Rd 1, #9 pick: Leonard Floyd, LB - Georgia

[FaithInCutler]

If he doesn't get 10 sacks next year it'll be a massive disappointment. Christ...Houston can get 8 sacks in a rotation with a bad knee. If Floyd can't with all his supposed speed and explosion, I'll be even more salty than I am now.

I've been trying to put my thoughts into words all night.

You nailed it.

[G08]

The Bears have done body analysis on Floyd, but say they’ll keep him around 240 pounds or so.


What?

[FaithInCutler]

The Bears have done body analysis on Floyd, but say they’ll keep him around 240 pounds or so.


What?

I'm reading similar stuff.. Pace said:

“It’s hard to find outside linebackers that can rush the passer but also have the versatility to drop into coverage,” Pace said. “And he can do that. What’s rare is when a guy is that tall and long and running down the field and he’s changing direction like that – you don’t see that very often so it’s very attractive.”

Pace cautioned against comparing Floyd to Smith, who developed into one of the NFL’s most feared pass rusher before mishandling off-field situations.

But Smith, unlike Willie Young for the Bears last season, was an every down player, albeit at 260+ pounds. Floyd is listed in the 240s and the Bears are wary of adding bulk on an assumption that he needs to be bigger to hold the point against the run. They envision him as an every down player as-is.


Sounds like they are planning on keeping him around 240-245... i don't get it.

[wab]

So he's Dion Jordan. Super.

[G08]

How the fuck do you not need to be bigger than 240 lbs against the run when OTs weigh 310+? Because of LENGTH!?

I... am going to bed.

[wab]

Dude is definitely one of a kind. There's no other LB in the NFL at his height and weight.

[RING4CHI]

Unless this staff sees something we're not seeing (by god I hope they do), looks like Pace swung and miss on the first round pick for the second year in a row.

[mmmc_35]

240? That's not expected. I figured they hoped to get him up to 250.

You put Floyd at 240 in a 4-3 were his coverage ability and pass rush can be inner mixed more, I understand it. For an every down 3-4 they are going to need a nasty 4I to keep him cleaner in the run game.

I am perplexed. As a fan I don't want to rag on him, but it on the surface seems so odd.

Question Beasley and Coleman, out White and Floyd?

[base615]

White and Floyd easily at this stage.

White hasn't yet played but all signs point to him being a stud. He was consensus top 10 and many felt he was the best in the draft. How someone can call him a swing and miss I don't understand. Injuries happen and he's, by all accounts, fully recovered and ready to hit the field and destroy.

Floyd, looks excellent in the role it seems we're planning to use him in (pure pass rusher). People point to the sack numbers thinking he was purely OLB but that's just not the case. He was used at ILB and nickel corner a lot. People point to him not being good against the run due to his weight but he graded out top 5 against the run. People say he can't be an every down player but that flies in the face of evidence where he barely left the field at Georgia.

This is a decent assessment from the Eagles: " onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm pretty willing to give Fox and Fangio the benefit of the doubt when it comes to assessing pass rushers and both of them apparently love Floyd. I reckon the meltdown on this pick is approaching the level of meltdown when Kyle Long was picked and we know how that turned out.

Meanwhile, Vic Beasley has been a massive flop while Coleman definitely looks good but unlikely to be at White's level based on their college tape.

[FireBrand]

This scouting report is probably similar to what the Bears saw: http://www.scout.com/nfl/bears/story/16 ... nard-floyd" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[base615]

This scouting report is probably similar to what the Bears saw: http://www.scout.com/nfl/bears/story/16 ... nard-floyd" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Can't see it mate, premium access only.

What's the general gist of it?

[Hiphopopotamos]

Unless this staff sees something we're not seeing (by god I hope they do), looks like Pace swung and miss on the first round pick for the second year in a row.

You can't even be fucking serious. Jesus Christ.

[FireBrand]

This scouting report is probably similar to what the Bears saw: http://www.scout.com/nfl/bears/story/16 ... nard-floyd" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Can't see it mate, premium access only.

What's the general gist of it?

I was able to see by pulling it up through the Twitter app on my phone. @BearReport is where you will find it.

It obviously praises his athleticism, as every other scouting report does. What caught my eye is that it says he's good at shedding blockers and he's actually a high motor guy, giving full effort on each play, running plays down from the backside when the play doesn't come toward him. He also had good awareness/instincts and can turn and run with recivers.

He actually liked his strength, even though he believed he was too small. Tackling is also an issue, but this report had very little negative to say about him.

[UOK]

You guys are such drags sometimes.

[ysleblanc]

Unless this staff sees something we're not seeing (by god I hope they do), looks like Pace swung and miss on the first round pick for the second year in a row.

I haven't seen anything from White that tells me swing and a miss, not sure where you get that?

I'm not a fan of Floyd at #8. Maybe if he slides and we trade back and add more high picks and grab him around 20...not a fan of trading up for him...I hope I'm wrong. Loved the White pick, not so much Floyd.

I know Tunsil has a weird family situation, and weird friends, but he is a stud player, if I trade up for anybody, it's him.

