One of my favorite moves by the Bears this off-season was the hiring of Harry Hiestand. He's not the only move I'm happy with, but he sure is one of the top ones.
In discussing the OLine it has been mentioned the Bears may just consider a scenario where they move Whitehair to LG and draft a center in the 4th. The belief in Hiestand is probably so great he may be the best individual coach on the staff.
I would love to see that happen. If either Billy Price from Ohio State or Iowa's James Daniels would drop to us in the 4th round, it would be amazing. Both are projected as 1st or 2nd round talents, but you never know where centers are going to be actually drafted. Leaving Whitehair at guard (instead of moving him around to different positions) would probably result in him being a much better player for us.
Why did the Bears match Kyle Fuller’s offer from the Packers right away instead of drawing it out and freezing their cap? — @nickmau91
There were a lot of very popular questions in the mailbag this week and this was certainly one of them. Folks wanted to know why the Bears chose to make their intentions to match the offer sheet Fuller signed with Green Bay known almost immediately instead of waiting until Wednesday’s deadline to make it official. It’s a fair question and the first thing that comes to mind for me as the Bears were able to send a loud and clear message to Fuller by making the move quickly: We’re excited to have you on a four-year contract now and we’re glad this is done now. I don’t think the Bears really would have jammed up the Packers had they waited to make the move. Obviously, Green Bay has some contingency plans in place because it had to know landing Fuller was far from a slam dunk. It would have added a little bit of drama to things and had it dragged out, it’s worth wondering if the reaction would have been “the Bears are weighing their options because they’re not sure if they want Fuller at that price tag.” I don’t think the Bears made a tactical error in making their intentions known to Fuller right away. They wanted to keep him in place and they did.
I am not sure that this answer is accurate. From what I read just this morning, the Bears just officially matched the offer today in order to keep the Packers on the hook for the full 5 days and keep them from signing another CB due to their CAP issue. I believe what happened was they made the announcement immediately that they would match it in order to let Fuller know they wanted him, but did not actually file the paperwork until they could extract their little pound of flesh from GB.
That's quite likely. They could have signed a match but not submitted to the league office it 'til today just to twist GB's tit over it.
Why did the Bears match Kyle Fuller’s offer from the Packers right away instead of drawing it out and freezing their cap? — @nickmau91
There were a lot of very popular questions in the mailbag this week and this was certainly one of them. Folks wanted to know why the Bears chose to make their intentions to match the offer sheet Fuller signed with Green Bay known almost immediately instead of waiting until Wednesday’s deadline to make it official. It’s a fair question and the first thing that comes to mind for me as the Bears were able to send a loud and clear message to Fuller by making the move quickly: We’re excited to have you on a four-year contract now and we’re glad this is done now. I don’t think the Bears really would have jammed up the Packers had they waited to make the move. Obviously, Green Bay has some contingency plans in place because it had to know landing Fuller was far from a slam dunk. It would have added a little bit of drama to things and had it dragged out, it’s worth wondering if the reaction would have been “the Bears are weighing their options because they’re not sure if they want Fuller at that price tag.” I don’t think the Bears made a tactical error in making their intentions known to Fuller right away. They wanted to keep him in place and they did.
I am not sure that this answer is accurate. From what I read just this morning, the Bears just officially matched the offer today in order to keep the Packers on the hook for the full 5 days and keep them from signing another CB due to their CAP issue. I believe what happened was they made the announcement immediately that they would match it in order to let Fuller know they wanted him, but did not actually file the paperwork until they could extract their little pound of flesh from GB.
That's quite likely. They could have signed a match but not submitted to the league office it 'til today just to twist GB's tit over it.
"Lately, I’ve seen many mock drafts having the Bears pass on Minkah Fitzpatrick in favor of players like Denzel Ward/Tremaine Edmunds. In your opinion which one of those three players would you take with the No. 8 pick? —@adamowb
I’d take Fitzpatrick and feel really good about the secondary in a division that has some excellent quarterbacks in Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford and now Kirk Cousins. We’ll have to see how it shakes out. I think the Bears are much less likely to draft a cornerback in Round 1 now that they’ve paid Kyle Fuller and Prince Amukamara, two players that will combine to earn $47 million over the next two seasons."
What do you guys think about us drafting Minkah at #8 instead of Ward/Edmunds?
I would not draft Ward but Fitzpatrick yes. He's one of the 5 sure things in this draft. I'd have him add 10-15lbs and play him as a utility DB/SS/FS/LB.
In discussing the OLine it has been mentioned the Bears may just consider a scenario where they move Whitehair to LG and draft a center in the 4th. The belief in Hiestand is probably so great he may be the best individual coach on the staff.
I would love to see that happen. If either Billy Price from Ohio State or Iowa's James Daniels would drop to us in the 4th round, it would be amazing. Both are projected as 1st or 2nd round talents, but you never know where centers are going to be actually drafted. Leaving Whitehair at guard (instead of moving him around to different positions) would probably result in him being a much better player for us.
I think he might be here to work with morgan and the other young OL on the roster now.
I would love to see that happen. If either Billy Price from Ohio State or Iowa's James Daniels would drop to us in the 4th round, it would be amazing. Both are projected as 1st or 2nd round talents, but you never know where centers are going to be actually drafted. Leaving Whitehair at guard (instead of moving him around to different positions) would probably result in him being a much better player for us.
I think he might be here to work with morgan and the other young OL on the roster now.
