Top draft prospects - Center

[Grizzled]

Patrick missing most of the season leaves a bad taste in my mouth. If the Bears can snag a better center in free agency, they should release him. Garrett Bradbury from the Vikes would be another good one to look at.

When he did play he looked freaking bad. I mean really bad. Hoping it was cause he was never really healthy.

He certainly didn't look at good as I thought he would at guard, which he does have experience at. His time at center was way too brief to really get any idea. I'm somewhat nervous about Jenkins' availability also, he seemed to miss too much time.

[Moriarty]

I'm somewhat nervous about Jenkins' availability also, he seemed to miss too much time.

Just checked and he played less than 56% of the offensive snaps this year.

[Grizzled]

I'm somewhat nervous about Jenkins' availability also, he seemed to miss too much time.

Just checked and he played less than 56% of the offensive snaps this year.

What? Ouch, that sucks. Thanks for that info. Possibly add a more durable RG to the evergrowing list of OL needed.

[thunderspirit]

Just checked and he played less than 56% of the offensive snaps this year.

What? Ouch, that sucks. Thanks for that info. Possibly add a more durable RG to the evergrowing list of OL needed.

I mean, some of that is the rotation the Bears used with Jenkins and Patrick for, what, three games? He had a total of 11 starts in 2022, which isn't terrible.

I dunno. Feels like something to note but not necessarily wring one's hands over.

[Grizzled]

What? Ouch, that sucks. Thanks for that info. Possibly add a more durable RG to the evergrowing list of OL needed.

I mean, some of that is the rotation the Bears used with Jenkins and Patrick for, what, three games? He had a total of 11 starts in 2022, which isn't terrible.

I dunno. Feels like something to note but not necessarily wring one's hands over.

It has, to me, never been explained why Flus would rotate Jenkins and Patrick at RG. Did he feel Jenkins wasn't putting out 100% effort or wasn't really effective? If so, why didn't he stick Patrick at RG all the time. Just makes no sense.

[wab]

I mean, some of that is the rotation the Bears used with Jenkins and Patrick for, what, three games? He had a total of 11 starts in 2022, which isn't terrible.

I dunno. Feels like something to note but not necessarily wring one's hands over.

It has, to me, never been explained why Flus would rotate Jenkins and Patrick at RG. Did he feel Jenkins wasn't putting out 100% effort or wasn't really effective? If so, why didn't he stick Patrick at RG all the time. Just makes no sense.

It was explained by Flus during a presser. Patrick missed a ton of time early and the rotation was to get him into "game shape". It had to be at guard because his hand was still in a cast, so he couldn't snap.

Once he was ready, they inserted him back as the starting center and ended the rotation stuff. Patrick then got hurt again 10 snaps later.

[Grizzled]

It has, to me, never been explained why Flus would rotate Jenkins and Patrick at RG. Did he feel Jenkins wasn't putting out 100% effort or wasn't really effective? If so, why didn't he stick Patrick at RG all the time. Just makes no sense.

It was explained by Flus during a presser. Patrick missed a ton of time early and the rotation was to get him into "game shape". It had to be at guard because his hand was still in a cast, so he couldn't snap.

Once he was ready, they inserted him back as the starting center and ended the rotation stuff. Patrick then got hurt again 10 snaps later.

Interesting. Would have preferred theyd waited until his hand fully healed so as to not cut into Jenkins' snaps.

[Middleguard]

Interesting. Would have preferred theyd waited until his hand fully healed so as to not cut into Jenkins' snaps.

Maybe they, too, were eager to get Mustipher out of the line as soon as possible.

[Grizzled]

Interesting. Would have preferred theyd waited until his hand fully healed so as to not cut into Jenkins' snaps.

Maybe they, too, were eager to get Mustipher out of the line as soon as possible.

There had to be available free agent centers they could have brought in for a luck during the season.

[IE]

I forgot about Kramer (which is embarrassing, as an Illini). Are we dismissing him outright? What if he's been spending the offseason in the weight room and dramatically increased his strength and quality weight?

I wouldn't mind if they cut bait on Patrick. I was cautiously optimistic about him but IMO he benefited from a Rodgers halo & probably isn't even as good as Mustipher. Like wab said he didn't get a lot of snaps at center - but it doesn't seem like he'd be a revelation there after not impressing at RG. I'd also be happy if they grabbed Patterson even if he sat behind Mustipher for all or most of next season.

I'd really like to see a new stud center but with two vets on the squad that really know the offense and bring that continuity and leadership (they LOVE Mustipher and keep saying it over & over), and maybe Kramer ... doesn't seem like that is where Poles will invest at this time.

[Moriarty]

I forgot about Kramer (which is embarrassing, as an Illini). Are we dismissing him outright? What if he's been spending the offseason in the weight room and dramatically increased his strength and quality weight?

