What we really need is a stud DT

[emperorjones]

I've pulled myself off the ground. Realized that I cannot kill myself for the Bears still haunt me as they too are dead. So, I've got to sit down, roll up my sleeves and solve this problem for them.

My guess is that we'll pick 7th in the draft. With the best OT will be off the board and there doesn't seem to be a Safety worth taking that high. I'm still on the Rex bandwagon so I wouldn't necessarily go QB although I don't rule that out.

My thought now is that we should take the best DT available and line him up next to T. Harris next year and solidify our run defense. If we do that and rotate in Walker and Dusty Dvoracek (assuming he comes back healthy) the defensive line should be a real strength next year. 2nd round I'd go Safety. 3rd round O-Line.

I'd also resign Briggs, then move to the O-Line in free agency and Safety or Nickel back.


What do you guys think about Sedrick Ellis? Or moving up to get Glenn Dorsey?

[NLK]

I agree. Picking that high, but not high enough to grab a great runner like McFadden, we should get a run stuffer. And you're right, I don't think there is a great QB to get (truthfully, I remember Jurko saying to go after some big guy who isn't relatively known, like Joe Flacco).

However, as for Briggs, I'm game for keeping him, but I have my doubts with Lovie-Angelo-etc. I have a feeling they'll dangle him for a trade.

[CBS7]

Sure, why not, but if and only if we pick somewhere way too high for the best safety. Its easily the biggest hole on our defense.

The DT position would already be a big strength if Harris, Dvoracek, and Walker were all healthy.

[ReasonablySober]

I don't think you guys will find a good fit at DT with your pick. You need a Pat Williams, Shaun Rodgers, Haloti Gnata type. Sedrick Ellis might be around, but he's more in the mold of your own Harris...sort of a knifing, disruptive, pass rushing type. Okam...maybe. Motor issues and I also don't know if he's the plugger you'd like.

I don't know what I'd do if I were your GM. There isn't a WR worth taking that high and McFadden won't fall that far. Same with Jake Long. I think an OT would make for a nice pickup, though. Take Gosder Cherilus, stick him at RT and call it a round.

[IlliniNRG]

Sure, why not, but if and only if we pick somewhere way too high for the best safety. Its easily the biggest hole on our defense.

The DT position would already be a big strength if Harris, Dvoracek, and Walker were all healthy.

The Bears have HUGE holes at places other than DT. Like you're saying, this position will look far stronger next year....Harris alone I think will be much, much better. I think he's playing average at best this year for a starter.

I haven't looked at many mock drafts yet, but you need a safety, an OT, RB, WR, OLB, and QB more than you need a DT. I could see Angelo drafting a DT over a RB since we just spent a high pick on Benson, but I think the other needs come first.

Our D-line is a position of strength next year. I'm more worried about linebacker, if Briggs might leave and Urlacher truly has an arthritic back. I wonder if we've seen the last of a dominant #54.

[Howling Mad]

I've payed a lot of attention to Urlacher in the last few games and I have come to realize that he will never be the MLB/FS he once was for us.

Now he is just a MLB. Before this arthitic back thing, he was a legitamately played both positions at the same time. Thats how fast, dominant, and good he was.

Now I'm starting to change my position on our safety needs. We aren't as deep as past years and Urlacher can no longer cover for our weaknesses at the safety position while playing MLB.

However theres no way we need a DT. Run-stopping DT are easier to get than pass rushing DT, so I wouldn't spend such a high draft pick on a DT since we have Harris.

I would go with a dominant offensive player in the first and second round.

Angelo hits his homeruns in the 3rd and 4th round with defense so he needs to limit his chances on offensive picks and use the high picks on offense. Of course in 05 that didn't work out too well. Out of the three RB we got the worst production in Benson. Look at Cadilac Williams and Ronnie Brown. How the heck did we end up with Benson and his zero production?

[CBS7]

Because we ended up with a bunch of 75 year old offensive linemen.

[emperorjones]

We need an impact player. Looking at the draft boards, the only place I see us getting one where we pick is a DT. Those that say O-Line, Saftety, QB - I don't disagree with you on the need, but who do you pick at #7?

[Ruben Douglas]

If you don't go QB and the Safety you want isn't worth the 7th pick then it's easy...you trade down and acquire extra picks.

I prefer to get a QB (Ryan) but if not I honestly think they will trade down.

[NoSkyy]

I would take the second best tackle available.

That's just me though.

[emperorjones]

If you don't go QB and the Safety you want isn't worth the 7th pick then it's easy...you trade down and acquire extra picks.

I prefer to get a QB (Ryan) but if not I honestly think they will trade down.

I absolutely hate this concept (not the messenger of course Ruben, just the message). I have been a bears fan for 30 years now and I hate the fact that this management trades down. We traded down and got Cade right? wasn't it a trade down that got us Rex? Not sure about those - but what I'd like to see from this organization is a trade UP! Last year we had a chance to trade up and get Washington's pick. Angelo said he didn't see any special players up there...oops! We need an impact guy, IMO, someone we can base this Defense around for the next 10 years.

[Cliff Levingston]

DT isn't really an issue. If we get Tommie back 100% healthy along with Dvoracek, Walker and Adams, that'll be one of the strongest units on the team. ICLO, it'd be stupid to use a high first rounder on DT.

Cliff Levingston would take either an offensive lineman or a safety, whichever seems to be the better pick at our position. It looks like Kenny Phillips could be available.

[CBS7]

Yeah, I agree with CL, and if you don't see any S or OL worth picking up where we are, then trade down.

[Ruben Douglas]

-= original quote snipped =-




I absolutely hate this concept (not the messenger of course Ruben, just the message). I have been a bears fan for 30 years now and I hate the fact that this management trades down. We traded down and got Cade right? wasn't it a trade down that got us Rex? Not sure about those - but what I'd like to see from this organization is a trade UP! Last year we had a chance to trade up and get Washington's pick. Angelo said he didn't see any special players up there...oops! We need an impact guy, IMO, someone we can base this Defense around for the next 10 years.

I couldn't agree with you more. I don't like trading down either but Angelo loves those draft picks...it's a shame he wasted all of them last year past the first round. Last year I think it was important we kept Briggs. But if we did trade up I would have liked to have gotten Landry. This year I fully expect a trade down. The Bears will have an opportunity to draft a QB and I think they should take it.
But I don't think the Bears can afford to trade up. They still need too much OL help and need a Safety desperately.

[Icness]

Icness agrees with Cliff Levingston too; there are more pressing needs than DT so long as Dvoracek can return (a legit question).

Aside from Kenny Phillips there's not another safety in this draft that deserves to be drafted in the first 3 rounds. The FA crop is less than stellar (Bob Sanders, Mike Doss, Kenoy Kennedy). Phillips isn't as good as the other recent high-profile safeties, but he would represent a definite upgrade.

If I were Jerry Angelo, I'm taking BPA in both the 1st and 2nd rounds regardless of position except CB. Just projecting in my head, if the Bears pick 9th that could mean Laurinaitis, Calais Campbell, Vernon Gholston, Ryan Clady, maybe Matt Ryan. 2nd round there's likely to be a glut of WRs and OL in that part of the draft, and both of those would make sense for the Bears.