Responses in bold by Sarah Spain, questions in italics by Paul M. Banks Â
So give me a quick synopsis of three potential players who are likely to hear their names called at #14 on draft day, and tell me why they would fit in with Chicago’s system….
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I have absolutely no doubt that the Bears will take an OT in the first round. Jake Long and Ryan Clady will be gone, so I’m giving you two, not three guys. Barring any crazy trades or swaps, the Bears will take one of these two players at #14…
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Chris Williams of Vanderbilt – Proven LT who is versatile enough to play LG, too. The Bears are still trying to figure out where and how their current guys fit in, so a flexible guy like Williams would give them options.
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Jeff Otah of Pitt – Big bodied, strong LT with limited experience but a huge upside. Also versatile enough to play RT.
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My favorite player in all of college football, Rashard Mendenhall, is the consensus #2 running back on everyone’s draft boards. some mock drafts have him gone by the time the Bears are on the clock, others forecast him as the Bears pick and most have him as #15 picked by Detroit. So do you take the local product and hope to generate excitement even though you need someone to block for him, or do you let him go to the Lions and possibly burn you badly twice a year?
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Gotta let him go. As I said in the Sports Bank draft preview, even Tom Brady couldn’t succeed with our old-ass offensive line protecting him. Same goes for a running back. No protection = no production. Would love to see him in a Bears uniform but there’s no way the Bears pass on a first round OT.
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This is a very weak draft at QB, a Bears need, but the Bears also have glaring needs at WR, OL and RB. Which of these needs do you think they’ll address first and with whom?
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Sounds so good I’ll say it again: Bears will take an OT first and it’ll be Williams or Otah. After that, I see them taking an RB–that position is solid deep into the second and third rounds. Â
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Your pick to be Mr. Irrelevant?
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The actual 2008 Mr. Irrelevant? No clue. MY 2008 Mr. Irrelevant? Cedric Benson.
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Bears 2nd round draft choice? Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas. if slips that far. which is a possibility given that most scouts see him as a one-dimensional speed guy….which is still better than Cedric Benson, who’s a zero dimensional guy
Why not just replace the whole team (Except Urlacher & Hester) with the graduating class from the New England School for the Blind. Or a local Catholic Girls school. Couldn’t do any worse than the Bears did last year.
Seymour Pennants
http://Since1908Clothing.com
Sarah I’m getting excited for the Football season knowing we can look forward to your input from the sidelines. While I have nothing but love for Seymour, I’ll ignore the fact your #1 baseball team isn’t mine. When it comes to Bears, your productive history as earned you respect and admiration of a growing legion of “Spainiacsâ€
Much Respect- SM
Sarah, Soxman asked your opinion on a Bears related question in the comment thread for the Packers NFL draft preview
I saw no posting from Sarah?
And with the 14th pick the the draft…..
The Chicago Bears select…..
Joe Kane – QB – ECU
Berman says….
“Nice pick, the second QB taken in this years draft behind Tim “he could go all the” Wayman. Although Joe has a rocky off-field history involving the bottle, he should be a nice fit in this Bears offense and immediately battle Rex Grossman as the Bears starter.”
As a staunch supporter of regional allocation of talent in all professional leagues it will be an absolute travesty if George Halas’ Bears have an opportunity to draft an instant impact Illini in Rashard Mendenhall and fail to do so. The potential salt in the wound in having to face him twice a year with the Lions is even more unforgivable. Angelo could try something novel like using a few of the ten remaining picks to move back in the bottom of the first round to pick OT Sam Young of USC, who is infinitely more seasoned and battle tested than Williams or Otah.
OT Sam Baker of USC was rated really high before combines and pro days. His stock has lost more value than Bear Stearns. I still think he could be a great pro, because the scouts often miss when in comes to off. line prospects. of course they get a lot wrong at other positions too.
but off the top of your head, try to think about how many highly acclaimed o-linemen who went on to become big name stars? now how many busts can you think of?
Responded to the Packer thread. Haven’t checked out the site in a few days–been at Coachella since Thursday.
i was very glad that I had a big picture of Chris Williams up here in this thursday posting when his name was called by the bears on sat
I was very glad to hear that the Bears picked exactly as I said they would in rounds 1 and 2. : )
And I think this posted comment will set a new record for comments on an article so far! maybe I think. break out the party hats and favors, cue the noisemakers, strike up the band!