backfield

D). Showed great strength for someone his size by putting up 24 reps on the bench press at the combine.

E). Averaged 6.3, 6.1 and 4.5 YPC in 3 years as a starter in a BCS conference (something Garret Wolfe cant claim)

On the downside he did show signs of getting beat up by 3 years of such a heavy workload. However, I dont think this would not be that big of a problem at the next level because he would would only be a situational guy getting 15 to 20 snaps at the most. I think at worst he would be a nice little weapon for Dave Toub to use and replace Garret Wolfe (face the facts, he wont be here next year)

Combine Results

Pro Day results Via The Smoking Musket

College Statistics

Highlights

Justin Boren, OG Ohio State: Here is a guy that that I think could be like another J'Marcus Webb. He fits the mold of what Mike Tice like in a Lineman:

A). He is a big bodied mauler

B). Plays with a mean streak

C). "Outstanding drive blocker with exceptional power and leverage"

He does need some work -mostly in his footwork and heavy legs- but when you look at his negatives and compare them with his positive attributes -big bodied, strong, mauler- I think he projects well as a RG in the NFL where he would be matched up more with big boddied NT's as opposed to quick athletic 3-techs. Also, when I compare what he brings to the table with what he needs to work on I cant help but think that he would be a perfect project for Tice.

Scouting Report

Combine Results

Film

So what are your thoughts? Of these prospects ho would you like to see get a chance at making the team? Is there anybody that you would add to this list? And dont forget to explain why they would fit our offensive or defensive system (just because he's a 6'-7" WR doesnt count).

During a normal year the month of May is a time in which trees and flowers are starting to bloom, kids are getting ready for summer, (people here in Indianapolis are gearing up for the 500, no pun intended), and football fans across the nation fresh off the draft are eagerly looking forward to training camp with Playoff and ultimately Super Bowl hopes. Unfortunately this May in the football world is different then any other in my lifetime. As all of you know with each passing day the chances of having a normal season in 2011 become less and less. With news coming in that theUS appeals court will not hear the case until June 3rd the lockout carves deeper and deeper into the offseason schedule and therefore hindering teams ability to conduct crucial offseason workouts. I dont know about anybody else, but this whole business of Billionaires vs. Millionaires fighting over money which ultimately comes from us the fans really pisses me off. It seems like all of these decisions regarding the 9 billion dollars in revenue generated by the NFL are being made with nobody considering the fans. This got me to thinking, "How would I solve the problem of what to do with the estimated $5 Million per team per year that the NFL and NFLPA disagree on"? After thinking about this over and over I kept coming back to one impossible solution: Since the two sides cant agree on what to do with the money, niether side gets the money.  So where would the money go? Ive come up with a couple ideas on that

1. Give the money back to the fans in the form of reduced ticket prices/free tickets, and or reduced concesion prices

2. Donate the money to Various player charities

3. Donate the money to local communities

These are just a couple ideas I came up with, tell me a what you think and give me a couple ideas of your own. 

With the draft just over a week away, I figured I would post the results of a mock draft from footballdiehards.com that I have been contributing to for the past 2 weeks even though the we are only through the 4th round. I think that overall this was a pretty realistic mock, and am pretty saitsfied at the players I had the oppurtunity to select. Its not a flashy group with a ton of guys that are gonna be studs rite away, but does contain some guys that will provide depth rite away with alot of potential to become studs for us a year or two down the road. There might be people out there that dont like it because it doesnt provide enough imeadiate help on the O-Line and WR's, but the way I see it if you realistically go into the draft with the expectation of adding more than maybe one or two decent rookie starters your just setting yourself up for dissapointment. So with that said:

(selections)

Continue reading this post »

This past weekend i had the privelege of representing our Chicago Bears in MTD's 7 round live mock draft. Now before anybody goes and judges let me defend myself by saying that my computer crashed about 3 minutes before my pick so I wasnt able to make an actual pick. Therefore the comish had to go to my "list", which I realized a little bit to late that I messed up (stupid me didnt even think about listing my 10 players per round in order I would choose them), so according to my list Williams was ranked above Muhamed Wilkerson and Stephen Paea when in reality I would have picked either of those two over Williams. However, I dont think Aaron Williams is a bad pick at all. I made the pick assuming that he would convert to safety (either free or strong) and I really think that he could provide some playmaking ability as a prototype centerfield safety and could make significant contributions as a rookie. I also regret not being able to get a DT earlier than the 5th, however I felt Orlando Franklin was a solid value at that spot and really filled a need. Also I thought that Tandon Doss was a great value at the end of the third (especially given that Jurrell Casey was gone) and Tim Barnes was solid and filled a need in the 4th (again Terrell McClain would have been the pick but fell just short of me). Despite all of this I really like David Carter at the end of the 5th. He's got the height and arm length to disrupt passing lanes and has the athletiscism to be a nice 3-technique project. Also, I really like Noel Devine in tghe 6th. He has speed to burn and has great playmaking skills. How bout this stat: in 2010 he had his lowest yards per carry average by far at 4.5 ypc avg. in 2008 and 2009 he was over 6.0 ypc. Anyway follow this link to check out all of the 7 rounds of picks and be sure to leave a comment. (Link)

