Bears sign OT Jason Spriggs (1 yr)

[BR0D1E86]

[UOK]

Pace finally got his guy. Was totally gonna take Spriggs years ago but got sniped by Green Bay.

Not that he's gonna be any good, but oh well.

[BPo001]

Low risk signing. Hopefully he’s healthy and Castillo can make him serviceable.

[wulfy]

I think he actually played as much guard as tackle.

He's been hurt a lot.

[G08]

Pace finally got his guy. Was totally gonna take Spriggs years ago but got sniped by Green Bay.

Not that he's gonna be any good, but oh well.

I don't think this was every true...

[cblaz11]

Pace finally got his guy. Was totally gonna take Spriggs years ago but got sniped by Green Bay.

Not that he's gonna be any good, but oh well.

I don't think this was every true...

Word on the street is that it’s true and Pace took Whitehair once Spriggs was off the board

[G08]

Here he is playing RG



Sounds like Castillo is doing what he does best, finding athletic big men and seeing if he can coach technique and aggression into them.

[RichH55]

Worth the low, low risk

[Wounded Bear]

First Team All-American at left tackle from Indiana. Only allowed 2 sacks as senior (and they passed a lot). Led the offensive line in knock downs ( as a senior) with 79.

[G08]

I think this is Castillo identifying athletic linemen and thinking he can coach technique and aggression into them.

I don't love that this dude is listed at 298 lbs.

[dplank]

IMO, aggression can't REALLY be coached. It's just part of who you are as a person. Sure, a fiery coach can temporarily fire you up to go all waterboy out there, but in general aggression is built in to your DNA.

Technique is a different story. I'll usually buy when a raw, physically talented, aggressive minded guy comes from another organization and we just need to coach up his technique. But I don't like it when I hear guys have a 'heart' problem or 'work ethic' problem or just generally lack aggression/attitude. Aka, JaMarcus Webb.

[G08]

IMO, aggression can't REALLY be coached. It's just part of who you are as a person. Sure, a fiery coach can temporarily fire you up to go all waterboy out there, but in general aggression is built in to your DNA.

Technique is a different story. I'll usually buy when a raw, physically talented, aggressive minded guy comes from another organization and we just need to coach up his technique. But I don't like it when I hear guys have a 'heart' problem or 'work ethic' problem or just generally lack aggression/attitude. Aka, JaMarcus Webb.

I think philosophy is that you should always have someone to hit each snap. If nobody defender is in your area, keep your head on a swivel and find someone to deck. That's the type of aggressiveness I'm talking about when I say coach it into them. Not necessarily a Richie Incognito kind of belligerent play.

[dplank]

They kinda go hand in hand. Some guys don't need to be coached to find someone to hit, they just WANT to. You don't have to be Richie Incognito to be that way, Kyle Long and Olin Kreutz played that way.

[Yogi da Bear]

I really like this signing. He was a guy from my post Senior Bowl Picnic Basket. Here's what I said about him then:

I thought that Spriggs showed the best out of all the offensive linemen at Senior Bowl, easily. He stoned everybody on the North squad in all the practices in every drill. He faced Spence (by far the best outside rusher at the Senior Bowl) twice that I noticed during the game. The first time, Spence got him when he beat him wide and got to the QB on what should have been a sack as the QB barely got back to the line of scrimmage. I think that Spence’s speed took him by surprise initially. On the next snap though, Spriggs was able to counter that speed move and when Spence tried to cut back inside Spriggs stoned him again. Eventually, Spence got past him, but this was a victory for the OL as it seemed like five seconds later. This shows me the Spriggs is capable of adapting in game and can handle elite speed at the LT position.

This is born out throughout his career as he has only allowed two sacks in each of the past two years despite facing the likes of Shalique Calhoun and Joey Bosa (thanks CBS for that one). Against Bosa, Bosa got him once on an inside move that could have been a sack but wasn’t. But other than that, Bosa was completely stoned and mirrored. I felt that I was watching a cartoon skit where one character mirrors another in a doorway wondering whether or not that’s really himself in a mirror.

A former TE, Spriggs has to improve his strength. I saw bull rushed once back to the QB at the Senior Bowl. Didn’t result in a sack, or even really a pressure, but it’s clearly a weakness that must be addressed. This shows up in his run blocking as well. Oh, when he blocks down on an unsuspecting tackle he can move him no doubt. But don’t expect him to move anybody straight up across from him. Still, as a run blocker he effectively seals. And with his agility, he gets to the second level easily. He has had 72 knockdowns in 972 snaps this year, but you’ll never mistake him for an Orlando Pace. Still effective in the run game though as a sealer and absolutely mirroring in the pass game. Best offensive lineman at the Senior Bowl.

I think he's being brought in primarily as a backup to and possible replacement down the line for Charles Leno. I don't think that he's going to be a swing tackle, as he just doesn't have the strength or size to man RT.

I think Ifedi will be our RG and backup for Massie. I also believe we'll grab a guard in the draft as there are a lot of them. So if Massie gets hurt, Ifedi will replace him and a rookie will step in at RG. If Leno gets hurt, Spriggs will replace him.

Low risk signing that gives us a lot of flexibility.

[wab]

Low risk, and worth being in camp.