Bears UDFA Signings

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IE wrote: Thu May 06, 2021 2:19 pm I've learned not to project UDFAs to the team but have been happy to see two guys I've liked stick to a certain extent. I still really like Vaughters as a great team and rotation guy, if not a starter. I also still have some hopes that Horsted will show he is active roster ready in camp this year. No material movement with TEs to me means they might like either Holtz or Horsted to stick. Horsted came into camp with a new body last year, and looked pretty good in limited film. He's got incredible hands, and when he came in 2 years ago the story was he needed to build himself up and become a serviceable blocker. So for him that time is here. And like I said I'm hopeful because of the lack of movement at TE. Personally, I think he can do everything Graham can do at this point, and is more athletic even. Jimmy often seems to be phoning it in our there (jogging). Play Horsted at U in the middle of the field and use Graham in the endzone maybe (which is all he wants to do anyway).
I’m inclined to agree that Horsted deserves a real shot.
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Horsted was the hilite of a preseason game a buddy gave me tickets for, so I became his fan. He can certainly catch, but if he can't block then he's not a TE.
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G08 wrote: Wed May 05, 2021 1:24 pm Late to the party, but I think Charles Snowden can be a perfect fit for the "Leonard Floyd" role in this defense.

Needs more sand in his ass, but as a UDFA I love the signing.
What exactly was Floyd's role in the Bears' defense? Mr. "late to the QB?" Pose as an ineffective pass rusher and thereby bamboozle the opponent when you drop into coverage?

Do the Bears really need to refill whatever role that was?
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Middleguard wrote: Thu May 06, 2021 6:05 pm
G08 wrote: Wed May 05, 2021 1:24 pm Late to the party, but I think Charles Snowden can be a perfect fit for the "Leonard Floyd" role in this defense.

Needs more sand in his ass, but as a UDFA I love the signing.
What exactly was Floyd's role in the Bears' defense? Mr. "late to the QB?" Pose as an ineffective pass rusher and thereby bamboozle the opponent when you drop into coverage?

Do the Bears really need to refill whatever role that was?
Edge setter, drop into coverage and use size/length to disrupt passing lanes/windows, and occasionally rush the passer.

He took off in LA because they used him in the Khalil Mack role.
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Sometimes fans get mad when the Bears are bad against the run but only want pass rushers
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Btw the Rams are still fools for that contract but Floyd was a decent player and Quinn has been a disaster too
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crueltyabc wrote: Thu May 06, 2021 7:07 pm Sometimes fans get mad when the Bears are bad against the run but only want pass rushers
Yuuupppp.
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crueltyabc wrote: Thu May 06, 2021 7:07 pm Sometimes fans get mad when the Bears are bad against the run but only want pass rushers
Basically fans want the front seven to be some combination of 1984 and 2001 into perpetuity.
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wab wrote: Fri May 07, 2021 9:31 am
crueltyabc wrote: Thu May 06, 2021 7:07 pm Sometimes fans get mad when the Bears are bad against the run but only want pass rushers
Basically fans want the front seven to be some combination of 1984 and 2001 into perpetuity.
Works for me!
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crueltyabc wrote: Thu May 06, 2021 7:07 pm Sometimes fans get mad when the Bears are bad against the run but only want pass rushers
Well, there's always some truth to people wanting it both ways.

But at the same time, I don't think there's anything that unreasonable about wanting your edge rushers to excel against the pass. It's not like the Bears run defense struggled because they lost Floyd's run contribution. Interior problems - losing Goldman, Trevathan falling apart, and Hicks being gimpy - were far more to blame for where that went.
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They didn’t lose Floyd’s contribution because Quinn actually did a pretty good job against the run and the DC didn’t ask Quinn to play pass coverage much at the expense of blitzes. Adding some cheap guys who can contribute from the edge but don’t get 10+ sacks is fine. The problem is Quinn
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I didn't realize Snowden had a broken ankle. Was wondering why he didn't get picked. He timed slow but looks really sudden/quick on tape. The sack where he got low and ducked around the LT was pretty interesting. Very athletic.

Given his lack of speed it is hard to compare him to Floyd.

Ex hoops player who has a couple of INTs on his resume - can he block? lol

Ok I looked - and actually he can. https://thedraftnetwork.com/articles/ch ... -interview

