Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2018 16:28:05 GMT -6
Chicago Bears Draft Scout: Quenton Nelson
by Parker Hurley7 hours agoFollow @parkerhurley
Link: beargoggleson.com/2018/01/29/chicago-bears-draft-scout-quenton-nelson/
Quenton Nelson was the best guard in college football last season. Is he valuable enough to draft with the eighth overall pick?
Quenton Nelson was the best guard hands down in College football last year. He was a unanimous All-American. There are some who believe that he his the best prospect in the entire draft. However, with guard being a less valuable position, the question is, what pick is he worth it? Would the Chicago Bears draft Nelson at pick eight?
Measurables:
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 330
Age: 22
College: Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Strengths:
Nelson is a compact bulldozer. He is more square than round and built well with great strength. He has great technique to stand up his defenders and seal off lanes in the running game. In power running, there may not be a better guard prospect in the past five seasons. He is a strong pass blocker, he is built to start next season, and has the technique and strength for a long career of success.
Weakness
The weaknesses around him are what could turn him from a starting into an All-Pro if fixed. He is a decent mover but is a bit slow off of the line when it comes to pulling and moving off of the line. He is slow to get out in space. He also tends to break out and miss blocks. Being a strong pull blocker is one thing he will have to adjust on. He also has issues moving in pass protection and can get bullied when he is trying to move laterally while blocking.
Pro Comparison-Richie Incognito without the issues
Everyone wonders why, incident after incident, Richie Incognito stays in the NFL. That is because aside from the off of the field problems that he presents, he is one heck of a football player. He just recently got Pro Bowl recognition aside from his reputation.
Now, take away the off of the field, and add in a team captain at Notre Dame who knows how to be a leader. You have a power blocker and a player who pushed the limits of physicality for his own favor on the field. However, he is leading the group off of the field. He is not the best on the move and may not be a stud athlete. Still, his floor is extremely high because of his ability to dominate in power run blocking, like Incognito.
If you take away the all of the bad news that you hear and think of just his tape, the comparison should be looked at as a compliment.
Fit for Chicago Bears?
The question that everyone will be asking is whether or not the Quenton Nelson is worth the eighth pick in the draft. There is no chance he makes it past 15, so it is then or never for the Chicago Bears. However, in the short term, Nelson would likely fill in for Kyle Long, who may be a cap casualty. Then, the team would start him over Josh Sitton in the long term. The issue is, even if you had a healthy Kyle Long for 2016, how much better is the team? What do they get out of upgrading that spot? That is a pick that helps keep the wheel turning, not speed up the process.
It would be tough to walk away from the Bears drafting Nelson and being mad. It is the safe pick. It is also fair to understand that in the vacuum of the situation, there could have been a higher upside bet at that pick to help change the game. A big-time pass rusher. A game-changing wide receiver. Even a top tackle would be more impactful. Of course, the Bears do have offensive line coach Harry Hiestand as well. He came over from Notre Dame so if anyone knows his value to a team, it will be Hiestand. It will be an interesting debate, and likely will end up being one that the Bears face. We will see how they value Long, guards, and Nelson and his impact moving forward.
by Parker Hurley7 hours agoFollow @parkerhurley
Link: beargoggleson.com/2018/01/29/chicago-bears-draft-scout-quenton-nelson/
Quenton Nelson was the best guard in college football last season. Is he valuable enough to draft with the eighth overall pick?
Quenton Nelson was the best guard hands down in College football last year. He was a unanimous All-American. There are some who believe that he his the best prospect in the entire draft. However, with guard being a less valuable position, the question is, what pick is he worth it? Would the Chicago Bears draft Nelson at pick eight?
Measurables:
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 330
Age: 22
College: Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Strengths:
Nelson is a compact bulldozer. He is more square than round and built well with great strength. He has great technique to stand up his defenders and seal off lanes in the running game. In power running, there may not be a better guard prospect in the past five seasons. He is a strong pass blocker, he is built to start next season, and has the technique and strength for a long career of success.
Weakness
The weaknesses around him are what could turn him from a starting into an All-Pro if fixed. He is a decent mover but is a bit slow off of the line when it comes to pulling and moving off of the line. He is slow to get out in space. He also tends to break out and miss blocks. Being a strong pull blocker is one thing he will have to adjust on. He also has issues moving in pass protection and can get bullied when he is trying to move laterally while blocking.
Pro Comparison-Richie Incognito without the issues
Everyone wonders why, incident after incident, Richie Incognito stays in the NFL. That is because aside from the off of the field problems that he presents, he is one heck of a football player. He just recently got Pro Bowl recognition aside from his reputation.
Now, take away the off of the field, and add in a team captain at Notre Dame who knows how to be a leader. You have a power blocker and a player who pushed the limits of physicality for his own favor on the field. However, he is leading the group off of the field. He is not the best on the move and may not be a stud athlete. Still, his floor is extremely high because of his ability to dominate in power run blocking, like Incognito.
If you take away the all of the bad news that you hear and think of just his tape, the comparison should be looked at as a compliment.
Fit for Chicago Bears?
The question that everyone will be asking is whether or not the Quenton Nelson is worth the eighth pick in the draft. There is no chance he makes it past 15, so it is then or never for the Chicago Bears. However, in the short term, Nelson would likely fill in for Kyle Long, who may be a cap casualty. Then, the team would start him over Josh Sitton in the long term. The issue is, even if you had a healthy Kyle Long for 2016, how much better is the team? What do they get out of upgrading that spot? That is a pick that helps keep the wheel turning, not speed up the process.
It would be tough to walk away from the Bears drafting Nelson and being mad. It is the safe pick. It is also fair to understand that in the vacuum of the situation, there could have been a higher upside bet at that pick to help change the game. A big-time pass rusher. A game-changing wide receiver. Even a top tackle would be more impactful. Of course, the Bears do have offensive line coach Harry Hiestand as well. He came over from Notre Dame so if anyone knows his value to a team, it will be Hiestand. It will be an interesting debate, and likely will end up being one that the Bears face. We will see how they value Long, guards, and Nelson and his impact moving forward.