Chicago Bears Draft Aftermath: Now What?

With the draft over, everyone has had time to look over their picks and the list of undrafted free agents. So now the question becomes, which rookies will stick, which will get cut, and what poor, unsuspecting veterans will be handed their papers before the September 13 kickoff with the Green Bay Packers.

The drafted rookies who will be on the roster come the start of the season:

Jarron Gilbert, Juaquin Iglesias, Henry Melton, Johnny Knox and probably D.J. Moore.

This is for obvious reasons. Any player taken in the first four rounds is almost always promised at least a year (Gilbert, Iglesias, Melton and Moore). Knox was taken in the fifth and with the lack of depth at wide receiver and his blazing speed, he will stick.

The drafted rookies who have to do some work:

Marcus Freeman, Lance Louis.

Freeeman had durability questions coming into the draft and thus why he fell to the fifth round. He is versatile enough to play all three linebacker positions, which should help his chances. But with Briggs, Urlacher, and Roach starting, and Hunter, Jamar Williams and Joey LaRocque backing them up, he will have to show something to the coaches on special teams.

Louis is a sort of renaissance man. He is 300 pounds yet he played tight end. He could also be a guard on the offensive line. Again, versatility makes a player harder to cut in camp. As long as he can demonstrate the talent to play either or both of those positions, he should make the team (although being a seventh rounder, he is an inexpensive gamble.)

The drafted rookies who are going to need a break:

Derek Kinder, Al Afalava

Since Kinder will be fighting with eight other receivers on the roster (Hester, Bennett, Iglesias, Knox, Davis, Rideau, Broussard, and Aromashodu) for probably five roster positions, his chances would look bleak.

Add in the fact that he is trying to shake off an injury and will have pressure from both undrafted free agents and practice squad players, odds of him dressing in a Bears uni appears to be astronomical. His best chances are if he gets put on IR for a year.

Afalava has a better chance of making the team now than Kinder strictly based upon position need. With the release of Mike Brown, there is a huge hole at the free safety position. The battle will come down to Craig Steltz and free agent pick up Josh Bullocks. (Neither inspires confidence). Also jockeying for playing time is Glenn Earl and ::Cough Cough:: Danieal Manning (who should never see the field as a safety ever again… EVER).

The other option that has been bouncing around on blogs and in the media is the shifting of either Nathan Vasher or Zachary Bowman to the safety spot. While it might take some time for either to learn the position, they both have shown great instincts and are known as ballhawks. 

Afalava will have to show the same instincts AND an improved ability to wrap up a ball carrier if he is to make this team, much less see any playing time.

All of the undrafted free agents will probably not make it, but the most likely one to stick would be:

Will Ta’ufo’ou, a fullback from Cal.

Ta’ufo’ou is solid and strong. According to fellow BleacherReport writer Jake Perper, he received interest from a number of different teams but chose the Bears due to the fact he could compete for the starting position right away.

And frankly, I think a change is needed. Jason McKie has been a decent option at fullback for a number of years, but never exceptional. Expect Ta’ufo’ou to make a strong push for not only a roster spot, bu a starting role.

(Read Jake’s complete breakdown here.)

The Dark-horse to make the team:

Eric Peterman, Wide Receiver out of Northwestern.

Peterman is a sure-handed, speedy player. He will come in and make a positive impact in terms of receiver competition and on special teams. While there is a log jam of unproven talent at receiver, do not be surprised if Peterman comes out alive not only due to his skill but also to his great character.

In a league that has been known for too much negative publicity, Peterman is a quality, stand-out individual both on and off the field.

The veterans that need to be looking over their shoulder:

DT Dusty Dvoracek, CB Nathan Vasher, OT Cody Balrog, OG Dan Buenning, DT Matt Toeaina, CB Marcus Hamilton, FB Jason McKie and previously mentioned WR Aromashodu and John Broussard.

With two receivers taken in the first five rounds and the odds that Angelo attempts to sign a veteran being fairly high, look for a couple of them to be cut and another few to be relegated to practice squad and/or IR.

Also with two more defensive lineman taken expect the pressure to be on oft injured tackle Dusty Dvoracek and career back up Matt “Big Toe” Toeaina. Add in the slew of free agent offensive lineman the Bears signed and a couple unproven players could be running out of time.

Chicago Bears’ Draft: Day Two Results and Reaction

Dear Jerry Angelo,

How do I hate thee? Let me count the ways…

Ok, I may have been a bit drastic…but overall, I think Angelo dropped the ball on this draft. 

Day one: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/162429-chicago-bears-draft-day-one-review-and-day-two-prediction

 

Day two: (This is where the fun begins)

With the 68th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears selected Jarron Gilbert (DT) from San Jose St.

The highest-ranked player on a lot of boards, I did not agree with it initially. The Bears’ needs, in my opinion, were more directed at free safety and wide receiver before the defensive line. Who else was available at this spot? Rashad Johnson (S) from Alabama that was popular with many (myself included) Bears fans.

But whatever, Angelo picked up a highly thought of tackle.  Fine. This pick isn’t bad as long as the next couple picks are good.

 

With the 99th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears selected Juaquin Iglesias (WR) from Oklahoma.

This is a good one. Another option to come in and help Cutler. I thought there were better options, but all I wanted was a receiver, and Iglesias is supposed to have good hands and run sharp routes. I am fine with this pick.

 

With the 105th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears selected Henry Melton (DE) from Texas.

This one I have a problem with. He is supposed to be big, strong, and fast but has only spent two years (one starting) as a defensive end. The potential is there to be good, and Angelo is big on trying to find gems in the mid-round.

