Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2018 13:40:16 GMT -6
Chicago Bears draft comparison: Minkah Fitzpatrick or Derwin James?
by Khari Thompson3 hours agoFollow @kdthompson5
dawindycity.com/2018/04/09/chicago-bears-draft-minkah-fitzpatrick-derwin-james/
If the Chicago Bears threw us a curveball and targeted a defensive back instead of a pass-rusher at No. 8, which player would it be: Minkah Fitzpatrick or Derwin James?
As the 2018 NFL Draft inches closer, Chicago Bears fans still have no clear idea how this first round will play out for their team.
Naturally, we assume that the Bears will stay at No. 8 overall and hope that a run on quarterbacks will cause a player like Bradley Chubb or Quenton Nelson to slide into their arms. While that does remain a possibility, the likelihood that either makes it to the Bears still isn’t great. And though general manager Ryan Pace isn’t shy about trading up, one wonders if he’d do it three years in a row.
As such, the Bears may have to focus on Plan B, which generally has centered around the outside linebacker position to most observers. With Pernell McPhee and Willie Young now gone, someone has to fill the void across from Leonard Floyd.
But let’s not forget that a few defensive backs could very well force their way into the back end of the top 10. And despite the fact that the cornerback and safety positions are ostensibly locked in for the Bears, they could always use more talent there.
In particular, jack-of-all-trades Minkah Fitzpatrick could fall farther than any projected top non-quarterback in this draft. And if the Chicago Bears were interested, he’s very likely to be there at No. 8.
That said, if they wanted a more athletic defensive back that could perform many of the same functions, Derwin James might be more their speed. And with his physical tools and All-Pro potential, he could be hard to pass up.
While Denzel Ward leads the cornerback rankings, these two talented, do-it-all defensive backs may come off the board first.
If it came down to the two of them, which one should the Chicago Bears take: Fitzpatrick or James?
The Case for Minkah Fitzpatrick
There’s a reason why you’ve been hearing Fitzpatrick’s name so frequently for the last two years and why he’s been discussed as a top-10 prospect, though his name has lost some luster.
He’s simply a really good football player.
In a league that demands more of its defensive backs than ever before, Fitzpatrick can do essentially anything you ask well.
He can play as a boundary corner or in the slot, which is where he sees himself playing on the pro level. He can patrol the deep middle of the field or play up in the box as a safety. And he can come up to make big tackles as well as track the ball in the air and nab interceptions.
The knock on him, of course, is that he doesn’t necessarily excel at any one of those tasks. He’s a good, not exceptional, athlete. And the fact that he said he might fit best as a slot corner might knock him down a few pegs to teams.
In particular, Pace does always seem to gravitate more toward great athletes early in the draft, so Fitzpatrick might not entirely fit his bill.
But when you take into account his versatility and advanced football knowledge, you have to admit the Chicago Bears could really use a player like that.
Luke Inman
@luke_Spinman
Nick Saban said Minkah Fitzpatrick has one of the highest football IQs of any player he's ever coached..
Plus, let’s not make Fitzpatrick out to be some unathletic scrub. That’s not the case at all.
And while he might not run a 4.3-second 40-yard dash (4.46 at the NFL Combine) or have go-go-Gadget arms, his athletic ability shows up more on the tape than in his testing.
Look at his closing speed when the ball is in the air, allowing him to make plays on throws he starts out nowhere near. And check out his ability to change direction with receivers and his physicality when arriving at the football.
Sure looks like a good athlete to me.
And because of his versatility, he could potentially push to start immediately at nickel corner while perhaps preparing to take over Adrian Amos‘ safety spot next season.
If Amos has another solid year, someone will likely overpay him for his average/above-average play. More than likely, though, that someone will not be Ryan Pace. And if Fitzpatrick is already in the fold, that’s a natural call. After all, he’s been playing safety for the better part of the last two seasons.
Furthermore, the Bears could reunite him with his old teammate Eddie Jackson on the back end. Imagine that: having two safeties that can do it all instead of having to constantly protect on from things he can’t do.
That’s what Vic Fangio likes from his safeties. And if Fitzpatrick ended up in that spot, as I expect he would, that’s what he would offer this team.
The Case for Derwin James
Now, THIS is a Ryan Pace-style prospect.
First of all, you can’t look the part of a monstrous cornerback/safety hybrid better than James at 6-foot-2, 215 pounds.
And when you see him running around on tape, the possibilities seem limitless for him.
Not unlike when Jalen Ramsey came out of Florida State two seasons ago, James’ skills and physical ability leave his optimal position slightly ambiguous coming out of college.
