R4, P115: Joel Iyiegbuniwe, LB - W. Kentucky

College football and the NFL Draft

Moderator: wab

User avatar
UOK
Site Admin
Posts: 25142
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2008 11:07 am
Location: Champaign, IL
Has thanked: 108 times
Been thanked: 923 times

I feel like this dude is like a poor man's Minkah. A position-less dude who's always around the ball, can excel at ST while working in a rotation with Acho in certain defensive packages. Guessing Pace and Fangio liked his versatility and felt like he fell only this far for reasons unrelated to football and character.
Image
User avatar
Hiphopopotamos
Head Coach
Posts: 3535
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2008 6:56 pm

makaur wrote:Wasted pick in my opinion. I guess Pace will pick a punter in the next round? Either that or someone to add depth to the waterboy position.

If Michael Dickson is there in the 5th I hope we do draft a punter.
Holy Shit - We got Justin Fields!

In my former life I was known as FencikFanatic.

Oh, and if you were wondering - yes I'm real. And I'm fantastic.
User avatar
wab
Mod
Posts: 29805
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2008 12:49 pm
Has thanked: 127 times
Been thanked: 1956 times

Sports Exchange speaks highly of him, for what it’s worth. Had him as the 6th best inside linebacker. Probably Timu’s replacement. May also prove out my theory that Kawasaki moves outside.
User avatar
UOK
Site Admin
Posts: 25142
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2008 11:07 am
Location: Champaign, IL
Has thanked: 108 times
Been thanked: 923 times

@Rich_Campbell

Joel Iyiegbuniwe just finished his teleconference with Bears media.
- Prefers to play ILB b/c he excelled there in college
- Extensive special teams experience
- Graduating in May pre-med (biology major)
- Born in Chicago & grew up in Bolingbrook
- Nicknamed "Iggy"
Image
User avatar
wab
Mod
Posts: 29805
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2008 12:49 pm
Has thanked: 127 times
Been thanked: 1956 times

I’m just gonna gloss over this one. Basically replaces Christian Jones I guess. Just smaller.
User avatar
Hiphopopotamos
Head Coach
Posts: 3535
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2008 6:56 pm

UOK wrote:This screams of Ryan Pace getting cute with this "I am a Division II hipster" shit.

Uh. WKU is Div I and had had 5 players drafted in the two previous drafts.

First and foremost late picks are expected to be ST contributors. This kid will be.

NFL did a blurb or two on Joel I and LB’s like him. A new breed of ‘undersized’ run and chase LB who are perfect for the new NFL.
Holy Shit - We got Justin Fields!

In my former life I was known as FencikFanatic.

Oh, and if you were wondering - yes I'm real. And I'm fantastic.
User avatar
Hiphopopotamos
Head Coach
Posts: 3535
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2008 6:56 pm

And he’s a local kid. Awesome.
Holy Shit - We got Justin Fields!

In my former life I was known as FencikFanatic.

Oh, and if you were wondering - yes I'm real. And I'm fantastic.
User avatar
The Marshall Plan
Hall of Famer
Posts: 8411
Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2014 11:47 am
Location: Parts Unknown
Has thanked: 909 times
Been thanked: 1277 times

wab wrote:Not gonna let this pick sully an otherwise great draft. But I don’t get it. Like at all.
This.

I'm scratching my head as Sweat was still on the board and a guard here would've been nice. I get it that Sweat's knee is a huge concern.
Image
User avatar
IotaNet
MVP
Posts: 1485
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2013 11:04 am
Location: Minneapolis (Chicago Native)
Has thanked: 264 times
Been thanked: 176 times

Daniel Jeremiah did a write up on him...

https://beargoggleson.com/2018/04/28/da ... iegbuniwe/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
“Never let your ego get so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego falls with it.”

- Colin Powell
User avatar
Mikefive
Hall of Famer
Posts: 5189
Joined: Sat Aug 20, 2016 9:33 pm
Location: Valparaiso, IN, USA
Has thanked: 340 times
Been thanked: 278 times

I think we need to hear Pace's PC.
Mikefive's theory: The only time you KNOW that a sports team player, coach or management member is being 100% honest is when they're NOT reciting "the company line".

