No Turner.. How bout Dunn?

[shugknight]

Since we lost out on Turner, how bout Dunn who was just cut?

[Chewie]

Color me uninterested as he's 33 already - old for a RB. Ugh - if Angelo knew how to identify running talent (see: Benson, Cedric and Wolfe, Garrett) we wouldn't even have to have this discussion in the first place.

Without addressing the OL holes first, though, they may as well put me back there. If we're going to rely on the likes of Terence Metcalf, it's going to be a LOOOONG season.

[NoSkyy]

If we go and get Dunn, then doesn't that say A LOT about our RB situation? Considering how Altanta cut him after signing Turner? Come on.

[Chewie]

The frustrating thing is I doubt Angelo even looks at RB in Round 1 - it would be admitting he made mistakes with both Benson and Wolfe. It's just the more I see of Benson - the lack of runs over 20 yds, the lack of balance, the attitude - the less I like him. And if we're going to call ourselves a running team - and what else could we be with Rex and Neckbeard at QB - we need to admit the mistakes and move on.

Mendenhall and Stewart should be strongly considered with pick #14 in my opinion.

[SportsWorld]

I would rather have Benson than Dunn.
What if we drafted Mendenhall in the first round? He will still be avaliable and people say he could be better than McFadden. Of course I doubt Angelo even thinks RB in the 1st round.

[NoSkyy]

I love Mendenhall(and Stewart) but I REALLY don't want us to draft a RB in the 1st round and then realize the problem is out OL and not our RB corps(gasp). I rather shore up on our OL(looking like Williams from Vandy or Albert from Virginia to be our best two choices IMO. Ideal scenario would be something like trade with Dallas and pick both. I doubt that'll happen though) and then draft one of those burners in round two and below like Jamaal Charles(Texas), Felix Jones(Arkansas), Chris Johnson(a personal favorite, East Carolina), Kevin Smith (Central Florida), Ray Rice(Rutgers, maybe I think he's too much in the build of Cedric Benson), Mike Hart(ehhh), Steve Slaton, and we can go as far as Tashard Choice(GT), Patrick Allen(Oklahoma), Chauncey Washignton(USC).

I also hope we take a look at Jacob Hester or Owen Schmitt, two guys that more so fullback than anything. And if we can I want Peyton Hills in the last two rounds, the guy returned punts for Arkansas(where they have Felix Jones and Darren Mcfadden) which tells you something. I think he'll be a terrific addition on special teams to go with Hester(lead blocker/ability to field the kick).

[/end rant]

[SportsWorld]

I loved Hester at LSU. Not sure where the experts are having him go but I assume late 2nd round early 3rd round. He would be a great addition to this team.

[NoSkyy]

I loved Hester at LSU. Not sure where the experts are having him go but I assume late 2nd round early 3rd round. He would be a great addition to this team.

From what I've seen because he has no position they're looking at him at 5-6th round, and both Peyton Hills and Owen Schmitt are ranked above him as FBs. He'll be a steal in the late rounds.

[Chewie]

I love Mendenhall(and Stewart) but I REALLY don't want us to draft a RB in the 1st round and then realize the problem is out OL and not our RB corps(gasp).

Unfortunately, I think the problem is two-fold - we need OL and RB. I just think we'd do better in going OL by dipping into free agency then look to the draft beginning with Round 2 for two more.

Again, though, I see Angelo putting faith in his current RB corps - he DID draft them after all - and waiting on a RB. I wish Marion Barber III wasn't restricted - there's a guy that wants the ball and gets every possible inch he can. The anti-Benson, if you will.

[SportsWorld]

-= original quote snipped =-



From what I've seen because he has no position they're looking at him at 5-6th round, and both Peyton Hills and Owen Schmitt are ranked above him as FBs. He'll be a steal in the late rounds.

Wow, if we could grab Hester in the 5th-6th round that would be a major steal. I guess I over-estimated him because of his championship performance.

[Cliff Levingston]

No Dunn. The Bears are going to give Benson every chance in the world to succeed before drafting or signing a replacement for him. Quite obviously, our offensive line was dreadful last year. Shore that up and see what happens with Cedric; maybe he'll look serviceable for the time being, who knows.