Sure, no one can envision Ramsey playing anywhere but cornerback right now. But entering the 2016 NFL Draft, some thought he could’ve succeeded just as well a rangy free safety.
Right now, James suffers, if that’s what you call it, from similar questions about his NFL position. Scouts view him largely as a safety but recognize his ability to play linebacker and even cornerback if asked.
He has the height, length (33-inch arms), speed (4.47-second 40) and explosiveness (40-inch vertical) to play as a big corner. Then again, his size and physicality absolutely scream “strong safety”. Letting him play in the box, hunt people in the run game and match up with tight ends just seems too logical not to do.
Umm…wow. I can think of probably one defensive back (Kam Chancellor) in the NFL who does things like that, and that’s about it.
Seriously, though: does he want to play outside linebacker?
For that reason, comparing Fitzpatrick and James has a bit of an “apples to oranges” feel. That said, it’s worth making the comparison because they would probably perform in relatively similar roles if drafted by the Chicago Bears.
Fitzpatrick clearly plays smoother and more instinctively at this point in their development, and he certainly sits ahead of James in the “NFL-ready” department.
On the other hand, James radiates explosiveness and aggression without quite the refinement of his Alabama counterpart. While Fitzpatrick will probably start Week 1 of the NFL season somewhere, James is slightly less of a sure thing. And his learning curve could be a bit higher as well as he adjusts to whatever position he gets put at.
Also, if the Bears put him at safety, Amos could keep him off the field for a time (though not forever).
So, for Pace, it likely comes down to which you value more: the solid readiness or the slightly unpolished but incredible potential. And I think we all know what Pace’s track record on that question is.
While Fitzpatrick is the better player right now, James may well end up the better player in the long run. And that might sway Pace to look James’ way rather than Fitzpatrick’s if the choice came down to them at No. 8.
If you asked me for my opinion, I’d roll with James.
I do love the chemistry aspect of drafting Fitzpatrick to play with Jackson again and think he’d be a worthy replacement for Amos if the Bears let him walk. So if Pace opted for him, that would still be a very good pick in my eyes.
But James has some truly monstrous capabilities, and his physical stature perhaps makes him even better equipped to develop into a dominant player.
Again, when you pick in the top 10, you want to make a splash. After all, the Chicago Bears hope they won’t pick there for a very long time. And James is arguably the rarer talent of the two.
That said, by next year, I would probably take either one of them over Amos. Just my two cents.
by Khari Thompson3 hours agoFollow @kdthompson5
dawindycity.com/2018/04/09/chicago-bears-draft-minkah-fitzpatrick-derwin-james/
If the Chicago Bears threw us a curveball and targeted a defensive back instead of a pass-rusher at No. 8, which player would it be: Minkah Fitzpatrick or Derwin James?
As the 2018 NFL Draft inches closer, Chicago Bears fans still have no clear idea how this first round will play out for their team.
Naturally, we assume that the Bears will stay at No. 8 overall and hope that a run on quarterbacks will cause a player like Bradley Chubb or Quenton Nelson to slide into their arms. While that does remain a possibility, the likelihood that either makes it to the Bears still isn’t great. And though general manager Ryan Pace isn’t shy about trading up, one wonders if he’d do it three years in a row.
As such, the Bears may have to focus on Plan B, which generally has centered around the outside linebacker position to most observers. With Pernell McPhee and Willie Young now gone, someone has to fill the void across from Leonard Floyd.
But let’s not forget that a few defensive backs could very well force their way into the back end of the top 10. And despite the fact that the cornerback and safety positions are ostensibly locked in for the Bears, they could always use more talent there.
In particular, jack-of-all-trades Minkah Fitzpatrick could fall farther than any projected top non-quarterback in this draft. And if the Chicago Bears were interested, he’s very likely to be there at No. 8.
That said, if they wanted a more athletic defensive back that could perform many of the same functions, Derwin James might be more their speed. And with his physical tools and All-Pro potential, he could be hard to pass up.
While Denzel Ward leads the cornerback rankings, these two talented, do-it-all defensive backs may come off the board first.
If it came down to the two of them, which one should the Chicago Bears take: Fitzpatrick or James?
The Case for Minkah Fitzpatrick
There’s a reason why you’ve been hearing Fitzpatrick’s name so frequently for the last two years and why he’s been discussed as a top-10 prospect, though his name has lost some luster.
He’s simply a really good football player.
In a league that demands more of its defensive backs than ever before, Fitzpatrick can do essentially anything you ask well.
He can play as a boundary corner or in the slot, which is where he sees himself playing on the pro level. He can patrol the deep middle of the field or play up in the box as a safety. And he can come up to make big tackles as well as track the ball in the air and nab interceptions.
