NFL 2013 Season Thread

[snoopy369]

There's a lot I don't understand about last night's draft... but the Bears choice I don't understand even more. They picked a guy who would've been available a round later, likely, and passed on a potential star TE, a potential star MLB, and everyone else, and didn't even trade down to get a 3rd round pick or something.

[Ming]

I have to agree with you... He would have been there later. The pick surprised me. Maybe they know something we don't.
There was far better talent on the table at that point.

[snoopy369]

To be fair, he is Howie Long's kid, and so they might be going for the 'better/more positive coverage from the FOX Sports team' angle.

[-Jrabbit]

I was really hoping they could snag an extra pick by trading down a bit.

After 4 years of whining about the Bears' problems on the O-line, I'm going to give them a benefit-of-the-doubt thumbs-up on this pick and hope it means an upgrade to both the running game and keeping Cutler upright. Lord knows they needed to do more than just sign one free agent lineman.

I can only assume they were sticking with their draft board, and that Trestman believes in big, mobile guys up front (fastest O-line 40-yd dash at combine). And I very much appreciate the fact that they didn't tip their hand regarding position or names.

[H Tower]

I guess one positive about the first round for the Bears is that they didn't phantom trade picks with another team and "forget" to turn in the paperwork.

I know you aren't supposed to grade a draft class until at least year three, but this is two highly questionable picks in the first round two years running.

[Koyaanisqatsi]

I don't know why I even bothered to pay attention to the first round.

[Demonbinder]

I agree with JR on this one. According to reports I heard, they tried to trade down but didn't get any offers they liked. There was a run on OL and they have liked Long for a while and they figured some of the LB's and other positions of need would be there in the second round. They were just talking to a report from Oregon who said Long made a position change during the year and learned the new position real quickly and were hoping he would stay another year. Hope Bears made right pick and works out for them. Can never have enough OL help.

[-Jrabbit]

I don't understand why people are so underwhelmed. Yes, I thought a LB was called for (Ogletree or Brown), but I have no problem with them taking a solid interior lineman. If Long is an immediate starter, that means he's an upgrade and arguably a good pick. We shall see.

The ND TE, Eifert, was IMHO a luxury they couldn't afford. But I was hoping someone else might jump up and trade into #20 to grab him.

[-Jrabbit]

I guess if you don't have Kiper and Berman shouting "OMFG AWESOME, GENIUS PICK! IT'S EXACTLY WHAT I SAID WOULD HAPPEN!!" then it's a big fail...

[MRT144]

Seahawks didnt even have a first round pick.

[-Jrabbit]

Round 2: Bears leave Arthur Brown of K-State on the board and go for Gator MLB Jonathan Bostic. Measurables show that the new regime is definitely erring on the side of speed: Bostic had the fastest 40 time of all ILBs at the combine; also led position in 3-cone and 20-yd shuttle times.

I thought they were going for QB Barkley of USC. I just don't have a feel for the Emery/Trestman dynamic yet.

[SlowwHand]

I don't think the Cowboys could be drafting any worse if they tried. In fact, I'm beginning to suspect that in some sickeningly perverse way, that's Jerry's goal.
If I were Tony Romo, I would never have signed another contract with Dallas. I **** you not. On a positive note, Alby isn't here, so I don't have to put up with his mouth about how Romo is drafting crappy.

[snoopy369]

The problem with the Bears picking Long is that he was a reach with big question marks. Thinking back to the previous two first round OLs, both of them had big negatives and the Bears thought 'well, we'll give it a shot anyway', and it failed. I guess this could just be a small sample size; but I'd rather get a more solid guy than that. And he's not necessarily an immediate starter - it sounds like they'd like him to train for LT, where we already have a good player. He might end up being the all-positions-backup, like Bostic will be this year. In particular the lack of experience at ANY position means he needs at least that year to learn and improve his reactions and instincts - and this is supposed to be the year we find out how good Cutler is?

[-Jrabbit]

I certainly see your point, snoop. Guess I'm just more willing to give the new staff the benefit of the doubt.

The Bears' most obvious problem has been the O-line, and I think it's a bit disingenuous to shout that from the rooftops for several years (as I certainly have), then criticize them when they try to address it. Is Kyle Long the right guy? Time will tell. But he certainly can't be any more disappointing than our last two first-round OL guys (Chris Williams and Gabe Carimi) have been.

[Spaced Cowboy]

I don't think the Cowboys could be drafting any worse if they tried. In fact, I'm beginning to suspect that in some sickeningly perverse way, that's Jerry's goal.
If I were Tony Romo, I would never have signed another contract with Dallas. I **** you not. On a positive note, Alby isn't here, so I don't have to put up with his mouth about how Romo is drafting crappy.