Rd 6. 203 Trestan Ebner, RB - Baylor

[The Cooler King]

I wanted a day 3 RB to hedge against DMs pending FA in 2023. Sounds like a fast straight line guy and an outside zone fit.

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/trestan-e ... 7f6f5c137d

[TheWorldBreaker]

I wanted a day 3 RB to hedge against DMs pending FA in 2023. Sounds like a fast straight line guy and an outside zone fit.

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/trestan-e ... 7f6f5c137d

I think this is primarily a special teams pick more than a Montgomery hedge but a fast running back that can catch the ball isn’t a bad thing.

[Bearfacts]

Hey.....a guy with a first name like a last name and last name like a first name. Wonder what his 40 time is running backwards?

This kinda says it all. Another weapons kinda player.

"He's the value back in the draft for me because he can do so many things that it helps open up a roster spot for another legitimate talent and not just a specialist." -- Personnel executive for AFC team

[The Cooler King]

I wanted a day 3 RB to hedge against DMs pending FA in 2023. Sounds like a fast straight line guy and an outside zone fit.

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/trestan-e ... 7f6f5c137d

I think this is primarily a special teams pick more than a Montgomery hedge but a fast running back that can catch the ball isn’t a bad thing.

We're on the branches of the Shannahan tree. That's like they're only type of RB.

[IE]

4.4 speed. At least JF1 isn't the fastest guy on the team after this draft. This guy's comp (style wise) is Tony Pollard. Which sounds really useful for an OC coming from Goon Bay. Let's see what they do with him if he ever gets in on offense. I suspect he might, as the Bears really don't have that 3rd down back. He might be a better prospect as a COP back and Pollard/James White type than Evans. I'm guessing Evans is the odd many out in the Bear backfield.

[Bears Whiskey Nut]

They will let Monty walk in favor of Herbert. Herbie is a standout zone runner, like scary instinctive. This guy is a 3rd string RB and ST'er.

[Mikefive]

I wonder if he'll wear #29.

[thunderspirit]

Scouting reports:
SI.com

https://ras.football/ras-information/?PlayerID=21161

UOK EDIT: no bypassing paid content

[Bearfacts]

Poles said that he planned to draft a RB and similar to other picks he's made he took a guy with a skill set that's somewhat different then those RB we have. Monty and Herbert are safe. Blasingame as well I would imagine so this kid and Evans will face off for the last roster spot at RB.

[G08]

Guys... this dude is a fucking BUR-NER and I'm pretty sure we can trot him out to WR and have him run routes.

Fun pick!

[wab]

I was actually thinking "WR" when I read up on him. His profile isn't all that dissimilar from VJ

[G08]

I worry this might spell the end for my boy Monty

[alexwilkins]

3 of his 5 years at Baylor he had more receiving yards than rushing. So he's definitely versatile.

Also if Flus doesn't want DMont then I don't want Flus.

[IE]

So I've watched as much Ebner highlights as I could, and what I see is... Matt Forte.

Ebner is a glider/long-strider exactly like Forte ... he doesn't look like he's running that fast but he definitely is ... he's just so smooth with those long strides. He's got terrific hands, and excellent vision. The more I watch, the more I see Forte as my favorite comp. Ebner's just a hair faster (4.43 vs Forte's 4.46).

[Bearfacts]

Ebner sees himself in a guy like Alvin Kamara. I'd be thrilled if he even came close to becoming another Kamara. If he does it covers our need for a 3rd down type back who much like Tarik Cohen can also line up in the slot as a WR.

I have my suspicions that for now Getsy plans to use his backs as receivers more than we have under Nagy at least in part to offset a less than ideal WR core. Even without Monty we should consider Herbert, Jones, and Ebner as guys who either as RB or Slot/Gadget types as guys who are all capable of producing big plays with their speed and YAC ability.

[IE]

I have my suspicions that for now Getsy plans to use his backs as receivers more than we have under Nagy at least in part to offset a less than ideal WR core. Even without Monty we should consider Herbert, Jones, and Ebner as guys who either as RB or Slot/Gadget types as guys who are all capable of producing big plays with their speed and YAC ability.

While others seem to be clutching their pearls over the results of the draft wrt WRs ... I agree and believe this is exactly how they are seeing things. And not just as some kind of a desperate fallback from missing on everyone's personal dream WR in the draft or FA. I think they are deliberately building a team of explosive/much faster play-making, high-utility players... guys (both RB and WR) that can all line up at WR, run with the ball, and capable of making huge plays on ST. I am super-excited about this.

I think people are just stuck in ruts from the past with labels and concepts like "slot WR" and "3rd down back" and "every down back" and ST "specialists". IMO that's not where they're going. I think we're going to see Vay Jones handed the ball on first down, and all the RBs regularly lining up in the slot, and creative use of the WRs in screens and sweeps and such... a lot of offense that blurs the label on what a player is.

People generically (lazily?) act like the attempt in drafting Vay Jones is getting "their Deebo" - the one guy or one weapon on the team as a new type of specialist or role. But I don't think that's what it is at all. The roles are all merging, and smart teams are taking better advantage of skill sets and athleticism that was previously not used as much because players were pigeonholed.