However, we just took a lineman with our first pick, so why another so soon? Rumor was that Melton was going to be around still in the fifth or possibly the sixth. Why not a safety or offensive lineman?

This late in the draft, it isn’t about best player available necessarily. It is about addressing needs. This was not a freaking need.  Take Gilbert or take Melton, but do not take both, especially so close together.

With the 119th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears selected D.J. Moore (CB) from Vanderbilt.

Eh. Ok, I suppose. Cornerback was not a huge need, but at that point I was just happy we didn’t take another defensive lineman. Moore has shown some play-making skills but he is only 5’9″ and seems to lack the blazing speed a smaller guy should have. I like him as a backup and perhaps he can develop into a solid nickle coverage guy, but as a possible starter, I am fairly dubious.

(Side note: Did you notice how this is the fourth or so Vanderbilt player on the Bears roster? Plus with the addition of Iglesias, we have drafted at least four Oklahoma players in the past few years [Bradley, Dusty, Tommie]. I just thought it was weird for Vanderbilt considering it hasn’t been a powerhouse program in years.)

 

With the 140th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears selected Johnny Knox (WR) from Abilene Christian.

Knox is certainly a reach at the beginning of the fifth round. That said, he posted the third-fastest 40 time (4.34). 

Although, I remember Airese Curry being a very fast receiver we drafted in the fifth round several years ago too.  And it does not help that the level of competition he faced was significantly lower than most other college players drafted. Coupled with the fact that Chris Clemons (S) and Duke Robinson (OG) were both still available at this pick, I was annoyed.

 

With the 154th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears selected Marcus Freemon (OLB) from Ohio St.

Great…another weak side linebacker. Just what we needed.

Ok, to be fair, I know very little about him. He is versatile, which Angelo loves in a player, because he played all three linebacker positions at one point or another in college.

However, he seems a little short to be able to cover tight ends as the strong side linebacker and with Jamar Williams backing up Lance Briggs, it begs the questions whether Angelo drafted him just so he could play special teams.  Clemons and Robinson were also still available when we made this selection.

 

With the 190th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears selected Al Afalava (S) Oregon St.

Described as hard-working and gritty, the Bears brought in someone who can compete. He hits hard and brings an attitude.

Although his weaknesses seem to be his straight-ahead speed and, according to nfldraft.rivals.com, “he will take himself out of plays and whiff on the ball carrier.” Tackling in the secondary was a major cause of concern this past year, but it should also be a skill that can be taught. It makes me nervous…but at least Angelo did something.

Living in Hawaii, I really want this kid to stick.  Plus having a jersey that says “Afalava” would be sick.

Pick No. 246 – TBD

Pick No. 251 – TBD

Chicago Bears Draft: Day One Review and Day Two Prediction

So, reviewing the Chicago Bears selection on the first day of the draft, they selected … oh wait, did I miss something? Who did we pick?

Mohamed Massaquoi? Nope, but he went to at the 50th selection, the pick right after us…

Rashad Johnson? No, he hasn’t even been selected yet…

William Moore? Not him, either. He went six picks after when we were supposed to select.

Max Unger? No he was selected in the spot we had, but not by us…So that must mean we traded that pick…

…WAIT, DID WE TRADE FOR ANQUAN BOLDIN?? He was supposed to be on the market for a second-round pick and another player or two. Did Jerry Angelo really prove me wrong and turn out to be a superb GM and my new favorite person of all time?

Nope, fake out. We traded our pick to the Seattle Seahawks for a third- and a fourth-rounder this year. Wow, good work, JA.

That is why I waited five hours on the computer, screaming, pleading, begging, cursing, yelling when the Giants and Eagles and Browns all selected receivers. I knew that they were out of the Boldin sweepstakes. I knew we had a chance.

And then I heard we traded and I almost died of happiness assuming it was with the Cards.  But it was not to be…

To be fair however, it was a longshot anyway. But it just angers me that there were players available, that Jerry had expressed interest in, at the No. 49 spot and he wimped out and traded down.

I realize Rashad Johnson is still out there and having the fourth pick in the third round gives us an excellent chance at landing him.

But I refuse to give Angelo any credit because there was no way of knowing that Johnson would not be selected by a team in the 50-64 pick range. It was just luck that he is still there.

And a receiver, Massaquoi, that Angelo thought very highly of was right in front of him. Just waiting. For a man who has basically staked his future on the success of Jay Cutler, you think Angelo would be a little more eager to give his QB some help.

The Bears now have nine selections in the remaining five rounds. Two third round picks, two fourth round picks, two fifth round picks, one sixth, and two seventh. And I know that Angelo has found gems in the later rounds (Berrian, Briggs, Vasher) but he has also botched a lot. And while I don’t blame him, many picks in the fifth round or later never pan out for any team, I think that the time for the Bears to continue stepping up and being bold is now. Instead, Jerry took the easy way out.

Now this way, if a late round pick pans out, people will call Angelo a genius. But if none of them amount to much more than a competent back up, nothing will be said because the expectations are now so much lower.

Angelo better man up and Bear down on this second day. Because if you think I am angry now, just wait…

Here is my Bear Mock Draft for Day 2:

68: Lawrence Sidbury – DE – Richmond
99: T.J. Lang – OG – Eastern Michigan
105: Trade this and next years second-round pick for a third and a fourth in the 2010 draft BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT ANGELO DOES!
119: David Bruton – S – Notre Dame
140: Patrick Turner – WR – USC
154: Tony Fiammetta – FB – Syracuse
190: Nate Davis – QB – Ball State
246: Chris Baker – DT – Hampton
251: Bear Pascoe – TE – Fresno State (because its a seventh round pick and the man’s name is Bear)

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