One of the amusing sidelights of the first round of the 2012 draft was the way half of the NFC North teams selected speed guys to rush the passer and the other half of the NFC North grabbed guys expressly for the purposes of stopping the other half.
Early indications from OTAs are that all four No. 1s will be playing significant time by the time their teams meet, which makes pending matchups especially interesting. If youre inclined to hold off on any rush to grade teams drafts, this season will provide some immediate feedback.
The Bears used the 19th-overall pick on Shea McClellin with the plan of him being an immediate part of a rotation at defensive end. That translates into his initially spelling Israel Idonije on the edge opposite of Julius Peppers.
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That projects to pit McClellin against the 26th-overall pick in week seven when the Bears host the Detroit Lions in a Monday night game--word out of Detroit is that Iowa tackle Reilly Reiff is going to push starters Jeff Backus (left) and Gosder Cherilus (right).
Carlos Monarrez over at the Detroit Free Press reports that Reiffwho gives the Lions three No. 1s in the tackle mix, vs. the Bears two (Gabe Carimi, Chris Williams)is gaining some notice already, which is arguably premature given that OTAs are not lineman times.
Carimi, Williams and JMarcus Webb will have to deal with Nick Perry in game two when the Bears go to Green Bay for a Thursday night game. Where exactly Perry will be is going to be a work in progress, however.
Perry was an edge rusher in a 4-3 scheme at USC. Now he is transitioning to a 3-4 in Green Bay and the questions have been there as to whether he can work in coverage, particularly with 20 more pounds than he played at in college.
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Matt Kalil isnt signed yet in Minnesota but the Vikings have to feel even a little bit better about the USC left tackle after Justin Blackmon, taken a pick later at No. 4 by Jacksonville after the Jaguars traded up to get him, is facing a pretty serious DUI situation.
But Kalil is participating in OTAs without a contract, which bodes well for his immediate installation as the starting left tackle. The Bears wont know how he matches up with McClellin until Thanksgiving weekend in Chicago, and then again two weeks later in Minneapolis.