Day: April 10, 2013

Does Marc Trestman Know Personnel?

It was a good day at the Chicago Tribune for fan questions.  Dan Pompei answers another good one here:

“It’s hard to think Coach Trestman could keep up with NFL personnel while coaching for years in Canada. Don’t you think he has to be at a disadvantage versus other NFL coaches knowing player abilities as we add people with offseason roster moves? It has to take months to evaluate the tape for just our current players, much less help the scouting department decide that someone like Matt Slauson is the guard to go out and get out of many available? — Phil Elbert, Chicago

“I don’t think there is any question Trestman is at a disadvantage when it comes to personnel.  He does not know the league as well as the large majority of his head coaching peers…  The other point to be made here is Trestman is not in charge of personnel.  [General manager] Phil Emery is.  Trestman’s job is to tell Emery exactly what his systems need at each position.  Emery’s job is to find and acquire the players who fit.  So ultimately, I don’t think Trestman’s disadvantage will be a major factor.”

I don’t see this as a problem, at least in terms of off season moves.

Trestman’s ability to evaluate his own team most definitely is an issue.  He’s going to have to determine where the teams talent is and what the roster and the depth chart should look like coming out of training camp.  And he’s not going to know the Bears opponents quite as well when formulating game plans during the season.  But you could argue that even this will actually be an advantage in a sense.  He won’t have any previous biases.  Perhaps he’ll be more likely to rely on what he sees.

Bottom line, most of us believe that former head coach Lovie Smith had too much say in the way the Bears handled personnel while he was here.  That’s unlikely to be a problem with Trestman in part because of exactly this issue.  Leaving the acquisition of talent up to Emery while Trestman concentrates more on coaching it could become a major strength rather than a weakness.

Is Gabe Carimi a Failed Right Tackle?

Another good question for Dan Pompei from the Chicago Tribuune:

“Is Gabe Carimi destined to become the next Chris Williams — a first round “left tackle” who couldn’t play either tackle position and had to be switched inside to save his career? I don’t think there’s any way Carimi beats out both J’Marcus Webb and Jonathan Scott at right tackle. — David Jones, East St. Louis

“As it stands now, it’s looking more like Carimi’s best chance will be at guard rather than right tackle.  You can’t have a three-man competition for a starting spot and give all three players an equal shot.  My hunch is Marc Trestman and Aaron Kromer will let Webb and Scott battle it out at right tackle and move Carimi to guard at the start.  The way the roster is now, Carimi is needed more at guard than tackle.  None of this means Carimi won’t eventually end up back at tackle though.  I still think he has the ability to play right tackle at a pretty high level in the NFL if he can get his legs back.  In fact, he could still be moved to tackle this year even if he starts out at guard.  For that to happen, both Webb and Scott would have to disappoint.”

I’ll leave aside the fact that Carimi probably wasn’t drafted to be a left tackle.

I don’t have any big problems with Scott other than that he’s not the most athletic of linemen.  But the thought of J’Marcus Webb starting at right tackle worries me.  Webb’s problem isn’t athletic ability.  It’s his lack of concentration and consistency.  That seems to be unlikely to get better on the right side.

I’d just as soon seem Carimi at right tackle if his knee is healthy.  Here’s hoping the Bears haven’t given up on him at the position too soon.

Is Alec Ogletree Worth the Risk?

Dan Pompei at the Chicago Tribune answers your questions:

“Don’t you think the Bears will be worried about character concerns with Alec Ogletree? —@TCBullfrog, from Twitter

“Yes I do. I think 31 other teams will be as well.  But that doesn’t man Ogletree won’t be a first round draft pick.  Ogletree reportedly failed a drug test and was subsequently suspended by Georgia for four games. He also has been arrested for misdemeanor theft and driving under the influence. A team could look past one of those incidents and justify it a lot easier than it can look past and justify three of them…  Given Ogletree’s past, there is no question taking him involves risk.  Giving Ogletree’s ability, the potential reward could outweigh that risk. The issue is at what point of the draft will taking that risk make sense.”

I, personally, would be excited to see Ogletree become a Bear.  At their position in the first round, he would be a steal.  Given the Brandon Marshall trade, I’d say general manager Phil Emery is more of a gambler than most in this regard.  Ownership is unlikely to get involved – unless Ogletree does something stupid.  Then it won’t be just him who is paying the price.

I’d say if he were to still be there at #20 overall, the Bears would take him.