da_bears6
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Sounds like he is having a hell of a week along with Donald. But I don't really think he'd fit us that great.
Sounds like he is having a hell of a week along with Donald. But I don't really think he'd fit us that great.
BearsFan51
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Someone who actually fits into the scheme as a rusher. You don't simply take 260 pound defensive ends and say you're linebackers now. There's not a single starting 3-4 linebacker on the roster.
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People seem to think there are no coverage responsibilities in a 3-4 front, which is the opposite. If they want to play that scheme consistently, they'll need some linebackers. I don't see it, but I do think they will be changing gap control. You can call it hybrid or whatever you'd like, but I think they'll be looking for an anchor in the middle, if not two.
fatbeard
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I was thinking something similar to this as well. There are few options through FA to address the 3 tech, so it almost has to come high in the draft. You could get Houston if he hits the market but that would cost mucho dinero. Everyone knows I like Donald, and I think he's solidified himself as the #1 3 tech in the draft and a legit 1st round grade, which is what he always was, 6'1" be damned. Paea is real nice option at #2. I'm tepid on Ratliff at NT because I think the Bears really need a wider anchor-type there, but I like his veteran presence and leadership. Love Justin Ellis. He as very much under the radar until he had a very good week at the Senior Bowl. He can really move for 330-340lbs. I think Bennett is the likely target to replace Peppers, but after his performance I'm not sure who would be more expensive, him or Michael Johnson? Johnson's lack of production this year should hurt his asking price a little, but I think that's more related to Atkins going down than any poor play on his part. Not sold on the depth at DE, we'd be only 2 deep when we really need 3 because Bass & Washington are totally unproven. I think we'd need one more cheap vet as a backup to hedge against injury risk.
Wild_x_Card
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Not to be an asshat but, why start a thread and ask the question when you already have a prelaoded response that you've already mentioned several times over?
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Because he's prolific
Chris Sojka
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I do not believe in Aaron Donald and this is why...
Aaron Donald is showing elite potential at Senior Bowl practice?! I still don't know that doing it in the senior bowl practices makes you a sure thing as a NFL player... Comparisons to Geno Atkins... LOL... this guy has done well in college but now we are comparing him to the best DT in the game from 2 years ago? dear lord people get a grip on reality...
This guy had 11 sacks... against who? Florida State 1, Duke 1, Virginia 2, Virginia Tech 2, Old Dominion, New Mexico 2, Navy, Georgia Tech 1, Notre Dame, North Carolina 1, Syracuse, Miami, Bowling Green State 1,
I find it funny how one of the only talented guards in the draft was on Notre Dame and Donald didn't even register a tackle in that game...
This is a soft schedule with some really inflated stats... this reminds me of Teddy Bridgewaters schedule? Other than Florida State who on Aaron Donalds schedule was any good? Duke? Miami sucked... Bowling green? Navy?
80% of those teams wont have a guy drafted in the NFL...
Aaron Donald is showing elite potential at Senior Bowl practice?! I still don't know that doing it in the senior bowl practices makes you a sure thing as a NFL player... Comparisons to Geno Atkins... LOL... this guy has done well in college but now we are comparing him to the best DT in the game from 2 years ago? dear lord people get a grip on reality...
This guy had 11 sacks... against who? Florida State 1, Duke 1, Virginia 2, Virginia Tech 2, Old Dominion, New Mexico 2, Navy, Georgia Tech 1, Notre Dame, North Carolina 1, Syracuse, Miami, Bowling Green State 1,
I find it funny how one of the only talented guards in the draft was on Notre Dame and Donald didn't even register a tackle in that game...
This is a soft schedule with some really inflated stats... this reminds me of Teddy Bridgewaters schedule? Other than Florida State who on Aaron Donalds schedule was any good? Duke? Miami sucked... Bowling green? Navy?
80% of those teams wont have a guy drafted in the NFL...
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We do not have any 4-3 DEs worth building around either.
No matter what we are going to have to make a heavy investment in the defensive line and pass rushers specifically. It is just a matter of what type of guy we want to go after.
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I was a doubter too. In fact I argued with people in another thread that he was too small.
Watched his burst, power, and moves against some pretty good Senior Bowl OGs like Cyril Richardson and I am convinced he can play.
He looks just like Geno Atkins getting off the ball, the burst is down right scary combined with the power he has shown and the ability is there.
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Xplosive
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Who rushes the passer for you in the 4-3? Last time I checked the Bears were at the fucking bottom of the league in rushing the passer so no matter what they need a pass rusher. If they want to go 3-4 then go get Brian Orakpo, Calvin Pace (10 sacks), or Jason Worrilds (8 sacks) or maybe draft one.
BearsFan51
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Michael Bennett doesn't fit the profile of a LEO or Elephant linebacker he more or less fits the Israel Idonije role of a pass rusher.
But the two main responses I get in this thread and the way they lay out the roster the Bears are going to stick with a 4-3 scheme rather than anything that resembles 3-4 or some sort of hybrid 3-4 that requires a linebacker to come in and be the primary pass rusher.
What's readily apparent is the way free agency is set up, it's set up best for the Bears to stick with a 4-3 defense and to take their shot at bringing in 4-3 base defensive ends like Greg Hardy, Michael Johnson, or Michael Bennett.