[base615]

Unless this staff sees something we're not seeing (by god I hope they do), looks like Pace swung and miss on the first round pick for the second year in a row.

I haven't seen anything from White that tells me swing and a miss, not sure where you get that?

I'm not a fan of Floyd at #8. Maybe if he slides and we trade back and add more high picks and grab him around 20...not a fan of trading up for him...I hope I'm wrong. Loved the White pick, not so much Floyd.

I know Tunsil has a weird family situation, and weird friends, but he is a stud player, if I trade up for anybody, it's him.

Apparently he was top of the Giants' board so we were forced to leapfrog them to get the guy we wanted.

The thing I don't understand about the Floyd criticism, both the pick itself and the trade up (not necessarily from you but it seems there's a big meltdown in process) is that Bears fans have been consistently complaining about a few things over the past season or so:

• Our pass rush is too much of the same and we need a speed guy across from McPhee / Houston for variety
• We've had guys who seem to take plays off on occasion
• We missed out on Donald / Williams by 1 draft pick by not being aggressive and moving up for our guy

This pick, and the way it went down, fix those concerns exactly:

• He's extremely quick and agile off the edge, the antithesis of McPhee and Houston so we can switch things around according to the situation.
• He's high motor and never fails to put the effort in. He's performed at a high level in various positions.
• We went up to get our guy and ensure we didn't miss out

I feel that Bears fans are conditioned to be critical automatically and that's understandable due to our history of poor drafting but my view is that this regime seems to be different and has earned my trust based on their performance to date.

I think we should give this guy a chance to show us what he can do on the field before we write him off. I anticipate that he may prove a few doubters wrong.

[FireBrand]

I'm starting to warm up to the pick. Need more Kool Aid.

[Bears Whiskey Nut]

Floyd is a bad fit for this defense. He'll struggle to stay at an NFL weight and he'll struggle to get off blocks. He's no more than a 3rd down player.

He's Dion Jordan, but Jordan was a better prospect. Mingo was a better prospect. Beasley was a better prospect. Gregory was a better prospect. And all of those guys have struggled because they are gangly and weak.

I think that NFL conditioning can do a lot. But when I look at a player for the potential to put weight on his frame, I look at the hips and shoulders. Is the player naturally broad, but just have an under developed physique, or is he thin and wiry with no real potential to add weight. I look at Floyd and he has narrow shoulders and normal hips. There is nothing on him that tells me he can bulk up to 260 - 270. That being said, if he IS effective off the edge in 3rd down situations, then fine. We have Aaron Rodgers and Matt Stafford twice a year. If he can pound Erin into the ground a few times a year, then it was worth it.

I also put a lot of faith in Vic Fangio. I HAVE to assume that Pace and Fox approached Fangio and said, "who do you like and why." I think Fangio has plans for this kid. My suggestion is sit back and wait to see what Vic has in store for this kid.

[Bears Whiskey Nut]

Unless this staff sees something we're not seeing (by god I hope they do), looks like Pace swung and miss on the first round pick for the second year in a row.

Swing and a miss the second year in a row??! They knew last year was a rebuilding year. They got White the treatment he needed, and didn't rush him back out onto the field. You haven't even watched him play a down in a Bears uniform. Now if he is injured for half of the season this year, then fine. Swing and a miss, but you haven't seen him play jack shit yet.

As for Floyd. Yes, they do see something you're not. That's why they are the GM, Head Coach and DC. And you're not. I am going to wait until the first couple games of the year to pass judgement.

Jesus H. Christ...what a bunch of Debbie Downers.

[Hiphopopotamos]

Floyd is a bad fit for this defense. He'll struggle to stay at an NFL weight and he'll struggle to get off blocks. He's no more than a 3rd down player.

He's Dion Jordan, but Jordan was a better prospect. Mingo was a better prospect. Beasley was a better prospect. Gregory was a better prospect. And all of those guys have struggled because they are gangly and weak.

I think that NFL conditioning can do a lot. But when I look at a player for the potential to put weight on his frame, I look at the hips and shoulders. Is the player naturally broad, but just have an under developed physique, or is he thin and wiry with no real potential to add weight. I look at Floyd and he has narrow shoulders and normal hips. There is nothing on him that tells me he can bulk up to 260 - 270. That being said, if he IS effective off the edge in 3rd down situations, then fine. We have Aaron Rodgers and Matt Stafford twice a year. If he can pound Erin into the ground a few times a year, then it was worth it.

I also put a lot of faith in Vic Fangio. I HAVE to assume that Pace and Fox approached Fangio and said, "who do you like and why." I think Fangio has plans for this kid. My suggestion is sit back and wait to see what Vic has in store for this kid.

You'll be happy to know that the Bears have already come out and said that they plan to play him at 240 pounds.

[UOK]

Unless this staff sees something we're not seeing (by god I hope they do), looks like Pace swung and miss on the first round pick for the second year in a row.

