Okay, at first I was confused, but I think I now understand exactly what Angelo is doing.
ANgelo is drafting for the present. Plain and simple, he devoted this draft for the here and now. He is planning to win in the 2006-2007 seasons. If you look at what he has done since he has been here...it seems that this has been his plan all along. In the past few drafts he has drafted in such a way that all his key players should be at the point of maturity right around the 2006-2007 seasons.
I can't go through all the things that lead me to believe this, but here are some of them.
Everyone Angelo has drafted this year is expected to make an immediate impact by ensuring the depth of the team in 2006-2007. Manning and Hester are immediately placed on special teams and ensure two things: We will have a very strong punt and kick return game and they will also serve as tacklers on defensive special teams. The speed these guys offer in addition to Ayenbadejo should give the bears a huge upgrade in the return and special teams coverage areas.
To put it simply, Angelo is trying to raise the level of the special teams to that of the defense. These 1st two picks will greatly improve that area of the Bears.
Secondly, one of the biggest criticisms that the Bears faced last year was depth on defense. The two guys already mentioned add a lot of depth to the secondary and more importantly it adds speed in order to match up against guys like Santana Moss and Steve Smith. Additionally he drafted an OLB to either take over for, or replace, Hunter Hillenmeyer thus adding depth. LB being one of the easiest positions to transition to in the NFl from college. On this same note he drafted a DT because Tank Johnson is gone for the year. Angelo is drafting to win right now.
Let's look at the roster starting with the offense. Angelo finally brought in an established back-up QB. Why? Because 2006-2007 are his target years to go to the superbowl. 2004-2005 were supposed to be years for Rex to develop. This is why he never bothered to bring in an established QB.
Everyone has noticed the Oline is old yet Angelo did not draft Olinemen and resigned all the guys on the roster. Angelo knows his guys are aging, but he is playing for 2006-2007 and he knows that they are good for the next 2-3 years. Again...he wants to win now.
In Angelo's mind the return of Benson, Berrian, Bradley, Currie and Grossman will already upgrade the offense greatly over last year. Also each of these guys offer more to the team in the next two years than any rookie would. It's well documented that rookie WRs contribute little in the first year or two. Angelo feels that these guys are going to contribute more in the next two years than anyone he cuold have gotten in the draft.
With all the talk of the COlts wanting Thomas Jones, Angelo did not trade him. Again this makes sense. He knows Jones will probably hold out and perhaps Angelo will not get anything for him, but he needs him THIS year. He could not let Jones go unless he got an established player that could contribute this year.
More proof? Angelo resigned all his TEs this offseason. Why didn't he draft one? Well...I'm not 100% sure and I wish he would have drafted one but I think I can see where he is coming from. I think that he feels that like a WR any TE we could have had will not be ready to contribute this year or next year. He wants to win now and will not draft a player this year that is not ready to contribute this year.
The strongest evidence that he is playing for 2006-2007? 2006 will be his 5th in chicago(well actually his 6th, but his 5th year was already a good one. He's trying to prove that it wasn't a fluke). Typically a defining year for a GM. Why hasn't he given Lovie an extension? Everything is riding on 2006. He plans to win big in 2006 and at the end of the season he will then give Lovie a big extension as well as recieve a possible extension himself at the end of 2006 or 2007. Once Smith's and Angelo's tenure is secure over the next 4 or so years...he will once again look to strengthen the teambeyond the 2007 season.
Next year look for Angelo to draft a TE, as well as several Olinemen. Next year is when he will look to the future.
However, don't discount that Angelo may try to snag a veteran TE. With the infusion of young TE talent I would not be surprised that a team may let a very solid veteran go or consider a trade. Angelo will look to bring a VETERAN TE if possible.
I'm not saying I necessarily agree drafting strictly for the moment, but I kind of understand it now. If it pays off in 2006-2007, ANgelo ensures himself and Lovie another 3-4 years.
Originally posted by Excaliru@Apr 30th '06 @ 3:13 pm Okay, at first I was confused, but I think I now understand exactly what Angelo is doing.
ANgelo is drafting for the present. Plain and simple, he devoted this draft for the here and now. He is planning to win in the 2006-2007 seasons. If you look at what he has done since he has been here...it seems that this has been his plan all along. In the past few drafts he has drafted in such a way that all his key players should be at the point of maturity right around the 2006-2007 seasons.
I can't go through all the things that lead me to believe this, but here are some of them.
Everyone Angelo has drafted this year is expected to make an immediate impact by ensuring the depth of the team in 2006-2007. Manning and Hester are immediately placed on special teams and ensure two things: We will have a very strong punt and kick return game and they will also serve as tacklers on defensive special teams. The speed these guys offer in addition to Ayenbadejo should give the bears a huge upgrade in the return and special teams coverage areas.
To put it simply, Angelo is trying to raise the level of the special teams to that of the defense. These 1st two picks will greatly improve that area of the Bears.
Secondly, one of the biggest criticisms that the Bears faced last year was depth on defense. The two guys already mentioned add a lot of depth to the secondary and more importantly it adds speed in order to match up against guys like Santana Moss and Steve Smith. Additionally he drafted an OLB to either take over for, or replace, Hunter Hillenmeyer thus adding depth. LB being one of the easiest positions to transition to in the NFl from college. On this same note he drafted a DT because Tank Johnson is gone for the year. Angelo is drafting to win right now.
Let's look at the roster starting with the offense. Angelo finally brought in an established back-up QB. Why? Because 2006-2007 are his target years to go to the superbowl. 2004-2005 were supposed to be years for Rex to develop. This is why he never bothered to bring in an established QB.
