Bears Blitz

Published by Victor Ferenzi on April 23, 2009
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears

Jerry Angelo may have the biggest dilemma any bear has had since Winnie-the-Pooh pondered whether fresh honey was worth numerous bee stings.  Angelo has to decide if he should draft a receiver or a free safety in the upcoming draft, and, like Pooh-Bear, anything less than the perfect move will likely result in him getting stung.

Angelo has made some good moves this offseason, but with those moves come the added expectations for a winning season.

I have been in favor of a wide receiver for weeks now, but as the draft approaches I’m not so sure. That isn’t to say I’m leaning toward a safety. I truly don’t know what I would do. It isn’t as simple as deciding which position we need more, though that in itself is debatable. The variables involved are many, outnumbered only by questions that need answers.

Who is available and will they fit our system? Are they ready to play now, or do they offer larger upside after a few years of development? How are our coaches planning to adjust to a new year with new talent? What kind of talent do we have, have they developed, and will they respond to the adjustments the coaches are making?

After a great deal of internal conflict, I decided to make the best possible arguments I could for each position. After that, all I can do is wait to see what Angelo does, and see which position fans tend to agree with: free safety or wide receiver.

Wide Receiver

At this time, the Bears’ roster boasts Rashied Davis, Earl Bennet, John Broussard, Brandon Rideau, Devin Aromashodu, and Devin Hester.

In spite of what people say about Hester, his production last year doesn’t reflect the strides he made in the second half. Hester has the potential to be very good, but not if they don’t give him some help to take the pressure off, not to mention the double coverage. 

Davis is a converted AFL defensive back who has made some good grabs in the past, but last year he was diagnosed with stage-three dropsies, and it appears to be terminal.

The remaining four receivers have combined for 11 career receptions.

Jay Cutler cannot do it all on his own. Sure, we bolstered the line and Matt Forte should only get better, but when Forte is the only guy who needs to be covered, one-dimensional doesn’t begin to describe the Bears’ offense.

Percy Harvin’s recent failed drug test should push some of the talent at wide receiver down into the second round. Angelo needs to get another set of hands for Cutler to throw to if he is to be successful. Even if the receiver we get takes a few years to develop completely, the extra threat will open up more options for Cutler.

We lost Mike Brown this season, but we haven’t really had him for years. The free safety position is important and has posed problems for us in the past, but Zack Bowman should be able to play free safety very well. Behind Bowman, Manning, Bullocks, and Steltz provide adequate depth.

Besides, the problem isn’t really the talent, it’s the system. The Bears play Cover Two, which leaves gaping holes in the zones. With coaches who refuse to have their cornerbacks jam at the line, the safety isn’t going to have time to assess his assignment, no matter who is back there. If the coaches teach the cornerbacks to jam the defensive line, the safeties will have better production, and then we will once again be overstocked on free safeties of similar talent, just as we were when we moved Harris and Green.

Free Safety

The Bears are in desperate need of someone to complete the defensive backfield. The Bears’ defense constantly gets beaten because the free safety takes too long to figure out where he is supposed to provide help.

The better passing teams in the league pick us apart because the safety is always frozen and doesn’t have enough speed to recover. Our free safety is usually a natural strong safety who always seems to be too deep to get to the underneath route and too shallow to lend help over the top.

A fast free safety with cover skills and the football IQ to diagnose opposing offenses instantly makes everyone else on defense better. A safety who could consistently stay with his assignment will force opposing quarterbacks to hang on to the ball longer or risk turning it over.

At 49th overall, the Bears are in position to take one of the top two free safeties in the draft while most likely looking at the seventh- or eighth-best receiver.

In recent years we have seen as many good receivers come out of rounds three through five as we have seen busts come out of the first two.

Angelo has little to no success drafting offense, particularly at receiver.  Angelo’s draft history at the position includes Jamin Elliott, Justin Gage, Bobby Wade, Arise Curry, and Mark Bradley. Bernard Berrian showed some promise when running go routes but never developed into a solid route runner before going off to drop balls up in Minnesota.   

Angelo has just as good a chance of hitting on a receiver at 99th overall as he does at 49, which may be a moot point anyway if Daryl Drake can’t find a way to do a better job developing talent.  

Before drafting another questionable receiver, wouldn’t it be better to draft a safety? Safety is a position that is more easily evaluated in college. Angelo has had more success drafting defensive backs in the past, and the safety position will hold more talent at 49th overall.

On Draft Day

The Bears will undoubtedly receive criticism no matter which direction they decide to go. I think the biggest question is whether our problem lies with coaching and development or with the players. With a lack of veterans at both positions, who do the young players turn to for help? With a Pro Bowl quarterback under center and the addition of one of the best defensive line coaches in the league, won’t the Bears be better on both sides of the ball?

I honestly don’t know which I would pick. Free safety seems to be the safer pick with less upside, especially if Bowman turns out to be great or a bad coverage scheme negates talent. Wide receiver has the bigger potential for a bust but also may offer the most reward, especially looking to the future.

I am torn going into this weekend’s draft but immensely interested. One thing is certain: It will feel like time has stopped once the Bears are on the clock.