The idea that the Bears can switch to a 3-4 doesn't make sense based on the needs of the defense to run it, the personnel on hand and the free agents and draft picks the Bears would be better off signing.
The best players to target in the draft the way the draft is set up is to grab players that fit into a 4-3 scheme...PERIOD. It's where the depth of the draft lines up, and it's the smartest way to go for the benefit of the franchise.
The Seahawks weren't competitive immediately under Pete Carroll that had to build the personnel up to get the high level of defensive play they wanted. They didn't land Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas in the same draft. They've had to build their team over a couple of years and the Bears are likely going to have to do the same. They can draft Louis Nix, and sign Brian Orakpo, but they're still going to need another starting CB who can excel in press coverage, they're going to need that center fielder at the safety position, they'll still need to find a legit 5-technique DE.
The smarter plan would be to sign one of the best 4-3 DEs, bring back a guy like Wootton, continue to develop guys like Washington and Bass or draft a developmental DE like Kareem Martin. Stack a solid DT rotation by re-signing Collins and Melton and adding to it with a guy like Donald or Sutton or DaQuan Jones. There are depth at certain key positions in free agency and the draft that best work out to the Bears' advantage, none of which include struggling to find the personnel to run a 3-4 defense.
BearsFan51
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There are exactly two 3-4 NFL ready OLBs in this upcoming draft, and I'd argue there's truly only one Khalil Mack and Anthony Barr. Mack is far and away the better player where as Barr needs a ton of refinement before he's ready to become more than just a one trick pony pass rusher.
The depth at DE in free agency and the draft is clear, the depth at DT in the draft is clear.
Xplosive
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Donald is too small to risk a 1st round pick on him and he will be gone by the time they pick in the 2nd. The Bears have had nothing but a bunch of undersized DT's and they paid for it severely against the run last year after a couple of injuries. Donald is a pass rusher and has great skills but the Bears are moving away from the small fast Defensive lines of the Lovie Smith era.
Nix or Hageman should be the only options for DT at #14, if they trade down to back of the 1st then Jernigan/Donald come into play.
Wild_x_Card
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You're looking at stats when you should be watching the player. If you're reason for not liking Donald is because of what you think are inflated numbers Thats as short sited as is gets. He's by far the most polished Dlineman in this class, that's why he's eating everyone up at Senior Bowl practice.
ClydeLee
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Chris routinely judges players by big plays and stats and will repeat that as a conclusive statement about a player.
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Xplosive
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Pass rusher is one of the easiest positions to play in the NFL. We don't know for certain there are only two NFL ready edge rushers in this draft which is why a team like the Seahawks surprised everyone when they took Bruce Irvin in the draft. After the combine we will know if there are any elite athletes that might be able to come in and be a situational pass rusher from the OLB position.
Wild_x_Card
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Ha, Donald had zero shortage of big plays. He tracks behind the line of scrimmage as well as I've ever seen at the college level from a DT, sifting through traffic incredibly well, Never fooled by Misdirection. Size is no longer a concern with him, Long arms and all.
Emery has shown (so far) that he would pass on a Donald who's just plain good a football and draft an elite Athlete and try to mould him into a good football player. personally, I'll take the Good/great football player over the elite athlete every day of the week.
ClydeLee
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Irvin was a surprise because of character concerns, he was thought of as the best talent as.ag rusher. More guys don't burst unknown to great producers by their numbers. You more often look to thin out issues of great talent than be wowed in combine viewings.
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Wild_x_Card
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I don't think we're "switching", more so adding a wrinkle or different dimension and introducing it to the players for the first year.
If it goes well, I'd expect to see more of it the following year and more players brought in that fit the bill.
If it goes well, I'd expect to see more of it the following year and more players brought in that fit the bill.
fatbeard
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Aaron Donald has shown elite potential all year long and continued to show it in the Senior Bowl by dominating the best seniors in college football. His skillset and measureables do compare very favorably to Geno Atkins, and other 3 techs who have had NFL success. Donald and Atkins are the same height and but Atkins played at 285lbs in college and didn't crack 290lbs until the Combine. Go back and look at his reports from the Senior Bowl in 2010, and they read word for word like Donald's. Unblockable. Unstoppable. Stole the show. The main difference is that Donald's college production blows Atkins' out of the water. Atkins had 3 sacks combined his junior & senior year. Three. They played in essentially the same number of games and it's not even close. And Donald did it all with absolute dogshit on the rest of his line, whereas Atkins couldn't. His production cratered his junior year when he had to carry the load himself because the future 7th round pick next to him was injured. A 7th round pick who is out of the NFL was making Atkins look good.
This is one of the most unbelievably idiotic things you've said on this board. There's three top 25 teams on that list and several other decent programs like Miami and Va Tech as well. Donald performed against all of them. Kelly specifically said to the media that Notre Dame altered their game plan to neutralize Donald, and he was double-teamed, hooked, and face-masked all game long and still got into the backfield to disrupt plays...playing for Pitt with a bunch of future insurance salesman on his line! Who did Donald play this year? Who did Hageman play this year? Who the **** did Ealy play this year? There's a guy who is supposedly an "elite" pass rusher who racked up EIGHT sacks this year with HALF of that coming against FUCKING VANDERBILT AND KENTUCKY, and he had Michael Sam who had a far better year drawing attention away from him.
Jesus Christ, you can lead a fool to knowledge but you can't make him learn it...