Put Cliff Levingston down for a stud tackle in the first round. Ryan Clady!

[Ruben Douglas]

I think Jamaal Charles is going to be a player. Kid has great vision and cut back skills. Not to mention he can catch the ball out of the backfield and has break away speed.

[dougthonus]

Isn't Julius Jones a UFA? He might not be someone bad to look at if you are going to platoon.

I don't want to go RB in round 1. I'd rather take the best offensive lineman possible. Our offensive line is currently a gigantic pile of crap, and we haven't addressed it in free agency yet, so we'd better do something about it in the draft.

[Posey H8er]

Have we heard anything about Josh Beekman since he was drafted? Is he any good and could he possibly start?

[Chewie]

Isn't Julius Jones a UFA? He might not be someone bad to look at if you are going to platoon.

I don't want to go RB in round 1. I'd rather take the best offensive lineman possible. Our offensive line is currently a gigantic pile of crap, and we haven't addressed it in free agency yet, so we'd better do something about it in the draft.

Yeah, Jones is unrestricted. At the right price, I'd bring him in to platoon with a possibility of winning the job outright. I just love Barber III's game so much more when I see the Cowboys play. Again, he's restricted so I should just stop talking about it.

Whether or not the Bears have warm bodies at RB, I still see it as a gaping hole. Benson's been given his shot and failed. Rarely will the light just suddenly turn on in a RB's fourth year. I don't even see a glimpse there. And now we learn that Benson's offseason surgery to repair his fractured ankle may "cost him a step"? This is really where we want to hang our hat? You probably couldn't get a 4th rounder for the guy this year if we were looking to just dump him.

I just don't know what we're thinking about offensive line, though - I haven't seen one visit even scheduled from an free agent OL and I doubt we plan on relying on rookies and Metcalf. We must have a TON of faith in last year's 4th rd pick, Beekman. That guy couldn't even sniff the field last year.

Too many needs. This is a recording.

[Cliff Levingston]

Have we heard anything about Josh Beekman since he was drafted? Is he any good and could he possibly start?

The coaching staff didn't even want to try him out at the end of last season when the playoffs were out of reach. That doesn't bode well for his chances to see the field any time soon.

If we draft a OT in the first round that can start at LT right away and find a decent guard in free agency (or Beekman or another draft pick steps up) then we should be decent:

---LT-----LG------C-------RG-------RT
Rookie - ??? - Kreutz - Garza - Tait

[Posey H8er]

-= original quote snipped =-


The coaching staff didn't even want to try him out at the end of last season when the playoffs were out of reach. That doesn't bode well for his chances to see the field any time soon.

If we draft a OT in the first round that can start at LT right away and find a decent guard in free agency (or Beekman or another draft pick steps up) then we should be decent:

---LT-----LG------C-------RG-------RT
Rookie - ??? - Kreutz - Garza - Tait

---LT---------------LG-------------------------C-------RG-------RT
(Otah? 1st RD) - Schuening2nd/3rd? - Kreutz - Garza - Tait

How about we address both of these needs in the draft if possible?

[dougthonus]

Well I'd rather have Marion Barber as well, but since the Cowboys will almost certainly keep him, Jones seems like someone who we wouldn't need to break the bank on, but has shown some ability. I don't think Jones would be a stud for us, but I think he could certainly be solid.

As for our offensive line, I don't know, I mean right now, we're 2 starters down. When we aren't even looking at the better FAs at the position, it makes it an absolute must draft position. As it stands right now, I'd be tempted to use both our 1st and 2nd round picks on offensive linemen (as long as we're not reaching real big in the process).

You look at the teams greatest needs right now, and they're all on the offensive side of the ball. However, you strengthen the offensive line and all of a sudden everyone on offense looks a heck of a lot better.

[NoSkyy]

-= original quote snipped =-


---LT---------------LG-------------------------C-------RG-------RT
(Otah? 1st RD) - Schuening2nd/3rd? - Kreutz - Garza - Tait

How about we address both of these needs in the draft if possible?

I'm hoping for Williams and Albert, but both are projected to go in the latter half of the first round.

[Sinistar6]

I am the biggest Ron Dayne fan ever...just thought i would share.