Bears
- Pete Williams at The Bleacher Report released his latest mock draft. I found this one of interest not because I think its at all accurate (or even realistic) but because there were some new names on it to consider. The Bears take a guard off the board in this one but because its one I didn’t expect: Stefan Wisniewski out of Penn State. Most drafts have former Baylor lineman Danny Watkins as the first guard going off the board in the first round after Florida’s Mike Pouncey, who might not last until the Bears pick. In fact, Williams doesn’t even have Watkins in the first round. He has Jason Pinkston as his next guard going to the Steelers.
- In what’s probably a more realistic assessment, Dan Pompei, writing for The National Football Post, has the Bears taking defensive tackle Corey Liuget out of Illinois.
- But Mel Kiper at ESPN thinks that the Bears should go offensive line instead and wait to address the defensive line:
“You can definitely get players in the second round area at the defensive tackle spot that could be a factor for you. At offensive tackle, not as much.”
- Despite using pick after pick on the defensive line and despite spending a fortune to sign Julius Peppers to help them, Matt Williamson at Scouts Inc. still deservedly ranks the Bears pass rush last in the division. There is no more shameful statement I could make about the Bears draft record than that.
“When Jim Harbaugh came to the Bears as a rookie in 1987, he wasn’t good enough to step in at quarterback and improve the team. But he still made the team better by raising the level of competition on the practice field, in the weight room and in the meeting rooms with his hunger, his intensity and his work ethic.
“What I remember is that the Bears locker room a little less comfortable place to be in with Harbaugh around.
I fully expect he’ll have the same effect as a rookie head coach in 2011 for the 49ers.”
- I thought this was a nice profile of George Halas from ESPN. It obviously not recent but its interesting:
Elsewhere
- Pompei also talks about the things he didn’t used to know:
“The combine medical re-check will be big for Clemson defensive end Da’Quan Bowers. Front office men I’ve talked with have serious concerns about his knee.”
There’s also a reminder that teams won’t be able to sign undrafted free agents in there as well.
- Rainer Sabin at the Dallas Morning News says that the Cowboys defensive players went the extra mile to learn as much about new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan‘s defense before the lockout struck.
- Kiper explains why he thinks there will be a lot more draft day trades this year. The likelihood of a rookie cap could make things very interesting.
- Karen Guregian at the Boston Herald goes over the ins and outs of the “elephant” position in the 3-4 with former Patriot Willie McGinest.
- Omar Kelly at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel explains why the Miami Dolphins often “double down”, taking two players at one position in the draft:
“Rookies take more effort and time to groom, and by teaching rookies at the same rate you’ll invest less over the course of time, and possibly receive a greater upside. It almost guarantees that someone will elevate themselves, somehow. And sometimes you get lucky and both players – think Sean Smith and Vontae Davis – turn out to be studs.
“It’s a genius approach that I think other NFL teams will soon adapt.”
- I don’t know how I missed this but apparently Luke Driscoll, a St. Louis Rams scout, was arrested during the NFL Combine in Indianapolis for exposing his genitals to a female police officer (via the Huffington Post). According to Pro Football Weekly Driscoll’s job likely isn’t in any danger. When describing his attitude toward the job, one insider described him as being “very passionate”. Perhaps the visible evidence of that had something to do with why she arrested him.
One Final Thought
Bears wide receiver Devin Hester’s first column on raising kids will appear in Chicago Parent Magazine in April. Hester will write about places he takes his son in Chicago. Via the Associated Press:
“There can be so much negative as far as growing up and being on the streets. When you get a father figure in your life, kids shy away from that stuff, they’re not staying on streets, skipping school.
“This is something real important and a way I can set an example. I have a newborn kid and I have that mentality. Maybe it will affect others positively.”