Angelo explains why the Bears didn't draft a QB.

[Howling Mad]

From chicagobears.com:

The Bears entered the 2008 draft determined to land as many players they viewed as eventual starters as they possible could regardless of position, and they accomplished that with their first five picks in left tackle Chris Williams in the first round, running back Matt Forte in the second round, receiver Earl Bennett and defensive tackle Marcus Harrison in the fourth round and safety Craig Steltz in the fifth round. The closest they came to selecting a quarterback occurred in the fourth round, but general manager Jerry Angelo explained that he

[Howling Mad]

I couldn't have agreed more.

That first quote was pretty much stripped from Doug's mouth.

The way Angelo is with his mid round defensive picks, it's a smarter move to go for what he did. The last sentence in the blurb pretty much says the same thing.

[CjayC]

I've been basically saying that to every person around here who honestly thought Colt Brennan,John David Booty,or Matt Flynt was worthy of a draft selection.

God awful draft for QB's.

But Bears fans shouldn't be too upset.Barring a miracle season from Grossman(Operating under the assumption that he beatS Kyle Orton),I believe that he is done.Then will be Orton's chance for a miracle year the following season(Provided he doesn't take Rex's job immediately and then playss better than expected)

Next year will be prime for the Bears to draft a QB.I'd love to get either Matt Stafford from Georgia or Sam Bradford from Oklahoma.Both vastly superior prospects IMO to Matt Ryan and Flacco.Heck,superior to both Rex and Kyle as well.

[Icness]

I agree as well--this was not the year to reach for a QB after the 1st round. I liked Chad Henne and Brian Brohm for them 2nd round, but I like Forte more and clearly they did too. Beyond that was nothing any better than Kyle Orton for the next two years.

The draft where they dropped the ball was last year, when they could have had Troy Smith, Jeff Rowe, or Tyler Thigpen--all of whom have better long-term potential that Rex or Kyle. Rowe is a stretch but give him a little time, he'll be the Bengals #2 and they really like him. Thigpen just might wind up being KC's starter, ditto Smith in BAL.

The Bears picks when they could have had any of those guys:
Kevin Payne, Corey Graham, and Josh Beekman. Beekman has a future, perhaps as a starting RG. The other two don't make the practice squad on a good team.

[CBS7]

I've actually read that management is high on Kevin Payne.

[CjayC]

Payne contributed at the end of last year,and he didn't do too bad from what I remember.There is truth to the Bears staff being high on him

With the revolving door the Bears have at Safety,especially since Mike Brown's health is always in question,and supposedly they are converting Danieal Manning to CB,I would not be surprised at all if he pushes for a Starting job.

Who else is his competition,Steltz a rookie,and the often torched Adam Archuleta?

Haven't heard much of Graham though.

Troy Smith starting in Baltimore?They just drafted Flacco.There's always the possibility especially since he looked good at the end,but now the Ravens have pretty much invested in Flacco.He'll most likely be starting the year off for them,but if he does he better take the job,and never look back

[Howling Mad]

Since no QB is going to succeed without a competent offensive line...

Beekman has a future, perhaps as a starting RG.

I've been speculating Garza at LG, can you confirm that?

I know the Bears have always been high of Garza. Besides his versatility they love his community contributions, and he's just a all around good guy.

I know Garza played LG before and has pretty much played every position on the line, so its not a bad idea if we don't pick up/trade for a LG.

I'm guessing

LT-Chris Williams
LG-Terrence Metcalf/Roberto Garza
C-Olin Kreutz
RG-Roberto Garza/Josh Beekman
RT-John Tait

How's that look to you iceness? That'd be my best guess for out O-line.

Also, how does Terrence Metcalf fit in? Should he be the starting LG, which keeps Garza at RG?

[CjayC]

That sounds good to me

Williams,Garza,Kreutz,Beekman,Tait.

I'd like to start a youth movement on the offensive line for the Bears.We would have two younger guys on the line, and 3 experience guys(And when the right RT comes in,through the draft we could get ready to groom him to replace the 33 year old Tait).

Obviously you don't want to throw too many young guys on the line yet,at the risk of getting your QB murdered,but I think its as good a time as ever,especially since the entire Bears offense will most likely need retooling(Culminating with us selecting a new QB within the next two years,unless Rex or Kyle miraculously come through for the Bears).