+1 I agree. Having a great OL coach opens up all kinds of possibilities. We may very well see our starters take a step forward too... even guys like Leno and Massie who are veteran guys could see their game go to a whole new level. And I can think of no better coach to develop young talent.
Here's something to consider, that goes along with your comment about our young OL guys being developed. Tonight I checked out current first team All-Pro offensive linemen (not the Pro Bowl but the legit All Pro guys).
LT - 36 year old Andrew Whitworth who was drafted late in the 2nd round (almost lasted until the 3rd round) LG - Andrew Norwell - undrafted guy C - Jason Kelce - He'll be 31 years old this season - 6th round draft pick RG - David DeCastro, a late 1st round pick RT - Lane Johnson 1st round
Only 1 of those guys was a top-10 draft pick. Hiestand has an eye for talent and can develop young guys, and I really believe he will build us something special here. While I would be happy with Nelson at #8 this year, I don't think Harry needs that kind of high draft pick to build a stellar OL unit - and I'm thinking he will build it rock solid all 8 men deep too.
I think he might be here to work with morgan and the other young OL on the roster now.
+1 I agree. Having a great OL coach opens up all kinds of possibilities. We may very well see our starters take a step forward too... even guys like Leno and Massie who are veteran guys could see their game go to a whole new level. And I can think of no better coach to develop young talent.
Here's something to consider, that goes along with your comment about our young OL guys being developed. Tonight I checked out current first team All-Pro offensive linemen (not the Pro Bowl but the legit All Pro guys).
LT - 36 year old Andrew Whitworth who was drafted late in the 2nd round (almost lasted until the 3rd round) LG - Andrew Norwell - undrafted guy C - Jason Kelce - He'll be 31 years old this season - 6th round draft pick RG - David DeCastro, a late 1st round pick RT - Lane Johnson 1st round
Only 1 of those guys was a top-10 draft pick. Hiestand has an eye for talent and can develop young guys, and I really believe he will build us something special here. While I would be happy with Nelson at #8 this year, I don't think Harry needs that kind of high draft pick to build a stellar OL unit - and I'm thinking he will build it rock solid all 8 men deep too.
Of course it depends on what else comes of FA and how the first 7 picks fall but if Nelson is there I say take him.
You're looking at a guy who could play as an All Pro OG for 10 years. He's an OG equivalent of Joe Thomas. I realize the guy won't score TDs and sack QBs but he'll protect a guy who will score TD and keep him from getting sacked.
+1 I agree. Having a great OL coach opens up all kinds of possibilities. We may very well see our starters take a step forward too... even guys like Leno and Massie who are veteran guys could see their game go to a whole new level. And I can think of no better coach to develop young talent.
Here's something to consider, that goes along with your comment about our young OL guys being developed. Tonight I checked out current first team All-Pro offensive linemen (not the Pro Bowl but the legit All Pro guys).
LT - 36 year old Andrew Whitworth who was drafted late in the 2nd round (almost lasted until the 3rd round) LG - Andrew Norwell - undrafted guy C - Jason Kelce - He'll be 31 years old this season - 6th round draft pick RG - David DeCastro, a late 1st round pick RT - Lane Johnson 1st round
Only 1 of those guys was a top-10 draft pick. Hiestand has an eye for talent and can develop young guys, and I really believe he will build us something special here. While I would be happy with Nelson at #8 this year, I don't think Harry needs that kind of high draft pick to build a stellar OL unit - and I'm thinking he will build it rock solid all 8 men deep too.
Of course it depends on what else comes of FA and how the first 7 picks fall but if Nelson is there I say take him.
You're looking at a guy who could play as an All Pro OG for 10 years. He's an OG equivalent of Joe Thomas. I realize the guy won't score TDs and sack QBs but he'll protect a guy who will score TD and keep him from getting sacked.
+1 I will be thrilled if we draft Nelson. But I just feel confident Harry Hiestand will put together a great OL here even if we don't draft Nelson. A coach like HH is a priceless valuable asset.
I think he might be here to work with morgan and the other young OL on the roster now.
+1 I agree. Having a great OL coach opens up all kinds of possibilities. We may very well see our starters take a step forward too... even guys like Leno and Massie who are veteran guys could see their game go to a whole new level. And I can think of no better coach to develop young talent.
Here's something to consider, that goes along with your comment about our young OL guys being developed. Tonight I checked out current first team All-Pro offensive linemen (not the Pro Bowl but the legit All Pro guys).
LT - 36 year old Andrew Whitworth who was drafted late in the 2nd round (almost lasted until the 3rd round) LG - Andrew Norwell - undrafted guy C - Jason Kelce - He'll be 31 years old this season - 6th round draft pick RG - David DeCastro, a late 1st round pick RT - Lane Johnson 1st round
Only 1 of those guys was a top-10 draft pick. Hiestand has an eye for talent and can develop young guys, and I really believe he will build us something special here. While I would be happy with Nelson at #8 this year, I don't think Harry needs that kind of high draft pick to build a stellar OL unit - and I'm thinking he will build it rock solid all 8 men deep too.
It just is what it is, you can get every position everywhere in the draft; some are just harder to come by; and the later the rounds the larger the chance the pick doesn't work. For every Norwell, there are 100 guys you never heard of that couldn't make it off the practice field.
The trick w/the later picks is knowing what you want from that position and knowing that player has the ability to become that w/time and practice and coaching. Earlier the round less they need(normally).
I'm not saying they won't go w/a OL early, if Nelson is there it'd be hard to pass on him, but you'll be sacraficing more at another position then you will at OG/OC imo.