A Chicago Bears Plan: In Depth

My Bears plan to the Super Bowl:
1) Tag Matt Forte-Paying any long money is a mistake. He's a helluva RB with a great tool set but a RB nonetheless. Ask TEN, MIN, or CAR about allocating big money and years to an RB.
2) Sign Vincent Jackson-He's the big WR Jay Cutler needs. The Bears wouldn't do to bad picking up Marques Colston but VJax can blow the top off a DEF in a Power Running/Deep Play-Action Pass OFF.
3) Sign Jared Gaither. It was mentioned to me by another football expert that the Bears should make a run at Carl Nicks All Pro OG from NO. I'd like this very much. If there was money to add a big time WR and Nicks, I'd say pull the trigger. But if money is a factor, signing Gaither provides insurance at both tackle positions. He's young (25) and after being cut by KC beacasue of injuries, was picked up by SD and did an exceptional job filling in for Marcus McNeill at LT protecting Philip Rivers the 2nd half of the season

Draft:

1st Rd-DL I've become a believer that NFL success starts upfront with the Offensive and Defensive Line. The Bears have gotten considerably young on the O-Line. They now have to balance that with getting some youth on the D-Line, wheter that be inside or outside: Dontari Poe DT, Melvin Ingram DL Whitney Mercilus DE, Fletcher Cox DT

2nd Round-CB With one reliable CB, the Bears need bodies in the secondary. This draft is DEEP at the corner postion and will make landing a starter in the second round feasable: Jamell Fleming Stephen Gillmore, Trumaine Johnson, Josh Robinson

3rd RD (73rd Pick) WR-Signing a true No.1 WR addresses the need of a weapon, but not depth. The Bears will still need to draft a couple wideouts in the middle rounds. Johnny Knox cannot be counted on, Devin Hester will have a diminshed role in the OFF, Roy Williams is out, and Dane Sanzenbacher is well Dane Sanzenbacher:Marvin McNutt, Mohammed Sanu, Nick Toon, Brian
Quick, Tommy Streeter

3rd Rd (80th Pick) S/CB/LB-This pick is where the Bears can go in a couple of different ways. Addressing the LB would be great but if the Bears picked up the best player available, I'd be fine with that too: Mychal Kendricks, Harrison Smith, George Iloka, Markelle Martin, or Josh Norman

4th Rd TE/LB James Hanna, Vontaze Burfict, LaDarius Green, James
Michael-Johnson

5th Rd-WR-Dwight Jones, Jeff Fuller, AJ Jenkins, Greg Childs

NFL Mock Draft 1.0

     After much research, my first 2012 NFL Mock Draft is finally complete. I will only have two versions, 1 Pre-Combine and 1 Post-Combine/Pro Days. This will definitely look a lot different after Juniors are evaluated, interviewed, and ranked. A quick overview of sources include scouting reports from Wes Bunting, Rob Rang, Todd McShay, personal correspondence from reporters Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times, Matt Bowen of the Chicago Tribune, and my own game notes. An official report of my sources will be out in a couple of weeks. Thanks for taking a look and I look forward to any responses...God Bless Football

1. IND: Andrew Luck QB Stanford
2. STL: Matt Kalil OT USC
3. MIN: Justin Blackmon WR Oklahoma St
4. CLE: Morris Claibourne CB LSU
5. TB: Dre Kirkpatrick CB Alabama
6. WAS: Robert Griffen III QB Baylor
7. JAX: Riley Reiff OT Iowa
8. *MIA: Trent Richardson RB Alabama
9. *CAR: David DeCastro OG Stanford
10. BUF: Quinton Coples DE UNC
11. *KC: Jonathon Martin OT Stanford
12. *SEA: Michael Brockers DE LSU
13. ARI: Michael Floyd WR Notre Dame
14. DAL: Peter Konz OG/C Wisconsin
15. PHI: Luke Kuechly LB Boston College
16. NYJ: Courtney Upshaw OLB/DE Alabama
17. CIN: Devon Still DT Penn St
18. SD: Mike Adams OT Ohio St
19. CHI: Melvin Ingram DE South Carolina
20. TEN: Jerel Worthy DT Michigan St
21. CIN: Lamar Miller RB Miami
22. CLE: Kendall Wright WR Baylor
23. DET: Janoris Jenkins CB North Alabama
24. PIT: Kelechi Osemele OG Iowa St
25. DEN: Alfonzo Dennard CB Nebraska
26. HOU: Alshon Jeffery WR South Carolina
27. NE: Mark Barron S Alabama
28. GB: Nick Perry DE USC
29. BAL: Vontaze Burfict LB ASU
30. SF: Ryan Tannenhill QB Texas A&M
31. NE: Fletcher Cox DE Miss St
32. NYG Coby Fleener TE Stanford

* denotes pending coin flip for slot

NFL DRAFT: Big Board 21-32

     And this list rounds out my Pre-Combine Big Board. Once underclassmen are reviewed at the NFL Combine and all players have thier Pro-Days, I'll have an updated Big Board sometime in late March and while my 1st Edition NFL Mock draft will be out next week. Enjoy...


          21.   Mark Barron S Alabama
          22.   Nick Perry DE USC
          23.   Janoris Jenkins CB North Alabama
          24.   Mike Adams OT Ohio St
          25.   Alshon Jeffery WR South Carolina
          26.   Lamar Miller RB Miami
          27.   Coby Fleener TE Stanford
          28.   Kelechi Osemele OG Iowa St
          29.   Jerel Worthy DT Michigan St
          30.   Whitney Mercilus DE Illinois
          31.   Vontaze Burfict LB ASU
          32.   Ryan Tannenhill QB Oklahoma St

NFL DRAFT: Big Board 11-20

    Just a couple of reminders as I post up NFL Draft Prospects ranks 11-20. This is a Pre-Combine Big Board. Not a Mock Draft. These are the best players on the board, regardless of team needs. On a side note, most 1st editions of Big Boards and Mocks come out in late January because of the Senior Bowl, which is the first of the post-season college all-star games. While the game itself is more of an afterthought, the practices and workouts are mobbed by NFL scouts and sports media. Enjoy.

     11.   Michael Brockers DE LSU
     12.   Dre Kirkpatrick CB Alabama
     13.   Devon Still DT Penn St.
     14.   Melvin Ingram DE South Carolina
     15.   Michael Floyd WR ND
     16.   Courtney Upshaw OLB/DE Alabama
     17.   Peter Konz OG/C Wisconsin
     18.   Luke Kuechly LB Boston College
     19.   Alfonzo Dennard CB Nebraska
     20.   Kendall Wright WR Baylor

NFL DRAFT: My top ten...

     As we wind down the 2011-2012 football season; GM's, Player Personnel, and fans start gearing up for the NFL Draft. Mocks begin to filter out online, Mel Kiper begins to corner the market on hair gel in preparation for April and every football fan hopes their team scores on a sleeper. While Bears fans wait for a GM (I'm backing Marc Ross), we can already peer into what the future holds. In the ensuing months I'll post my own mocks and a full big board but for now I'll leave you all with my 10 NFL Draft Prospects: have fun dissecting.

1. Andrew Luck QB Stanford
2. Matt Kalil OT USC
3. Morris Claiborne CB LSU
4. Justin Blackmon WR Oklahoma St
5. Robert Griffen III QB Baylor
6. Trent Richardson RB Alabama
7. Riley Reiff OT Iowa
8. David DeCastro OG Stanford
9. Quinton Coples DE/DT UNC
10. Jonathon Martin OT Stanford