This is why I see Ebner as a terrific add - and don't give a shit about the round (look at his tape!). This is why I see Vay Jones as a stellar pick (not just OK or a miss). This is why I believe Pringle is better (at least for the Bears) than guys who might be more trusted because of the load they've carried in the past elsewhere (e.g. Landry).

[Bearfacts]

I have my suspicions that for now Getsy plans to use his backs as receivers more than we have under Nagy at least in part to offset a less than ideal WR core. Even without Monty we should consider Herbert, Jones, and Ebner as guys who either as RB or Slot/Gadget types as guys who are all capable of producing big plays with their speed and YAC ability.

While others seem to be clutching their pearls over the results of the draft wrt WRs ... I agree and believe this is exactly how they are seeing things. And not just as some kind of a desperate fallback from missing on everyone's personal dream WR in the draft or FA. I think they are deliberately building a team of explosive/much faster play-making, high-utility players... guys (both RB and WR) that can all line up at WR, run with the ball, and capable of making huge plays on ST. I am super-excited about this.

I think people are just stuck in ruts from the past with labels and concepts like "slot WR" and "3rd down back" and "every down back" and ST "specialists". IMO that's not where they're going. I think we're going to see Vay Jones handed the ball on first down, and all the RBs regularly lining up in the slot, and creative use of the WRs in screens and sweeps and such... a lot of offense that blurs the label on what a player is.

People generically (lazily?) act like the attempt in drafting Vay Jones is getting "their Deebo" - the one guy or one weapon on the team as a new type of specialist or role. But I don't think that's what it is at all. The roles are all merging, and smart teams are taking better advantage of skill sets and athleticism that was previously not used as much because players were pigeonholed.

This is why I see Ebner as a terrific add - and don't give a shit about the round (look at his tape!). This is why I see Vay Jones as a stellar pick (not just OK or a miss). This is why I believe Pringle is better (at least for the Bears) than guys who might be more trusted because of the load they've carried in the past elsewhere (e.g. Landry).

What I'm hoping for.....ah hell, what we're all hoping for is a coaching staff who can adapt to the players they do have not who they wish they had or who they want Poles to go out and get for them so they can make yet another clumsy attempt at trying to make a lousy scheme work.

I think it's been made more obvious now that in his own way Matt Nagy was both lazy and stubborn in his attachment to only doing things his way. The clearest evidence of this is how he was unable to deal with two young mobile QB whose mobility could add much to his offense. IMHO had Nagy been retained Fields would likely have failed here as well.

As for all this stuff about not having a true #1 "X" WR what I'd like to know is just what an "X" receiver is supposed to be. The media has been using ARob as a comparison due to his size; 6'2"/220lbs. Does that mean Antonio Brown; 5'10"/185lbs was never a #1 WR, or OBJ; 5'11"/198lbs? At least for now Poles believes Mooney is our #1 WR.

Setting aside the "Smurfs" we had last year this has got to be the fastest group of receivers this team has ever had so I can't help but think Getsy will use that in his schemes. GB has always killed us with screens, slants and crossing routes that are difficult to defend. Now we finally have WR who can run those routes for us as opposed to against us.

It's still early in the game. There are a couple of aging "X" type former #1 WR on the street but in all honesty would any of them give us any more production than ARob did in 2021 and for what price? I'm not 100% sold on the need either or at least now for now. Let's see who we have first than decide what more is needed all over not just at WR.

[IE]

yep

[UOK]

Watched some highlights and stuff. My thoughts.

PROS

• not great speed, but quite an athlete, great footwork and vision with the ball in his hands
• will be best utilized in space, maybe KR/PR competition
• reliable hands out of the backfield
• decent size, length for a scatback

CONS

• not at all a between-the-tackles runner
• fairly one-dimensional

I don't know exactly where he fits. Option in the KR/PR game, sure, but on gameday, I don't see how he'd get any reps, barring a total meltdown from Montgomery or Herbert.

[Middleguard]

Old school, the X was big, lined up far left on the LOS, and was more a blocker than receiver, particularly when the team ran left or passed left to a back out of the backfield. That was not Robinson.
I still think the Bears could use a big WR that can, and will, block.

[Bearfacts]

Watched some highlights and stuff. My thoughts.

PROS

• not great speed, but quite an athlete, great footwork and vision with the ball in his hands
• will be best utilized in space, maybe KR/PR competition
• reliable hands out of the backfield
• decent size, length for a scatback

CONS

• not at all a between-the-tackles runner
• fairly one-dimensional

I don't know exactly where he fits. Option in the KR/PR game, sure, but on gameday, I don't see how he'd get any reps, barring a total meltdown from Montgomery or Herbert.

The evaluation the coaches will have to make is whether or not Ebner is a better option than Evans both as a ST guy and as a pass receiver. I think they drafted him primarily for his receiving ability and as a KR but also good enough to be 3rd option at RB in a wide zone scheme. My guess is that he'll win out over Evans because he is a good receiver which is what he played in HS.

[IE]

He may not look fast even on tape. But he is. That's why I compared him to Forte - because Matt was a long strider & never really looked that fast even though he had breakaway speed. And lateral quickness that enabled him to find lanes - similar to this guy.