Bears Blitz

Published by Bryan Dietzler on April 14, 2011
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

It seems there are a lot of fans out there who feel that Mississippi State offensive tackle Derek Sherrod might be a good fit for the Bears in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. 

There is no doubt that the Bears need the help on the offensive line and could go for Sherrod if he is still around at No. 29 in the first round. 

There are some who feel Sherrod may not be the ideal fit in Chicago and that they could find a better option on the offensive line. But if you look at what Sherrod has done in the past and the potential he has, it becomes easier to see that he just might be what the Bears need.

Let’s take a look at some of the positive and negative things about Sherrod and see what might make him the right choice for the Bears in the first round if he is there.

The biggest attribute Sherrod brings to the table is his athleticism and physical attributes.  Sherrod has a good body type with long arms and great feel. 

Sherrod moves up and down the line well and is able to get his arms out and get his hands in the right spot to control the defender and move him to where he wants him to go.  He bends his knees well and stays with his man.

Sherrod doesn’t give up too much ground and holds his position well.  He gets out of his stance quickly at the snap and meets the defender right away and starts the process fast. 

He excels in pass protection (which is exactly what the Bears need) and can drive block well in the running game.  He’s got nice body control and balance and plays until the whistle blows.  He’s a quick learner and a true student of the game.

There are some things Sherrod needs to work on.  Some of these include the fact that he has trouble when defensive players make a countermove on him.  When he tries to get to the edge to take on a defender, he will reach, at times overextending himself, and he does this often when there is room around him. 

He needs to get a little stronger and play a little meaner.

The Bears could use help at the left tackle position, and that is where they would end up putting Sherrod if they ended up drafting him. 

He comes into this draft with the ability to play that left tackle position and this could allow them to either move Frank Omiyale back over to the right side or keep Omiyale as a backup because J’Marcus Webb hadn’t been playing that bad especially towards the end of season and may remain the starter at right tackle.

One important thing of note is that Sherrod does not have an injury history, and this would be a huge plus for the Bears especially after what had happened with Chris Williams a couple of seasons ago.

So should the Bears draft Sherrod if he is there when they make their pick in the first round?  Yes.  The Bears need the help and have to do something to improve their offensive line, or they won’t make it nearly as far this coming season as they did in 2010.

What are your thoughts?  Should the Bears take Sherrod at 29?

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