I want to try him as a blocking TE.
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it's a funny thing fans do where we get more excited about UDFA's then guys drafted in the 6th/7th rounds, but man Snowden's quickness really does jump out at you in the highlights. With a redshirt year in the NFL ala RRH, he really looks like he could be developed into valuable depth.
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RustyTrubisky wrote: Sat May 08, 2021 10:05 am it's a funny thing fans do where we get more excited about UDFA's then guys drafted in the 6th/7th rounds, but man Snowden's quickness really does jump out at you in the highlights. With a redshirt year in the NFL ala RRH, he really looks like he could be developed into valuable depth.
Yeah I would imagine he gets IR’d with that ankle so that he can bulk up/get healthy.
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I always wonder why more NFL teams do not bring in specialists as UDFA each year. Seems it would be nice to have two of each to spread out the special teams work in camp and also get a cheap look at upgrades.
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I attribute it to teams not caring as much about STs as they claim.
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Middleguard wrote: Mon May 10, 2021 4:33 pm I attribute it to teams not caring as much about STs as they claim.
This.
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It is how we ended up with Robbie Gould and O'Donnell. The Bears had a ton of other guys in past years, especially at K, that made an NFL roster (Nick Folk, Elliot Fry, etc.). Pace just seemed to stop bringing them in, which was weird since neither the K or P position has been rock solid over the last few years.
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Z Bear wrote: Tue May 11, 2021 2:35 pm It is how we ended up with Robbie Gould and O'Donnell. The Bears had a ton of other guys in past years, especially at K, that made an NFL roster (Nick Folk, Elliot Fry, etc.). Pace just seemed to stop bringing them in, which was weird since neither the K or P position has been rock solid over the last few years.
Gould was undrafted and signed with the Pats before getting cut, but Megapunt was drafted in the 5th or 6th round.
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Oh I thought he was a UDFA. I thought Gould came straight from Penn ST to the Bears.
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I think Robbie was just starting to settle into his job at a lumber yard when the phone rang. Big change in direction for the young man.
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Belichick was trying to hide Gould for a year to eventually replace Vinatieri, but the Bears sniffed him out and signed him was the story I heard. He was just waiting for the Pats while working for his dad's construction company.
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Well, at 7 this evening, the Bears finally admitted that they signed some UDFAs. And with a couple other bums they now have a full 90-man roster.
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IE wrote: Sat May 08, 2021 9:58 am I didn't realize Snowden had a broken ankle. Was wondering why he didn't get picked. He timed slow but looks really sudden/quick on tape. The sack where he got low and ducked around the LT was pretty interesting. Very athletic.

Given his lack of speed it is hard to compare him to Floyd.

Ex hoops player who has a couple of INTs on his resume - can he block? lol

Ok I looked - and actually he can. https://thedraftnetwork.com/articles/ch ... -interview

I want to try him as a blocking TE.
It's interesting that they list Snowden as a defensive lineman. I think he's going to get the RRH treatment.
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wab wrote: Fri May 14, 2021 9:44 am
IE wrote: Sat May 08, 2021 9:58 am I didn't realize Snowden had a broken ankle. Was wondering why he didn't get picked. He timed slow but looks really sudden/quick on tape. The sack where he got low and ducked around the LT was pretty interesting. Very athletic.

Given his lack of speed it is hard to compare him to Floyd.

Ex hoops player who has a couple of INTs on his resume - can he block? lol

Ok I looked - and actually he can. https://thedraftnetwork.com/articles/ch ... -interview

I want to try him as a blocking TE.
It's interesting that they list Snowden as a defensive lineman. I think he's going to get the RRH treatment.
It makes sense to me to try to leverage his suddenness in short space (and perhaps frame to grow, recognizing he really can't play LB in the NFL. I'm looking forward to seeing him.

I do love the idea of finding ex hoops dudes types who sort of naturally have good hands, know how to box out & might surprise as a TE prospect. It's just a long term a dream of mine that the Bears find an Antonio Gates. His suddenness and short area quickness along with his size made for a pretty good TE.
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wab wrote: Fri May 14, 2021 9:44 am
IE wrote: Sat May 08, 2021 9:58 am I didn't realize Snowden had a broken ankle. Was wondering why he didn't get picked. He timed slow but looks really sudden/quick on tape. The sack where he got low and ducked around the LT was pretty interesting. Very athletic.

Given his lack of speed it is hard to compare him to Floyd.

Ex hoops player who has a couple of INTs on his resume - can he block? lol

Ok I looked - and actually he can. https://thedraftnetwork.com/articles/ch ... -interview

I want to try him as a blocking TE.
It's interesting that they list Snowden as a defensive lineman. I think he's going to get the RRH treatment.
I like Snowden after watching him. He kind of reminds me of Donorace Armstrong. Slightly more athletic. I think could be a good de0th piece at the olb spot.

It's going to be very hard for him to gain 50 lbs. RRH had naturally larger shoulders, hips and thicker legs. Snowden is naturally a more slender build. They are both right around 6'6" but RRH had more room and a head start. Enough work and supplements maybe.
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mmmc_35 wrote: Sat May 15, 2021 3:09 pm
wab wrote: Fri May 14, 2021 9:44 am

It's interesting that they list Snowden as a defensive lineman. I think he's going to get the RRH treatment.
I like Snowden after watching him. He kind of reminds me of Donorace Armstrong. Slightly more athletic. I think could be a good de0th piece at the olb spot.

It's going to be very hard for him to gain 50 lbs. RRH had naturally larger shoulders, hips and thicker legs. Snowden is naturally a more slender build. They are both right around 6'6" but RRH had more room and a head start. Enough work and supplements maybe.
Exactly.... or, since he's UDFA and a project by definitiion... put him at TE and see what happens.
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They've changed Snowden's listing to LB now
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