[TNBT]

That article pretty much summed up the QB situation in the draft. You can whine all you want about us not having a franchise QB, but when there are none available in the draft, what the hell is management supposed to do? We made the right choice but adding talent and depth at multiple positions rather than taking a QB who wont amount to anything just becuase people think we need one.

As for the offensive line, it's pretty much a lock that Kreutz, Garza and Tait will be there, and Williams should start as a rookie too. The only question is at one of the guard spots. I was thinking Beekman might have a chance and I'm pretty high on him and his potential. Do you guys think management/the coaches would like to see him starting this season?

[CBS7]

I don't know about him starting, but I did read that management was very high on him as well...

[TNBT]

Glad to see I'm not the only one who rates him highly. He was what, a 3rd round pick? We must see a lot of potential in him.

[BR0D1E86]

Next year will be prime for the Bears to draft a QB.I'd love to get either Matt Stafford from Georgia or Sam Bradford from Oklahoma.Both vastly superior prospects IMO to Matt Ryan and Flacco.Heck,superior to both Rex and Kyle as well.

Next year is universally acknowledged to be an historically poor quarterback draft class. I've heard 'worst in the past 20 years' thrown around quite a bit.

[Chewie]

-= original quote snipped =-
Next year is universally acknowledged to be an historically poor quarterback draft class. I've heard 'worst in the past 20 years' thrown around quite a bit.

Which doesn't change the fact that if Angelo didn't have starter-like grades for THIS YEAR'S QB crop, he was better off picking starter-types at different positions. And there's always guys that come out of nowhere to move up the draft board - happens every year and I have no doubt it will happen in '09.

[magee]

Umm...... isn't Tim Tebow gonna be a junior next year? One would have to think he's going to be a near lock at the top of the draft boards.

[Cliff Levingston]

And there's always guys that come out of nowhere to move up the draft board - happens every year and I have no doubt it will happen in '09.

True. It's like evaluating the NBA draft class before the NCAA tournament.

[shugknight]

I think we are all too worried about next off-season. What if this and what if that. Just think.. What if Rex actually has a pro bowl season?? Why would we need to draft a Tim Tebow or a Matt Stafford?

Or what if Cedric Benson becomes a 2000 yard rusher.... Hell we might even get into some sort of taping scandal and lose our first rounder next year.. Then all this hype is about NOTHING!

[CjayC]

Yeah WHAT IF,but it's asking a ton out of a guy that has been in this offense for 3-4 years,and a pro going into his 6th year,to suddenly just change it all around.

Grossman COULD change it all around,but it will take a strong Probowl run(At least Top 3 QB in the NFC),or a deep Playoff run(One that we actually win games because of him and not in spite of him) for us to keep him IMO.

As for Benson.

Benson is done IMO.There's all kind of rumors circulating now that Benson may never be able to make the kind of cuts he did with his legs before the injuries(Yeah,as if Benson was making many cuts for us on offense in his years as a Bear).

Besides that,I just don't believe Benson has the hunger to disprove people.He has a Devil may Care persona from what I have seen and heard,Questionable work ethic,and you can bet most of the team hates him for basically having Thomas Jones run out of town(Who was a well respected guy on the team).

I didn't think it was possible to despise anyone more than Grossman,but at least Grossman TRIES even if he is sinking the team in the process.Benson hasn't even given me an indication that he cares.He just wants that guaranteed money on his contract and nothing more.

[SLCceltic]

Beekman has a future,

im high on beekman too, so why didnt he play this year------our o-line was crap all year; do you know if the game came slowly something?? why didnt he play

also garrett wolfe----he was terribly unused????? olsen too; lovie needs to trust the offensive rooks-----i just dont get it

[Chewie]

-= original quote snipped =-







im high on beekman too, so why didnt he play this year------our o-line was crap all year; do you know if the game came slowly something?? why didnt he play?

Speaking of Beekman...this is news to me :

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/bears/929756,CST-SPT-bear03.article

If Williams isn't ready, St. Clair will open at right tackle with Tait staying on the left side. If Williams can handle the left, it's unlikely he would be paired next to Josh Beekman, the fourth-round pick from 2007 who played in only one game last year. Beekman's focus lately has been working as an understudy to center Olin Kreutz.

[NoSkyy]

Actually Beekman was drafted out of College partly because he could play Center. I remember reading about how they would be viewing tape on him and be very suprised to not find him on the left side, but under center. So, that's what they really liked about him.