Go back to leather helmets, NFL.
BR0D1E86
MVP
Posts: 1833
Joined: Sun Apr 30, 2017 10:50 am

UOK wrote:@Rich_Campbell

Joel Iyiegbuniwe just finished his teleconference with Bears media.
- Prefers to play ILB b/c he excelled there in college
- Extensive special teams experience
- Graduating in May pre-med (biology major)
- Born in Chicago & grew up in Bolingbrook
- Nicknamed "Iggy"
Holy crap. I grew up in Bolingbrook. Of course the high school I attended is now a middle school and the current high school was a corn field at the time.
User avatar
Mikefive
Hall of Famer
Posts: 5189
Joined: Sat Aug 20, 2016 9:33 pm
Location: Valparaiso, IN, USA
Has thanked: 340 times
Been thanked: 278 times

Jeff Joniak is cringing right now. :-P
Mikefive's theory: The only time you KNOW that a sports team player, coach or management member is being 100% honest is when they're NOT reciting "the company line".

Go back to leather helmets, NFL.
User avatar
alexwilkins
Crafty Veteran
Posts: 966
Joined: Fri Dec 23, 2016 2:00 am
Location: North Pole, AK
Has thanked: 13 times
Been thanked: 53 times

I mean. I had never heard of Nick Kwiatkoski when they took him, so I’ll reserve judgement on this pick.
User avatar
G08
Hall of Famer
Posts: 20554
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2008 12:34 pm
Location: Football Hell
Has thanked: 209 times
Been thanked: 753 times

Fairly similar metrics to Smith... seems like they like these quick/fast undersized ILBs. My guess is he's a special teamer while he learns the nuances of the position. Likely takes Trevathan's spot in a couple years if he hits.
9 PLAYOFF APPEARANCES IN THE PAST 35 SEASONS

User avatar
mmmc_35
Hall of Famer
Posts: 6113
Joined: Sun Aug 26, 2012 12:25 am
Has thanked: 105 times
Been thanked: 98 times

G08 wrote:Fairly similar metrics to Smith... seems like they like these quick/fast undersized ILBs. My guess is he's a special teamer while he learns the nuances of the position. Likely takes Trevathan's spot in a couple years if he hits.
Likely he is just a special team guy.
User avatar
Z Bear
MVP
Posts: 1656
Joined: Fri Apr 13, 2018 10:45 am
Has thanked: 21 times
Been thanked: 141 times

You guys are missing the big picture...... John Timu is way too slow to play in the NFL and John Anderson is flat out invisible on the field. Neither one will make the team now and we will be paying our 4th ILB first year rookie money instead of a vested veteran contract.
User avatar
wab
Mod
Posts: 29805
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2008 12:49 pm
Has thanked: 127 times
Been thanked: 1956 times

I think it depends on what they decide to do with Kawasaki. He's shown (IMO) that he's a starter in the NFL. He's a very effective blitzer and has a place on the field somewhere.
User avatar
malk
Head Coach
Posts: 3625
Joined: Wed Aug 22, 2012 7:10 am
Has thanked: 133 times
Been thanked: 204 times

wab wrote:I think it depends on what they decide to do with Kawasaki. He's shown (IMO) that he's a starter in the NFL. He's a very effective blitzer and has a place on the field somewhere.
That's the weird thing, you could see him being a hoped for replacement for Trevathan down the line but now he's behind Smith and Kwiatkoski. Plus Trevathan will only be 30 at the end of his deal so won't exactly be on the scrap heap. Someone will have to move somewhere.
"I wouldn't take him for a conditional 7th. His next contract will pay him more than he could possibly contribute.".

Noted Brain Genius Malk, Summer 2018.

(2020 update, wait, was I right...)
Mr.Irrelevant
Player of the Month
Posts: 377
Joined: Mon Jan 19, 2015 5:46 pm
Been thanked: 11 times

This was the only pick that I really didn't like, but it didn't have anything to do with Iggy, it was because of who else was on the board at the time. Dorance Armstrong was a higher rated prospect by most accounts and plays at a position of higher need, passing on him didn't make much sense to me.

