R2, P39: James Daniels, C - Iowa

RING4CHI · Fri Apr 27, 2018 8:04 pm

"In high school, new #Bears center James Daniels' team faced QB Mitch Trubisky in the first round of the playoffs in 2012: "He tore us apart. He had like 500 total yards against us.""

VA_Mountain_Bear · Fri Apr 27, 2018 8:23 pm

C is never a sexy selection but I am stoked to get the best one. This solves 2 positions at once with Whitehair moving back to G. Great pic for the future of the offense.

BR0D1E86 · Fri Apr 27, 2018 8:38 pm

I love it. It’s not exciting, but he’s a 1st round caliber center who’s a real good fit athletically for this scheme. It really solidified the line. He’s a day 1 starter.

tjs · Fri Apr 27, 2018 8:41 pm

RING4CHI wrote:
G08 wrote:
RING4CHI wrote:Just allow me to get this out of my system:

GO HAWKS!!!
Get off my lawn.

But in all seriousness, one Hawkeye I would like to see the Bears sign as an undrafted free agent is long snapper Tyler Kluver.

I'd love Allen Lazard if he goes undrafted! hate that he is a hawk but like the pick

Mikefive · Fri Apr 27, 2018 8:42 pm

One of those "just right" selections where the need and value converge at our pick. Personally, I'm even happier because choosing a C this high cements that Mark Helfrich doesn't believe he can make a lemonade starter out of Horrendous Grasu.

IotaNet · Fri Apr 27, 2018 8:46 pm

VA_Mountain_Bear wrote:C is never a sexy selection but I am stoked to get the best one. This solves 2 positions at once with Whitehair moving back to G. Great pic for the future of the offense.

Exactly! Pace is handling his business.

Bears Whiskey Nut · Fri Apr 27, 2018 9:26 pm

Mikefive wrote:One of those "just right" selections where the need and value converge at our pick. Personally, I'm even happier because choosing a C this high cements that Mark Helfrich doesn't believe he can make a lemonade starter out of Horrendous Grasu.

Its sad, but true. This is the death knell for Mr. Grasu.

Adipost · Fri Apr 27, 2018 10:20 pm

Daniels is without a doubt the best C in the draft, dropped out of the 1st due to medicals.

RING4CHI · Fri Apr 27, 2018 10:38 pm

"Ryan Pace says the plan is to start James Daniels out at left guard and keep Cody Whitehair at center for now."

Bears Whiskey Nut · Fri Apr 27, 2018 10:40 pm

RING4CHI wrote:"Ryan Pace says the plan is to start James Daniels out at left guard and keep Cody Whitehair at center for now."

That's to placate Cody Whitehair, and not freak him out. Once they get into camp with Heistand. Cody will move to LG and Daniels will be your day 1 starting C. I would bet money on it.

Fri Apr 27, 2018 11:04 pm

Why wouldn’t you take a natural guard and play him at center, and take a natural center and play him at guard.

Hiphopopotamos · Fri Apr 27, 2018 11:06 pm

wab wrote:Why wouldn’t you take a natural guard and play him at center, and take a natural center and play him at guard.

I trust Hiestand to get it sorted out over the next 4 months.

Bears Whiskey Nut · Fri Apr 27, 2018 11:07 pm

wab wrote:Why wouldn’t you take a natural guard and play him at center, and take a natural center and play him at guard.

You're salty tonight. What do you mean? Am I wrong? Is Cody a natural C? Daniels is considered the best C prospect in the draft, are you saying he should be a G? Or are you just being Facetious?

Fri Apr 27, 2018 11:27 pm

Bears Whiskey Nut wrote:
wab wrote:Why wouldn’t you take a natural guard and play him at center, and take a natural center and play him at guard.
You're salty tonight. What do you mean? Am I wrong? Is Cody a natural C? Daniels is considered the best C prospect in the draft, are you saying he should be a G? Or are you just being Facetious?

