Throwdowns > Closed

Jld said 04/13, 09:03 PM
Consistent winners in the NFL are built through draft and recent champions show that. So what playoff team needs to have a great draft to keep winning? I say the Bears.

Yes the Bears won 11 games on the strength of their defense last year but let's take a closer look. The youngest established starter on that defense will be 29 and 5 of their best defenders are over 30. They also have at DT and CB. Complicating the matter is the fact that the Bears have developed ZERO defensive starters since they went to the Super Bowl in 06. The Bears NEED to get a starter or two out of this draft on defense or they could get old very fast.

The Bears biggest need is OL, that is ALL of the OL. So they need to get a starter or two here as well. The Bears also need a #1 WR. Knox is a solid WR and could be a nice #2 but the Bears have had a gaping hole at WR that needs to be filled.

So the Bears basically need 2 defensive starters, 2 O-linemen, and a #1 WR. Sounds like they need a mega draft to me...

Jld said 04/14, 07:32 PM
Although the Colts are a good pick I have several reasons why the Bears NEED this draft more.

1. Manning can make average WRs look great and he can make so-so OLs look amazing. Cutler can't. Manning can take a mediocre supporting cast to the playoffs while Cutler needs to have a strong D or lots of weapons to be successful.

2. The Colts are easily the class of the AFCS. Sure the Jags & Texans could make things interesting but the Colts are the odds on favorite to win the South, even with a so-so draft. The NFCN belongs to the loaded Packers, a team the Bears have beat 1 out of the last 5 meetings. Also don't be surprised if the Lions get some love for 2nd if the Bears have a weak draft.

3. You mentioned all of the Colts injuries which they had a lot of. But that builds depth and that is something the Bears don't have. The Colts won 10 games last year with a ton of injuries while the Bears won 11 with almost no injuries. What are the chances of a defense with over half of its starters over 30 playing injury-free 2 yrs in a row? Not good.

Jld said 04/16, 11:22 AM
Circling back the lack of depth thing, the Bears have also drafted very poorly as of late. Their last 2 drafts have produced ONE (Knox) starter. They have been without 1st & 2nd round picks for the last 2 years as well because of trade that landed them a QB no better than the one the had & because of misguided trade for a former bust in Adams (RIP). Not that early picks have turned out well for the Bears anyway, only 3 times in the last 14 years has 1st rounder seen success with the Bears. The Bears 1st rounds are full of busts, from Chris Williams to Rex.

The Colts also have drafted poorly in the 1st round as of late but they have been able to find more late round success than the Bears. Bethea, Garcon, Tamme, Mathis and Collie all came from later rounds and they provide depth for former 1st round studs, Wayne, Clark, and Freeney. Also don't forget about Manning, who came from the 1st round.

The Colts could use a good draft to maintain their success but the Bears NEED a great one to keep up the world champion Packers and the quickly improving Lions.