Bears pre-draft visits

G08 · Tue Mar 21, 2017 6:35 pm

Increasing strength and learning how to properly play two-gap. His game in college was quickness/penetration from the 3-technique. Here he is being asked to play some 5-technique as well.

I liked him a lot during the process last year, was excited that we picked him. I hope he develops.

thunderspirit · Tue Mar 21, 2017 6:45 pm

Atkins&Rebel wrote:While Allen is better than Bullard, he still isn't worth the 3rd overall pick.

Maybe not. Stephen White thinks he is, which carries a whole lot of water with me. The guy knows NFL line play. It's not a slam dunk for me, but I like Allen quite a bit.

G08 wrote:Increasing strength and learning how to properly play two-gap. His game in college was quickness/penetration from the 3-technique. Here he is being asked to play some 5-technique as well.

I liked him a lot during the process last year, was excited that we picked him. I hope he develops.

Pretty much this. He seems to have the strength and mass; remains to be seen whether he can adapt.

Atkins&Rebel · Wed Mar 22, 2017 7:30 am

thunderspirit wrote:
Atkins&Rebel wrote:While Allen is better than Bullard, he still isn't worth the 3rd overall pick.
Maybe not. Stephen White thinks he is, which carries a whole lot of water with me. The guy knows NFL line play. It's not a slam dunk for me, but I like Allen quite a bit.

I understand that you have to trust someone when it comes to talent evaluation. Allen just screams bust when you watch his slow reaction off the ball, and his disappearance in big games. Add in the concerns for his shoulders and I would drop him down in the mid teens as far as prospects.

I have no special dislike for the guy. But what I see doesn't translate well into the NFL. Allen is a who depends on his quick hands and when the shoulders start to ache at the end of the game and the end of the season, that just saps his ability to fight through O linemen.

malk · Wed Mar 22, 2017 9:05 am

Bullard wouldn't the first player not to excel in his rookie season. I have no expectation but plenty of hope for him.

Tue Mar 28, 2017 11:11 am

For a team with so many needs, the Bears pre-draft visit list seems pretty short.

G08 · Tue Apr 04, 2017 12:41 pm

CHICAGO BEARS

First-round spot: 3
» Bears' 2017 draft picks | Draft history

Prospects associated with the Bears:
» Jonathan Allen, DL, Alabama: Will visit Bears
» Dylan Donahue, DL, West Georgia: Donahue visits Bears
» Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss: Scheduled to visit Bears
» Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama: Dines with, visits Bears
» Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M: Schedules visit with Bears
» Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State: Visits Bears
» O.J. Howard, TE, Alabama: Howard to visit Bears
» Josh Jones, S, N.C. State: Jones to visit Bears
» DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame: Reportedly will work out for Bears
» Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State Top CB visits Bears
» Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech: Dines with Bears

Atkins&Rebel · Tue Apr 04, 2017 4:18 pm

Excited to see Hooker coming in for a visit. Hope he blows the Bears away and we take him at 3.

I just read an article where the guy was trying to convince his readers that we are taking OJ Howard. but if Engram shows enough maybe we just take him in round 2.

G08 · Wed Apr 12, 2017 9:52 am

Jonathan Allen, DL

McShay's ranking: No. 2 defender, No. 2 overall
Best team fits: Bears, Jaguars
NFL comp: Gerald McCoy

Positives: Allen has this natural power to rag-doll blockers. His tremendous footwork and burst off the ball helped him consistently live in the offensive backfield (22.5 sacks and 21 QB hurries in his past 30 games). He had a Superman-like sack against Texas A&M in 2016 where he tossed the offensive guard out of the way and then launched over a cut block to bury QB Trevor Knight. Rare stuff for such a big man. In a league starved for interior pass-rushers, Allen is a top-10 talent.

Negatives: Allen didn't miss a game over his final three seasons, but he has moderate arthritis in both of his surgically repaired shoulders. That will raise red flags for some teams. And then there are Allen's below-average combine numbers: 5.00 40-yard dash with a 1.74 10-yard split. Those make you question whether Allen can be a pure edge defender in the NFL. In all likelihood, he profiles as an interior pass-rusher who may occasionally struggle versus the run because of his 286-pound frame.