I'm not expecting anything from that.

Late pick, not a great camp before injury IIRC, bad injury that may not even be 100% by summer.

I'm figuring PUP and/or PS for 2023 and anything you get out of it down the road is finding money you left in the pocket of your winter coat and forgot all about.

[thunderspirit]

I'm not particularly high on Kramer either, and that was before what was rumored to be a Lisfranc injury (Bears never confirmed, as is their wont).

The fact that the Bears put him on IR rather than reach an injury settlement and cut him is mildly encouraging. They like something about him enough to pay him for the season, even at 6th round rookie rates. It's possible he turns into something, but a) it's also possible that he doesn't, so relying on that would be foolish, and b) if it was in fact a Lisfranc, that could be career-ending.

His presence wouldn't keep me from looking for an upgrade to the position, to be sure.

[thunderspirit]

I'm firmly in the Ricky Stromberg/Juice Scruggs camp of centers who can play guard. Tippmann would fit that role too, though I wonder if the Bears will consider him more of a guard at his size.

Oluwatimi or Patterson or Downing as well, though those three are a fair bit lower on my list.

[wulfy]

Dane Brugler's Top 15 Interior Linemen - no Stromberg on the list:

Interior offensive line
1. Peter Skoronski | Northwestern | 6-4, 305
2. Cody Mauch | North Dakota State | 6-5, 306
3. O'Cyrus Torrence | Florida | 6-5, 347
4. Joe Tippmann | Wisconsin | 6-6, 315
5. Steve Avila | TCU | 6-4, 339
6. John Michael Schmitz | Minnesota | 6-4, 315
7. Jordan McFadden | Clemson | 6-2, 305
8. Warren McClendon | Georgia | 6-4, 300
9. Alex Forsyth | Oregon | 6-4, 316
10. Luke Wypler | Ohio State | 6-3, 301
11. Jarrett Patterson | Notre Dame | 6-5, 307
12. Nick Broeker | Ole Miss | 6-4, 317
13. Mark Evans II | Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 6-3, 297
14. Anthony Bradford | LSU | 6-5, 345
15. Olu Oluwatimi | Michigan | 6-2, 309

[cblaz11]

Its embarrassing that he has Mauch that high…especially over Torrence

[wab]

I think Torrence is only going to fit in certain offenses...which probably impacts his ranking. I have Torrence going to the Eagles at 10.

[EricTighe]

Its embarrassing that he has Mauch that high…especially over Torrence

You may want to get off the Mauch hater list. It was the coaches who asked him to try center and he did really good for one day. Looks like a Bears type of player. Heard the position change was asked for by a Coach from the American team. (Getsy was there coach) Didn't say which coach though.

[RichH55]

Its embarrassing that he has Mauch that high…especially over Torrence

You may want to get off the Mauch hater list. It was the coaches who asked him to try center and he did really good for one day. Looks like a Bears type of player. Heard the position change was asked for by a Coach from the American team. (Getsy was there coach) Didn't say which coach though.

He lost some Guard Reps too

Minnesota kid is the one I want

I was surprised by how much I disliked the Michigan C

[cblaz11]

Its embarrassing that he has Mauch that high…especially over Torrence

You may want to get off the Mauch hater list. It was the coaches who asked him to try center and he did really good for one day. Looks like a Bears type of player. Heard the position change was asked for by a Coach from the American team. (Getsy was there coach) Didn't say which coach though.

I wouldn’t say I’m a hater…I love his potential and his attitude. That said, I watched his reps at the Sr bowl and he looked very slow at times. Granted, he improved each day. I’m just not going gaga over the guy just yet. 3rd or 4th, I’m in. At this point, that’s as high as I’m willing to go.

[wulfy]

I think the kid from Wisconsin (Joe Tippman) is really underrated in the process - really big kid too. Can probably be had in the 4th round.

[thunderspirit]

Dane Brugler's Top 15 Interior Linemen - no Stromberg on the list:

Interior offensive line
1. Peter Skoronski | Northwestern | 6-4, 305
2. Cody Mauch | North Dakota State | 6-5, 306
3. O'Cyrus Torrence | Florida | 6-5, 347
4. Joe Tippmann | Wisconsin | 6-6, 315
5. Steve Avila | TCU | 6-4, 339
6. John Michael Schmitz | Minnesota | 6-4, 315
7. Jordan McFadden | Clemson | 6-2, 305
8. Warren McClendon | Georgia | 6-4, 300
9. Alex Forsyth | Oregon | 6-4, 316
10. Luke Wypler | Ohio State | 6-3, 301
11. Jarrett Patterson | Notre Dame | 6-5, 307
12. Nick Broeker | Ole Miss | 6-4, 317
13. Mark Evans II | Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 6-3, 297
14. Anthony Bradford | LSU | 6-5, 345
15. Olu Oluwatimi | Michigan | 6-2, 309

McFadden and Evans II are college tackles who'll move to G. Brugler projecting McClendon moving G is interesting too. (Incidentally, he's the nephew of former Bear Willie McClendon and the cousin of former Bears camp receiver Bryan McClendon.)

