Apr 28 2008
2008 Bears Draft Day One Recap
Ok, so I don’t know how newsworthy the content of a draft chat room is, but I thought this interaction really summed up Day One for the Bears:
Shocked (Chicago): I realized Cedric Benson is terrrible, but how do you draft yet another questionable running back when we also have glaring needs at WR and QB and there is high qualifty players available there?
Scouts, Inc.’s Gary Horton: I would tend to agree with you. Although I did think they had a need for a complementary back, but the guy they took isn’t going to replace Benson, he just adds more depth. You’re still stuck with Benson being your guy behind a suspect line. What really surprises me, with two quality QBs on the board, you may not have gone into this day thinking that was your pick, but unless your board is a lot different, but you’d think that Henne and Brohm have to be staring at you in terms of value versus need.
Scouts, Inc.’s Gary Horton: In our predraft meetings yesterday, we asked Mike Ditka what he thought the Bears would do. It was his feeling that they would take the best OT available because this is an offensive line that doesn’t run block very well and their LT John Tait is 33. However, Coach also acknowledged that he was not comfortable with what they had at QB or RB and wouldn’t be shocked if they went in either direction. So, Chris Williams makes a lot of sense, but that left QB and RB as interesting second picks. That’s where I think he would be surprised that they did not pick QB. But they must have seen something in that RB that the rest of us didn’t.
So as was expected in the “Back to Methods” post, the Bears picked up a solid offensive lineman in the first round with Chris Williams. According to the Tribune’s Dan Pompeii, Williams was the third best OL in the draft, but the Bears chose him over Brandon Albert. Williams is quick, however his main criticism is that he isn’t strong enough, having posted a meager 21 reps in the bench press at the 2008 Combine. Nonetheless, at 6′6, 315 lbs., Williams will likely be a mainstay on the line in Chicago for years to come.
The Bears second round pick surprised a lot of people. With Cedric Benson drawing constant criticism for not producing like he did in college, the Bears drafted Matt Forte out of Tulane. I’m not sure how the Bears plan to use him, but I’m not sure if he’s a prime time starting tailback. The Bears have invested a lot in Cedric Benson, and Adrian Peterson is Lovie Smith’s homeboy, so I am really not sure how Forte figures in here. With this in mind, what about the needs at WR and QB? They must think he will help them more than Brian Brohm, who went to division-rival Green Bay.
After releasing Brian Griese, the Bears are left with the inconsistent Rex Grossman, and skittish Kyle Orton. And with a weak crop of QBs slated for next year’s draft, it could be a while before the black and orange get someone competent under center.