Everyone has noticed the Oline is old yet Angelo did not draft Olinemen and resigned all the guys on the roster. Angelo knows his guys are aging, but he is playing for 2006-2007 and he knows that they are good for the next 2-3 years. Again...he wants to win now.
In Angelo's mind the return of Benson, Berrian, Bradley, Currie and Grossman will already upgrade the offense greatly over last year. Also each of these guys offer more to the team in the next two years than any rookie would. It's well documented that rookie WRs contribute little in the first year or two. Angelo feels that these guys are going to contribute more in the next two years than anyone he cuold have gotten in the draft.
With all the talk of the COlts wanting Thomas Jones, Angelo did not trade him. Again this makes sense. He knows Jones will probably hold out and perhaps Angelo will not get anything for him, but he needs him THIS year. He could not let Jones go unless he got an established player that could contribute this year.
More proof? Angelo resigned all his TEs this offseason. Why didn't he draft one? Well...I'm not 100% sure and I wish he would have drafted one but I think I can see where he is coming from. I think that he feels that like a WR any TE we could have had will not be ready to contribute this year or next year. He wants to win now and will not draft a player this year that is not ready to contribute this year.
The strongest evidence that he is playing for 2006-2007? 2006 will be his 5th in chicago(well actually his 6th, but his 5th year was already a good one. He's trying to prove that it wasn't a fluke). Typically a defining year for a GM. Why hasn't he given Lovie an extension? Everything is riding on 2006. He plans to win big in 2006 and at the end of the season he will then give Lovie a big extension as well as recieve a possible extension himself at the end of 2006 or 2007. Once Smith's and Angelo's tenure is secure over the next 4 or so years...he will once again look to strengthen the teambeyond the 2007 season.
Next year look for Angelo to draft a TE, as well as several Olinemen. Next year is when he will look to the future.
However, don't discount that Angelo may try to snag a veteran TE. With the infusion of young TE talent I would not be surprised that a team may let a very solid veteran go or consider a trade. Angelo will look to bring a VETERAN TE if possible.
I'm not saying I necessarily agree drafting strictly for the moment, but I kind of understand it now. If it pays off in 2006-2007, ANgelo ensures himself and Lovie another 3-4 years.
The Bears' drafting defense until the 6th round was stupid but it could work out in the end, a good example is Charles Tillman, almost every Bear fan was like and didn't like the pick and he had a good rookie year and calling Jerry Angelo a genius but Tillman haven't really done well since his rookie year though...
Originally posted by Excaliru@Apr 30th '06 @ 2:13 pm On this same note he drafted a DT because Tank Johnson is gone for the year. Angelo is drafting to win right now..
How do you figure that ??
Has the league suspended him or something else that I missed. His surgery is only expected to keep him our for 4 months, that puts his recovery at July 31st for a complete return.
Just in time for the preseason.
I agree that he's drafting to win this year but, there were other areas of need that could have been addressed.
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Originally posted by 34_Fan_4_Life@Apr 30th '06 @ 3:27 pm How do you figure that ??
Has the league suspended him or something else that I missed. His surgery is only expected to keep him our for 4 months, that puts his recovery at July 31st for a complete return.
Just in time for the preseason.
I agree that he's drafting to win this year but, there were other areas of need that could have been addressed.
Yeah I knew someone was going to ask me that but I didn't feel like going abck and changing it. The predictions were 4-6 months or 4-8 months. 4 months is the earliest he will return. It may take him through half the season and who knows what shape he will be in. Angelo is just not taking any chances.
Also I think he is planning to unload Michael Haynes to clear some cap room. He wanted a couple extra Dlinemen in there.
Look at our offense, under construction since 2004:
QB - Grossman = #1 pick '03
QB - Griese = FA acquisition ' 06
QB - Orton = 4th round pick '05
RB - Jones = FA acquisition ' 04
RB - Benson = #1 pick '05
FB - Johnson = trade acquisition '04
LT - Tait = FA acquisition '04
G - Brown/Garza/Metcalf = FA, FA, 3rd round draftpick and new contract extension
C - Kruetz = long-time anchor
RT - Miller = FA acquisition '05
TE - Clark = FA acquisition '03... garbage.
WR - Moose = FA acquisition '05
WR - Bradley = 2ndround pick '05
WR - Berrian = 3rd round pick '04
WR - Currie = 5th round pick '05
Yes, we haven't a TE worth a crap in the last 20 years, bet hey... is a TE gonna make all the difference? I doubt it.
and after looking at that it sorta makes sense why O wasnt drafted......I also think that JA thought the poor O was part of the poor QB play by a 4th round rook now if Grossman goes down Brian will come in and KO will have time to learn, hold a clip board and party his heart out....While I to dont agree with the draft as a whole I will wait and see.....IMO JA thinks that the D collapsed in the playoff game because the D had no depth....Guess we will see.....
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WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!!
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Originally posted by KWilliamsAWinfield@Apr 30th '06 @ 3:25 pm The Bears' drafting defense until the 6th round was stupid but it could work out in the end, a good example is Charles Tillman, almost every Bear fan was like and didn't like the pick and he had a good rookie year and calling Jerry Angelo a genius but Tillman haven't really done well since his rookie year though...
I don't really think it's stupid if you consider that he is drafting for 2006. What offensive player could he have drafted that would contribute right away on offense?
We don't need an RB, no WR would be ready to make an impact, obviously we cant put some rookie QB in there again, and the Oline is filled with veterans. You aren't going to draft some young guy and throw him in there when they already have chemistry.
It just makes sense that if you are playing for the present...you don't need those guys. In the future we will need them though.
I think I understand what JA is doing!
and didn't like the pick and he had a good rookie year and calling Jerry Angelo a genius but Tillman haven't really done well since his rookie year though... 
Linear Mode