Brugler's clearly a lot higher on Forsyth and Patterson than I am, but then again, he's getting paid for his opinion and I'm not, so WTF do I know?

[bearsoldier]

Chicago Bears doing plenty of work on TCU’s Steve Avila
By Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.@wiltfongjr Feb 16, 2023, 3:45pm CST
https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2023/ ... luke-getsy

[wulfy]

Avila looked good against Michigan - opened up a lot of holes in the interior running game. Ididn't watch enough of the Georgia game to comment there - I suspect not quite as good in that one.

[thunderspirit]

Interesting indeed. Avila is probably a late Day 2 pick. He did play a bit heavier than I suspect the Bears would want him to play, based on their target fat percentages for most players. It'll be interesting to see how he weighs in at the Combine.

[EricTighe]

Avila weighed in at Senior Bowl.


Steve Avila Texas Christian 6031 332 32 5/8 9 1/4 79

[EricTighe]

Here are all the official weigh-ins for the offensive lineman.

Name College Hgt Wgt Arm Hand Wing
Asim Richards North Carolina 6040 307 34 1/8 10 83 1/4
Blake Freeland BYU 6074 312 34 10 82 5/8
Cody Mauch North Dakota State 6047 305 32 1/8 9 5/8 79 3/4
Darnell Wright Tennessee 6051 342 34 1/8 8 1/2 82 3/8
Dawand Jones Ohio State 6081 375 36 5/8 11 3/8 89 1/2
Emil Ekiyor Jr. Alabama 6022 317 33 3/8 9 3/8 82 1/8
Jaelyn Duncan Maryland 6054 298 33 1/2 9 3/8 80 5/8
Jake Andrews Troy 6026 319 32 1/4 10 1/4 78 3/8
Jarrett Patterson Notre Dame 6047 304 31 5/8 10 77 5/8
Joey Fisher Shepherd 6035 292 32 10 1/4 N/A
John Michael Schmit Minn 6033 306 32 3/4 9 5/8 78 7/8
Matthew Bergeron Syracuse 6047 323 33 5/8 9 1/2 82 3/8
McClendon Curtis Chattanooga 6056 331 35 10 1/4 84
Nick Broeker Mississippi 6042 305 32 1/4 9 7/8 77 3/8
Nick Saldiveri Old Dominion 6060 311 33 3/8 10 1/2 81 3/8
O’Cyrus Torrence Florida 6047 337 33 7/8 11 1/4 84
Olusegun Oluwatimi Michigan 6025 308 33 8 5/8 80
Richard Gouraige Florida 6047 308 34 10 3/8 82 1/8
Ryan Hayes Michigan 6065 305 32 3/4 10 79 1/2
Steve Avila Texas Christian 6031 332 32 5/8 9 1/4 79
Tyler Steen Alabama 6054 325 33 10 3/4 80 1/2
Wanya Morris Oklahoma 6047 317 35 3/8 10 1/4 85 3/4
Warren McClendon Jr Georgia 6040 290 34 10 80 5/8

Here are the senior bowl weigh-ins for everyone.
https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2023-sen ... nt-results

[thunderspirit]

Avila weighed in at Senior Bowl.


Steve Avila Texas Christian 6031 332 32 5/8 9 1/4 79

Indeed.

There's frequently a discrepancy — often a significant one — between the ASG measurements and the Combine.

[RichH55]

Interesting indeed. Avila is probably a late Day 2 pick. He did play a bit heavier than I suspect the Bears would want him to play, based on their target fat percentages for most players. It'll be interesting to see how he weighs in at the Combine.

I would describe his week as up and down. He really did have some good Reps. He is able to really just stop you when he gets it right and a nice anchor

He looks sloppy though and he was just beaten more than a few times

Granted 1 on 1 drills are not designed for a guy like him - the guy playing against him isn't going to have as much space and as many options in a real game situation

But I have definitely seen Guards have better Senior Bowl weeks

[bearsoldier]

~

I did not realize this until today... Oluwatimi started a total of 49 games at center during his college career with the University of Virginia and Michigan, totaling 3396 snaps.

That is a ton of snaps as a college Center... He may not be the top prospect, and some say he is still raw... He surely has the most game experience of all Centers in the 2023 draft.

Projected in the 4th round?

https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Olu ... C-Virginia

[Grizzled]

Woah, Dawand Jones and Darnell Wright are pushing that needle up there also. Both pretty highly rated, I wonder if the Bears will take a gander at them. Both could fill real needs.