Salty?

I think Whitehair is a guard (always have) and Daniels (a great pick) is a center. I don’t know why the Bears are bound and determined to over complicate things.

That’s salty?

Bears Whiskey Nut · Fri Apr 27, 2018 11:32 pm

wab wrote:
Bears Whiskey Nut wrote:
wab wrote:Why wouldn’t you take a natural guard and play him at center, and take a natural center and play him at guard.
You're salty tonight. What do you mean? Am I wrong? Is Cody a natural C? Daniels is considered the best C prospect in the draft, are you saying he should be a G? Or are you just being Facetious?
Salty?

I think Whitehair is a guard (always have) and Daniels (a great pick) is a center. I don’t know why the Bears are bound and determined to over complicate things.

That’s salty?

I was referring a some of your other posts tonight. No worries. I agree. Bump Whitehair back out to G and keep Daniels at C. I don't think they are over complicating. Maybe just protecting Whitehair, or not overcommitting in front of Heistand, before he gets a chance to work with them.

Whatever it is. Our OL got decidedly better tonight. I wanted an OG/C in round 2, and I got a really, really good one. I'm happy.

southdakbearfan · Sat Apr 28, 2018 12:39 am

Love it.

mmmc_35 · Sat Apr 28, 2018 2:26 am

wab wrote:Why wouldn’t you take a natural guard and play him at center, and take a natural center and play him at guard.

I think Daniels is your LT. That 6'3" thing.

Mikefive · Sat Apr 28, 2018 10:12 am

Hiphopopotamos wrote:
wab wrote:Why wouldn’t you take a natural guard and play him at center, and take a natural center and play him at guard.

I trust Hiestand to get it sorted out over the next 4 months.

It's as simple as that for me. Even Pace sorta said in his discussion of Daniels at LG isn't set in stone. It's the starting point. It will work itself out. That both guys can play both positions (along with Kush) gives us great flexibility. (To dump Grasu.

)

Sat Apr 28, 2018 11:20 am

Mikefive wrote:
Hiphopopotamos wrote:
wab wrote:Why wouldn’t you take a natural guard and play him at center, and take a natural center and play him at guard.

I trust Hiestand to get it sorted out over the next 4 months.
It's as simple as that for me. Even Pace sorta said in his discussion of Daniels at LG isn't set in stone. It's the starting point. It will work itself out. That both guys can play both positions (along with Kush) gives us great flexibility. (To dump Grasu. )

My thing is the shuffling. Yeah, to an extent it’s great for your linemen to have position flexibility, but it’s more important to have continuity with your line. I think Whitehair can be a pro bowl guard but an above average center - IMO he regressed a bit this past season.

Daniels is the best pure center in the draft...why mess with what got him drafted?

Still, I trust Heistand to do what he does.

Funkster · Sat Apr 28, 2018 9:22 pm

Got around to watch some film on Daniels, I think the Bears just may have gotten the best value in this draft with his pick. Like most of you have stated, I also believe he'll either end up at center or LG. We'll have to see how TRU adapts taking snaps from him. If all is well, I say move Daniels to center and Whitehair to LG, set it and forget it.

beardownunder · Sun Apr 29, 2018 9:14 am

wab wrote:
Bears Whiskey Nut wrote:
wab wrote:Why wouldn’t you take a natural guard and play him at center, and take a natural center and play him at guard.
You're salty tonight. What do you mean? Am I wrong? Is Cody a natural C? Daniels is considered the best C prospect in the draft, are you saying he should be a G? Or are you just being Facetious?
Salty?

I think Whitehair is a guard (always have) and Daniels (a great pick) is a center. I don’t know why the Bears are bound and determined to over complicate things.

That’s salty?

I'm not sure you want to pair a rookie with a 2nd year QB in a new offense. Whitehair at least has a relationship with Trubisky and some experience.

If Daniels can show he's got the ability to play in the league and can quickly master the playbook then he goes in to C, just not sure how much time there is in training camp for him to prove that.