That said, I really hated the Shaheen and Cohen picks last year, so what do I know.
User avatar
thunderspirit
Head Coach
Posts: 3828
Joined: Tue Sep 06, 2016 12:51 pm
Location: Greater Chicagoland, IL
Has thanked: 605 times
Been thanked: 603 times

Greg Cosell was a fan of the bears' efforts in the first four rounds. He sees coverage ability and run-and-chase speed in Iyiegbuniwe, though he shares many of the concerns about staying clean that have been expressed here.

" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
KFFL refugee.

dplank wrote:I agree with Rich here
RichH55 wrote: Dplank is correct
:shocked:
User avatar
G08
Hall of Famer
Posts: 20554
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2008 12:34 pm
Location: Football Hell
Has thanked: 209 times
Been thanked: 753 times

I think this kid was drafted initially to play special teams, and with a year or two in the system *might* be primed to take over for Trevathan next to Smith. Heavy emphasis on the word 'might'.
9 PLAYOFF APPEARANCES IN THE PAST 35 SEASONS

User avatar
G08
Hall of Famer
Posts: 20554
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2008 12:34 pm
Location: Football Hell
Has thanked: 209 times
Been thanked: 753 times

From Biggsy:

“He’s a good player,” a national scout for another team said. “Smart, tough, can run. He’s a lot better than what they had (in reserve) there and it’s not a reach to say this kid will be starting for them down the line. He’s way better than Christian Jones and they took him right about where I figured he should go. Good football player.”
9 PLAYOFF APPEARANCES IN THE PAST 35 SEASONS

User avatar
wab
Mod
Posts: 29805
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2008 12:49 pm
Has thanked: 127 times
Been thanked: 1956 times

G08 wrote:From Biggsy:

“He’s way better than Christian Jones...”
Image
User avatar
Z Bear
MVP
Posts: 1656
Joined: Fri Apr 13, 2018 10:45 am
Has thanked: 21 times
Been thanked: 141 times

Well Christian Jones is not here anymore. This just spells the end of the John Timuderson combo that no one wanted to see get snaps.
User avatar
Mikefive
Hall of Famer
Posts: 5189
Joined: Sat Aug 20, 2016 9:33 pm
Location: Valparaiso, IN, USA
Has thanked: 340 times
Been thanked: 278 times

Z Bear wrote:John Timuderson
:thumbsup:

(I do admit to a soft spot for John Timu. :) )
Mikefive's theory: The only time you KNOW that a sports team player, coach or management member is being 100% honest is when they're NOT reciting "the company line".

Go back to leather helmets, NFL.
User avatar
LacertineForest
MVP
Posts: 1635
Joined: Fri Aug 31, 2012 12:39 pm
Location: Madison, WI
Has thanked: 1749 times
Been thanked: 323 times

Interesting tidbit:
Robert Zeglinski (Georgia Reunion) @RobertZeglinski
1h

One of the Bears’ lead scouts, Sam Summerville (Southeast) has led the charge on Eddie Goldman, Eddie Jackson, Tarik Cohen, and now Joel Iyiegbuniwe.
I’d say that’s pretty good!

That bodes well for a Bears’ LB of the future.
User avatar
Hiphopopotamos
Head Coach
Posts: 3535
Joined: Sun Nov 02, 2008 6:56 pm

Sounds like Sam is in line for a raise.
Holy Shit - We got Justin Fields!

In my former life I was known as FencikFanatic.

Oh, and if you were wondering - yes I'm real. And I'm fantastic.
User avatar
The Marshall Plan
Hall of Famer
Posts: 8411
Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2014 11:47 am
Location: Parts Unknown
Has thanked: 909 times
Been thanked: 1277 times

I'm excited about this pick because he's a tweener between LB and S which gives Fangio options in coverage and pass rushing. This guy also screams potential special teams stud which is no less valuable than being above average on offense or defense.

I was frustrated and pissed off about this pick at first, but when I thought about it this pick makes sense.
Image
User avatar
Adipost
MVP
Posts: 1295
Joined: Wed Dec 21, 2016 5:54 am

G08 wrote:From Biggsy:

“He’s a good player,” a national scout for another team said. “Smart, tough, can run. He’s a lot better than what they had (in reserve) there and it’s not a reach to say this kid will be starting for them down the line. He’s way better than Christian Jones and they took him right about where I figured he should go. Good football player.”
What?!?! Christian Jones is a starting LB in the NFL?
Post Reply