By Brad Biggs
The Bears are in a similar position to last year when it comes to the draft.
They are operating without first- and second-round draft picks. That is where general manager Jerry Angelo found himself a year ago after the Bears traded the first-round pick in the Jay Cutler deal and then moved down out of the second round to add more depth to the draft.
The team still made an impact with its rookie class, at least in the form of wide receiver Johnny Knox, who caught 45 passes for 527 yards and five touchdowns and represented the NFC in the Pro Bowl as the returner. Fellow rookie Al Afalava started 13 games at safety.
The Bears are in a similar position to last year when it comes to the draft.
They are operating without first- and second-round draft picks. That is where general manager Jerry Angelo found himself a year ago after the Bears traded the first-round pick in the Jay Cutler deal and then moved down out of the second round to add more depth to the draft.
The team still made an impact with its rookie class, at least in the form of wide receiver Johnny Knox, who caught 45 passes for 527 yards and five touchdowns and represented the NFC in the Pro Bowl as the returner. Fellow rookie Al Afalava started 13 games at safety.
But how much did the rookie class contribute? Let's take a look at playing time statistics obtained by the Tribune:
3rd round DE Jarron Gilbert: 35 out of 1,068 total team defensive snaps.
3rd round WR Juaquin Iglesias: 2 out of 1,004 total offensive snaps.
4th round DE Henry Melton: Spent season on injured reserve.
4th round CB D.J. Moore: Did not play on defense.
5th round WR Johnny Knox: 482/1,004 offensive snaps.
5th round LB Marcus Freeman: Did not make team.
6th round S Al Afalava: 804/1,068 defensive snaps.
7th round G Lance Louis: Did not play.
7th round WR Derek Kinder: Did not make team.
Special teams (450 total team special-teams snaps)
3rd round DE Jarron Gilbert: 12.
3rd round WR Juaquin Iglesias: 6.
4th round CB D.J. Moore: 25.
5th round WR Johnny Knox: 61.
6th round S Al Afalava: 62.
The emergence of Knox was a real find for the team and he could move into a starting role this season. The Bears need to find at least one player in the draft this season who can make a similar contribution.
3rd round DE Jarron Gilbert: 35 out of 1,068 total team defensive snaps.
3rd round WR Juaquin Iglesias: 2 out of 1,004 total offensive snaps.
4th round DE Henry Melton: Spent season on injured reserve.
4th round CB D.J. Moore: Did not play on defense.
5th round WR Johnny Knox: 482/1,004 offensive snaps.
5th round LB Marcus Freeman: Did not make team.
6th round S Al Afalava: 804/1,068 defensive snaps.
7th round G Lance Louis: Did not play.
7th round WR Derek Kinder: Did not make team.
Special teams (450 total team special-teams snaps)
3rd round DE Jarron Gilbert: 12.
3rd round WR Juaquin Iglesias: 6.
4th round CB D.J. Moore: 25.
5th round WR Johnny Knox: 61.
6th round S Al Afalava: 62.
The emergence of Knox was a real find for the team and he could move into a starting role this season. The Bears need to find at least one player in the draft this season who can make a similar contribution.
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I also understand why they gave up the 1st round pick for Cutler, but agree that giving up the 2nd round pick for Adams (RIP), who was a bust in Tampa was ridiculous. Good going Angelo, you really could have used that pick this year!
Well first off, for rookies to start making an impact on the team, Bears need to FIRE JERRY ANGELO!!! He has no idea of football and football personnel. He can't draft and now because he knows he can't draft, he's leverage the teams future 1st and 2nd round picks for the next 2 years. I understand giving up future picks for a franchise quarterback, but giving up a 2nd round pick for a draft bust defensive end who is no longer alive anymore simply because the defensive coach had high hopes for him just makes ZERO sense!!! I don't want to stomp on the man's grave but fact is fact, Gaines Adam was a DRAFT BUST and Angelo gave up a second round pick for him!! WHY?!?! Cuz he's an IDIOT!!!
If we had stayed where we were in round 2, Max Unger was the player selected by the Seahawks. He started from day 1 on the line at guard, and can also play tackle (RT) or center.
7 out of 9 draft picks had virtually no impact. Way to draft Jerry.
It is always dicey to figure out what could have been, but what if we had done this:
2nd--Max Unger-G
3rd(Comp)--TJ Lang, T
4th--Austin Collie-_WR
5th (DEN)--Johnny Knox-_WR
5th--Chris Clemons--FS
6th--Coye Francis-_CB
7th COMP--Rashad Jennings, RB
7th COMP--Kevin Ogletree, WR
Still would have 3 WRs in the draft, a G and a T, and a FS.
I would have a hard time believing that any of these guys would not have made the roster.
Hindsight is always 20/20, but given what this team needed, we drafted several players who just did not fit. Freeman into a fully loaded LB corps, Moore even shorter than McBride into a deep secondary, Afalava when we had Payne, Kinder ahead of Ogletree, who may be the 3rd WR for the Cowboys in 2010. And getting Lance Louis for the OL, when we were right there to select one of the most versatile OL in the draft in Unger.
This is why our rookies do not contribute. We go for the best special teams player available, and don't pay attention to age, depth, or the development of our younger players