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The offseason in Chicago usually leaves fans cringing and complaining about what the team did (or didn’t do) to “get better”. This offseason, however, has set the Chicago Bears up to take a huge leap forward this season and for many to come.
Part 3: NFL Draft
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I graded the new and improved coaching staff for the Chicago Bears pretty highly in part one of my off-season recap. Do the additions the team made in free agency match up?
Hint: absolutely.
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It seems like such a simple question, but no one can provide a definitive answer.
In free agency, the Bears did quite a bit in terms of addressing some of their most glaring needs. The offensive tackle, tight end, and linebacker positions were all upgraded.
But with the NFL Draft less than a week away, predictions are still all over the board for who the Bears may take with the 20th selection.
In my opinion, this is a two-horse race: offensive lineman, or linebacker. Apparently, most draft experts don’t agree with me.
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The calendar has finally flipped to April. Phil Emery and the Chicago Bears are putting the finishing touches on their draft plans and are preparing their war rooms for the three-day extravaganza known as the NFL Draft.
Most sports media outlets have been churning out mock drafts for the past few months. These mock drafts, however, usually only cover the first round. The most daring sports analysts may even sneak out into the deep end and take a stab at predicting the second round.
Knowing that predicting the draft is just about as easy as picking a perfect NCAA Tournament Bracket, its understandable why fewer still try to predict all seven rounds. But, in the face of my own better judgment, I will attempt to do exactly that.
Here are my predictions at all seven rounds worth of Chicago Bears draft picks, including two predictions that are nearly guaranteed to be correct. [Read more…]
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With the NBA All-Star weekend upon us, it is time for an annual tradition here at The Sports Bank; the NBA Draft Lottery Re-do. Peter Christian and David Kay will alternate re-drafting the top fourteen picks in the 2010 NBA Draft taking into account what they know about the rookies based off their performances so far this season. They will factor in how each team’s roster looked at the time of the draft (for example, Gilbert Arenas was still with the Wizards and not the Magic, so when the Wiz pick first, Arenas will be part of the team) and give their reasons as to why the selection would be made. You can check out our 2011 NBA Mock Draft by clicking here.
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The Chicago Bulls could use a good perimeter scorer, someone who can really light it up from deep. Even though Kirk Hinrich played out of his mind for a couple games of the first round series loss to Cleveland, he’s not that guy.
John Salmons was not that guy, and the Bulls haven’t had “that guy” since Ben Gordon left town. Chicago doesn’t really shoot a whole lot of threes, because there isn’t anyone truly dependable out there beyond the arc to consistently drain them. New coach Tom Thibodeau will be looking to add this dimension to the offense next season.
Oklahoma State’s James Anderson, who should be available when the Bulls pick in the NBA Draft, could just be “that guy.”
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By Paul M. Banks and David Kay
The Chicago Bulls could use a good perimeter scorer, someone who can really light it up from deep. Even though Kirk Hinrich played out of his mind for a couple games of the first round series loss to Cleveland, he’s not that guy.
John Salmons was not that guy, and the Bulls haven’t had “that guy” since Ben Gordon left town. Chicago doesn’t really shoot a whole lot of threes, because there isn’t anyone truly dependable out there beyond the arc to consistently drain them. Whoever replaces Vinny Del Negro needs to add this dimension to the offense next season.
Oklahoma State’s James Anderson, who should be available when the Bulls pick in the NBA Draft, could just be “that guy.”
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