Sunday, May 1, 2011
Posted: 9:43 p.m.
By John Mullin
CSNChicago.com
The Bear may not be able to have contact with their draft choices now that the selection ritual is finished. But those draft choices have something to say to or about the Bears.
What the Bears and did not address with their 2011 draft, the first time since the 1993 start of free agency in which the draft preceded a free-agency signing period, now begins to bring some situations into focus.
We are not shutting the door on any position, said general manager Jerry Angelo. The only position I would think we would do that to is the quarterback position. Other than that, we are going to look, no more than that.
Taking the offensive
The line was unsettled most of training camp and early last season for a variety of reasons, most of them bad. This year there is some uncertainty but at least with some considerably greater positives.
No. 1 pick Gabe Carimi leaves the Bears appearing amply set at tackle. Carimi and JMarcus Webb as the front-runners for the starting jobs and Chris Williams in competition for one of the offensive-line jobs, possibly back inside at guard. And Frank Omiyale served at right and left tackle last season so there is depth at this point.
NFL
The Bears still do not have center Olin Kreutz re-signed, nor a quality left guard, given that Omiyale right now may have the inside track on starting despite struggled badly in that new (for him) position in the 2009 season. Omiyales play at left tackle, like Williams at guard in 2010, was not good enough to keep the Bears from making the position their highest priority.
We still want to look at the offensive line, Angelo said.
Look for the Bears to pursue a veteran guard in free agency, although finding a quality player at an affordable price close to the season is problematic.
Putting it on the line
By selecting Stephen Paea out of Oregon State, the Bears addressed the interior of their defensive line, the No. 2 priority going into the draft. That may dial down urgency to pursue Green Bays Cullen Jenkins as a tackle, particularly with the way coaches are looking at a newly upsized Henry Melton.
But where does Paea play?
He has the power to play nose tackle, which could mark an end to unsigned free agent Anthony Adams time in Chicago. If Paea is slotted at the nose, then Jenkins as a three-technique becomes an intriguing thought.
But 4-3 teams do not often trade two draft choices for purposes of moving up to grab a nose tackle. What the Bears gave themselves with Paea is options in the form of someone who could play either tackle position. A nickel unit with Melton and Paea paired inside is potentially a better interior rush tandem than the Bears have had in several seasons.
It is not easy given the fact that if they are athletic and they rush, it is hard for them to do the nose tackle job in terms of the dirty work, Angelo said. It is more mental toughness than it is an athletic trait, so he has very good toughness.
If the Bears do pursue Jenkins, 31, he also can play end, but Julius Peppers is set, Israel Idonije gave the defense impact plays and eight sacks at the other end, and Corey Wootton was a fourth-round draft choice last year whose development continued through the season. Wootton was active for each of the final four games and registered the final sack of Brett Favre.
Paeas role models are speedquickness players John Randle and Warren Sapp rather than plodding power players.
I feel like Randle is exactly what I want to play like, and Warren Sapp, the quickness, not much of a ball rush type of person, Paea said.
Scheming advantages
While some critics ceaselessly pound the defensive scheme of Lovie SmithRod Marinelli as passe and hopelessly out of NFL fashion, indications continue to be that the trend of teams toward 3-4 defenses is helping the Bears defense.
The obvious has been the type of defensive linemen the Bears want: smaller, speed preferred over bulk. Fronts in 3-4s typically employ space-eaters, 320 pounds or bigger, even the ends.
That then leaves a talent like Paea, at 6-1, 305 pounds, available for a scheme like the Bears. Same with a Melton, who now is up to more than 290 pounds.
Mike Riley, Paeas coach at Oregon State, coached in the NFL and specifically called Marinelli about Paea. Rod I know hes the perfect guy for what you guys are looking for, Riley told Marinelli.
A misperception among critics is the amount of time Smith, Marinelli and the Bears use the Cover-2 scheme. But the Bears do use their safeties in throwback styles and frequently use a free safety in the traditional role of someone expected to be able to tackle but primarily able to defend the deep middle in pass coverage.
That safety position has great value now because our game has really changed, Angelo said. You cant take just the down-in-the-box safety. So, its hard to find a guy. He has to be a real good tackler, have good cover skills and he has to have better than average speed.
Its very demanding in terms of the traits that qualify someone to play the position. In a long version, we just felt like, because he is that hard to find, lets not look a gift horse in the mouth.
John "Moon" Mullin is CSNChicago.com's Bears Insider, and appears regularly on Bears Postgame Live and Chicago Tribune Live. Follow Moon on Twitter for up-to-the-minute Bears information.