Mikefive · Sun Apr 29, 2018 10:51 am

It also makes some sense to let Whitehair make the line calls at least at first and simplify things for Daniels out of the box. Not sure that's a great argument, since I'm not saying he's incapable of doing it, particularly as things ease in with OTA's, etc. But there's some logic to that thinking.

southdakbearfan · Sun Apr 29, 2018 3:30 pm

Mikefive wrote:It also makes some sense to let Whitehair make the line calls at least at first and simplify things for Daniels out of the box. Not sure that's a great argument, since I'm not saying he's incapable of doing it, particularly as things ease in with OTA's, etc. But there's some logic to that thinking.

This, if he shows he can handle it right away he will get moved to center quickly, if not, he plays guard.

Sun Apr 29, 2018 4:27 pm

Slausen made the line calls at guard for Grasu. Why can’t Whitehair do it for Daniels?

southdakbearfan · Sun Apr 29, 2018 7:27 pm

wab wrote:Slausen made the line calls at guard for Grasu. Why can’t Whitehair do it for Daniels?

Not saying he couldn't, it's just not ideal as the guard can't see everything the center can.

I still think there is a shot the kid ends up starting at center and whitehair moves over.

G08 · Sun Apr 29, 2018 11:02 pm

We have to remember, guys, that Cody Whitehair put out top 5-8 NFL tape at center; why are we in a rush to remove him from that position?

I trust Hiestand to do what's best, but it won't shock me one bit if Daniels is our LG and Whitehair our OC.

mmmc_35 · Sun Apr 29, 2018 11:29 pm

G08 wrote:We have to remember, guys, that Cody Whitehair put out top 5-8 NFL tape at center; why are we in a rush to remove him from that position?

I trust Hiestand to do what's best, but it won't shock me one bit if Daniels is our LG and Whitehair our OC.

Because Daniels is not built for to be a Guard. At Center his lack of strength is an issue but not necessarily a killer. At guard it could be a really big problem.

Mon Apr 30, 2018 8:01 am

G08 wrote:We have to remember, guys, that Cody Whitehair put out top 5-8 NFL tape at center; why are we in a rush to remove him from that position?

I trust Hiestand to do what's best, but it won't shock me one bit if Daniels is our LG and Whitehair our OC.

I thought Whitehair regressed a bit at center last year. I mean Daniels is being compared to guys like Alex Mack, Rodney Hudson, LeCharles Bentley, and friggin Dermonti Dawson. Some of the top players to ever play the center position.

Conversely, Whitehair is a Zack Martin clone - arguably the best guard in the NFL.

sturf · Mon Apr 30, 2018 9:28 am

1. Daniels might actually stick at guard, and I think the Bears have reasons why they would want it to stick. In terms of combine measurements he is already a little bigger and longer than Whitehair was at the combine, and benched more reps. Given that he is only 20 years old he may end up significantly heavier and stronger than Whitehair who at this point is pretty maxed out as far as carrying weight. For every person that says Whitehair is better at guard there is another that says he is better at center. I think what is true is that there is NFL tape of Whitehair playing center at a high level. Whitehair playing guard at a high level in the NFL is more projection even if it is a reasonable projection.

2. They can always switch to Daniels at center and Whitehair at guard if it doesn't work, but in the meantime they can let Daniels settle in and learn without having to make the line calls, while he is learning the offense. Whitehair and Grasu can handle the 1st and 2nd team center duties and the calls. This also most likely lets Daniels complete directly with Kush at the same position for the starting job.

crueltyabc · Mon Apr 30, 2018 9:52 am

I wonder if the OG talk has to do with Long's health. I was watching Trubisky tape from last season and kept noticing Long for the wrong reasons. He didn't play like a starter last year. He'll need to be better in 2018. Maybe Long comes back rusty or limited from his surgeries and we have two new starting guards on week 1?