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Mariotti: Wake up, Angelo: Target Mendenhall, not OT

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Mariotti: Wake up, Angelo: Target Mendenhall, not OT 

Post#1 » by SportsWorld » Thu Apr 24, 2008 4:53 am

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/mariotti ... 8.article#
Maybe I'm mistaken, but to have a running game, it helps to actually have a running back. The Bears own no such creature, unless we're counting Cedric (Three Yards and a Cloud of Bust) Benson -- and I'm not. Without a ballcarrier, they're placing ungodly pressure on Rex Grossman or Kyle Orton to stimulate the offense, a daunting thought in and of itself and even scarier considering there are better wide receivers in Lincoln Park weekend leagues.

The good news is that a solution is in our midst, right there in the northern suburbs, where Rashard Mendenhall will sit in his living room Saturday and wait for a call from his hometown team. Last we saw him, in the Rose Bowl, he was thrashing through the NFL-style defense of the USC Trojans, flashing enough doses of power and speed for Illinois that opposing coach Pete Carroll raved about him as much as his own victorious team. Some very sophisticated football men think Mendenhall will be a better back than Darren McFadden, whom Bears general manager Jerry Angelo calls the best player in the draft.

So ... local kid ... Illini product ... knows coordinator Ron Turner's system ... no character issues ... respectful and humble ... stock on the rise -- isn't this a natural choice if he remains available at No. 14 in the league's annual meat-on-the-hoof, vertical-leap-and-hip-swivel parade?

"The Bears did feel like home, maybe because it was home. It felt good," Mendenhall said of meeting Lovie Smith and the Halas Hall crowd. "I know everybody around me wants it to happen. I think it would be pretty cool. Chicago was my favorite team growing up, and I love the city of Chicago. Lovie is one of the best guys I've ever met in my life."
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Post#2 » by Howling Mad » Thu Apr 24, 2008 2:32 pm

I kinda agree. I only read the excerpt that SW posted, but with the depth of OL in the draft I'd wouldnt be opposed to taking Mendenhall with our first round(if he's there), then OL 2nd and 3rd round.
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Post#3 » by Chewie » Thu Apr 24, 2008 4:03 pm

I dunno. I used to think we should go with Mendenhall but RB has some unusual depth this year. No doubt going RB in Round 1 is the "sexy" pick but addressing the offensive line early is a must. We DO NOT want to go into the season with St. Clair and Metcalf as the starters. Recipe for disaster.
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Post#4 » by Howling Mad » Thu Apr 24, 2008 4:21 pm

Depending how the draft is going, there is a great chance that semi-franchise LTs will be available well into the second round. If that happens than taking a RB with the first rounder is ok. By our 14th pick, we'll be able to tell how teams are selecting, and if there will be LTs available in the mid second round.
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Post#5 » by Chewie » Thu Apr 24, 2008 4:30 pm

Hard to guess, though. Lots of picks between our 1st and 2nd round pick. I'll still say OT in the first and either QB or RB in Round 2.
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Post#6 » by Howling Mad » Thu Apr 24, 2008 4:32 pm

Yeah I'll sy OT as well, but Mendenhall wouldn't have me furiously slapping my leg in disgust.

I'm sure the 13 picks ahead of us will be a good gauge as to how teams will be picking.
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Post#7 » by Chewie » Thu Apr 24, 2008 4:37 pm

If a decent OT is there for us in Rd2, I'm right there with you on the Mendenhall thing. Just seems risky considering we're going to need to the OL pick(s) to start pretty early in the year, if not by Game 1.
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Post#8 » by Cliff Levingston » Thu Apr 24, 2008 4:43 pm

Cliff Levingston would love to get Mendenhall, but without a line to run behind, it's pretty pointless. If the Bears think he's a true franchise type back then you almost have to pick him... unless you think there's a true franchise type LT as well.
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Post#9 » by Howling Mad » Thu Apr 24, 2008 4:54 pm

Everything that I read Mendenhall is 50/50 as the top back, even over McFadden. McFadden's personal struggles and his life decisions are scaring teams away. Without those things McF is a legit #1 pick.

The same articles say, after Stewart, there is a steep drop to guys like Felix, and Chris Johnson.

However the LT depth is awesome. There is Long, then a slight drop, and then Clady, Otah, Williams, etc, then another very very slight drop to the 2nd round and 3rd round guys.

Getting two OL in the first and second/third rounds are obviously stronger than nabbing two OL in the second and third rounds, but if Mendenhall is there I don't see how we past him.

The gain he gives us with a first round pick, then two OL in the second and third is a lot better than us nabbing a OL in the first and a running back and OL in the second/third rounds.

Did ya get all that? phew!

