Keeping Score: How will Trestman's Bears draft?

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Always a good time visiting on Thursdays at 10 a.m. with Danny and Spiegs on The McNeil and Spiegel Show on WSCR-AM 670 The Score, and this morning was especially timely given that there is a new Bears coaching staff in place.

Mac raised the hiring of Mel Tucker as defensive coordinator, which was a slight surprise to me because I thought a couple of other candidates came a little higher recommended.

But what makes Tucker intriguing begins with how he will use Shea McClellin, because now that Lovie Smith and Rod Marinelli are gone, so is the law that McClellin will be a hand-on-the-ground defensive end. Tucker has run 4-3 and 3-4 schemes, and there are 3-4s that are de facto 4-3s, so where does Tucker see McClellin lining up?

Because heres the deal: If Tucker sees McClellin as a true hybrid, maybe that solves the Sam linebacker situation, and expands a scenario where Nick Roach fits in the middle and under the salary cap as well as Brian Urlacher. And how does that affect what or whom the Bears then draft?

Mac threw in that McClellin and tackle Gabe Carimi both needed to bunk together in the weight room this offseason. Both do need to muscle up and best guess, with new strength-and-conditioning coordinator Mike Clark, is that both will be adding functional strength.

The most common personnel theme of the offseason (again) is the offensive line. Spiegs wish-list starts with a veteran starting tackle signing and Carimi and JMarcus Webb competing for the other spot.

My question back is: Given that starter-grade tackles rarely hit the truly open market, would you pony up two No. 1s for a Ryan Clady if the Denver Broncos franchise-tag Clady as expected? Spiegs wasnt sure about that price tag, but if you want elite, youre going to pay elite.

All to be played out in the next three months before the start of the draft on Thursday Apr. 25.

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