Swing and a miss the second year in a row??! They knew last year was a rebuilding year. They got White the treatment he needed, and didn't rush him back out onto the field. You haven't even watched him play a down in a Bears uniform. Now if he is injured for half of the season this year, then fine. Swing and a miss, but you haven't seen him play jack shit yet.

As for Floyd. Yes, they do see something you're not. That's why they are the GM, Head Coach and DC. And you're not. I am going to wait until the first couple games of the year to pass judgement.

Jesus H. Christ...what a bunch of Debbie Downers.

Seriously. I'm kind of disappointed in some of the reactions. Maybe we're all just trained to react negatively after years of bullshit.

[mmmc_35]

I don't think being critical is necessarily bad. The Bears took a guy in the top 10 who on the surface screams potential bust. A guy who seemingly fits a different style of defense.

Yes he will give the desired athleticism off the edge. He has a high motor. He can cover. Her does a lot of things well. But to say anyone right now sees the fit, is crazy.

That is okay. I think we all have faith in the staff. We don't really know about the gm yet but we hope.

Tunsil was the better bet in my opinion.

[Boris13c]

Seriously. I'm kind of disappointed in some of the reactions. Maybe we're all just trained to react negatively after years of bullshit.

a lot of the negative reaction is due to the fact I don't think anyone was really overly enthused about Floyd to begin with so trading up to get him only exasperated the issue

my take on Floyd is I look upon him as a luxury item - a part time situational player who can have some impact ... and my negative reaction was there were other basic needs that I thought should have had a higher priority

so I'm willing to wait and see what develops and hope for the best in spite of not having high expectations

[RING4CHI]

but you haven't seen him play jack shit yet.

Which is why there's nothing to go on to say it was a good pick.

If there's one position that needs to be on the field during their rookie season, it's wide receivers. I can't think of a WR who missed their entire first year, and bounced back from it. White is so far behind the 8-ball, it's hard to get excited that he'll bounce back.

Fair or not, White missing his rookie season falls on Pace. Then moving up to take a situational player. It's hard to get behind Pace's small sample size of draft picks right now.

[UOK]

If he whiffs on Floyd but rounds 2-7 produce 3-4 starters over the next couple years, then Pace is already ahead of the damned curve.

[G08]

Unless this staff sees something we're not seeing (by god I hope they do), looks like Pace swung and miss on the first round pick for the second year in a row.

Swing and a miss the second year in a row??! They knew last year was a rebuilding year. They got White the treatment he needed, and didn't rush him back out onto the field. You haven't even watched him play a down in a Bears uniform. Now if he is injured for half of the season this year, then fine. Swing and a miss, but you haven't seen him play jack shit yet.

As for Floyd. Yes, they do see something you're not. That's why they are the GM, Head Coach and DC. And you're not. I am going to wait until the first couple games of the year to pass judgement.

Jesus H. Christ...what a bunch of Debbie Downers.

Seriously. I'm kind of disappointed in some of the reactions. Maybe we're all just trained to react negatively after years of bullshit.

I don't care for the "swung and missed for a second year in a row" crap, but people that have studied prospects that don't like him should voice that opinion, I would think. I just want it to be backed up with facts/evidence/comparisons.

I wanted Tunsil, I'm on record with that.


This kid, strictly looking at the metrics, is Shea McClellin with a little more explosion.

[Road]

Great pick! Keep an open mind people! This kids going to have Erin looking out his earhole! I think Pace, Fox & Fangio know exactly wtf they’re doing. They were in need of a speed rusher and went after it. I just hope they got what they were after.
I hope the pseudonym McFloyd isn’t hung on him if he starts taking too wide a rush and ends up 5 yards behind the QB.

[Hiphopopotamos]

This kid, strictly looking at the metrics, is Shea McClellin with a little more explosion.

Other than fan disdain for the pick - I'm not sure that these two have much in common. Shea played more DE than OLB, and Floyd played as much at ILB as anything. Floyd is the much more explosive athlete (the difference in vertical and broad are pretty significant) while Shea had the edge in experience as a pass-rusher. Floyd played a much tougher level of competition.

[G08]

Look more closelier

McClellin: 1.59/2.69/4.75
31.5 vert
9'10" broad
4.33 shuttle
7.07 cone

Floyd: 1.59/2.68/4.60
39.5" vert
10'07 broad
4.32 shuttle
7.18 cone

Similar 10/20 splits, similar shuttle, similar cone. Floyd has a better broad & vert, hence: more explosive Shea McClellin

[Pagan]

There's nothing wrong with be skeptical... But there should be plenty of room for optimism. The scouts have broken down every play from dozens of players. If what Pace said is true, there was a consensus from all of their scouts on this player. He fits exactly what Coach Fox and Fangio wanted in a edge rusher.

That's all that needs to be said.

Comparisons to McClellan or White are ridiculous and completely unfounded.

Many of us spent a bunch of time scouting players on our own and need to come to grips with the fact that:
1) We're NOT NFL scouts
2) We do not fully understand the Fox/Fangio defense.

Anyone wanting to bitch about picks from previous seasons players should do so on another thread with the appropriate title, because they are useless here.