Of course, Jerry will surprise us and not pick up a back at all, and put all his confidence into Benson. :nonono: That would be a complete stubborn move, meaning Angelo isn't ready to admit he drafted a bust with the fourth pick.
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Post#10 » by Chewie » Thu Apr 24, 2008 5:01 pm

Not just that but taking a RB in the first is admission that he goofed with the Wolfe pick when he went much higher than he was slotted for.

Let's end the speculation and get this draft started, baby! Just 2 days away !
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Post#11 » by Howling Mad » Thu Apr 24, 2008 5:05 pm

Yea.. I'm with ya Chewie. I'm pumped for this thing.

I gotta go out and get some chips and dip, some chicken wings, and a six pack. Also do some g/f maintenance Friday night so I'm left alone all day Sat and Sun. :wink:
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Post#12 » by Chewie » Thu Apr 24, 2008 5:16 pm

Lucky you! Having kids has mellowed me. I used to have 5 rounds mocked up with all my Kiper books read inside and out. My wife would make plans and I'd have two days to eat pizza and track the picks. Now, I get to see the 1st round then I'll end up checking in periodically to see how the Bears are doing for the rest of the draft.

Nobody told me kids needed attention and stuff before I had 'em !
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Post#13 » by Howling Mad » Thu Apr 24, 2008 5:19 pm

Chewie wrote:Lucky you! Having kids has mellowed me. I used to have 5 rounds mocked up with all my Kiper books read inside and out. My wife would make plans and I'd have two days to eat pizza and track the picks. Now, I get to see the 1st round then I'll end up checking in periodically to see how the Bears are doing for the rest of the draft.

Nobody told me kids needed attention and stuff before I had 'em !


I wouldn't know! :wink:

I have a dog, and I bitch about taking care of her. :rofl:
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Post#14 » by Chewie » Thu Apr 24, 2008 5:23 pm

I shouldn't complain - they're all keepers.

That being said, I'm looking forward to ending the speculation and seeing this board explode with analysis on Sat and Sun. Well, as much as the 6 or so regular posters can MAKE a board explode, eh?
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Post#15 » by Howling Mad » Thu Apr 24, 2008 5:30 pm

Chewie wrote:I shouldn't complain - they're all keepers.


:rofl: ...keepers... haha.

I'll keep that in mind when I make a bratty child. :wink: Where do I take my returns and exchanges to?

Chewie wrote:That being said, I'm looking forward to ending the speculation and seeing this board explode with analysis on Sat and Sun. Well, as much as the 6 or so regular posters can MAKE a board explode, eh?


I'm sure people will start to peek in during the draft and then start to post. These boards have lots of people, no reason to think they won't start posting here.

I'll be here on Sat posting, you too?
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Post#16 » by Chewie » Thu Apr 24, 2008 5:47 pm

Oh, sure - I'll be around in full force. The fact that they've cut the times between picks this year should help matters immensely.

Hard to justify sitting on my rear end for a full 7 hours of the first round while my oldest still can't catch a pop fly....
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Post#17 » by SportsWorld » Thu Apr 24, 2008 5:58 pm

If we don't take Mendenhall I think the Detroit Lions are going to take him at 15. If Mendenhall turns out as good as advertised, we are going to have to deal with both Adrian Peterson and Mendenhall in our division.
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Post#18 » by Howling Mad » Thu Apr 24, 2008 5:59 pm

Yeah I hear ya, those are the things I'm looking forward to as a Father.

I'm probably going to grab the TV from the bedroom to play some PS3 while the draft is going on. There are just some picks I really don't care about.

What baseball team ya got Chewie?
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Post#19 » by Chewie » Thu Apr 24, 2008 6:32 pm

BULL even PAX wrote:What baseball team ya got Chewie?


Ugh. We're going really OT here but I'm all Chicago sports with the exception of baseball. I've been a Pirates fan for life despite the fact I've never even been to Pittsburgh. Grew up in FL and was into baseball before any other sport. Since FL didn't have a team and being a front runner in 1979 (like most kids) and loving their goofy flat-topped hats and idolizing Dave Parker, I rolled with the Bucs and haven't looked back since. Stupid loyalty.

Why couldn't I have picked the friggin' Yankees ?!?
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Post#20 » by Chewie » Thu Apr 24, 2008 6:37 pm

SportsWorld wrote:If we don't take Mendenhall I think the Detroit Lions are going to take him at 15. If Mendenhall turns out as good as advertised, we are going to have to deal with both Adrian Peterson and Mendenhall in our division.


Yeah, but THEY'VE got to deal with Cedric Benson ! Oh...wait.

I wouldn't be surprised if Mendenhall went before our pick, too. Either to another team or to the Lions after a trade up to make sure the Bears aren't just sending up smoke signals. I've seen Stewart highly rated as well - not sure if the Lions getting him is any better for us.

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