The knock on him, of course, is that he doesn’t necessarily excel at any one of those tasks. He’s a good, not exceptional, athlete. And the fact that he said he might fit best as a slot corner might knock him down a few pegs to teams.
In particular, Pace does always seem to gravitate more toward great athletes early in the draft, so Fitzpatrick might not entirely fit his bill.
But when you take into account his versatility and advanced football knowledge, you have to admit the Chicago Bears could really use a player like that.
Luke Inman
@luke_Spinman
Nick Saban said Minkah Fitzpatrick has one of the highest football IQs of any player he's ever coached..
Plus, let’s not make Fitzpatrick out to be some unathletic scrub. That’s not the case at all.
And while he might not run a 4.3-second 40-yard dash (4.46 at the NFL Combine) or have go-go-Gadget arms, his athletic ability shows up more on the tape than in his testing.
Look at his closing speed when the ball is in the air, allowing him to make plays on throws he starts out nowhere near. And check out his ability to change direction with receivers and his physicality when arriving at the football.
Sure looks like a good athlete to me.
And because of his versatility, he could potentially push to start immediately at nickel corner while perhaps preparing to take over Adrian Amos‘ safety spot next season.
If Amos has another solid year, someone will likely overpay him for his average/above-average play. More than likely, though, that someone will not be Ryan Pace. And if Fitzpatrick is already in the fold, that’s a natural call. After all, he’s been playing safety for the better part of the last two seasons.
Furthermore, the Bears could reunite him with his old teammate Eddie Jackson on the back end. Imagine that: having two safeties that can do it all instead of having to constantly protect on from things he can’t do.
That’s what Vic Fangio likes from his safeties. And if Fitzpatrick ended up in that spot, as I expect he would, that’s what he would offer this team.
The Case for Derwin James
Now, THIS is a Ryan Pace-style prospect.
First of all, you can’t look the part of a monstrous cornerback/safety hybrid better than James at 6-foot-2, 215 pounds.
And when you see him running around on tape, the possibilities seem limitless for him.
Not unlike when Jalen Ramsey came out of Florida State two seasons ago, James’ skills and physical ability leave his optimal position slightly ambiguous coming out of college.
Sure, no one can envision Ramsey playing anywhere but cornerback right now. But entering the 2016 NFL Draft, some thought he could’ve succeeded just as well a rangy free safety.
Right now, James suffers, if that’s what you call it, from similar questions about his NFL position. Scouts view him largely as a safety but recognize his ability to play linebacker and even cornerback if asked.
He has the height, length (33-inch arms), speed (4.47-second 40) and explosiveness (40-inch vertical) to play as a big corner. Then again, his size and physicality absolutely scream “strong safety”. Letting him play in the box, hunt people in the run game and match up with tight ends just seems too logical not to do.
Umm…wow. I can think of probably one defensive back (Kam Chancellor) in the NFL who does things like that, and that’s about it.
Seriously, though: does he want to play outside linebacker?
For that reason, comparing Fitzpatrick and James has a bit of an “apples to oranges” feel. That said, it’s worth making the comparison because they would probably perform in relatively similar roles if drafted by the Chicago Bears.
Fitzpatrick clearly plays smoother and more instinctively at this point in their development, and he certainly sits ahead of James in the “NFL-ready” department.
On the other hand, James radiates explosiveness and aggression without quite the refinement of his Alabama counterpart. While Fitzpatrick will probably start Week 1 of the NFL season somewhere, James is slightly less of a sure thing. And his learning curve could be a bit higher as well as he adjusts to whatever position he gets put at.
Also, if the Bears put him at safety, Amos could keep him off the field for a time (though not forever).
So, for Pace, it likely comes down to which you value more: the solid readiness or the slightly unpolished but incredible potential. And I think we all know what Pace’s track record on that question is.
While Fitzpatrick is the better player right now, James may well end up the better player in the long run. And that might sway Pace to look James’ way rather than Fitzpatrick’s if the choice came down to them at No. 8.
If you asked me for my opinion, I’d roll with James.
I do love the chemistry aspect of drafting Fitzpatrick to play with Jackson again and think he’d be a worthy replacement for Amos if the Bears let him walk. So if Pace opted for him, that would still be a very good pick in my eyes.
But James has some truly monstrous capabilities, and his physical stature perhaps makes him even better equipped to develop into a dominant player.
Again, when you pick in the top 10, you want to make a splash. After all, the Chicago Bears hope they won’t pick there for a very long time. And James is arguably the rarer talent of the two.
That said, by next year, I would probably take either one of them over Amos. Just my two cents.
