Joe Thuney and Graham Glasgow look like they'd be worth pursuing. Not overly old and injured like many of the others. I don't know about tackle though. Maybe one of you have an idea of who would be worth bringing here? It seems like teams don't let good/healthy tackles go. They keep them.
LINK NFL free agents 2020: Top 10 offensive linemen
Doing that mock draft software (I know, it's a game) but the OTs fly off the board. 5 of the top 15 picks of the entire draft are OTs. 3 are top-5 picks. By the time we draft in the 2nd round the guys who are left are more "projects" at best. Maybe there's a reason why we stick with Massie and extended him. I don't know if we're going to get any better help (right away) in the draft, and the FA tackles look pretty old/injured to me. Like 38 year old Jason Peters. The guy has been great, but I don't know what's left in the tank health-wise and even play-wise.
Certainly there may very well be a guy who could be drafted and developed for future years. And I hope they do that too. Invest in 2021 and beyond. But for THIS season we'd better hope the new OL coach can get something good out of Leno and Massie.
Post by Whisky Beer Bob on Feb 7, 2020 9:07:00 GMT -6
Who needs OT or OL's for that matter. Just get a bunch of player's that used to play QB but switched O positions. Have then running all over the backfield handing it off or tossing the ball around. Let's turn this into a fun Rugby/football ballet. Everyone likes trick plays right?
At first I was pretty much feeling bad about how much of the offense Pace can fix for 2020. But the more I'm reading about the draft talent and the FAs, I realize there WILL be better options than I first thought. I think I got fixated on the fact we don't have that 1st round pick this year. But it does help to have 2 second round picks. That's 2 picks of the top 50 players in this draft. And I would be okay if Pace traded down with 1 of those second round picks if he is confident of getting a rock solid return on the investment (the added pick). That would be 3 picks in the first 3 rounds - which is really more in Pace's wheelhouse than the 1st round, IMHO.
One question I had and hoped one of you can answer it for me. It does look like there are going to be options to draft the top centers in this draft, in the second round. I know we don't need a center now. We have 2 already. But reading the scouting reports on the top centers looks like we could get an incredible talent if we drafted one. But would it make any sense to draft one to be a guard? Our interior Oline would be 3 centers. How would you guys think that would work out? Would we be better off just drafting a guard?
Joe Thuney and Graham Glasgow look like they'd be worth pursuing. Not overly old and injured like many of the others. I don't know about tackle though. Maybe one of you have an idea of who would be worth bringing here? It seems like teams don't let good/healthy tackles go. They keep them.
LINK NFL free agents 2020: Top 10 offensive linemen
Glasgow would be my choice based on age, durability, versatility (G/C), and likely cost. I imagine Thuney and Scherff will be too expensive.
Add GG and a 2nd round OT and that's good by me.
I for one fell like the OL's struggles in 2019 were more scheme and coaching related than due to lack of talent. The Bears need a RG and an OT in the development pipeline but otherwise are OK on the OL in my opinion.
Joe Thuney and Graham Glasgow look like they'd be worth pursuing. Not overly old and injured like many of the others. I don't know about tackle though. Maybe one of you have an idea of who would be worth bringing here? It seems like teams don't let good/healthy tackles go. They keep them.
Glasgow would be my choice based on age, durability, versatility (G/C), and likely cost. I imagine Thuney and Scherff will be too expensive.
Add GG and a 2nd round OT and that's good by me.
I for one fell like the OL's struggles in 2019 were more scheme and coaching related than due to lack of talent. The Bears need a RG and an OT in the development pipeline but otherwise are OK on the OL in my opinion.
+1
Last season was a head scratcher for me. I never dreamed the OL would be a problem. But anyway, it sure will be fascinating to watch how they perform this season. I notice that Pace has drafted an OL almost every year he's been here. He didn't last year, but we only had limited draft picks. But he then did sign Larsen and Bars. Other than that, every draft he brings in a new young guy. James Daniels in 2018. Jordan Morgan in 2017. Cody Whitehair in 2016. Hroniss Grasu and Tayo Fabuluje were both drafted that first Pace draft in 2015... I don't think I'd hold that 1st draft against Pace. Other than that I feel like he's tried to give proper attention to the unit.
Glasgow would be my choice based on age, durability, versatility (G/C), and likely cost. I imagine Thuney and Scherff will be too expensive.
Add GG and a 2nd round OT and that's good by me.
I for one fell like the OL's struggles in 2019 were more scheme and coaching related than due to lack of talent. The Bears need a RG and an OT in the development pipeline but otherwise are OK on the OL in my opinion.
+1
Last season was a head scratcher for me. I never dreamed the OL would be a problem. But anyway, it sure will be fascinating to watch how they perform this season. I notice that Pace has drafted an OL almost every year he's been here. He didn't last year, but we only had limited draft picks. But he then did sign Larsen and Bars. Other than that, every draft he brings in a new young guy. James Daniels in 2018. Jordan Morgan in 2017. Cody Whitehair in 2016. Hroniss Grasu and Tayo Fabuluje were both drafted that first Pace draft in 2015... I don't think I'd hold that 1st draft against Pace. Other than that I feel like he's tried to give proper attention to the unit.
I can't criticize Pace much for his handling of the OL, despite the unit underperforming last season.
Whitehair and Daniels were both solid 2nd round picks. Leno was a player who had steadily ascended and earned a Pro Bowl nod. Massie, if you remember, just a year ago was the top OT set to hit FA before Pace re-signed him.
Jordan Morgan and Grasu were misses no doubt but only Grasu was a significant one (3rd round). Tayo was a 7th round flyer so can't expect anything there. Bars was a good udfa pickup as a mid-round talent who fell out of the draft due to missing most of his senior year.
Bottom line: Pace hasn't neglected the OL or had major draft or FA misses there like he's had with Glennon, Wheaton, White, Shaheen, Burton, Sims, Trubisky (possibly) etc.
I think signing a FA Guard like Glasgow and adding an OT on day 2 of the draft (this class is considered deep at OT) will be sufficient. Of course, that means that they get the scheme/coaching thing ironed out. Even week 1 last season the OL was unprepared and confused--that was coaching and scheme rather than lack of talent or injuries.