Let me start this by saying that this is my first time doing a fan post so I appologize in advance anything formated incorrectly. Now that that is out of the way let me welcome you to my 2011 Chicago Bears mock draft. As with most hardcore football fans I love the draft and all of the anticipation leading up to it. I try to check out as many mock drafts as I possibly can to kinda get a gage for where guys are gonna wind up (Jason La Canfora is usually pretty good) and form my own opinions of who should be picked where. While I know that its almost impossible to get more than maybe one or two of these rite at the most I do enjoy getting my opinion out there and listening to feedback. So enjoy and be sure to give your opinion.

1st Round 29th pick

Mike Pouncey, OG Florida

I really like this guy ever since seeing him in the Outback Bowl. He is as athletic a big man as I think I've ever seen, and has the ability to play either C or G. Most mocks I see have him going within the first eight pics of the second and a couple have him going in the early 20's. It is my belief that the big 5 OT's will be gone by the time the 29'th pic comes around leaving Pouncey as the best available O-Lineman. This guy looks to be every bit as good as his brother and with his size and athleticism I can see him taking the LG spot from C-Dub from day one. Highlights

2nd Round 62nd pic

Stefen Wisniewski, C Penn State

If there is one player in this mock that I hope I'm right about it is Wisniewski. This guy was as solid of an interior lineman as could be found in the nation last year and when you combine the talent, work ethic, and character of this big bodied, hard nosed Big 10 center you with Mike Tice and you will have an awesome player. Add in his leadership ability and this guy IS the replacement for Olin Kreutz come 2012. Now I know there a people out there screaming for a 3-tech DT with this pic, but again I think the big 3 DT's of the 2nd round (Paea, Austin, and Nevis) will be gone by the time our pic comes around. Plus with Wisniewski and Pouncey at G and C it gives a solid foundation to build the rest of the O-line around.

3rd Round 91st pic

Jurrell Casey, DT USC

For all of those looking for a DT in the first 3 pics here it is. This is a guy that I saw a couple mocks showing the Bears picking with their second pick a couple months ago. However, he has slipped over the past month into the 3rd round and I'm not exactly sure why. He has the quickness and lower body strength to be a really good 3-technique after a year or two developing. The biggest thing that I absolutely love about this guy is that he has a great motor, and doesnt give up on plays as seen in his Highlights. I think that this guy could be a steal if given a year or two to develop under Rod Marinelli.

4th Round 121st pic

Vincent Brown, WR San Diego State

Again, as Im writing this I can here all the people saying that we need to get a big 6'2"+ reciever. I disagree with that notion. What the offense needs is not necesarily a super tall reciever as much as a reciever who knows how to get open and use his body to be agressive and go after the ball. That is where Vincent Brown comes in; he is everything described there. This guy was touted as one of the standouts during the senior bowl, and was cosistently praised for how he used his body to play bigger than he really is. Plus as an added advantage he was in a west coast pro-style offense in college. Give this guy a year or two to bulk up and he could be a perfect fit for the #1 reciever in Martzfense. Actually, given his size and the way he plays he kinda reminds me of a former Martzfense #1 guy... does the name Torry Holt ring a bell? Dont forget that he was only 6'0" 200 lbs. even though he played like he was about 6'3". Highlights

5th Round 150th pic

Rashad Carmicheal, CB Virginia Tech

By this point Im basically throwing darts in the dark (in other words im using JA's draft strategy). Its true we need a CB, however I think that last year we showed enough depth at the position that we can get away with another year of picking a "developmental" guy. However, after reading the scouting report on this guy he seems to be a perfect fit for what we would be looking for here. He's quick, plays better in a cover 2 zone, he returned punts in college, and brings a play making ability to the field. I think this would be a solid pic at this point in the draft and who knows, maybe he can develop into something down the line. Highlights

6th Round 180th pic

T.J. Yates

For this pic you can basically insert any late round developmental QB here. I picked Yates because he is going to be working out for the Bears and because he played in a pro style offense. I dont think JA lets this draft go by without getting a developmental qb. He has said in the past that he want to be able to develop backup qb's in house similar to how the Packers do, and last year he lost LeFevour. He wont make that mistake again. Highlights

Well there it is, my first and probably only mock draft. I hope you enjoyed it, be sure to leave some feedback.